2025-12: December in Shinsan Park

 Fall migration had pretty much completed by this point, with mainly overwintering species getting cozy, and a few early winter arrivals moving through. The Pale Thrushes made a big return, with some Red-flanked Bluetails and Dusky Thrushes coming back. The Chinese Grosbeaks started to settle in as well in decent numbers.

White-backed Woodpecker, a rare winter visitor to the park

Feral Rock Pigeon, a large group are resident in the park

Pale Thrush

Bull-headed Shrike with a mantis for lunch

Pale Thrush

Large-billed Crow

Chinese Grosbeak

2025-10: October in Shinsan Park

October proved to be pretty good for fall migrants in the local park. Gone were the exotic summer birds that move through in September, and in came thrushes, as well as a few flycatchers and other songbirds still moving through. Rufous-tailed Robin was a first fall sighting for me, I usually only see them in spring. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was still lingering around a bit, allowing for great views before winter hits and I have to wait until April to see their brilliant blues again. Pale Thrushes started to come in later in the month, as they usually do.

Brown-eared Bulbul enjoying a Loquat

Nice pastel colours on this morning photo.

Light-vented Bulbuls are becoming more and more common in the city.

Rufous-tailed Robin hiding in the shrubs.

A nice male Blue-and-white Flycatcher

Bull-headed Shrike

Female Grey-backed Thrush, still moving through in large numbers in late October.

Bombina Orienalis

Bombina orientalis

Pale Thrush, hiding not-so-well in a tree. They become a lore more numerous and brave in late November and onwards.

2025-09: September in Shinsan Park

 A few highlights from September in Shinsan Park:

• Personal first Common Sandpiper for the patch
• Two Striated Herons after a particularly rainy night
• Lesser Cuckoo (seems to be a regular migrant here in fall)
• Blue-and-white and Asian Brown Flycatchers
• Oriental Orioles

Common Sandpiper

Oriental Oriole

Asian Brown Flycatcher

White-backed Woodpecker on a palm tree

Oriental Oriole with a caterpillar

Lesser Cuckoo

Blue-and-white Flycatcher in the shadows

Striated Heron

2025-05: Late May Spring Birding in Jeju City

Birding in my local patch Shinsan Park slowed down a bit by late May. I keep trying to relive the experience of finding a Pitta in this park, like I did back in 2023. I guess that was a just a lucky moment and I'll have to settle with the Forest Wagtail that I saw earlier in the month. Regular migrants were moving through, mainly Kamchatka Leaf Warblers, Grey-streaked and Asian Brown Flycatchers, and a couple Tiger Shrikes.

Other excitement in the park revolved around the fresh new birds popping up in the park, with fledgling magpies and tits begging for food.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Large-billed Crow

A family of Oriental Magpies.

Fledgling Asian Tit (formerly Japanese/Eastern Tit)

Tiger Shrike lurking in the understory.

Kamchatka Leaf Warbler

Light-vented Bulbul

2025-04: Late-April Birding in Jeju City

Due to a variety of commitments this spring, I spent most of my weekday mornings birding in my local patch in Shinsan Park, the heart of downtown Jeju City. This patch is actually really incredible for birds, with all sorts of nice species found. However it is an urban park, so you can't expect gold every visit. 

Here's a few highlights from birding in that park during the last few days of April, 2025.

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus borealoides

Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus

Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus