{"id":26030,"date":"2022-05-31T22:11:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T13:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=26030"},"modified":"2022-05-31T22:12:00","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T13:12:00","slug":"baekryeong-island-may-19-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=26030","title":{"rendered":"Baekryeong Island, May 19-31"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bird News from Nial Moores (with Subhojit Chakladar for part of 26th<\/sup>-28th<\/sup><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to plentiful of enjoyable encounters with Korean breeding species (some of which like Black-faced Spoonbill<\/strong>, Chinese Egret<\/strong>, Tiger Shrike<\/strong> and Forest Wagtail<\/strong> breed on the island itself; others like Dusky Warbler <\/strong>and Asian Brown Flycatcher <\/strong>which do not), highlights in late May included Korea\u2019s second record of Silver-throated Tit<\/strong> Aegithalos glaucogularis<\/em> (Baegnyeong’s \/ Baekryeong\u2019s 380th<\/sup> species since 2013), three Black-winged Cuckooshrike<\/strong> (most years five or fewer records nationwide), an extremely briefly heard Large Hawk-cuckoo<\/strong>, and a presumed national high day count of ten Baikal Bush Warbler<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black-faced Spoonbill<\/strong> Platalea minor<\/em> \uc800\uc5b4\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chinese Egret<\/strong> Egretta eulophotes<\/em> \ub178\ub791\ubd80\ub9ac\ubc31\ub85c \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tiger Shrike<\/strong> Lanius tigrinus<\/em> \uce61\ub54c\uae4c\uce58 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Forest Wagtail<\/strong> Dendronanthus indicus<\/em> \ubb3c\ub808\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dusky Warbler<\/strong> Phylloscopus fuscatus<\/em> \uc194\uc0c8\uc0ac\ucd0c \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Asian Brown Flycatcher<\/strong> Muscicapa dauurica <\/em>\uc1e0\uc194\ub531\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the flip side, numbers of many usually numerous species (e.g., hirundines and swifts) and of a few typically uncommon migrants (e.g., Gray\u2019s Grasshopper Warbler<\/strong> and small bitterns) remained exceptionally low or absent throughout. In addition, ongoing construction (e.g. of a new port – resulting in the complete reclamation of the last remaining tidal flat) combined with dry north-easterlies for several days in a row and near drought conditions (broken only by some very light rain on 2 or 3 dates) made finding some species much more challenging than back in 2013, the first spring of survey. \u00a0As a result probably fewer than 145 species were logged in total between May 19th and 31st, compared with 183 species logged between May 16th<\/sup> and 31st<\/sup> in 2013<\/a> – even though some of the best birding areas had yet to be found at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selected species of note or interest in late May 2022 included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 19th<\/sup>, an odd (presumed) Peregrine Falcon<\/strong>, with extensive white on the head (including on the forehead up to the centre of the crown) and rather brown-toned plumage, and two Ruddy-breasted Crake<\/strong> in Jinchon (full eBird Checklist is here<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Presumed immature Peregrine Falcon<\/strong> Falco peregrinus<\/em> \ub9e4 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 20th<\/sup>, best were a single Hume\u2019s Warbler<\/strong> and a modest peak of Brown Shrike<\/strong>, with 16 in the Dumujin valley. Full eBird Checklist here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Brown Shrike<\/strong> Lanius cristatus confusus<\/em> \ub178\ub791\ub54c\uae4c\uce58 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 21st<\/sup>, in dense fog the first of this year\u2019s three Black-winged Cuckooshrike <\/strong>was found at Junghwadong. Full eBird Checklist here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 22nd<\/sup>, highlights included some modest raptor movement, with at least 20 Crested Honey Buzzard<\/strong> and 25 Grey-faced Buzzard <\/strong>over Jinchon, and a peak of three Japanese Leaf Warbler <\/strong>along with small numbers of Arctic (<\/strong>35) and Kamchatka Leaf Warblers<\/strong> (15), and at least six Yellow-breasted Bunting<\/strong> still in Jinchon (full eBird checklist here<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Globally Critically Endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting<\/strong> Emberiza aureola<\/em> \uac80\uc740\uba38\ub9ac\ucd09\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 23rd<\/sup>, the first of half-a-dozen \u201cBarking Cuckoos\u201d was heard (https:\/\/ebird.org\/checklist\/S111053969<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 24th<\/sup>, the first of three Fairy Pitta<\/strong> was heard singing in Junghwadong\u00a0 (https:\/\/ebird.org\/checklist\/S111146030<\/a>), with the others heard at night in Jinchon on 27th and 30th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 25th, a long-awaited rain front made slow progress across the Yellow Sea (bringing Mr Subhojit Chakladar with it!