| • Summer and Autumn Birding in Korea |
 |
| July |
| Hot (typically above 25C, sometimes reaching 30 C) and humid, with
occasional storms and heavy rains associated with southern-tracking typhoons.
|
|
 |
| Tiger Shrike: one of the many attractive breeding species in
Korea. |
|
|
Young Japanese and White-faced Wagtails
can be found begging food on streams and rivers in the southeast. Juvenile
Chinese Egrets and Eastern Oystercatchers are on northwest
tidal-flats, Chinese Goshawks on telegraph poles in rice-fields
throughout the country. Black-naped Orioles, Vinous-throated Parrotbills
and parties of tits, are found in almost all woodland areas. By the end of July
the first returning shorebirds arrive, with large numbers of Far Eastern
and Eurasian Curlews at Ganghwa and the Geum
estuary. |
|
| August |
| Often hot and humid (sometimes up to 30C), with occasional heavy rains and
strong winds, associated either with southern typhoons or the mix of humidity
and heat. |
|
 |
| Terek Sandpipers are common on the huge tidal-flats that line the
west and south coasts. | |
|
Chinese Egrets become widespread along the west
coast. Shorebirds (including a very small number of Spoon-billed
Sandpiper) begin to build up at many of the best sites. Numbers tend to be
rather lower than in spring except at Saemangeum, though Kentish
Plover and Terek Sandpiper often number in the thousands in the
southwest. Parties of Black-naped Orioles, the appearance of returning
leaf warblers (especially Eastern Crowned and Arctic Warblers) and
Grey -streaked and Brown Flycatchers also hint at the start of
passerine migration, while Hobby and Chinese Goshawk appear to be
on the move by month's end. |
|
| September |
| Temperatures begin to cool, especially towards the end of the month, with
maxima often falling from 28C to 20c. Sunny, dry weather predominates, though
often punctuated by occasional heavy rain and very strong winds associated with
typhoons. |
|
 |
| Chestnut Bunting: over 400 a day of this over-colorful species have
been recorded on Gageo Island. | |
|
The autumn is the start of excellent birding, which
goes right through into the winter. Shorebirds are widespread and numerous:
highlights include the world's largest concentration of Spoon-billed
Sandpipers (which have peaked in recent years at 200 at Saemangeum, possibly 10% of
the total world population!), Nordmann's Greenshank, and up to 170
Black -faced Spoonbills at Ganghwa. The scarce
White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern become rather more
widespread, along with the first returning Siberian and Mongolian
Gulls. Raptor migration includes large concentrations of Chinese
Goshawk making their way towards Japan (where 59 000 have been recorded in
one day on the Japanese Daema or Tsushima Island, only 40 km south of Busan!),
along with smaller flocks of Grey-faced and Oriental Honey
Buzzards. Passerines become rather more numerous, including good numbers of
Yellow Wagtails and Pechora Pipits and the first returning
bunting, including Chestnuts, towards the month's end. |
|
| October |
| Warm (typically between 15-20 C mid-month), with often excellent birding
weather: dry, sunny, and relatively calm. Occasional rain, although
uncomfortable for birdwatchers, can produce excellent falls. One of the best
times to be birding in Korea! |
|
 |
| A rare and pretty picture indeed: one of the world's most
endangered shorebirds, the Nordmann's Green -shank, flanked by Common Green
-shanks and a smaller Marsh Sandpiper. | |
|
Autumn migration is in full swing, and anything is
possible! Black-faced Spoonbill and Chinese Egret are still reasonably
widespread. Hooded and White-naped Cranes start moving south into
Korea, with several thousand at Cheorwon, DMZ. Huge
concentrations of Tundra Beans and Greater White -fronted Geese
form at the Han-Imjin and Seosan.
The charismatic Baikal Teal arrives in force mid-month, with up to 200
000 at Seosan! Raptor migration is often strong, with Grey-faced Buzzards,
Oriental Honey Buzzards, the occasional eagle, Hobby and the odd
Amur Falcon. Shorebirds are still present in good numbers and diversity,
with a peak in Nordmann's Greenshank. Visible migration peaks with
Olive-backed Pipits becoming very numerous by mid-month along the west
coast, and on islands such as Eocheong and Gageo, plus good numbers of buntings
and flycatchers. Pale, White's, and small numbers of Dusky
Thrushes are also on the move, along with the first of the typical winter
passerines, Brambling and Siskin. |
|
| November |
| Waves of colder air cause a sharp drop in temperature, especially from
mid-month onwards, when maxima can be as low as 8-10C: the last of the autumn
migrants are joined by huge numbers of wintering waterbirds. |
|
 |
| Where else can you see Siberian Accentor, even within the city
limits of the country's capital? | |
|
Numbers of Baikal Teal continue to build, along
with geese (many of which move on into China). Swan Geese peak at the Han-Imjin (with a peak of
2500, but 1000-1500 most autumns). Buzzards and Cinereous Vultures
start to arrive for the winter, along with gulls (Saunders's, Siberian, Vega,
Mongolian and Slaty -backed are all widespread), cranes. and
passerines, including Siberian Accentor. Movements of alcids, most especially
Ancient Murrelet, can be impressive. Passerines include many late summer
visitors until the second week of the month, when winter species, such as
Chinese Penduline Tit and Pallas's Reed Bunting start to
predominate. |
|
| • Winter Birding in Korea |
|
And from here, it's back into the winter, and some of northern
Asia's best birding...
For further information and updates on
sightings : www.wbkenglish.com |
|
