Night Heron

First record of Night Heron in the riverside of the Molino del Canto Inn.
It is the first time that I see this singular heron here.
Like show in the Yearbook of Birds of Burgos, it is a summer visitor, and he is safe that the bird see today is a migratory bird towards breeding areas.

Records of Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), in Burgos.

Update of Migrant Birds

Last update of the birds that are arriving from Africa to Burgos.

Eurasian Wryneck, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Nigth Heron (see above).

The Dupont´s Lark

The birds on the brink of extinction sing worse than those than they are not it.

The males of populations of birds on the brink of extinction have a poorer and simple song than those species with a great viability, according to a team of the Superior Council of Scientific Researches (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. CSIC).
The investigators analyzed during four years in steppes of the Valley of the Ebro a threatened species of bird: the Dupont´s Lark (Chersophilus duponti).
With this work the scientists of the CSIC have discovered that the greater or smaller repertoire of the song of the birds can work like indicator of its survival.
According to the investigator of the CSIC and director of the study, Paola Laiolo, the reason that explains the song of the male birds is simpler in threatened species is that “the diversity of melodies depends on two factors nails in the viability of the populations: the population size and the number of youthful birds by year “.

“the song of the Dupont’s lark has up to 12 musical sequences with 13 different notes each one, but in the populations with possibility of being extinguished the birds they only sing three or four phrases” , detail the specialists.
This must, according to the scientists, to that the young does not have a sufficient number of adult males to whom to imitate and, for that reason, only three or four learn melodies that will be, as well, solely those that will be able to sing if it does not increase the number of birds in his population.

Until now, one had demonstrated to the relation between the song and the quality of the birds at the time of being selected by the females in a sexual context.
Nevertheless, “ it is the first time that the song can constitute an indicator of the quality of population”, assure the scientists the work.

Dupont’s Lark in Burgos, data of the Ornithological Yearbook of the Province of Burgos

ALONDRA RICOTÍ
Chersophilus duponti (Vieillot, 1820).
Dupont’s Lark
Status and population:

Atlas of the Breeding birds of the Province of Burgos (Roman ET al., 1996): Sedentary . 110-135 individuals.
Ornithological Yearbook of the Province of Burgos: Sedentary . In decrease.

The Last News of Migrate Birds

The last news on the arrival of African birds to Burgos, are the records of Egyptian Vulture, Iberian Chiffchaff, Short-toed Eagle, Swallows, Crag Martins, and House Martins.

Spring

Another year more, and the spring is here, in the field, not in the calendar, and now have records of the first birds that arrive from Africa, Swallows, Black Kite, Swift , Hoopoe, Egiptian Vulture... and while, the resident birds or are singing and preparing nests, or even incubating.

If you want to see the updated information of different species that arrive to Spain from Africa, click this links:

http://www.springalive.net/

http://www.avesyclima.org/index2.php


The last news of migrate birds of Burgos are:
Black Kite
Crag Martin
Hoopoe

Great Bustard in Burgos

Flock with 23 Bustards

This year has been first that the birders of Burgos we have been to centre on registering Great Bustard (Otis tarda) of the province.
Possibly the northern population of the Iberian peninsula.
The weather was not good, bad visibility and mainly the light winter, they have made disperse more the flocks of Bustard, any birds alone or in pairs have been observed.
Divided in three cars, ten people, we crossed the best places, that previously had been selected, prospecting all the possible zones.
During all the morning we were observing the different flocks, also was tried to determine the sex of birds, although in some case, due to the distance and the bad light this could not be done.
We have been crossed near 200 km, and between the three groups, a 228 total of Great Bustard, which agrees with the last national censuses for the province of Burgos, and this population possibly represents also the reproductive population.

Great Bustrard (Otis tarda)

Other observed species have been, Red kite (Milvus mivus), great amount of them, many in migration towards the north of Europe.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Merlin (Falco columbarius)and Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), a good representation of the Falcons.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Many Skylarks (Alauda arvensis), but especially, Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), hundreds, by all the zone, singing and letting themselves see easily.

Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)

The Wallcreeper

One of the birds more characteristic of the mountainous areas is the Wallcreeper (Trichodroma muraria), in the winter is not difficult to be able to locate birds outside their breeding areas, in Spain are in cliffs of Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees.
All winter is possible to find birds in the same places, for example, during these days they have been possible to see two birds in the La Yecla, a singular natural space with two birds during all winter.
Also, recently other Wallcreepers in other places have been located, possibly moving towards the breeding areas.

Records of Wallcreeper in Burgos

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

56 Birds Species

After the news appeared in the forum of Cantabria, we have gone, David González Ortega (Burgos yearbook coordinator) and I , in search of Rock Pipit in the water reservoir of river Ebro, these have not appeared, all the observed ones have been Meadow Pipit,
but we has been a good day of observations, great flocks of Black-necked Grebe, Ducks (8 different species) and five species from waders.
Some remarkable records, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red Knot and Golden Plover.
At the end of the day a flock of Fieldfare feeding berries of Common Hawthorn.

The bird list of the day:

1.-Greylag Goose Anser anser, a rough estimate, 500 birds
2.-Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
3.-Gadwall Anas strepera
4.-Common Teal Anas crecca
5.-Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
6.-Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
7.-Common Pochard Aythya ferina
8.-Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
9.-Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
10.-Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, likely the record with the bigger flock with 127 birds.
11.-Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
12.-Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
13.-Great White Egret Casmerodius albus, 3 birds
14.-Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
15.-Red Kite Milvus milvus
16.-Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
17.-Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

18.-Comon Krestel Falco tinnunculus
19.-Peregrin Falcon Falco peregrinus
20.-Common Coot Fulica atra
21.-European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
22.-Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
23.-Red Knot Calidris canutus, 1 bird
24.-Dulin Calidris alpina, 6 birds
25.-Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, 2 bird
26.-Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundos
27.-Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, 1 bird
28.-Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
29.-Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
30.-Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
31.-Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
32.-Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
33.-White Wagtail Motacilla alba
34.-Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
35.-Robin Erithacus rubecula
36.-Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
37.-Blackbird Turdus merula
38.-Fieldfare Turdus pilaris , 50 birds
39.-Redwing Turdus iliacus
40.-Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
41.-Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
42.-Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
43.-Coal Tit Parus ater
44.-Great Tit Parus major
45.-European Nuthatch Sitta europaea
46.-Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
47.-Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
48.-Magpie Pica pica
49.-Carrion Crow Corvus corone
50.-Common Raven Corvus corax
51.-Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
52.-Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
53.-House Sparrow Passer domesticus
54.-Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
55.-Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
56.-Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Atlas of Wintering Birds

The first meeting on the Atlas of Wintering Birds has had a welcome not very numerous, although if there were much enthusiasm of which we were present.

In the end, the first map with the cover of the province can be consulted in SEO/BirdLife in Burgos

I will try to take a census three squares. …Oh, I will see….

First Brambling

A Good birding day, with the first records of this season of first Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) , the numerous news of great amount of records of Brambling by all the Iberian peninsula.

Those of the province of Burgos in the Home of the Yearbook.

Bad photos, but first photo, the white rump of a male can be observed.

New report of the Yearbook

The third trimester of the yearbook to reported several as interesting birds records as in other reports , with result that the number of observed total species in the province of Burgos is of 310, without a doubt a very interesting number and that includes a great amount of the Spain birds and European species.

Also we have the recent records of the first wintering birds, Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) and Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
More information in the Yearbook.

A Autumn Trip

A trip surrounding the water reservoir of river Ebro a total of 47 different species, emphasizing Red-crested Pochard, Black necked Grebe, Great Egret or Green Sandpiper.
List of birds observed

1. Gadwall Anas strepera
2. Common Teal Anas crecca
The first wintering birds of the season

3. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
4. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
5. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Only four birds, the number throughout the winter is possibly increased.

6. Common Pochard Aythya farina
7. Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa***
8. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
9. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
A peculiar flock of 7 birds.

10. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
11. Great White Egret Casmerodius albus
Bird with more and more habitual records.


12. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea



13. Red Kite Milvus migrans***
The first birds of the season.
14. Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
15. Eurasian Sparrowhawk***
16. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
One of the most abundant birds due to the arrival of European birds.

17. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
A adult bird at the top of crags, in front of the Molino del Canto Inn.

18. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
19. Common Coot Fulica atra
20. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
21. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Four birds feeding.

22. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
23. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
24. Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
25. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
26. Sky Lark Alauda arvensis
27. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
28. White Watail Motacilla alba
29. Dunnock Prunella modularis
30. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
31. Blackbird Turdus merula32. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
33. Cetti´s Warbler Cettia cetti34. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
35. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus36. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus37. Great Tit Parus major
38. Soutthern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
39. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
40. Magpie Pica pica41. Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula***
42. Carrion Crow Corvus corone
43. Common Raven Corvus corax
44. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
45. Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
46. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
47. Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia***
A great flock

48. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
49. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
50. Siskin Carduelis spinus
The first Siskins of the winter, small groups in the banks of the rivers

51. Linnet Carduelis cannabina
52. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

***Seen the previous day in the rubbish dump of Villarcayo.

A spider ( Eresus niger)found at the end of the day

Thanks to Ginny and Pete for their interest in the birds of Burgos

Le Teich vs Santoña

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Le Teich.

I have been in Le Teich , rest and feeding area of the bay of Arcachon, French Atlantic coast.
This place could be taken like example for other places, here, in the north of Spain, diverse salt marshes with similar characteristics, and in several cases with more ornithological importance.
One of the cases is the Santoña Marshes, the best salt marsh of all the Cantabrian coast.
During many years, different groups, like SEO/BirdLife, fought hard to obtain a level of acceptable conservation.
Years later the marshes of Santoña, appears like one of the best places of birdwatching.
But the visit to this spectacular place can disappoint, since it lacks own infrastructures of a place thus.
The area that occupies Santoña is much greater, unlike Le Teich, but in so emblematic place, only we were an observatory and some of the observing points, that are indicated in different guides, are difficult to find and any type of signalling does not exist.

Flock of waders, Le Teich

Le Teich, where the entrance is 6,80€, but a day of very good observation of birds can be had, independently of the weather that does, 20 observatories from where to enjoy of birdwatching.

My nephew Adrian, enjoying the birds. Le Teich

Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia), Le Teich.

Second Report in the Yearbook

Once published the last report on the birds of the province of Burgos, the great amount of records, than 600 * records more reviewed can be observed, being many of really showy them.

Also it is observed that the number of birders is really high, 153 * and who the Birdwatching continues growing in the province of Burgos. Something really important.

This last report gathers the records of the second quarter of 2007, April, May and June, being this time one of most important, since many of the breeding birds.
Reviewing the report, we see enough contacts of Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) and Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and the records of breeding of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) in the environs of Miranda de Ebro.



The group of Ducks ones brings the most peculiar records, Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) and American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), two birds whose origin is very probable escape of captivity.

Also the Garganey (Anas querquedula) very has been observed, although only in two places, several birds in the quarry of Grijalba, , and the lagoons of Gayangos, only a bird.
Up to 13 species different from the Vultures and Eagles, emphasizing the observations of Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) and flocks of up to 400 Eurasian Gryffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus).

The Hawks also emphasize by the presence of Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), really scarce bird in the province.

Like a other times, the waders are a interested birds, especially in this province, almost with few wetlands.

The first record of Collared Prantincole (Glareola prantincola). Plovers, Whimbrel, Godwit, Sandpipers…..complete de list of waders.


Other first record for Burgos, Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica).

And the breeding records of Red-rumped Swalow (Hirundo daurica).


* Data contributed by the coordinators

Red-rumped Swallow II

Again, the Red-rumped Swallows in the Valley of Zamanzas, have been observed and photographed, Ramon Elosegui and Ivonne Iglesias (SEO/BirdLife-Donostia), could enjoy this lovely Swallows.

Red-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow and House Martin by Ramón Elosegui

Red-rumped Swallow, photo by Ramón Elosegui

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)

Red-rumped Swallow

One of the birds that can more represent the climatic change is the Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica), an African Swallow, who step by step this moving it’s breeding areas more and more to the north, by this is one of the species of recent colonization in the province of Burgos, although certainty of it’s presence in the south of the province, now in patent was had its presence and breeding in the north.
This week I have been able to observe a pair of Red-rumped Swallow who after constructing their characteristic nest have begun to rear, seeing them easily enter and leave it’s nest.