{"id":8685,"date":"2013-05-04T20:04:03","date_gmt":"2013-05-04T11:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=8685"},"modified":"2013-05-18T12:03:02","modified_gmt":"2013-05-18T03:03:02","slug":"various-sites-april-27-may-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=8685","title":{"rendered":"Various Sites, April 27 – May 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bird News from Nial Moores & Jenny Bowman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visiting various well-known (and some lesser known) sites mostly in the west and northwest, we encountered a grand total of 190 species heard or seen (with\u00a0c.<\/em>\u00a0170 recorded by JB) between April 27th and May 4th. Sites visited included Yeongjong and Song Do (Incheon) on 27th; the Geum Estuary and Weiyeon Island on 28th (resulting in 118 species recorded that day); Weiyeon only on 29th & 30th; Weiyeon on the morning of May 1st, followed by Boryeong tidal-flat and the Geum Estuary in the afternoon; the Geum Estuary and Boryeong tidal-flat again early in the morning of the 2nd, followed by a small part of Seosan Lake A;\u00a0 Namhansan Seong near Seoul on 3rd; and forest near the national arboretum and then Cheorwon on 4th. Weather was cool and mostly sunny with occasional fog or haze near the coast, with the exception of a severe thunderstorm (with perhaps >50mm of rain and brief gale-force winds knocking down several trees) at dawn on April 29th. As expected, this system produced some of the highest numbers of grounded landbirds during the period.<\/p>\n

Selected highlights included:<\/p>\n

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    1. Black-faced Spoonbill<\/strong>\u00a0Platalea minor<\/em>.\u00a0 At least 70 were present at Song Do colony on April 27th, despite ongoing reclamation of the last viable area of tidal-flat there.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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      Black-faced Spoonbill nesting island, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      Black-faced Spoonbill<\/strong>\u00a0Platalea minor<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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        1. Purple Heron<\/strong>\u00a0Ardea purpurea<\/em>. One overflew Weiyeon on April 29th.<\/li>\n
        2. Chinese Egret<\/strong>\u00a0Egretta eulophotes<\/em>. Three at Boryeong Tidal-flat on May 2nd and 3rd.<\/li>\n
        3. Eastern Marsh Harrier<\/strong>\u00a0Circus spilonotus<\/em>. A male was over reed-beds at the Han-Imjin Estuary on May 4th.<\/li>\n
        4. Grey-headed Lapwing<\/strong>\u00a0Vanellus cinereus<\/em>.\u00a0 On Weiyeon, a non-breeding plumaged bird (second calendar year?) on April 28th was followed by a full breeding plumaged adult on 29th.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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          Grey-headed Lapwing<\/strong>\u00a0Vanellus cinereus<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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            1. Latham\u2019s Snipe<\/strong>\u00a0Gallinago hardwickii<\/em>\u00a0. Recorded daily on Weiyeon\u00a0 between April 29th and May 1st, with at least four on 29th the highest day count (a day with 40 other snipe of three other species also on the island\u2026).<\/li>\n
            2. Asian Dowitcher<\/strong>\u00a0Limnodromus semipalmatus<\/em>. A breeding plumaged bird was at the Geum Estuary on April 28th.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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              Asian Dowitcher<\/strong>\u00a0Limnodromus semipalmatus<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                1. Nordmann\u2019s Greenshank<\/strong>\u00a0Tringa guttifer<\/em>. Seen at three different roosts on the mainland at the Geum Estuary, with one on 28th; 2 or 3 on May 1st; and at least two on May 2nd.<\/li>\n
                2. Great Knot<\/strong>\u00a0Calidris tenuirostris<\/em>. At least 4,600 were at two mainland roosts at the Geum Estuary on May 2nd.<\/li>\n
                3. Gull<\/em> sp. An extremely odd-looking gull, considered to show several features of both Black-headedChroicocephalus ridibundus<\/em>\u00a0and Slender-billed Gull\u00a0Chroicocephalus genei<\/em>\u00a0 (latter only one previous national record) was seen briefly at Boryeong tidal-flat on May 2nd and was probably still there (though mostly very distantly) on the 3rd.\u00a0 The lack of an obviously bi-colored eye; the shortness of the tail; and the darkness of the bill seemed anomalous on a bird showing only one ear spot with an exceptionally long and slender bill and small eye. Perhaps the bird\u2019s singular appearance might perhaps be best explained by some hybrid influence (e.g. between Slender-billed Gull and Black-headed Gull?)?\u00a0 Comments welcome!<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                  Odd looking gull, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                  Odd looking gull, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                  Odd looking gull, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                  Odd looking gull, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                  Odd looking gull, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                    1. Black Woodpecker<\/strong>\u00a0Dryocopus martius<\/em>. Superb views were enjoyed of a pair chasing off Red Squirrels from their nest hole near the arboretum on May 4th.<\/li>\n
                    2. Black-browed Reed Warbler<\/strong>\u00a0Acrocephalus bistrigiceps<\/em>. One heard singing on April 29th on Weiyeon (NM only) is considered exceptionally early.<\/li>\n
