{"id":24578,"date":"2021-05-02T13:42:51","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T04:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=24578"},"modified":"2021-05-16T18:14:11","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T09:14:11","slug":"baekryeong-island-april-17-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=24578","title":{"rendered":"Baekryeong Island, April 17-30"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bird News from Nial Moores<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pallas’s Reed Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza pallasi<\/em> \ubd81\ubc29\uac80\uc740\uba38\ub9ac\uc465\uc0c8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Between April 17th<\/sup> and 30th<\/sup>, I logged approximately 168-170 species on the island, including the national second or third record of Claudia\u2019s leaf Warbler<\/strong> on 26th<\/sup>; a singing Yellow-streaked Warbler<\/strong> on 28th<\/sup> (still probably fewer than 20 national records, with more than half of these on Socheong and especially Baekryeong); and a Pied Wheatear<\/strong> on 30th<\/sup> (still perhaps fewer than 20 national records).  In addition, I found the island\u2019s first Ferruginous Duck<\/strong> on 18th<\/sup> (together with an apparent hybrid Aythya<\/em> of some kind), helping raise the island\u2019s unofficial list maintained by Birds Korea to 367 species.  Is there anywhere else in Korea with a higher list than this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As in previous years, many birds were likely missed as I was again confined to public transport and walking, so could not easily visit several usually birdy areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although diversity was high, and comparable with previous years (e.g., 172 species logged between April 15th<\/sup> and 29th<\/sup>, 2020), with a few exceptionally early arrivers mixed in with substantial numbers of early spring hangovers, numbers of individuals of many species were generally either rather or very much lower than in recent years. For example, the highest day count of Olive-backed Pipit<\/strong> so far this spring has only been 70 and of Little Bunting<\/strong> 90.  This compares extremely poorly with the same period in 2020, when on April 25th<\/sup> approximately 27,000 small landbirds, including an estimated 15,000 Olive-backed Pipit<\/strong>, 5,000 Brambling<\/strong>, 1,000 Eurasian Siskin<\/strong> and thousands of buntings, were counted moving north in only four hours, with 1,800 Little Bunting<\/strong> grounded in Jinchon alone on 26th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unusual prevalence of northerly and \/ or easterly winds has likely been the major cause of the absence of any big movements across the island this spring.  This assumption is supported by low numbers of migrants being reported on eBird on other islands too (although sadly such reports only rarely, if ever, include any counts of visible migration). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitat degradation has likely also played some role.  In spite of an encouraging slew of public announcements made by various levels of government in April finally formally recognizing the island\u2019s importance to biodiversity and its potential for ecotourism with e.g., Jinchon now listed as a National Ecotourism area (this thanks to years of hard work by organisations like Green Korea Incheon and of course Birds Korea<\/a>), ongoing habitat loss continues \u2013 especially in Jinchon. This includes what appears to be complete reclamation of the remaining tidal flat for yet another new harbour; concreting of more streams; and in-filling of more reedbeds and small wetlands, including areas known to support large populations of Nationally Endangered Boreal Digging Toad<\/strong> Kaloula borealis<\/em>. Work has also started on converting some of the disused salt-pans in the Hwadong Wetlands, presumably to make more rice-fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are still many patches of excellent habitat, however, and lots of good birds to see on the island, including a wide-range of beautiful, still-typical April migrants (e.g., White\u2019s Thrush <\/strong>and Grey-backed Thrushes<\/strong> Siberian Blue Robin<\/strong> and Siberian Rubythroat<\/strong>, Stejneger\u2019s Stonechat<\/strong>, Blue-and-white <\/strong>and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers<\/strong>, and Tristram\u2019s Bunting etc<\/em>.<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White\u2019s Thrush<\/strong> Zoothera aurea<\/em> \ud638\ub791\uc9c0\ube60\uadc0 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blue-and-white Flycatcher<\/strong> Cyanoptila cyanomelana<\/em> \ud070\uc720\ub9ac\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Siberian Blue Robin<\/strong> Larvivora cyane<\/em> \uc1e0\uc720\ub9ac\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Siberian Rubythroat<\/strong> Calliope calliope<\/em> \uc9c4\ud64d\uac00\uc2b4 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Yellow-rumped Flycatcher<\/strong> Ficedula zanthopygia<\/em> \ud770\ub208\uc379\ud669\uae08\uc0c8: Female above, male below \u00a9 Nial Moores.