{"id":13005,"date":"2014-06-11T23:49:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-11T14:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=13005"},"modified":"2014-06-12T13:51:14","modified_gmt":"2014-06-12T04:51:14","slug":"various-locations-june-4-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=13005","title":{"rendered":"Various Locations, June 4 – 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bird News from Nial Moores with Gil Langfield<\/p>\n

A quick birding trip to a few top sites (Yeongjong Island on 4th<\/sup>; Baekryeong Island from 4th<\/sup> PM to 6th<\/sup>; Seosan and Hwaum Temple on 7th<\/sup>; Goseong County on 8th<\/sup>; and several stops in Hwacheon County and Imjingak on 9th<\/sup>) led to a grand total of at least 146 bird species logged. \u00a0Although a few species were heard only (especially by NM), there were also quite a few well-seen species of note, including several unseasonally late migrants and over-summering species, a few notable breeders, and a couple of outstanding end-of-spring highlights (most especially a Lesser Coucal <\/b>on the 6th<\/sup>).<\/p>\n

Although a highly enjoyable trip (with many great birds, some still-beautiful landscapes, and time in the field shared with Dr. Shim Kyu-Sik and Mr. Lee Yong-Sang on 4th<\/sup> to 6th<\/sup> and with Mr. Mike Friel on the 8th<\/sup>), there was nonetheless daily evidence that the present development model remains ecologically unsustainable. In only six days, we witnessed and photographed bird-shooting near the international airport at Yeongjong (and the killing of a cormorant and apparently of a globally Vulnerable Chinese Egret<\/b>); ongoing reclamation on the north side of Yeongjong; road and bridge building at Seosan (including close to the Von Schrenck\u2019s<\/b> site); more road construction materials set-ready in the Hwadong Wetland on Baekryeong (despite multiple formal objections already to this unnecessary road); and the clearing of vegetation and cutting of trees around a patch of woodland in Hwacheon County (Gangwon Province), an area which is supposed to be specially-protected for breeding birds (requiring Birds Korea to send yet another letter of concern to a local government body).<\/p>\n

The fifty most notable bird species during the trip were:<\/p>\n

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  1. Greater White-fronted Goose<\/b> Anser albifrons<\/i>. Three at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  2. Common Shelduck<\/b> Tadorna tadorna<\/i>. Two in the Hwadong Wetland, Baekryeong, on the 6th<\/sup>. The species is listed as W2 in the 2014 Birds Korea Checklist (suggesting there are no records in the summer months). However, one was seen at Seosan on June 24th<\/sup> 2005 and three were seen in Saemangeum in early August 2013, suggesting occasional oversummering.<\/li>\n
  3. Gadwall<\/b> Anas strepera<\/i>. A male and a female were at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>. The 2014 Birds Korea Checklist lists this species as W3 (i.e. as unrecorded in summer).<\/li>\n
  4. Falcated Duck<\/b> Anas falcata<\/i>. NT<\/b>. One was at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  5. Eurasian Wigeon<\/b> Anas penelope<\/i>. Six were at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>: an exceptional concentration for the summer months<\/li>\n

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    Eurasian Wigeon<\/b> Anas penelope<\/i>, © Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  6. Northern Shoveler<\/b> Anas clypeata<\/i>. One or two at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>. There are fewer than ten previous records in the summer months known to Birds Korea.<\/li>\n
  7. Common Pochard<\/b> Aythya ferina<\/i>. Two males were at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>. There are fewer than ten previous records in the summer months known to Birds Korea.<\/li>\n
  8. Tufted Duck<\/b> Aythya fuligula<\/i>. One at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>. There are fewer than ten previous records in the summer months known to Birds Korea.<\/li>\n
  9. Pacific Loon<\/b> Gavia pacifica<\/i>. One in flight, tentatively assigned to this species, was seen at close range from the ferry between Incheon and Baekryeong on the 8th<\/sup>. This individual was fully-winged and in non-breeding plumage. There are no records of this species in the summer months known to Birds Korea.<\/li>\n
  10. Short-tailed Shearwater<\/b> Puffinus tenuirostris<\/i>. Two were seen from the ferry off Daecheong Island on the 4th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  11. Black-faced Spoonbill<\/b> Platalea minor<\/i>. EN<\/b>. At least 35 were feeding along the tide-edge at Yeongjong on the 4th<\/sup>; and six or seven adults and one very young chick were seen on Baekryeong on the 5th<\/sup> and 6th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  12. Yellow Bittern<\/b> Ixobrychus sinensis<\/i>. Three were in the Hwadong Wetland on Baekryeong on the 5th<\/sup> with one seen there on the 6th<\/sup>; and 5+ were seen at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Yellow Bittern<\/b> Ixobrychus sinensis<\/i>, © Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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  13. Von Schrenck’s Bittern<\/b> Ixobrychus eurhythmus<\/i>. One male was well-seen at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  14. Chinese Egret<\/b> Egretta eulophotes<\/i>. VU.<\/b> Four were seen on Baekryeong and at least six were seen at Yeongjong on the 4th<\/sup>, with one additional bird apparently shot dead at the lagoon northwest of the airport. The species is supposed to be a protected National Natural Monument. Approaches will be made by Birds Korea to determine the legality of shooting protected species during the summer months near Incheon International Airport.<\/li>\n
  15. Ruddy-breasted Crake<\/b> Porzana fusca<\/i>. Two were heard, but not seen, in the Hwadong Wetland on the 5th<\/sup>, with one still there on the 6th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n
  16. Black-winged Stilt<\/b> Himantopus himantopus<\/i>. Thirty were at Seosan on the 7th<\/sup>. However, none were seen at or near the nest, perhaps because water levels are being held unusually high?<\/li>\n
  17. Little Ringed Plover<\/b> Charadrius dubius<\/i>. Seen at several locations, with one actively performing its “broken-wing-distraction” display on Baekryeong on the 4th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n

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    Little Ringed Plover<\/b> Charadrius dubius<\/i>, © Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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