                    3. Chinese Nuthatch<\/strong>\u00a0Sitta villosa<\/em>. One (or two) near the Geum Barrage on April 28th and one (or two) on Weiyeon Island on May 1st would be considered extraordinary in any other year!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                      Chinese Nuthatch<\/strong>\u00a0Sitta villosa<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                        1. White-shouldered Starling<\/strong>\u00a0Sturnia sinensis<\/em>. One briefly on Weiyeon Island on April 29th (NM only).<\/li>\n
                        2. Orange-headed Thrush<\/strong>\u00a0Geokichla citrina<\/em>. One male fed briefly on the school playing ground on Weiyeon in fog and light rain on April 29th. This is believed to be the third national record.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                          Orange-headed Thrush<\/strong>\u00a0Geokichla citrina<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                            1. Verditer Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Eumyias thalassinus<\/em>. On April 30th, an adult male seen by NM only moved from field to field, perching on nets and fence-posts, unfortunately passing by several photographers apparently unnoticed.<\/li>\n
                            2. Citrine Wagtail<\/strong>\u00a0Motacilla citreola<\/em>. One, then two adult males, present on Weiyeon daily.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                              Citrine Wagtail<\/strong>\u00a0Motacilla citreola<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                                1. Pechora Pipit<\/strong>\u00a0Anthus gustavi<\/em>. A small\u00a0menzbieri<\/em>-type Pechora tried to find shelter under the same covered area we were taking shelter in during the rainstorm on 29th, with another heard in a different part of Weiyeon Island the same day. On May 4th, one\u00a0gustavi<\/em>-type seen and heard in Pocheon (Gyeonggi Province) is an unusual inland record.<\/li>\n
                                2. Red-throated Pipit<\/strong>\u00a0Anthus cervinus<\/em>. At least 15 were grounded on Weiyeon on April 30th and May 1st \u2013 a decent count for a small offshore island.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                  Red-throated Pipit<\/strong>\u00a0Anthus cervinus<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                                    1. Brambling<\/strong>\u00a0Fringilla montifringilla<\/em>. Recorded daily on Weiyeon, with a peak of 200 on April 29th and several fresh-in birds most days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                      Brambling<\/strong>\u00a0Fringilla montifringilla<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                                        1. Hawfinch<\/strong>\u00a0Coccothraustes coccothraustes<\/em>, \u00a0Typically rare in May, but recorded daily, with 25 seen on May 4th (including one flock of 15 in Cheorwon).<\/li>\n
                                        2. Eurasian Siskin<\/strong>\u00a0Carduelis spinus<\/em>. Recorded daily, with an estimated 110 on April 30th being the maximum day count. On Weiyeon, many appeared exhausted (one even falling asleep as it fed) and we saw one killed by a cat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                          Eurasian Siskin<\/strong>\u00a0Carduelis spinus<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                                            1. Tristram\u2019s Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza tristrami<\/em>. Recorded daily, including on the mainland, with highest day counts of 30+ on April 29th on Weiyeon. Some on Weiyeon appeared exhausted and were highly approachable \u2013 with one such bird killed by a cat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                              Tristram\u2019s Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza tristrami<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                                                1. Yellow-browed Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza chrysophrys<\/em>. Recorded almost daily with high counts of 60 at Yeongjong on April 27th and 30+ on Weiyeon Island on April 29th.<\/li>\n
                                                2. Yellow-breasted Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza aureola<\/em>. Maximum of only two, on Weiyeon Island on April 29th.<\/li>\n
                                                3. Yellow Bunting<\/strong>.\u00a0Emberiza sulphurata<\/em>. Only one recorded, on Weiyeon on April 29th.<\/li>\n
                                                4. Black-faced Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza spodocephala<\/em>.\u00a0Recorded daily, with a maximum of 350+ on Weiyeon on April 29th, decreasing to 250 on 30th. On April 28th and again on May 2nd, a\u00a0personata<\/em>\u00a0was in song near the Geum barrage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                                  Black-faced Bunting<\/strong>\u00a0Emberiza spodocephala personata<\/em>, Photo \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                                  <\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                  Bird News from Nial Moores & Jenny Bowman Visiting various well-known (and some lesser known) sites mostly in the west and northwest, we encountered a grand total of 190 species heard or seen (with\u00a0c.\u00a0170 recorded by JB) between April 27th … 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":[586,59,587,588,585],"class_list":["post-8685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-asian-dowitcher","tag-black-faced-spoonbill","tag-grey-headed-lapwing","tag-odd-looking-gull","tag-orange-headed-thrush"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8685","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=8685"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8835,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8685\/revisions\/8835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}