Arxiu de la categoria: Birding in Barcelona

Pyrenees Winter Break 2026, Trip Report

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  • Dates: February 8th to 12th, 2026
  • Participants: 6
  • Number of species seen: 134
  • Tour leader: Carles Oliver

Day 1. After picking up all our guests from their accommodations around the Barcelona International Airport, we moved to our first stop, very close to the airport. Sunrise was coming, and with the very first lights a couple of Iberian Green Woodpecker produced nice views. The first Hoopoes of the day started moving in the area and along the next half an hour we got nice views on Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Great Tit, Eurasian Greenfinch, European Stonechat, European Serin and a very nice flock of Long-tailed Tits. Along with them, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was noted, and during the next couple of minutes I fought to put everyone on this bird. Not easy, since it was very restless. A large flock of Meadow Pipits appeared from alfalfa fields around us.

It was time to leave, but when leaving we were surprised by a Hooded Crow, a very scarce species with only a few pairs nesting around Barcelona that started to colonised the area only seven years ago.

Iberian Green Woodpecker posing for us as we arrived to our first stop of the trip..
This Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was moving in the tree above us for a couple of minutes, not always easy to see!

From here, we drove directly to the Pyrenees, where we were committed to do a first stop in a large farming spot close to Lladurs. There, a large flock of White-winged Snow Finches had been settled for a couple of months.. We arrived and started scanning the fields. Small parties of Skylarks were moving around along with large flocks of Common Chaffinches, but no sign of the Snow Finches. Suddenly, a large flock of white-winged birds were seen at the other side of the fields. No doubt, they were our birds! They flew in a very compact flock and, as usual in this species, avoiding to mix with other species of Sparrow or Finches.

Soon, the flock moved our way and flew several times above our heads, providing wonderful views on this high mountain bird! In the wires of the area we also saw 17 Rock Sparrows, and a few Woodlarks were taking advantage of the sunny morning to sing their hearts out while the very first Griffon Vultures of the trip were noted circling around.

On the Snow Finches here, please note that this is species is normally seen in winter in mountain passes and at the top of a few, selected mountains. Never below 1000 meters, and never in farming areas. But this solid flock (at the end we counted 62 Snow Finches) was about 700 metres high in a farming area, and they stayed there for almost two months. It must be said that this situation it was coincident with a long episode of very bad weather in the top of the Pyrenees..

Snow Finches provided great views in the Pyrenean stop of the trip.
At some point, they came extremely close!

After enjoying one of the birds of trip we went to have a coffee and something to eat. Yes, we still have to had some breakfast.. After a nice coffee with a wonderful mountain landscape in front of us, we moved to explore one of this great mountain passes were high mountain birds normally hung around. But in the mountain pass the movement of small birds was minimal. After weeks and weeks of snowfall, the amount of snow was quite impressive, leaving very little room for the species feeding on the ground. Still, a couple of stops produced 2 Golden Eagles, and a few Eurasian Griffons. From here we moved to nice patch of boreal forest, where we got a very close Golden Eagle flying over the forest and enjoyed good views on Common Crossbills, Goldcrests, Crested Tits and Short-toed Treecreepers. It was already the afternoon, and small flocks of Mistle Thrushes and Fieldfares were moving up in the sky, probably moving to their overnight shelter.

It was late afternoon, but we still got a final stop before arriving to our accommodation. Here, we enjoyed good scope views on Woodlarks singing with the lovely evening light, and we also improved the views on Common Rock Sparrows. European Serin, Cirl & Corn Buntings, Yellowhammer and Red-billed Choughs were also seen, and we ended day with a lovely Iberian Grey Shrike before arriving to our lodge, have some rest and go for a great evening meal..

Common Crossbill in the high mountain forest.
Iberian Grey Shrike very close to our accommodation.

Day 2. A cold and cloudy morning high in the Pyrenees. Around our accommodations we got great views on Eurasian Siskins but also Nuthatches and Crested Tits. From here, we went for a short walk around our accommodation gave us a nice list, even if all the birds were distant. Here we got a couple of Fieldfares, 1 male Yellowhammer, Crested Tits, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and 3 Eurasian Bullfinches. Distant views on Iberian Green Woodpecker were also noted.

Inside Andorra we got excellent views on Dipper, plus a good number of Eurasian Griffons and a nice pair of Lammergeiers flying above the valley. They were distant but, still, a great first view on this iconic species. We also got 1 Golden Eagle and 1 unidentified large bird of prey, probably a Bonelli’s Eagle.

Back in Catalonia, we had a picnic stop next to a large cliff, with little movement there. From here we drove West, to explore a tiny village next to the cliffs, a wonderful location, always! En route, we got another adult Lammergeier despite the challenging weather. Once arrived to our final destination, a bit of sun was helped the birds of prey to move and we soon had 30+ Eurasian Griffon moving above our heads. Along with them, we got minimum 2 more Lammergeiers (1 adult + 1 3rd year). The walk around the village was very productive, and we got 2 Citril Finches flying around, 1 female Rock Bunting (scarce this year), a couple of Chiffchaffs, 1 distant Blue Rock Thrush, 6 Alpine Choughs flying around the church of the village and, as we were about to leave, we got a very distant Wallcreeper flying from one cliff to the next. We tried to relocate this Wallcreeper, but was impossible to relocate. From here we went to our accommodation in Lleida, right in the center of the plains..

Dipper, a urban bird in many Pyrenean valleys, also in Andorra.
One of the Lammergeiers that we enjoyed while searching for Alpine Accentors.
One of six Alpine Choughs flying around the group while exploring Vall de Meià.
Griffons were very busy adding nesting material to their nests..

Day 3. After enjoying a great buffet breakfast, we moved back to the Pyrenees. Just as we arrived, we had a Bonelli’s Eagle posing for us at the top of the cliff, in a majestic view that was to mark our morning. The morning was grey and cold, and we had a couple of light rain events during the next hour. Still, our eyes were fixed on the rocks, and even if Northern Shoveler, Firecrest and Eurasian Griffons were all noted, our mind was only in trying to find a Wallcreeper. Even more when another group of birdwatchers had a distant Wallcreeper very early in the morning.. But the morning was passing on, and we got nothing. Suddenly, a small flock of birds flew from the cliffs; 5 Alpine Accentors just crossed the gorge, stopping in a very distant outcrop. Even if far away, we got them in scope, popping in and out of the mountain range. This is the largest flock of Alpine Accentors that I have ever had at this particular spot. Definately a good sign. But, beyond this, nothing was moving in the cliffs.

After almost three hours of search, we decided to give up, and we were already moving back to the van when suddenly a Wallcreeper moved in the cliff, not far away from the group. The next 30 minutes were incredible. At first, we were able to move very close to the bird, allowing amazing views as the bird came low in the cliff. This allow us to see the bird catching a couple of preys while moving up and down in cliff. But later we got the Wallcreeper in the scope for over 20 minutes as it was standing still in the rocks. First preening, then eating a small prey, then slightly moving aside to go back to its original position. It went and went and went. We managed to show the bird in the scope to some local people that was walking around and the whole episode truly ended in walk-away views. It took us longer than expected but it was an every-minute-worth-experience. Unforgettable!

It took us longer than expected, but it was worth it!
We enjoyed long and close views on this mountain jewel..
Here, Wallcreeper showing out the colours..

After such a great views, we went for celebration coffee that turned out in a light lunch at a local coffee shop. Some of the typical Catalan delicatessen enjoyed here included “croquetes”, “trinxat” and “botifarra amb seques”. Delicious.

From here, we went to check a nearby pond. We were glad to find 6 Common Pochards, a few Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teals, a couple of Gadwalls and a lovely male Ferruginous Duck that was the best bird of stop despite being very shy and despite the 50+ White Storks sitting next to the pond.

The afternoon was still young, so we drove a bit West to check a first Sandgrouse hotspot. There, we got first views on Calandra Larks as well as Red-billed Choughs and Jackdaws. It was windy, so it means gor for birds of prey. We were lucky, and Wayne found a majestic male Hen Harrier flying low over the fields right before John got a distant flock of 15+ Pin-tailed Sandgrouses moving away from us! We still had a little bit of time, enough to enjoy two close Golden Eagles (young and full adult) flying around our van and good views on Corn Bunting and Red-legged Partridge despite the wind.

The last stop of the day was devoted to a tiny valley with cliffs. Arrived right at sunset, we were listening the evening chorus when the extremely impressive and unforgettable call of an Eagle Owl came from somewhere in the slope right in from of us.. After a few seconds of scanning, we found a wonderful Eagle Owl standing up on one small rocky wall.. It called for a few minutes, allowing us amazing scope views and some shots right before flying away to hunt some rabbits in the nearby plains..

Common Pochards were easier to photograph than the very shy Ferruginous Duck..
We got gorgeous views on Golden Eagle..
Red-billed Chough feeding on the plains.
This Eagle Owl was hooting at dusk, please note the white gorge, only visible while hooting.

Day 4. Transfer West from Lleida, to explore the large plains in Central Aragon. During the transfer we enjoyed several Red Kites and Marsh Harriers and, once arrived to the proper spot, it didn’t take long to locate the first superb Great Bustard standing up in the low grass fields. Soon after, we had a nice flock of 9 individuals resting on a field. They were surprisingly close to the lane, and slowly but majestic, they marched away from us in the endless plains..

