Nature Reserve & Waterbird Reserve

Season with birds in migratory movement.
The Birds begin to form flocks and good moment to observe juvenile birds.
We can to found flocks of Spotless Starling, Greenfinch, Lesser Kestrel, Stonechat, Cirl Bunting, Linnets… and juvenile birds of Herons, Shrikes.
In the water reservoir of river Ebro, in the same site, four species of Herons, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret and Purple Heron.
Trip through the Parque Natural de las Hoces del Alto Ebro y Rudrón Nature Reserve and the water reservoir of river Ebro, Waterbirds Reserve.
A total of 45 species.

Short-toed Eagle

Searching birds at weterbirds reserve

Red-backed Shrike

Grey Shrike

Juvenile of Purple Heron

Great and Little Egret

Stonechat

Checklist of the day
Great Crested Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Great Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Purple Heron
Mallard
European Honey-buzzard
Griffon Vulture
Short-toed Eagle
Mash Harrier
Common Buzzard
Common Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel
Common Coot
Common Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood Pigeon
Woodlark
Skylark
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Tree Pipit
White Wagtail
Dinner
Hedge Accentor
Robin
Rufous Nightingale
Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Blackbird
Common Whitethroat
Great Tit
Red-backed Shrike
Southern Grey Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Spotless Starling
House Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Cirl Bunting

Thanks to Sara and Javier by their interest in the birds of Burgos, two new birders!!. 

Through of nature reserve

A new tour through the Parque Natural de las Hoces del Alto Ebro y Rudrón nature reserve looking for birds. A new birders enjoyed of the birds of northern Burgos.

 Birding in the canyons

57 species. The more remarkable records: four Hen Harriers, one Peregrine Falcon attacking to Common Buzzard, a pair of Honey Buzzard, flying over the village of Presillas. European Turtle Dove, Common Quail and four species of Buntings, Corn, Cirl, Rock and Yellowhammer.

Checklist of the day 

European Honey-buzzard
Black Kite
Egyptian Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Hen Harrier
Common Buzzard
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Quail
Wood Pigeon
European Turtle Dove
Common Cuckoo
Common Swift
Alpine Swift
Green Woodpecker
Woodlark
Skylark
Crag Martin
House Martin
Barn Swallow
Twany Pipit
Tree Pipit
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Bonelli's Warbler
Iberian Chiffchaff
Firecrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Raven
Spotless Starling
House Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
Linnet
Common Bullfinch
Yellowhammer
Cirl Bunting
Rock Bunting
Corn Bunting

 

Northern Wheatear

 

 House Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Thanks to Chad and Janet by their interest in the birds of Burgos, two good new birders.
 

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.

Census of Great Bustard II

The morning has left very pretty, almost cleared and without frost, there was 1.5ºC when we began the census to 9.00h.
No wind and the visibility was wonderful, in the majority of the flocks has been possible to know the sex of the birds.

Hoping to finish analyzing the collected data, we can indicate that the amount of wintering Great Bustards in the region the west of the province of Burgos is at least 266 birds, 27 more than the last year.

Photo by José Pedro Portillo

An equipment that has looked for Great Bustards in the province of Palencia, to the other side of the river Pisuerga and it has not found any, this is also an important data.

Photo by José Pedro Portillo

But not only it has been to count Great Bustards, the different equipment has been able to enjoy the tremendous number of raptors that there is in the zone, mainly Common Kestrels, Common Buzzard and Red Kite, but also has been able to observe Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, many Hen Herriers and some Marsh Harrier.
The cold of this week also have been let notice in the cereal plain of the region in the form of great flocks of Lapwings, with very few Golden Plover.
Other birds of the area, Skylark, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Finches….

Also they have been mammalian, one of the equipment some thirty Roe Deer and another equipment a Fox.

The Birders

Information about the first census Here.

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.

SACRE in Winter

This it is the first year that I realise the route for the new program for the follow-up of birds of SEO BirdLife, the follow-up of common birds in winter. (More here)
The squares it’s the same that I realise in spring, VN 4040.
The route is simple, and I have chosen to realise it by two zones easy to walk and very pretty, the pastures of the Valley of Zamanzas and the footpath GR 99 throughout the river Ebro.
In this zone the river Ebro has very well conserved banks, where the alders abound, ashs, poplars…
A good number of birds and species, 29, but certainly throughout the years this will change.

Here you have the relation of species seen in two hours:

Mallard, Grey Heron, Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, European Robin, Wren, European Serin, Eurasian Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin , Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, White Wagtail, Dipper, Spotless Starling, Red-billed Chough, Carrion Crow, Jay, Eurasian Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon.

Post-nuptial migration.

The post-nuptial migration has begun with force in the north of Spain. Great amount of birds to cross towards the south, Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher abound in all the areas.

Herons, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron is possible to find in many wetlands and rivers of the north of Spain.

Like other years, the Lammergeier has been recorder in the north of Burgos, in this case to only 15 km of the inn Molino of Canto Inn, in the village of Hoz de Arreba.

The water reservoir of the Ebro, have an abundant records of waders, spoonbills, ducks….

In the cereal plains of the province of Burgos many raptors, principally falcons, the first Hooby, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon and a record of Imperial Eagle.

And in the Bay of Biscay, great passage of seabirds, with numerous records of interesting species, like Wilson's Storm-petrel and the four European Skuas.

These records have been collected of different forums and blogs, thanks to their authors to maintain to us informed.

Special gratitude to Alfonso Rodrigo and his blog EXTREME BIRDING ESPAÑA, José Miguel Alonso Pumar and his blog Galician Birding, Manuel Estébanez and David Gonzalez Ortega. All records of Burgos you can find in the home page of Yearbook

Birds of April May and June.

Is already available On line the last report on the records of the birds of Burgos, that corresponds to the last three months, April May and June.

I believe that the most interesting records are:
Records of Herons and Waders, emphasizing the Great Bittern, Squacco Heron and the 15 different species of waders.
Record of Red-footed Falcon.
And different records of pre-breeding and postnuptial seasons.

Recent reports in the home page of the Yearbook.

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)

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

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