Birding Korea

[Winter] Winter Birding Tours Overview

South Korea, November ~ mid-March 

Outline 

• This trip will cover the most famous winter habitats in South Korea.

• You may Choose 1~10 birding places you are interested in, then we will arrange in detail.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul. We may pick up and drop you at the Incheon airport, if you want.

• An experienced leader will guide you through all the schedules.

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin room or Korean-style floor-heating room, 2~3 star level in countryside), picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

• Please ask us. birding.kr@gmail.com 

BOOK THIS TOUR

Birding trip in the vast mudflat & rice filed in West Coast 
: Seoul - West Coast - Seoul

Birding site : mudflat & rice filed 
Google map link : Ganghwa
How far from Seoul : 1.5 hour driving 
How to bird : driving & walking
Main Target : Black-faced spoonbill, Chinese egret 
Target Family : Shorebirds, ducks, flycatchers, warblers, finches, buntings 

Good Season : April ~ May

Recommended tour day : 1 days
Minimum tour day : 1 days

* There are many mud flats and rice fields, Ganghwa is one of them.

Targets :

Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Little Grebe
Oriental Turtle-Dove
Eurasian Coot
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Long-billed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Lesser Sand-Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Whimbrel
Far Eastern Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Black-tailed Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Knot
Red-necked Stint
Dunlin
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Gray-tailed Tattler
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Saunders's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Gull
Little Tern
Intermediate Egret
Chinese Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Black-faced Spoonbill
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Kestrel
Bull-headed Shrike
Azure-winged Magpie
Large-billed Crow
Japanese Bush Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Daurian Redstart

Outline 

• Vast mudflat and rice field are one of the best birding spot for shorebirds in spring season. 
• There are many great birding mudflat and rice field in Korea. You will visit one of the places among Ganghwa island, Hwaseong lake and Cheonsu-bay.
• Tide time and height is very important to meet spoonies, so the birding date must be discussed in advance.
• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.
• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 day. The tour period can be extended if you want. 
• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin bed room or Korean-style floor-heating room in case of 2 day trip), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 
• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature. 

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit your booking request, please send you deposit to PayPal account birding.kr@gmail.com. 
If you have any questions, please e-mail us at birding.kr@gmail.com.

Birding trip in Remote island of Yellow Sea

: Seoul - West Coast - Remote island - West Coast - Seoul

Birding site : Remote island of Yellow Sea
Google map link : Oiyeon island
How far from Seoul : 2.5 hour driving & 2 hour ferry(Oiyeon island)
How to bird : walking
Main Target : Yellow-brested bunting
Main Family : wagtails, pipits, starings, minivet, flycatchers, warblers, finches, buntings 

Best Season : mid-April ~ mid-May

Recommended tour day : 3 days
Minimum tour day : 2 days

* There are many remote islands, Oiyeon island is one of them.

Targets :

Chinese Pond Heron
Temminck's Cormorant
European Hobby
Peregrine Falcon
Gray-faced Buzzard
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Grey-faced Buzzard
Indian Cuckoo
Oriental Cuckoo
Fork-tailed Swift
Ashy Minivet
Brown Shrike
Yellow-bellied Tit
Light-vented Bulbul
Asian Stubtail
Asian Stubtail 

Manchurian Bush Warbler

Japanese Bush Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler 
Radde's Warbler
Red-billed Starling
Brown-headed Thrush
Siberian Blue Robin 
Siberian StoneChat
Japanese White-eye
Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Narcissus Flycatcher
Mugimaki Flycatcher
Siberian Blue Robin
Siberian Rubythroat
Blue Rock-Thrush
Gray-backed Thrush
Brown-headed Thrush

Brown-headed Thrush 
Siberian Blue Robin 

Eurasian StoneChat 
Blue Rock Thrush 

Richard's Pipit
Pechora Pipit
Grey-capped Greenfinch
Tristram's Bunting
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Chestnut Bunting

Outline 

• Remote islands in Yellow Sea are the most famous sites for migratory small birds.

