Arxiu de la categoria: Dupont’s Lark

Pyrenees Winter Break Birding Tour 2026

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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 2025

1 Resposta
  • Dates: From February 8th to 12th, 2025
  • Tour participants: 6
  • Number of species: 143
  • Tour leader: Carles Oliver

Overview.

The tour started in the Pyrenees with the first morning hampered by snow, low cloud and mist at higher altitudes before clearing to much clearer and milder weather. The weather in the lowlands/plains was very kind with warmer conditions and only very light winds. The bad weather in the first day affected a bit the tour, with a couple of locations performing clearly below average, especially those involving boreal forests. The lack of snow in the top of the mountains during January and February meant no chances for us to connect with Snow Finches. In the steppes, Dupont’s Larks performed very well for us, and once we connected with the major targets in the plains we even had time for a couple of hours of birdwatching at Ebro Delta, a coastal heaven of birds that is normally out of bounds in this itinerary..

DAY 1.

After collecting all 6 tour participants from around the airport in Barcelona we headed through drizzly rain towards the Pyrenees. After 90 minutes of drive, we arrived to the area to explore, and we had a short coffee stop before attempting to drive a lane higher into the mountains through increasingly heavy snow. Around 1500m the road had become quite difficult, so we parked safely and explored the area.

Almost immediately the group found an Alpine Accentor sheltering and feeding on the screen by the roadside! Everyone enjoyed good views despite the weather, before it moved off further up the slope, here we also saw and heard our first European Crested Tits, Coal Tit, Firecrest, and Mistle Thrush of the trip along with several Red-billed Chough.

After a walk up the road a few hundred metres the weather began to improve, and as we headed back to the minibus the first of several Eurasian Griffon Vulture began to appear overhead. Whilst enjoying views of these one of the group (Jonny R) shouted out….. ”LAMMERGEIER!!” and an adult bird passed directly overhead giving great views as it glided down across the valley – what a start to the trip!

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) feeding in the slope. Image by Carles Oliver.
Full adult Lammergeier (Gypaetos barbatus). Image by Carles Oliver

After this excitement we decided to slowly head down the mountain, the weather continued to improve and before we had travelled far we had to stop – 2 Lammergeier were circling and showing well above us! An adult-type bird and a younger 3rd year type bird gave a superb show before drifting away. We then stopped around in the valley where the terraced fields and trees provided lots of birds including Rock Bunting, Hawfinch, Black Redstart, European Stonechat, European Serin, Meadow Pipit and some of the commoner Finches and Tits as well as an unexpected Cattle Egret – not something normally seen at this altitude! We could also hear Iberian Green Woodpecker calling here.

During our urban lunch stop and whilst there saw White-throated Dipper, Common Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail on the stream through the village and a Common Buzzard passed overhead.

In the afternoon we drove another scenic lane up into the mountains where we enjoyed more fantastic views of 20+ Eurasian Griffons as well as 2 Golden Eagles, Red-billed Choughs and even Magpie which seemed out of place at this altitude. A small group of feeding birds included Fieldfare, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. This site also produced our first Pyrenean Chamois of the trip. We again descended into lower meadows and fields and walked a small hill that provided our first Iberian Grey Shrike as well as Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Crested Lark, Firecrests, Crested Tits, Black Redstarts, Yellowhammer, Goldcrest and Corn Buntings. Our last stop before reaching the accommodation for the evening produced lovely views of 8 Rock Sparrows on wires by the roadside – but the day was not finished there because our fabulous accommodation and host has a feeding station in the garden, and as the light faded we were treated to amazing views of up to 3 Beech Martins!! A quite amazing end to fantastic first day.

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). Image by Justin Williams.
Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia). Image by Carles Oliver.
European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus). Image by Jo Simon.
Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus). Image by Jo Simon.
Beech Martin (Martes foina). Image by Stephen Davis.

Day 2.

In some ways a slightly frustrating day with numerous stops and effort failing to locate any Citril Finch, Black Woodpecker or White-winged Snowfinch, but this aside we enjoyed a fantastic variety of birds as we tried several areas including trips into France and then Andorra!

In the lower altitudes we came across a fantastic mixed flock of finch and other small birds including Common Crossbills, (c20) giving great views along the road, as well as Brambling, Siskin, Bullfinch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Rock Bunting and Chaffinch, again we could hear Iberian Green Woodpecker calling but they remained invisible…..also in these areas Red Kites became more frequent. Here we also came across our only Red Squirrel of the trip.

In the high mountain passes we enjoyed yet more incredible views of Eurasian Griffons and Common Raven, and as we entered Andorra, our first stop around the town produced a decent number of Alpine Chough hanging about around the shops and houses.

