(The following records are a compilation of our own sightings and records sent in by other observers. As well as being posted on the Birds Korea website(s), selected records are also forwarded to other Korean-language birding websites; records of threatened species are arranged and forwarded to Birdlife International and national authorities when appropriate; flag images and records are passed to bodies responsible for their coordination throughout the flyway; and all records sent to us are used to compile annual reports and to support the evolving understanding of the status of many of Korea’s birds.)

-9C at dawn, warming quickly in clear and sunny conditions, before becoming mild and overcast with a high of 9C. At Seosan, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a couple of Northern Goshawk, and probably close to 20,000 Greater White-fronted Goose started an excellent day in the field, being followed by an adult barabensis Steppe Gull (in a mixed group with several vegae, taimyrensis and mongolicus, and another barabensis/cachinnans type) which looked extremely similar (though older) than one seen in the identical location in March 2005 (see Fig 1., http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Identification/ID_Notes/BK-ID-Steppe-Gull.shtml). Also there, a flock of 105 Saunders’s and even less expected a First-winter Relict Gull, showing excellently as it fed (highly atypically) at times with a flock of Black-headed Gull on fish-restaurant waste-water, as well as more typically along the tide-line, alongside Dunlin and 10+ Far Eastern Oystercatcher. Moving back along the rice-fields, the next highlight was a group of seven Oriental Stork, watched safely at a distance before they were flushed by a farm-vehicle. In the afternoon at the Geum Estuary, no sign of the Swan Goose flock, but a widening search of several alternative sites eventually turned up a flock of 70 feeding (again rather atypically) in rice-fields. This spectacular day then came to a spectacular close with c270,000 Baikal Teal lifting off the Geum River to feed… “Magic”.

Steppe Gull Larus heuglini barabensis, Photo © Nial Moores

Relict Gull Ichthyaetus relictus, Photo © Nial Moores

Relict Gull Ichthyaetus relictus, Photo © Nial Moores

Relict Gull Ichthyaetus relictus (front) & 2 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (rear), Photo © Nial Moores

Strolling through dark leafy corners of the headland today found a Japanese Bush Warbler, 2 Japanese White-eye, 2 Pale Thrush, a Goldcrest, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Red-flanked Bluetail among the commoner species. Also several Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris coreae and up to 25 Black Kite circling over the general area.
Unfortunately an area along the edges of the Nakdong rivermouth is being carved up by construction vehicles, so I did not linger: although a brief glimpse revealed a Western Osprey winging away with a large fish.
In Dadapo port little of note- e.g. several Black-headed and a Taimyr Gull.
Near Asan, a flock of c.40 Daurian Jackdaw was seen from the train.

Black Kite Milvus migrans, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris coreae, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Taimyr Gull Larus heuglini taimyrensis, Photo ©

A total of about 6 hours spend in the field at Junam over the three dates. The outstanding highlight for me was finally connecting with the wintering Lesser White-fronted Goose, which was with a small group of 50 or so Greater White-fronts in rice stubble and showed at fairly close range in excellent light. It was my first experience with this species, and it was very satisfying as I found the bird to be much more distinctive than I had imagined it would be, not just in terms of size, structure and plumage details, but also in it's quite different "jizz" when feeding. However, despite the reasonably favourable viewing conditions, my comically amateur efforts to take a photo of it using my cheap hand-held "point and shoot" camera unfortunately failed!
Just one Swan Goose remains from the 8 present earlier in the winter, it was feeding alone in rice stubble near the Junam 3rd Pumping Station. Other interesting wildfowl included one Ruddy Shelduck, just 2 Baikal Teal, a nice flock of 30 Falcated Duck at the northern end of the reservoir plus ones and twos elsewhere, a drake Goldeneye and at least 150 Smew.
A Red-throated Loon was an unexpected find near the Junam 3rd Pumping Station. 9 Eurasian Spoonbills were counted. 10 Hooded Cranes, presumably the same birds I first saw on January 31, now seem settled at the reservoir. 100+ White-naped Cranes are also present.
A fair selection of raptors was seen during the three visits, including a Cinereous Vulture, one or two Peregrines, a Northern Goshawk, several Eastern Buzzards and Eurasian Sparrowhawks, and the regular White-tailed Eagle duo (an adult and a juvenile).
Passerine highlights included a Dusky Thrush and two Naumann's Thrushes in orchards along the reservoir's southern edge, a splendid Rustic Bunting, and a small flock of half a dozen Meadow Buntings near the Junam 3rd Pumping Station.