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Stejneger\u2019s Stonechat <\/strong>Saxicola stejnegeri<\/em> \uac80\uc740\ub531\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tristram\u2019s Bunting Emberiza tristrami \ud770\ubc30\uba67\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few of the more notable bird records\/ observations follow, with all images copyright of Nial Moores and of Birds Korea:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-faced Spoonbill<\/strong> Platalea minor<\/em> \uc800\uc5b4\uc0c8. Only between 5 and 7 noted during the period, with birds absent from previously preferred areas (e.g., in Jinchon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eurasian Bittern<\/strong> Botaurus stellaris<\/em> \uc54c\ub77d\ud574\uc624\ub77c\uae30. One heard booming in the Hwadong Wetland on 22nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Egret<\/strong> Egretta eulophotes<\/em> \ub178\ub791\ubd80\ub9ac\ubc31\ub85c. VU. To date, still only two recorded during surveys, first on 28th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crested Honey Buzzard<\/strong> Pernis ptilorhynchus<\/em> \ubc8c\ub9e4. First on the rather early date of April 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese Sparrowhawk<\/strong> Accipiter gularis<\/em>. Displaying pairs seen in three different parts of the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Goshawk<\/strong> Accipiter gentilis<\/em>. One or two birds seen displaying on two dates, again suggesting local breeding as in previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pied Harrier<\/strong> Circus melanoleucos<\/em> \uc54c\ub77d\uac1c\uad6c\ub9ac\ub9e4. Three males passed through Jinchon on 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grey-headed Lapwing<\/strong> Vanellus cinereus<\/em> \ubbfc\ub315\uae30\ubb3c\ub5bc\uc0c8. Three different individuals recorded on 17th, 19th and 28th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greater Sand Plover<\/strong> Charadrius leschenaultii<\/em> \ud070\uc655\ub208\ubb3c\ub5bc\uc0c8. One on the main tidal flat on 18th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far Eastern Curlew<\/strong> Numenius madagascariensis<\/em> \uc54c\ub77d\uaf2c\ub9ac\ub9c8\ub3c4\uc694. EN. One on the main tidal flat on 18th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Temminck\u2019s Stint<\/strong> Calidris temminckii<\/em> \ud770\uaf2c\ub9ac\uc880\ub3c4\uc694. One in the Hwadong Wetland on 22nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latham\u2019s Snipe<\/strong> Gallinago hardwickii<\/em> \ud070\uae85\ub3c4\uc694. One on 28th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-capped Kingfisher<\/strong> Halcyon pileata<\/em> \uccad\ud638\ubc18\uc0c8. One heard on 28th<\/sup>: 5-7 days earlier than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker<\/strong> Dendrocopos hyperthrus<\/em> \ubd89\uc740\ubc30\uc624\uc0c9\ub531\ub2e4\uad6c\ub9ac. A \u201crattle trill\u201d that sounded to me just like this species was heard three times on 29th<\/sup>, followed by a glimpse of a medium sized bird with a lot of red and \/ or orange in the plumage. Views were insufficient, however, to confirm ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull-headed Shrike<\/strong> Lanius Bucephalus<\/em> \ub54c\uae4c\uce58. At least two pairs with begging juveniles were seen, first on 26th<\/sup>, with one bird being fed a young shrew sp. This species regularly has young out of the nest before the main arrival of Brown Shrike, and worn adults with their young are undoubtedly the cause of almost all claims of Brown Shrike before about April 20th<\/sup> or 25th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brown Shrike<\/strong> Lanius cristatus<\/em> \ub178\ub791\ub54c\uae4c\uce58. Remarkably scarce and rather late, with the first only on April 29th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese Waxwing<\/strong> Bombycilla japonica<\/em> \ud64d\uc5ec\uc0c8. NT. Three on 28th<\/sup> and one on 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Syke\u2019s (Mongolian) Short-toed Lark<\/strong> Calandrella dukhunensis<\/em> \uc1e0\uc885\ub2e4\ub9ac. Four or five on 17th<\/sup> and one on 28th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yellow-streaked Warbler<\/strong> Phylloscopus armandii<\/em> \uc1e0\uae34\ub2e4\ub9ac\uc194\uc0c8\uc0ac\ucd0c. One singing on 28th<\/sup>. Poor sound-recordings were made. This species appears to be regular in very small numbers on Baekryeong in spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radde\u2019s Warbler<\/strong> Phylloscopus schwarzi<\/em> \uae34\ub2e4\ub9ac\uc194\uc0c8\uc0ac\ucd0c. One on 26th<\/sup> and another on 28th<\/sup>: at least a week earlier than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hume\u2019s Leaf Warbler<\/strong> Phylloscopus humei<\/em> \uc5f0\ub178\ub791\ub208\uc379\uc194\uc0c8. One heard calling on 22nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia\u2019s Leaf Warbler<\/strong> Phylloscopus claudiae<\/em> \ubd81\ubc29\ub3d9\uace0\ube44\uc194\uc0c8. One was seen well if a little briefly on 26th<\/sup>. Superficially looking like a smallish, slightly hyper Eastern Crowned<\/em>, with e.g. a pale central crown stripe and paler nape, but behaving very differently. During three views of 15+ seconds over 3-4 minutes at 10-20m range, the bird was seen clambering up and down the main bough of trees three times (living up to the delightful Korean name of “Northern Nuthatch-warbler”!) and hanging upside down like a tit and wing-flicking. Compared with Eastern Crowned Warbler (present in the same area at the same time, together with Pallas’s Leaf, Pale-legged and Yellow-browed Warblers) this bird also showed: A much greyer head, including ear coverts; duller green upperparts without blaze across remiges; obvious double whiteish-yellow wingbar; dirty white underparts apparently without yellow wash on vent; longer, thinner-looking bill (not quite as broad-based as E CW), with very extensive orange on bill including all of the lower mandible (and it appeared up onto the upper mandible