Bird News in Brief from Nial Moores, Baek Seung-Kwang and Lee Su-Young, with Kim Hee-Song and Lee Soojin (on 31st only).
Another intensive survey in Yeoncheon at the cusp of a stubbornly reluctant spring, with several days with snow showers and subzero temperatures over night, and only one day of above average warmth. Covering the same dates as last year, this survey was again focused on Long-billed Plover, but also included a count of Scaly-sided Merganser in the Flyway Network Site (part of continued research on this species) and also some counts in areas that meet one or more Ramsar criteria. In all, 83 bird species were logged, with a wonderful mix of typical late winter hangovers (like White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers and Cinererous Vultures still) and early spring migrants, including exactly 100 Little Ringed Plover, several Eurasian Hoopoe, flocks of Barn Swallow and a single Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (latter on March 30th), several singing Amur Stonechats, and a decent scattering of migrant Naumann’s and Dusky Thrushes, and additional hybrids.
Species of greatest note (with images © Nial Moores) included:
- Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus 흰이마기러기. Globally Vulnerable. A Second Calendar or less likely Third Calendar Year was with a small group of Greater White-fronted Geese in Sintap-Ri on March 29th.
- Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata 원앙. A total of 78 were logged, with 21 the largest group.
- Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus 호사비오리. Globally Endangered. This northward migration the highest day count was 53 (counted by Baek Seung-Kwang on March 23rd). During this survey, we counted 33, and watched the pair in the image below copulate. It is becoming increasingly obvious that in response to increasing levels of disturbance, this species is now found in fewer river stretches than even two years ago.
- Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris 낭비둘기. Nationally Threatened. A total of only nine seen, including two chasing each other for extended periods – presumably part of courtship or prebreeding ritual as the same birds then flew into a presumed nesting crevice.
- Hooded Crane Grus monacha 흑두루미. Globally Vulnerable. Although flocks of many thousands can be seen at Suncheon and Seosan, this species is genuinely rare in Yeoncheon. Seven were seen in Baekhak on March 28th.
- Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus 흰목물떼새. Nationally Threatened. Perhaps due to the rather colder weather than last year (meaning very few birds were calling, and no obvious nesting behaviour was seen), we were only able to find 58 in total. This compares to a slightly higher 63 counted during the same period last year when we had much less understanding of their distribution in the county.
In addition to the bird survey and detailed discussions about the conservation needs of target species, April 2nd produced three more highlights. The first was that Nial Moores, as National Director of Birds Korea, was made an honorary citizen of Yeoncheon County because of the work we have done there since 2021 (thank you for this honour); the second was that Mayor Kim Deok-hyeon and Director Park Tae-Won were able to see Scaly-sided Merganser for the first time; and the third was that eight Birds Koreans (seven of whom are from Yeoncheon) were then able to celebrate with dinner together that evening. Excellent!
Yes…Yeoncheon!