Baengnyeong: Might Twenty sixth-June 1st | Birds Korea Weblog

Hen Information and commentary from Nial Moores, Birds Korea

One other self-funded journey out to the nationwide prime migrant hotspot of Baengnyeong Island to get a greater sense of how among the late spring migrants may be faring – as a part of analysis regarding the proposed airport and likewise for revision of the Birds Korea guidelines.

Throughout the afternoon ferry out on the 26^th, most notable was the close to absence of shearwaters, however as a substitute three Arctic Loons, and ten or so passerines – together with a drongo sp.! – and some Barn Swallows out over the ocean heading east. In heavy overcast and drizzle on the island within the night, I spent a few hours in Jinchon with the visiting workforce of Fran Kim, Yi Gina and Shin Mun-Cheol; and once more with the identical workforce in the course of the brighter morning of 27^th.  In any other case all observations have been by me alone (with pictures beneath copyright of Nial Moores / Birds Korea), largely in Jinchon within the northeast; and in Junghwadong and Dumujin within the west.

As anticipated, there was nonetheless some late passage of raptors (together with a couple of Crested Honey Buzzards and Gray-faced Buzzards), whereas warblers comprised small numbers of Lanceolated (many fewer than in some previous years) and Pallas’s Grasshopper, Black-browed, Oriental Reed and the splendidly open-faced Thick-billed, and singing flocks of Arctic and Kamchatka Leaf Warblers.  

Much less anticipated have been a number of data of a number of “heat local weather preferential species”. Species of best word have been:

Massive Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides 큰매사촌. One was heard very briefly on 30^th within the northwest. There are actually in all probability 3-10 data nationally yearly after the primary report in 2007.

Pink Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica 홍비둘기. A male (both full grownup or warm-plumaged Second Calendar-year) flew over the automotive in Yeonhwari on 27^th.

Noticed Dove Spilopelia chinensis 목점박이비둘기. One, presumably simply arrived, was seen on wires in Dumujin on 29^th however not on subsequent days. There are nonetheless fewer than 10 nationwide data. That is the second report for the island, with one heard (however not seen) on October thirtieth 2024 in precisely the identical space.

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 흰배뜸부기. One was feeding on the observe alongside the reservoir on twenty seventh.

Gray-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus 민댕기물떼새. 4 have been collectively in rice-fields in Junghwadong on thirtieth. That is the biggest group of this species I’ve seen within the ROK. Most years there are in all probability solely 10 to twenty at most recorded nationwide.

Chinese language Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis 붉은배새매. Migration was nonetheless ongoing by means of the island, with a flock of 45 seen arriving in Jungwadong on 30^th; and 9 seen making an attempt to depart the island on June 1^st. As many territories are already occupied within the ROK by the tip of Might, presumably many of those have been non-breeders and birds breeding fairly additional to the north and north-east.

Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 파랑새. Fifty (or extra?) have been in Jinchon on Twenty sixth; and a minimum of 9 have been hawking massive bugs in Jinchon nonetheless on June 1st. As many are already in breeding territories within the ROK within the second half of Might, it appears seemingly that some or most of those might be aiming to summer time additional to the north and north-east.

Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha 팔색조. Distinctive numbers of this globally Susceptible late migrant have been recorded, with 17 people heard in whole. Their singing might be used to trace birds as they moved east throughout the island. Six have been heard on 27^th (5 within the southwest and one within the northwest); 5 have been heard within the northwest solely within the mid-morning of 28^th; one was heard crossing the island within the northwest on the 29^th; 4 have been heard on the 30^th (with two within the northwest and two within the southwest); and one was heard migrating throughout Jinchon at 1:45 AM on June 1^st, once more heading due east. Primarily based on the shortage of this species within the DPRK (with their vary there maybe restricted to the southwest); the path of flight; and the dates (which overlap with arrival dates of some birds e.g.. in Yeoncheon), it might safely be assumed that the overwhelming majority of those birds might be making an attempt to breed within the forests of the ROK, which maybe now kinds the core of the breeding vary with an estimated 1,000 or so pairs nationwide. climate patterns, it additionally appears fairly possible that many of those birds crossed the Yellow Sea from the Shandong Peninsula.

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 꾀꼬리. Small numbers have been famous each day, with a peak of 77 counted making an attempt to go away the island on June 1^st. Most of those birds gave the impression to be feminine varieties and Second-calendar 12 months males, with the overwhelming majority making an attempt to go Southeast from the island, i.e., heading in the direction of forest within the ROK.

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 검은바람까마귀. A very good exhibiting by this species this 12 months. Small flocks of 2-7 birds have been seen in a number of locations on the island (Dumujin, Jungwadong, the Harrier Fields and Jinchon), with a gaggle of eight collectively within the northeast on June 1^st together with 1-2 apparently trying to pair up. How lengthy will or not it’s earlier than this species turns into a Korean breeding species?

Mild-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis 검은이마직박구리. Though first recorded in Korea as not too long ago as 2002, this species is now a typical breeder on the island and in a lot of the ROK; and a quite common migrant by means of some western islands, particularly in early Might. A flock of c. 25 have been seen making an attempt to depart N or NE from the island on June 1^st suggesting that the migration interval for this species is increasing in tandem with its vary.

Baikal Bush Warbler Locustella davidi 점무늬가슴쥐발귀. An apparently common migrant by means of this island (and presumably different northwestern islands) on the very finish of Might.  Twelve have been heard on the 30^th (with a minimum of 11 of those within the northwest) and one or two have been within the southwest on the thirty first. Recordings have been made from a number of people by means of my telephone, with the recording beneath made from the hen within the pictures…

Swinhoe’s White-eye Zosterops simplex 작은동박새. Small numbers have been current in a number of areas on the month’s finish, and a lot of the 27 counted within the northeast on June 1^st have been prone to be this species (the one two white-eyes seen properly sufficient to establish to species have been each Swinhoe’s).

Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus 뿔찌르레기. One was seen flying off island with a flock of Mild-vented Bulbuls in Jinchon on June 1^st. That is the second island report, with two seen departing the island from Jinchon on Might 16^th 2024. There are nonetheless in all probability 5 or fewer nationwide data of this species, which is migratory within the northern a part of its (self-sustained) vary in China.

As in earlier years, due to this fact, robust migration of a number of species was nonetheless evident – although there have been no small bitterns, no Black-capped Kingfishers and plenty of fewer flycatchers, with no Darkish-sided Flycatchers in any respect, than in some earlier years. Throughout my first late spring on the island again in 2013, I noticed single Cinnamon, three Yellow and 6 von Shrenck’s Bitterns; discovered three occupied territories of Black-capped Kingfisher; and noticed Darkish-sided Flycatchers fairly properly each day – although with the height on 20^th (see right here). Are robust declines in these identical species being detected elsewhere on the Flyway?

Different wildlife moments on the island included a Tiger Keelback which tried, unsuccessfully, to devour a Black-spotted Pond Frog in Dumujin on Might thirtieth; and a male Massive Copper Butterfly in Jinchon on June 1st.