It was a privilege to spend 7 days with Birds Korea Director Dr. Moores this Could, and we (he) had some wonderful finds and great experiences! On this weblog submit I need to share with you a few of my experiences and what I discovered — factors that I hope might make it easier to grow to be a greater birder.
The Asian Dowitcher Second
Essentially the most memorable expertise was driving slowly by the rice fields throughout gentle rain. We drove round slowly and stopped each couple of minutes to scan the fields. Nothing at first — then abruptly: “ASIAN DOWITCHER!” known as an excited Dr. Moores. “50 m forward and simply to the left.”
We had been within the automobile, giving us cowl, and a most lovely Asian Dowitcher in full breeding plumage slowly walked in the direction of us!! Engine off, whispering like conspirators, Dr. Moores and I watched because the chicken (usually round 12 sightings in Korea a yr) stopped on a raised mound that was 20 meters away and lined up completely with the automobile. What a sight to drink in! Dr. Moores even stated it was essentially the most lovely Asian Dowitcher he had ever seen!! 1000’s of images later we lastly moved on — slowly — and what a little bit of luck!
Rain, Rarities, and Rigorous Scanning
Ian Davies of eBird was on a 5-day stopover on the island en route again to the US. He and a colleague had rented a automobile and had been zooming across the island, maintaining in shut contact with us (the extra eyes the higher). Ian, like Dr. Moores, operates at a complete completely different degree. On Friday, a rain entrance moved over the island, and for six hours all 4 of us stood within the rain, wind, and chilly by the outdated church, watching and counting storm-tossed birds fly by. Whereas Dr. Moores recognized two separate Claudia’s Warblers that day (!!!!!!), Ian was busy scanning the flocks. He photographed each arriving group, listened rigorously, after which shortly recognized each chicken on his digicam display screen. The objective? To search out that one hidden rarity.
Simply earlier than Ian recognized 180 Black-winged Godwits, he heard a puzzling name and grabbed a photograph of an unidentified chicken. (Dr. Moores — did you ever resolve that one?)
On one other day we heard that some plovers had been reported close to the seashore. Dr. Moores took us there and we rigorously scoured the realm. We discovered a number of Kentish Plovers and some Little Curlews, however no signal of the hoped-for birds at first. Simply as we had been about to move again to the automobile, we observed a small pool of water increased up the seashore. We slowly walked in the direction of it and had been rewarded with a Pacific Golden-Plover… and what seemed like a Siberian Plover. Dr. Moores famous that the invoice seemed a little bit quick, however it actually appeared to suit. Later that day he confirmed there have been really two Tibetan Sand Plovers — a male and a feminine! Solely the second adequately documented report for Korea. Wow! We put the information out through eBird, however solely a handful of individuals managed to see them earlier than the pool (and the birds) disappeared two days later. Nothing like being in the proper place on the proper time. [This is a more detailed log of the event, written by Dr. Moores: https://www.birdskoreablog.org/?p=31682]
The following day we headed to the northern finish of the island. Whereas strolling again to the automobile round 11 a.m., Dr. Moores abruptly requested, “Did you see that?” I had missed it, however one other birder had caught a glimpse. After some dialogue they determined it was most likely a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. We known as in reinforcements (Andy and crew) to strive for higher views of this notoriously shy species. Dr. Moores and Ian Davies moved rigorously by the undergrowth, and I managed a quarter-second take a look at a rooster-shaped head with distinctive “sticky-up” crown feathers. Wanting on the images in a while eBird (invoice form, measurement, and people head feathers), I’m 100% sure I noticed the chicken too. What luck!
Studying to See Each Chicken
One other time we had been within the rice paddies and Dr. Moores had his scope educated on a chicken. With a wink he requested, “Desire a look?” I anticipated a rarity, however it was “simply” a sparrow. I discovered in that second that Dr. Moores really sees magnificence in each chicken — one thing I undoubtedly must follow.
What I discovered
Key takeaways for me had been:
• Don’t rush identifications. Higher to be sluggish and proper than quick and flawed.
• Examine the chicken’s general profile, distinction, construction, and conduct first.
• Be thorough. {Photograph} or rigorously test each chicken in a flock — that’s how the hidden gems are discovered.
• Study to understand the wonder in frequent species, not simply the rarities.
Thanks, Dr. Moores, on your infinite persistence and sort hospitality. I’ll actually strive arduous to cease myself saying “there’s a chicken over there on a department” (DM: WHEEEEERE????) and “That’s undoubtedly a Japanese Sparrowhawk” (DM: sighs in Korean). Baengnyeongdo by no means disappoints. Till subsequent time…
Younger Peregrine Falcon scaring the geese
