{"id":19352,"date":"2017-04-27T11:36:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T02:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=19352"},"modified":"2017-04-27T15:37:29","modified_gmt":"2017-04-27T06:37:29","slug":"rason-ne-korea-april-20-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=19352","title":{"rendered":"Rason, NE Korea, April 20-24"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bird News from Nial Moores &amp; Bernhard Seliger<\/p>\n<p>Outstanding bird highlights included single <strong>Common House Martin<\/strong> <em>Delichon urbicum lagopodum<\/em> seen well on April 21<sup>st<\/sup>; 2+ <strong>Grey Bunting<\/strong> <em>Emberiza variabilis<\/em> heard on 22<sup>nd<\/sup>; and one probable <strong>Latham\u2019s Snipe <\/strong><em>Gallinago hardwickii<\/em> seen on 23<sup>rd<\/sup> (all previously unrecorded in the northern provinces \u2013 but none photographed or sound-recorded this time); flocks of breeding-plumaged grebes (including four species in one bay!); an unexpected concentration of <strong>Long-billed Murrelet<\/strong>; and confirmation (much more than less) of Korean-breeding <strong>Common Murre<\/strong> and <strong>Spectacled Guillemot <\/strong>thanks to a 10-km long boat trip from Pipa to Alsom and back on the 24th \u2026<\/p>\n<p>This was the fourth bird survey in Rason, following on from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdskorea.org\/Habitats\/Yellow-Sea\/DPRK\/BK-HA-Rason-2014.shtml\">HSF-UNESCAP survey in March 2014<\/a>; and the HSF-Birds Korea surveys in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=18303\">July<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=18686\">November 2016<\/a>. \u00a0Despite the greatly heightened regional tension and a shortage of car fuel caused by tightening sanctions and often poor weather, we recorded 145 bird species in total.\u00a0 Eighteen (or nineteen) of these are additional to those previously traced for the Rason area (from our surveys and from a review of literature available to us).\u00a0 While every day had highlights \u2013 from excellent views of locally numerous species like <strong>Common Pheasant<\/strong> and <strong>Meadow <\/strong>and <strong>Black-faced Buntings<\/strong> to scarcities like <strong>Purple Heron<\/strong> and <strong>Pied Harrier<\/strong> \u2013 the 21<sup>st<\/sup> was especially notable, with 104 species noted and lots of visible movement over both the sea and land, including flocks of geese, two <strong>Western Osprey<\/strong>, single <strong>Grey-faced Buzzard<\/strong>, three species of harrier and good numbers of pipits, larks (both <strong>Eurasian<\/strong> and <strong>Far Eastern<\/strong>) and wagtails.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the highlights included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brant Goose<\/strong> <em>Branta bernicla<\/em>. Twenty-one in the \u201cKorean Tumen Delta\u201d on the 23<sup>rd<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19353 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"rs-brant-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-brant-NM-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Brant Goose<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mute Swan<\/strong> <em>Cygnus olor<\/em>. One on Tonbongpo on the 21<sup>st<\/sup> (unlike in e.g. Japan, birds here are wild in origin).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19333 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM-1024x796.jpg\" alt=\"rs-muteswan-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM-1024x796.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM-768x597.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-muteswan-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Mute Swan<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Harlequin Duck<\/strong> <em>Histrionicus histrionicus<\/em>. At least 150 were still present, with 140 of these around the offshore island of Alsom (translatable as \u201cEgg Island\u201d).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Long-tailed Duck<\/strong> <em>Clangula hyemalis<\/em>. At least 195 were still present, with most of these in full breeding-plumage \u2013 and some actively displaying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19348 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM-1024x746.jpg\" alt=\"rs-long-taileduck-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM-1024x746.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM-150x109.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM-768x560.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-long-taileduck-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Long-tailed Duck<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Horned Grebe<\/strong> <em>Podiceps auritus<\/em>. At least 344 \u2013 all in full breeding plumage \u2013 were found in one bay on the 23rd. This represents &gt;1% of the regional population (Wetlands International 2017).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black-necked Grebe<\/strong> <em>Podiceps nigricollis<\/em>. We counted at least 2,548 along only a small part of the coast, with several bays left unvisited due to lack of fuel and time even though they held large concentrations of this species in April 2016 (seen by BS when no formal survey was permitted). The number recorded during the present survey nonetheless represents &gt;2.5% of the regional population of this species (Wetlands International 2017).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19342 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM-1024x503.jpg\" alt=\"rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM-150x74.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebeslick-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19321 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS-1024x825.jpg\" alt=\"RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS-1024x825.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS-150x121.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS-768x619.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-blackneckedgrebe_BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19322 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM-1024x804.jpg\" alt=\"rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM-1024x804.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM-150x118.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM-768x603.