(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.)

The steady trickle of migrants and visitors to my ‘secret quiet forest edge’ on Jeongbalsan continues. Asian Brown Flycatchers are the most abundant species of late, with about a dozen seen, and many others heard. Two Grey-streaked, several female Mugimaki, a male Blue and White, and two male Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were also seen busily feeding. Yellow-browed Warblers were also present in strong and vocal numbers, and several Asian Stubtail were heard but not seen. Three Rufous-tailed Robins were seen, and several others were heard. A male Chestnut Bunting was seen near some Tristram's and Black-faced Buntings. Black-naped Orioles have returned to Jeongbalsan, mewling loudly from the treetops. Also seen was a Brown Shrike and a possible Eyebrowed Thrush.

The forest edge habitat
Photos © Mathew Poll

left: Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica middle: Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
right: Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia Photos © Mathew Poll

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Photo © Mathew Poll

left: Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans right: Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Photos © Mathew Poll

left: Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami right: Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila Photos © Mathew Poll

A flock of twelve Pied Avocet, present since (at least) May 7, is the largest flock recorded in Korea known to Birds Korea. There are also 20 Black-faced Spoonbill in the same area.

Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, Photo © Shim Kyu-Sik

Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, Photo © Shim Kyu-Sik

A very high tide (at 5 AM) led to an initial estimate of 60,000 shorebirds roosting at the airport tidal-flats within Saemangeum, with many of these then flying back across to the Geum Estuary as soon as the tide started to drop. In the dawn count at Yubu, probably more than 50,000 shorebirds, including at least 7 Spoon-billed Sandpiper, and probably 56 Nordmann's Greenshank.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, May 8, Photo © Nial Moores

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, May 8, Photo © Nial Moores

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, May 8, Photo © Nial Moores

A wide range of internationally important sites for shorebirds covered by several teams of highly experienced counters (including members from Birds Korea, Miranda Naturalists Trust in NZ, Broome in Australia, and from the AWSG and Taiwan Wader Studies Group), covering adjacent sites simultaneously over this spring high tide series. Sites so far surveyed are: Yeongjong Island and Song Do (May 3rd); Ganghwa and Teibu Do (May 4th); Namyang Bay and Asan Bay and the Kia Tidal-flat (May 5th); rice-fields near Namyang Bay (May 5th), and west and east of Seosan Lake A (May 6th); and the remaining tidal-flats of Cheonsu Bay (May 6th). These sites have been covered before the National Survey counters rejoin the main SSMP for 7th and 8th, before then continuing on again along the west and then the south coast, from 9th to 14th/15th of May. While data compilation is still underway (and analysis at least two weeks away!), most striking already has been the extent of the loss and degradation of shorebird habitat, even over the past decade (since NM's last national shorebird survey). Much of the Song Do tidal-flat area (largely inaccessible in 1998 during that year's national shorebird survey) has now been reclaimed; and the eastern, innermost part of the remaining area is now being dyked for a new road project (with most of the rest slated for an extension of the Song Do New City); the main roost area at Shiwa is now being built on; tidal-flats at Teibu have become more disturbed; most of Namyang Bay (one of the nation's most important shorebird sites in both 1988 and 1998) has now been reclaimed, with the seawall there completed in 2006; the best shorebird areas in Asan Bay (which held a single flock of 18,000 Black-tailed Godwit and over 12,000 Great Knot in 1998) are now dyked, and although the seawalls there are still somewhat porous, the area will likely soon be built on; the rice-fields at Honwon Ri (between Namyang and Asan Bays) which supported thousands of Black-tailed Godwit in 1998 were godwitless this visit, with much of the surrounding area "under construction"; and the rice-fields at Seosan seemed very shorebird-poor, with apparently much lower densities of birds than in previous years. In addition, Saemangeum of course is clearly severely degraded, since seawall closure in April 2006...

