European Bird Census VN3040, first round.

Yellowhammer

A new season of the census of breeding common birds, (European Bird Census ), in square VN3040, 55 species of birds, 50 species in the census and 5 more out the census. Two new species for square, Common Nightingale and Eurasian Collared Dove.
The more remarkable records:  Good flocks of Alpine Swift, various records of Twany Pipit. Absence of Shrikes, a male of Common Nightingale singing. Again Little Owl out the census.
Links: SACRE (Spain)
EBCC (Europe)

 Twany Pipit

The list of species.
Black Kite, Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, Common Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Common Wood-pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Little Owl *, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Red-billed Chough, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Crag-martin, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Skylark, Melodious Warbler, Blackcap, Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Winter Wren, Spotless Starling, Eurasian Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Nightingale, European Robin , Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear *, Whinchat *, Common Stonechat, House Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Dunnock, Twany Pipit , Tree Pipit, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Linnet, Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting .

 Rock Sparrow

Spectacular scenary, flowers, Orchids...

Hybrid Common Redstart x Black Redstart

A spectacular bird, a hybrid of Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) X Black Redstart (Phoenicuros ochruros).

Discovered the last year in Dobro (More in Birds in the North of Burgos), the analysis of the photos determined the security almost that it is a hybrid of Common Redstart X Black Redstart.

The song of this bird is very similar to that of pure Common Redstart, not listening to the characteristic final note of Black Redstart, opposed to the exposed in the book Handbook of avian hybrids of the world

These two different species can nonetheless produce apparently fertile and viable hybrids.

Related articles:

British Birds:

Apparent hybrid redstarts in Finland resembling Black Redstart of eastern subspecies phoenicuroides

Journal of Avian Biology:

Hybridization between redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus and black redstart P. ochruros, and the effect on habitat exploitation

ABSTRACT

Although redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus and black redstarts P. ochruros breed in different habitats they have been found to interbreed and to produce viable and fertile offspring, which backcross to the parental species. In a dual choice experiment, I investigated the preference of black redstarts and redstarts, and F1-hybrids for different habitat structures in an aviary. Black redstarts strongly preferred a perch type on which they could stand to a perch they had to cling to. Redstarts were less selective and used both perch types equally as long as food was offered between both perches on the ground. If food was given at one of the perches redstarts changed their preference depending on food location. Black redstarts, however, showed only a slight response. They always preferred the same perch type. Hybrids behaved like redstarts. They did not show a preference as long as food was placed on the ground. When food was offered at one of the perch sites they more often chose the one with food. Due to high phenotypic variability among individuals perch type preference overlapped between the three experimental groups.

April in Burgos

Interesting first days of April in Burgos, apart from the arrival of numerous African Birds, there is a good number of birds records, especially remarkable, less common birds in Burgos, I put some for you.

- Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). 11-04-10 - Santillán del Agua (Fernando Román Sancho). Burgos, 12-04-10 (Gema Ortega, Roberto Milara) , Lerma 18-04-10 (Alfonso Antón, Fernando Román). 24-04-10 Villatuelda (José Luis Silva).

- Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). Villadiego 02-04-10 (Nicolás Gallego Rojas). 05-04-10 Lerma (Alfonso Rodrigo García).

- Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea). 12-04-10 Burgos (Gema Ortega, Roberto Milara). 13-04-10 Tordueles (Alfonso Antón).

- Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). 16-04-10 Villarcayo (Josu Olabarria Bastida).

- Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). 18-04-10 Grijalba (Carlos Palma Barcenilla).

- Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus). 26-04-10 Torrecilla del Monte (Fernando Román Sancho).

- Monk Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Tubilleja (Javier Lamas Sierra). 08-04-10 en Báscones del Agua (Alfonso Rodrigo García). 24-04-10 Hozalla de Losa (José M. Vadillo).

- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). 01-04-10 La Puebla de Arganzón (Javier Lamas Sierra). 10-04-10 Ura (Alfonso Antón).

- Black-billied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis). 01-04-10 La Sequera de Haza (Alfonso Antón, Fernando Román Sancho).

- Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). 18-04-10 Arlanzón water reservoir (Julio César Amo Fernández).

- Little Stint (Calidris minuta). 19-04-10 Atapuerca (Alfonso Rodrigo García).

- Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus). 27-03-10 Ebro water reservoir (Manuel Estébanez Ruiz).

- Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida). 18-04-10 Ebro water reservoir (Manuel Estébanez Ruiz).

- Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica). 24-03-10 Quintanilla del Agua (Alfonso Antón).

- Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura). 01-04-10 Milagros (Alfonso Antón, Fernando Román Sancho).

- Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). Palacios de la Sierra 28-03-10 (Sonia Martín Gómez). Peña Ulaña 03-04-10 (Justina Pérez Martín). Ordejón de Arriba, Peña Ulaña 03-04-10 (Agustín Salazar Celis). 10-04-10 Corralejo (Agustín Salazar Celis).

- Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). 18-04-10 Sasamón , Grijalba (Carlos Palma Barcenilla). Atapuerca (Alfonso Rodrigo García).

- Wallcreper (Tichodroma muraria). 11-04-10 (José M. Vadillo).

More information HERE

A trip report

A good morning of birdwatching in the vicinity of the Inn, in the meadows fields to see Mistle Thrush searching earthworm, Robins, Common Chaffinch and Firecrest does not stop to sing from the Oaks.
Four Roe Deer leave running, while a Common Buzzard is thrown in search of its prey from a tree.
A Grey Heron on an unusual perching, at the top of a black poplar.
Stop to observe the rocky wall, locating to a precious female of Peregrine Falcon, a while a Short-toed Eagle flies over the zone to settle in a rocky one. Several Griffon Vultures settle and fly by the zone.

A flock of 36 Great Cormorants flying in formation towards the north.
In the bank of the river, among the alders and ashes, the Iberian Chiffchaff with its characteristic voice.
The Egyptian vultures, just arrived from Africa, with their spectacular plumage, emphasize among the Griffon Vultures. To far a Golden Eagle it flies near the cut ones, one settles in a dry tree and it allows us to observe it easily.

In the canyon of Orbaneja del Castillo they appear the Egyptian vultures again, several Black Kite and the omnipresent Griffon Vultures.
Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer.
Once again a Grey Heron surprises when being perching at the top of the rocky of the canyon of river Ebro.
Altogether 26 species of birds in a pretty morning of spring.

Thanks to Beatriz, César, Daniel and Borja for their interest in the birds of Burgos

Atlas in VN3040

The past week I finished the census in the last square for the Atlas of wintering birds .
In this grid I have been able to observe a lot of forest birds, more variety of species and number of birds that in the two previous squares.
The first routes in an Oak forest and pine and the last routes I walk on arable land.
The weather has been excellent, reason why also it can have been this one of the causes by which I have detected more birds.
Reviewing the species of the squares, (VN2050, VN3060)one can to get come idea of the birds that can be found in the northwest of Burgos in winter.
Between that I have seen, they emphasize a lot of Goldcrest, a scarce bird in this area, unlike Firecrest, much more common in any time of the year.
Also there was a good number of Bullfinch.
Although they do not enter within the census, I saw first flocks of Geese going towards the North, altogether 300 birds.
This, along with the first songs of Wren, Great Tit, and Woodpeckers, nuptial flights of Vultures, the first Swallows and House Martins…, confirm that the breeding season is ready.
Birds observed in the 20 routes of square VN 3040
Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Blackbird, European Robin, Wren, Common Chaffinch, Bullfinch, European Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Skylark, White Wagtail, Yellowhammer, House Sparrow, Red-billed Chough, Carrion Crow, Jay.

Atlas in VN 2050

A incredible White Rainbow, effect of the frost

Among ice, snow, cold and sun, this week I realised the route in the square VN 2050 for the Atlas of the wintering birds of Spain.
Very few detected bird species.
Within the forests of pines, oaks and beech trees, the forest birds make its appearance.
A flock of Crossbill between the pines.
In the forest of oaks and beech trees Coal Tits, Great Tits and Firecrest, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Crested Tit.
But what it emphasized more is the absence of birds in the open areas, the snow are displaced to Lapwing, European Golden Plover and other birds common in the pasture, to lower and free zones of snow.
These days there are great flocks of Lapwing and European Golden Plover near Miranda de Ebro. Look here.
List of the birds recorded in the square VN 2050 in the route for the Atlas of wintering birds.

Griffon Vulture
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Kestrel
Black Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Common Crossbill
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Crested Tit
Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Song Thrush
Blackbird
European Robin
Wren
Common Chaffinch
European Nuthatch
Short-toed Treecreeper
Spotless Starling
Carrion Crow
Jay
Magpie

The following photos have been made by the professional photojournalist Javier Prieto, specialist in travel photography.

Atlas in VN 3060

Just as the year last, the census realised for the Atlas of wintering birds of Spain in the square VN 3060, has given very low results of records of birds.

