2026-08: Summer in Seonheul Gotjawal

 I visited Seonheul Gotjawal often this summer to search for a particular butterfly, Arhopala japonica. This species is fairly common in Japan, but in Korea, this species is only found on Jeju and some southern areas of the mainland, so it's quite special in a regional context. Out of all the visits I only saw one once, and got very nice views of its gorgeous blue. Of course there were plenty of birds and other interesting insects found throughout the visits.

Arhopala japonica

Oriental Greenfinch

Graphium sarpedon

Rhyothemis fuliginosa

Black Paradise Flycatcher

Black-spotted Frog

Eurasian Jay

Grey Heron

2026-08-23: Late summer heat and early migrants on Chuja Island

I took a day trip to Chuja Island to try my luck for seabirds and to see if any migrants are around on the island. The sea was pretty good, with plenty of Streaked Shearwaters and Swinhoe's Storm Petrels, both of which breed on islets between Jeju and the mainland. A large group of Common Terns was spotted on the return boatride, as well.

Streaked Shearwater

Swinhoe's Storm Petrel

Common Tern

The island was somewhat quiet as expected, but got a couple Sakhalin Leaf Warblers (confirmed with call), Oriental Cuckoo, and a brief view of a Fairy Pitta (my first visual of one on Chuja). Not a bad visit, but very hot.

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler

Japanese Bush Warbler

Oriental Cuckoo

Orthetrum melania