Friday 9 March 2012

Bits & Pieces - The Dave Clark Five

Cote D'Ivoire

Another African Nation joins the readership today as Ivory Coast become the 167th country to do so. As usual a warm welcome to you and hope, if you enjoy these pages, you will pass the link on to friends and families.

In truth, with so much going on, we have fallen behind somewhat with the posts. The last couple of days have been dedicated to scouring the miles and miles of mud flats for another Relict Gull and in the hope of the first Saunder's Gull for the trip. therefore, this post, the last from South Korea contain just Bits & Pieces from those days.

On the first of these days the walk took me from the Gueup Ferry

to the lengthy Incheon Road Bridge which connects Yeongjongdo Island with the mainland.

Before setting off, and having already been given a 'free' coffee by the ladies in the Motel Cafe, I was invited in by the gent on the right to partake of another. This too went under the heading of 'Cafe' only constructed of old scaffold poles, driftwood and polythene sheeting. No less a welcome as I was ushered towards the fire and the hot drink.

Outside the Tree Sparrows were chirruping away, the tide was low and there was a smell of rain in the air, but as I rounded the sea wall there once again were the construction gang (as if in wait) and yes, you guessed - another coffee.

This redundant 'lookout post' was an idea site to 'scope the vast mud flats, but there was little else there but Black-tailed Gulls and the Cockle Pickers.

The bridge has to be all of 5 miles away, and en-route there was another example of in-filling. This creek, no longer fed by natural tidal flow, is as may be seen by the fresh earth ready for reclamation.

This not displeasing structure is close to the bridge, and above the sphere is an observation point complete with 3 telescopes. Still at a lost as to its function,

it may have something to do with the upcoming games.

Taking time to enjoy my sarnies under the parapet, while watching a never ending stream of merchant ships come to berth, the rain started but quickly realised this was the first real rain of the trip.
New Golden Bridge - Docking at Incheon
A sleek looking lady.
Vessel's Details:-Ship Type: Passenger, Length x Breadth: 187 m X 25, Speed recorded (Max / Average): 20.3 / 16.4 knots,Flag: Panama [PA] , Call Sign: 3FWM9, IMO: 8902345, MMSI: 357913000.

OK, it was a bit damp and the sharp wind was right ahead but it lifts your spirits when you come across this kind of fellow

Having exchanged pleasantries in passing, I continued same course and speed, while a few minutes later there was a calling from behind me.

It was the same man, who had nipped in somewhere and got an umbrella for me which being so close to my destination I didn't need.

On the penultimate day I really thought this was it as on the same ferry at the same point as the Relict of the 24th was seen

There was what looked every bit like an adult, summer plumage bird flying directly towards the ship.

The first thing noticed, between switching from binoculars to camera and back again, were the very long wings and the Tern-like flight.

The black 'hood' was also plain to see and along with a bulky bill and white around the eyes, this was on first sight a Relict Gull.

That, unfortunately, was before the wing pattern of white outer primaries could be seen, pointing to

Saunders's Gull (Chinese Black-headed Gull)

Like Relict Gull this species is considered 'vulnerable', and though a very special bird indeed there was a sense of disappointment at not photographing a 'Relict'. As I wrote to birding friend Chris Cook in Japan after recording the Relict, there are now only 3 species of Gull in the world I have not photographed. 2 of these, Ross's and Ivory, are a possibility in UK, but RELICT ??????

Final Tally for South Korea Trip Ticks - 88 World Lifers 14

Read any Trip Report to this country and the same is said in all, "Quality not Quantity of Species". One such that I read involved 6 members with transport, over 6 day and lead by eminent Ornithologist Nial Moores who recorded 135 species. I can feel more than happy with my total having only used Shank's Pony and A Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles!

A Note on South Korea
before leaving this Wonderful Land - The Shadows!

