Chicken information by Leslie Hurteau. All photos copyright of Leslie Hurteau.
Throughout spring migration in South Korea, most birders head in the direction of the islands off the west and south coasts of the nation. That is the place a majority of the fascinating hen sightings could be discovered, together with rarities and even nationwide firsts. I made a plan to go to the considerably underbirded Chuja Island a bit extra usually this spring, relatively than spend most of my time on the highly regarded (and well-deserved in its reputation) Mara Island. Chuja Island is situated roughly mid-way between the north of Jeju Island and the south of the Korean mainland. Technically it composed of two islands linked by a small bridge, Hachuja 하추자 the jap island and Sangchuja 상추자 the western island, however usually known as merely Chuja Island. The placement is on the southern fringe of the primary bigger islands on the south coast of the mainland, with the ocean southwards to Jeju being pretty deep waters with quite a lot of fish and different wildlife, together with birds in fact. Whereas I did get to go to the island a number of occasions by way of spring, the spotlight go to was on the finish of April with loads of birds on the island and two actually nice seabirding periods on the ferry there and again.
The morning ferry to Chuja began off fairly nicely with Streaked Shearwaters making a fast look. About one quarter into the journey, small teams of Crested Murrelets (often known as Japanese Murrelets) had been seen as nicely, with as much as six people in complete. The spotlight nonetheless was a pair of Parasitic Jaegers in good breeding plumage flying diligently eastwards early on within the ferry journey.
As soon as arriving at Hachuja (the jap island), I bought the sense that it was going to be a really birdy day. Many Barn and Pink-rumped Swallows had been flying across the harbour, in addition to Pacific Swifts increased above. Inside moments of strolling down the highway I noticed a Blue Rock Thrush on prime of a constructing, which was an all blue male of the subspecies pandoo. I bumped into two youthful Korean birders round this space (a little bit of a shock for me), who mentioned they had been on the island for just a few days and noticed a complete of 100 species all through their keep. Strolling across the close by wetland and adjoining fields, there have been quite a lot of buntings, together with Yellow, Tristam’s, Little, and Yellow-browed.
A brief bus journey to Sangchuja (the western island), and the hen exercise was simply pretty much as good. Flycatchers, similar to Asian Brown and Narcissus, extra buntings, thrushes singing, and a sky full of swallows and Pacific Swifts. Leaf Warblers had been pretty quite a few as nicely, with each Sakhalin and Pale-legged heard and seen, Yellow-browed, and Jap Topped. A Black Wooden Pigeon was heard crooning from the forested hills, sadly left unseen.
I returned to the jap island, and started my normal hike alongside the path to the reservoir, after which adopted the ridge up alongside eastwards till descending all the way down to the harbour once more. As soon as once more loads of buntings and Leaf Warblers, and some extra Black Wooden Pigeons heard and encountered briefly. New birds for the journey alongside the path included Black-naped Oriole and an Eyebrowed Thrush. Starlings had been pretty plentiful within the harbour village as I waited for the return ferry.
On the return ferry, two extra Crested Murrets and an Historical Murrelet, just a few Barn Swallows, and a gaggle of Pink-necked Phalaropes. A Tristram’s Bunting landed briefly on deck, which promptly flew off whereas switching from my binoculars to my digital camera. About one third within the voyage bought actually fascinating. The boat started to maneuver by way of a continuing stream of Streaked Shearwaters heading eastwards. This stream continued for about 20 minutes or so, and whereas the density appeared low, it quickly started apparant this was just a few thousand people by the top of it. Tucked away was a Flesh-footed Shearwater that I managed to identify and get poor document pictures of: a smaller all darkish shearwater with faster windbeats, and a visual mild pink invoice with a darkish tip. Throughout this passing of shearwaters, I appeared up and observed a hen flying a lot increased with direct and purposeful flight straight east. After analyzing the pictures I spotted it was a full-breeding plumage Lengthy-tailed Jaeger full with the lengthy tail feathers. In a while within the journey two extra jaagers had been seen, considered one of which was undoubtedly one other Lengthy-tailed, with the opposite being possible given the dimensions and motion however unable to 100% verify.
Nearing Jeju Metropolis harbour, the hen exercise dropped drastically and identical to that the day was achieved and sorted. It was undoubtedly one of the memorable journeys to Chuja I’ve taken. Whereas the island itself was good, the actual treasure of birding there may be the lengthy sluggish ferry experience there and again, with full entry to the deck permitting for wonderful seabirding alternatives. I’m wanting ahead to the autumn visits already.
