Pride of Bilbao

La evolución del huracán Gordon , hacia presagiar lo peor, se estaba desplazando desde la costa de Galicia hacia el Golfo de Bizcaya, exactamente en la ruta del Pride of Bilbao en su camino a Portsmouth.



Cincuenta aventureros nos citamos en la terminal de P&O. Todos nos preguntábamos que pasaría con el huracán y con nosotros. De momento el tiempo era engañoso, hacía muy bueno.



Después de embarcar nos informan de que es posible que frente a O´uessant nos juntemos con el huracán y los vientos pueden llegar a fuerza 11, siendo el máximo el 12.



Con una mar en calma partimos rumbo al norte, telescopios y prismáticos listos para observar aves y cetáceos.



Nada más salir, una balsa de unas cincuenta Pardelas es localizada muy cerca de la proa del barco, que al paso de este se levanta, y conseguimos ver hasta cuatro especies diferentes, Pardelas Sombrías en su mayoría , Pardelas Baleares, Pardelas Pichonetas, y una Pardela Cenicienta que destacaba de todas por su mayor tamaño.



Un Halcón Peregrino vuela en dirección a la costa, estábamos a tres millas de esta.

Ya empiezan a observarse Alcatraces, un grupo de jóvenes pasa a lo lejos.



Seguimos mar adentro y ya en aguas pelágicas los primeros resoplidos de ballenas se intuyen entre las ráfagas de viento, Rorcuales Comunes y dos Zifios de Cuvier son localizados.

Dos Tórtolas Comunes revolotean alrededor de el barco en busca de refugio, durante el resto del trayecto hacia Portsmouth, las veríamos en varias ocasiones.

Empiezan a aparecer los primeros Págalos Grandes, y más tarde dos Págalos Pomarinos y Págalos Parásitos.



Una extraña nube da paso a un radical cambio de tiempo y de viento, a partir de aquí empeora y las olas son más grandes. En este punto empieza la extraña aparición de pequeñas aves migrantes, Bisbitas Comunes, Alondras Comunes, Golondrinas Comunes y Papamoscas Cerrojillos.



Al final del día se vieron varias especies más de aves , Págalo Rabero, Pardelas Sombrías, Pardelas Cenicientas, Pardela Capirotada, Págalos Parásitos, Págalo Pomarino, Fumarel Común, Charrán Patinegro, Collalba Gris, y tres especies de mamíferos Delfín Listado, Calderón de Aleta Larga y Rorcual Común .



Después de una noche algo movida, la mañana hacia presagiar lo peor , puesto que nos encontraríamos con el huracán, cosa que no sucedió, puesto que había sido medio absorbido por una borrasca y parte de él se había quedado en la Península.
Por esto, la mañana, y el resto del día fue de lo más agradable, con sol y un viento no muy fuerte.
Nada más amanecer ya se empezó a ver grupos de Alcatraces, de diferentes edades, y que nos acompañarían durante el resto de la travesía.



Aparecen barcos arrastreros, con un gran número de aves detrás, Alcatraces, en su mayoría, pero tambíen, Fulmar , Págalo Grande, Charranes. Varios Alcatraces lanzándose en picado en busca de peces.





Las aves siguen apareciendo , Gaviones y Paiños , viendo las diferencias de vuelo entre el Paiño Común y Paiño de Leach

Alguien canta, ...”aleta a las cinco”..., aleta, que confirmó la presencia de un Tiburón Peregrino.

El día se acaba con la llegada a Portsmouth, una ciudad portuaria llena de barcos de guerra y algún antiguo galeón.





Durante este día las especies de aves observadas han sido muy numerosas, destacando las diferentes gaviotas vistas en Portsmoth, Gaviota Cabecinegra, Gaviota Tridáctila, Gaviota Cana, Gaviota Argentea, Gaviota Reidora,...

Otras especies vistas durante este día, , Mosquitero Común, Golondrina Común, Pardelas...



Ya en Portsmouth la inevitable visita a uno de sus Pubs y la cata de sus pintas de cerveza.





Embarcamos de nuevo y al día siguiente se repite el mismo tiempo, sol y algo de viento, este posiblemente más fuerte.


Las aves hacen su aparición, algunas como salidas de la nada, cual patito de goma, vemos Falaropos Picogruesos, a escasos metros del barco. Las Gaviotas de Sabine , primero de lejos, para después encontrar algunas muy cerca.
Pardelas a decenas, Capirotadas, Cenicientas, Pichonetas, Baleares, entre los vuelos de Paiños comunes y alguno de Leach.....Fulmares, Gaviones...todo un recital de aves marinas.