As we had time left in the day, we retraced our steps and returned to summit the lane at Coll de Pal – we had to stop quite soon on the way up due to an adult Lammergeier showing incredibly well by the van!! This bird gave us our best views yet and even landed on the scree a few hundred yards away – a definite highlight of the whole trip!!

Onwards to the summit of the pass in bright sunshine, and we were rewarded at the top when we located a group of 4 Alpine Accentors feeding down to a few metres away, scuttling and shuffling in the snow and short turf – superb!

We then took the 90 min transfer to Lleida where we would be based for 2 nights.

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). Image by Jonathan Kennedy.
Alpine Choughs (Pyrrhocora graculus) in Andorra. Image by Justin Williams.
That afternoon we got impressive views on Lammergeier. Image by Carles Oliver.
Lammergeier about to land for us. Image by Carles Oliver.
Lammergeier on the ground. Image by Carles Oliver.
Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicabra pyrenaica). Image by Justin Williams.
Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris). Image by Stephen Davis.

Day 3.

The day began with a short trip to our first site and roadside White Storks but even this was interrupted by one of the group skilfully spotting a Stone Curlew by the road!

We were shortly at our first stop, a spectacular dam and gorge with a river and mixed scrub, we quickly began adding birds such as Rock Sparrow, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martins (which breed in the tunnel), Blackcap, Kestrel, Song Thrush, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Kingfisher, Cettis and Sardinian Warblers, Firecrest, Rock Buntings and several Eurasian Griffons. Around 2 hours had now passed and things were starting to get a bit tense…..and then WALLCREEPER!! A bird was located towards the dam and 3 of the group were in the right spot to see it straight away, whilst the rest hurried towards the bird, they found a second Wallcreeper! This bird gave everyone much better views for a few minutes, and everyone could relax, especially Carles!

As we left the gorge a short stop provided Cirl Buntings, 2 Peregrines, Hawfinch and a large flock of Corn Bunting, and as we stopped for coffee, Spotless Starlings.

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus). Image by Stephen Davis.
Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria). Image by Justin Williams.
Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria). Image by Jonathan Kennedy.
Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria). Image by Justin Williams.
Wallcreeper Argonauts! Image by Jo Symon.

We then moved on towards our next site with a couple of stops, the first providing many Cattle Egrets, White Storks and our first Great Egret, the second 2 Golden Eagles, Lapwing, Raven, Thekla Larks and a ringtail Hen Harrier as well as a roadside Little Owl.

We then stopped beside a spectacular roadside cliff face for our lunchtime picnic and immediately located our 3rd Wallcreeper of the day!! Although a little more distant this bird gave good telescope views, but we were distracted from this by 2-3 Black Wheatears which were also showing well here along with a Blue Rock Thrush!

We were now into an area of plains and mixed arable land that is rapidly changing due to increased irrigation, but some areas still held many birds and we were quickly seeing Calandra Larks along with Thekla and Crested Larks and after walking a while we saw a distant Iberian Grey Shrike, Peregrine, and then located a single summer plumaged Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, a little distant, but again telescope views were good. As we left the site, we had excellent views of another Iberian Grey Shrike which really showed the difference between this and its northern counterpart.

We then called at a small roadside wetland and began adding a few species such as Coot Shoveler, Common Pochard, Common Snipe, Reed Bunting and Great Egret, as well as a rather unexpected, and slightly questionable, African Sacred Ibis! This bird has been in the area a while, and presumably originates from a ‘feral’ population in nearby France, Italy or Germany… Either way it made at least one of the group very happy!

Our last stop was to close by, and before we had even parked the van our main target was located – a male Eagle Owl! Perched in the ruins of an huge ancient building, this guy sat and watched us as we quietly watched him before starting to sing….amazing!

Whilst Serins and Sardinian Warblers twittered and scratched nearby, the Eagle Owl sat watch, his deep hoot echoing occasionally, until he finally flew low across to a nearby rock face….what an end to a truly fantastic days birding!!

Little Owl (Athene noctua) on its roof. Image by Justing Williams.
Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor). Image by Justin Williams.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) male. Image by Carles Oliver.
Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) posed nicely for the group. Image by Carles Oliver.
African Sacred Ibis (Therskiornis aethiopicus) moving along with Western Cattle Egrets. Image by Carles Oliver.
Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) watching us. Image by Carles Oliver.

Day 4.

The day began with a short transfer after breakfast, interrupted by a large flock of migrating Common Cranes. These birds had presumably roosted nearby in the large open arable fields and were continuing their northward journey. We then entered an area of mixed arable/farmed/wild fields with big skies and tremendous views, misty fog didn’t help our search, but we quite quickly located 5 Great Bustards, all males, slowly wandering across their chosen field. Views were not brilliant, but very atmospheric! Here we were surrounded by Calandra Larks, Corn Buntings and our first Lesser Short-toed Larks as well as a Zitting Cisticola, Stonechats and Sardinian Warbler.

