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.