In flight, we got here a couple of Hen Harriers and a distant Merlin before moving South. After some miles of plains, the terrain became every time more and more broken, until we arrived to proper habitat for Black Wheatears. Again we did it very well, and enjoyed here 3 Black Wheatears including two males chasing each other, probably fighting for the territory. Along with them, we got a distant Golden Eagle circling, solid views on Thekla Larks, several Sardinian Warblers and a few Dartford Warblers that gave us proper but short views as they were moving inside a small, dense pine.

This Great Bustard was the gorgeous welcome commitee of the plains to our group..
Great Bustard in flight, always a treat!
This very nice flock of males Great Bustards were one of the stars of the day!
Black Wheatears offered very nice looks as we crossed a number of crocky slopes.

It was a cloudy day (as you can see in the image) and the weather forecast was pointing out a lot of wind in the afternoon and the next day. So, even if solid midday, we decided to go straight for Dupont’s Lark in one of the typical places, and we were lucky..

As arrived, we checked out one of my favourite spots. Mediterranean Short-toed Larks (formerly referred as Lesser Short-toed Larks) were all around, and very active. After a bit of drive and wait situation we found a first Dupont’s Lark feeding not far away from the path. It was picking the soil, running through the bush and sometimes watching us from behind a bush. We all got nice views, even if not the best. Happy after this first views we decided to check a second spot. The wind was starting to pick up, and we all knew that we didn’t have many time left to go. The second spot produced a couple of other fast views on Dupont’s Larks as we found a pair moving in the steppes along with Meadow Pipits and Thekla Larks. We still waited a bit more, but the weather was becoming very bad, with poor light and strong wind.

By the time we arrived to the accommodation the wind become very strong, and during the night there were peaks of 70 to 80 kilometers per hour..

Mediterranean Short-toed Larks are not big fans of singing from an exposed perch. That afternoon we were lucky as this male was surprised singing briefly from a rock..
Dupont’s Lark in the run in the steppe land.
For a few seconds, the bird was staring us from a small bush..

Day 5. Very last day of the trip. It was a extremely windy this morning but we were still keen to improve our views on Sandgrouses. The last day, as we were arriving to Belchite, we saw 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouses resting in a field, that immediately went away. So, after having breakfast, we left the accommodation to go to that same spot. Soon, we found a minimum of 8 Black-bellied Sandgrouses feeding in a large resting field. Using the minibus as a protection against the wind, everybody enjoyed great scope views on the Sandgrouses, but always with half of our brain concentrated in our scopes not to be blown away by the wind.. Here we also got Merlin and a few Pin-tailed Sandgrouses moving around. Happy with the views, we decided to go on with our plan. Yes, the previous evening we all agreed to move to devote some time of this last day in famous Ebro Delta, a wonder of birdlife. But before we had to improve the views on Black-bellied Sandgrouses..

Once this was sorted out, we moved back to the main road. And then we found a paddle. A paddle in our way. A very, very muddy one (there were strong rains only a few days ago in that area) that put one of our wheels deep into the earth and made us work very hard to line our van back on movement.. Unfortunately, we lost almost half an hour in that paddle, but after a coffee and cleaning stop and some drive we arrived to Ebro Delta to enjoy some birding. At Ebro Delta was also windy, but not as windy as it was in the plains.

Here, we went straight to the location where a Sociable Plover had been reported. Here, with strong winds, we scanned the large paddy fields full of flocks of very mobile birds. We counted at least 70 Pied Avocets, tens and tens of Glossy Ibises and well above 100 European Golden Plovers and Northern Lapwings. In the distance, we counted at least 30 Ruffs, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Dunlins, 1 Common Ringed Plover, Green Sandpipers, Greenshanks, 5 Ruddy Turnstones and 1 Eurasian Curlew was seen in flight. Our scan took long, but we finally found the young Sociable Plover moving along with Lapwings and Golden Plovers. But the flocks were mobile the wind never played in our way.. Here, we had our picnic lunches and we left the area when a flock of 100+ Greater Flamingoes were moving around, making all the smaller birds move all over.. But before heading to the motorway, we still got time for a fast stop in the Northern bay of the delta, where Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Crested Grebe were added to our list!

Please, note the images of Sociable Plover are from a couple of days later..

Caspian Tern, a last minute species to be add in our trip list..
Slender-billed Gull already showing its summer plumage.
Sociable Plover feeding in a paddy field

List of birds seen during the tour:

  1. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
  2. Common Pheasant (Phaisanus colchinus)
  3. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
  4. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
  5. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
  6. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
  7. Gaswall (Marecca strepera)
  8. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
  9. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
  10. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) – 20+ individuals
  11. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) – 9 individuals
  12. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia sp)
  13. Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
  14. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
  15. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
  16. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
  17. Great Bustard (Otis tarda) – 13 individuals
  18. Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricolllis)
  19. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
  20. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
  21. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
  22. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
  23. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
  24. European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
  25. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
  26. Sociable Plover (Vanellus gregarius)
  27. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
  28. Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
  29. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
  30. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
  31. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
  32. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
  33. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
  34. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
  35. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
  36. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleuca)
  37. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
  38. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
  39. Mediterranean Gull (Ichtyaetus melanocephalus)
  40. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
  41. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
  42. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
  43. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
  44. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  45. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
  46. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
  47. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
  48. Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
  49. Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
  50. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
  51. Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
  52. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
  53. Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
  54. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
  55. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
  56. Eurasian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
  57. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
  58. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  59. Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus)
  60. Lammergeier – Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) – 6 individuals
  61. Little Owl (Athene noctua)
  62. Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
  63. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) – heard only
  64. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
  65. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor)
  66. Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)
  67. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
  68. Merlin (Falco columbarius)
  69. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
  70. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
  71. Rose-winged Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
  72. Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
  73. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
  74. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
  75. Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae)
  76. Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
  77. Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
  78. Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) – 3+ individuals
  79. Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
  80. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
  81. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
  82. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
  83. Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) – 5 individuals
  84. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
  85. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
  86. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
  87. Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)
  88. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
  89. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
  90. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
  91. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
  92. European Blackbird (Turdus merula)
  93. Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
  94. Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala)
  95. Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata)
  96. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
  97. Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) – heard only
  98. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
  99. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
  100. Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
  101. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  102. European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus)
  103. Great Tit (Parus major)
  104. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
  105. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
  106. Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
  107. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
  108. Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
  109. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
  110. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
  111. Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
  112. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
  113. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
  114. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
  115. Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
  116. Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
  117. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
  118. Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
  119. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
  120. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  121. Common Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)
  122. White-winged Snow Finch (Montifringilla nivalis)
  123. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  124. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
  125. European Serin (Serinus serinus)
  126. Eurasian Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
  127. Eurasian Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  128. Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella)
  129. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
  130. Linnet (Acanthis cannabina)
  131. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
  132. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
  133. Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)
  134. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

Pyrenees Winter Break 2024

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  • Dates: From February 6th to 10th, 2024
  • Tour participants: 5
  • Number of species seen: 110
  • Tour leader: Carles Oliver

All images in this trip report by tour leader Carles Oliver unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.

Overview: 10th Pyrenees Winter Break issue. This winter in the Pyrenees has been specially unnormal. The winter started normally, with the first snowfall happening in early November. Soon, the trend changed and we faced several weeks without any snowfall and the high temperatures melted the few snow left. With temperatures ranking 25ºC in January, some high mountain specialties changed their normal routines, especially affected were Snow Finches and Citril Finches, but also Alpine Choughs. This anormal situation, made the tour a bit harder than usual. Despite all of this, we got excellent views in the high mountain specialties and many of the steppe birds, with stunning views on both Wallcreeper and Dupont’s Lark, and 8+ Lammergeiers & 5+ Cinereous Vultures seen.

Day 1. After gathering all the tour participants from their accommodations around the city and enjoy tea & coffee stop we headed to the first birding stop of the tour. During the next hour, we walked around a mosaic landscape with some large trees, bushland and crops.

Here we were delighted to see the first Iberian Green Woodpeckers of the trip, quite active in the early morning. The morning was a bit cloudy and, once again, warm for what we can expect in Barcelona in early February. Small flocks of Common Chaffinches were getting out of the fields, and along with them we saw European Serins and Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Our walk around had a nice start, with a showy Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was calling and drumming from the top of the canopies, and we had really good looks on it for almost five minutes. In this same spot we also got Iberian Green Woodpeckers and a Ring-necked Parakeet exploring some nesting holes. Both Great & Blue Tits were active in the area, and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon did a couple of fast flights in the area, hoping to catch one of the several small birds moving. Other interesting birds here included Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Jay and Common Pheasant. 3 Rock Buntings flew out from the bushes, but unfortunately none of the tour participants had a proper view on them

From the lovely plain in the Llobregat Delta we drove to a small garden around Barcelona where a White-throated Sparrow had been seen. We waited for almost one hour but, unfortunately, the Sparrow didn’t show for us. Still, a nice flock of Red-billed Leiothrix was a great entertainment for us, with some Eurasian Blackcaps and Coal Tits also showing well.

After a short stop for coffees and logistics, we drove up to the hills, with the next stop in the top of the one of the highest mountains between Barcelona and the Pyrenees. Here we had the longest walk of the trip, aiming to connect with the small population of Alpine Accentors living there. Fortunately we didn’t have to walk a lot before a lovely flock of at least 12 Alpine Accentors came to us to offer the group wonderful and very long views, with some of the birds performing right in front of us for several minutes! It was midday and in this small peak, normally covered with snow in early February, the sensation was of being late September! We had a comfortable 15ºC when being at 1700m above the sea level! Even in such a conditions, it was very surprising to find a female Hen Harrier hunting in the slopes of the mountains, and moreover, to see 3 Dartford Warblers singing and chasing each other in the tall vegetation. This is only a summer visitor to this habitat, normally covered by snow. Dartford Warblers spend the winter at lower altitudes, waiting for the snow to melt and temperatures to arise up (this is normally happening by late March or early April).