We then took a short coffee stop as the mist cleared and visited a small wetland with more Larks and many Linnets, Corn Buntings and Chaffinch before having second, clearer but distant views of the Great Bustards. With this under our belts we collected lunch and moved on.

We soon arrived at Lomaza (only briefly distracted by a large flock of migrating White Storks) and began to look at various larks…. A lot! A landscape of low spiky grass, thistle and huge skies stretched all around us. Quickly we were seeing many Calandra, Thekla and Lesser Short-toed (or ‘Mediterranean’) Larks, with their songs all around us, including much mimicry from the Calandra – quite a soundscape!

After c45mins, suddenly, the song we were searching for, and quickly some views of our quarry…DUPONT’S LARK! At least 2 birds, a pair, were making short, darting runs between bits of spiky tussocks grass until, amazingly, the male climbed a short way into a tussock and sat in full view singing…..a fantastic bit of good fortune and handshakes all round!

With the pressure off we all enjoyed the experience and incredible scenery of this beautiful, wild landscape.

The weather was warm now, and we stopped near Belchite to admire some ruins complete with Crag Martins, Serins and Black Redstart before moving onto a high plateau.

Slowly driving and scanning the fields we came across an unexpected flock of Dotterel, with around 25-30 birds present and showing well, whilst above a Golden eagle soared past. Again we were seeing lots of Calandra Lark with birds still in large winter flocks, Stonechats by the road, Red-legged Partridge, 2 Red Fox, but no sandgrouse….much scanning and scoping eventually led to one of the group picking out a small flock in the far distance, we drove nearer and saw up to 16 Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, good scope views of the birds moving about their chosen field as well as in flight when they are really impressive, a fantastic end to another brilliant day!

Great Bustards (Otis tarda) in dense fog. Image by Carles Oliver.
Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti): shaking wings as preparing to leave its resting site (up), male singing from to top of a tussock (below). Image by Carles Oliver.
Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), one of 25+ birds resting in a plugged field. Image by Justin Williams.
European Serin (Serinus serinus) female in a short stop around Belchite. Image by Carles Oliver.
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), one of many seen during the trip. Image by Carles Oliver
Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) acting like being spring. The area around Lleida has the largest density in Europe. Image by Carles Oliver.

Day 5.

We awoke to fairly torrential constant rain, and with the forecast not looking good we made the decision to change our plans and head for the Ebro Delta.

This journey was briefly interrupted with a stop when we spotted 4 Spanish Ibex on a high hill beside the road. Once we arrived at the Ebro we rapidly began adding birds to the trip list, the total change in habitat was exciting and we added many species during the morning including exciting birds such as Moustached Warbler which showed quite well a few times, Penduline Tit, Western Swamphen, Bluethroat, Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Black-necked Grebe, Red-crested Pochard, and Osprey as well a variety of waders and other wetland birds.

Too soon we had to leave and head for Barcelona, and the airport, but still we made time for 2 quick stops – the first giving us great views of Iberian Green Woodpecker (finally!) and Monk Parakeets. The second stop was at the beach right by the airport where we had fantastic views of Audouins Gull and also passing Atlantic Gannets and Sandwich Terns….a fitting end to a really enjoyable trip with a great group!

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) under the rain. Image by Carles Oliver.
Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) showed well under the rain. Image by Carles Oliver.
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) in the path for us. Image by Carles Oliver.
Iberian Green Woodpeckers (Picus sharpei). Image by Jo Symon.
Another shot on Iberian Green Woodpecker. Image by Justin Williams.
Our group almost complete. Image by Daf Edwards.

