{"id":11741,"date":"2014-02-21T20:16:45","date_gmt":"2014-02-21T11:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=11741"},"modified":"2014-02-26T20:18:20","modified_gmt":"2014-02-26T11:18:20","slug":"various-locations-february-15-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=11741","title":{"rendered":"Various Locations, February 15 – 21"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selected Bird News from \u201cTeam Shetland\u201d with Nial Moores<\/strong><\/p>\n

A fairly intensive week of birding around the country (as a prelude to a two-week trip by TS to Japan) produced several outstanding highlights.\u00a0 Out of the 150+ species logged,\u00a0 these included good views of\u00a0Swan Goose<\/b>, flocks ofBaikal Teal<\/b>, a single\u00a0Baer\u2019s Pochard<\/b>,\u00a0Scaly-sided Merganser<\/b>,\u00a0Solitary Snipe\u00a0<\/b>(away from the National Arboretum),\u00a0Relict Gull<\/b>,\u00a0Long-billed Murrelet<\/b>,\u00a0Japanese Waxwing<\/b>,\u00a0Pallas\u2019s Rosefinch<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Ochre-rumped Bunting<\/b>. On the negative side, it also included observations of oiled birds (most especially\u00a0Black-tailed Gulls<\/b>) at several sites along the east and west coasts), probably caused both by chronic oil pollution and recent spills off Busan and Yeosu; sites with restricted access due to Poultry Flu; and yet more construction. Most worrisome, this included a new road being built on the tidal-flat at Yeongjong (near the international airport), the site of the suspended Incheon Tidal Power plants.<\/p>\n

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Geojin main road, Northeast Coast, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Poultry Flu road-check, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Construction across the tidal-flat at Yeongjong Island, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Team Shetland was comprised of Iain Robertson, Richard Schofield, Paul Harvey, Rob Fray (the photographer in the group), Steven Piotrowski and David Okill. Day One (Feb 15th<\/sup>) was spent in Incheon; February 16th<\/sup>, at several sites between Seoul and the East Coast (including the North River); 17th<\/sup>, on the North-east coast (where further heavy snow hampered progress); 18th<\/sup>, on the coast between Uljin and the Guryongpo Peninsula; 19th<\/sup>, at the Nakdong Estuary and then the Geum Estuary; 20th<\/sup>, at Gomso Bay, the Geum Estuary and then Hwaseong; and Day Seven, February 21st, at Hwaseong and in Seoul.<\/p>\n

Outstanding highlights (with better images expected to be posted later) included:<\/p>\n

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    \n
  1. Swan Goose<\/b>\u00a0Anser cygnoides<\/i>. Eighteen at their usual site in the Geum Estuary, watched in perfect light on the 19th.<\/li>\n
  2. Lesser White-fronted Goose<\/b>\u00a0Anser erythropus<\/i>. One adult at the still-closed Junam Reservoirs on 19th<\/sup>\u00a0(PH only).<\/li>\n
  3. Ruddy Shelduck<\/b>\u00a0Tadorna ferruginea<\/i>. A flock of 290 at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>\u00a0is a fairly high count for recent years.<\/li>\n
  4. Baikal Teal<\/b>\u00a0Anas formosa<\/i>. One male on the Geum River during the morning of the 20th<\/sup>, was followed by the discovery of a flock of 32,500 on Namyang Lake the same afternoon, with a further ~10,000 or so seen at dusk over Hwaseong the same evening. One was also on Jungnang Stream in Seoul on the 21st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Baikal Teal<\/b>\u00a0Anas formosa<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Baikal Teal<\/b>\u00a0Anas formosa<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  5. Baer\u2019s Pochard<\/b>\u00a0Aythya baeri<\/i>. An adult male, originally found by members of the University Birdwatching Society in late January, and re-found last week, was watched well on the Han River at reasonably close range in good light conditions on the 21st. Although the plumage seemed asymmetrical (with apparently more obvious and extensive white on the left flank than on the right) the bird otherwise looked structurally and plumage-wise spot-on for\u00a0Baer\u2019s<\/b>\u00a0(having an overly large, blue-grey toned bill; a\u00a0Mallard<\/i>-green head unsullied with any brown tones; and obvious tiger-striping across part of the otherwise white fore-flanks).\u00a0 The bird was in among a mixed flock of c.4500\u00a0aythya<\/i>, comprised mostly of\u00a0Tufted Duck<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Common Pochard<\/b>\u00a0but which also included at least two\u00a0Greater Scaup<\/b>. One bird in the same flock that was seen only very briefly was considered by the only observer to see it (PH) to show several characters suggesting male\u00a0Lesser Scaup<\/i>.<\/li>\n