To compare, the SACRE of winter in the VN 4040, with eight routes of 15 min. 29 different species of birds have been observed, and in the 22 routes of the Atlas of wintering birds with 15 min. each, I have been observed 22 different species.

The great difference is in the different types from habitat.
This square has an average of 900 m., and is cold.
The vegetation in this high zone is very not varied, and great part of her is occupied by gorse and pasture.

I do not know the causes of the absence of birds, but it is a zone in which there are not many shrubs with berries, and this without a doubt avoids the presence of birds like Thrushes, Hawfinch or Bullfinch.
Arable lands do not exist either, in which they are accustomed to see finches mainly.
This year the detected species have been very few, here you have the list of birds for this year:

Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Eurasian Sparrowhawk,
Meadow Pipit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, European Robin, Wren, Common Chaffinch, European Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotless Starling, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie, Southern Grey Shrike.

Breeding Bird Survey . Square VN3040

My second square- VN 3040- for the Breeding Bird Survey
has reported a total of 48 different species of birds, a number similar to other years and to the other squares that I make, VN 4040, a number of birds that can seem small, but this is obtained in only four hours and by habitats little varied.

In this second square, again the river Ebro and the moor is the principal habitats, although the cliffs of the canyons of limestone are very abundant.

Again, several migratory birds that have arrived, in this square have been seen are outstanding the Common Swift and Alpine Swift, this one an amazing bird.

1.Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
2.Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
3.Great Tit (Parus major)
4.Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
5.Coat Tit (Parus ater)
6.Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
7.Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
8.Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
9.Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
10.Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
11.Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
12.Magpie (Pica pica)
13.Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
14.Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
15.Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
16.Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
17.European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
18.Blackbird (Turdus merula)
19.Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
20.Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
21.Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
22.Garden Warbler (Syvia borin)
23.Ibarian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus)
24.Bonelli´s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli)
25.Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
26.European Serin (Serinus serinus)
27.European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
28.European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
29.Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
30.Short-Toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
31.Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)
32.House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
33.Eurasian Golden Oriol (Oriolus oriolus)
34.Common Swift (Apus apus )
35.Alpine Swift (Apus melba)
36.Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
37.White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
38.Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
39.Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
40.Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
41.Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)
42.Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Blackbird like a Grey Plover

Today, after cutting the grass, I have been able to observe the behavior of hunting of Blackbird and the behavior has remembered me enormously the Plovers.
Blackbird arrives at the grass, walks, stretches the neck, look round searching a few movement of the grass, returns to walks, watches and attacks, removing an appetizing earthworm.
Now, changing the bird and the habitat:
Grey Plover arrives at the salt marsh, walks, stretches the neck, look round searching a few movement of the mud, returns to walks, watches and attacks, removing a appetizing worm.
These behaviors can see in others thrushes, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin....
Birds with great eyes, necessary to catch the little movement.



You can see similar behavior here:
Blackbird, a male in a field, collecting earthworms to bring to the nest.

Grey Plover, an adult pair walking and feeding

Both of IBC, The Internet Bird Collection

Breeding Bird Survey . Square VN4040

Again I have begun the routes of program SACRE - Breeding Bird Survey .

Cliffs of limestone, breed Crag Martin, Vultures, Chough....

In this first transect route (25 point counts, 5 minutes each on 10-km square ) by the square VN 4040, I have detected several species of African migratory birds just arrivals, Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) , Bonelli´s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)**, thus like other already views days before.
Different habitats are crossed within the square, the first part of it, with the river Ebro, the riversides and the cliffs.

** out of transect

GR 99 River Ebro footpath

In the second part, many points counts are located in the moor.
A total of 51 detected species, similar as other years.
New species have not been detected.
Like curiosity, the Eurasian Crag Martin making the nests in the church of Ahedo de Butrón next to the House Martin, the Crag Martin is more normal to see him make the nests in caves and cavities on cliff faces.

Crag Martin left and House Martin right

Links:
European Bird Census Council

Atlas of Wintering Birds. VN2050

Again I have been able to make a new one square for the Atlas of wintering birds, the VN2050 and again I have been able to enjoy a day of birdwatching, without a doubt this type of bird works becomes an incentive to follow with the birding.

This routes into squares is located under the reservoir of the river Ebro, these have a influence in the presence of birds in to the square.


It is a cattle zone and is characterized by the abundance of pastures, and is in these zones where more diversity of birds we can found.
In winter flocks of birds, they move by all the area.




