Birding in Korea

With air temperatures continuing to hover just above zero,
resulting in few or no Moths
and other Wildlife thin on the ground, we embark on yet another
Mini Series
hoping to keep our valued readership happy!
WELCOME to SOUTH KOREA 
There is no single word or phrase to adequately describe the vast majority of the

Human Race!

“Good” may go part way, but it’s far bigger than that, as the general

%-age must be in the 90’s, or is it simply the Midas Touch!

It is this that I cling to during any of my adventures and know full well that

Respect will begat Respect

and often lead to much, much more.

During this, hopefully short, local hiatus on the Wildlife front

please allow me to visit yet another of these magical moments which came to pass.

The adventure had started on 22 February 2012 on the island of

Incheon, part of the South Korean capital Seoul, and as with my last visit

Mr Hu Wing Yung - Hotel Manager springing out of the woodwork to arrange all my 

needs in his tenement-like establishment - a little bare but bearable!

That first week had proved most profitable adding the now ‘split’ 

Oriental Magpie, 

 (likely an 'Armchair Tick')

Eastern Buzzard, 

(ditto)

Vinous-throated Parrotbill

and at long, long last

 Relict Gull

(the last of the 56 strong family group across the world to be personally recorded)

added to the World list.

 Unfortuneately it, along with Ivory Gull still remain 'uncaptured' on camera,

which is a situation that is likely to stay that way, but you never know!

 The time to leave came with something of a conundrum as no plans were laid for the

next 10 days but not flexible as having to catch the ferry from

Busan to Fukuoka in Japan on that tenth day.

 At the coach station there was some 'PIDGIN' between myself anf the Manager with

much flapping of arms and whistling before the 

Driver

 intervened seeming to have some idea what the hell all the squalking and flapping was about.

He directed me to the wall map and made the suggestion by gesticulation that

DONG SONG EUP

might fit the bill?

At the destination I was almost forceably dragged from the coach by a rather stout gentleman and

my bag thrust into my arms - there was something a little strange about all of this?

Mister Leu

was the Station Manager here and you need not have been a genius to realise that his

colleague at the other end had made a surreptitious phone call.

Picking up my bag and almost dragging me to his office 

 he sat me on the sofa before offering a sort of

Medicinal Drink, thrusting a pile of 'calling cards' into my hand before disapearing.

On his return in was in company with these

2 Schoolboys who had a better command of the English language than me.

They soon had me sussed, handing me one of the cards with flying Cranes on it,

and with a nod of my head phoned Mr Lee Haesoon who, it seemed, instructed them to 
find a nearby guest house where he would meet me the following morning.

 True to his word Lee knocked my door at 07:00 apologising that his wife and daughter

could not make it, but would meet me later, while he

(left) and 2 friends, who did not make the log during the excitement,

were most anxious to show me something special!

It rather depends on your point of view if something is 

SPECIAL

or not as all that was on offer that first morning was

EURASIAN EAGLE OWL

One of the largest Owl in the World and usually of the

Mountains, Dense Forest, Steppes and other relatively  remote places,

and here was one right on the doorstep!

It even broke cover briefly and flew out to do an aerial pirrouette or two!

Later it would be my greatest pleasure to meet both Wife and Daughter for lunch

but that will have to wait for another lacklustre day, which seem to be becoming all too often!!

To Be Continued........