Gageo Island, May 20, 2023

Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus

Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus

Red Turtle Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis tschutschensis

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus confusus

Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes

Get a window seat so you can see the birds, they said

Pink Dolphin!

  Tried to avoid the dreaded Saturday ferry out to Gageo, but what can you do, eh, I was a day behind because of the Chuja ‘bonus day.’ At first the ferry was jammed ('4.5 hour hellboat to heaven'), but it thinned out with each island we stopped in at.

  Overall, amped to be back on lovely, remote, and mysterious Gageo Island. I hit the quarry first, and it bummed me out. They’ve concreted the formerly narrow and weedy switchback trails behind the quarry. It’s now concrete road with concrete death ditches. In case you haven’t noticed the theme: CONCRETE.

  Later, in the dump, I spotted a bird land among a dozen or so Eastern Yellow Wagtails (three different subspecies), then skulk in the weeds. I initially took it for a Stejneger’s Stonechat, with a glimpse of rosy chest and tan eyeline. Then it turned around and it gave off Pechora Pipit vibes, with striking braces up its back. The bird was not adding up. I got a closer look, and it finally...added up. Rosy Pipit! It seems there are less than ten records for South Korea, so it’s a pretty exciting damn bird! It briefly popped up on some rocks, then vanished into the wind along with the wagtails. A magical 30 Gageo seconds I won’t soon forget.

-A Red Turtle Dove was hanging out in the old dump, quietly foraging in the weeds.

-Several Styan’s Grasshopper Warblers were heard singing above town.

-Two Black Wood Pigeons were heard near the school, and another three around the power plant.

-A lovely male Yellow-breasted Bunting in the dump (endangered and crashing fast).

-Five Brown Shrikes around and above the quarry.