Bird News from Nial Moores
In clear conditions with westerly then southwesterly winds, plenty of species on the move.
From the ferry on the 28th, two Northern Boobook , nine Ancient Murrelet and 4-5 Red-throated Loon were the highlights, with species of note in the afternoon on the island itself including four American Scoter still, two Daurian Starling, a Black Drongo and good numbers of regular migrants – including a half-dozen Richard’s Pipit, a dozen or more Stejneger’s Stonechat, 50+ Yellow-browed Warbler, and 5-6 Ochre-rumped, 30+ Chestnut-eared, 35-50 Yellow-browed, 100+ Black-faced and 150 Little Buntings.
American Scoter Melanitta americana © Nial Moores
Stejneger’s Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri © Nial Moores
Daurian Starling Agropsar sturninus © Nial Moores
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla © Nial Moores
On the 29th, a (tragically oiled) Red-throated Loon was “yodeling” on a reservoir; and although there seemed to be fewer buntings around, there were three more species of starling (a dozen White-cheeked, 2+ Red-billed and rarest in the Korean context, a single White-shouldered Starling) and a good mix of wagtails, including two adult male taivana Eastern Yellow and a Citrine. There was also a decent spread of shorebirds which included single Black-winged Stilt and Pin-tailed Snipe, 3-4 Far Eastern Oystercatcher, 3+ Wood Sandpiper and three Long-toed Stint – with the day’s highlight a Grey-headed Lapwing.
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata © Nial Moores
White-shouldered Starling Sturnia sinensis © Nial Moores
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola © Nial Moores
Far Eastern Oystercatcher Haematopus (ostralegus) osculans © Nial Moores
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola © Nial Moores
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta © Nial Moores
Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus © Nial Moores
All images taken with a handheld sony camera through a truly superb Swarovski scope…