Bird News from Robin Newlin and Dr. Shim Kyu-Sik
A full and productive day around Hwaseong’s reclamation area of reeds, channels, lake, scrub—and, unfortunately, ever-increasing industrial construction. Highlights were Korea’s smallest and largest owls, an encouraging number of storks, and evidence of good numbers of mice and the raptors that feed on them.
- Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus. A few heard.
- Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons. Large flocks.
- Bean Goose. Large flocks.
- Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. 24.
- Gadwall Anas strepera. 8.
- Falcated Duck Anas falcata. 1.
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. Several hundred.
- Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha. Several hundred.
- Greater Scaup Aythya marila. 6.
- Smew Mergellus albellus. 1.
- Common Merganser Mergus merganser. 5.
- Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana. 4. Not many birds can make a Grey Heron look small.
- Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. 6.
- Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. Several.
- Great Egret. Several.
- Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. Several.
- Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. 2.
- Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis. 1. Very crisply marked, almost black and white, with somewhat light structure.
- White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. 1.
- Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius. 2.
- Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus. 1.
- Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. 2. One flew in nearby to devour a frog, disappeared, and came back moments later with an enormous mouse.
- Merlin Falco columbarius. 3.
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. 1.
- Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. 1.
- Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. 3.
- Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus. 8.
- Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo. 1.
- Little Owl Athene noctua. 2. In widely separate spots.
- Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. 1.
- Chinese Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor. 2.
- Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus. About 12.
- Far-Eastern Skylark Alauda japonica. Constantly heard overhead.
- Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthera webbiana. Small flocks.
- Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus. 2.
- Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens. One flock of about 50.
- Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans. 2.
- Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus. C. 20, very conservatively (more heard).
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana, © Robin Newlin
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, © Robin Newlin
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, © Robin Newlin
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, © Robin Newlin
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, © Robin Newlin
Merlin Falco columbarius, © Robin Newlin
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, © Robin Newlin
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, © Robin Newlin
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo, © Robin Newlin
Little Owl Athene noctua, © Robin Newlin
Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus, © Robin Newlin