{"id":9009,"date":"2013-05-27T23:50:20","date_gmt":"2013-05-27T14:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=9009"},"modified":"2013-06-09T19:32:54","modified_gmt":"2013-06-09T10:32:54","slug":"baekryeong-island-may-16-26-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/?p=9009","title":{"rendered":"Baekryeong Island, May 16 – 26"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selected Bird News from Nial Moores, on some dates with Matt Poll and Robin Newlin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arriving at midday on the 16th, survey effort by NM on Baekryeong Island has ranged from a minimum 5 hours up to a maximum 17 hours a day – with most effort concentrated on valleys in the west and southwest; around the main salt-marsh, reedbed and reservoir; and in the northeast of the island. Between 16th and 26th, c. 180 species have been recorded, with a surprisingly high daily diversity (with a minimum 70 species on 23rd and a maximum of 124 species logged on the 19th, following the only rain of the week). While a fuller report will follow (covering the period May 16th toc<\/em>. 30th), selected highlights, with nomenclature and order from the Birds Korea 2013 Checklist<\/a>, up to May 26th include:<\/p>\n

 
\n\"\"Cinnamon Bittern<\/strong>\u00a0Ixobrychus cinnamomeus<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/left><\/p>\n

Black-necked Grebe<\/strong>\u00a0Podiceps nigricollis<\/em>. One in near-complete breeding plumage on 19th.<\/p>\n

Eurasian Bittern<\/strong>\u00a0Botaurus stellaris<\/em>. One present and “booming” throughout the period.<\/p>\n

Von Schrenck’s Bittern<\/strong>\u00a0Ixobrychus eurhythmus<\/em>. Singles found on single dates in three different areas of the island and two were present in the main marsh eg on 26th (NM & RN).<\/p>\n

Cinnamon Bittern<\/strong>Ixobrychus cinnamomeus<\/em>. An adult male was seen briefly and record-digiscoped in the southwest on 22nd (NM & MP).<\/p>\n

Purple Heron<\/strong>\u00a0Ardea purpurea<\/em>. One on 16th (NM); minimum of two (and up to six) on 20th; and one on 24th (last NM & MP).<\/p>\n

 
\n

\"\"<\/a>Purple Heron<\/strong>\u00a0Ardea purpurea<\/em>, \u00a9 Matt Poll<\/center><\/p>\n

Amur Falcon<\/strong>\u00a0Falco amurensis<\/em>. One male (advanced second calendar-year?) on 17th; one second calendar-year male (or perhaps instead a second calendar-year maleRed-Footed Falcon F. verspertinus<\/em>, as it showed heavily patterned underwing coverts, a narrow dark trailing edge and apparently darker central tail fathers) on 20th; one female on 21st; one on 22nd (MP only); and four or five on 23rd.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/a>Amur Falcon<\/strong>\u00a0Falco amurensis<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Pied Harrier<\/strong>\u00a0Circus melanoleucos<\/em>. One female on 24th.<\/p>\n

White-breasted Waterhen<\/strong>\u00a0Amaurornis phoenicurus<\/em>. At least two, with one in the west on the 18th and one in the southeast on 21st.<\/p>\n

Ruddy-breasted Crake<\/strong>\u00a0Porzana fusca<\/em>. One in the west on 21st had been joined by a second bird on 22nd (NM & MP).<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/a>Ruddy-breasted Crake<\/strong>\u00a0Porzana fusca<\/em>, \u00a9 Matt Poll<\/center><\/p>\n

