With the event of the Namak New Metropolis (남악신도시) at first of this millennium about 15 years in the past the Namak Waterpark was opened. This park was constructed round lager patches of reed simply alongside the bicycle monitor alongside the northern shore of the Yoengsan Lake with one-half within the metropolis of Mokpo and one half within the space of Muan county. Folks for his or her walks use the park very nicely, and on weekends, many households with their little kids go to the areas the place the children can play and stroll round.
The park is about 1.8 km lengthy and about 150m at its widest. There are a number of boardwalks crossing the lake and a few boardwalks by means of the reed beds alongside the lake.
The Half on the Mokpo facet is a much-maintained space with very distinct components for lake, reed and wildlife and the half with paths for individuals. On the Muan facet the sides of the reed areas towards the Yoengsan Lake facet have many different bushes and little bushes blended through which is a extra appropriate surroundings for passerines.
Nevertheless, once you observe the individuals you discover that nobody actually acknowledges or observes the avian selection and wonder this place affords. Folks focus on their train walks; give attention to their conversations or their telephones. One exception at the moment are three Home Swan Goose, which fairly often get onto the footpaths and likewise make their presence recognized to the entire park with their sturdy voice.
We noticed the geese for the primary time in January 2022. Two fully white, one with a bit brown on the neck and one with the “regular” Swan Goose sample and coloration, however with clear options of a home. For the second winter now, the goose that has the coloured plumage will not be within the park anymore however could be present in a stream with a second one simply two kilometers away.
After all, one can discover the species that everybody would anticipate in a park space: Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Gray-capped Greenfinch, Brown-eared Bulbul, Oriental Turtle Dove, however fairly often one can get very near them and permit for close-up footage.
Through the winter months Jap Spot-billed Geese, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe use the lake and its shores. As well as, a number of Gray Heron, occasional one or two Nice Egret and a Nice Cormorant could be seen. Nevertheless, for now a few years in each winter we noticed a minimum of one Dusky Thrush.
Now with the arrival of spring many different species are current, and it took solely little time and effort to seen them: Jap Nice Tit, Daurian Redstart, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Yellow-throated Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Brambling and Olive-backed Pipit.
For a few years one or two Bull-headed Shrike had been seen on each go to. On the second final go to, we might see not lower than seven. Some sitting on bushes or on the poles of a boardwalk and weren’t bothered by individuals passing by.
Strolling alongside, one can discover, that many bushes which have damaged branches present indicators of woodpecker exercise and solely this early spring we might observe a Nice Noticed Woodpecker whereas it was inspecting three bushes with staying on one specific department for a bit longer.
A couple of years in the past, a single Widespread Moorhen was seen on the fringe of a patch of reed however then thereafter the presence might solely be heard from throughout the reed. They’re very shy, as a result of very shut is a boardwalk bridge many individuals use and even small noises make them cover in a short time. Fortuitously, final weekend with a bit of rain in the course of the afternoon there was a interval once they got here out and we noticed a household of seven for a short time.
The biodiversity clearly had elevated this yr, as a result of there at the moment are indicators positioned at one space warning in regards to the new species, however I’ve not seen any but there.
One can ask: which one is extra seemingly seen as a warning signal and which extra as an outline? With this so totally different approaches one has to marvel, how critical this warning needs to be taken. Near the place the Muan signal is, individuals do probably not do; you’ll be able to see fairly often individuals sitting on the gras with their little children and having picknick and such.
One species that raises concern is the Purple-eared Slider. This turtle is an invasive species and labeled as dangerous for the surroundings. We noticed the primary one some years in the past and since, the quantity has dramatically elevated. On one of many final visits, we counted twenty-five in all areas of the park, which after all solely represents the seen ones. On the final go to, we noticed a household with a number of younger ones. This clearly signifies that these turtles have efficiently settled and are reproducing. Nevertheless, the printed information from the Nationwide Institute of Ecology (NIE) which performed a nationwide survey between 2014 and 2022 (http://doi.or.kr/10.22756/ASD.20220000000812) has not a single dataset for Mokpo. Work is in preparation to boost this situation with the native governments.