A half-day at the river in Yangyang in continuing clear and calm conditions, with a low of -5C and a high of 3 or 4 C. Highlights included stunning flight views of an immature Steller’s and three White-tailed Eagles, a Chinese Grey Shrike, probably four Long-billed Plover and four Long-tailed Rosefinch, “several” Meadow and Pallas’s Reed Buntings, and an orchard with probably 100 Dusky and Naumann’s Thrushes, with the additional bonus of one adult male and one presumed First-winter Red-throated Thrush. En route to Seoul, a further highlight came in the form of six White-naped Crane heading north over the expressway: the beginning of spring!

Cold but clear, with temperatures rising from a “refreshing” -5C at dawn to a “sultry” high of 1C or even 2C. Birding around Daejin and Geojin, very few alcids offshore, though these included in total probably eight or so Spectacled Guillemot, four or five Ancient Murrelet and three Long-billed Murrelet (last, NM only). Other species of note (beyond the regular Harelquins and American Scoter [ c 100 in total of latter]) included a single adult Glaucous-winged Gull, a Caspian type Gull (very likely the same individual as seen last winter in exactly the same area), a flyby Long-tailed Duck, a few Naumann’s and probably three Dusky Thrushes, and two or possibly three Chinese Nuthatch.

American Scoter Melanitta americana, Photo © Nial Moores

Chinese Nuthatch Sitta villosa, Photo © Nial Moores

At the arboretum, an icy dawn (-13C) made enjoyable by prolonged views of a feeding Solitary Snipe, with the other highlight there a Black Woodpecker heard. From there to the Han River near Paldang, where (at last!) first one then two stunning adult Steller’s Sea Eagle, along with a single White-tailed, and a small flock of Taiga Bean Goose. In an extremely bitter-sweet afternoon, time spent searching the NE River. The obvious lowlight came with seeing markers being laid for a road-widening scheme which will take out 2.6 km of the river bank, likely making the site unavailable to Scaly-sided Merganser. Like so many other key habitats, this area will also soon be degraded (or destroyed), either as part of the 4 Rivers Project or by some other hastily-decided plan. This terrible news was however made a little more bearable by the sight of two male and two female Scaly-sided Merganser (all very wary, even at more than 150m range), and the exceptional generosity of a local hotel owner, who (on learning more about Birds Korea), donated two cameras, as well as making us well-needed coffee!

Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus, Photo © Nial Moores

Male (left) and female (right) Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus, Photo © Nial Moores

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla right and Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus left, Photo © Nial Moores

A sunny and crisp day in Seogwipo. Two Striated Herons remain on their respective streams, and about 10 Pale Thrush were seen or heard, as well as 2 Meadow Bunting. A tiny Winter Wren scuttled across rocks in a riverside park (a personal first for Jeju). It's call was similar to a Japanese Bush Warbler, but 'wetter'.

Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes, Photo © Mathew Poll

There were plenty of birds to be seen during a short walk in the forest behind Changwon University, on the outskirts of Changwon city. Highlight was undoubtedly a female White-backed Woodpecker that gave excellent and prolonged views near the second bridge. It was noisily and energetically attacking a large tree branch, and seemed unconcerned by hikers passing almost directly underneath it. In the same area, a pair of Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers and a male Red-flanked Bluetail also showed. Elsewhere along the trail, at least 6 Pale Thrushes were easy to locate by sound as they turned over dead leaves in their search for food. Varied Tits proved to be common and easy to find almost anywhere along the trail, and 2 Japanese White-eyes were seen. Other common species seen included Yellow-throated Bunting, Eastern Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Brown-eared Bulbul and Daurian Redstart.

A cold, clear and calm dawn (with a low of -15C) became bitterly cold as the wind strengthened. Highlights during the morning included 4 Pallas’s Rosefinch, three Siberian Accentor, and several groups of Red-crowned and rather fewer White-naped Cranes, one with a white leg-band engraved 249. Other species of note there included single Chinese Grey Shrike, a 2cy male Baikal Teal, and 60 or 70 Cinereous Vulture (most at or near to the wonderful Cholsei Ponnun Chip), with the additional highlight an immature/sub-adult Golden Eagle. During the afternoon, an unsuccessful trip to the Han River at Paldang for Steller’s, followed by the decision to return to the arboretum - where two Solitary Snipe could be seen in the fading late evening light.