From here we covered the short distance of driving to the first hillsides of the Pyrenees where, even before arriving to the planned stop, we had to do a stop in one of its minor roads, that appeared covered by hundreds of Finches. Here we got the first excellent views on Common Crossbill, with some superb males singing from the top of the Mountain Pines. Hundreds of Eurasian Siskins were calling and singing here, probably moving North to their nesting grounds in Northern Europe. Eurasian Goldfinch, Coal & Crested Tits, Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush were all seen here, some of them providing great looks. At least 2 Citril Finches were noted inside this massive flock of birds, but they flew over almost unnoticed and I fell to put anyone in the group on the Finches, that fastly disappeared in the forest.

The afternoon was well advanced when we had our last stop of the day. This time to have some time in a lovely subboreal forest. Here, we were again surrounded by Common Crossbills and Siskins and only one minute after leaving the van we had a Black Woodpecker calling not far away. It took us only a pair of minutes to contact with the bird, that was active with a variety of calls to finally stop in a large, dead trunk. There we enjoyed long views as the bird was first calling and then preening before going away. We still had some more time in this lovely habitat, but it didn’t produce anything else out of a pair of showy Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 1 Eurasian Nuthatch.

Close up on Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) to start the tour.
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) has a small population in the forests around Barcelona.
Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) was worth every step un the hill!
Common Crosbill (Loxia curvirostra) has been a common sight along this winter in the Pyrenees.
We enjoyed rather distant but long views on Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius).

Day 2. After enjoying our breakfast in our quiet accommodation in La Cerdanya valley, we spent the next couple of hours exploring the valley immediately beside. Here, a number of selected stops produced a good list of birds that included large numbers of Mistle Thrushes and Redwings with some Fieldfares but also really good views on Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Crossbills, Crested Tit and, especially, gorgeous looks on Rock Buntings that seemed very active and ready to start the nesting season.

From here, we drove inside Andorra. All the main mountain passes in this area of Catalonia had no snow at the moment, and our only hope to find Snow Finches was to go inside Andorra and do some stops along a mountain pass reaching 2500 metres above the sea level and sky resort located nearby. Once there, we saw that the amount of snow was also really thin, and the sunny weather reduced our chances to connect with the Finches even thinner. Still, we enjoyed very lovely views on Alpine Choughs as they were feeding around the sky resort but also acting almost as Wallcreepers in the buildings around!

Crossing Andorra, we headed South towards the most impressive spot for large raptors in the Pyrenees. Even if the intense Andorran traffic made us go slowly, we arrived to the hillsides around Isona with the sun well high in the sky. Moreover, in our way out of Andorra we got excellent views on White-throated Dippers.

The rest of the afternoon we drove along a pair of tracks, with several stops to enjoy the many birds of prey in the sky. After three hours, a conservative count showed out 7 Lammergeiers, hundreds of Eurasian Griffons and 12 Cinereous Vultures. We got several excellent views, with adult Lammergeiers passing only tens of metres away from the van; Lammergeiers circling along with Cinereous Vultures; or a flock of 15 Griffons and 4 Lammergeiers all circling together to name some of most celebrated sights. Due to the multiple stops to enjoy the several raptors in the sky, we arrived to our accommodation a bit later than expected, but with some unforgettable memories!

Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) singing his heart out for us.
Alpine Chough (Phyrrocorax graculus)
Alpine Chough close up in our visit in Andorra.
Lammergeier (Gypaetos barbatus), one of the several enjoyed.
A pair of Lammergeiers almost touching wings.
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) has a small but healthy population in the Pyrenees.

Day 3. After breakfast, we covered the short distance from Lleida to the first gorges in the Pyrenees. Once there, we spent a couple of hours enjoying the rocky outcrops. Blue Rock Thrush had a short appearance, but Firecrests and Goldcrest gave us long views. In the cliffs, Griffons Vultures were nesting along with Rock Sparrows. In the river along the gorge, Dippers were moving up and down along with Grey Wagtails. Other birds here included Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Cirl Buntings and Sardinian Warbler.

But the main reason to come was another, and a really important one. To be fair, the Wallcreeper overwintering in the gorge didn’t take long to appear, but we had to wait a bit before everybody in the group could connect with it. Still, we were really lucky, and a Wallcreeper appeared at its typical place a bit after 10:00 in the morning. The bird was half way up in the cliff, and not very showy. We had to wait for 5 minutes before the bird, suddenly, decided to come down by the tarmac! The next 10 minutes were some of the most intense in our Pyrenean outings this winter, with extremely close views on this Wallcreeper, while the bird was moving really low along the gorge. At times, we had ti sensation of be able even of touching the bird!

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) at close range. Image by Mark Dowie.
Another great shot on Wallcreeper. Please note the delicate design of the undertail coverts. Image by Mark Dowie.

After enjoying such a wonderful views on the one of the main specialties living in the mountains we drove down to the plains. There, large flocks of European Golden Plovers and Northern Lapwings were waiting for us. We have our lunch stop by a small pond, where we had Northern Shovelers, Common Pochards, Little Grebes, Eurasian Coots & Teals, 2 Green Sandpipers but also large flocks of White Storks in the move from their roosting places around Lleida. The area was also good for small birds and European Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Skylark, Crested Lark, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Reed Bunting and Eurasian Tree Sparrow were noted.

After lunch we changed to a second pond, and our visit was granted with nice views on 7 Ferruginous Ducks, a very scarce bird in Catalonia!

Driving East, we arrived to an area with a very different landscape. Here, small but cleverly managed fields still allow a good density of Little Bustards. This species, formerly fairly common in Iberia, had become almost a scarcity, and its winter flocks have been severely decimated. A first stop was done to try to connect with a pair of Black-winged Kites nesting in the area, but we only got a small flock of Woodlarks, several Corn Buntings and multiple views on Red Kite & Marsh Harrier. A bit further, 4 Little Bustards were seen by the road, and we got good views from the van to don’t disturb the birds.

The last stop of the day was deserved to the desert-like ambients South of Lleida, where we had a short walk to enjoy the first Thekla’s Larks of the trip along with lovely flocks of Red-billed Choughs, Spotless Starlings, Rock Sparrows and a Black Wheatear that refused to show for the group! It was already quite late, but we decided to have a very last stop, and our effort was very worth. We still had to get out of the van when we listened and Eurasian Eagle Owl calling from somewhere in the valley. After a fast scanning, we decided to go for a slow short walk, and after a few metres Mark got the bird singing from a dead branch up in the hillside. During the few minutes, we got amazing scope views on the bird while some Redwings were attending their roosting site. A superb way to end another very good day!

Part of the flock of Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca) seen around Lleida.
Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) female feeding.
Eagle Owl calling from its perch. Image by Mark Dowie.

Day 4. After a sunny start of the trip, this was a grey and rainy day. A difficult weather to search for the specialties living in the steppes. Still, we went to explore the endless plains in central Monegros. A first stop in a small salty lagoon produced the only Kentish Plover of the trip along with Common Shelducks and Black-headed Gulls. From here, we got in the plains, but the muddy tracks made difficult for us to arrive to some locations. Still, we were lucky enough to contact with 2 nice Black-bellied Sandgrouses that provided flying views. 1 Little Owl was also a nice sight while flocks of Calandra & Skylarks were flying over the fields. After a couple of hours checking around the rain became heavier, and we decided to go for a service stop. It was a fortunate choice since the sky cleared right when we were leaving the coffee shop.

Back to the plains, we managed to arrive to a nice spot and soon we found a nice of 11 Pin-tailed Sandgrouses that stayed on a field for us for about 20 minutes. Here we had nice scope views with some good photo and video chances. Several Calandra & Crested Larks were singing here, and as the sun became stronger, the first Mediterranean Short-toed Larks (aka Lesser Short-toed Larks) of the trip were noted. From here we moved into a different section of the plains, and we were lucky to find a nice flock of 31 Common Cranes feeding on the ground at close range, and a closer flock of Eurasian Griffons on the ground, waiting for the weather to improve. Here we also got a nice male Hen Harrier flying over the large fields, and 2 extra Little Owls! But unfortunately the rain started again, even heavier than before and we decided to move away, trying to put some distance from the mud and the rain.

But when we arrive to our new accommodation, the rain was also there for us, and we decided to end the day after enjoying a distant view on a new Little Owl.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouses (Pterocles alchata) feeding under the rain.

Day 5. After enjoying breakfast, we headed out to the large steppes immediatly South of Zaragoza. This is a wonderful are to enjoy steppe birds, with multiple places where to go and try to find the different specialties living in the region. After the generous rain of the previous day, we woke up in a sunny day with only some clouds.

We started driving in the minor tracks crossing the steppes and soon got 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouses in a farming area. Beyond, both Calandra and Mediterranean Short-toed Larks started singing, offering both really good looks. It didn’t take long before we got a first Dupont’s Lark singing. It looked like far away, but then a second bird started singing a bit closer. Some Short-toed Larks were around, feeding and providing some photo opportunities. The wind started to pick up, but both Dupont’s Larks were still singing. We put out the scopes, trying to see them in the ocean of grass in front of us, but we couldn’t contact with the bird..

