Not primarily a birding trip but i managed a fantastic day out on the Nak Dong estuary with Nial Moores of Birds Korea and some short birding walks in Busan’s local parks in between visiting in-laws, etc. The absolute highlight was stunning, protracted views of my lifer Spoon-billed Sandpiper actively feeding on a sand bar, at the water’s edge and at rest! Superb views of 2 Chinese Egrets, a good collection of East Asian shorebirds and a flock of Streaked Shearwaters off the coast rounded off a great trip.
Site Abbreviations:
G = Geum Gang Park, Busan 19, 22, 25 August
N = Nak Dong Gang (Estuary) 26 (with Nial Moores by boat), 27 August
T = Tae Jong Dae Park, Busan 23 August
1. Phasianus colchicus Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant G: 1m 22/08, 1f + 3 juv 25/08; N 1 on 26/08 ph
2. Anas poecilorhyncha Spot-billed Duck few seen from buses
3. Dendrocopus kizuki Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker G: 2 – 6 per visit ph
4. Dendrocopus leucotus White-backed Woodpecker G: 1 – 3 per visit ph
5. Dendrocopos major Great Spotted Woodpecker G: 1 on 19/08
6. Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher N: 1 on 27/08
7. Cuculus sp Cuckoo sp (most likely C. poliocephalus ) N: 1 on 26/08 from boat
8. Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove abundant
9. Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit N: small flock with curlews 26/08 ph
10. Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit N: 1+ with curlews on 26/08
11. Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel N: 3+ (at least 1 juv) on 26/08 ph
12. Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew N: 50+ on 26/08 & 27/08 ph
13. Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew N: 50+ on 26/08 & 27/08 ph
14. Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank N: 1+ on 26/08
15. Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper N: 10+ on 26/08, 1 on 27/08 ph
16. Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper N: 1 – 3 on 26/08 & 27/08
17. Herteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler N: 5+ on 26/08
18. Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone N: 4+ on 26/08 ph
19. Calidris tenuirostis Great Knot N: 2 in flight with PG Plovers 26/08 ph
20. Calidris alba Sanderling N: 115+ on 26/08 ph
21. Calidris (Eurynorhynchus) pygmeus Spoon-billed Sandpiper (!!) N: 1 (possibly 2) on 26/08 ph
22. Calidris ruficollis Red-necked Stint N: 200++ on 26/08 (1 in br pl) ph
23. Calidris subminuta Long-toed Stint N: 1 on 26/08 ph
24. Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper N: 2 on 27/08
25. Calidris alpina Dunlin N: 1+ on 26/08 ph
26. Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed Sandpiper N: 2+ on 26/08 ph
27. Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher N: 6 on 26/08 ph
28. Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover N: 6+ on 26/08 ph
29. Pluvialis squatarola Grey (Black-bellied) Plover N: 2+ br pl on 26/08 ph
30. Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish (Snowy) Plover N: 600+ on 26/08 ph
31. Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand (Mongolian) Plover N: 4+ (partial br pl) on 26/08 ph
32. Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover N: 26+ on 26/08 ph
33. Larus crassirostris Black-tailed Gull v. common many localities esp T ph
34. Larus canus Common (Mew) Gull N: 1 on 26/08
35. Larus mongolicus Mongolian Gull N: 2 in flight on 26/08
36. Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull N: 30+ on 26/08 & 27/08 ph
37. Pandion haliaetus Osprey N: 1 on 26/07
38. Milvus lineatus Black-eared Kite T: 2 on 23/08; N: 3+ on 26/07
39. Accipiter nisus Eurasian Sparrowhawk G: 1 in flight 22/08
40. Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel G: 1 on 19/08; N: 3+ both days
41. Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon N: 1 ad + 1 juv 26/08
42. Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe few seen from buses
43. Phalcrocorax sp Cormorant sp (pr. Great Cormorant) 2 from bus near Incheon
44. Egretta garzetta Little Egret N: few on both days ph
45. Egretta eulophotes Chinese Egret N: 2 on 26/08 ph
46. Ardea cinerea Grey Heron N: v. common
47. Casmerodius albus Great Egret N: few on both days ph
48. Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron N: 1 on 27/08
49. Calonectris leucomelas Streaked Shearwater T: 4+ from viewpoint 23/08 ph
50. Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay N: 2 on 22/08 & 25/08 ph
51. Pica pica Common (Black-billed) Magpie abundant, many juvs ph
52. Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 1 – 4 per visit G, T
53. Monticola solitarius Blue Rock Thrush T: pair by viewpoint ph
54. Zoothera dauma Scaly (White’s) Thrush G: 1 in heavy moult on 19/08 ph
55. Turdus pallidus Pale Thrush G: 1 by stream 22/08; T: 1 juv ph
56. *Muscicapa griseisticta Grey-streaked Flycatcher G: 1 on 19/08 near upper cable car (early?)
57. Phoenicurus auroreus Daurian Redstart G: 1 – 4 per vist incl juvs ph
58. Parus palustris Marsh Tit 6 – 18 per visit G, T ph
59. Parus ater Coal Tit 2 – 12 per visit G, T ph
60. Parus major Great Tit 2 – 12 per visit G, T ph
61. Parus varius Varied Tit 2 – 6 per visit G, T ph
62. Aegithalos caudatus Long-tailed Tit 1 – 2 flocks per visit at G, T ph
63. Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow N: common
64. Hypsipetes amaurotis Brown-eared Bulbul common G, T (feeding young) ph
65. Zosterops japonicus Japanese White-eye 4 – 12 per visit G, T ph
66. Urosphena squameiceps Asian Stubtail G: 1 & 2 + 2 juv on 22/08 ph
67. Phylloscopus tenellipes Pale-legged Leaf Warbler T: 1 probable 22/08; G: 1 on 25/08
* Phylloscopus sp Leaf Warbler sp G: 25/08 possibly P. borealis – brief views
68. Paradoxornis webbianus Vinous-throated Parrotbill 1 – 4 flocks per visit at G & T ph
69. Passer montanus Eurasian Tree Sparrow abundant
70. Motacilla alba White Wagtail N: 1 on 27/08
71. Carduelis sinica Grey-capped Greenfinch N: 2 on 27/08
72. Emberiza elegans Yellow-throated Bunting 1 – 4 per visit G, T incl juvs ph