Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis
|
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis with Hooded Crane Grus
monacha
|
Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo with Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
|
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
|
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
|
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
|
Gloomy Suncheon Bay |
A pack of noisy 'bird photo club' members fawning over Robin's lens (nice hat, lady) |
On December 13th, the morning
started well when I realized that all construction in the area appeared to be
over for the winter. The area had a very
different feel without the relentless dump truck traffic – the birds seem to
have returned. An Eastern Water Rail was
spotted several feet from a now-quiet construction site.
Nearby, a loose flock consisting of five species of bunting kept me on my toes, and it was great to observe them together and try to differentiate their calls. The area also had a good mix of raptors, with Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Eastern Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and Eurasian Kestrel all present.
Nearby, a loose flock consisting of five species of bunting kept me on my toes, and it was great to observe them together and try to differentiate their calls. The area also had a good mix of raptors, with Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Eastern Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and Eurasian Kestrel all present.
Three White-naped
Cranes were a pleasant surprise mixed in with the Hooded Cranes, as well as a
Common Crane and two hybrids. On my way
out, I had a careful pick through a group of about 150 Hooded
Cranes in a quiet field. After about 15 minutes of observation from a covert clump of trees, one
bird stood out. It was slightly smaller than
the other cranes around and hued a distinct ghostly light grey with rusty daubs. It had its head down feeding much more than
the local birds, and when it finally lifted its head my heart skipped a beat – the
unmistakeable red forehead was the final puzzle piece – I was looking at a Sandhill
Crane! A quick text message to Jason
Loghry, Subhojit Chakladar, and Robin Newlin, and they were soon at the bay
watching this fortuitous visitor with me. Another amazing and unexpected day of birding with good friends.
The idyllic scene
was not without worrying disturbances however. Groups of noisy cyclists/picnickers from nearby minbaks, an ATV, food delivery
vehicles, couples on romantic strolls, and even a group of neon-garbed ‘bird
photographers’ were all seen in and around the area meant to be off-limits in
the winter to minimize disturbance to the cranes. The latter group had particularly lamentable
behaviour, as they made their way around barriers to get close to the cranes,
talked (screamed) incredibly loud, and even tried to flush the flock several
times in order to get flight shots. They
had no binoculars with which to observe the birds, and indeed no interest in
the welfare of the birds they were photographing - it was an appalling
spectacle.
In a wooded valley
close to my apartment on November 27th, I watched in awe as a
Eurasian Eagle Owl was mobbed by three species of corvid as well as Brown-eared
Bulbuls. The owl sat well-camouflaged
and nonplussed in a pine tree for 20 minutes before flying swiftly across the
valley, seemingly shaking its surprised antagonists. I have done this hike over 30 times, but this
was the first sign of this mighty owl – perhaps it roosts on a small cliff face
nearby? Several Goldcrests, two Pale
Thrush, a dozen Eurasian Siskins and three Hawfinch were also notable on this
day. On December 7th at the
same location I saw 50+ Eurasian Siskins, my first two Cinereous Vultures of
the season, as well as several Grey Wagtails and Red-flanked Bluetails that are
presumably overwintering. ‘Flying
Squirrel Mountain’ was fairly quiet on December 12th, with three Red-flanked
Bluetails, several Hawfinch, ‘all the tits’, and a Eurasian Bullfinch (heard
only) being notable.
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