2021-12-07

2021-12-01 Halla Arboretum

I took a quick trip to Halla Arboretum on the morning of Dec 1. Despite facing strong winds, rain, and then hail (!), I saw a decent assortment of birds. 

Plenty of Pale Thrush are in the gardens now, and a White-backed Woodpecker was feeding on oranges in an orchard. White-backed Woodpeckers are somewhat interesting on Jeju as I heard they are the official bird of Jeju, and a special subspecies occurs on Jeju ( Dendrocopos leucotos quelpartensis) Other regulars included Bull-headed Shrikes, Warbling Whiteeyes, and Japanese Bush Warblers. 

The shining moment of the morning was finally seeing the elusive Cinereous Vultures that reside on Jeju. A pair flew over the arboretum briefly as the storm was moving in. Apparently these vultures were first seen on Jeju around 2002 in a large group, and have been seen sporadically ever since. I think they may eat carrion such as deer, and stray cats and dogs, as well as perhaps remains from meat farms (horse, pig, and cow are farmed on Jeju).

Jeju White-backed Woodpecker / 큰오색딱따구리 / Dendrocopos leucotos, waiting to dive in on that Jeju orange.

Is it eating insects inside, or the orange itself?

Bull-headed Shrike / 때까치 / Lanius bucephalus

Pale Thrush / 흰배지빠귀 / Turdus pallidus

Cinereous Vulture / 독수리 / Aegypius monachus

Cinereous Vulture / 독수리 / Aegypius monachus

Siberian Roe Deer / 노루 / Capreolus capreolus









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