Tag Archives: Red-billed Starling

Bird News from Jason Loghry

Despite all the mosquito bites, this late afternoon was well-spent. First, I re-visited a site near the Nakdong River where recently I had observed Red-billed Starling. It turns out there are at least three breeding pairs at this site. Although they were nesting near a tree at a school, a few seemed bothered that I was observing them. To avoid disturbing them any more than I already had, I cut my visit short. There were plenty of Tree Sparrows to keep them company and down the road were a pair of White-cheeked Starling to keep me company.

Ambitious to find a bittern, I headed to the riverside, where I instead found quite a few juvenile Bull-headed Shrike, many singing Far Eastern Cisticola, many more singing Oriental Reed Warbler, several Barn Swallow, a few Eastern Spot-billed Duck (including one with ducklings), five Black-crowned Night Heron, a Striated Heron, a few Grey Heron, a few Common Pheasant, and a Coot.

As part of my seemingly never-ending early summer search for Von Schrenck’s at the Nakdong, I spent the last hour of sunlight observing a small pond spread full of aquatic plants, bordered with reeds and tall grass. After only a few minutes, a familiar song grew from faint to loud. Suddenly, a Ruddy-breasted Crake appeared. Overwhelmed with awe, I watched and listened until it disappeared into the dusk.