Kangseo Seubji, Seoul, to Ara Waterway

Dr. Bernhard Seliger (Hanns Seidel Foundation, Birds Korea)

A morning stroll along the Han River in very birding conditions. Though not much movement on the water, there was a pleasant mixture of winter birds in the wetland almost deserted by people. Among them were Eurasian Treecreeper, Chinese Grosbeak, Hawfinches, and large flocks of Bramblings and Rustic Buntings. Also, there were three White-tailed Eagles and a hunting Hen Harrier.

The full list of birds can be found at e-birds: https://ebird.org/checklist/S157821325

Pic 1: A flock of Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla 되새. There were at least two large flocks of 160 and more than 100 birds, plus numerous smaller ones of 10-50 birds, constantly in movement.

Pic 2: Brambling Fringilla montifringilla.

Pic 3: Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria 밀화부리 – four were flying around together.

Pic 4: Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica 쑥새. Like last year, at the end of Kangseo Wetland, with a lot of open reed area, a lot of them were feeding, with at least one flock of 25.

Pic 5: Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 나무발발이. Usually not so easy to see, but this year in many places in Seoul.

Pic 6: Two White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla 흰꼬리수리 rising over the Han river.

Pic 7: Wherever you go in Korea after some time, “improvements” have been made, like this wonderful paved way in Kangseo Seubji. Before, it was just a dirt track. Since anyway no bikes or rollers are allowed on this track, this was absolutely appropriate. Who thinks of making things in an ecology park so clean and sterile? A sad reality here… (© Bernhard Seliger).