Organised by Calidris, with Lee Collins flying in from the UK and Machiel Valkenberg flying in from Kazakhstan (the place he’s CEO of Rubythroat Birding Excursions), ten of us visited a variety of prime birding websites across the nation, together with Yeoncheon and Cheorwon on 4th and 5th; the (quite degraded) Nationwide Arboretum and the Han River in Paldang (on 6th); Odae San and the coast close to Ayajin (on 7th); the Goseong coast, (on eighth and 9th, with a ship journey out from Daejin Harbour on 9th) down south to the visually putting entrance to Seorak San Nationwide Park, with its big Buddha and craggy skyline; Junam Reservoir within the afternoon of the tenth; websites in Busan across the Nakdong Estuary (on 11th); Sacheon and the Geum River (on 12th); the Geum Estuary and elements of the Saemangeum reclamation space (on 13th) and on the 14th, forest in southwest Seoul, ending in parkland close to to the airport.
The climate was fairly nicely dry all through, with remarkably little snow within the mountains, and quite windier than normal. The one correct snowfall was 2-5cm on 10th (the day that we had deliberate to drive up into the mountains to search for Asian Rosyfinches). This lack of snow cowl doubtless contributed to the quite lower-than-expected variety of some typical winter landbirds.
We did discover, nonetheless, virtually all the anticipated mid-winter highlights (e.g., Swan Goose; Scaly-sided Merganser at two websites; White-naped, Crimson-crowned and Hooded Cranes; Solitary Snipe; Lengthy-billed Murrelet; Oriental Stork; and Steller’s Sea Eagle, with 6 seen in whole and so forth.), however despite a lot effort, failed to seek out any Relict Gull.
Primarily based on their standing in Korea, species or concentrations of explicit be aware included:
Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus 흰이마기러기. Globally Weak. A flock of eight had been at Junam Reservoir.
Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri 붉은가슴흰죽지. Globally Critically Endangered. Final winter’s male was again in Busan. Though this chook exhibits an unwelcome patch of heat brown feathering on the crown, there appear to be no extra apparent indications of a hybrid origin. Furthermore, final winter at the exact same location what should have been the identical particular person additionally initially had a heat brown patch on the crown, which gave the impression to be quite much less evident by January twenty first (after I noticed the chook), presumably due to put on of eclipse plumage into breeding plumage. For a picture of a male Baer’s in Japan in December exhibiting intensive brown on the top, see right here.
Aythya hybrids. One other beautiful presumed Frequent Pochard x Ferruginous Duck was seen in Seocheon.
Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa 가창오리. An estimated 300,000 had been on the Geum River. Though in some methods anticipated right here, this flock solely arrived again at this website just a few days earlier than our go to and apparently was gone from there by the top of the month.
American Wigeon Mareca americana 아메리카홍머리오리. An extended-staying grownup male was on the ocean close to to Ayajin.
Crimson-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 큰논병아리. Very giant numbers had been on the ocean off the Geojin coast, with a conservative 1,500 seen on 9th (together with one prolonged raft of 950!). That is by far the very best quantity I’ve seen of this species within the ROK.
Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo 쇠재두루미. The long-staying younger chook (our sixth crane species of the week) was nonetheless current, in with a flock of White-naped Cranes. Though more and more recorded, there are nonetheless solely about ten or so nationwide information – with this solely the second in mid-winter.
Far Jap Oystercatcher Haematopus (ostralegus) osculans 검은머리물떼새. A complete of 6,100 had been counted in 100s alongside the mainland coast of the Geum Estuary, with a number of small teams additionally seen at lengthy vary on Yubu Island. That is my highest ever rely in Korea.
Siberian Sand Plover Anarhynchus mongolus 몽골왕눈물떼새. Globally Endangered. Uncommon in winter in Korea, Three had been on the tidal flat within the oter Geum Estuary (Seocheon County)
(Thayer’s) Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides thayeri 작은흰갈매기. The pretty long-staying grownup was nonetheless on a favoured rock on the Gangwon coast.
Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii 흰부리아비. Though not seen by everybody within the group, two had been seen from the boat on the 9th.
Little Heron Butorides atricapilla 검은댕기해오라기. Pretty widespread in summer season, there are only a few mainland winter information of this not too long ago renamed species. One within the Nakdong Estuary nonetheless.
“Northern” Scops Owl Otus semitorques 큰소쩍새. Due to Professor Kim Younger-Gul, we had been capable of see this native star shuffle and shimmy into view for a couple of minutes earlier than, shuffling again into the depths of the tree cavity.
Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope 진홍가슴. Though a typical migrant, and an especially native breeding species, there are only a few mid-winter information. One was heard in Maekdo Ecopark, Busan, by a number of of the group.
