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.

Making Reforms

Although I do not like to make photos to nests of birds, in this case I think that is good to see the reforms made in a nest of Great spotted woopecker by our protagonists.
The photos I have made by means digiscoping techniques, reason why the observed distance has been the sufficiently good like so that the birds were not bothered.

As we can see this is a hole of a nest Great Spotted Woopecker (Dendropocos major).

Here we can see since the reform has been made, reducing with mud the inlet diameter of the hole, until obtaining the suitable one.

Here we have the authors of this peculiar adaptation, the Nuthatch (Sitta europaea).

Yearbook, January-March 2007

Updated the Ornithological Yearbook of the province of Burgos , with the new report of January, February and March with interesting records of wintering and migrate birds .

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata )

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

Monk Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti )

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius )

......

Also interesting records in the home page.

If you have any record of this region you can send to anuariodeburgos@yahoo.es

Coordination: David González Ortega, Fernando Román Sancho, José Luis Lobo Cueva, Rufino Fernández González.

Iberian Chiffchaff

One of the splits more controverted on species in the Iberian peninsula is the one that took on the Phylloscopus collybita, split accepted by the rarities committees and that in Spain, have taken to ornithologists to take extra precautions to separate the new species, the Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and the Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus), denominated firstly like P. brehmii.
Still the discussions on the different identifications continue in diverse ornithological sites, forums etc...
In the field, in a typical observation, these two species are practically indistinguishable, although there are authors who indicate subtle differences in the color of the plumage.
Nevertheless, when we listened to it’s different songs we can determine as of both we are listening, that yes, whenever they emit his normal songs, since mixed songs can be listened, that can mistake.
The song of the Iberian Chiffchaff is a song faster, and normally shorter than the Common Chiffchaff , and that it finalizes with a very characteristic trill.

Look here!
The song of the Common Chiffchaff is slower and longer in the time, giving the sensation of which is sadder.
In several zones of the north of Spain it is easy to listen several of these mixed songs.

The origin of these songs, is difficult to attribute to the species exactly, some ornithologists, attribute these songs to imitations of Common Chiffchaff , others say that they are imitations of Iberian Chiffchaff , and many we decided on the sensation and the intuition to attribute to certain songs to a species or another one.
In order to clarify many of these doubts, the Iberian Ringning Group – Grupo Ibérico de Anillamiento. GIA - , it has prepared the first congress on the Iberian Chiffchaff , that will be celebrated in Riello (León), from 11th to 13th of May and that has great specialists of this species, Lars Svensson, José Luis Copete, Gozalo Elias, Alejandro Onrubia, Alfonso Balmori, …aspects on morphology, songs, distribution etc…. will treat.
Let us hope that the conclusions contribute means to us to differentiate these difficult species.

You have more information HERE (PDF file)

Lagoons

Great number of migratory birds has arrived, in a stroll by the lagoons of Gayangos it is possible to see and to listen many of these birds.
The lagoons of Gayangos conform one of the few wetlands of the province of Burgos.
They are composed by three main lagoons and other than is stationary because it is dried at times of summer.
In these lagoons it is possible to find great number of species of birds, being the most showy aquatic birds, Ducks, Grebes, Rails…and those that live related to the wetland plants, Cetti’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler….

Garganey

Several of the birds that live in the wetlands plants are difficult to detect if it is not by means of the voice.
In the environs of the lagoons it is possible to see other many species of birds, Buntings, Stonechats, Finches, Kites, Storks…

Corn Bunting

Whinchat

Now, with the new observatory, it is possible to take refuge the days of bad weather.

New Records in the Yearbook.

You don’t let see the great amount of new records in:
http://www.avesdeburgos.com/anuario.htm

Black Stork, Garganey, Waders, Warblers....and more.

SACRE. Course

This weekend has been developed the course on the program of breeding common birds of Spain, SACRE, to carry out in the beautiful valley of Valdivielso.
The birder José Luis Lobo made the introduction to the course, along with the explanation of the program developed by SEO/BirdLife to study and to recognize the different songs from birds.
Next a stroll by the valley of Valdivielso was made, guided by the birders Josu Olavarria and Carlos Palma.
The course was very concurred, something that is really very positive.
Many species were not seen, although yes the first Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus and the first Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus of the season.

Birds in Wetlands. Censuses

The census of aquatic birds that has initiated the SEO/BirdLife, does not cover all the species that are related to the wetlands, only certain species have to be registered.
The census is had to make in three times, in the second two weeks of March, April and May.
In first census, it has been made with conditions in which meteorology to play a important part.
Days back, the snow, it was making, so the level of waters of the lagoons and the rivers has grown enormously, this has made difficult to walk round these wetlands of suitably form.
Even so, the results, by this time, still early are not of all bad.
Although of the Paseriformes no has been detected, if several Ducks, and like more observed the Common Coot.
In many zones of the field still it has up to 20 cm of snow, so it seems total winter, as excellent observation but were the one of a pair of Fieldfare.

List of the species, (not exclusively records to the census).

Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Common Coot Fulica atra
Great Tit Parus major
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita netting, good moment to observe these birds, since now it is crossing towards the north of Europe.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
Fieldfire Turdus pilaris