{"id":7914,"date":"2013-03-11T15:24:43","date_gmt":"2013-03-11T06:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=7914"},"modified":"2013-03-17T15:35:43","modified_gmt":"2013-03-17T06:35:43","slug":"baekryeong-island-march-7-9baekryeong-island-march-7-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=7914","title":{"rendered":"Baekryeong Island, March 7-9"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Baekryeong Island, Ongjin County, Incheon,\u00a0is a large offshore island lying 14km north of Socheong and at closest only 13km from the DPRK mainland. There was quite poor visibility on all three days of survey (with fog on the 7th<\/sup>\u00a0and the morning of the 8th<\/sup>\u00a0followed by yellow dust). Winds were light to moderate throughout and temperatures above average (with maxima of 6C on 7th<\/sup>, 13C on 8th<\/sup>\u00a0and 11C on 9th<\/sup>) as a result of a record-breaking pulse of warm air pushing across eastern China and southern ROK (max. of 25C apparently recorded in Daegu on 11th<\/sup>).<\/p>\n

\"\" Baekryeong Lake, northern end, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

\"\"Baekryeong Do, southern beach, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

\"\" Baekryeong Do, mixed habitat near Hyeonhwa Ri, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

\"\" Baekryeong Do, wetland behind the salt pans at Hwado Ri, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

All birds (seen and heard, irrespective of distance) were counted on foot in 15 coarsely-delineated areas during 23 hours of survey between dawn and dusk. \u00a0The first afternoon (marked by yellow dots) was spent in the east of the island; day two (marked in green) in rice-field areas, as far west as Hyeonhwa Ri; and day three (marked in blue) was focused on open habitats and forest edge towards the southwest of the island. \u00a0As elsewhere, this \u00a0kind of survey is strongly biased towards the recording of species which are vocal and\/or typically found in open habitats.<\/p>\n

\"\"Baekryeong Island, with survey routes marked by coloured dots, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center>
\n <\/p>\n

A total of 84 species were logged (none of which were owls, despite several hours spent walking in the dark). Several of the species that were recorded appear to be early spring migrants (based on research on other islands), with sudden warming on the 8th<\/sup>\u00a0and clearing fog apparently soon followed by larger numbers of several species (including both species of rosefinch). However, as the island is not covered by the MOE winter census and is rarely visited by Birds Koreans it is also possible that many of the same species (and individuals\u2026) also overwintered here.<\/p>\n

The most numerous species recorded this trip was\u00a0Tundra Bean Goose<\/strong>\u00a0(with >1000 present), with the five most numerous landbird species\u00a0Rustic Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0(155 in 9 areas),\u00a0Eastern Great Tit<\/strong>\u00a0(101 in 13 areas),\u00a0Yellow-throated Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0(72 in 12 areas),\u00a0Rook<\/strong>\u00a0(85 in one flock), and\u00a0Pallas\u2019s Reed Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0(70 in six areas).<\/p>\n

Further selected highlights included:<\/p>\n

Japanese Quail<\/strong>: One on 7th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Mandarin Duck<\/strong>: One male on Baekryeong Lake (a large reclamation lake in the centre of the island visited on all three dates) on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Falcated Duck<\/strong>: At least 10 on Baekryeong Lake on all three dates.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n
White-tailed Eagle<\/strong>\u00a0Haliaeetus albicilla<\/em>\u00a0(above) and\u00a0Steller’s Sea Eagle<\/strong>\u00a0Haliaeetus pelagicus<\/em>(below), Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n

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

Mallard<\/strong>\u00a0x\u00a0Eastern Spot-billed Duck<\/strong>\u00a0hybrid: One poorly digiscoped on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0appeared to be paired with a pure\u00a0Eastern Spotbill<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Baikal Teal<\/strong>: One male on Baekryeong Lake on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Black Kite<\/strong>: Two at Sagot Ri on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0and one (still largely in juvenile-type plumage) in rice-fields west of Jincheon on 9th<\/sup>. This species is absent from almost all of the ROK with the exception of the far southeast and was not listed for the adjacent Hwanghaenam Province (DPRK) by Tomek, but was also recorded here in December 2007 by Robin Newlin (see Bird News archive).<\/p>\n

White-tailed Eagle<\/strong>: At least five or six present, most close to Baekryeong Lake.<\/p>\n

Steller\u2019s Sea Eagle<\/strong>: An immature was soaring with\u00a0White-tailed Eagles<\/strong>\u00a0at Hwadong Ri on March 9th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\"\"First-winter)\u00a0Steller’s Sea Eagle<\/strong>\u00a0Haliaeetus pelagicus<\/em>\u00a0(same as in previous image), Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Upland Buzzard<\/strong>: Although this has been a rather poor winter for the species on the mainland probably six were recorded in total, with three or four First-winters and two or three adults. It is possible that several of these were early spring migrants as March appears to be the peak month for northward migration along the west coast.<\/p>\n