too, though with a darker culmen). The legs were dirty pink. The bird was not heard to call and did not vocalise in response to a recording of a song on Xeno Canto, though my closest view coincided with the first time of playing it. Frustratingly, the bird moved too quickly to digiscope, and stuck with a mixed group of leaf warblers, that seemed to move rapidly eastward through the forest. My second or third in the ROK (and perhaps the second or third national record?), with the first on Socheong on April 14th 2009 <\/a>digiscoped and sound-recorded; with another presumed individual (either this species or rather less likely the still un-recorded Hartert\u2019s) heard giving snippets of song 2-3 times though not seen, also on Socheong Island, on April 25th<\/sup> 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swinhoe\u2019s White-eye<\/strong> Zosterops japonicus<\/em> \uc791\uc740\ub3d9\ubc15\uc0c8. Only small numbers (1-10) were present throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chestnut-cheeked Starling<\/strong> Agropsar philippensis<\/em> \uc1e0\ucc0c\ub974\ub808\uae30. One on 27th<\/sup> with the same or another seen in a different part of the island on 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Common Starling<\/strong> Sturnus vulgaris<\/em> \ud770\uc810\ucc0c\ub974\ub808\uae30. A breeding-plumaged bird was in song on 22nd<\/sup>: a rather later observation of this local winter visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dusky Thrush<\/strong> Turdus eunomus<\/em> \uac1c\ub625\uc9c0\ube60\uadc0. Easily the commonest thrush, with at least 150 seen together in Jinchon as late as April 28th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Red-flanked Bluetail<\/strong> Tarsiger cyanurus<\/em> \uc720\ub9ac\ub531\uc0c8. Highest day count was a very modest 63 on 18th<\/sup> in Jinchon only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taiga Flycatcher<\/strong> Ficedula albicilla<\/em> \ud770\uaf2c\ub9ac\ub531\uc0c8. The first individuals were noted on April 19th<\/sup>: an exceptionally early date for a species which usually first arrives in May. In 2010, during near-daily coverage throughout the northward migration on nearby Socheong Island, the first Taiga Flycatchers were not logged until May 6th<\/sup>, with the peak in number falling on May 25th<\/sup>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pied Wheatear<\/strong> Oenanthe pleschanka<\/em> \uac80\uc740\ub4f1\uc0ac\ub9c9\ub531\uc0c8. A female in Dumujin on the 30th<\/sup> appears to be the first record for Baekryeong. There are probably fewer than 20 national records still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pechora Pipit<\/strong> Anthus gustavi<\/em> \ud770\ub4f1\ubc2d\uc885\ub2e4\ub9ac. One on 28th<\/sup> was the only record.  Previous observations suggest that early \u201cPech Pipits\u201d are most likely to be of subspecies menzbieri<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brambling<\/strong> Fringilla montifringilla<\/em> \ub418\uc0c8. Present in small numbers throughout, with the highest day count 1,200 on 28th<\/sup> including many birds watched departing the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Perfectly patterned for feeding on dry pine cones!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eurasian Siskin<\/strong> Spinus spinus<\/em> \uac80\uc740\uba38\ub9ac\ubc29\uc6b8\uc0c8. Present in small numbers throughout, with the highest day count 350 on the late date of the 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yellow-browed Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza chrysophrys<\/em> \ub178\ub791\ub208\uc379\uba67\uc0c8. Remarkably low numbers recorded during this period, with the highest day count an extremely modest 150 on April 28th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yellow-breasted Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza aureola<\/em> \uac80\uc740\uba38\ub9ac\ucd09\uc0c8. CR. Only two individuals logged: a 2cy male nominate on the early date of April 22nd<\/sup> and an adult male ornata<\/em> on 24th<\/sup>. The species tends to peak in early or mid-May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chestnut Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza rutila<\/em> \uaf2c\uae4c\ucc38\uc0c8. Formerly one of the most numerous migrants on offshore islands; now increasingly scarce and absolutely inappropriately assessed by BirdLife as Least Concern. Single birds only were recorded on two dates, April 29th<\/sup> and 30th<\/sup>.  A decade ago, the species used to show a very concentrated peak on about May 7th<\/sup> or 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yellow Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza sulphurata<\/em> \ubb34\ub2f9\uc0c8. VU. Only one recorded: a male seen giving brief snatches of song on 27th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bird News from Nial Moores Between April 17th and 30th, I logged approximately 168-170 species on the island, including the national second or third record of Claudia\u2019s leaf Warbler on 26th; a singing Yellow-streaked Warbler on 28th (still probably fewer … read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":24592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[718],"class_list":["post-24578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-baekyreong-island"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578","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=24578"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24713,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578\/revisions\/24713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}