After 40 minutes of scan we decided to move away and try a different spot. By that time the wind was already strong. A new Lesser Short-toed Lark in good light was welcome by the photographers in the group, but suddenly a second bird appeared right behind the Short-toed Lark. A Dupont’s Lark sitting in the top of a small bush only 10 metres away from us!! Soon we were all having the bird and celebrating our luck.

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens).
Lovely views on a singing Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) after a couple of hours of waiting! Image by tour leader Carles Oliver
Thekla’s Lark (Galerida theklae) close up to end our exploration of the steppes.

Leaving the steppes, we still had a pair of Red-billed Choughs displaying around and 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouses plus a pair of superb Golden Eagles in the highway. But certainly the wind had picked up in the last minutes. We started the final transfer to Barcelona, having a stop in a lovely lagoon with a wonderful reedbed. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived to the lagoon the wind was so strong that it was almost not possible to stand up, and we had to search refuge in a blind and even inside the van to enjoy our packed lunches. Here, we only got Gadwalls and Great Crested Grebes and the very strong wind made no possible to contact with any passerine living in the reeds.

Despite the strong wind, we still had something to add to our list and a small detour to explore a sheltered gorge produced a nice male Black Wheatear in the top of a small cliff, providing good views to all the members of the group. This very last minute sight was really appreciated, since the first contact with this species, a couple of days before, was poor and not everyone in the group actually so the bird.

After this short stop, we just transferred back to Barcelona to end our tour around the airport by mid afternoon.

List of birds seen during the tour

  1. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
  2. Ring-necked Pheasant (Phaisanus colchinus)
  3. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
  4. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
  5. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
  6. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
  7. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
  8. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
  9. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
  10. Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)
  11. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)
  12. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
  13. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
  14. Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
  15. Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
  16. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
  17. Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
  18. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
  19. Common Crane (Grus grus)
  20. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
  21. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
  22. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
  23. European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
  24. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
  25. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
  26. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
  27. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
  28. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
  29. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  30. Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
  31. Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
  32. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
  33. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)
  34. Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus)
  35. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
  36. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
  37. Hen Harrier (CIrcus cyaneus)
  38. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
  39. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
  40. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  41. Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
  42. Little Owl (Athene noctua)
  43. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
  44. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
  45. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor)
  46. Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)
  47. Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
  48. Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
  49. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
  50. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
  51. Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
  52. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
  53. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
  54. Thekla’s Lark (Galerida theklae)
  55. Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
  56. Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
  57. Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti)
  58. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
  59. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
  60. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
  61. White-bellied Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
  62. Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris)
  63. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
  64. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
  65. Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)
  66. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
  67. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
  68. Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
  69. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
  70. European Blackbird (Turdus merula)
  71. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
  72. Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
  73. Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala)
  74. Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata)
  75. Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
  76. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
  77. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
  78. Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
  79. Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
  80. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  81. European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus)
  82. Great Tit (Parus majors)
  83. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
  84. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
  85. Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
  86. Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
  87. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
  88. Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
  89. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
  90. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
  91. Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
  92. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
  93. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
  94. Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
  95. Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
  96. European Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
  97. Spotless Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
  98. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
  99. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  100. Common Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)
  101. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  102. European Serin (Serinus serinus)
  103. Eurasian Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  104. Eurasian Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
  105. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
  106. Linnet (Acanthis cannabina)
  107. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
  108. Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)
  109. Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)
  110. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

List of mammals seen during the tour

  1. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
  2. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
  3. Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

OrnitoRepte calàbria agulla als Aiguamolls de l’Empordà

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Una vegada més, ben d’hora al matí, un grup d’ornitòlegs es cita per tal d’encarar un OrnitoRepte. En aquest cas, als Aiguamolls de l’Empordà i amb l’objectiu de gaudir de la calàbria agulla!

Som ben bé 30 persones, amb un bon grapat de telescopis i càmeres de fotos. El dia ha sortit radiant, amb un sol que anuncia un altre dia dominat per l’anticicló que ha fet desaparèixer les precipitacions al llarg de l’hivern, deixant força ecosistemes en una situació precària. La jornada va gaudir d’un temps molt estable, amb només una mica de vent mentre estàvem a la platja. Però, comptat i debatut, no va ser res de l’altre món.

Foto del grup donant-ho tot per gaudir de les calàbries agulles als Aiguamolls. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras.

El grup comença a caminar per la zona del Mas Matà i ben d’hora apareixen els primers ocells d’interès: En la distància, un estol de capons reials (Plegadis falcinellus) fa una aparició fugaç mentre els aligots (Buteo buteo) i arpelles comunes (Circus aeruginosus) aixequen el vol dels seus posaders preferits. El grup avança per una zona de canyissar, i no triguem en sentir el reclam característic de la boscarla mostatxuda (Acrocephalus megalopogon) a les tofes de canyís. Tot amb tot, aquest esquerp ocell no es va deixar veure gaire bé, i només va aparèixer en vol un parell de vegades. Quan tornàvem al camí principal, una xivita (Tringa ochropus) va fer acte de presència a la zona.

Arpella comuna mascle en vol. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras.

Un cop als prats inundats del Mas Matà vam poder gaudir dels bons estols de territs variants (Calidris alpina) i dels molts becadells comuns (Gallinago gallinago) que s’hi alimentaven. Amb ells, fredelugues (Vanellus vanellus) i agrons blancs (Agrodiaetus albus) però també grassets de muntanya (Anthus spinolleta), xarxets (Anas crecca) ¡, cogullades comunes (Galerida cristata) i alguna simpàtica cuereta torrentera (Motacilla cinerea). El nostre camí cap a la platja va tenir alguna parada per gaudir de la munió d’Anàtides a l’aguaït del bruel. Aquí, els estols de xarxets i ànecs cullerots (Spatula clypeata) tot just sortien dels canyissars a on havien passat la nit. Era d’hora al matí, però una parella de cabussons emplomallats (Podiceps cristatus) ja anava assajant la seva sincronització de cara a la primavera mentre els ànecs grissets (Anas strepera) s’ho miraven des dels canyissars.

Fredelugues, becadells comuns i territs variants al Mas Matà. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras.
Un dels cabussons emplomallats de l’aguaït del Bruel. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras
Ànec cullerots alimentant-se davant l’aguaït del Bruel. Imatge de Joan Oliver
Els xarxets mascles ja lluïen plomatge nupcial. Imatge de Domènec Anguera.

La resta del camí fins la platja no va tenir massa més espècies d’interès, fora de les oques comunes (Anser anser) que se sentien reclamar per les maresmes.

Un cop a la platja va arribar el moment de treure partit als telescopis. Les calàbries no ho van posar massa fàcil, però després d’uns minuts de recerca, 3 calàbries agulles (Gavia arctica) van aparèixer en la llunyania, una mica a contrallum. Mentre maldàven perquè tots els telescopis trobessin la seva calàbria, un gavot (Alca torda) també va reclamar la seva quota d’atenció, afegint una mica més de caos ornitològic al grup. Ambuna mica de sort, les calàbries agulles es van anar desplaçant cap al Nord, i la llum va millorar molt fins aconseguir unes observacions més que bones! Mentre hi gaudíem, un cabussó emplomallat i un corb marí emplomallat (Gulosus aristotelis) també van aparèixer, donant una bona oportunitat a tots per comparar formes, proporcions i comportament del corb marí, el gavot, el cabussó i les calàbries.

Aquest gavot va ser la sorpresa més celebrada al mar i va permetre bones comparatives amb les calàbries que es movien a prop. Imatge d’Enric Pàmies
Una de les 3 calàbries agulles observades al llarg de l’OrnitoRepte. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras

La platja tampoc estava lliure d’interès. Tot i que lluny, un petit estol de territs de tresdits (Calidris alba) es va deixar veure prou bé mentre un parell de pigres grisos (Pluvialis squatarola) els va passava volant per sobre. Mentrestant, unes poques baldrigues mediterrànies (Puffinus yelkouan) cavalcaven les onades mentre un estol d’unes 200 baldrigues (Puffinus sp.) descasaven a força distància. Els xatracs bec-llargs (Thalasseus sandvicensis), amb el seu característic reclam, van tancar la nostra estada a la platja!

A continuació vam desfer el camí fins a l’aparcament i, un cop als vehicles, uns vam dirigir a El Cortalet, a on vam fer una merescuda parada de servei abans d’explorar els hides més propers al Centre de Informació.

Corb marí gros poc després d’empassar l’esmorzar. Imatge de Domènec Anguera

Es podria dir que vam estar de sort, perquè des dels hides vam gaudir d’un bon estol de grues (Grus grus) que sembla haver fet hivernada a l’Empordà. Aquí hi havien força ànecs, destacant diferents ànecs blancs (Tadorna tadorna) però també una trentena d’ànecs xiuladors (Anas penelope) i fins i tot un xibec (Netta rufina) i una femella de morell cap roig (Aythya ferina). Un petit estol flamencs (Phoenicopterus roseus) posava la nota exòtica mentre una arpella comuna (Circus aeruginosus) s’alimentava d’un xarxet que havia caçat feia poc. A la maresma no es pot badar, i una cigonya blanca (Ciconia ciconia) estava ben a l’aguaït per si podia pispar-li una mica de xarxet al rapinyaire.