Fairy Pitta<\/strong>\u00a0Pitta nympha<\/em>. One briefly on 22nd.<\/p>\n

Brown Shrike\u00a0<\/strong>Lanius cristatus<\/em>. Recorded daily, with highest counts of 40 on 19th and 50 on 22nd. Of especial note, one pale individual on 21st showed a prominent white-wing patch, reduced dark on the lores and blue-grey tones to the bill base (all generally considered – perhaps! – to be features of\u00a0Red-tailed\u00a0<\/em>(aka “Turkestan<\/em>“)\u00a0Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides<\/em>).<\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Brown Shrike<\/strong>\u00a0Lanius cristatus<\/em>\u00a0with white-wing patch, May 21st, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Black Drongo<\/strong>\u00a0Dicrurus macrocercus<\/em>. Two present in the souhwest on 17th were still present on 22nd (and perhaps had been joined by a third); two were in the northeast on 21st (where one was heard on 26th); and one was in the far southwest on 24th.<\/p>\n

Asian Paradise Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Terpsiphone paradisi<\/em>. An adult male was present and poorly-imaged in the west of the island on 22nd by NM and MP. It was not seen in the same area on 24th.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Asian Paradise Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Terpsiphone paradisi<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Asian Paradise Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Terpsiphone paradisi<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Black Paradise Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Terpsiphone atrocaudata<\/em>. An adult male was well seen and poorly digiscoped in fog in the northeast on 20th and 21st.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Black Paradise Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Terpsiphone atrocaudata<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n

Light-vented Bulbul<\/strong>\u00a0Pycnonotus sinensis<\/em>. Present, apparently in territory, and likely breeding in every village on the island – with a rough estimate of at least 15-25 pairs present during the week of survey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sand Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia riparia\u00a0<\/em>. Recorded daily with a peak of 40 on 21st. However, identification of most (all?) of these individuals now appears less than certain (see below). Of two birds perched on wires on 17th, one appeared a little larger, browner and darker than the other, and seemed to have closed primaries that fell short of the tail tip (all apparently supporting ID as\u00a0Sand<\/strong>\u00a0rather than as\u00a0Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0R. diluta<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia diluta<\/em>. At least one digiscoped on 17th in the main marsh and one also digiscoped on 26th in the north-east of the island (when sound recordings were also taken of some of the 5-10 brown-backed martins present on this latter date). Identification was based on recent ID criteria summarised and discussed in February 2013 by Dave Bakewell in a series of blogposts on birds in Malaysia and links provided from there (e.g:\u00a0http:\/\/digdeep1962.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/19\/riparia-martins-in-malaysia-what-are-they-part-3\/<\/a>). Key features supporting ID as\u00a0Pal<\/strong>e (presumably of subspecies\u00a0fohkienensis<\/em>) of the bird on the 17th (rather than as\u00a0Sand Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia riparia ijimae<\/em>) which are visible in images, include: 1) General paleness of the upperparts, and paler ear coverts than crown; 2) Clear grey wash to the breast band and the flanks; 3) Primaries of the closed wing extending clearly beyond the closed tail (said to fall more or less equal with or fall short of the tail in\u00a0Sand Martin<\/strong>); and 4) presence of extensive tarsal feathering (just visible as a rough-edged white line on the left leg). The bird on the 26th showed a weak breast band (almost or actually broken in the centre) and also was considered (from images) to show some tarsal feathering above the main “tuft”.\u00a0Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0is at present listed in Category 6 in the present version of the Birds Korea Checklist<\/a>, while\u00a0Sand Martin<\/strong>\u00a0is listed in Category 1 and is generally considered to be a scarce migrant through the ROK. However, the actual status of both taxa in the ROK now seems rather less clear…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia diluta<\/em>, May 17th, \u00a9 Nial Moores <\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia diluta<\/em>, May 17th, \u00a9 Nial Moores <\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia diluta<\/em>, May 26th, \u00a9 Nial Moores <\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Pale Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Riparia diluta<\/em>\u00a0(middle) with\u00a0Red-rumped Swallow<\/strong>\u00a0Cecropis daurica<\/em>, May 26th, \u00a9 Nial Moores <\/center><\/p>\n

