Chicken information and photographs from Leslie Hurteau. All photographs taken in 2025, until in any other case famous.
Summer season birding on Jeju, and the entire of Korea actually, may be significantly disagreeable with excessive humidity, oppressive warmth (getting hotter lately), and durations of heavy rainfall. So it’s no shock that the winter months and migration durations are extra widespread with birders. Nevertheless, there’s so much to be discovered in the summertime that makes Jeju very particular, and total helps Korea standout each in East Asia and globally within the birding world.
Since summer time birding on Jeju isn’t as widespread as the opposite seasons, I wish to share a few of the summer time birding highlights one can count on in Jeju from June to July. Hopefully to make the season extra interesting and encourage different birders to get out and discover these summer time specialties. There’s a lot to cowl, together with many breeding resident species, so I’ll stick strictly to the summer time guests. That is certainly not meant to be complete and solely covers what I personally have discovered by way of birding on Jeju for 4 years (and counting). I’m optimistic there are extra surprises ready.
Amongst native birders, summer time birding on Jeju primarily revolves round Fairy Pittas and Black Paradise Flycatchers. Each species arrive on Jeju round Might and stick round till September or so. They’re pretty widespread in comparable habitat, primarily thick forests (gotjawal 곶자왈), forested volcanic hills (oreum 오름), and steep rocky valleys on the slopes of Hallasan. Discovering them may be troublesome and sometimes are heard solely, primarily as a result of each species are very shy, and their most popular habitat makes for difficult birding (poor mild and lots of crops!).
Different species which are simpler to seek out in comparable habitats are Gray-backed Thrush and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers, the latter tending to be extra widespread in forests at greater elevations on Hallasan. Each species are simple to see if one is affected person sufficient, and really lovely.
Another summer time breeders greater up Hallasan and the encompassing thick gotjawal are a bit more durable to see, maybe attributable to being shyer or just decrease density. Ruddy Kingfishers often breed within the valleys up Hallasan, and I’ve discovered Blue-and-white Flycatchers and Asian Brown Flycatchers in comparable habitat.
Japanese Night time Heron is one other species identified to breed on Jeju1,2, with the earliest documented document in 20091. They’re present in thick gotjawal and oreums with top quality forest which are adjoining to agricultural land. In keeping with the literature, they feed on snails, slugs, and different invertebrates, so it will make sense that they like a combination of those habitats. Usually they’re within the mid mountain area, the massive forested and agricultural areas between Hallasan and the coast, however are extremely troublesome to seek out.
Different summer time birds on Jeju could be the well-known Barn Swallow, which arrive on Jeju as early as late February and keep till about October. Fortunately they’re nonetheless a typical summer time sight on Jeju, in contrast to most of mainland Korea today, and simple to see nests on buildings in cities and villages all through the coast and mid-mountain area.
Some raptor species present up on Jeju in summer time, though these summer time guests are a lot scarcer and more durable to seek out than the resident Peregrines (and Ospreys lately). Northern Boobook might be the most typical and may even be heard after sundown in metropolis parks comparable to Halla Arboretum and Sarabong Park. Oriental Scops Owl is scarcer and appears to favor much less disturbed habitat, so not as simple to come across until actively looking for one. Japanese Scops are about the identical however are even more durable to seek out in my expertise. Chinese language Sparrowhawks often breed within the mid-mountain forests surrounding Hallasan, however I’ve solely encountered them as soon as in summer time. I’ve seen Oriental Honey Buzzards flying round comparable areas in summer time, suggesting they could breed right here as effectively.
Seabirds of curiosity in summer time are Streaked Shearwaters and Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels. Each breed on offshore islets which are inaccessible to most people. These two species are very simple to see if one takes a ferry that travels within the sea between Jeju and the mainland. Shearwaters may be seen from land if one has a scope (or binoculars in the proper climate circumstances), however Swinhoe’s are so much trickier as they don’t come shut sufficient to land fairly often.
Except for the principle island of Jeju, the encompassing smaller islands a part of the Jeju area are worthwhile visiting in summer time for their very own causes.
Mara-do (Mara Island) is without doubt one of the best and most dependable spots in Korea to see Styan’s Grasshopper Warblers. They arrive on the island beginning in early Might, and keep till August or so. Definitely one in every of many the explanation why Mara is a high birding vacation spot for Korean birders. Except for this distinctive island specialist, Pacific Swifts are simple to see right here in summer time, with giant swarms flying, feeding, and simply doing no matter swifts do.
Chuja-do (Chuja Island) is one other island of curiosity. It’s about midway between Jeju and the mainland, and feels extra like one of many many islands off the south coast of the mainland slightly than Jeju correct. Any customer aware of the 2 areas would choose up on this instantly just by seeing the dearth of black volcanic rock Jeju is legendary for. With that in thoughts, the birds appear to be a bit extra of a mixture between mainland and Jeju. As an example throughout one go to in mid July 2025, I discovered teams of Tiger Shrikes, with juveniles current, indicating breeding. This species is kind of uncommon on Jeju correct outdoors of spring and fall migration, so it was an fascinating discover. Different summer time guests appear to be the ever present Gray Backed Thrush, Pale Thrush (additionally current in winter), Pacific Swift, and loads of Barn Swallows. I’ve additionally seen East Asian Finless Porpoise right here, a marine mammal that’s usually not current alongside the coast of Jeju correct. The island is seemingly not often birded, very similar to most of the close by islands alongside the southwest and south coast of the mainland, so further visits could reveal extra surprises.
References
- Oh Hongshik, Kim Youngho and Kim Namkyu. 2010. First Breeding Document of Japanese Night time Heron Gorsachius goisagi in Korea. Ornithol Sci 9: 131–134 (2010).
- http://koreabizwire.com/endangered-japanese-night-herons-build-nest-on-jeju-island/