Los mamíferos no quisieron faltar al espectáculo y empezaron a verse Delfines, un salto, dos...diez... cientos de Delfines perpendiculares al barco saltando, Comunes, Listados y Mulares, alguna Marsopa y unos increíbles Peces Luna.




Para rematar las observaciones un grupo familiar de Orcas hace su aparición, con un maravilloso macho mostrando su enorme aleta.



También espectacular se torna el barco de noche, cena , descanso y espectáculos de todo tipo.






El día se acaba y el viaje también, solo queda disfrutar del recuerdo de aves y cetáceos, y como no , de la compañía de un maravilloso grupo de personas, disfrutando de lo lindo de una experiencia única. Gracias a todos.



Lista de Especies

Aves. Bids

ANATIDAE
Cisne Vulgar Mute Swan Cygnus olor

PROCELLARIIDAE
Fulmar Boreal Fulmarus glacialis Fulmar
Pardela Cenicienta Calonectris diomedea Cory's Shearwater
Pardela Capirotada Puffinus gravis Great Shearwater
Pardela Sombría Puffinus griseus Sooty Shearwater
Pardela Pichoneta Puffinus puffinus Manx Shearwater
Pardela Balear Puffinus mauretanicus Balearic Shearwater

HYDROBATIDAE
Paíño Europeo Hydrobates pelagicus European Storm-petrel
Paíño Boreal Oceanodroma leucorhoa Leach's Storm-petrel

SULIDAE
Alcatraz Atlántico Morus bassanus Northern Gannet

PHALACROCORACIDAE
Cormorán Moñudo Phalacrocorax aristotelis Shag

ARDEIDAE
Garceta Grande Egretta alba Great White Egret

FALCONIDAE
Halcón Peregrino Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon

SCOLOPACIDAE
Zarapito Real Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew
Andarríos Grande Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper
Vuelvepiedras Común Arenaria interpres Turnstone
Falaropo Picogrueso Phalaropus fulicarius Grey Phalarope

STERCORARIIDAE
Págalo Pomarino Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua
Págalo Parásito Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Skua
Págalo Rabero Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed Skua
Págalo Grande Stercorarius skua Great Skua

LARIDAE
Gaviota Cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus Mediterranean Gull
Gaviota de Sabine Larus sabini Sabine's Gull
Gaviota Reidora Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull
Gaviota Cana Larus canus Common Gull
Gaviota Sombría Larus fuscus Black-backed Gull
Gaviota Argéntea Europea Larus argentatus Herring Gull
Gaviota Patiamarilla Larus michahellis Yellow-legged Gull
Gavión Atlántico Larus marinus Greater Black-backed Gull
Gaviota Tridáctila Rissa tridactyla Kittiwake

STERNIDAE
Charrán Patinegro Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern
Charrán Común Sterna hirundo Common Tern
Charrán Ártico Sterna paradisaea Arctic Tern
Fumarel Común Chlidonias niger Black Tern

COLUMBIDAE
Tórtola Europea Streptopelia turtur European Turtle Dove

ALAUDIDAE
Alondra Común Alauda arvensis Sky Lark

HIRUNDINIDAE
Golondrina Común Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow

MOTACILLIDAE
Bisbita Pratense Anthus pratensis Meadow Pipit
Lavandera Blanca Motacilla alba White Wagtail

TURDIDAE
Collalba Gris Oenanthe oenanthe Northern Wheatear

SYLVIIDAE
Zarcero Común Hippolais polyglotta Melodious Warbler
Mosquitero Común Phylloscopus collybita Common Chiffchaff

MUSCICAPIDAE
Papamoscas Cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher



Mamíferos, Mammals

Delfín Común Delphinus delphis Common Dolphin
Delfín Mular Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose Dolphin
Delfín Listado Stenella coeruleoalba Striped Dolphin
Rorcual Común Balaenoptera physalus Fin Whale
Rorcual Aliblanco Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke Whale
Marsopa Phocaena phocaena Harbour Porpoise
Orca Orcinus orca Killer Whale
Zifio de Cuvier Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier's Beaked Whale



Peces, Fish

Tiburón peregrino Cetorhinus maximus Basking shark
Pez Luna Mola Mola Ocean Sunfish


