2025-09-12

2025-09-12: Hanon Rice Fields

 Jeju only has one area with rice fields throughout the entire island, a decent sized crater next to Seogwipo City called Hanon. The area was flooded historically but was converted to agriculture use and is now used for very small scale rice production. I don't even know where they sell this rice, but it's there. 

Rice fields in general are fantastic spots for birdwatching in Korea, so that makes Hanon a very special area. I never went there in the fall, so I went to check it out. It wasn't terribly birdy, but I did manage great views of a Pechora Pipit, a relatively common migrant in spring and fall, but difficult to get good views. 

Plenty of butterflies were around, and surprisingly a brief encounter with a soft-shelled turtle. It was the first time seeing one on Jeju, perhaps it was an abandonded pet or some old stock from a restaurant.


Pechora Pipit, looking somewhat dainty in this photo.

Pechora Pipit

Pechora Pipit, getting a bit suspicious of my presence.

A fairly decent sized group of Large-billed Crows.

Papilio xuthus

An Asian Soft-shelled Turtle: unsure if it's an Amur or Chinese. Could be either as they aren't native to Jeju.


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