Common House Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Delichon urbicum<\/em>. One on 20th and at least seven together on 26th (NM & RN).<\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Common House Martin<\/strong>\u00a0Delichon urbicum<\/em>\u00a0(right) with\u00a0Barn Swallow<\/strong>\u00a0Hirundo rustica<\/em>\u00a0(middle)
\nand\u00a0Red-rumped Swallow<\/strong>\u00a0Cecropis daurica<\/em>\u00a0(left), \u00a9 Nial Moores <\/center><\/p>\n

Alpine Leaf Warbler<\/strong>\u00a0Phylloscopus occisinensis<\/em>. A recent IOC split from\u00a0Tickell’s Leaf Warbler<\/em>. One was sound-recorded and seen poorly in the southwest on May 19th.<\/p>\n

Japanese Leaf Warbler<\/strong>\u00a0Phylloscopus xanthodryas<\/em>. Two heard calling on May 24th (much deeper and more shrike-like than the 20 or so\u00a0Arctic Warbler<\/strong>\u00a0P. borealis\u00a0<\/em>and the two or so\u00a0Kamchatka Leaf\u00a0<\/strong>P. examinandus<\/em>double-note callers heard the same day), when one or two were also well seen (showing strong yellow wash to the supercilium and yellowish tones to the breast and flanks, constrasting with a quite broad white wing-bar and paler belly).<\/p>\n

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler<\/strong>\u00a0Phylloscopus borealoides<\/em>. One was heard singing (and perhaps faintly documented with a sound-recording) on 19th.<\/p>\n

Red-breasted Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Ficedula parva<\/em>. One heard (in direct comparison with two calling\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taiga Flycatcher<\/strong> P. albicilla<\/em> was presumably the same as the bird poorly digi-scoped at the same spot immediately afterwards in the northeast on 20th (with images showing orange tones to the base of the lower mandible; warm tones to the “face”; and dark brown rather than blackish longest uppertail coverts – though all much faded and overexposed in the images).<\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a>Red-breasted Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Ficedula parva<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores 
\n<\/center><\/p>\n

Slaty-blue Flycatcher<\/strong>\u00a0Ficedula tricolor<\/em>. An adult male was seen very poorly in the wst of the island by NM and MP during the afternoon of the 21st. Seen poorly in flight twice from behind (NM) and side (MP) and once when perched in a bush (by NM only) . Identification was based on: 1) Small size and fairly short tail (recalling e.g.\u00a0Red-breasted Flycatcher<\/em>); 2) Clean, in parts “shiny”, blue upperparts, recalling\u00a0Red-flanked Bluetail<\/em>, and white underparts; 3) Prominent white basal third to half of the otherwise blue-toned dark outer tail feathers; 4) Lack of dark throat; and 5) Dark, blue?, markings\/suffusion on the breast sides when the bird was perched. Unfortunately the bird was extremely secretive and elusive and was also in a highly sensitive part of the island. There are no previous records in the ROK.<\/p>\n

Russet Sparrow<\/strong>\u00a0Passer rutilans<\/em>. A male and female first found on the 19th were digi-scoped nest-building on 21st.<\/p>\n

 
\n\"\"<\/a>Male\u00a0Russet Sparrow<\/strong>\u00a0Passer rutilans<\/em>, \u00a9 Nial Moores
\n <\/p>\n

 \"\"<\/a> \/>Russet Sparrow<\/strong>\u00a0Passer rutilans<\/em>\u00a0entering nesthole, \u00a9 Nial Moores<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Selected Bird News from Nial Moores, on some dates with Matt Poll and Robin Newlin Arriving at midday on the 16th, survey effort by NM on Baekryeong Island has ranged from a minimum 5 hours up to a maximum 17 … 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":[599,600,54,597,498,598],"class_list":["post-9009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-sightings","tag-asian-paradise-flycatcher","tag-baekryeong-island","tag-identification","tag-pale-martin","tag-red-breasted-flycatcher","tag-slaty-blue-flycatcher"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9009","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=9009"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9109,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9009\/revisions\/9109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdskoreablog.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}