• There are many great birding islands in Korea. You will be stay one of island among Beakryeong, Oiyeon, and Eocheong.
• You will have a chance to enjoy shorebirds on the way if the tidal time and height match with your schedule.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 2 days at leaset, and the tour period can be extended if you want.

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin bed room or Korean-style floor-heating room in case of 2 day trip), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders.  

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit your booking request, please send you deposit to PayPal account birding.kr@gmail.com. 

• If you have any questions, please e-mail us at birding.kr@gmail.com. 

[Spring] Spring Birding Tours Overview

South Korea, April ~ June

Outline 

• This trip will cover the most famous spring habitats in South Korea.

• You may Choose 1~10 birding places you are interested in, then we will arrange in detail.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul. We may pick up and drop you at the Incheon airport, if you want.

• An experienced leader will guide you through all the schedules.

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin room or Korean-style floor-heating room, 2~3 star level in countryside), picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

• Please ask us. birding.kr@gmail.com 

Core Winter Birding Trip for Far East Asian Endemics (10 day winter birding tour)

Seoul - Han river - Cheorwon -  East Coast - Seosan - Geum river - Ganghwa Island - Seoul

Birding site : Mudflat, Rice filed, Wetland, Coast & Forest  

How far from Seoul : 30~250km

How to bird : driving & walking 

Main Target : Tundra Bean Goose, Falcated Teal, Baikal Teal, Harlequin Duck, Scaly-sided Merganser, Oriental Stork, Temminck's Cormorant, Saunders's Gull, Ancient Murrelet, White-tailed Eagle, Steller's Sea Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane, Red-crowned Crane, Pygmy Woodpecker, Pallas's Rosefinch

Target Family : Geese, Ducks, Cranes, Raptors, Woodpeckers, Thrushes, Robins, Finches, Bunting, Crows

Good Season : November ~ mid-March

* This Trip is designed for 10 day, but you can ask us to extend or reduce.

Targets in detail

• Black-throated Loon
• Temminck's Cormorant
• Whooper Swan
• Tundra Bean Goose
• Taiga Bean Goose
• Mandarin Duck
• Falcated Teal
• Baikal Teal
• Harlequin Duck
• White-winged Scoter
• Black Scoter
• Smew
• Scaly-sided Merganser
• Oriental Stork
• Eurasian Spoonbill
• Temminck's Cormorant
• Mew Gull
• Black-tailed Gull
• Slaty-backed Gull
• Saunders's Gull
• Ancient Murrelet
• White-tailed Eagle
• Steller's Sea Eagle
• Eastern Marsh Harrier
• Japanese Sparrowhawk
• Upland Buzzard
• Cinereous Vulture
• White-naped Crane
• Hooded Crane
• Red-crowned Crane
• Common Crane
• Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
• Bull-headed Shrike
• Chinese Great Grey Shrike
• Azure-winged Magpie
• Daurian Jackdaw
• Japanese Waxwing
• Great Tit
• Varied Tit
• Brown-eared Bulbul
• Vinous-throated Parrotbill
• Japanese White-eye
• Siberian Accentor
• Japanese Wagtail
• Grey-capped Greenfinch
• Long-tailed Rosefinch
• Pallas's Rosefinch
• Yellow-billed Grosbeak
• Japanese Grosbeak
• Meadow Bunting
• Yellow-throated Bunting
• Grey Bunting
• Japanese Reed Bunting

Outline 

• This trip is designed to focus on Far East Asia Endemics in winter. 

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• An experienced leader will guide you through all the schedules.

• This trip will cover the most of the famous wintering habitats in South Korea.

• The schedule can be reduced or increased under the agreement.