List of birds seen during the tour

  1. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
  2. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
  3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
  4. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
  5. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
  6. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
  7. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
  8. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
  9. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)
  10. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
  11. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
  12. Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
  13. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
  14. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) — heard only
  15. Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
  16. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
  17. Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
  18. Common Crane (Grus grus)
  19. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
  20. Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
  21. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
  22. Atlantic Gannet (Morus bassanus)
  23. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
  24. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
  25. Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
  26. Eurasian Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus)
  27. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
  28. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
  29. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpress)
  30. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
  31. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
  32. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
  33. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
  34. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
  35. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
  36. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
  37. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleuca)
  38. Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus geneni)
  39. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
  40. Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
  41. Audouin’s Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)
  42. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
  43. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
  44. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
  45. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
  46. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
  47. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  48. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
  49. African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica)
  50. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
  51. Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
  52. Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
  53. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
  54. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)
  55. Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus)
  56. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
  57. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
  58. Hen Harrier (CIrcus cyaneus)
  59. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
  60. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
  61. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  62. Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
  63. Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
  64. Little Owl (Athene noctua)
  65. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
  66. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
  67. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
  68. Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)
  69. Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
  70. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
  71. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
  72. Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
  73. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
  74. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
  75. Thekla’s Lark (Galerida theklae)
  76. Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
  77. Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti)
  78. Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
  79. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
  80. Water Pipit (Anthus spinolleta) — heard only
  81. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
  82. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
  83. White-bellied Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
  84. Dunnock (Prunella modularis) — heard only
  85. Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris)
  86. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
  87. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
  88. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
  89. Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)
  90. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
  91. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
  92. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
  93. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) — heard only
  94. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
  95. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
  96. European Blackbird (Turdus merula)
  97. Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
  98. Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala)
  99. Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
  100. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
  101. Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
  102. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
  103. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
  104. Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
  105. Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) — heard only
  106. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  107. European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus)
  108. Great Tit (Parus majors)
  109. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
  110. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
  111. Western Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)
  112. Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
  113. Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
  114. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
  115. Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
  116. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
  117. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
  118. Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
  119. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
  120. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
  121. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
  122. Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
  123. Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
  124. European Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
  125. Spotless Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
  126. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
  127. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  128. Common Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)
  129. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  130. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
  131. European Serin (Serinus serinus)
  132. Eurasian Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  133. Eurasian Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
  134. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
  135. Linnet (Acanthis cannabina)
  136. Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
  137. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
  138. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
  139. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
  140. Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)
  141. Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)
  142. Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoneiclus)
  143. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

List of mammals seen during the tour

  1. Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
  2. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
  3. Roe Deer (Capriolus capriolus)
  4. Pyrenean Chamois (Rupricabra rupricabra)
  5. Spanish Ibex (Cabra hispanica)
  6. Beech Marten (Martes foina)
  7. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

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)

Resum de viatje: OrnitoRepte alosa becuda

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Dates: 15 i 16 d’abril, 2023

Número de participants: 11 + 2 tour líders (Carles Oliver & Sergi Sales)

Número d’espècies observades: 88

Prefaci: Els OrnitoReptes són les sortides de descoberta ornitològica que organitzem conjuntament Barcelona Birding Point, Birding Catalunya i la Fundació Plegadis. A continuació us presentem la crònica del nostre OrnitoRepte més agosarat, que va estar força marcat per la meteorologia. El vendaval del dissabte va fer molt difícil i poc comfortable l’observació d’aus, amb unes condicions en les que amb prou feines es podia sortir dels vehicles ni obrir les finestres. Parar un trípode o fer un passeig eren missions pràcticament suïcides! Però, malgrat tot, vam aconseguir trobar i gaudir de les espècies més essencials dels hàbitats que vam explorar. El diumenge, com a compensació, vam gaudir d’unes condicions gairebé ideals a l’estepa i vam poder observar molt bé les diferents espècies que allà hi viuen. Ja de tornada, un seguit de parades ens van proporcionar bones observacions d’un seguit d’espècies que a alguns dels participants se’ls hi havien resistit al llarg de força temps com el colltort o la tallareta cuallarga!

Dia 1. Un cop el grup es va trobar als afores de Barcelona ens vam dirigir cap a Fraga, a on teníem estrablert un segon punt de trobada per a aquells clients que així ho volguessin. Ja que el segon punt de trobada era un restaurant vam aprofitar per esmorzar una mica, només faltaria! A fora, el vent ja bufava de valent, fent preveure una jornada d’allò més complexa.

D’aquí ens vam dirigir a explorar les extenses zones de conreu de secà amb racons d’estepa natural que s’estenen entre Fraga, Candasnos i Alcolea de Cinca. Només arribar a la primera zona a explorar ja vam poder veure algunes terreroles comunes i calàndries. Al llarg del cap de setmana les observacions van anar millorant fins que tothom les va poder veure força bé. Vam provar de fer una parada i explorar la zona a peu, però el fort vent no ho feia gens agradable era poc productiu, així que vam tornar als vehicles amb només un grapat de caderneres i alguna calàndria passa volant.

Terrerola comuna (Calandrela brachydactyla). Imatge de Gerard Sauret.

Tot continuant l’exploració amb els vehicles no vam trigar gaire a observar el primer estol de xurres en vol. Hi volaven 4. Semblaven haver sortit d’un rostoll a prop de nosaltres i tot repassant el camp amb els binocles vam poder trobar una parella alimentat-se al terra que malauradament va sortir volant abans que tothom les pogués gaudir. Com que totes semblaven dirigir-se cap al mateix sector ens vam apropar, amatents de qualsevol moviment.