I have enjoyed every minute of my stay in this industrial and industrious country and would be happy to recommend a visit here in a friendly, polite, by and large clean and not too expensive part of the world. The infrastructure is very swept up with a most efficient and reliable bus/coach service and as I understand it an ultra modern rail system - the trains look the business from a distance. Hotels too are of a high quality, but the reader should no be deterred by the general term Love Motels. Most, from the outside look very ordinary, but within the picture is quite different. Cleanliness appears paramount, comfort of the best mainly due to under floor heating which also keeps beds at a good temperature. Unlike similar establishments in the UK every requirement is provided such as toothpaste, after shave lotion, perfume, moisturising cream, hair brush & comb plus an array of complimentary beverages. Customs and ways of life seem simple with shallow bowing or nodding worth a million words while consommé da (bet they don't spell it like that) a 'thank you' and greeting is all the Korean I have needed, or know for that matter.

Best, as ever, until last and that is bathing facilities. We still have much to learn from the Far East especially in this direction. Why oh why do we keep building telephone box sized glass cabinets in our bathrooms, surrounding them by expensive Axminsters then restrict ourselves to splashing it about a bit. The hotel in Changwon was the only one so far with a bath, but the deck is tiled and with adequate drainage it's fill up to the brim, jump in Archimedes style and Eureka(I have found it) a sensational 'bath & dhoby'. So, that's that now "get me a ticket for an aeroplane"!


and finally an update on the Stat Counter before leaving, with no fewer than 26 Nations now in the 3 figure zone since Finland, Mexico Poland and South Africa reached the mark. Indonesia and Greece look as though they could soon follow in quick time, while South Korea has increased readership by 3 fold.

Num Perc. Country Name

drill down3771674.66%United KingdomUnited Kingdom
drill down32896.51%United StatesUnited States
drill down6811.35%CanadaCanada
drill down5341.06%GermanyGermany
drill down5281.05%EstoniaEstonia
drill down4900.97%AustraliaAustralia
drill down4430.88%FranceFrance
drill down3620.72%IndiaIndia
drill down3600.71%NetherlandsNetherlands
drill down3350.66%ItalyItaly
drill down3210.64%New ZealandNew Zealand
drill down3080.61%SpainSpain
drill down2840.56%BrazilBrazil
drill down2530.50%Korea, Republic OfKorea, Republic Of
drill down2500.49%JapanJapan
drill down2340.46%PolandPoland
drill down2040.40%SwedenSweden
drill down1940.38%BelgiumBelgium
drill down1730.34%Russian FederationRussian Federation
drill down1190.24%IrelandIreland
drill down1160.23%RomaniaRomania
drill down1100.22%TaiwanTaiwan
drill down1070.21%SwitzerlandSwitzerland
drill down1060.21%South AfricaSouth Africa
drill down1060.21%MexicoMexico
drill down1050.21%FinlandFinland
drill down990.20%IndonesiaIndonesia
drill down970.19%TurkeyTurkey
drill down970.19%GreeceGreece
drill down920.18%Czech RepublicCzech Republic
drill down900.18%NorwayNorway
drill down880.17%PhilippinesPhilippines
drill down850.17%PeruPeru
drill down840.17%PortugalPortugal
drill down830.16%Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
drill down830.16%DenmarkDenmark
drill down690.14%HungaryHungary
drill down690.14%UkraineUkraine
drill down680.13%PakistanPakistan
drill down660.13%Sri LankaSri Lanka
drill down640.13%BulgariaBulgaria
drill down630.12%ColombiaColombia
drill down610.12%SingaporeSingapore
drill down600.12%IsraelIsrael
drill down600.12%ThailandThailand
drill down580.11%MalaysiaMalaysia
drill down570.11%Hong KongHong Kong
drill down550.11%ChileChile
drill down550.11%ArgentinaArgentina
drill down530.10%United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
drill down470.09%Anonymous ProxyAnonymous Proxy
drill down460.09%SlovakiaSlovakia
drill down460.09%CroatiaCroatia
drill down400.08%VietnamVietnam
drill down380.08%EgyptEgypt
drill down380.08%SerbiaSerbia
drill down370.07%OmanOman
drill down360.07%AustriaAustria
drill down350.07%VenezuelaVenezuela
drill down280.06%LithuaniaLithuania
drill down250.05%EcuadorEcuador
drill down230.05%MadagascarMadagascar
drill down230.05%QatarQatar
drill down220.04%MaltaMalta
drill down210.04%GuatemalaGuatemala
drill down210.04%Palestinian TerritoryPalestinian Territory
drill down210.04%LuxembourgLuxembourg
drill down210.04%EuropeEurope
drill down210.04%Costa RicaCosta Rica
drill down200.04%Asia/pacific RegionAsia/pacific Region
drill down200.04%BangladeshBangladesh
drill down170.03%LebanonLebanon
drill down170.03%MongoliaMongolia
drill down170.03%GeorgiaGeorgia
drill down160.03%JamaicaJamaica
drill down140.03%GuernseyGuernsey
drill down130.03%BelarusBelarus
drill down120.02%LatviaLatvia
drill down120.02%IraqIraq
drill down110.02%Isle Of ManIsle Of Man
drill down110.02%MoroccoMorocco
drill down110.02%KenyaKenya
drill down100.02%JerseyJersey
drill down100.02%SloveniaSlovenia
drill down100.02%BelizeBelize
drill down90.02%YemenYemen
drill down90.02%ArmeniaArmenia
drill down90.02%MacedoniaMacedonia
drill down80.02%CyprusCyprus
drill down70.01%Trinidad And TobagoTrinidad And Tobago
drill down70.01%AlgeriaAlgeria
drill down60.01%BermudaBermuda
drill down60.01%GibraltarGibraltar
drill down60.01%KuwaitKuwait
drill down50.01%Virgin Island, U.s.Virgin Island, U.s.
drill down50.01%MontenegroMontenegro
drill down50.01%BarbadosBarbados
drill down50.01%Netherlands AntillesNetherlands Antilles
drill down50.01%El SalvadorEl Salvador
drill down50.01%Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
drill down50.01%EthiopiaEthiopia
drill down50.01%Moldova, Republic OfMoldova, Republic Of
drill down50.01%NigeriaNigeria
drill down50.01%CambodiaCambodia
drill down50.01%