In sub-zero temperatures, an afternoon spent at the arboretum where now a dozen Pallas’s Rosefinch (and almost the same number of birdwatchers and photographers - one of whom was exceptionally loud…), in addition to two female Eurasian Bullfinch, and one Grey-capped, one White-backed and two Black Woodpeckers. Searching (unsuccessfully!), for Solitary Snipe instead produced a Brown Dipper as a rather modest highlight.

Pallas's Rosefinch Carpodacus roseus, Photo © Nial Moores

A short lunchtime visit to a completely ice-free reservoir, the first time I have seen it unfrozen since the middle of December. Despite the crowds of people (as expected on a Sunday), there were some good birds to be seen. 10 Hooded Cranes rested on the mud spit for a time, before flying off high to the northwest. Just 9 White-naped Cranes were present - the rest of the flock were no doubt feeding in nearby rice fields. 2 Swan Geese were still feeding beside the mud spit. A drake Common Merganser and plenty of Smew were attracted to the ice-free waters, as were greatly increased numbers of other common wildfowl. Away from the water, 2 White-tailed Eagles (presumably the usual wintering duo) perched in one of their favourite spots in the row of trees along the southern edge of the reservoir. A very obliging Meadow Bunting gave scope-filling views in reeds at the corner of the reservoir nearest the Junam 3rd pumping station, while a Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker in scrub near the visitor centre was a personal first for this site.

A fine day of birding, in spite of gray rainy weather and several missed birds. We started in Seogwipo, and made our way east around the whole eastern half of Jeju, finally arriving in Jeju City. At Pyeoson, 30 Kentish Plover mingled with a flock of over 100 Sanderling. On the southeast coast near Sinsan we searched for a Saunders's Gull that had recently been seen there. We thought we'd found it, but 2 small whitish gulls turned out to be Black-headed Gulls (one adult winter bird, and one with 1st winter plumage). They were interesting to watch, as they hovered and dive-bombed aerobatically. A Pacific Reef Heron beat a thrashing fish (it looked like a Crocodilian Longtom) into submission, before swallowing it whole. The fish continued to thrash around in the Heron's throat for a minute or two. A Horned Grebe and and a Common Goldeneye were also seen nearby. At Seongsan, large numbers (200+) of Eurasian Wigeon and Spot-billed Duck mingled with smaller groups of Coot and Northern Shoveler. Nine Greater White-fronted Geese, a Horned Grebe, and a Dusky Thrush (the first I've seen this winter) were also present at Seongsan. At Hado, more large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon, and smaller numbers of Tufted Duck, Gadwall, and Coot. Several Great Egret, Grey Heron, and Little Egret stood guard near 15 Black-faced Spoonbill, and 2 Eurasian Spoonbill. About 25 Bean Geese landed noisily nearby. Along the northeast coast, Red-breasted Merganser were plentiful, with several dozen seen. We spent about 2 hours vainly searching for a spectacular male Harlequin Duck that had been seen and photographed by a Korean birder near Sehwa that day. Near Sehwa and west towards Jeju City, we further saw 2 Common Shelduck, 6 Eurasian Teal, more Eurasian Wigeon, several Pintail, a Grey Plover, 9 Dunlin, 2 Pacific Loon, 3 Black-throated Loon and a Carrion Crow. The crow was notable in that Large-billed Crow seem to predominate on Jeju, and this was the first Carrion Crow I've seen here.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus & Sanderling Calidris alba, Photo © Mathew Poll

Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra, Photo © Mathew Poll

Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra, Photo © Mathew Poll

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata, Photo © Mathew Poll

Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus, Photo © Mathew Poll

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta, & Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Photo © Mathew Poll

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia & Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, Photo © Mathew Poll

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, Photo © Mathew Poll

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Photo © Mathew Poll

This year there were a few more Scaly-sided Merganser (1male, 4 females) than during the same period 2 years ago. The river is also relatively very undisturbed and togther with the Mergansers there were a number of other waterfowl including Falcated Teal, Mandarin Duck, Common Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Common Merganser, Mallard, Pintail, Spot-billed Duck and Common Teal.