You can find more information about the birds, dolfins and whales of the Biscay Gulf in the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme

Sings of migration

Reservoir of the river Ebro

A good birding day, from the Molino del Canto Inn, we have crossed the zone of moors and valleys to the reservoir of the river Ebro.
The migration is very evident, mainly of passeriformes, in the trees of the banks of the rivers, the abundance of Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) , Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) and the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) , is very showy.
Other observed species:
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos mayor)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), mousy common are easy to observe in the moors, reservoir and the environs the following species have been observed.
Four various species of Ducks.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) great number of birds, present in all reservoir, in great groups or lonely birds.
Gadwall (Anas strepera), in a little groups with near of twenty birds.
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina),only two birds.
Common Pochard (Aythya farina), a male and female in a group of Mallard.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) four birds in the middle of the reservoir.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) a lot of birds distributed for all reservoir.


Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Only one specie of heron the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), in the edges.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) in more number of birds that the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis).
Waders, Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) and a Redshank that I did not manage to identify.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) a bird in flight.
A lonely Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), probably the last of this year.
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
Magpie (Pica pica)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Lesser kestrels searching food

As other years now it is possible to observe in the region of Bricia (Burgos province) and the environs of the reservoir of the river Ebro, groups of Lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni), that move of their habitual breeding areas towards zones where the abundance of grasshopper seems to be that he is greater.
It is easy to observe groups not very numerous, 8, 12... looming, perched or to fly around by zones of low vegetation, arable lands, fallow lands... in search of his food.

The Higuer Cape

The one of cape of Spanish North coast, yesterday a European Shag (Plalacrocorax aristotelis), Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvincensis), and a group of eight Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), these feeding in the prom on Hondarribia, and without fear to people. In migratory pass various groups of Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus).


This cape is one of which they are within RAM program .

RAM (Red de Aves Marinas) is a Spanish Seabird Monitoring Network based on the north and northwest Spanish coast. You can find more information HERE.

A Juvenile Griffon Vulture

Every year, usually is normal to see juvenile of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), that they are undernourished and they fall to the ground, in places where soon it is very difficult to them to overcome the flight.
This undernourishment must mainly to the lack of food, so that they do not find the juvenile birds of easy form.
Thus we were every year with birds in the most unsuspected places, in the trees of the shore, upon a stone next to the river, in roads..., birds that, in many cases, let themselves take since they do not have forces to escape.
In this case a juvenile of Griffon Vulture, to fallen to the border of the river, and to passed everything afternoon to get on a stone.

New report of the Yearbook

The new report of the more interesting birds can already be consulted that the birders of Burgos have seen during last the three months, April, May and June.
Second report of the Yearbook of the Birds of Burgos

In this new report the observations is remarkable the breeding of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and the records of Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), three records of Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), Whiskered Tern(Chlidonias hybrida),
Black Woodpecker(Dryocopus martius), Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) and more...

You can find the first report for the January, February and March, Here

I and the Bird #30 by Burning Silo

I and the bird #30

I and the Bird #29 by Alis Volat Propiis

I and the Bird #29

Wonderful Visitors

This week we have had the visit of a group of 13 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) , that are been spending several nights, resting in the dam of the Mill, the group this made up of several adults and juveniles birds.
Not very often so numerous groups of this species see themselves.

The Common Sandpiper are one of the species of waders more common in the Iberian Peninsula interior, very being bound to the watercourse.
His identification is simple, in adult in breeding plumage, brown upperparts; tertials, scapulars and wing coverts have dark brown shaft streaks and bars, with buff tips. Bill dark brown. Legs usually greenish-grey. The juvenile plumage is similar to non-breeding plumage in adults, mantle and scapular feathers are a warm brown, with shaft streaks and subterminal lines.

Junenile and Adult mantle plumage

His behavior also is very characteristic.
Teeters constantly, habitually bobbing its head and pumping the rear part of the body up and down.
In flight they make alternating bursts of stiff wing-beats and short glides, just above the surface of the water, with bowed wings.


During these days that are been this way have by day been during long time emitting as much as at night one of their classic calls.