drill down50.01%NamibiaNamibia
drill down40.01%MaldivesMaldives
drill down40.01%PanamaPanama
drill down40.01%AlbaniaAlbania
drill down40.01%ChinaChina
drill down40.01%Bosnia And HerzegovinaBosnia And Herzegovina
drill down40.01%JordanJordan
drill down40.01%ArubaAruba
drill down30.01%MauritiusMauritius
drill down30.01%NepalNepal
drill down30.01%ZambiaZambia
drill down30.01%AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
drill down30.01%BahrainBahrain
drill down30.01%TunisiaTunisia
drill down30.01%Tanzania, United Republic OfTanzania, United Republic Of
drill down30.01%IcelandIceland
drill down30.01%ZimbabweZimbabwe
drill down30.01%Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
drill down20.00%UgandaUganda
drill down20.00%GrenadaGrenada
drill down20.00%HondurasHonduras
drill down20.00%Satellite ProviderSatellite Provider
drill down20.00%UruguayUruguay
drill down20.00%MacaoMacao
drill down20.00%DominicaDominica
drill down20.00%AndorraAndorra
drill down20.00%BahamasBahamas
drill down20.00%GabonGabon
drill down10.00%KazakhstanKazakhstan
drill down10.00%GhanaGhana
drill down10.00%CameroonCameroon
drill down10.00%MartiniqueMartinique
drill down10.00%SurinameSuriname
drill down10.00%AfghanistanAfghanistan
drill down10.00%FijiFiji
drill down10.00%SeychellesSeychelles
drill down10.00%Cote D'ivoireCote D'ivoire
drill down10.00%French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
drill down10.00%GuyanaGuyana
drill down10.00%UzbekistanUzbekistan
drill down10.00%BotswanaBotswana
drill down10.00%Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
drill down10.00%BoliviaBolivia
drill down10.00%Turks And Caicos IslandsTurks And Caicos Islands
drill down10.00%Cayman IslandsCayman Islands