2022-08-18 Mara-do: the Summer Return

Last week I took a morning trip to Mara-do to catch the early parts of fall migration. Shortly after arriving, I noticed a small bird land in some nearby grass. I thought it was a snipe at first, so I investigated further to help work on my snipe ID. As I got closer I couldn't see anything, until I noticed small rail-like feet and a long bill showing from underneath a rock. I crouched down and got a better look and found that the bird was a juvenile Baillon's Crake, hiding under a rock. I got quite a bit of time with the bird before it made off into the grass. 

Baillon's Crake hiding under a typical Jeju lava rock.

After a while, the Baillon's Crake creeped out from underneath the rock.

Baillon's Crake in all its beauty in daylight. Not a common sight to see in Korea (or anywhere?).

Everything else seen that morning paled in comparison (what can compete with excellent looks of a crake?) but still plenty of great birds around. Stonechats and Brown Shrikes were somewhat common, Pacific Swifts and Swallows filled the skies, and even a mystery snipe (Lathams maybe?). 

Pacific Swift filled the sky, along with Barn Swallows.

A mystery snipe, possible Latham's due to the elongated body, taller stance, longer legs, paler colour, grassland habitat etc... but, still can't be confirmed.

Another shot of the snipe.

Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

The boat trips there and back were fairly uneventful other than nice looks at flying fish. The fun didn't stop there. While waiting for the bus I watched a Common Kingfisher grab a fish from a small stream.

Flying Fish seen from the boat.

Common Kingfisher, perched on a rock with its catch.

2022-08-13 Staying Cool in the Mountain Forest

 A nice visit to Seogwipo Recreational Forest on a mid-August weekend. No Ruddy Kingfishers unfortunately (darn!), but still plenty of nice birds. Highlights were three juvenile Blue-and-white Flycatchers and an Eastern Crowned Warbler mixed in with a group of tits and white-eyes. 

Juvenile Blue-and-white Flycatcher

Juvenile Blue-and-white Flycatcher

Eastern Crowned Warbler. Never noticed these in the summer before, but I never looked for them either.

Warbling White-eye being rather acrobatic.

There were insects throughout the park as well, including some very interesting stick insects.

An interesting stick insect.

2022-07-31 Boobook, Halla Arboretum

 After scouting around for a month and a half at the Arboretum, I had finally gotten a clear look at one of the nesting Boobooks. Unfortunately the weather was atrocious so I only managed some zoomed in shots with my point and shoot camera. But one turned out OK, and it'll do for now.

Boobook, with bright eyes (lit up by flash, unfortunately)

2022-07-23 Jeoji Gotjawal

 A nice hike through Jeoji Gotjawal by Osulloc on a summer Saturday morning. Not too many different birds were seen (more heard, rather), but many plants, insects, and even a Mountain Grass Lizard.

Mountain Grass Lizard

White-backed Woodpecker

Some sort of interesting land snail

2022-07-17 Hello Hado Jacana

 August was a little quiet, but one big highlight was finding a Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Hado wetland in mid-August. I was showing a group of visitors the birds on Jeju, and made an obligatory stop at Hado wetland. While searching for an Oriental Reed Warbler that was visible to show them (most of them were hiding in the reeds while clacking away), one of the visitors asked "what's that strange yellow and black bird over there?" I looked over and was astonished to see a Jacana walking (swimming?) in the brakish water in front of us. We all got nice long looks at this beautiful bird. They're regular summer breeders in Korea, but it's always a treat to see them, not only because of their localised distribution, but they're just so nice looking.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana strutting away

It wasn't having much fun walking on the seaweed though.

It stuck around for quite some time, seemingly unphased by us.

A quick shot of it stretching its wings.

2022-06-15 Drongos Drongos Drongos

On June 10th, 2022, the Jeju Wildlife Research Center (제주야생동물연구센터) found a Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectens on Mara Island, the most southern point of the ROK. This species has never been recorded in the Republic of Korea, making it a national first. The bird was caught for measurements, banded, and then released. Hearing the news, I took a trip to Mara Island the morning of June 15th. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but amazingly the bird was relocated within less than an hour of being on the island. I spent some time with the bird, taking record photos (at a safe distance), and admired the random chance of viewing this species at this particular time and place.

Crow-billed Drongo, Mara-do 2022-06-15. A National First for Korea, first recorded on 2022-06-10.

Crow-billed Drongo

According to eBird, the range of the Crow-billed Drongo is restricted to South and Southeast Asia. Southwestern China has the closest records geographically to Korea, with no sightings north of the Yangtze River in PR China, Taiwan, or Japan. So unless there are other sightings that have gone unreported, this is both the first documented record of a Crow-billed Drongo in the ROK and the most northern record. The species has been given a tentative Korean name 큰부리바람까마귀, roughly translating to Large-billed Windcrow (or Drongo), which I personally feel is fitting.

One of several media announcements can be read here (via the local Halla Daily): 

http://www.ihalla.com/read.php3?aid=1656477681728505044

Crow-billed Drongo

This wasn't the first drongo species I saw in Korea, nor was it the only one I saw this year! Around mid-May I found a Hair-crested Drongo on Mara-do. A lifer for me, I was able to get really nice looks with great lighting (it was a nice sunny morning). 