\"\"First-winter\u00a0Upland Buzzard<\/strong>\u00a0Buteo hemilasius<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Eastern Buzzard<\/strong>: A total of 21 were counted in 11 areas, including one odd-looking individual at Hwadong Ri on the 9th<\/sup>\u00a0with a warm-toned breast, solid looking dark belly, and obvious large white patches on the primary bases.<\/p>\n

\u201cFar Eastern Oystercatcher<\/strong>\u201d: Six were display-flighting together over the salt-pans at Hwadong Ri on 9th<\/sup>\u00a0suggesting the possibility of local breeding.<\/p>\n

Little Ringed Plover<\/strong>: Singles on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0and 8th<\/sup>\u00a0were the personal first of the year.<\/p>\n

Spotted Redshank<\/strong>: One on 8th<\/sup>\u00a0was the personal first of the year.<\/p>\n

Eurasian Hoopoe<\/strong>: One on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0and a second on 8th<\/sup>\u00a0were the only ones recorded.<\/p>\n

Chinese Grey Shrike<\/strong>: One was in song in rice-fields east of Baekryeong Lake on all three dates and a second was at Kaul-Ri on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Azure-winged Magpie<\/strong>: Five were in Sagot Ri on 7th<\/sup>. This is my first encounter with this species on any offshore island. Of note, however, Park Jin Young\u2019s 2002 thesis includes a series of records of the species on Baekryeong, including a maximum of 60 in September 1991.<\/p>\n

\"\"Azure winged Magpie<\/strong>\u00a0Cyanopica cyanus<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Horned Lark<\/strong>: An extremely elusive individual was seen and heard twice in flight in two hours mixed in with \u00a0a group of 15 or so\u00a0Eurasian Skylark<\/strong>\u00a0in Hyeonhwa Ri (in the far west of the island). In bright light, the strong yellow wash on much of the head indicated subspecies\u00a0flava<\/em>. No images or sound recordings were made. This is likely a much-overlooked species in the ROK, as there have now been several recent records \u2013 all along the west coast in months Oct-Apr.<\/p>\n

Light-vented Bulbul<\/strong>: Two were in Sagot Ri on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0and another probable was heard on 8th<\/sup>\u00a0in the west of the island. With mid-winter records in previous years also from e.g. Socheong and Ganghwa it seems that this species is able to survive some of the nation\u2019s harshest winter weather\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"Light-vented Bulbul<\/strong>\u00a0Pycnonotus sinensis<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

White Wagtail<\/strong>: A total of 20 were recorded in 11 areas, with all birds seen\u00a0leucopsis<\/em>\u00a0(an early spring migrant and summer visitor to the ROK).<\/p>\n

Eurasian Bullfinch<\/strong>: Seven were heard in three areas.<\/p>\n

Long-tailed Rosefinch<\/strong>: A total of 18 were logged in eight areas.<\/p>\n

Pallas\u2019s Rosefinch<\/strong>: None on 7th<\/sup>; only one high-flying bird on 8th<\/sup>; but at least 30 on 9th<\/sup>\u00a0(including several fully adult males).<\/p>\n

Chestnut-eared Bunting<\/strong>: Three were in the main stream at Hyeonhwa Ri on 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Common Reed Bunting<\/strong>: Probably 15 or so were present in overgrown fields to the east of Baekryeong Lake Bill size and shape suggest (as expected) subspecies\u00a0pyrrhulina<\/em>, said to breed in Kamchatka, Eastern Siberia, north-eastern China and northern Japan, and to winter more widely in East Asia (including in the ROK, where it appears to be increasing rapidly).<\/p>\n

\"\"Common Reed Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

\"\"Female\u00a0Common Reed Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

To conclude, despite the patchily heavy-construction much excellent and quite diverse habitat remains on Baekryeong. The walking is easy and several of the birds seem fairly approachable. It is therefore likely that in the right conditions and at the right times of year birding on Baekryeong could be superbly informative and hugely enjoyable. Moreover, in spite of all the televised belligerence and anger-mongering of recent weeks (similar to several recent Marches), local people seemed relaxed and extremely friendly. Here is hoping that things long remain that way!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bird News from Nial Moores Baekryeong Island, Ongjin County, Incheon,\u00a0is a large offshore island lying 14km north of Socheong and at closest only 13km from the DPRK mainland. There was quite poor visibility on all three days of survey (with … read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-sightings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914","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\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7914"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7926,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914\/revisions\/7926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}