This Bay Deserves A Day – Suncheon, Part 8

Suncheon Bay, a.k.a. the Reed Kingdom of Korea is our last stop on the Suncheon City Tour Bus. It’s a great way to end the day tour as we’ve visited so far man-made sites, from prehistoric dolmens to temples to folk villages. But now we’ve moved from the slopes of Jogyesan Provincial Park right down south to the coast to explore the wetlands and reed fields of Suncheon Bay which faces the South Sea.

It’s great to be out in the vast expanse with a hint of salt in the breeze but I’m a little paranoid in 2005. The papers have been full of reports of avian or bird flu and I’m stupidly nervous about any innocent encounter with migratory birds. ( Visitors to Korea in 2009 concerned about H1N1 –take heart!)

So it’s mildly reassuring to see that visitors have to step into a shallow trough of disinfectant after we finish our tour of the boardwalk built over the tidal flats.

Some people opt to visit the Eco-museum but I’m not in the mood and don’t expect the exhibits to have English explanatory boards. So I just stroll outdoors and linger on the bridge to look down on a cruise boat heading out to sea.

But on looking back, I dare say that Suncheon Bay deserves a full day. If you like the great outdoors, I recommend that you take the public bus from Suncheon to spend a leisurely day here with a picnic basket, a good wind-cheater and a pair of binoculars.

Start very early as “the thick early morning fog in late fall also creates a memorable view of the bay”. Linger till dusk as this place has been rated by Korean photographers as one of the top ten spots for great sunset photography.

In terms of flora and fauna, this place has more than just reeds, mudskippers and fiddler crabs. This place enjoys mild temperatures in winter, relatively unpolluted waters and extensive sandbars which emerged after the last Ice Age from silt deposits of the rivers which empty out into the sea. So it’s home to 116 species of plants, 158 bird species and an assortment of fish and invertebrates.

 Count yourself lucky if you can spot a heron, spoonbill or egret as the tall reeds provide pretty good hiding places for the birds.

Consider a sighting of local mammals like the otter, weasel or raccoon, manna from heaven. Much easier to spot two-legged mammals sporting sunglasses and digicams, particularly during the annual Reeds Festival, celebrated in early November ( provided the authorities don't cancel because of the H1N1 scare.)
But then again, if there are fewer humans around, you're more likely to spot the famed hooded cranes.

Practical info:
At the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take a bus for Suncheon (21,700 won / 08:10~17:40) Get off at Suncheon Intercity Bus Terminal ; Take bus No. 66 or 67 to the venue (It takes about 30 minutes. / Bus every 15 to 20 minutes)
 Sources
http://www.suncheonbay.go.kr/english/html/visit/reeds.jsp
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10322093
http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/innisfree77/8630.html?p=5&t=2
http://www.korseby.net/outer/flora/rosopsida/asteraceae/index.html
http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?did=2460&lang=kr&tid=5
http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?did=8151&tid=1