Hen Information in Transient from Nial Moores, Baek Seung-Kwang and Lee Su-Younger, with Kim Hee-Music and Lee Soojin (on thirty first solely).
One other intensive survey in Yeoncheon on the cusp of a stubbornly reluctant spring, with a number of days with snow showers and subzero temperatures over evening, and solely in the future of above common heat. Protecting the identical dates as final 12 months, this survey was once more targeted on Lengthy-billed Plover, but in addition included a rely of Scaly-sided Merganser within the Flyway Community Web site (a part of continued analysis on this species) and likewise some counts in areas that meet a number of Ramsar standards. In all, 83 hen species had been logged, with a beautiful mixture of typical late winter hangovers (like White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers and Cinererous Vultures nonetheless) and early spring migrants, together with precisely 100 Little Ringed Plover, a number of Eurasian Hoopoe, flocks of Barn Swallow and a single Jap Pink-rumped Swallow (latter on March thirtieth), a number of singing Amur Stonechats, and a good scattering of migrant Naumann’s and Dusky Thrushes, and extra hybrids.
Species of biggest observe (with photographs © Nial Moores) included:
- Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus 흰이마기러기. Globally Susceptible. A Second Calendar or much less possible Third Calendar Yr was with a small group of Higher White-fronted Geese in Sintap-Ri on March twenty ninth.
- Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata 원앙. A complete of 78 had been logged, with 21 the most important group.
- Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus 호사비오리. Globally Endangered. This northward migration the very best day rely was 53 (counted by Baek Seung-Kwang on March twenty third). Throughout this survey, we counted 33, and watched the pair within the picture beneath copulate. It’s changing into more and more apparent that in response to growing ranges of disturbance, this species is now present in fewer river stretches than even two years in the past.
- Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris 낭비둘기. Nationally Threatened. A complete of solely 9 seen, together with two chasing one another for prolonged durations – presumably a part of courtship or prebreeding ritual as the identical birds then flew right into a presumed nesting crevice.
- Hooded Crane Grus monacha 흑두루미. Globally Susceptible. Though flocks of many hundreds might be seen at Suncheon and Seosan, this species is genuinely uncommon in Yeoncheon. Seven had been seen in Baekhak on March twenty eighth.
- Lengthy-billed Plover Charadrius placidus 흰목물떼새. Nationally Threatened. Maybe as a result of moderately colder climate than final 12 months (which means only a few birds had been calling, and no apparent nesting behaviour was seen), we had been solely capable of finding 58 in complete. This compares to a barely larger 63 counted throughout the identical interval final 12 months after we had a lot much less understanding of their distribution within the county.
Along with the hen survey and detailed discussions concerning the conservation wants of goal species, April 2nd produced three extra highlights. The primary was that Nial Moores, as Nationwide Director of Birds Korea, was made an honorary citizen of Yeoncheon County due to the work we now have finished there since 2021 (thanks for this honour); the second was that Mayor Kim Deok-hyeon and Director Park Tae-Gained had been capable of see Scaly-sided Merganser for the primary time; and the third was that eight Birds Koreans (seven of whom are from Yeoncheon) had been then capable of have a good time with dinner collectively that night. Glorious!
Sure…Yeoncheon!