Against this very negative background selected highlights have included at least five pairs of nesting Mongolian Gull at a mainland site in Incheon (the first mainland breeding record?); a total so far of 35 Nordmann's Greenshank (with highest counts being of 11 at Song Do South and 21 at Namyang South); almost 2,000 Black-tailed Godwit in rice-fields near Namyang Bay; two Oriental Pratincole and much less expected a juvenile Lesser Frigatebird (!) overflying Seosan Lake A (on May 6th); and a "twitched" adult Japanese Night Heron (found by members of the SSMP near Buan on May 4th), watched late on the 6th as it fed voraciously on worms and frogs.

Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus, May 3, Photo © Nial Moores

Japanese Night Heron Gorsachius goisagi, May 4, Photo © Chris Herbert, AWSG

More details on shorebird numbers and other highlights will be posted soon, as time allows.

Nial Moores, Birds Korea, May 7 2008

Birds Korea National Shorebird Survey mainpage

Seven -or perhaps up to 9- Hill Pigeon rested on the roof of the temple: showing their distinctive white tail patterns: there did not appear to be any nesting activity although some were quite territorial around their chosen gables. The odd individual was seen flying off over the surrounding mountain forest, where they presumably feed. The vocalisations seem fairly different from other pigeons- more gutteral and with different intonation. Along the nearby stream, a Common Kingfisher and pair of Grey Wagtails, with a lone foraging Azure-winged Magpie nearby- strange to see as they are always in noisy flocks outside the breeding season at least.

Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris, Photo © Tim Edelsten

May 6
The morning added 2 Oriental Dollarbird, a Dusky Warlber, a Grey-streaked Flycatcher, 1 Common Moorhen and now 3 Grey-faced Buzzard: at least 2 Japanese Yellow Buntings were seen again, before leaving the island with 64 species logged.

Japanese Yellow Bunting Emberiza sulphurata, Photo © Tim Edelsten

May 5
Bright and dry on an island dripping with birds, immediately apparent were up to 60 "macronyx" Yellow Wagtail with 3 ocularis White Wagtails; a Long-toed Stint, Common Greenshank, Wood & Common Sandpiper. Exploration was hard going, with the island being steep and pountainous, covered in dense scrub and bordered only by jutting rocks. Thirteen Cattle Egret made a pretty picture sitting on the backs of grazing cattle. Few raptors, with only an Osprey, 2 Peregrine, 3 Chinese but perhaps 20 Japanese Sparrowhawks actively hunting. Passerines hunkered down into scrub, nevertheless 2 and possibly 4 Japanese Yellow Buntings found, along with 1 Little, many Black-faced, 6 Chestnut, 2 Tristram's, and 2 (extraordinarily late) Rustic Bunting. Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were most abundant, followed by Yellow-browed, Arctic, Eastern Crowned & 3 Oriental Reed Warblers: plentiful Asian Brown and 4 Narcissus Flycatchers, numerous Japanese White-eye, 2 Ashy Minivet, plentiful Olive-backed & 2 Red-throated Pipit, a male Chestnut-cheeked Starling and Grey-backed Thrush, c. 10 Pacific Swift, 1 Oriental Cuckoo, and a Red-flanked Bluetail. Birds trickled in, with numbers of Great & Little Egrets, Striated, Grey, and Black- crowned Night Herons appearing by evening. Fishing from seaweed-covered rocks was a Common Kingfisher with a Black-capped Kingfisher nearby. Feeding broods were Varied Tits and Bull-headed Shrikes, the latter apparently glutting themselves on exhausted migrants.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, Photo © Tim Edelsten

White Wagtail Motacilla alba ocularis, Photo © Tim Edelsten

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Photo © Tim Edelsten

May 4
During the 5 hours + crossing, very little chance for seawatching, although 6 Streaked Shearwater at sea and an Eastern Oystercatcher at Bigeum-do. Korea's South-westernmost point, Gaggeo-do greeted me with a torrential downpour, after which a brief evening look revealed a Siberian Blue Robin frantically chasing insects on the concrete pier, at least 6 Asian House Martin (identified by shallow tail-notch), 2 Red-rumped Swallow, plentiful Japanese Bush Warblers singing in the rain, 2 Yellow-browed Bunting and a Grey-faced Buzzard.

