"Historical post" - Birds of 2007

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (Deokjeok-do, September 9, 2007)

Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki

Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis

juvenile Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus

Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

  Here are a few of the surviving bird images I captured in 2007, using a borrowed Canon Powershot. On May 15, 2007, I saw my first Blue-and-white Flycatcher, in one of my more bizarre Korean birding incidents. Here’s something I wrote about it:

“I was walking down one of Ilsan’s main streets at dusk when I noticed a dead bird on the sidewalk ahead of me. It was small blue and white bird, which I identified as the aptly named Blue-and-white Flycatcher. I was in the process of taking out my cell phone to take a picture, when the oddest thing happened.
  A Korean guy in his forties walking by saw me stooped over the bird, slowed down (but didn’t stop), and in one lithe motion, reached down and nonchalantly picked up the bird. Not a word was exchanged, and I didn’t even get to see what sort of expression the man was wearing on his face as he stuffed the bird into his jacket pocket and kept walking. I sat there in a full squat with my mouth open for another 30 seconds trying to figure out what in the actual fuck had just occurred, which drew uneasy glances from passersby. I then did what I imagine is the wisest thing to do in such instances. I got up and walked off, smiling to myself like I had a Blue-and-white Flycatcher in my pocket. I’m fairly certain there’s a Buddhist proverb that goes something like that.”

(*Note: This is a “historical post.” Whereas I started birding in Korea in 2005, this blog has only been active since early 2012 - these posts are an attempt to consolidate my early birdventures from the various blogs and websites where they reside, largely from the “Archived Bird News“ section of Birds Korea’s excellent website: http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Birdnews/BK-BN-Birdnews-archive.shtml. Find more historical posts by clicking on the "Historical posts" tab at the bottom of this post.)