Day 1 Seoul - Arrival and Welcoming

Day 2

Han river - The upper area of the Han River is one of the most popular places for Steller's sea eagle, Scaly-sided merganser and Whooper swan in Korea. Though this place is close to Seoul, it's really amazing to be able to see many kinds of common winter birds.

Day 3

Cheorwon - Cheorwon is famous for being the best crane-watching site in East Asia. Cheorwon is very close to the DMZ, so a local guide will help us to get into Civilian Control Area and core points. If we are lucky, we can see more than 5 different crane species. It's one of the biggest wintering habitat for Cinereous Vultures.

Day 4

Cheorwon - We can see cranes and geese waking up together in a calm lake.

East Coast(southern area) - We will explore habitats in a more southern(or northern) area of the east coast and try to pick up any birds we might  have missed on Day 4.

Day 7

Seosan Cheonsu Bay - Cheonsu-Bay is the most attractive birdwatching site for wintering birds. It's located on the west coast of Chungcheong province. The biggest rice fields are filled with hundreds of thousands of geese and ducks. Oriental Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill and many kinds of raptors can also be found here.

Day 8

Geum River Estuary - One of the top 5 birding sites in Korea. We will focus on Baikal teals in this area. They form huge groups in Korea in winter-over 500,000 at times. If we are lucky, we can see one of the greatest spectacles in the avian world. 

Day 9

Ganghwa Island - Gangwha Island is one of the most attractive birdwatching sites in west coast of Seoul. We can see many kinds of wintering birds including thousands of Bean Geese and special small group of Red-crowned Cranes in the wetland.

Day 10 Seoul - Leaving and Farewell

Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin room or Korean-style floor-heating room), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit your booking request, please send you deposit to paypal account birding.kr@gmail.com.

• If you have any questions, please e-mail us at birding.kr@gmail.com. 

• If you are travelling alone, we can help you find other birders if you like. When you book, please tell us the dates you prefer.

• If there are more than 2 in your group, we can arrange the trip for any dates you prefer. If you would like a long tour to see more birding hot spots, we can add locations in the south parts of the peninsula like Wupo wetlands, Nakdong estuary, Junam reservior, Dongnim reservoir and Sunsheon bay. Please e-mail us to ask availability and price.

Spoonie Trip in Autumn

: Spoon-billed Sandpiper tour (Seoul-Gunsan-Seoul)

Birding site : Yubu island

How far from Seoul : 250km

How to bird : driving & walking 

Main Target : Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Egret

Target Family : Shorebirds, Spoonbills, Egrets

Good Season : September ~ early October

Recommended tour day : 2 days 

Minimum tour day : 1 days

* This Trip is designed for 10 day, but you can ask us to extend or reduce.

Targets :

• Black-faced Spoonbill
• Chinese Egret
• Peregrine Falcon
• Eurasian Oystercatcher
• Grey Plover
• Kentish Plover
• Greater Sand Plover
• Lesser Sand Plover
• Black-tailed Godwit
• Bar-tailed Godwit
• Eurasian Curlew
• Eastern Curlew
• Common Redshank
• Common Greenshank
• Nordmann's Greenshank
• Terek Sandpiper
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Great Knot
• Sanderling
• Red-necked Stint
• Dunlin
• Spoon-billed Sandpiper
• Broad-billed Sandpiper
• Black-tailed Gull
• Vega Gull
• Saunders's Gull
• Blue Rock Thrush

Outline 

• Yubu island the most famous site for Spoonie in East Asia.

• This trip is designed to focus on Spoonies(Spoon-billed sandpiper) in Yubu island and enjoy birding around Geum Estuary in Gunsan, Jeonra province, one of greatest birding spot in Korea. 

• Tide time and height is very important to meet spoonies, so the birding date must be discussed in advance.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 or 2 days, and the tour period can be extended if you want. 

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin bed room or Korean-style floor-heating room in case of 2 day trip), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit your booking request, please send you deposit to PayPal account birding.kr@gmail.com.

