새와 생명의 터 -

Records of Drongos in Spring 2003

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Recorded only ca 5 times in South Korea prior to 2003, with most records coming from Gageo Island in May (where one recorded on May 27 2000, one on May 4th 2001, and 2 on May 29th 2001 :all NM). In 2003, first recorded on May 1st-2nd on Heuksan Island (P JG), with an arrival on Eocheong Island on May 8th of at least 15. At least 5 were still present there on the 9th, increasing to 10 on 10th- 11th, with eight on the 12th, eleven on 13th - 14th, 8+ on 15th and 5+ on May 16th. In Gunsan city near the airport, 3 were present on May 10, with one still present there on May 11 (PN), while on Hong Is. one was found on May 10th (P JG), with one still present on May 12th (L KH), and a further 6 on Daehuksan Is. on May 13th (P JG).
Update: A further record is of one at Seosan photographed by KIM Hyun tae on June 30th.

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
One, of the subspecies leucogenis, on Eocheong island found and photographed by NM on May 7th and relocated on the 8th (NM, BP and BJ), constitutes about the third for South Korea (with one previous record on Pyeonganbuk-Do in October 1961 coming from the DPRK). The two previous records from the South both come from Gageo island (May 21, 2000, MB and NM; October 22, 2001, NM).

Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
One on Hong Do found and photographed by P JG on May 10th was apparently still present on May 12th (L KH). This is believed to constitute the second record for South Korea.

Spangled (Hair-crested) Drongo. Photos © PARK Jong Gil.

Black Drongo and Spangled Drongo. Photos © LEE Kyung Ho.