In the morning at the public reed park, plentiful Pallas's & Common Reed Buntings: also glimpsed were two buntings showing a clear rufous-apricot wash to their underparts,which unfortunately could not be inspected more closely. After days of nothing but hard frozen ice, a tired and presumably starving Eurasian Bittern roosted in a curled-up ball, presumably to conserve energy.. Barely moving, it was still standing in the same foetal position position when I returned to check on it 2 hours later.
Otherwise, good looks again at the prowling pair of Raccoon Dogs as well as a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Mandarin, 2 Hawfinch, a recently plucked Japanese Quail,2 Coot,1 Pale Thrush, a party of Long-tailed Tit, 2 Naumann's Thrush, 2 Whooper and 1 Tundra Swan, mixed Bean & Greater White-fronted Geese, and a relatively large flock (c.70) of Northern Skylark.

Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Photo © Tim Edelsten

For work on the Birds Korea Blueprint and as part of research for the great University of Newcastle (Australia), a quick run out to Socheong to count seabirds at sea and to improve our understanding of overwinterers on the island. In very heavy seas, in between weather systems, few seabirds from the ferries, with highlights a single Yellow-billed Loon and a couple dozen Ancient Murrelet. On and from Socheong itself, the four most numerous species logged were Pelagic Cormorant (84: with almost all in breeding plumage, and some nest site prospecting apparently starting), Long-tailed Rosefinch (56: the personal highest day concentration of this species anywhere), Eastern Great Tit (55) and White-winged Scoter (49), with other species of note two White-tailed Eagle (including an adult spectacularly catching a fish in the harbor), a Horned Grebe, a Chinese Nuthatch (heard only) and one or two Eurasian Bullfinch (very scarce so far this winter).

Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus, Photo © Nial Moores

Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus, Photo © Nial Moores

Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus, Photo © Nial Moores

An adult Glaucous-winged Gull eluded my lens by perching at the far end of the harbour, otherwise no surprises, with e.g. 2 Greater Scaup and c.35 Black-legged Kittiwake. The latter are something of a speciality of Iajin- I never see them elsewhere along the East Coast. 15+ Eurasian Wigeon, a Common Pochard, Mallards and a bundle of Spot-billed Duck all proved to be very at home feeding in the saltwater and on the rocky foreshore, where also c.30 Sanderling scuttled along the tideline.

Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Common Gull Larus canus, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Sanderling Calidris alba, Photo © Tim Edelsten

A let-up in the cold weather saw plenty of bird activity on the Namgang just south of Jinju. Apart from the usual water birds, a pair of Olive-backed Pipits perched on a wire. A Japanese White-eye glared at me as I stood too close to his food source. A Common Kestrel hovered nearby, and a little further downstream 70 Cinereous Vultures soared, some landing on an islet midstream, A pair of immature swans floated near the bridge, the first I’d seen this winter. Going a mile or so downstream I was pleased to see a group of seven Whooper Swans, 4 adults and 3 immatures. On checking later, it transpired that the pair by the bridge had been first-winter Mute Swans. Fewer than 20 spend the winter in Korea each year, sometimes none at all.

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni, Photo © Mike Friel

Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus, Photo © Mike Friel

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Photo © Mike Friel

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Photo © Mike Friel

Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Photo © Mike Friel

A return look-in at Namdaecheon found the number of White-tailed Eagle had risen to 4: also noteworthy a Chinese Grey Shrike, 8 Whooper Swan and an Upland Buzzard.
Highlight towards the end of the day was finding a Common Murre offshore from Sokcho pavillion- diving frequently for long periods, it gave good scope views for 20 minutes or more.

Common Murre Uria aalge, Photo © Tim Edelsten

A brief bit of seawatching at Daepohang added Red-throated Loon and 3 Black Scoter- which are apparently remarkably scarce this trip. At the mouth of the Namdae river, best were 2 Steller's Sea Eagles fighting over a fish with 2 White-tailed Eagle and a Cinereous Vulture: one of the Stellers was later seen to pursue and harry the vulture. Also in the vicinity, c.25 Northern Skylark, a Japanese Wagtail, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk & an Eastern Buzzard: in the dune scrub 3 Japanese Quail, several Pallas's & 1 Common Reed Bunting.

