Gageo Island, April 23-24, 2019

Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus

Barn Swallow Hirundo Rustica

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus 

female Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope

male Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope

April 23, 2019
  A rainy day, but still with a species count in the mid-50s. A dawn foray was aborted after 45 minutes of heavy downpour that threatened to defeat the ad-hoc protective gear on my optics. The rain ebbed towards mid-day, allowing for two circuits of 1-Gu.
  Most of the birds of note continue, with seemingly little turnover. The winds were blowing out of the southeast for most of the day – still waiting on those southerlies. Tomorrow perhaps?
  “New” birds recorded in 1-Gu have most likely been around, but I hadn’t gotten around to seeing them yet. These include: a Japanese Quail above the quarry; a Wood Sandpiper on the mossy slab; several Asian House Martins; a skulky Eyebrowed Thrush; a Pale-legged (Or…Sakhalin?) Leaf Warbler; and a Rustic Bunting – the 11th bunting species I’ve logged on Gageo Island since arriving last week.

April 24, 2019
  The winds overnight were pumping up from the south until Jeju, where they took a sharp left hook, sweeping over Gageo from the east. My fingers were crossed as I headed out into Gageo’s harbor in the foggy dawn. By dawn, the winds were coming in from the west. Where are those southerlies? Way more Barn Swallows around today, with several hundred on patrol low over town. Some new arrivals around the mossy slab had me excited for turnover – three Black-winged Stilts, a Common Sandpiper, and a Chinese Pond Heron. Unfortunately, apart from these stronger-flying species, there were no new passerines around 1-Gu.
  Looking at the wind forecasts, seems like I’m in for much more of the same. Makes it kinda hard to wake up before dawn every day when I know I’m just going to see the same feathered faces. But I’m on Gageo in spring, so I ain’t complaining.
  In the afternoon, a noticeable uptick in Olive-backed Pipit numbers – with at least a hundred in 1-Gu, and several hundred in 3-Gu, in the north of the island. Also near the 3-Gu lighthouse were several Siberian Rubythroats and Siberian Blue Robins.
  A few more Yellow Buntings around, as well as a Common Kingfisher and another Common Rosefinch were seen in 1-Gu towards dusk.