• If you have any questions, please e-mail us at birding.kr@gmail.com. 

Birding in Gangwha Tidal Flat & Rice Field

: Ganghwa island tour (Seoul-Ganghwa-Seoul)

Black-faced Spoonbills from spring to autumn and Red-crowned Cranes in winter

Birding site : Gangwha Tidal Flat & Rice Field
Google map link : Ganghwa
How far from Seoul : 1.5 hour driving 
How to bird : Driving & walking
Main Target : Black-faced Spoonbills from spring to autumn and Red-crowned Cranes in winter
Recommended tour day : 1 day

Minimum tour day : 0.5 day

Targets :

Winter	Spring/Autumn	Summer
Ring-necked Pheasant Tundra Bean Goose  Greater White-fronted Goose  Ruddy Shelduck Northern Pintail  Eurasian Teal  Smew  Little Grebe Eurasian Spoonbill  White-tailed Eagle  Cinereous Vulture  Common Buzzard  Red-corwned Crane Black-tailed Gull  Vega Gull  Black-headed Gull  Great Spotted Woodpecker  Bull-headed Shrike  Carrion Crow  Large-billed Crow  Great Tit  Varied Tit  Marsh Tit  Vinous-throated Parrotbill  Dusky Thrush  Daurian Redstart  Black-backed Wagtail  Brambling  Siberian Accentor Rustic Bunting  Yellow-throated Bunting  Pallas's Reed Bunting	Ring-necked Pheasant   Mandarin Duck   Black-faced Spoonbill   Chinese Pond Heron   Chinese egret  Grey Plover  Long-billed Plover  Bar-tailed Godwit  Far Eastern Curlew  Common Greenshank  Wood Sandpiper  Terek Sandpiper  Common Sandpiper  Great Knot  Long-toed Stint  Sharp-tailed Sandpiper  Pigmy Woodpecker   Great Spotted Woodpecker   Bull-headed Shrike   Brown Shrike   Azure-winged Magpie   Large-billed Crow   Great Tit   Varied Tit   Marsh Tit   Oriental Reed Warbler   Japanese Bush Warbler  Vinous-throated Parrotbill   Grey-backed Thrush   Daurian Redstart   Yellow-rumped Flycatcher   Yellow Wagtail	Ring-necked Pheasant   Eastern Spot-billed Duck   Black-faced Spoonbill   Black-crowned Night Heron   Striated Heron   Chinese Pond Heron   Chinese egret  Eastern Cattle Egret   Little Egret   Great Cormorant   Common Kestrel  European Hobby  Little Ringed Plover  Far Eastern Curlew  Green Sandpiper  Common Sandpiper  Oriental Dollarbird   Common Kingfisher   Pigmy Woodpecker   Grey-headed Woodpecker   Black-naped Oriole   Azure-winged Magpie   Large-billed Crow   Great Tit   Varied Tit   Barn Swallow   Red-rumped Swallow   Oriental Reed Warbler   Grey-backed Thrush   Daurian Redstart   Vinous-throated Parrotbill  Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Outline 

• This trip is designed to focus on Black-faced Spoonbills from spring to autumn and Red-crowned Cranes in winter in Ganghwa island, Incheon, Korea.

• Ganghwa island has the world top level tidal flat where various birds are living.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 or 2 days, but this can be extended if you want.

• Included in cost :  Lunch, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fee, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit booking request, please send you deposit to paypal account(birding.kr@gmail.com).

• If you have any question, please e-mail us(birding.kr@gmail.com). 

DMZ tour + Birding tour in Han River Estuary

: Seoul-Paju(Imjingak)-Seoul

Birding site :  Han river Estuary
Google map link : Paju
How far from Seoul : 1.5 hour driving 
How to bird : Driving & walking
Main Target : Black-faced Spoonbills from spring to autumn and Red-crowned Cranes in winter
Recommended tour day : 1 day

Minimum tour day : 0.5 day

Targets :

Outline 

• This trip is designed to visit DMZ in the morning and do birding near DMZ(Han river estuary) in the afternoon.