Also wooded areas exist, mainly composed by Oak and Beech trees, in this type of forests the tits, treecrepers, woodpeckers… are the easy ones to find. Although today I did not have luck, is not difficult to see Black Woodpecker.

List of species recorder in the routes:
1. Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus , two flocks in the pastures 2. Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago , two birds in a water area in the pastures 3. European Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria 4. Great White Egret, Egretta alba , two birds on the pasture area 5. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea 6. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos 7. Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus 8. Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus 9. Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo 10. Red-billed Chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 11. Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius 12. Carrion Crow, Corvus corone 13. Common Raven, Corvus corax 14. Magpie, Pica pica 15. Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus 16. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella 17. Rock Bunting, Emberiza cia 18. Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis 19. Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris 20. Spotless Starling, Sturnus unicolor 21. Dunnock Prunella modularis 22. Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis 23. White wagtail, Motacilla alba 24. Robin, Erithacus rubecula 25. Blackbird, Turdus merula 26. Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos 27. Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris 28. Redwing, Turdus iliacus 29. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 30. Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla 31. Short-toed Treecreeper, Certhya brachydactyla 32. European Nuthatch, Sitta europaea 33. Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis 34. Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus 35. Great Tit, Parus major 36. Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus 37. Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs 38. Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla , flock with 30 birds near of the village of Santa Gadea 39. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis 40. Common Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula 41. Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis, four birds near of the river 42. House Sparrow, Paser domesticus 43. Greylag Goose, Anser anser, 18 birds flying towards the south 44. Common Crane, Grus grus 2 birds flying towards the south.

Atlas of Wintering Birds. VN3040.

Square VN3040, composed mainly by high land, a fluvial canyon formed by the river Ebro and a valley very closed by the oaks.

I have made the 20 routes of season 2007, in two days.

The first day 11 routes and second 9.

The time has been very good, with temperatures between 0 and 10ºC with sky overcast by high fog that soon has cleared leaving a spectacular sun.

With respect to the records of birds, both days have been very good, with a great variety of species and flocks of birds.

The total number of species recorder has been of 46.

The species with more birds, Common Chaffinch.

The species with interesting records.
-Golden Plover three birds with a Northern Lapwing flock.

-Goldcrest, is necessary to remember that, in Spain, the distribution of Goldcrest is smaller than the Firecrest, reason why always are interesting the contacts with this species.

Maps of distribution of Goldcrest (left) and Firecrest , in Europe.

Maps by COLLINS BIRD GUIDE. THE MOST COMPLETE FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE , Mullarney K. & Svensson L

Very interesting also the records of flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing.

The list of birds recorder.

1.Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax Carbo
2.Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
3.Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
4.Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
5.Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, 60
6.European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, 3
7.Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
8.Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
9.Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
10.Skylark Alauda arvensis
11.White Wagtail Motacilla alba
12.Blackbird Turdus merula
13.Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
14.Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, >50
15.Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
16.Redwing Turdus iluacus, three flocks 20, 12, 15
17.Robin Erithacus rubecula
18.Great Tit Parus major
19.Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
20.Coal Tit Parus ater
21.Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
22.Dipper Cinclus cinclus
23.Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
24.European Nuthatch Sitta europaea
25.Linnet Carduelis cannabina
26.Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
27.Greenfinch Carduelis chrolis
28.Siskin Carduelis spinus
29.Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
30.Rock Bunting Emberiza cia
31.Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
32.Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
33.Corn Bunting Emberiza Calandra
34.Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti
35.Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
36.Goldcrest Regulus regulus, 1
37.Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
38.Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
39.Southern Grey Shrike Lanius Meridionalis, 1
40.House Sparrow Passer domesticus
41.Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia
42.Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax >50
43.Jay Garrulus glandarius
44.Carrion Crow Corvus corone
45.Magpie Pica pica
46.Raven Corvus corax

SACRE III

As every year I have finalized program SACRE of this season, two squares that I made a route detecting the present birds, to determine throughout the time the variations of the populations.

In square VN4040, with data from 1999, I have located to this season a total of 64 different species.
Altogether, during the 9 years that I take making this grid, I have located a total of 91 species.

Species that have been detected, this year, for the first time, in VN4040.

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Great reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

In square VN3040, I take to only two years making the census, have located to this season 62 species.
During these two years I have located a total of 71 different species.

So far, it is difficult still to draw conclusions to from a square, although at least, begins to glimpse, as the most abundant birds maintain numbers similar.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
Although the listening places, are well separate, is necessary to have precaution of not entering the same individual two times, Common Cuckoo it is listened to them distance.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Great Tit (Parus major)

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Common Chafinch (Fringilla coelebs)