Un cop a la zona a on semblava que les xurres s’havien aturat, no vam trobar a relocalitzar-les, però novament van tornar a sortir volant, aquest cop oferint bones observacions a tots els membres del grup!

El vent continuava bufant de debó, però com a mínim ja teníem les xurres al sarró. Vam continuar explorant la zona, gaudint de cogullades fosques, milans negres i de la primera d’un bon grapat d’esmerles al llarg dels dos dies del viatge. Una mica més enllà el Robert va trobar el primer tallarol trencamates de la sortida, i tothom al primer vehicle va poder gaudir de molt bones observacions malgrat el vent. Mestrestant, al segon vehicle es conformaven amb un trobat que es deixà fer molt.

Malgrat el vent, el dia semblava bo per a rapinyaires i no vam trigar a tenir-ne la prova quan una àguila daurada va aparèixer sobre un petit turó i va anant perdent alçada fins aturar-se a sotavent d’un petit arbust en un observació força maca en la vam poder gaudir de la bona maniobrabilitat d’aquests ocells en situacions de vent fort com la que estàvem experimentant.

Una mica més enllà ens vam aturar per explorar uns tallats i no vam trigar gaire a gaudir de molt bones observacions d’aufrany però també de ballesters passa volants i cotxa fumada. La sort va fer que un aufrany decidís aturar-se ben a prop nostre, oferint bones oportunitats fotogràfiques.

Xurres (Pterocles orientalis) en vol sobre un guaret. Imatge de Gerard Sauret.
Aufrany (Neophron percnopterus) a punt d’aterrar. Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen.
Aufrany des del quer. Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen

Tot amb tot ja havia passat bona part del matí així que vam decidir de tornar al punt a on havíem aparcat quasi tots els vehicles i vam marxar cap a l’Oest. De camí, nombrosos milans negres i aligot comuns ens observàvem. Vam arribar a la zona de Bujaraloz cap a l’hora de dinar i un cop amb l’estómac ple vam començar a explorar les immenses planes que rodegen aquest peculiar poble.

Només sortir del restaurant es va fer palés que el vent no només no afluixava, sinó que anava a més. A la sortida de Bujaraloz vam poder veure un parell de estols de xoriguers petits alimentant-se als camps del voltant a més de terreroles comunes i rogenques. Vam començar a cercar la petita població de piocs de la zona, amb molta atenció als diferents llocs típics per a l’espècie en aquesta època de l’any. Aquí i allà vam trobar còlits grisos i diferents estols de gralles i gralles de bec vermell que, preferiblement, s’alimentaven als guarets de la zona. Poc després vam localitzar un grup de xurres que s’alimentaven a prou distància per poder observar-les al terra sense molestar-les i tot el grup va poder gaudir de bones observacions, tot i que mantenir el telescopi dret era quasi una proesa i alguns van preferir continuar gaudint de l’escalfor de la furgo.

Però anava passant la tarda i els piocs no apareixien. I quan tot just pensàvem ja en canviar de zona per provar alguna altra cosa vam trobar un pioc alimentant-se en un guaret força alt a quasi un quilòmetre de distància de nosaltres. Després de fer una primera observació des d’aquesta distància ens vam apropar una mica amb els vehicles, fins a tenir una molt bona observació dels dos individus però sempre amb molt de compte de no destorbar-los. Un dels exemplars es va estirar a terra, relaxat, i el seu cap amb prou feines sí es veia per sobre el tall de gramínies. A la seva esquerra, l’altre exemplar continuava picotejant el terra, ja fora del guaret, permetent-nos gaudir d’una fantàstica observació de l’au sencera amb una bonica llum de tarda. Llàstima del vent!

Després d’una bona estona amb els piocs, vam decidir de fer via cap a l’allotjament. I quan sortíem de la zona vam tenir la sort de trobar-nos amb uns altres dos exemplars de pioc quasi a peu de pista! Tant a prop que de fer no vam poder evitar espantar-los… Tots dos van aixecar el vol i es van dirigir pista amunt, cap a la zona a on havíem esta gaudint dels altres dos mascles.

Pioc salvatge (Otis tarda) a les planes. Imatges de Joan Oliver Manen.

De camí a l’allotjament encara vam fer una última parada en un racó arrecerat del vent. Aquí el paisatge ja era totalment diferent. Havíem deixat enrere les eternes planes cobertes de cereal per a endinsar-nos en un paisatge de petits barrancs a on el terra argilós, ben compactat al llarg de mil·lennis, ha format petits tallats horitzontals. És el país del còlit negre, una espècie en regressió al Nord-est peninsular degut a la davallada del sobre-pastoratge en moltes zones i la conseqüent recuperació de la vegetació.