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    Baer’s Pochard<\/b>\u00a0Aythya baeri<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Baer’s Pochard<\/b>\u00a0Aythya baeri<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  6. Scaly-sided Merganser<\/b>\u00a0Mergus squamatus<\/i>. Eight were on the North River on the 16th<\/sup>, at a site discovered during last month\u2019s survey.<\/li>\n
  7. Oriental Stork<\/b>\u00a0Ciconia boyciana<\/i>. One was seen very briefly at Hwaseong by NM and RF on the 20th<\/sup>, but could not be re-located despite much searching.<\/li>\n
  8. Golden Eagle<\/b>\u00a0Aquila<\/i>\u00a0chrysaetos<\/i>. One sub-adult was again present in Odae San National Park on the 16th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  9. Steller\u2019s Sea Eagle<\/b>\u00a0Haliaeetus pelagicus<\/i>. One First-winter was at the Nakdong estuary on the 19th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  10. Falco sp.<\/i>\u00a0A large falcon (perhaps an escaped hybrid?) was at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>. Seen only by NM, it appeared as large or perhaps even larger than female\u00a0Peregrine<\/i>, with a more steady flight (originally flying close by low to the ground, it then gained height rapidly and apparently effortlessly through constant wing-beats). Blue-grey above (similar to\u00a0Northern Goshawk<\/i>\u00a0or a paleish adult\u00a0Peregrine<\/i>), it lacked either a clean face pattern (being dark-headed without any paler supercilium or \u201cmoustache\u201d) or any obvious tail bands, instead showing obvious silvery flashes on the inner primaries of the underwing.<\/li>\n
  11. White-naped Crane<\/b>\u00a0Grus vipio<\/i>. Two at Gomso Bay (perhaps early migrants?) on the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0were watched well in excellent light (and were considered by some to be most beautiful bird of the trip).<\/li>\n

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    White-naped Crane<\/b>\u00a0Grus vipio<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  12. Pied Avocet<\/b>\u00a0Recurvirostra avosetta<\/i>. Two were with the curlew flock at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Pied Avocet<\/b>\u00a0Recurvirostra avosetta<\/i>\u00a0behind\u00a0Eurasian Curlew<\/b>\u00a0Numenius arquata<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  13. Solitary Snipe<\/b>\u00a0Gallinago solitaria<\/i>. One at Odae San on the 16th, found by PH and seen well by everybody, is an excellent record away from the National Arboretum.<\/li>\n
  14. Eurasian Curlew<\/b>\u00a0Numenius arquata<\/i>. Approximately 3,500 were on the reclamation lake at Hwaseong on the 21st.<\/li>\n
  15. Far Eastern Curlew<\/b>\u00a0Numenius madagascariensis<\/i>. One was seen well at the Geum Estuary on the 19th<\/sup>(indicating overwintering at this site, as two were present there in late December) and one or more probables were with the\u00a0Eurasian Curlew<\/b>\u00a0flock at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  16. Spotted Redshank<\/b>\u00a0Tringa erythropus<\/i>. One at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>\u00a0(SP) was either an overwinterer or an early spring migrant.<\/li>\n
  17. Relict Gull<\/b>\u00a0Ichthyaetus relictus<\/i>. None were seen at the Nakdong Estuary, but two First-winters were watched well (feeding on shellfish) at the Geum Estuary on the 20th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Relict Gull<\/b>\u00a0Ichthyaetus relictus<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Relict Gull<\/b>\u00a0Ichthyaetus relictus<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  18. Long-billed Murrelet<\/b>\u00a0Brachyramphus perdix<\/i>. One was seen from Geojin headland in heavy snow on the 17th<\/sup>(NM only) and another was seen rather more clearly by the whole team off the Guryongpo Peninsula on the 18th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  19. Short-eared Owl<\/b>\u00a0Asio flammeus<\/i>. One was at Hwaseong on the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0(NM only). This species was a fairly common winter visitor a decade ago, but has become increasingly scarce in recent winters.<\/li>\n
  20. Chinese Grey Shrike<\/b>\u00a0Lanius sphenocercus<\/i>. One was seen well at Hwaseong, on 20th<\/sup>\u00a0and 21st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  21. Japanese Waxwing<\/b>\u00a0Bombycilla japonica<\/i>. Three were in the National Arboretum car-park on the 21st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Japanese Waxwing<\/b>\u00a0Bombycilla japonica<\/i>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  22. Yellow-bellied Tit<\/b>\u00a0Periparus venustulus<\/i>. Several were seen on Yeongjong Island (TS) on the 15th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  23. Eurasian Skylark<\/b>\u00a0Alauda arvensis<\/i>. Based on their much more medlodic songs at least two were singing at Hwaseong on the 21st<\/sup>, where several\u00a0Far Eastern Skylark<\/b>\u00a0were also in song.<\/li>\n
  24. Pallas\u2019s Rosefinch<\/b>\u00a0Carpodacus roseus<\/i>. A group of four watched feeding at close range in Daejin harbour on the 17th<\/sup>\u00a0included one adult male.<\/li>\n
  25. Ochre-rumped Bunting<\/b>\u00a0Emberiza yessoensis<\/i>. Two were in a large mixed flock of\u00a0Common<\/b>\u00a0E.<\/i>\u00a0schoeniclus<\/i>and\u00a0Pallas\u2019s Reed Buntings<\/b>\u00a0E. pallasi<\/i>\u00a0at Gomso Bay on the 20th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  26. Lapland Longspur<\/b>\u00a0Calcarius lapponicus<\/i>. 400-500 were seen in one flock over-flying rice-fields near to Yeondeok on the 18th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Selected Bird News from \u201cTeam Shetland\u201d with Nial Moores A fairly intensive week of birding around the country (as a prelude to a two-week trip by TS to Japan) produced several outstanding highlights.\u00a0 Out of the 150+ species logged,\u00a0 these … read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[693],"class_list":["post-11741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-team-shetland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11741"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11745,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11741\/revisions\/11745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}