Algunes de les grues que vam poder gaudir al llarg de la sortida. Imatge se Josep Maria Torras
Una fotja comuna alça el vol i deixa veure els seus increïbles dits lobulats. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras
Un dels 3 pinsans mecs observats a les closes properes a El Cortalet. Imatge d’Enric Pàmies.
Grasset de muntanya en vol. Fixeu-vos en el supercili ben definit més enllà de l’ull i en le dues línies blanques al llarg de les cobertores alars. Imatge de Josep Maria Torras

Les closes que boregen l’Estany del Cortalet sempre són d’interès, i tot i que aquest cop hi havia molts pocs ocells, encara ens van oferir una última sorpresa: un mínim de 3 pinsans mecs (Fringilla montifringilla) alimentant-se al terra junt amb pinsans comuns (Fringilla coelebs). Aquesta fantàstica troballa li debem a la família Naspleda, que ens van assenyalar el primer dels mecs! Al llarg d’una bona estona tot el grup va gaudir de les anades i vingudes dels pinsans i, a la vegada, d’altres espècies com titelles (Anthus pratensis), bitxac comú (Saxicola torquata) i un mascle de tallarol capnegre (Sylvia melanocephala). Una bona forma d’acabar un altre OrnitoRepte existós, no sense abans sumar a la nostra llista un petit estol de mallarengues cuallargues (Aegithalos caudatus) acompanyades de mallarenga carbonera (Parus major) i un raspinell comú (Certhia brachydactyla).

Desitjant ja de gaudir del proper OrnitoRepte. Troba aquí el calendari complet: https://barcelonabirdingpoint.com/ornito-reptes/?lang=ca

Ànec cuallarg. Una de les 9 espècies d’Anàtides que vam poder observar al llarg de la sortida. Imatge de Joan Oliver

OrnitoRepte pela-roques (Tichodroma muraria), Novembre 2021

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En un matí assolejat però freda, els participants en l’OrnitoRepte més agosarat ens vam trobar en un bar a prop de Balaguer per poder fer un cafè calent abans d’encetar la jornada.

Un cop en moviment, diferents rapinyaires van anar creuant la carretera, però no va ser fins arribar a prop dels espadats a on passaríem les primeres hores d’observació a on vam haver de fer una primera parada obligada. I és que una parella d’àguiles cuabarrades (Aquila fasciata) estaven volant força baix a la zona! Vam muntar telescopi i qui va voler va poder fins i tot gaudir d’una de les àguiles aturada al roquissar.

Una molt bona observació i una gran forma de començar la jornada ornitològica! Un cop vam aparcar els vehicles, el primer va ser fer un cop d’ull al riu que travessa la gorja en qüestió. Aquí un blauet (Alcedo atthis) va passsar fugiser, i una merla d’aigua (Cinclus cinclus) s’alimentava entre els còdols. Diferents voltors comuns (Gyps fulvus) volaven ja per la zona, i un xoriguer (Falco tinnunculus) va passar a tota velocitat per la cinglera, fent enmodir la corrua de pit-rojos, mallarengues, tallarols de casquest i cargolets que reclamaven als matollars i bosquines.

Part del grup gaudint del pela-roques. Imatge: Carles Oliver

Les mirades es van centrar ben d’hora en els espadats. Repassar les seves parets llises, forats, esquerdes i ondulacions a la cerca d’alguna forma o moviment sospitosos. Així vam trobar una llunyana merla blava (Monticola solitarius) que prenia els primers rajos de sol al capdamunt d’una cinglera. Passaven els minuts i el grup es disgregava per la gorja. Algun estol de mallarengues cuallargues (Aegithalos caudatus) i un parell de bruels (Regulus ignicapillus) van venir a saludar a una part del grup.

Al llarg de la propera hora van estar-nos en un parell de llocs estratègics, escorcollant les inmenses parets de roca al nostra voltants. Les àguiles cuabarrades, van tornar a aparèixer, i les seves voltes ens van fer entrar en escalfor! Al riu, una cuereta torrentera (Motacilla cinerea) va captar la nostra atenció per un moment quant de cop i volta algú advertí: “quin és aquest ocell que vola per sobre el riu?” Tothom mirada amunt per veure un pela-roques volant per sobre el meandre del riu!!! “Pela-roques, pela-roques”, va ressonar arreu! L’ocell va anar a aturar-se a dalt de tot d’un llunyà pollegó, però amb els telescopis el vam poder veure força bé!

Un minut després d’arribar un segon pela-roques va aparèixer al cel, i el primer Tichodroma va deixar el seu pollegó per fer fora el nou ocells, que va continuar riu amunt, sense aturar-se. Va ser el moment escollit per apropar-nos. Un dels pela-roques havia tornar al mateix pollegó, però força més baix. En atansar-nos el vam perdre vista, i al llarg de deu minuts ningú no va saber més del pela-roques… Però llavors uns quants afortunats el van veure sortir d’un forat a pocs metres de distància! L’ocell va volar al nostra voltant per finalment creuar el riu i aturar-se en una gran paret a on va romandre al llarg de ben bé mitja hora!

Pela-roques (Tichodroma muraria) en plena acció. Imatge de Begonya Torres

Allà tothom el va poder observar a plaer i treure força fotos (un xic desvirtuades per la distància), i observar el curiós comportament d’aquesta espècie d’hàbits tant extrems. Fins i tot el vam poder menjar, ja que en una de les seves excursions per dins de cavitats, va aparèixer amb una Macroglossum stellatarum al bec, el que va fer pujar l’exitació del grup a nivells estratosfèrics!!

Després de ben bé 20 minuts d’observació continuada del pela-roques, vam començar a desfilar cap als vehicles. Els voltors comuns ja volaven alt, com a per a dir adéu a tot el grup. A la sortida de la gorja, però , va ser necessari una nova parada. Desenes de tords ala-rojos (Turdus iliacus) reclamaven i voleiaven pels encontorns. Vam saltar dels vehicles i vam estar una bona estona mirant d’aconseguir una observació mínimament digna d’aquesta espècie. Grives (Turdus viscivorus) i algun tord comú (Turdus philomelos) es van deixar veure bé. Alguns afortunats sí que van poder gaudir d’una bona observació de tord ala-roig, però malauradament la majoria del grup es va haver de resignar a sentir-ne els reclams.

De tornada als vehicles, vam fer via cap al Sud, a la cerca d’una petita llacuna a on de feia unes setmanes s’estaven veient unes quantes Anàtides. Després d’un cafè recostituent, vam cobrir la petita distància que ens separava de la bassa en qüestió. Al poc d’arribar ja vam poder observar el principal atractiu de la bassa, un grupet de 3 morells xocolaters (Aythya nyroca) que nedaven amb la llum del migdia, oferint molt bones observacions. Aquesta és bàsicament una espècie de l’Est de l’Europa, que té a l’Europa Occidental petites poblacions reproductores. A la Península Ibèrica es calculen menys de 20 parelles anuals!

Fotges en primer terme, i morells xocolater en segon terme. Imatge: Carles Oliver

A la llacuna també vam poder gaudir d’una bona selecció d’espècies típiques d’aquestes zones com cabusset (Tachybaptus ruficollis), fotja comuna (Fulica atra), ànec coll-verd (Anas platythynchos), xarxet comú (Anas crecca), ànec cullerot (Spatula clypeata) i morell de cap roig (Aythya ferina). La bassa bullia de vida, i també ho feien els camps que l’envoltaven: Hi havien estols de cruixidells (Emberiza calandra) i aloses comunes (Alauda arvensis), cogullades comunes (Galerida cristata) i passerells (Liniaria cannabina) junt amb cornelles (Corvus corone) i grans estolls d’estornells (Sturnus sp.).

Les Arpelles comunes (Circus aeruginosus) i algun aligot comú (Buteo buteo) anaven repasant els estols d’ocells a la cerca d’alguna presa fàcil mentre els insectívors més petits, com els bitxacs comuns (Saxicola rubicola) no badaben davant l’oportunitat d’enxampar algun insecte. A la llunyania, algunes fredelugues (Vanellus vanellus) van assenyalar el camí per escrutar els camps més detingudament, i el nostre esforç va trobar la recompensa en un petit estol de daurades grosses (Pluvialis apricaria) que, si bé no es van deixar veure massa estona a terra, sí que ens van deixar gaudir amb els seu vol.

Amb aquesta última observació i alguns repicatalons (Emberiza schoeniclus) que ja passaven volant cap al canyissar des dels camps a on s’havien estat alimentant, vam acabar un matí ben profitós que va deixar a tothom ben content, i amb ganes de molts més OrnitoReptes!!!

Podeu consultar els propers OrnitoReptes ací: https://barcelonabirdingpoint.com/ornito-reptes/?lang=ca

Pyrenees Winter Break (+ Ebro Delta), 2020 Trip Report

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Number of days: 6

Tour participants: 5

Dates: February 6th to 11th, 2020

All images along the tour by Brian Buffery, Giovanni Grieco and tour leader Carles Oliver.

The tour participants to the tour flew into Barcelona prior the tour started. We met the next morning in their hotel neat the airport for an early morning transfer to the Pyrenees. Temperature was high as a result of several days of high pressures, and temperatures escalating above 20C in the days before the tour started.

