Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Dr. Nial Moores, Minjae Baek
From January 16-19, we performed a seabird survey in Goseong, organized by Hanns Seidel Basis Korea, performed scientifically by Dr. Nial Moores and accompanied by Kim Eo-Jin, essentially the most prolific Korean hen youtuber, higher generally known as “the Korean Birder”. It was a second seabird survey after December 2023, and it adopted eight years after an intensive two-year survey interval in 2016-2017. The outcomes of those nice days have been revealed right here in a distinct submit (https://www.birdskoreablog.org/?p=28394 – in Korean). However being in Goseong all the time can also be an opportunity for some nice views of landbirds.
This 12 months noticed many eruptions of birds, and on January 18th within the afternoon we encountered 26 Red Crossbill in coastal forests close to Geojin. All through the survey we noticed White-tailed eagles (considered one of them being an knowledgeable in taking over entire fishnets within the sea), one Cinereous Vulture and possibly a Golden Eagle (each on 16th), an Upland Buzzard on 19th, Japanese Buzzards and Eurasian Sparrowhawks. Within the morning of the 19th we encountered a Chinese language Gray Shrike in one of many wetlands of Hwajinpo, and later one other one nearer to the Civilian Management Zone (CCZ). This was a very fascinating remark (already first we noticed them in December 2023), since we had not encountered Chinese language Gray Shrike in any surveys earlier than.
Within the wetlands of Hwajinpo, there have been Pallas´s Reed Buntings, Yellow-throated Buntings, one Black-faced Bunting, and quite a lot of different small birds, together with Eurasian Wren. On the best way to Geonbongsa temple of Goseong, in a single valley we noticed virtually 1500 Gray-capped Greenfinches in 4 swarms, considered one of them over 500 birds robust. Moreover to the aforementioned birds, there have been Eurasian Treecreepers, a number of sorts of woodpeckers, Long-tailed Rosefinches, Meadow Buntings, Goldcrests, Lengthy-tailed Tits, Japanese Nice Tits, Coal Tits (additionally a species very plentiful this 12 months), Marsh Tits, in addition to Daurian Redstarts, all in very first rate numbers. Moreover, there have been Buff-bellied and Olive-backed Pipits in addition to Eurasian Skylarks in numerous fields.
Going as much as Geonbongsa, a well-known temple with many giant previous timber, the winter climate acquired extra extreme and within the mountain tops had been heavy snowy clouds. This was in all probability the explanation why we had the luck to come across a Ural Owl sitting on an electrical energy pole and later transferring alongside the electrical energy line, in all probability looking for a hiding place from heavy snow. Sadly, on 19th we needed to depart the world to return to Seoul, however in all probability the snow introduced some extra fascinating guests from the mountain tops to the decrease slopes of the mountains. It’s actually fascinating to see how the “birdiness” (density of hen life) and number of hen species will increase when nearing the Civilian Management Zone and the DMZ, a powerful reminder how deeply our landscapes are often affected by human exercise. Seeing many birds, and fascinating species, it as soon as once more infected the love for this stunning a part of Korea, regardless of all of the (sadly ongoing) hectic development in so many locations…
You’ll be able to see a video of the seabird survey at The Korean Birds youtube website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ywotr-oLuM (in Korean)
Pallas´s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi 북방검은머리쑥새 (© Bernhard Seliger)
Chinese language Gray Shrike Lanius sphenocercus 물때까치 – This 12 months was the primary 12 months in 15 years of surveys, and there have been not less than two, possibly extra birds. (© Nial Moores)
Gray-capped Greenfinches Chloris sinica 방울새 – this flock of greater than 500 birds was near not less than three extra flocks of a number of hundred birds in a only one small valley (of Songjeongri); a part of the “birdiness” of the area. (© Bernhard Seliger)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 새매 looking small birds near one of many many small streams of the world. (© Bernhard Seliger)
Ural Owl Strix uralensis 긴점박이올빼미. The hen in all probability got here to the decrease slopes of the Seorak/ Geumgang mountains on account of heavy snowing (© Bernhard Seliger)