Hair-crested Drongo, Mara-do 2022-05

Not only was I fortunate enough to see those two species in Korea this spring, but also saw a Black Drongo on Chuja-do at the end of April. This one was perched nicely in a pine and on electrical wires just outside of the main village in Sanchuja-do. I've seen this species before but this was the best look I've had of one yet.

Black Drongo, Chuja-do 2022-04

To add to the theme, I may as well add the fourth Drongo species I've seen in Korea (and therefore all species currently recorded in the ROK?). In 2021 I saw an Ashy Drongo on Mara-do in early May. I didn't get the best photos but good enough to know what it was.

Ashy Drongo, Mara-do 2022-05

2022-06-15 Short-tailed Shearwater (Mara-do)

 On a trip to Mara-do in mid June, I got great looks at a Short-tailed Shearwater. I had seen them brielfy earlier this spring but this was the first chance I was able to get nice photos.

Short-tailed Shearwater floating on the sea.

Short-tailed Shearwater

2022-06 Yongsu Reservoir

A couple trips to Yongsu in June were quite fruitful, leading to a lifer Pied Avocet, a rare migrant Purple Heron, and a pair of Yellow Bitterns rummaging about in the reeds. I didn't find those bitterns again on a repeat visit later in July, so I'm not sure if they bred or not. The Purple Heron was refound a bit further north along the coast a few weeks later. 

White-shouldered Starlings were found breeding here this year, perhaps the third year in a row. So perhaps they'll slowly colonize parts of Korea as well like the Red-billed Starlings did. Red-billed are resident here and were also found with nests. 

Red-billed Starlings. You can see one poking its head out from the hole, with some nesting material tucked away.

White-shouldered Starling. I didn't put in the effort to monitor them each week this summer, but getting this capture was good enough for me for this year.

Barn Swallow perched on a wire. A very common summer breeder here on Jeju.

Whiskered Terns are rather common to find over Yongsu throughout late spring through to late summer and early fall.

Whiskered Terns are tricky to photograph but I managed a few decent shots.

Yellow Bittern creeping along the water plants.

The same individual perched over the water.

Japanese Bush Warbler right out in the open on a pine tree. It's not very often you get to see one this clearly.

My lifer Pied Avocet, seen only at this time. It was resting with a group of Black-winged Stilts, which coincidently have a similar colour pattern. Coincidence or no?

Cattle Egret perched on the top of trees. A common bird to see around here in summer.

Purple Heron, flying away before I could get better photos. I ended up finding the same individual (or a similar looking one?) a couple weeks later in a nearby area.

2022-06 Lesser Cuckoo (Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park)

 Finally after hearing them so many times I was able to get a clear look at a Lesser Cuckoo, calling from the top of a tree. I didn't have a scope with me so the digiscoping wasn't the best. But still happy I managed to get some relatively clear photos of one for once.

2022-06 Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Saryeoni Forest)

A nice pleasant walk through Saryeoni Forest in early June, and along the way plenty of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were heard and seen. I managed to get a nice capture of this one perched near a stream. I didn't know they made such a high pitched chirping, perhaps if I figure it out I'll upload the audio track later on. 

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

2022-05 Birds on Jeju Island in May

 Birding in the spring can be interesting anywhere you are in Korea. Jeju has a wide range of habitats within a close proximity, so it can be easy to find a lot of interesting species at the right time. May of couse has some really interesting species rolling through, as well is good opportunities to see resident species in fresh green surroundings.

Large-billed Crow at Jeolmul Forest.

Jeju City has some nice parks that can have migrants hiding during spring time. Emphasis on the hiding though as it can take a bit of work finding some of the more interesting birds passing through. I think mainly due to how popular the parks can be with both tourists and locals.

Black-naped Oriole at the Halla Arboretum. A regular summer breeder on the Korean mainland, but generally only a migrant on Jeju Island.

Dollarbird in a pine tree at Sarabong Park. Another common Korean summer breeder that usually only shows up during migration on Jeju.

The south of the island is where the real gold is in spring time, with many choices of habitat. A birdwatcher can really have a lot of fun going through these different parks during spring, finding some pretty rare species at the right times. I found myself rotating through these different parks each week, trying to find the sweet spots. Certainly some parks seemed better than others, but there were surprises to be had even on non-birding days.

Tristram's Bunting in the scrub.

Gray Wagtail in a stream somewhere by Jungmun.

Male Mugimaki in the canopy in a Park in Seogwipo City.

Yellow Bunting, rather uncommon in Korea during migration. Jeju is apparently the best place to find them in spring.

Brown Shrike perched on a reed on the south coast.

One of my favourite spots, Yongsu Reservoir, has interesting birds year round. Spring time certainly met my expectations, even with just a couple of visits. The highlight for this area in spring was certainly a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, a species not so common in Korea.

Common Cuckoo. This one had me confused until it was pointed out that Common Cuckoo's have light streaking on their vent and heavy barring on their chest. Also the thicker, heavier body.

Brown-eared Bulbul with some nesting material.

Light-vented Bulbul, a species that has successfuly colonized Jeju Island, and slowly the mainland.

Marsh Sandpiper at Yongsu Reservoir.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Yongsu Reservoir. This species used to breed on Jeju until development and extra disturbance made them more rare. Despie this, Several were found in spring 2021, and I personally saw 2 individuals this year (2022).