Day 1. Once in the Pyrenees, we drove up until 1600 metres high and spent some time in a rocky slope with small cliffs. There, we got good views on Rock Buntings, singing and showing up really well. European Crested Tits were also noted, but we didn’t have any other good bird. From there, the lovely lane brought us throught Mountain forests with small flocks of Mistle Thruses and Common Crossbills. Once the forests end, the lane crosses some alpine meadows show. Due to the long period of high temperatures, the snow was few, and concentrated in a certain slopes. We spent some time scanning, with little success. Only a few Eurasian Griffons were moving in the sky, joined by 1 Common Raven.

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), a common but always wonderful flycatcher to see.

We spent some time scanning the snowed slopes with little luck, and we were about to leave when 3 Snowfinches flew from a spinned slope, really high up in the mountain. Despite teh birds were extremelly far away we decided to spend some time scanning the slope.  But nothing. Sowe drove half a mile, and scan again. And now we were more lucky as a nice flock of about 25 Snowfinches showed in the sky, flying from a close slope. The birds we actually doing some short flights to inmediatly reland in the slope, so we got excellent views on the birds walking on the snow, feeding and preening. Unfortunately all birds were a bit far up in the slope, so not really excellent chances for photography. We spent about half an hour waiting for the birds to eventually come down the slope and have closer views. Unfortunately the birds never came really closer.

Happy after the enjoying a species I was not expecting to find, we kept our way and came back to the mountain pass. There, there was a good number of Eurasian Griffons passing by, producing some really good views. Here we also got excellent views on a flock of Alpine Chough flying over, calling, and playing in the sky as only a Chough can do.

Only a pair of minutes after the Chough did its show, a large raptor was seen along with Eurasian Griffons. Moving slowly above the slope, an impressive adult Lammergeier was moving to our position. Everybody connected with the bird of prey way before the bird was close, so everybody enjoyed excellent views on the bird approaching us… The majestic bird just passed over us, the snow reflecting on the underwings so we all enjoyed the details of the axiles, the underwinds and its iconic moustache. The bird was around for some minutes, and we still had a second Lammergeier passing by before we moved to our accommodation for some rest.

We got our first views on Lammergeier (Gypaetos barbatus) in the first morning of the tour.

After some resting, we still had time to explore a wooded slope in search of some new species. The area was full of Common Crossbills, some of them singing. A lovely Iberian Green Woodpecker was a celebrated spot in the group. The area was full of birds: Eurasian Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Rock Bunting, Short–toed Treecreeper and Crested Tit were also noted. Big flocks of migratory Common Chaffinches were around. We did a number of stops along the lane, and among them 2 Citril Finches passed over our heads, calling. Unfortunately only one tour participant had a view in these birds.

The afternoon was going away and as the night came we moved to a proper spot for the most difficult of the Owls in Europe. We didn’t have to wait long because soon after sunset we had a Tengmalm’s Owl singing quite close to our van! The bird started singing about 80 metres away so we just walked inside the open woodland, trying to find the small owl. We enjoyed a wonderful listening but despite our efforst, we never so this scarce owl!

Sunset is to arrive to the Pyrenean subboreal forest.

Day 2. After a good rest, we just started our second day by spending some time in the same lane where we were the last afternoon. Our goal was to have better views on Citril Finches. But that morning we were no lucky about them. After this we spent the rest of the morning in a mountain pass closeby. A huge flock of above 70 Red-billed Choughs was feeding on the greenish slopes that were supposed to be snowed. High temperatures for 15 days in a row right before the arrival of the group had been meltering the snow, and despite our efforts we were uncapable to find any Alpine Accentor, the main goal of the morning.

Crag Martin (Ptynoprogne rupestris) showinfg the tail markings.

After lunch we drove to the steppes for some afternoon birding. Our first stop was to check some corners looking for one of the most sought-after species in this habitat. Meanwhile, we enjoyed very much to find a large flock of over 150 Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Several other species were recorded around including Eurasian Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, European Stonechat, Eurasian Skylark, Northern Lapwing, Common Kestrel, Crested Lark, Common Buzzard, Meadow Pipit and several more!

To spot Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax) out of the nesting season can be difficult.

In our second stop we were more lucky, and after some scanning we found 12 Little Bustards in a nearby field. They were hiding in a filed with tall vegetation and we could only count them after a long wait and search of the small neck appearing above the grass. While enjoying them, we got other good birds around including 1 Great White Egret, Grey Heron , Mistle Thrush and Zitting Cisticola.

But a good surprise was to come. In a nearby field, a large flock of over 150 European Golden Plovers was resting. It look like the typcical large premigratory flock. While trying to count the Bustards, Gio was scanning the plovers and he was lucky enough to find out a 1st winter Eurasian Dotterel right in the center of the flock! What a nice spot!!!

Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) in a flock of Golden Plover close to Linyola.

After such a great spot we just moved to a nearby wetland for the last stop of the day. The large fresh water lagoon is placed in the middle of a large plain, and attracks good number os Western Marsh Harriers that roost in the reedbeds. We counted no less than 23 of them! Eurasian Teals, Northern Shovelers, Common Snipes, Reed Buntings, Water Rail, Northern Lapwings, Red–crested Pochards and big numbers of Great Cormorants and Western Jackdaws were all enjoyed, but probably the best birds for most of the tour participants were the Western Swamphens showing in the reedbeds, and noisily calling as the sunset approached. A wonderful end of the day!

During the afternoon we found this roosting place with +150 Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus).

Day 3. This day we drove up a long valley, into the a Catalan shire called Pallars, to look for some Pyrenean especialities. Our first stop was in a huge gorge. There, we hope for the most wanted bird for many birdwatchers visting the Pyrenees in winter, the Wallcreeper. During a pair of hours we walked and scouted the rocks all around, hoping for any movement in the cliffs. White–bellied Dippers were singing, very active in the river, and we counted 4 in single corner of the river! Some Eurasian Griffons were also moving in the sky, and didn’t take long until the massive silouhette of 1 Lammergeier appeared from the massive cliffs. Red Kite and Rock Bunting were also enjoyed.

After a long search, we finally found an extremelly distant Wallcreeper in a big, plain rock face. Only 1 tour participant saw the bird, so we all spent a lot of time trying to refind the bird. Some minutes passed away, and nobody was having the Wallcreeper…but suddenly a something moved in the rocks really close to us, inmediatly at the other side of the river: Wallcreeper!

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), always a challenging bird!

We were having a Wallcreeper right there, and this time everyone in the group found the bird without difficulties! We spent a pair of minutes enjoying of the bird moving in the rock face, beside a huge cavity. As always, it was great moment for anyone in the group!! After taking photos and recording videos we were enjoying the bird until it moved away from the rock face… and then came the typical question, was that the same bird that we were looking for extremely high up, or was it a different one? Who knows…

In this stop we still enjoyed a pair of other good birds before going for a coffee stop as Short–toed Treecreeper and Eurasian Crag Martin showed really well in our way to the car.

After our pic-nic stop, we spent a pair of hours exploring a wooded lane, a wonderful spot for Citril Finches. Again, Common Crossbills were common and active. There were flocks of Eurasian Goldfinches and Common Chaffinches and, while scanning the flocks looking for something different, we enjoyed 2 superb Lammergeiers flying ove us in beautiful light. After a long, long scanning, 2 Citril Finches were seen when driving down the lane so we inmediatly stopped, with the finches calling around and moving in the trees for a some seconds before they moved away as they seemed associated to a huge flock of Common Chaffinches. We scanned over and over the flock but we were uncapable to refind them. Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare and Hawfinch were noted in the while.

One of the 4 Lammergeiers (Gypaetos barbatus) seen during that day.

The last stop of the day was to look for Eurasian Black Vulture. The Catalan Pyrenees holds a small population of about 50 individuals, concentrated in a pair of valleys but expanding in range and numbers. The whole day had been poor in raptor activity and, when we did arrive to the observation place, the raptor activity was minimal. Still, there were some Eurasian Griffons flying and after some hard scanning we found at least three distant Eurasian Black Vulture circling along with them. Another Lammergeier was also found, by the way. Here we also enjoyed some small birds including Cirl Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Sardinian Warblers. After this stop we drove back to our accommodation for a good dinner and rest.

Day 4. Early morning start to explore the steppes. After a transfer we did arrive to the dry lands where most of the specialities are to be found. Unfortunately the weather was not good at all, as it was extremelly windy… Windy days can be terrible in the steppes, being quite easy to miss most (or all) the good birds in such a conditions.

But we were confident so our first stop was in a corner were Sandgrouses use to feed in early morning. A first look to the area revealed no activity at all. Only 1 or 2 Calandra Larks were flying, almost no songs in the sky. A distant Red Kite was the most notiable… We moved slowly along the lane, carefully scanning the fields that were hurt by the wind. It took us a good while until we found the first Black–bellied Sandgrouse on the ground. A male. Did an effort to get the scopes out so everybody could enjoy despite the really strong wind. Some minutes later, a small flock of 5 Pin–tailed Sandgrouses moved from a nearby filed, coming closer to us. It took some time to put everybody in the birds as they mild so well even if it was so few grass! Our happiness was complete when we realised that there were also some Black–bellied Sandgrouses on the ground, only few metres away from the Pin–tailed’s!! So, at the end, we had both species together side by side, feeding, preening and enjoying the hard morning weather!

Due to very strong winds, this is the best image we got on a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) during one of the last tours to Morocco. No images during this tour…

A short drive in the area around provided us with good views on Thekla, Calandra & Sky Larks. Also Little Owl, Iberian Grey Shrike and Red–billed Chough. Due to the wind it was again little movement of raptors in the sky, or that is what it looked like until 4 Golden Eagles appeared in the sky at the same time! Two adults and 2 juveniles playing long time with the wind at short range.