Aquí, a recer del vent, vam poder fer un petit passeig. Per sobre nostre va passar un bernat pescaire, amb evidents dificultats per mantenir el rumb… Aquí també vam veure tallarol capnegre amagant-se bé entre els matolls i un parell de milans negres tot just arribats de terres africanes. I llavors van aparèixer: Una parella de còlits negres que pel que sembla havien estat amagats força a prop nostre tota l’estona. Al llarg dels següents minuts es van anar movent pel vessant costerut, oferint molt bones observacions a tots els participants del tour. La parella anava aturant-se al llarg del tallat horitzontal però en un moment determinat un mascle de còlit ros va arribar a la zona, provocant un conflicte en el que els còlit negres no van parar fins a fer fora del seu territori l’intrús.

Molt contents amb aquestes observacions vam fer cap al nostre allotjament per poder tenir una mica de descans abans de sopar, tot pregant per una metereologia més benèvola al dia següent.

Perdiu roja (Alectoris rufa). Imatge de Gerard Sauret.
Còlit negre (Oenanthe leucura). Imatge de Carles Oliver
Una part del grup gaudint dels còlits negres. Imatge de Susana Gutiérrez.

Dia 2. Després d’un bon esmorzar ens vam dirigir a una de les zones més famoses per a observar aus estepàries del continent europeu. Només arribar ja s’entreveia que podia ser un bon dia. El vent havia calmat i un estol de xoriguers petits acompanyats de gralles de bec vermell i dos fantàstics esparvers cendrosos, torlit i xoriguers petits ens van rebre a l’entrada de la reserva. Una mica més enllà unes xurres van aixecar el vol d’un camp de conreu.

El cel s’emplenava dels cants de terreroles comunes i calàndries a mesura que el matí avançava. Ni tant sols es va caldre baixar del vehicle per observar les sempre fantàstiques aloses becudes. Només arribar amb els vehicles a la zona seleccionada vam ser rebuts per un mascle cantant uns 100 metres de les furgonetes. Aguantant la respiració, una ràpida ullada amb els prismàtics ens va descobrir un mascle cantant força a prop. Nervis dins la furgoneta. L’ocell es movia ràpid entre la vegetació. Apareixia cantant aquí i allà, però sempre escàpol. Finalment va decidir estar-se quiet en un arbust menor i d’allà estant el seu peculiar cant ens arribà diàfan. Dos altres mascles responien tot deixant anar els seus curiosos refilets des de l’altre banda de la pista forestal.

Torlit (Burhinus oedicnemus). Imatge de Gerard Sauret.
Un dels dos esparvers cendrosos (Circus pygargus) que vam enganxar a la carretera. Imatge de Carles Oliver.

A poc poc, tots els participants van anar connectant amb el mascle que, tot variant de postura, s’assegurava que el seu cant arribava a tots els racons de l’estepa. La lluita amb les finestretes de la furgoneta va ser mítica, però al final van cedir i tothom que va voler va capturar una imatge més o menys bona d’un dels ocells més difícils de veure a Europa.

Contents amb aquest espectacle, gaudit per tothom als dos vehicles, poc ens podíem esperar que la funció encara ens havia de donar el seu millor acte. A l’altre banda de la pista un segon mascle cada cop cantava més a prop fins que al final va emergir de l’estepa per cantar a peu de pista! Un altre cop, arraulits dins les furgonetes, vam gaudir d’aquesta observació. En un moment determinat algú va veure un tercer exemplar, aquest movent-se davant per davant del nou mascle. Anava amb una terrerola rogenca i al cap de pocs segons teníem als tres ocells alimentant-se a escassos centímetres els uns dels altres. L’observació es va perllongar en el temps i quasi tothom va poder gaudir de les evolucions d’aquestes dues aloses becudes entre el timó.

Alosa becuda (Chersophilus duponti) mostrant el seu característic perfil. Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen.
Alosa becuda (Chersophilus duponti) a la carrera. Fantàstica imatge de Gerard Sauret.
Calàndria (Melanocorypha calandra). Imatge de Carles Oliver.
Entre alosa becuda i alosa becuda també hi va haver temps per les terreroles rogenques (Alaudala rufescens). Imatge de Carles Oliver.

En un moment determinat el vent tornà. No fort, però contundent. I el descens en l’activitat dels ocells va ser evident. Semblava un bon moment per marxar. A uns centenars de metres d’aquell raconet, ja fora de la zona sensible, vam fer una parada per estirar les cames i comentar les observacions. Eufòria!

Era encara força d’hora així que vam decidir d’explorar un petit racó de bosc de ribera no gaire lluny de la zona a on érem. De camí vam gaudir de bitxac comú, tallareta comuna, capsigranys i algun rapinyaire.