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus and Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus , Photo © Tim Edelsten

A sunny and crisp day in Seogwipo. Several Little Grebe and a shy male Falcated Duck joined 2 Red-throated Loons in the harbor. and two Osprey circled high above. One of the loons had a bill that seemed quite pale for a Red-throated. In a nearby park, a regular Green Sandpiper was spotted in the river, while 2 Peregrine Falcons performed a noisy aerobatic foot-grasping display overhead.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Photo © Mathew Poll

Falcated Duck Anas falcata, Photo © Mathew Poll

Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata, Photo © Mathew Poll

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Photo © Mathew Poll

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Photo © Mathew Poll

On a short trip to a nearby lake we counted over 600 Mandarin Duck with about 15 Baikal Teal mixed in. On the way back we passed some goat farms with very good numbers of Cinereous Vulture hanging around.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, Photo © Rich Lindie

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, Photo © Rich Lindie

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata with Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Photo © Rich Lindie

A subzero dawn and early morning at the Nakdong Estuary yielded few new birds (and again no Relict Gull or geese), while woodland at Dadapo held at least one Grey Bunting (heard only), several Pale Thrush and highlight, an Amur Leopard Cat (personal first at this site). At Joonam, hordes of people, though still 80 White-naped Crane, two Swan Goose, c10 Baikal Teal, a Ruddy Shelduck and a Great Bittern as highlights. In the evening, an hour at SE River found more construction near to the river, though in the only quiet “corner” happily still 10 Scaly-sided Merganser (3 male, 7 female). Watching these birds at a very safe distance, best moment of the day… A sudden movement among boulders and shadows right behind an adult male Scalie resolved itself into first one, and then into a family party of River Otter! As the minutes passed, more emerged along the river - until eight were counted in a single scan, with the closest (a group of three) “playing tag” in the river only 100m or so away. Clearly, some undisturbed stretches of river are still very much alive.

Unfortunately the picturesque but ice-entombed Songji lagoon held no Mute Swan. Geojin harbor area featured at least 10 Siberian Accentor, a handful of Hawfinches and a delightful Chinese Nuthatch. Seawatching from the pavilion added several Red-necked Grebe, Arctic Loon and good numbers of White-winged Scoter & Ancient Murrelet further out. A vantage point from Kim Il-Sungs former holiday cottage brought the first Horned Grebes into view. Several Common Merganser were also to be found scavenging in the bays, presumably due to all inland freshwater being frozen solid.

Clear skies and -4C at dawn at Guryongpo, with a bitterly strong wind through the morning. Despite the conditions, some excellent birds seen again, with highlights a Red (Grey) Phalarope (perhaps the first national mid-winter record?), several Rhinoceros Auklet and Ancient Murrelet, a fairly close view of a much-hoped for Long-billed Murrelet and a great range of gulls, including an adult Glaucous-winged, a briefly seen cachinnans-type and a well-watched adult Iceland Gull-type. As revealed by the images this individual was much smaller than the other eight or so Glaucous in the same harbour, and obviously smaller than most/all of the Vega, with short, deep-pink legs, a slender bill, a fairly rounded head shape (despite the matted feathers to the rear of the crown), larger eyes than expected in Glaucous, a reddish eye-ring (varying from red to orange-red dependent upon the angle) and a long primary projection (equal to bill length), with apparently little difference in the length of the longest primaries – all good for Iceland. However, it was much longer-billed than would be expected for a “typical” Iceland Gull, and perhaps showed a little more dark grey in the spread wing (and less of a clean white trail) than might be expected in a nominate glaucoides. We would welcome informed comments on this individual: An exceptionally small, long-winged and short-legged female barrovianus Glaucous Gull with an oddly colored eye-ring? A long-billed Iceland Gull, perhaps with some kumleini influence? Or even a non-breeding adult of the enigmatic Iceland Gull-type taxon described from N. Russia as alluded to in Malling Olsen’s Gulls? En route to Busan, c150 Daurian Jackdaw mixed in with Rook at Gyeongju was noteworthy, while at the Nakdong Estuary, very few birds (e.g. no geese at all) with highlights c40 Saunders’s Gull, an obliging Eastern Marsh Harrier and three White-tailed Eagle.

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius, Photo © Nial Moores

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens, Photo © Nial Moores

Iceland Gull-type, Photo, Photo © Nial Moores

Iceland Gull-type, Photo, Photo © Nial Moores

Iceland Gull-type, Photo © Nial Moores