This obliging Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was the first of the 5 seen during the day!

After a coffee stop we still had time to enjoy some good views on Lesser Short–toed Larks before changing the habitat to explore some cliffs nearby.

The short drive to the clay cliffs produced several White Storks, some of them in their nests, Spotless Starlings, and Common Buzzards. Once arrived, we were suprised by a bird moving in the cliff.A Wallcreeper!!! Amazing. It is not normal to see a Wallcreeper so low, and it is even more strange to see it in a clay cliff which is not especially in the middle of the plains! Again everybody enjoyed the bird while moving up. Higher, a Blue Rock Thrush was also really showy. After a pair of minutes enjoying the bird we lost it and spent some time looking for the Black Wheatears living in this spot. After some minutes we had a pair of Black Wheatear moving in the broken slope. Here we also got the firsts Black Redstarts and Common Chiffchaffs of the tour.

This Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) was totally unexpected, and shared cliff with Blue Rock Thrush and Black Wheatear.

After such a wonderful stop, we faced our transfer to Ebro Delta, a pair of hours of driving with several surprises in the way. The area between Lleida Steppes and Ebro Delta is a complex, hilly area crossed by Ebro river. It is good nautral border and a natural corridor that many birds use between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees. The afternoon was sunny and calm and soon we realised that it was a good number of birds of prey migrating. After a pair of stops we had 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle, 1 Black Kite, 1 Northern Goshawk, several Common Buzzards and a few Eurasian Sparrowhawks moving North.

Once in Ebro Delta, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the Northern Bay, where we enjoyed good views on a long list of species. Slender-billed & Audouin’s Gull were the most celebrated but the list also included Whiskered, Caspian & Sandwich Terns, Black-necked Greve, Red-crested Pochard, Kentish Plover, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Knot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Little Stint, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, big flocks of Greater Flamingoes and Mediterranean Gulls plus ruff views on a female Bluethroat that showed shortly due to the strong wind! After such a great end of the day, we drove to our accommodation for a good rest and plentiful dinner. 

Day 5. After enjoying our breakfast we went out to take a fast look to a small pond just by our hotel. There, we had a good surprise as a male Little Bittern moved in the reeds providing good looks. Cetti’s Warbler and Little Egret were also seen there!

But our first serious stop of the day was by the largest fresh water lagoon in the delta, called l’Encanyissada. A pair of stops were enough to catch with some of the most sought-after species. While flocks of Greater Flamingoes were passing over, we enjoyed wonderful views on Western Swamphens. In the lagoon there were flocks of Black–necke Grebes but out attention was focused in the reedbeds. Cetti’s Warbler was showing well in some small plants by the reeds and 2 Water Pipits were seen in a nearby channel along with Green Sandpiper. But all alarms went on when a “tak-tak” came from the reeds. There was a Moustached Warbler just along the edge of the reedbed, calling and moving really low in the brown steems. It didn’t take long until all tour participants were enjoying good views on this shy species!

But the bird spectacled kept going. A flock of 5 Wood Sandpipers flew over right at the same time that 1 White–spotted Bluethroat male called from the reedbed. A bit of scan was required before all tour participants enjoyed excellent views on this bird. The male was actually quite showy and it was calling a pair of times as it was moving along the shore of the channel. A further scan along different channels revealed at least 5 Bluethroats, 2 of them being males in full summer plomage.

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) in typical winter habitat.

After such a successful stop we decided to move on to explore some salt marshes. The area is an important nesting place for several species, including Audouin’s Gull, and we could see that many of them were already back in the area. At least 80 Audouins’s were there along with Caspian Terns, Grey Plovers, Kentish & Common Ringed Plovers, 100s of Dunlins and at least 7 Little Stints in the middle.

Audouin’s Gulls (Ichthyaetus audouinii) already busy in their colony.

From there we end the morning by exploring a sand bar facing South. This is a good place where to enjoy waders, Terns and Gulls. Several Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, as the sand bar protects a large inner bay. Along with them, 4 Black–throated Divers were fishing and offering great views, but the best was to discover 1 Great Skua resting on the sea, far away but still offering a god view. Closer, flocks of Dunlins & Kentish Plovers were really appreciated by the group, along with the Slender–billed Gulls side by side to Mediterranean Gull. A good way to walk the path of telling them apart. Northern Gannet and Ruddy Turnstone were also enjoyed in this stop.

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) has become a common view in Ebro Delta.

To enjoy our picnic we went inside a wooded hide. From the hide, it didn’t look like a lot of birds, but we were having a good fun with the nice views on Western Swamphens and Cetti’s Warbler while a Booted Eagle was circling. Suddenly, a Great Spotted Cuckoo crossed the lagoon to stop right beside the hide! Wonderful!! This species of cuckoo arrives really early in the season and by the end of February you can expect some of them moving around, but due to the few time we had in the steppes, I was not expecting to see them at all!

Slim numbers of Booted Eagles (Aquila pennata) overwinter in Ebro Delta.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is a scarce migratory bird in Ebro Delta itself.

During the afternoon we drove up along a lane to explore a mountainous areas some 30 miles away from Ebro Delta. It is extremelly windy and we had to drive up and down the lane a pair of times before we succeed, but finally we got what we were looking for and 2 Alpine Accentors were seen in the lane, right in front of the car!!! The birds were just feeding by the lane despite the extremelly strong wind but unfortunately they flew off down the slope before we could take any image of them…

Spanish Ibex (Capra hispanica) in a typical view.

Really happy about this spot, we moved to our final stop. A lovely Mediterranean gorge hosts some really good specialities. Weather conditions were hard so bird activity was really low. Still, we got good views in a female Spanish Ibex and we were about to leave when a call came from high up the cliff and a wonderful male Bonelli’s Eagle came down to inmediatly display over the valley. It called again just when dramatically dived in the sky to come back to the cliffs in a fast movement!!! What a incredible sight to end the day!!!

Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) displaying in late afternoon.

But this was not all. After dinner we just went out to the hotel grounds, were the tour participants enjoyed wonderful vews on 1 Eurasian Scops Owl that is actually nesting in a nest box right there!!!

Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) already at nest at the end of February!

Day 6. Our last day of the tour we spent the morning in the delta. In our first stop we were scouting a large marshy area: big flocks of Black–winged Stilts and Pied Avocets were resting there along with Northern Shovelers, Pintails, Black–tailed Godwits, Common Kingfishers, Shelducks and other goodies. Beyond this spot, the paddy fields around provided good birding and an accurate scan we enjoyed good views on 30 or more Ruffs but also Dunlins, European Golden Plovers, huge flocks of Glossy Ibises, obliging Lesser Short–toed Larks and 1 Peregrine Falcon (probably a calidus race).

Young Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) love to feed in the paddy fields.

It was time to head back to the airport but we still had time for a pair of fast stops around Barcelona. Our picnic stop by the airport reported Water Pipit. The afternoon was rainy and cold but we still tried to get the impressive Red-billed Leiothrix, an alien species living in some well forested areas in Greater Barcelona. By the time we did arrive, the temperature was low but we still managed good views on Firecrest as well as Monk Parakeet, Coal, Long–tailed and European Crested Tits.

Ans this was the end of this wonderful tour to the Pyrenees, despite the really high temperatures!! Already ready for our next adventure, happening very soon.

Do you want to join us?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is April the best month for birding in North-East Spain?

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Every little time we got requests of birdwatchers that, interested about coming to do some birdwatching in Catalonia, ask us about what it is the best time to come.

Well, this is always depending on what do you want to see… But it is not wrong to think on spring as being probably the best time for birdwatching. In the Mediterranean this means a combination of excellent, sunny weather with pleasant temperatures, high activity of the nesting species (resident or not) and tones of migratory birds in their way to Northernmost nesting grounds.

I personally love April. It is just because of the really good general birding. This is probably one of the best moments in the year for Crakes. And not talking about listen them, but talking on seeing them! Migration goes in excellent numbers along Mediterranean wetlands and, along with warblers, waders and raptors, it is always possible to enjoy Spotted Crakes (Porzana porzana) or Little Crakes (Porzana parva). Early April is also a good time to look for Iberian Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus ibericus) as they hang around in their way to their nesting grounds. Along the month waves of Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), Black Kites (Milvus migrans) and Montagu’s Harriers (Circus pygargus) are to arrive to their nesting grounds. Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) are already defending their territories as they arrive as early as early-mid February.

 

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Spotted Crakes (Porzana porzana) show up all along March and April in all kind of wetlands. Numbers are highly variable depending on the year. Image: Carles Olive

 

 

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Egyptian Vultures keep expanding in Catalonia. They arrive as early as February. Image: Carles Oliver

 

By mid April Woodchat Shrikes (Lanius senator),  Spectacleds (Sylvia conspicillata), Subalpines (Sylvia cantillans) and Orphean Warblers (Sylvia hortensis) will be all at their nesting grounds, but it is mandatory to keep searching for not-that-common birds in migration that can easily include Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) along with some Balearic Flycatchers (Muscicapa tyrrhenica) to be discovered among the many Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata).

