(Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Hanns-Seidel-Basis and Birds Korea members)
Geese had been nonetheless there, round a 1000 of them (and extra flying in) within the early morning (round 6.30 a.m.) in Siam wetland, however their conduct was very completely different than in mid-winter. They had been extraordinarily nervous and flew off with none seeming motive. Already previously weeks, 1000’s of geese, particularly many of the Tundra Bean Geese, left the world, whereas largely Higher White-Fronted Geese stayed behind. Alongside Han River, Frequent Pochards, Tufted Geese, Mallards, Higher Scaups had been slowly migrating towards the open sea. Many of the giant raptors had been gone, with just one White-tailed Eagle nonetheless lingering on Yudo islet. Jap Buzzards had been nonetheless in every single place within the space.
Amur Stonechats had been the primary actual summer time guests to nice us, plus, on Yudo islet, in complete eight Black-faced Spoonbills. Breeding within the Cormorant colony was in full swing, and Gray Herons additionally began breeding, although no breeding by Black-faced Spoonbills may very well be detected but.
Alongside the fence bordering the river, Dusky Thrushes and an Olive-back Pipit had been seen, plus White-cheeked starlings in every single place, additionally many Oriental Turtledoves. I’m wondering, the place they go in winter? Clearly, their numbers exploded within the final weeks.
A pair of Far-Jap Oystercatchers was among the many shock guests within the space (they’re normally quite extra within the outer seawards areas).
All in all, one other nice day within the space. Han Estuary has been the survey of our staff since 2018 after we carried on the market a mission for Gimpo Metropolis. On this time, the world noticed profound change: plenty of new buildings and constructions have been added, largely some agriculture-related buildings, hothouses, some new touristic amenities, and a extra large fence and installations vis-à-vis the North. Particularly with agricultural modernization, additionally new threats for biodiversity got here, like concrete trenches chopping off amphibians and small mammals throughout their annual migration. For now, this didn’t have an effect on to a bigger extent the wintering grounds of geese – although cranes, earlier than typical guests to Siam wetland, haven’t been seen right here in a very long time, or just for very quick stops. However particularly giant new amenities constructed simply South of the primary wetland space might need a fair larger affect. Hopefully, authorities will see that there have to be a steadiness of redevelopment needs and preservation of the few useful habitats the world offers for fauna and flora.
Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri, one of many earliest spring migrants among the many passerines. (© Bernhard Seliger)
White-cheeked starlings Spodiopsar cineraceus on the fence wanting over North Korea. (© Bernhard Seliger)
Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus (© Bernhard Seliger)
Frequent Kestrel Falco tinnunculus – By no means get bored with photographing this fowl! (© Bernhard Seliger)
Jap Buzzard Buteo japonicus (© Bernhard Seliger)
On a small rock close to Yudo islet in Han river: three Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor amongst Nice Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo and a few Spot-billed Geese Anas zonorhyncha (© Bernhard Seliger)
