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.

2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: Halla Arboretum

 As spring is already here, I'm going to post a few of my favourite photos from January to March of this year, and then move on with what's happening now. Maybe I'll return to these sightings in more detail down the road, but unlikely. I'll group them up by general location with a few details in each.

For the first one, here are some highlights from the Halla Arboretum this winter.

Some mornings I would find Rooks resting on street wires.

Pale Thrushes were consistantly in high numbers during my visits.

A couple mornings I was lucky enough to get clear views of wrens hopping around.

While Eastern and Varied Tits are common sights at the Arboretum, Coal Tits and Yellow-bellied Tits would sometimes show up as well.

Oddly enough I stumbled across a Grey-backed Thrush (two on one day), it must have been overwintering.

Japanese Bush Warblers were much easier to see before the leaves grew in.

Grey Bunting, one of my target birds for this winter. I knew they were on Jeju fairly regularly in winter, but I only saw this individual (female?), and only on two different days in mid February.

A rather confiding White's Thrush that was bouncing along the leaves.

Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler, another surprising overwintering bird. I expect to see and hear more of these as spring proceeds.

A lucky flight shot of a Red-flanked Bluetail.

2021-11-20 Eyebrowed Thrush on Hallasan

 During the hike up Hallasan, a small group of thrushes were encountered. There were a couple Pale Thrush and one sneaky Dusky Thrush, but more interesting was about 2 or 3 Eyebrowed Thrush. It was a bit of a surprise to see Eyebrowed Thrush so late in the season, as typically they're only seen in spring and fall during migration. But as November is still technically fall I suppose it fits in the expectations. Also of note is a small group of Eyebrowed Thrush were seen nearby on another trail a week or so before.

Eyebrowed Thrush / 흰눈썹붉은배지빠귀 / Turdus obscurus

Eyebrowed Thrush / 흰눈썹붉은배지빠귀 / Turdus obscurus

A very sneaky Dusky Thrush, not a fan of the camera.

An acrobatic Pale Thrush, enjoying some mountain berries.

Pale Thrush / 흰배지빠귀 / Turdus pallidus