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-black-neckedgrebe_NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Black-necked Grebe<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores (top and bottom images) and Bernhard Seliger (middle image)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Purple Heron<\/strong> <em>Ardea purpurea<\/em>. One on the 21<sup>st<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pelagic Cormorant<\/strong> <em>Phalacrocorax pelagicus<\/em>. Several were seen on nests on Alsom on 24<sup>th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pied Harrier<\/strong> <em>Circus melanoleucos<\/em>. A superb male was watched hunting over reed-fields and ditches on the 21st.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19334 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS-1024x846.jpg\" alt=\"rs-piedharrier-BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS-1024x846.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS-150x124.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS-768x634.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19336 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3-1024x799.jpg\" alt=\"rs-piedharrier-NM3\" width=\"690\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3-1024x799.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-NM3.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19335 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1-1024x870.jpg\" alt=\"rs-piedharrier-Nm1\" width=\"690\" height=\"586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1-1024x870.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1-150x128.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1-768x653.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-piedharrier-Nm1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Pied Harrier<\/strong> \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger (top image) and Nial Moores (bottom two images)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Latham\u2019s Snipe<\/strong> <em>Gallinago hardwickii<\/em>. One was flushed twice at close range on Pipa Islet on 23<sup>rd<\/sup>, with the identification based on the bird\u2019s large size (suggesting Woodcock); pale coloration above (lacking grey tones); strong crown pattern suggesting contrast with paler &#8220;face&#8221;; paler bar across the upperwing coverts; and only weakly pale trail to the secondaries. However, with no photos and in consideration of the difficulties of snipe identification, the record is probably best considered as only \u201cvery probable\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Far Eastern Curlew<\/strong> <em>Numenius madagascariensis<\/em>. In total, in three flocks with a few singles, we recorded 219 of this globally Endangered species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19340 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"RS_FEC-BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS_FEC-BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19331 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM-1024x814.jpg\" alt=\"rs-fareasterncurlew-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM-1024x814.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM-768x610.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-fareasterncurlew-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Far Eastern Curlew<\/strong> \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger (top image) and Nial Moores (bottom image)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Relict Gull<\/strong> <em>Ichthyaetus relictus<\/em>. A breeding-plumaged adult was seen on the 21<sup>st<\/sup>; a presumed Second Calendar-year was glimpsed on a rivermouth sandbank in Sonbong on the 22<sup>nd<\/sup>; and three Second Calendar-years were photographed in the outer Tumen Delta on the 23rd &#8211; the only easily viewable intertidal-type wetland in Rason.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19351 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM-1024x863.jpg\" alt=\"rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM-1024x863.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM-150x126.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM-300x253.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM-768x647.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-relictgullrecordshot-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Relict Gull<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Common Murre<\/strong> <em>Uria aalge<\/em>. Approximately 340 were counted from the boat on the 24<sup>th<\/sup> \u2013 with about 200 of this total standing on cliff ledges on Alsom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19349 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS-1024x807.jpg\" alt=\"Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS-1024x807.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS-150x118.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS-768x605.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rs-Murresoncliffs_BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Common Murre<\/strong> on nest ledges \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Spectacled Guillemot<\/strong> <em>Cepphus carbo<\/em>. In total, 200+ were counted during the present survey, mostly around Alsom where a dozen or so birds were watched flying on to the cliffs and into rock-face crevices on the 24<sup>th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19354 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1-1024x813.jpg\" alt=\"rs-specgil-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1-1024x813.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1-768x609.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-specgil-NM-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Spectacled Guillemot<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Long-billed Murrelet<\/strong> <em>Brachyramphus perdix<\/em>. Seen on three dates, with a total of 33 to 56 recorded in total. Most of these were in\u00a0 breeding plumage seen from the boat on the 24th, but included six in the bay by Pipa Islet on the 22<sup>nd<\/sup>. This is by far the largest concentration of this species in Korean waters recorded to date \u2013 and perhaps suggests local\/near-local breeding (either in Rason or somewhere across the border in Russia).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19332 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-longbilledmurrelet-smallzoom_NM.jpg\" alt=\"rs-longbilledmurrelet-smallzoom_NM\" width=\"500\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-longbilledmurrelet-smallzoom_NM.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-longbilledmurrelet-smallzoom_NM-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-longbilledmurrelet-smallzoom_NM-300x223.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><strong>Long-billed Murrelet<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Common House Martin<\/strong> <em>Delichon urbicum lagopodum<\/em>. One was seen well at close range for 20-30 seconds in Rason on April 21st, 2017, with identification based on clean white underparts; very broad white rump band with white on the uppertail coverts; and a moderately notched tail.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dusky Warbler<\/strong> <em>Phylloscopus fuscatus<\/em>.\u00a0 One was heard on 23<sup>rd<\/sup> and one confiding bird was seen on Pipa Islet on the 24<sup>th<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19344 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"RS-duskywarbler-BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-duskywarbler-BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Dusky Warbler<\/strong> \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pallas\u2019s Leaf Warbler<\/strong> <em>Phylloscopus proregulus<\/em>. A total of 29+ were recorded during the present survey.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chinese Nuthatch<\/strong> <em>Sitta villosa<\/em>. Five were in the Pipa hills on the 22<sup>nd<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19343 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"RS-chinese nuthatch-BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/RS-chinese-nuthatch-BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Chinese Nuthatch<\/strong> \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grey-backed Thrush<\/strong> <em>Turdus hortulorum<\/em>. A total of 45+ were recorded during the present survey, with 26 on the 22<sup>nd<\/sup> the highest day count.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19337 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM-1024x801.jpg\" alt=\"rs-greybackedthrush_NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM-1024x801.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM-768x601.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-greybackedthrush_NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Grey-backed Thrush<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Eastern Yellow Wagtail<\/strong> <em>Motacilla tschutschensis<\/em>. 85+ were in fields west of Tongbonpo on the 21<sup>st<\/sup>, including one bird that looked to be a \u201c<em>plexa<\/em>\u201d (with most such birds now considered to be <em>Western Yellow Wagtail<\/em>).\u00a0 Tomek (2002) only traced ~4 records of \u201cYellow Wagtail\u201d since 1980.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19329 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM-1024x839.jpg\" alt=\"rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM-1024x839.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM-150x123.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM-768x629.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-easternyellowwagtail-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Eastern Yellow Wagtail<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Red Crossbill<\/strong> <em>Loxia curvirostra<\/em>. We found a total of 35, including several apparent pairs, and heard two males in song.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19338 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM-1024x860.jpg\" alt=\"rs-redcrossbill-NM\" width=\"690\" height=\"579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM-1024x860.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM-150x126.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM-768x645.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-redcrossbill-NM.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><strong>Red Crossbill<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Grey Bunting<\/strong> <em>Emberiza variabilis<\/em>. Two (or more?) were heard calling in forest in the Pipa hills on the 22<sup>nd<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19318 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"rs-bestmarsh-BS\" width=\"690\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rs-bestmarsh-BS.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/>Wetland between Manpo and Tongbonpo \u00a9 Bernhard Seliger<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Reference<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Wetlands International. 2017. <i>&#8220;Waterbird Population Estimates&#8221; <\/i>. Retrieved from <a href=\"http:\/\/wpe.wetlands.org\">wpe.wetlands.org<\/a> on Thursday 27 Apr 2017 <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Important NOTE:<\/p>\n<p>Birds Korea is dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Korea and the wider Yellow Sea Eco-region. We are a small non-political conservation organisation that aims to provide best information on birds and their habitats to decision-makers and the general public, to help inform the conservation process as part of genuinely sustainable development.\u00a0 Birds Korea has an MOU with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www2.hss.de\/korea\/en\/home.html\">Hanns Seidel Foundation (Korea)<\/a>.\u00a0 Dr Nial Moores of Birds Korea was contracted by the Hanns Seidel Foundation to help lead this bird research as part of a much-needed longer-term wetland conservation program (supported by e.g. the intergovernmental Ramsar Convention Secretariat and several other international conservation organisations), with the aim of conserving Korean biodiversity in ways that can benefit local communities and Korea as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bird News from Nial Moores &amp; Bernhard Seliger Outstanding bird highlights included single Common House Martin Delichon urbicum lagopodum seen well on April 21st; 2+ Grey Bunting Emberiza variabilis heard on 22nd; and one probable Latham\u2019s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii seen &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=19352\">read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":19343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[901,899,898,580,900,838],"class_list":["post-19352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-breeding-murres","tag-common-house-martin","tag-grebes","tag-grey-bunting","tag-lathams-snipe","tag-rason"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19352","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\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19352"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19367,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19352\/revisions\/19367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}