A weekend of mixed rain and sun on DeokJeokDo. The highlight was watching a male Chestnut-cheeked Starling that appeared to be catching insects from its perch on an antenna for 20 minutes, right outside the window of the minbak that I was staying in. At least a dozen Yellow-browed Bunting were mingling with a similar number of Tristram’s and Black-faced Bunting. Several Korean Bush Warblers sang loudly from hidden perches the whole weekend. At one point one defended its perch from an Olive-backed Pipit. A Eurasian Hobby was harassing a large flock of Barn Swallow. 10 Cattle Egret followed a tractor as it plowed a rice field, while several Little Bunting fed at the edge of the same field. Also seen were a dozen Chinese Grosbeak, a Common Kingfisher, a Black-naped Oriole, abundant Grey Wagtail, a male Chinese Sparrowhawk, a Little Egret, and several Blue Rock Thrush engaging in courtship diplays. The only shorebirds seen were 4 Eastern Oystercachers.

left: Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis right: Korean Bush Warbler Cettia (canturians) borealis
Photos © Mathew Poll

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Photo © Mathew Poll

left: Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla right: Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis Photos © Mathew Poll

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Photo © Mathew Poll

Despite very sunny and warm conditions on the island, almost 100 species were logged. Buntings were well represented with 9 species (including Chestnut, Yellow-browed, Tristram's, Japanese Yellow, Yellow-breasted and Chestnut-eared), as were Thrushes with 7 species of Turdus (including Grey-backed, Scaly, Eye-browed, Brown-headed and Grey). Flycatchers were present in greatest numbers on the 3rd, with particularly good numbers of Blue-and-White, Yellow-rumped and Asian Brown, along with Narcissus, a single Mugimaki and small numbers of Grey-spotted. The Citrine Wagtail and baicalensis White-wagtail were present only until the 2nd. Birds recorded in the garden areas included a few Chinese Grosbeak, 2 Siberian Blue Robin, 1 Rubythroat, 1 female Common Rosefinch and Japanese White-eye among other commoner species. Around the reservoir and surrounding hills Warblers were reasonably well represented with plentiful Eastern Crowned as well as Yellow-browed, Dusky, Pale-legged and the diminutive Asian Stubtail. On the 2nd they were joined by a few Oriental Reed Warblers. Also arriving on the 2nd were the first Ashy Minivets, a few Dollarbirds, Violet-backed (Chestnut-cheeked) Starling and small numbers of Chinese Sparrowhawk. New arrivals on the 3rd included an Eastern Oystercatcher, a single Mandarin Duck (looking quite lost in the harbour), 2 Black-capped Kingfishers and a White-breasted Waterhen. The latter species watched through the scope while 2 Yellow-rumped Flycatchers and a Blue-and-White Flycatcher bathed in the small stream in the foreground. The weather on this day was very warm and dry and many species were watched bathing in the small, shaded stream at the head of the reservoir. Other species recorded on single occasions were Wigeon, Chinese Pond Heron, Green Sandpiper and Rufous-tailed Robin. In the harbour area, Red-throated Pipit were present on all days and were joined on the 3rd by 3 Yellow Wagtail (with one taivana) and a Grey-tailed Tattler. On both night excursions Oriental Scops Owl was heard. On the return ferry to Gunsan, a few Ancient Murrelet were seen, along with 4 distant, probable Red-throated Loon and a close Streaked Shearwater. A very short stop at a mudflat within Saemangeum added some extra species to the trip list. A sizable roost of Great Knot, a handful of Dunlin as well as smaller numbers of Mongolian Plover, Terek Sandpiper and others. 1 impressive Chinese Egret stood in the shallows nearby.

Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys Photo © Rich Lindie

Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami Photo © Rich Lindie

Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus Photo © Rich Lindie

Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes Photo © Rich Lindie

Six counters covered this hugely fragmented and highly threatened site, once massive and inaccessible, now consisting of patches of relict tidal-flat in a landscape of reclamation rectangles, unfinished bridges and towering blocks.
Despite the hugely depressing landscape, over 9,200 shorebirds were counted at the northern tidal-flat (with the vast majority Dunlin: 8,300), and 18,200 at the southern tidal-flat, with most numerous Great Knot (8,000), Dunlin (6,500), Bar-tailed Godwit (1,000), Red-necked Stint (740), Grey Plover (730) and Mongolian Plover (470), as well as 11 Nordmann's Greenshank. In addition, 104 Saunders's Gull, 2 Chinese Egret and a total of 19 Black-faced Spoonbill were recorded at the count sites, and a small breeding colony of Mongolian Gull was discovered (with at least 5 active nests). Other species of note included single Black-winged Stilt and Long-toed Stint, though there was no sign of the Pied Avocet seen there on May 2nd.