The Juveniles Birds

As I already commented in my previous post, it is time to see mainly juveniles of the different species of birds, yesterday after a route by the center of the “Las Merindades “, were possible to be observed quite a lot species.
The presence of juvenile birds, with its plumages different from the adult was remarkable, Great Tit (Parus major) , European Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) , Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) , House Martin (Delichon urbicum) ,Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Finches....
One of the most spectacular juveniles birds was the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), a totally black juvenile, very different from the adults, also the head differs in the color, yellow in the adult and bluish in the juvenile.
In a distance, a inexperienced observer, can to mistake by Black Vulture.

A juvenile birds of Goldfinch, Coot and Egiptian Vulture

I and the Bird #28 by Bogbumper

I and the Bird #28

"Easy Path of Castilla y León"

This week the TVE (Spain television) is been recording an interview, in the Inn, the author of the book “SENDEROS FÁCILES POR CASTILLA Y LEÓN", Javier Prieto, a book on routes and ways of Castile and León .



Among the outstanding routes one is a very near one the Molino del canto Inn, the one that runs by the Canyon “Los Tornos”, and that begins in the village of Tudanca.
In a future post I will describe this route of detailed form more.
It is a section of the GR85 that crosses great part of the north of Burgos province.


They have arrived at the zone to take images from the route for the small accomplishment from a documentary one, and have made some interviews, a pair of them to the own author of the book and another they did me my, in relation to the species of birds that live and that can be observed in this zone of the north of Spain.
The birds that could be observed during the route, were mainly Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus), although also the rest of the species was seen an Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), were forest, Tits, Wagtails, Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), but it is already very evident that the birds have been stop sing as intensely as for some weeks, now easiest to see and to listen it is to great amount of young birds of different species, persecuting from the parents so that they give food them.
By this it is a good moment to be able to observe the different types from plumage that have the birds with youthful age, sometimes very different from the plumage of the adults.

The Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

The other day my girl found a Jay (Garrulus glandarius) died in the road, something commonest of that we can imagined, it is difficult to know the number of birds that die in the highways of Europe, but surely that is elevated.
It is not easy to observe the Jays in the forests, is an evasive bird, which does not let itself see much, but if to listen, in a small route by any forest it is easy to listen to several times the rough calls of these birds.
Although it is not the first time, I could again observe with detail the wonderful characteristics of the plumage of the Jay, emphasizing the primary coverts, feathers without a doubt of prettiest of the European birds.

Primary coverts

Also she observes in the head the feather of the crown, same that raises as a crest, and the characteristic moustache support.


Crest

Other spectacular feather are the tertials , of colour it rusts and those of colour salmon of the mantle.















Mantle of Jay



Tertials

As it is possible to be seen, a so common bird but simultaneously one of the birds more spectacular than lives in the environs.
It is easy to observe like at time of nuts, the Jays gather nuts of the trees later to bury them in places where they to think that they will remember, but the recoveries of buried nuts are small.
This the best friend of the forest does of the Jay.


walnut tree born under yew tree




Distribution of Jay in the Burgos province.
Map of the book: Atlas de las Aves Nidificantes de la Provincia de Burgos.Román, J., Román, F., Ansola, L.M., Palma, P., Ventosa, R.. (1996)

I and the Bird #27 by 10,000 Birds

I and the Bird #27

Windfarms

The last news on the collisions of birds in the windfarms are terrible, many White-tailed Eagle
died in Norway, Golden Eagles in Scotland (article) and here in Spain, they do not stop of news about dead of Eagles and Vultures.
The bad location of this type of energy is taking to a serious environmental problem, with one serious incidence in the populations of birds, many of these already threatened and in serious danger.
Even so this type of energy generation is continued with publicity like energy that respects the environment, something that this very far from the reality.
Here in the north of Spain the windfarms location cannot be more ominous, just in mountain summits, where the Griffon Vultures, and Eagles finds the currents thermal that they use in his flights.
In other cases these are in migratory routes where the collisions are frequent.
In 1970, the Griffon Vulture was in clear regression, is very possible that this situation we return it to live, single that now, with the destruction of its environment the recovery will be impossible.
A clear disappearance of the Egyptian Vulture is already being seen.
To the problems that produce the windfarms we can add the disappearance of the carrion of cattle origin that before found these birds.

You can find articles about the birds and windfarms in

iberica 2000.org

The SACRE Program II

After making the second route to the grids that I have assigned, it’s to make up books of the found species.
The routes have been made with good weather.
In grid VN44 I have located 62 different species and in the VN34, 54 were located, a clear difference because in the VN44 there is more variety of habitats and this is equivalent to a greater diversity of species.
Altogether 71 different species have been located, being located, the Common Cuckoo, excepting an observation of a concentration of approximately 100 Common Swift, as if they were in migration.
Birds that have been located for the first time:
Black-winged Stilt
Common Quail
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Wood Lark
Spectacled Warbler
In grid VN44 stays within the values of other years with maximums of 65 and minimum of 51.