• Han River Estuary(Paju county) is one of excellent birding place throughout the year around Seoul.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 or 2 days, but this can be extended if you want. 

• Included in cost :  Lunch, bottled water, transportation, DMZ tour, entrance fees, and services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fee, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit booking request, please send you deposit to paypal account(birding.kr@gmail.com).

• If you have any question, please e-mail us(birding.kr@gmail.com). 

The most touching bird group dance in the world

: Baikal teal tour (Seoul-Gunsan-Seoul)

Baikal teals in youtube video 

Birding site : Geum Estuary
Google map link : Gunsan & Seocheon
How far from Seoul : 3 hour driving 
How to bird : driving 
Main Target : Baikal Teals
Good Season : Best between February and mid-March. Possible from November to middle of March.

Recommended tour day : 2 days 
Minimun tour day : 1 days

Targets :

Outline 

• Geum Estuary(Gunsan) is the most famous Baikal teal's wintering site in the world.

• This trip is designed to focus on Baikal teal around Geum Estuary in Gunsan, Jeonra province. 

• It is only possible to travel for two days in case of that Baikal teals move to south coast area in the coldest winter. The guide will give you a notice before finalizing the schedule.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 or 2 days, but this can be extended if you want.

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin room or Korean-style floor-heating room), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 

• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

Day 1

Day 2 (in case of extension)

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit booking request, please send you deposit to paypal account(birding.kr@gmail.com).

• If you have any question, please e-mail us(birding.kr@gmail.com). 

The most fantastic winter birding in East Asia 

: Crane Trip in Cheorwon (Seoul-Cheorwon-Seoul)

Birding site : cheorwon Plain
Google map link : Cheorwon 
How far from Seoul : 2 hour driving 
How to bird : driving & walking 
Main Target : White-naped Crane, Red-crowned Crane, Cinereous Vulture

Good Season : November ~ mid-March

Recommended tour day : 2 days 
Minimum tour day : 1 days

Targets :

• Whooper Swan
• Taiga Bean Goose
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Snow Goose
• Mandarin Duck
• Baikal Teal
• Oriental Stork
• Merlin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Golden Eagle
• White-tailed Eagle
• Cinereous Vulture
• Northern Harrier
• Eurasian Sparrowhawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Eastern Buzzard
• Upland Buzzard
• Siberian Crane
• Sandhill Crane
• White-naped Crane
• Common Crane
• Hooded Crane
• Red-crowned Crane
• Pygmy Woodpecker
• Bull-headed Shrike
• Chinese Great Grey Shrike
• Azure-winged Magpie
• Rook
• Daurian Jackdaw
• Varied Tit
• Vinous-throated Parrotbill
• Grey-capped Greenfinch
• Long-tailed Rosefinch
• Pallas's Rosefinch
• Yellow-billed Grosbeak
• Meadow Bunting
• Yellow-throated Bunting
• Pallas's Reed Bunting
• Common Reed Bunting

Outline 

• Cherowon is the most famous wintering site for cranes in East Asia.

• This trip is designed to focus on cranes in Cheorwon for 2 days. If you want, we can do it in a day. But a 2-day trip is highly recommended.

• This Trip starts and ends in Seoul.

• This trip is designed to go birding for 1 or 2 days, but this can be extended if you want.

• Included in the cost :  Accommodation(twin room or Korean-style floor-heating room), all meals including picnic lunches, bottled water, transportation, all park entrance fees, and the services of local guides and leaders. 
• Not included : International airfare, insurance, visa fees, departure tax, excess luggage charges, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

Day 1

Day 2

BOOK THIS TOUR

After you submit booking request, please send you deposit to paypal account(birding.kr@gmail.com).

• If you have any questions, please e-mail us at birding.kr@gmail.com.