A total of 85 bird species, three mammal species (Korean Water Deer, Wild Boar and Amur Leopard Cat), one globally threatened freshwater turtle species, and two species of globally threatened amphibian (multiple Seoul Pond Frogs and 1-2 Suwon Tree Frog heard) were logged by three Birds Koreans (Nial Moores, Baek Seung-Kwang and Lee Su-Young) in Yeoncheon between September 7th and 22nd. This was even though only a few hours of this period were actually dedicated to survey, with most time and energy instead dedicated to the “Spoonbills Project“. Of this total, c. 16 bird species were new for our “Birds Korea county list”, taking the total to 208. In addition to multiple encounters with the nationally Critically Endangered Hill Pigeon, species of greatest note for this land-locked county included Globally Critically Endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting (with two on 13th and three on 22nd), single Asian House Martin (on 8th), two single Chestnut-flanked White-eye (on 16th and 22nd), single (presumed) Japanese Leaf Warbler (on 16th) and two Eurasian Spoonbill (on 22nd).
Notable “support” species included Garganey on several dates; up to eight Long-billed Plover at the “Spoonbills project” site; three species of snipe (with a high count of 15 Common Snipe in the Peace Rice-fields on 22nd, sharing 3-4 fields with substantial numbers of Intermediate and Eastern Cattle Egret); a high overflying flock of 45 Common Greenshank, moving southwest (on 13th); migrant Osprey on two dates; multiple observations of Crested Honey Buzzard (apparently including some local over-summering birds and the start of southward migration – with four on 22nd); and single Pechora Pipit, two Black-faced Bunting and two Chestnut Bunting on 22nd.