Però no podíem deixar de fer un últim intent per gaudir de gangues, així que ens vam desviar una mica… Malauradament no vam tenir sort amb les gangues, però sí que vam gaudir força de pardals roquers, trobats, terreroles comunes i d’una esmerla que va agafar una presa tot just davant nostre però que, malauradament, no es va deixar retratar.

Sortint ja dels secans, ens vam dirigir a l’Oest de Lécera a on uns quants reductes ben conservats de bosc de ribera que s’alternen amb parcel·les conreades articulen una excel·lent zona per observar ocells. Es tracta d’un dels molts petits nuclis del pardal de passa en aquesta zona de l’Aragó! Només arribar ens van rebre els cruixidells amb el seu cant i un petit passeig ens va permetre descobrir primer un colltort que cantava a tocar del camí i després una cotxa blava que es va esmunyir entre les pastures i la vegetació de ribera. Una àguila calçada va arribar al seu arbre de cria i ens va permetre bones observacions amb el telescopi. Aquí també vam detectar alguns ocells migradors com tallarol de casquet, bitxac rogenc i mosquiter de passa.

Al cel també havia activitat i vam poder veure una parella d’àguiles marcenques quasi a tocar d’una parella d’àguiles daurades!

Capsigrany (Lanius senator). Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen.
Colltort (Jynx torquilla), un bimbo per alguns dels participants. Imatge de Carles Oliver
Una de les múltiples àguiles daurades (Aquila chrysaetos) al llarg del cap de setmana. Imatge de Carles Oliver.

Contents amb el resultat del matí, ens vam començar a dirigir a l’Est. A Bujaraloz una curta parada va servir per observar ànecs blancs, gamba roja comuna, corriols camanegres i algunes boniques cueretes grogues.

Més a l’Est, a Candasnos vam fer una parada per gaudir del nostre picnic mentre fèiem un cop d’ull a la llacuna. Hi dominaven els ànecs coll-verds però encara hi havien alguns morells de cap roig que empal·lidien al costat dels magnífics xibecs en plomatge estival. Aquí també vam sentir rascló, teixidor i balquer mentre que un falcó peregrí va aparèixer del no res per fer una passada només a l’abast d’aquests magnífics animals.

Acabat el picnic vam haver d’enfrontar-nos a l’ocell més difícil de tot el cap de setmana: la tallareta cuallarga! Sí, heu llegit bé!

Les tallaretes cuallargues poden ser una mica incòmodes de veure, però les que vam visitar comptaven amb un aliat d’allò més inesperat: Un pal metàl·lic!

I així és que mentre intentàvem que els participants es concentressin a trobar una de les 6 tallaretes cuallargues que rondaven pel bonic vessant cobert de brolla davant del qual ens havíem aturat, la majoria dels participants es deixaven emmirallar per les maniobres d’un modest pal metàl·lic de poc més de mig metre a la base del vessant. Pocs moments més frustrants deuen haver passat aquelles tallaretes que aquell dia, quan vint persones es van aturar a la carretera per mirar un modest pal metàl·lic.

Al poc temps tota la conversa girava al voltant del pal. Que si a l’esquerra, que si a la dreta, amunt, avall, a dins… Mentrestant, les tallaretes anaven fent, alienes a l’excitació que el pal semblava provocar. Però a poc a poc tothom va anar veient-les mentre s’alimentaven a les ginestes. I no patiu, perquè podem anunciar amb orgull que el pal que ens va destorbar tant ja no existeix, i ja no entorpirà mai més cap grup d’intrèpids ornitòlegs!

Val a dir que els vessants en qüestió també acollien abellerols, cogullades fosques i perdius roges.

Cuereta groga (Motacilla flava). Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen.
En aquesta sortida vam gaudir dels primers abellerols (Merops apiaster) de la temporada. Imatge de Gerard Sauret.
Abellerols al sol. Imatge de Joan Oliver Manen.
Tallarol trencamates (Curruca conspicillata) mascle. Imatge de Carles Oliver.

Després d’aquesta èpica batalla vam decidir fer una segona visita a una zona per a tallarol trencamates, ja que el dia anterior no l’havien vist bé al segon vehicle. Sense masses problemes vam poder veure un bon grapat en un espai de terreny ben petit mentre les terreroles rogenques cantaven al nostre voltant.

D’aquí només teníem temps ja per a una última parada, que va ser per fer una visita a un duc al seu amagatall diürn i gaudir d’una bona observació amb els telescopis. Un cop acabats, vam encetar el trasllat final fins a Barcelona després d’acomiadar-nos dels participants que marxaven en direcció a Tarragona.

