2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: Gulls

One final winter post for now, here are various gulls I saw on Jeju the past winter season. 

Vega Gull, with the pink legs, medium grey mantle, and light streaking on the head. These were some of the most common gulls seen.

Saunders' Gull, my favourite local gull and endemic to the region (Northeast Asia). A few of them were seen on the east coast this winter. 

This one is a little confusing to me, but I think the smaller build, pink bill, and medium grey mantle makes this a Vega Gull.

Another Saunders' Gull, this one working on some sort of burrowing worm in the tidal zone.

A Taimyr Gull, also confusingly known as a Heuglin's Gull or a subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull. Taimyr Gulls were fairly common this winter as well, with a good number always mixed in with groups of Vegas. The yellow legs, darker grey mantle, and streaking around the neck are features I looked for when identifying a Taimyr Gull.

Black-headed Gull, this was the only one I saw this winter. I don't know if they're rare on Jeju but they're somewhat common on mainland coastal areas in Korean winters.

Another Taimyr Gull, this one with a more intense yellow colouring for the legs. Note the thinner bill and light streaking on the head and neck.

Another Saunders' Gull, strolling down the beach.

Black-tailed Gull, and looks like not quite a fully mature adult either. This one was seen from the ferry to Biyang-do. This gull species is the most common on Jeju and live here year round.

Slaty-backed Gull, seen on the east coast. Usually I found one or two mixed in with large groups of gulls throughout the coast, but not often I would get such a close look at them like this individual. Note the deep pink colour of the legs, dark grey mantle, lighter eye, and heavy streaking on the head.

This one is also a Slaty-backed Gull, but a full adult it seems and pretty much in breeding plumage I'm guessing. Note the heavy build, and dark grey mantle. This was on Chuja-do in late February (an island between Jeju and the mainland).

Another Taimyr Gull, yellow legs, dark grey mantle, light streaking on the neck.

A Glaucous Gull, this one was a real prize to find. Found earlier in the winter, it took me a couple visits to come across it. A large gull, pale colouration, very light grey mantle, white wingtips, pink legs, and light coloured eye. Not very common on Jeju from what I've heard.

I think this one is either a Vega or a Mongolian Gull. I'm sort of leaning towards Mongolian simply because of the deeper pink of the legs, small dark eye, lighter streaking, and heavier build. But it could be a larger Vega I suppose?

Black-tailed Gull, another immature. Plenty of adults were seen but I liked the closeness and detail of this photo.

Once again a Vega Gull, lighter pink legs, more streaking on the head and neck, and medium grey mantle.

 

2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: East Coast 2

 A second set of photos of birds seen during various trips to the Jeju east coast this winter.

Harlequin Duck, one individual found by a visiting friend. I was pretty excited to tick this one on Jeju as I didn't get any photoso of the ones I saw in Gangwon-do a couple years ago.

Long-tailed Shrike. I saw this one at the same spot back in September, which made me wonder if it's the same individual, or just a coincidence.

Pacific Reef Heron; I got surprisingly close to this one while it was fishing.

Carrion Crow, an uncommon bird on Jeju.

Male Red-breasted Merganser

Leucistic Eastern Spot-billed duck

Caspian Tern hiding behind the reeds.

Caspian Tern peeking out a bit from the rock.

Caspian Tern after I accidentaly flushed it. Luckily it landed back in its original spot after a bit of flying.

Presumed female Canvasback with male and female Common Pochards. More on that Canvasback in another post.

Greater Spotted Eagle, seen flying over Hado wetland briefly. This was a bird long on my list and it felt satisfying finally getting nice good looks at one.

2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: East Coast 1

 I took a few trips to the east coast this winter, as it's truly the best spot for winter birds on Jeju. The best place for ducks, gulls, seabirds, and even eagles it seems.

Pelagic Cormorant, fairly common in low numbers along Jeju coast in winter.

Osprey are also rather common on Jeju in winter, as well as spring and fall.

Peregrine Falcons are a resident bird on Jeju, and usually at least one is seen during a birdwatching trip.

Falcated Ducks, male and female. Lots were seen this winter.

Female Common Goldeneye.

Female Red-breasted Merganser, stretching her wings.

Black-faced Spoonbill, a regular wintering bird on Jeju. Probably one of the only places in Korea to see them regularly in winter.

Grey Herons.

Saunders' Gull

Temminck's Cormorant

Kentish Plover

Buff-bellied Pipit, an asian subspecies of American Pipit.

Grey Heron with a fine catch (Barred Knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus) 

2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: Mara-do

 I took a couple trips to Mara-do this winter, once in January, February, and early March. While not a lot was found, I figured it's good to share these to show what can be seen in the winter months.

An overwintering Richard's Pipit. I saw one in December, January, and February. Likely the same individual.

Long-tailed Shrike

Rustic Bunting, not terribly common on Jeju, so it was nice to see a few on Mara-do.

Yellow-browed Bunting, not a common bird to find in Korea in winter.

Eurasian Skylark, a fairly common bird on the south west of Jeju.

2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: Halla Arboretum

 As spring is already here, I'm going to post a few of my favourite photos from January to March of this year, and then move on with what's happening now. Maybe I'll return to these sightings in more detail down the road, but unlikely. I'll group them up by general location with a few details in each.

For the first one, here are some highlights from the Halla Arboretum this winter.

Some mornings I would find Rooks resting on street wires.

Pale Thrushes were consistantly in high numbers during my visits.

A couple mornings I was lucky enough to get clear views of wrens hopping around.

While Eastern and Varied Tits are common sights at the Arboretum, Coal Tits and Yellow-bellied Tits would sometimes show up as well.

Oddly enough I stumbled across a Grey-backed Thrush (two on one day), it must have been overwintering.

Japanese Bush Warblers were much easier to see before the leaves grew in.

Grey Bunting, one of my target birds for this winter. I knew they were on Jeju fairly regularly in winter, but I only saw this individual (female?), and only on two different days in mid February.

A rather confiding White's Thrush that was bouncing along the leaves.

Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler, another surprising overwintering bird. I expect to see and hear more of these as spring proceeds.

A lucky flight shot of a Red-flanked Bluetail.