SACRE program

I and the Bird #26 by The Hawk Owls' Nest

I and the Bird #26

About Swifts, House Martins & Swallows

The past day 05/26/2006 in Birds in the North of Spain , this post made reference to one of the more specialist birds, the Common Swift.
Along with the House Martins and Swallows have been of the birds that more near the man live, and have come using for many years the human constructions to nest.
But now its future is uncertain, and the last studies indicate that their populations are lowering in all Europe (for further details here), mainly seems that by the agricultural changes and changes in their habitual places of nest.

In the construction of new buildings or the reconstruction or renovation of the old, one does not consider, that this being avoided that these birds nest.
New systems of roofing tiles, elimination of eaves, closing of attics...., all this do that these birds do not find good places of nest between us.
For that reason we must make an effort and to try that, when you are made east type of works install new systems that allow to the installation of these birds and their conservation. You can find information about the diferents SCHWEGLER systems here Flyer (PDF)
If some summer we do not return to listen to the precious sound of the Common Swifts, will be the saddest summer.

More information in:
http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/ (June 13 2006: Conservation of Common Swifts...)
London's Swifts Homepage




House Martin double nest of Schwegler in the eaves of the Molino del Canto Inn

The birds from the Garden III

The Great Tit and Blue Tit begin more continuously to use the feeders, by which they see themselves with more assiduity.

Under the feeders isn’t difficult to find Common Chaffinch and Greenfinch, gathering the seeds of the ground
.
One becomes to listening to the Iberian Chiffchaff, and from time to time to listen the Common Chiffchaff .
Wren and Blackcap, easily locatable in the thickness of the shrubs.
On the trunks of the trees, the Short-toed Treecreeper and its acute call. And like specially showy bird that visits the garden every year, Common Redstart, a precious male singing searching a female.

Trip from North to South

A pretty week crossing Spain, from the north to the south, and crossing some of the natural spaces of Spain.
The first shutdown we did it in the National Park of Daimiel, natural space created by the confluence of two rivers, Cigüela and Guadiana.
This National Park, like the average Spain, is affected by drought and the little conscience of the people who live in the environs.
The aquatic birds, almost do not appear, since 2% of the floodable area are only flooded.
So the birds that live in the reeds, are the unique ones that cheers the visit, the most showy species were, Bearded Tit, Savi´s Warbler and Aquatic Warbler. Other observed species in el National Park.


Savi´s Warbler and Bearded Tit in the Field Notebook

Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Swift
Common Wood-Pigeon
Eurasian Hoopoe
Common Redshank
Pied Avocet
Black-winged Stilt
Whiskered Tern
Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-Warbler
Great Reed-Warbler
Common Nightingale
Crested Lark
Yellow Wagtail
Magpie



Acuatic Warbler in the Field Notebook

Later we followed course the south, again it is possible to be verified as the lack of water and mainly badly the use of the water this being an increasing problem. We arrived the Natural Space Cabo de Gata, with several remarkable points: The Rambla Morales, coastal lagoon of doubtless value by the presence of White-headed Duck.
The salt pan of Cabo de Gata, one of the most interesting points for the observation of Greated Flamingo and is not difficult to see birds rings.



The gullies of Cabo de Gata, places in which still it is possible to find really showy species like the Lesser Short-toed Lark, European Roller or the European Bee-eater.
Birds observed in all Natural Space of Cabo de Gata.

Greated Flamingo
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Common Pochard
White-headed Duck
Eurasian Hoopoe


European Roller
European Bee-eater
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Little Owl
Common Wood-Pigeon
Common Coot
Common Moorhen
Sanderling
Little Stint
Common Redshank
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Audouin's Gull
Whiskered Tern
Yellow-legged Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Tern


Gull-billed Tern
Black Kite
Common Kestrel
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Woodchat Shrike
Carrion Crow
Eurasian Jackdaw
Magpie
Black Wheatear
Spotless Starling

Lesser Short-toed Lark and White-headed Duck in the Field Notebook

Lesser Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Thekla Lark
Yellow Wagtail

Other visited natural spaces in the Southeast, the salt pans of Santa Pola where the Greated Flamingo ones were observed again.
Yellow-legged Gull
House Sparrow
Great Reed-Warbler
Little Egret
Purple Heron
Greater Flamingo
Great Crested Grebe
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Whiskered Tern
Sand Martin

El Hondo area of reedbed partially flooded with cleared sand areas.