Shorebirds on Yeongjong-do Photo © Robin Newlin

Amid a day of new international arrivals joining the SSMP team, the Birds Korea Natoinal Shorebird Survery team did some site assessment of Yeongjong-do ahead of their West and South coast survey. The survey will run from May 3rd to May 16th, and will supplement the previous National Shorebird Surveys conducted in 1988 and 1998.
A tight flock of 10,000 Dunlin was counted at the 13:35 high tide, along with 460 Bar-tailed Godwit 204 Whimbrel and 104 Great Knot. They were joined by 91 Far Eastern Curlew, 73 Grey Plover, 32 Common Greenshank, and 2 each of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank and Kentish Plover. Singles of Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone and Mongolian Plover added to the diversity.
25 Saunders' Gulls were feeding actively throughout the count, while one Black-faced Spoonbill roosted and one Glaucous Gull was found amid a flock of gulls. The flock also held 13 leg-flagged birds, including 4 North west Australian Great Knot with engravings on their flags, and one Bar-tailed Godwit with black/green flags, denoting Thailand. Site assessment will take place over the next two days ahead of major counts starting on the 4th.

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Photo © Robin Newlin

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica and Dunlin Calidris alpina Photo © Robin Newlin

Dunlin Calidris alpina Photo © Robin Newlin

I have been taking advantage of long lunch breaks and great weather to observe a steady trickle of great migrants and visitors on a quiet area of Jeongbalsan this week. There is a great mix of grass, reeds, scrub, forest edges, drainage ditches, and a variety of trees in this area. Many of the birds were only observed on one day only.

May 1
At least a dozen Asian Brown Flycatchers called high in the treetops. Startling to watch was a female Common Kestrel in the process of making a kill – it appeared to be a passerine with some yellow plumage, perhaps a Black-faced Bunting. A pair of mating Grey-headed Woodpeckers was seen, and many others were heard calling noisily in the forest. Many vocal and active Common Pheasant were seen and heard at the forest’s edge. A mystery Owl was seen perched in a tree. Highlight for the day was an unmistakable male Siberian Thrush, seen briefly skulking at the forest’s edge.

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Photo © Mathew Poll

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Photo © Mathew Poll

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Photo © Mathew Poll

April 29
A single male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was well observed.

April 28
Six Black-faced Bunting were seen next to a parking lot. A Yellow-browed Warbler was spotted drinking in a drainage ditch in a scrubby area. One Asian Stubtail was in the same spot, and several others were heard nearby. The highlight was a Eurasian Wryneck hiding in a large scrubby bush. It was calling noisily, making a repeated metallic ‘creaking’. It was briefly but well observed.

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala Photo © Mathew Poll

April 25
Barn Swallows have returned to Ilsan, with several seen overhead at any time. The Olive-backed Pipits appear to have moved on – they were not seen all week. About a dozen Tristrams’s Bunting were seen feeding at the forest’s edge. A tree held a large mixed flock of about 40 Eurasian Siskin and Tree Sparrow. Several female Red-flanked Bluetail were seen nearby. A dead Temminck’s Mole was seen, perhaps killed by a cat that inhabits the area.

left: Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami right: Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Photos © Mathew Poll

While the tidal flat was completely flooded by the morning high tide up to the wall along the sidewalk with only about 30 Eurasian Widgeon and few CommonTeal on the water all other birds roosted and feeded in the two wall-enclosed areas beside the tidal flat. Over 350 Dunlin, 107 Red-necked Stint, 87 Bar-tailed Godwit (3 flagged), 37 Ruddy Turnstone, 7 Common Greenshank, 5 Grey-tailed Tattler, 3 Terek Sandpiper, 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 60+ Kentish, 7 Little-ringed and 5 Grey Plover as well as 17 Whrimbel and 1 Great Knot (a few days earlier up to 5) were seen. With raising water in this location about 50 Common Teal, 13 Spot-billed Duck and 3 Northern Shoveler along with 2 Little Tern and 3 Grey Heron shared the little remaining sand banks with the shorebirds.
In the course of his research work Dr. Kim Seok-Yee shared the very positive news of the discovery of 3 Kentish Plover (3 eggs each) and one Little-ringed Plover (4 eggs) nests.