En definitiva, va ser un OrnitoRepte força reeixit malgrat el temps. I molt, molt divertit!

Llistat d’espècies observades

  1. Ànec blanc (Tadorna tadorna)
  2. Ànec coll-verd (Anas platythynchos)
  3. Xarxet comú (Anas crecca)
  4. Morell de cap roig (Aythya ferina)
  5. Xibec (Netta rufina)
  6. Cabussó emplomallat (Podiceps cristatus)
  7. Cabusset (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
  8. Bernat pescaire (Ardea cinerea)
  9. Esplugabous (Bubulcus ibis)
  10. Cigonya blanca (Ciconia ciconia)
  11. Voltor comú (Gyps fulvus)
  12. Aufrany (Neophron percnopterus)
  13. Àguila marcenca (Circaerus gallicus)
  14. Àguila calçada (Aquila pennata)
  15. Àguila daurada (Aquila chrysaetos)
  16. Milà negre (Milvus migrans)
  17. Milà reial (Milvus milvus)
  18. Esparver cendrós (Circus pygargus)
  19. Arpella comuna (Circus aeruginosus)
  20. Aligot comú (Buteo buteo)
  21. Xoriguer comú (Falco tinnunculus)
  22. Xoriguer petit (Falco naumanii)
  23. Esmerla (Falco columbarius)
  24. Falcó peregrí (Falco peregrinus)
  25. Perdiu roja (Alectoris rufa)
  26. Rascló eurasiàtic (Rallus aquaticus) — només sentit
  27. Polla d’aigua (Gallinula chloropus)
  28. Fotja eurasiàtica (Fulica atra)
  29. Pioc salvatge (Otis tarda)
  30. Cames llargues (Himantopus himantopus)
  31. Torlit (Burhinus oedicnemus)
  32. Corriol camanegre (Charadrius alexandrinus)
  33. Gamba roja comuna (Tringa totanus)
  34. Gavina riallera (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
  35. Gavià argentat (Larus michahellis)
  36. Colom roquer (Columba livia)
  37. Tudó (Columba palumbus)
  38. Tòrtora turca (Streptopelia decaocto)
  39. Xurra (Pterocles orientalis)
  40. Falciot negre (Apus apus)
  41. Ballester (Apus melba)
  42. Colltort eurasiàtic (Jynx torquilla)
  43. Puput (Upupa epops)
  44. Abellerol comú (Merops apiaster)
  45. Terrerola comuna (Calandrella brachydactyla)
  46. Terrerola fosca (Alaudala rufescens)
  47. Cogullada comuna (Galerida cristata)
  48. Cogullada fosca (Galerida theklae)
  49. Calàndria (Melanocorypha calandra)
  50. Alosa becuda (Chersophilus duponti)
  51. Roquerol (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
  52. Oreneta comuna (Hirundo rustica)
  53. Oreneta cuablanca (Delichon urbicum)
  54. Oreneta de ribera (Riparia riparia)
  55. Trobat (Anthus campestris)
  56. Cuereta blanca (Motacilla alba)
  57. Cuereta groga (Motacilla flava)
  58. Rossinyol comú (Luscinia megarhynchos)
  59. Cotxa blava (Luscinia svecica)
  60. Bitxac rogenc (Saxicola rubetra)
  61. Còlit gris (Oenanthe oenanthe)
  62. Còlit ros (Oenanthe hispanica)
  63. Còlit negre (Oenanthe leucura)
  64. Griva (Turdus viscivorus)
  65. Merla comuna (Turdus merula)
  66. Tallarol de casquet (Sylvia atricapilla)
  67. Tallarol capnegre (Curruca melanocephala)
  68. Tallareta cuallarga (Curruca undata)
  69. Tallarol trencamates (Curruca conspicillata)
  70. Tallareta comuna (Curruca communis)
  71. Balquer (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) — només sentit
  72. Rossinyol bord (Cettia cetti)
  73. Mallarenga blava (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  74. Mallarenga carbonera (Parus major)
  75. Capsigrany (Lanius senator)
  76. Garsa comuna (Pica pica)
  77. Gralla comuna (Coloeus monedula)
  78. Cornella negra (Corvus corone)
  79. Corb comú (Corvus corax)
  80. Gralla de bec vermell (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
  81. Estornell negre (Sturnus unicolor)
  82. Pardal xarrec (Passer montanus)
  83. Pardal comú (Passer domesticus)
  84. Gafarró (Serinus serinus)
  85. Verdum (Chloris chloris)
  86. Passerell comú (Carduelis cannabina)
  87. Cadernera (Carduelis carduelis)
  88. Cruixidell (Emberiza calandra)