Jeju Birds

2026-01-10

2026-01-10: Surpries Cranes and Bonus Gull

A day after the Green Pigeon on Hallasan, we went off to the east coast to see three Siberian Cranes at Hado Wetland. It was super cool to see this species finally, making it the last crane species to see in Korea of the species known to occur in Korea. A week prior to this I saw a Demoiselle Crane up on the mainland, so it was very unexepected to see another new crane species so soon.

After soaking in the nice crane views, we went to the coast to see what was around, and found a Pallas's Gull mixed in with a large group of gulls. What a bonus!

Siberian Cranes

Greater Spotted Eagle, attempting to steal the show.

Pallas's Gull!

Vega Gull

Taimyr Gull

Vega Gull (?)

Black-tailed Gull

2026-01-09

2026-01-09: Green Pigeon in the White Snow

I went up to 1100 Altitude Wetland up on Hallasan in the morning to see a White-bellied Green Pigeon that has made the odd decision to overwinter in a snowy area at 1100 meters. It was quite confiding, just casually eating small berries. I heard a few weeks later that later it had a collision with a car and flew off into the forest, not to be seen again by birders.

White-bellied Green Pigeon

Perched in a tree

Varied Tit

Brown-eared Bulbul

2026-01-04

2026-01-04: Mara-do

A short trip to Mara-do in early January to see what was around. Well, not much aside from a nice variety of gulls mainly, and three Osprey which is more than the usual one or zero I see on Mara.

Japanese Cormorant

Warbling White-eye

Oriental Magpie

Slaty-backed Gull

Taimyr Gull

Black-tailed Gulls

Vega Gull

Eurasian Tree Sparrows

One of three Osprey

Some nice winter songbirds in Seotal Oreum area along the southwest coast afterwards.

Goldcrest

Yellow-bellied Tit

Light-vented Bulbul

2025-12-31

2025-12: December in Shinsan Park

Fall migration had pretty much completed by this point, with mainly overwintering species getting cozy, and a few early winter arrivals moving through. The Pale Thrushes made a big return, with some Red-flanked Bluetails and Dusky Thrushes coming back. The Chinese Grosbeaks started to settle in as well in decent numbers.

White-backed Woodpecker, a rare winter visitor to the park

Feral Rock Pigeon, a large group are resident in the park

Pale Thrush

Bull-headed Shrike with a mantis for lunch

Pale Thrush

Large-billed Crow

Chinese Grosbeak

2025-11-30

2025-11: November in Shinsan Park

Migration continued on throughout November, and usually around this time of the season some interesting birds can show up. I suppose because Jeju stays warmer than the mainland, so some birds will stick around longer here before moving further south.

Various Starlings began to arrive in the city, as well as thrushes, Red-flanked Bluetails, and a couple Taiga Flycatchers. This was the first time I found a Taiga Flycatcher in Shinsan Park, and funnily enough not too long after this, a Taiga Flycatcher was found all the way in my hometown Vancouver, Canada. Nice coincidence, and lucky birders over there.