Leg flagged Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Photo © Andreas Kim

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Photo © Andreas Kim

In increasingly warm sunshine, several teams covered much of the Saemangeum system. In several areas, masses of dead shellfish littered the surface, apparently coincidental with several days of greatly lowered water levels and almost no tidal movement within the system, following the third anniversary of the seawall closure (April 21, 2006). Most bird-rich was the airport area in the outer Mangyeung, with c 16,000 shorebirds in one stretch (mostly Dunlin [8,000] and Great Knot [7,000], including several Chongmin Dao leg-flagged birds, two Broad-billed Sandpiper and 4 or 5 Grey-tailed Tattler). Obvious highlight there, however, was the discovery of three Spoon-billed Sandpiper (two in full-breeding plumage, one in intermediate plumage) in among a group of 500 shorebirds, with a feeding Chinese Egret behind.

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Photo © Nial Moores

With warm sunshine and only patchy morning mist, only a couple of hours in the field before catching the boat back to the mainland and the SSMP study site. Highlights on Eocheong included several Wryneck (with three together in the quarry, including one in song), the female Pied Harrier and one Citrine Wagtail still, and 2 Japanese Grosbeak seen briefly in flight. From the ferry, 12 Ancient Murrelet, 4+ Streaked Shearwater, two Red-throated Loon and at least one Grey Nightjar, while within Saemangeum, water levels appeared massively lower than one week before.

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Photo © Nial Moores

I had a few hours of time so I decided to head to some nearby fields to watch the Common Pheasants. While watching them a White-rumped Swift put in a short appearance and I noted good numbers of Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Common Snipe as well as many more 'usual' species. On a nearby rocky shore were very good numbers of Ruddy Turnstone joined by a scattering of Terek Sandpiper.

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Photo © Rich Lindie

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Photo © Rich Lindie

left: Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus right: Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Photo © Rich Lindie

Overcast over night, followed by long sunny periods and a gradually moderating wind through the day, allowed for more birds to be found. While over 90 species were logged, the numbers of most species seemed very low compared to previous years. Most numerous species (seen by NM) for example included Grey-faced Buzzard (with a single group of 30 arriving at dusk), Siskin (140), Brambling (50), Olive-backed Pipit (40+), Coal Tit (40), Pale Thrush (30), Barn Swallow (25+), Siberian Stonechat (25), and Black-faced (25) and Little Buntings (20), while species such as Siberian Blue Robin (4), Siberian Rubythroat (4), and Narcissus (3) and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers (1) seemed remarkably scarce considering the conditions. Species of especial note for the day included a male and a female Pied Harrier (the latter spendng time hunting over the southern end of the island), single Marsh Sandpiper, two Northern House Martin, probable Latham's and one or two Pintail Snipe, one or possibly two female Citrine Wagtail, single male Chestnut-cheeked and Red-billed Starlings, and two Yellow-breasted Bunting. Further colour was also provided by several Common Kingfisher and at least six Hoopoe (including birds watched both arriving and departing the island).

Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus Photo © Robin Newlin

Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane Photo © Nial Moores

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia Photo © Robin Newlin

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Photo © Robin Newlin

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Photo © Robin Newlin

Striated Heron Butorides striata,
Photo © Barry Heinrich

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Photo © Barry Heinrich

Bean Goose Anser fabalis Photo © Barry Heinrich

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Photo © Barry Heinrich

White Wagtail Motacilla alba ocularis Photo © Barry Heinrich

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Photo © Barry Heinrich

Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus Photo © Barry Heinrich

left: Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans right: Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Photo © Barry Heinrich

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Photo © Barry Heinrich