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Weather front across the Yellow Sea overnight of 24th into 25th, from Windy App<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 26th<\/sup>, following the passage of the weather system and decent westerlies, single Red Collared Dove<\/strong>, Large Hawk-cuckoo<\/strong> and the second Black-winged Cuckooshrike<\/strong> of the spring were in Dumujin, and the first two Baikal Bush Warbler<\/strong> of 2022 were heard in the west of the island (full eBird Checklist here<\/a> ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Female (or immature male?) Red Turtle Dove<\/strong> Streptopelia tranquebarica<\/em> \ud64d\ube44\ub458\uae30 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Adult male Black-winged Cuckooshrike<\/strong> Coracina melaschistos<\/em> \uac80\uc740\ud560\ubbf8\uc0c8\uc0ac\ucd0c \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 27th was a good day, starting with a White-shouldered<\/strong> and 2-4 Red-billed Starling<\/strong>, followed soon after by the third Black-winged Cuckooshrike<\/strong> (by SC only, in Junghwadong) and this spring’s peak counts of several species, including in the west at least 20 Brown Shrike<\/strong> and 15 Thick-billed Warblers <\/strong>and 45 Black-browed Warblers<\/strong>, the only 2 Middendorff\u2019s Grasshopper<\/strong> Warblers <\/strong>(one in song, one glimpsed and presumed to be this species) and at least 10 Baikal Bush Warbler<\/strong>, along with good numbers of leaf warblers, with e.g. 90 Arctic Warbler<\/strong> heard singing in two parts of the west of the island (full morning eBird Checklist here<\/a>). In the afternoon in Jinchon high counts included 15 Common Cuckoo<\/strong> and 30 Dark-sided Flycatcher<\/strong> (eBird Checklist here<\/a>), with a Fairy Pitta<\/strong> heard in song at night, apparently moving rapidly north, at 11:14 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Thick-billed Warbler<\/strong> Iduna aedon<\/em> \ud070\ubd80\ub9ac\uac1c\uac1c\ube44 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Black-browed Reed Warbler<\/strong> Acrocephalus bistrigiceps<\/em> \uc1e0\uac1c\uac1c\ube44 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dark-sided Flycatcher<\/strong>s Muscicapa sibirica<\/em> \uc194\ub531\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 28th<\/sup>, the only species of note was an Amur Falcon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amur Falcon<\/strong> Falco amurensis<\/em> \ube44\ub458\uae30\uc870\ub871\uc774 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 29th<\/sup>, a Grey-headed lapwing <\/strong>was heard in flight at night over Jinchon, and two Black-capped Kingfishers<\/strong> were logged \u2013 the personal first of the spring here (in earlier years 2-3 pairs nested on the island) – along with the personal first Grey Nightjar<\/strong> of the year. Full eBird Checklist here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grey Nightjar<\/strong> Caprimulgus jotaka<\/em> \uc3d9\ub3c5\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 30th<\/sup>, two Silver-throated Bushtit <\/strong>were \u00a0found in amongst a flock of 10 or so Long-tailed Tit<\/strong>, made up of one white-headed adult, one or more adult magnus<\/em>, one or more adult intergrades and at least three juveniles, one of which repeatedly tried to beg food (unsuccessfully when I was watching) off one of the Silver-throats<\/strong>. Silver-throated Tits<\/strong> are known to have “helpers”, supporting breeding pairs. Is this what happened here on Baekryeong, with Silver-throats<\/strong> helping feed the very closely-related Long-tailed Tits<\/strong>? The first national record of Silver-throated Tit <\/strong>was in March 2022 on Socheong Island<\/a> some 25-30km to the south, and it seems reasonable to assume that the Baekryeong birds likely arrived at more or less the same time, to over-summer on the island. Full eBird Checklist here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Silver-throated Tit<\/strong>(s) Aegithalos glaucogularis<\/em> \uac80\uc740\ud131\uc624\ubaa9\ub208\uc774 with a juvenile Long-tailed Tit<\/strong> \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 31st<\/sup>, in my final morning of survey this May, a Grey-headed Lapwing<\/strong> (most likely the one heard during the early hours of 29th<\/sup>, though up to three were claimed on the island by other observers) was in Jinchon, along with unseasonal single Chinese Penduline Tit<\/strong> (a species which has nested on the island), Chestnut-cheeked Starling<\/strong> and Hawfinch<\/strong>. Full eBird Checklist here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chestnut-cheeked Starling<\/strong> Agropsar philippensis<\/em> \uc1e0\ucc0c\ub974\ub808\uae30\u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Grey-headed Lapwing<\/strong> Vanellus cinereus<\/em> \ubbfc\ub315\uae30\ubb3c\ub5bc\uc0c8\u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bird News from Nial Moores (with Subhojit Chakladar for part of 26th-28th). In addition to plentiful of enjoyable encounters with Korean breeding species (some of which like Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Egret, Tiger Shrike and Forest Wagtail breed on the island … read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":26008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[712],"class_list":["post-26030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-baekryeong"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26030","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=26030"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26050,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26030\/revisions\/26050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}