Birds observed in El Hondo area

Collared Pratincole
Yellow Wagtail
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Little Grebe
Little Tern

Squacco Heron
Thekla Lark
Grey Heron
Corn Bunting
Black-headed Gull
Common Coot
Zitting Cisticola
European Honey-buzzard
Again the problem of the bad management of the water maintains this natural space on the brink of disappearance and again the golf courses and the urbanizations proliferate by all the coast

I and the Bird #25 by Rob's Idaho Perspective

I and the Bird #25

Chicks Season

During this time, when we left to see birds is easy to find birds that can seem us strange and unusual plumages, but far from being rare birds, we were at the time at which there is a great amount of chicks that begin his first flights, normally behind the kind parents.
We can see the typical chicks plumages, normally very similar to those of the females, of dull tones and nothing showy, so that they happen very unnoticed before possible predators.
Also its behavior is in showy general like clumsiness in flight or the lack of experience before a possible predator, which easily sees when before us, is almost without fear and even onlooker.
In the environs of Molino del Canto Inn , chickens of, Thrushes, Warblers, Finches, Tits…. can be found like more common birds.

Birding Site of the Month:The Santoña Marshes

One of the most important places of the North coast of Spain, marsh of 3,500 ha. of extension, declared Natural Reserve, ZEPA and RAMSAR place, is in the union of estuary of Limpias, Rada, Escalante and Argoños.
There are spacious surfaces of muds, sandy grounds and marshes.
There are two factors that regulate the presence and distribution of the birds, first is the stations of the year, being the winter when the greater number of birds is reached as much, as of species, more than 20,000 birds and 121 species.
The other factor that affects to the distribution of the birds by the marsh is the tidal regime, that regulates the areas where the birds feed or rest.
The best moment to observe birds is between two hours before and after the high water.
The Santoña Marshes count have their importance in the wintertime and the migratory step for numerous species of Ducks, Herons, Gulls and Waders . Although at reproductive time and as it happens in the rest of the Cantabrian coast does not host important contingents of reproductive birds, two species they do of this singular place: the Purple Heron and the Little Bittern.
The winter is the best time for birdwatching; from November to March they are possible to be found near 57 species that they emphasize by his number the Widgeon (2,500 birds) and the Dunlin (5-6,000 birds), but without a doubt what attracts the majority it is to be able to contemplate those species of the north of Europe than all winters to arrive to Santoña Marshes: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Eider…

Black-tailed Godwit

Main summer species , present mostly in breeding period, spring and summer.

Little Grebe
Shag
Purple Heron
Little Bittern
Gadwall
Mallard
Wigeon
Water Rail
Common Coot
Moorhen
Peregrine Falcon
Little Ringed Plover
Sardinian Warbler

Black-headed Gull

Main winter species, present only between autumn and spring.

Great Northern Diver
Black-necked Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Spoonbill
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Eider
Common Scoter
Brent Goose
Greylag Goose
Red-breasted Merganser
Widgeon
Oystercatcher
Grey Plover
Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Redshank
Greenshank
Curlew
Whimbrel
Sándwich Tern
Yellow-ledged Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Guillemot
Razorbill

More information about the Santoña marshes: Here

The Sound of Summer

There are two birds that when I listen to them, I think that definitively the summer has arrived, one of them, it is easy to listen in cities, towns, and villages, is the Common Swift, impressive its flights between the buildings, their persecutions and mainly the high-pitched voice incessantly emitted.
The other species is the Golden Oriole, bird that finishes arriving from Africa and that mainly in the borders of the rivers with trees is possible to listen to the wonderful song of the male and the shrill answer of the female.
The two species are present in the environs of the Mill of Canto Inn, and easily it is possible to be enjoyed the flights of the Common Swift, not that easy is to be able to see it movements of the Golden Oriole, its green and yellow plumages they are camouflaged perfectly between the trees.

I and the Bird #24 by Rigor Vitae: Life Unyielding

I and the Bird #24

2 h. & 30 km.

