{"id":27533,"date":"2023-06-13T15:15:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T06:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=27533"},"modified":"2023-06-13T15:15:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T06:15:23","slug":"yeoncheon-imjin-river-biosphere-reserve-june-2nd-june-9th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=27533","title":{"rendered":"Yeoncheon Imjin River Biosphere Reserve, June 2nd-June 9th 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bird News from Dr Nial Moores (Birds Korea) with Lee Su-Young, Baek Seung-Kwang, and, on single dates, Lee Soojin and Jang Ryang (all Birds Korea Yeoncheon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Under contract from Yeoncheon County, six days of up-at-dawn productive survey in some of the most beautiful core and buffer parts of the Yeoncheon Imjin River Biosphere Reserve between June 2nd<\/sup> and 9th<\/sup>, including some key stretches of three rivers; a few relict wetlands; and many km of trail through bird-rich forest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Imjin River, CCZ, Yeoncheon County, June 2023 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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CCZ, Yeoncheon County, June 2023 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fairy Pitta<\/strong> habitat, Yeoncheon County, June 2023 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In total we found at least 98 bird species and saw five species of mammal (highlight being an Asian Badger<\/strong>). \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New for our survey work in the County were a Purple Heron<\/strong> on 3rd, a displaying Von Shrenck\u2019s Bittern<\/strong> on 8th, and compelling evidence of local breeding by at least two pairs of Yellow-bellied Tits<\/strong>. Numbers of some species (especially raptors) were rather lower than in 2022<\/a>, perhaps due in part to differences in weather, while higher numbers of some other species were logged, including Yellow-rumped Flycatcher<\/strong> (38 logged this year compared with 21 in 2022) and globally and nationally threatened Fairy Pitta<\/strong>, likely due in part to a larger search area of forest this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yellow-rumped Flycatcher<\/strong> Ficedula zanthopygia<\/em> \ud770\ub208\uc379\ud669\uae08\uc0c8 \u00a9 Nial Moores.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As with other bird and biodiversity surveys funded by Yeoncheon County, much fuller details will be provided in written reports to the County (and will also be made available to our members on request).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few of the more notable bird species \/ species of highest conservation concern are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taiga Bean Goose<\/strong> Anser fabalis<\/em> \ud070\ubd80\ub9ac\ud070\uae30\ub7ec\uae30. \u00a0A very late flock of 23-25, all presumed to be this species, were seen flying northeast on 3rd; and 5-10 were seen in the Imjin River at Baekhak on 8th, together with 2-7 Tundra Bean Goose<\/strong> Anser serrirostris<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bean Geese<\/em>, June 8th, Imjin River \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mandarin Duck<\/strong> Aix galericulata<\/em> \uc6d0\uc559. In total only 16 were observed \u2013 a substantially smaller number than in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Merganser<\/strong> Mergus merganser<\/em> \ube44\uc624\ub9ac. A male was seen on the Imjin River on June 8th<\/sup>. Although this species breeds locally in neighbouring Gangwon Province, this is the first mid-summer record of this species in Yeoncheon County that we are aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hill Pigeon<\/strong> Columba rupestris<\/em> \ub0ad\ube44\ub458\uae30. Six of this nationally Critically Endangered species were seen within the CCZ on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watercock<\/strong> Gallicrex cinerea<\/em> \ub738\ubd80\uae30. Similar to last year, two locations were found to hold \u201cgulping\u201d males. Like elsewhere in the ROK, agricultural industrialization continues to reduce habitat for this species even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watercock<\/strong> in morning fog, CCZ, Yeoncheon, June 3rd \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Long-billed Plover<\/strong> Charadrius placidus<\/em> \ud770\ubaa9\ubb3c\ub5bc\uc0c8. Our survey was timed too late to develop a proper population estimate for this nationally threatened species. \u00a0However, young were only observed along the Chatan Stream, and not at two previously favoured sites along the Hantan and at one major site in the Imjin. This was due, in large part, to ongoing \u201criverworks\u201d (bulldozing areas, including areas used by nesting birds each year, at the height of the breeding season), massive disturbance by \u201cfree campers\u201d and recreational fishers, and perhaps also because of high water levels due to pre-Jangma<\/em> thunderstorms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“River works” in the Hantan River, in the Core and Buffer Zone, of the Biosphere Reserve, June 2023 \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Long-billed Plovers<\/strong>: adult in front, well-grown juvenile behind, Chatancheon, Yeoncheon \u00a9 Baek Seung-Kwang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Common Sandpiper<\/strong> Actitis hypoleucos<\/em> \uae5d\uc791\ub3c4\uc694. Although survey of rivers was limited this year, at least 34 were counted in those areas which were visited. No obvious juveniles were seen, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-tailed Gull<\/strong> Larus crassirostris<\/em> \uad2d\uc774\uac08\ub9e4\uae30. Although a marine-preferential species, an adult and two Second calendar-years were patrolling the Imjin River at Baekhak on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little Tern<\/strong> Sternula albifrons<\/em> \uc1e0\uc81c\ube44\uac08\ub9e4\uae30. One bird was seen and heard in exaggerated display flight over small islands in the Imjin River at Baekhak on 8th<\/sup>. It is unclear whether or not a second bird was also present on the ground, out of view. One pair of this Nationally Vulnerable species were seen nesting in the same area in 2022. However, there was no evidence that any young were fledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Von Schrenck’s Bittern<\/strong> Ixobrychus eurhythmus<\/em> \ud070\ub364\ubd88\ud574\uc624\ub77c\uae30. A male was watched booming at close quarters in the CCZ on 8th<\/sup>. The whole process vaguely recalled someone playing the bagpipes – first “pumping” to get sufficient air into the instrument (in this case, air sacs on the neck sides), before then releasing sound…To hear this barking boom, please play the video clip below at full volume, preferably with head-phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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