 

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Western Subalpine Warblers (Sylvia cantillans) are a common migratory bird all along April. From 10th onwards they can also be found at their nesting grounds around. Image: Carles Oliver

 

 

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Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) are exclusivelly migratory birds in Catalonia, an rather scarce! They normally are to be found in mixed migratory warblers flocks. Image: Carles Oliver

 

But probably the best is that all of that can be done while still enjoying on Wallcreepers (Tichodroma muraria) in the Pyrenees as they still goes up. They are not that “easy” to find as in winter but still is mandatory to check some spots! And now, while looking for them, it is likely yo see superb Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) or Rock Buntings (Emberiza cia) singing around!

In the wetlands, Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica) keep going North and more active as never before so it gets easier to locate them, and Iberian Reed Buntings (Emberiza s. whiterby) are also showing well within its tiny range! Small flocks of waders and beautiful ducks such as Garganeys (Anas querquedula) can be seen in every wetland and you can enjoy male Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) going up with their splendid spring plomages. Few days ago we just got a mixed flock of Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) along with Pied Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), Ruffs and Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) only 30 minutes after enjoying a Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) singing right in front of us…

 

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Garganeys (Anas querquedula) show up in good numbers all along April. Image: Carles Oliver

 

 

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Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) in flowering steppe vegetation. April at its best. Image: Carles Oliver

 

No mention to the steppes… they are never as beautiful as are in April. And are really productive! Many areas are carpeted by yellow, red and white flowers and Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax) sing in the middle of the flowers while flocks of Sandgrouses (Pterocles sp.) and Stone Curlews (Burhinus oedicnemus) feed around. You will listen some 100s of Calandra Larks (Melonacorypha calandra) and Corn Buntings (Emberiza calandra)… you may think; “it would not be 100s!”. Yes, 100s

In the fields, flocks of Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava spp.) feed along with Pipits (meadow, tree, red-throated?), Great Spotted Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius) will always be really busy and noisy at this time while small parties of tiny Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanii) move up and down in the air…

 

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Great Spotted Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius) are superb birds! Arriving along March, they are especially active in early April. Image: Carles Oliver

 

Yes, spring is here and, maybe is not that important whether April is the best moment to enjoy birds in Catalonia or not. It is still a wonderful time to come and enjoy!

Check out our birding trips at barcelonabirdingpoint.com our contact us to design your birding adventure at info@barcelonabirdingpoint.com

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) group display, an uncommon behaviour

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The Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is a medium size member of the Otidae family of birds. The range of this bustard in Europe is concentrated in the Iberian Peninsula and France with smaller (relictual?) populations in some areas of Italy and Macedonia. As much as half of the world’s population of this bird lives in Russia and Central Asia, wintering in large numbers in Azerbayan. In Iberia the bird nests in traditional wheat field areas and in the few remaining patches of natural steppe. In winter, most of the birds moves to crops offering them green leaves (their main food during winter) such as alfalfa.

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Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax) in a classical winter flock

  During spring, Little Bustard males display in an individual lek, defending it agaisnt other males. In the lek, the males sing and do their famous “jumps” as an exhibition to other males and females. These jumps, about one metre high, have an important rule in indicating the hierarchy of the males and, at the same time, shows out their health. Little Bustards, as an interesting point from most of their relatives, don’t display in comunal leks. This is an important behaviour difference and it is probably the result of a predation press over comunal leks (Little Bustards are sensitive to predation from Foxes). That’s why is so uncommon to see different males to display together when being in a flock. The past 25th October we could see, during one of our trips, over 12 different males displaying in an alfalfa field! Both the date and the number of males involved makes this sight simply unique. At 10:20 we located a flock of over 40 Little Bustards in the Lleida Steppes, near Balaguer. The flock contained males, females and 1st winter birds.   tmp_20151025-_MG_2851ret1844806311

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Two images showing the awesome interaction of these males. The image above shows two males displaying in a way that reminds the close related Houbara Bustard. The image below shows two males “jumping” while a third male (far left) shows a clear pre-jumping behaviour. Images by Josep Call

After 20 minutes of observation we started to see how some of the birds were taking a part from the flock. They looked like being all males. About 10:45 they started to make their typical jumps, starting the juveniles and following the adult males. It was a lot of ritualised agressivity among the males and even some fights were seen (see photos). The figths were preceded by long seconds of tension with the two males involved standing up side by side, in a typical behaviour of the males when defending their leks against an invasor male.

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A fight involving two males. A quite uncommon behaviour, more likely to happen during March. Image by Josep Call

The scene was about 30 minutes long and at least 12 different males were “displaying”. See the video posted in youtube by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDVFu_nKe_w  

Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus humei), a mega in Barcelona

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It is not happening every day that a mega is found out in a big city. But this just what it was happening the past 5th November, when a Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus humei) was located in Montjuïc, a gardened hill inside Barcelona and known as the Olympic Hill in the city as it is here were the 1992 Olympic Stadium is located. The bird was first located calling in a Oak patch in the Southern slope of the hill by Manolo García. It was first located by callings and after that it was found out. The bird allowed wonderful views for – days, until 9th November, when it was seen for the last time.

The bird was many associated to a small flock of Goldcrests (Regulus regulus) moving in a Oak (Quercus cerrioides sp.) with no undergrowth. The warbler showed also a big preference for an isolated Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) that was visited several times. This sight is arriving soon after a large amount of Yellow-browned Warbler sights not only in Catalonia but also in the rest of Western Europe. In fact, it is already the third autum recording high Yellow-browned Warbler datas and thus, improving the chances for a Hume’s to appear, mainly because of a improvement of the local birdwatchers in telling apart both species. What it is even more interesting is this Hume’s is the second for this patch since another individual was located some yards away in early May by the same birder!!!

Ferruginous Duck nesting in Catalonia; 1st pair in 50 years!

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The Ferruginous Duck is a diving duck, closely related to Common Pochard. Ferruginous Ducks inhabit fresh water ponds and lakes with a meter of more depth. It feeds on algae but also on small invertebrates that captures by diving, sometimes at night.

Despite the range of the species strenghts in most of Eurasia, it is considered as a Near Endangered bird because of the steadly lost of population in the last decades. In Europe, the most of the population is to be found in Romania (>4.000 pairs), Croatia (>2.000) where inhabits shallow and eutrophic ponds and lakes (less common in temporary marshes) but especially, fishponds. No more than 30.000 pairs of this birds are left in the wild. The Asian population is suposed to be the largest, but there is no data about its current situation.

In Western Mediterranean is a really scarce bird. Less than 10 pairs are actually nesting in Spain and, despite some new birds are now nesting in Switzerland and France, the population for all the area is still really small.

Moretta tabaccata; Ferruginous Duck; Aythya nyroca

Ferruginous Duck male on Po Delta. Image: Daniele Occhiato

With this data we can all consider as a wonderful new the found of one pair nesting in Utxesa, the major inland wetland in Catalonia. This wetland, located in the middle of the impressive steppe land area known as Lleida Steppes, is hosting some locally endangered birds such as the Bearded Tit (the species was colonizating this spot in 2008), the Moustached Warbler and the highly endangered Reed Bunting North-Eastern Iberian race (Emberiza schoeniclus whiterbii).

The pair of Ferruginous Ducks were first found on April, and relocated on 4th June by Sergi Sales while monitoring the endangered birds living in the dump. The Ferruginous Ducks are nesting by the main channel arriving to the dump, in an area of eutrophic water, as they prefer. This is the first nesting pair in the country in the last 50 years, since the last record of Ferruginous Ducks nesting in Catalonia was in 1962, when a pair was found in Ebro Delta.

In Catalonia, the species is considered a scarce winter and migratory bird. Some hybridation with Common Pochards have been noticed in the last years in the country (Llobregat Delta) what can indicate the presence of some sparse individuals in the country. In 2008-11, 1-2 pairs were nesting in the Marjal del Moro wetlands, some 130 kilometres South of Ebro Delta.

It is a great new! A new that is to focus us on how big the potential of our wetlands would be with a even acurate management and how long is the way to understand the ecological requirements of all different wildlife living on them.

Red-footed Falcon & Icterine Warbler influx in Catalonia

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Between 15th May and 25th May we have had a huge influx of both Red-footed Falcons and Icterine Warblers in Catalonia. Both species are scarce migratory birds in spring, mainly in mid May. Influxes of both species are likely to occur when West winds dominate the Mediterranean, diverting some birds from their natural migratory routes throughout Italy.

Still, these days we haven’t had any special West winds in the Mediterranean but a rather dominant North wind that has been unusually strong, specially in mid spring.

Red-footed Falcon & Icterine Warbler irruption

The different Ornitho networks have ellaborated these maps showing the influx of both RF Falcons & Icterine Warblers. Source: ornitho.cat

Numbers of Red-footed Falcon kept more or less into normal parameters until 15th May, when some big flocks started to appeared in the country, especially in the North (near the French border) and in the West (steppe lands). Still, after 17th some really big flocks have been recorded in the steppes (over 100 individuals in Plans de Sió, Lleida) and several individuals and even small flocks have been recorded out of the normal localities for them (Llobregat Delta and other localities around Barcelona itself).

At the same time, a big influx of Icterine Warbler was noticable from 19th May, with tens of individuals singing along the Catalan coast, many of them inside Barcelona itself (over 16 males singing in Motnjuïc in 20th May) and Llobregat Delta (>6 males) as well as other localities around. Still yesterday a minimum of 3 males where singing in one of the Llobregat Delta Natural Reserves, allowing wonderful sights of the birds!

Icterine Warbler

Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) at Montjuïc. Image: Daniel Roca