A pretty day, although has been only driving direction of Sedano, but passing on valleys and arable land, as they are lived by a great number of species of birds, some finish arriving from Africa.
This is a simple list of birds observed in 30 km of route that separate the Molino del Canto Inn and the village of Sedano.
As it is possible to be verified, there are no special species, but if we can see as the number of observed species is high, if we consider that a great part of the way through a zone from moor to 1100m.

Blackbird (2)
Song Thrush (1)
Common Cuckoo (4)
Common Swift (+-10)
Common Wood Pigeon (1)
Green Finch (4)
Spotless Starling (3)
Common Raven (1)
Carrion Crow(1)
Eurasian Jay (2)
Magpie (3)
Montagu´s Harrier (2)
Common Buzzard (1)
Griffon Vulture (+10)
Linnet (4)
Yellowhammer (2)
Cirl Bunting (1)
Corn Bunting (4)
Great Tit (1)
Western Bonelli´s Warbler (3)
Iberian Chiffchaff (2)
Red-backed Shrike (2)
Common Coot (3)
Common Quail (2)
Barn Swallow (3)
Wood Lark (2)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Sky Lark (+-5)
Hoopoe (1)
Common Stonechat (2)
Northern Wheatear (2)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Tree Pipit (2)
Robin (3)
Black Redstart (3)
Melodius Warbler (1)
Woodchat Shrike (1)
Crested Lark (2)

38 different species, I think that is a good number for 2 h and 30 km.

The Worst Weather

Probably the worse days for the Birdwatching, are the days with wind, much worse than the rain days and even the snow days.
Diverse situations prevent the observation of the birds, these move less and the movement of the trees prevents correct observations us.
Also the birds sing less or practically they do not sing, and our hearing diminishes considerably.
Even so, today, a day with strong winds, they have been let see the Griffon Vultures, demonstrating its great power of control of the flight, being able to move by the air in any direction, even against the wind.
At the few moments that the wind lessens, the birds return to sing, being able to listen with greater assiduity the Blackbird, the Mistle Thrush, and the Western Bonelli´s Warbler, and less, birds like the Cetti´s Warbler, Wren or Serin.
But the rest of the most common birds, Tits, Finches...., have not been seen nor listened in all the day.

Birds in Ullivarri-Gamboa Reservoir

This week I have been able to enjoy the present birds in a natural space, created by the man, the reservoir of Ullivarri-Gamboa.
This reservoir is quite great and I was observing birds in one of its edge, near the of Mendixur Ornithological Park.
When being the closed park, and the inaccesssible observatories, I went directly to the village of Mendixur, that when high being, the observation of this zone of the reservoir is good.
When I arrived a bird from medium size cross flying the willows next to the water, the binoculars went quickly to the eyes to observe Great Spotted Cuckoo, bird that long time that it did not observe.
Birds, of slow flight, fly over to low height the surface of the water, the identification confirms, two Black Tern and two Whiskered Tern, with very similar behavior.
There are several abundant species, between the aquatic birds, the Coot and the Great Crested Grebe, of this are possible to be observed several pairs making the nuptial shutdowns, locating the one before other and making a series of symmetrical movements.
Other very abundant species, the Barn Swallow and the House Martin.
Five Purple Herons fly over the zone and two White Storks settle in trunks, one of them with rings, but I was not able to read the ring.
Another one of the observed showy species has been the Black-necked Grebe (4) and the Golden Oriole (1).

List of other observed species

Eurasian Jackdaw
Spotless Starling
Green Finch
Siskin
House Sparrow
Magpie
Black Kite
Blackbird
Reed Warbler
Mallard
Gadwall
Common Swift
Carrion Crow
Great Reed Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Northern Shoveler (2)
Common Pochard (4)
Pied Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Corn Bunting

31 species !!!, this is a very recommendable zone for the observation of birds.

The NOCTUA Program

This week I have finalized the second visit, to the established route, of the
NOCTUA program.
This program, like SACRE, is included within the activities of pursuit of
birds of the Spanish Society of Ornithology .
In the case of the program NOCTUA, the birds that are pursuit object are
nocturnal, Owls and the Nightjars ones.
In the first visit (31/01/06), the detected birds were the nocturnal birds that they do
not make the migration, although of them only detected to Eagle Owl
and the Tawny Owl .
In this second visit already has been stated the arrival of some species that
emigrate, like Little Owl and mainly European Nightjar ,
located in the five listening posts.
It is not only easy to listen to his characteristic song, but also to see, mainly put
in roads and gravel road, in fact one of the names that receive in Spanish this
type of birds is “atajacaminos”, literally translated like “interceptroads”.
Like the SACRE program, this type of works helps to less know the situation the studied populations of birds, and in few years, the result of these visits, will give rise, to knowing if, eg., the population of Little Owl is lowering, raising or it stays, and thus with the rest of the species.
Unlike the SACRE program, the participation of ornithologists in this program is smaller, had mainly to the difficulty to make these listening at night.
Although it continues being necessary to begin at night, the methodology used now to changed, and substantially diminishes the effort that there is to make.
I animate to the ornithologists that they to carry out a programs.

