Chook information and images by Leslie Hurteau.
With many fascinating sightings made by October in city parks in Jeju Metropolis, November had so much to reside as much as. The primary couple of weeks definitely had a pleasant variety of birds, after which because the month progressed issues shifted extra in direction of the arrival of winter guests.
When it comes to smaller songbirds, there have been just a few notable birds in my native city parks in Jeju Metropolis. Two Siberian Rubythroats have been discovered, one a attainable feminine or immature male, and every week later a pleasant male was seen very briefly in the identical park. One other fascinating sighting have been two Narcissus Flycatchers, one in Shinsan Park and one other in Sarabong Park. Feminine or immature varieties, I can solely assume they have been for positive Narcissus Flycatchers, though some ideas have been made by others that the one in Shinsan Park was doubtlessly a Ryukyu Flycatcher. A 3rd significantly fascinating sighting was a really late Jap Topped Warbler, probably one of many newest recognized information in Korea. This species is normally passed by September, however this was seen in early November.
Most raptor migration had completed by this level, however in a single early night earlier than sundown an Amur Falcon was seen flying round Shinsan Park. Aside from that particular person and the same old resident Peregrine Falcons, no raptors have been noticed till later in November when Eurasian Sparrowhawks and Jap Buzzards made a return for the winter.
Alongside the coasts Nice Cormorants started to return again and be part of the principally resident (?) Temminck’s Cormorants. One significantly good day at Tapdong Plaza had a Pelagic Cormorant combined in with a bunch of gulls. Across the similar time, a Frequent Gull was present in a bunch of gulls. Regardless of their identify, they aren’t quite common on Jeju. Though annual in small numbers, not like different elements of the nation the place they are often present in higher numbers. Early on in November, three Chinese language Egrets have been present in Tapdong Plaza space as nicely. This appeared like the same time as final 12 months, when one particular person was present in Oedo Eco Park within the west of the town, and stayed by into a part of December.
Some temporary visits have been made to among the small freshwater stream and wetland habitats throughout the metropolis limits. A lone Barn Swallow was seen flying over a stream in Oedo Eco Park, in addition to many geese returning to overwinter, comparable to Mallards, Eurasian Inexperienced-winged Teal, Northern Shovellers, Falcated Geese, and Gadwalls. One male Baikal Teal was additionally noticed in close by Gwangnyeong Reservoir. This reservoir had just lately had a fence put as much as stop fishermen from coming into the reservoir. I hope this characteristic serves as an ample barrier all through the longer term.
Varied late migrants and early winter guests began appearing within the parks by mid month, together with Crimson-billed Starlings, a species as soon as uncommon in Korea however can now be seen all through many elements of the nation. This species has continued its colonisation of Jeju, with teams of people exhibiting up inside Jeju Metropolis in latest winters. One other latest coloniser, Mild-vented Bulbul, has turning into more and more extra frequent throughout the metropolis itself, with a pair (or extra?) making common appearances in downtown Jeju all through October and nicely into November.
Early winter guests included flocks of Brambling and the odd Goldcrest or two within the hills in Sarabong Park. The standard combined teams of smaller birds are principally Asian Tits (previously named Japanese/Jap), with just a few latest Various Tits becoming a member of in, maybe the identical people that arrived in September. A Coal Tit or two are combined in, which appears to be common over the previous couple of winters, in addition to a Pallas’ Leaf Warbler was seen one morning. Yellow-bellied Tits don’t appear almost as quite a few this 12 months as final, with just a few people being present in Sarabong Park and basicaly none or solely a pair seen in Shinsan Park thus far. Teams of Rooks arrived by early November as nicely, with the numbers rising because the month progressed.
Winter bunting guests started to make appearances in parks as nicely, primarily Sarabong Park. Yellow-throated Buntings may be discovered 12 months spherical, however by mid month Black-faced, Masked, and Gray Buntings had returned to their favoured habitats throughout the parks.
Because the month got here to an finish, Dusky Thrush started to reach, which in my expertise means the start of winter on Jeju. Some respectable numbers of people in Shinsan Park, together with one Naumman’s Thrush combined in on one morning. Olive-backed Pipits additionally joined the combo, together with the quite a few Pale Thrushes within the native parks.