The Yearbook

This it is the best project than referring to the birds of the province of Burgos. With him one is able to make a pursuit of the birds that frequent this province, at reproduction season, wintering or migratory pass.
Now it will leave published the number 0, which updates the records from the publication of the Atlas of the Birds of Province of Burgos (published 1996).
All the records, gathered by a group of ornithologists, are being updated every so often time in the Web page, http://www.avesdeburgos.com/anuario.htm, we were here with the different species from observed birds, according to criteria previously established, or to reproduction, concentrations or interest records.
Also the last news of showy records stand out .
In the last report of 2005 , there are records of 176 different species!!!, between which it is possible to emphasize, the records on Waders, having itself detected to 25 different species!!!, but the province of Burgos haven’t a great number of humid ground.

Congratulations to the coordinators and the birders!!!!

The Oilfields

A small trip in one of the highest zones of the province Burgos, Las Lora moor area, located between 1000 and 1200 m.
To be between Sargentes de la Lora, Valdeajos and the province of Santander limit, exactly where the only located olilfields inland the Iberian Peninsula exist.



With temperatures below 12º C., sun and clouds, with some rain, the birds that have been observed more Sky Lark and Northern Wheatear, this last one has been observed almost in each pile of stones.
In a arable land some groups of Wood Lark and some unit of Tawny Pipit have seen themselves .
Among the bushes, Common Stonechat, Linnet and Yellowhammer.
Common Chiffchaff in the zones of pine forest.
Flying over the zone in search of food, Short-toed Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard, and pair Montagu´s Harrier.
Crows like Carrion Crow, Magpie and Jay.
Also it has been observed Fox and Roe Deer.

The birds from the Garden II

The list of birds today.

Cetti’s Warbler near of the river.

Griffon Vulture (15 at 11:38 h) in mountains.

Dipper singing in the mill and with food for the chickes.

In the garden :
Robin .
Blackbird various birds singing in the garden..
Iberian Chiffchaff .
Blackcap .
Greater Tit .
Common Chaffinch .

In the forest :
Firecrest.
Common Wood Pigeon.
Western Bonelli´s Warbler .

The list till 11:47 h .

This afternoon .

Kingfisher.
A nest of Mistle Thrush on a greenoak, abandoned, with two eggs, the one broken and other intact but totally cold, surely depredated by its bad location, when being located in a very accessible bracket .

The birds from the Garden I

Every so often I will be putting the birds that during day are seeing themselves from the Inn, in their garden , feeders and the environs, the river, the mountains and the forest.
Today we have start with the songs of Blackbird , Cetti’s Warbler and Robin. Throughout the day they have been gotten up other species, the omnipresent Griffon Vulture (53 at 17:30 h.)in mountains, the fleeting step of Dipper it by the river and the acrobatics movements of the Firecrest in the trees.
Other species today:
Blackcap
Greater Tit
Common Chaffinch
Serin
Goldfinch
Iberian Chiffchaff
Short-toed Treecreeper

The White Raven

The rubbish dumps have become an inexhaustible food source for the birds, are many the species that take advantage of this type of resource.
By this, this type of places, so disagreeable many aspects, has become places where it is possible to be observed a number of species, not very elevated but abundant of unit.
Yesterday approximately about 50 Common Raven in the zone of the rubbish dump of Villarcayo, accompanied by 20 White Stork, five Egyptian Vultures and a number also elevated of Black Kite, only two Eurasian Jackdaw , groups of Red-billed Chough.
Most showy, the presence of an albino Common Raven, very showy the white plumage, only black the tip of bill and the first primaries, but of totally normal behavior. In flight, very showy.

In another near zone of territories of culture a group of about 30 Sand Martin, Whinchat,
Northern Wheatear, Corn Bunting.