December / Desembre 2018

Destacats / Highlights
Remember when..
Fa 15 anys / 15 years ago
Fa 10 anys / 10 years ago
Fa 5 anys / 5 years ago
Novetats novembre / Bird News November 2018

Destacats / Highlights

Continua a primers de mes el mosquiter de Hume al Delta del Llobregat i el botxí d’Estepa al delta de l’Ebre. Comencen a aparèixer gavians escassos pel litoral de les comarques de Tarragona i s’anella un mosquiter comú siberià a Ivars. Un gavinot polar, el 3r per a Catalunya, va ser trobat a Ivars també i un cabussó gris va atraure força observadors al port d’Arenys de mar. El dia 23 es va trobar un gavinot a l’abocador de Pedret i Marzà, una altra cita molt interessant. I el mes va acabar amb un territ fosc al litoral de  Barcelona, vist per molta gent-

[Both Hume’s Leaf Warbler from last month at Llobregat delta and the Steppe Shrike from Ebre delta continued in December. Herring and Caspian gulls were seen in the Tarragona comarcas and a Siberian Chiffchaff was ringed on the 1st at Ivars lagoon, Pla d’Urgell. A Glaucous Gull, the 3rd for Catalunya, was a must inland, at Ivars and a Red-necked Grebe at Arenys de Mar harbour attracted many visits. On 23.12 a 1w Greater Black-backed Gull was found at Pedret i Marzà, another good finding. The month ended with a Purple Sandpiper at Barcelona beaches, seen by many observers]

Remember when…

• Fa 15 anys / 15 years ago

A Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus was seen at Torres de Segre ricefields, Segrià on 26.12.2003 (Jordi Calvet, photo enclosed) but not relocated aftterwards.

A Bean Goose Anser fabalis was located at El Cortalet, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Girona, on 2.12.2003 (Jordi Martí Aledo; X. del Acebo, P.Feliu et al). This bird was regarded as too tame by many observers. It remained there at least until 8.12 (Hubert Gunter; Manel Caamaño) .

The 2 Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis found at Tancada lagoon, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 16.11 were photographed on 30.11 (Joan Gil, Josep Tantull et al)) and were still present there on 7.12 (David Bigas). One would be an adult female and the other a 1st winter.

 

A Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis was found at Els Prats beach, Vila-Seca, Tarragona on 4.12.2003 (Albert Cama, David Jiménez -photo- ) and seen on 5.12 too (Eduard Gràcia).

 

• Fa 10 anys / 10 years ago

 

The White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus seen at Lleida in November 2008 was not seen in early December (R.Gutiérrez, S.Sales) but it was seen again near the Montoliu de Lleida dump on 8.12.2008 (Gerard Bota). Seen and photographed again on 22.12 (Marten van Dijl). See a photo below

• Fa 5 anys / 5 years ago

A Bean Goose Anser fabalis was found at El Cortalet lagoon, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, on 7.12.2013 morning (Jordi Martí-Aledo). Later seen by more authors. It remained there on 8.12 (Jordi Martí-Aledo, Marta Sancho). This individual remained in the area and on 12.12 it was still present (Sergi Sales). On 22-28.12 it was still present (Hubert Mas; Marc Rovira @ ornitho.cat; Josep Bujons; Jordi Comellas et al @ ornitho.cat).

There were three Goosanders  Mergus merganser : one was found at La Massona lagoon, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Alt Empordà, on 8.12 morning (Pere Aymerich, Jordi Faus). On 17.12 the same bird was at Camping la Laguna, PN Aiguamolls, Girona (Hubert Mas). A female or 1w was found on 15.12 at Llobregat river mouth, El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat (César Castel) and perhaps the same Llobregat delta female/1w was seen at Manresa on 17.12 at Parc de l’Agulla (Sergi Fernández). It was still there on 19.12 (Sergi Sales et al).On 21.12 it was photographed again (Xavier Martínez), see below, and it was seen by many observers too. This bird was seen again on 24-26.12 (Sergi Fernández), 27.12 (Bet Font, Xevi Rifà) and remained in the park until 28.12 (Josep Bel @ ornitho.cat).

The Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva found on 28.8.2013 at grassfields near Migjorn, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona which moved on 27.10 to Illa de Riu, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona, was relocated at Serrallo ricefields on 29.12 (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé).

On 21.12 a Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus was found at Parc del Francolí, Tarragona (M.Angel García, Bernat García). It was still there on 22.12 (Camilo Albert, Albert Cama). The bird remained there on 23.12 (Eduardo Soler) to 28.12 (Bernat García).

On 25.12.2013 a Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret was seen visiting a bird-feeder in a private garden at Torelló, Barcelona (Bet Font, Xevi Rifà). Seen again on 30.12 (Xevi Rifà, photo).

 

 

Novetats Desembre 2018 / Bird News December 2018

Latest update: 30 December 2018 / Darrera actualització: 30 de desembre 2018

 

• Oca de bec curt / Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (n=1)

(1) Alt Empordà. The unknown origin bird first seen on 26.6.2018 at La Gallinera, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Alt Empordà, then in other parts of the park by el Matà area was seen at El Cortalet lagoon during early December: 1.12 (Pere Alzina, Enric Badosa @ornitho.cat;  Guillem Izquierdo @ornitho.cat), 5.12 (Roger Guillem @ornitho.cat) to 8.12 (Joan Pujol @ornitho.cat). The goose was still t here on 11.12 (Oriol Clarabuch, Albert Burgas, Fran Trabalón, Joan Ventura @ornitho.cat) and 12.12 (PNAE @ornitho.cat; Xesco Puigdomenec @ornitho.cat). Still there on 18.12 (Oriol Clarabuch @Birdingempordà.com), 20.12 (Jana Marco, see photos enclosed) and 21.12 (Pedro Plans @ornitho.cat). Still present on 24.12 (Josep Ramoneda @ornitho.cat) and 26.12 (Pol Vaqué, Blanca Pairó @ornitho.cat).

 

• Èider / Eider Somateria mollissima (n=1)

  

• (1) Baix Ebre.  The adult drake found some time ago was still at Punta del Fangar, Delta de l’Ebre,  Baix Ebre on 20.12 (David Bigas). On 22.12 it was still present at the same place (Ricard Gutiérrez, Oriol Muntané).

 

• Morell d’ulls grocs / Goldeneye Bucephala clangula (n=1)
• (1) Baix Ebre.  There was a Goldeneye at Canal Vell lagoon, Delta de l’Ebre, Baix Ebre on 20.12 (David Bigas). See a photo enclosed.

 

• Bec de serra petit / Smew  Mergellus albellus  (n=1)

(1) Montsià.  The 1w/female bird was found at El Clot, l’Encanyissada, Amposta, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 23.11 was seen at the same place in early December: On 2.12 it was seen briefly from Pont del Través, l’Encanyissada, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià (Quique Carballal).

 

• Cabussó gris / Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena (n=1)

(1) Maresme. On 17.12 a bird was found at Arenys de Mar harbour, Maresme (Daniel Roca). The bird remained there the following days: 18.12 (Vittorio Pedrocchi @ornitho.cat; Pau Garcia Campderròs –see photos below-, Gabri de Jesus i Gerard Dalmau;  Juan Miguel Díaz @ornitho.cat; Joan Pujol; Toni Fernández Sánchez, Carles Tobella @ornitho.cat; Xavi Escobar; Robert Manzano, Edu Batista, Jaroa López, Sergi Torné, Jordi Jover; Ignacio López @ornitho.cat); 19.12 (Quique Carballal; Enric Fontcuberta, Enric Badosa @ornitho.cat); Alfried Sánchez, Oriol Baena @ornitho.cat); 22.12 (Lluís-Xavier Toldrà , Josep Crusafont, Sergi Arís, Raül Calderon @ornitho.cat; Xavier Parra, Montse Gutiérrez @ornitho.cat); 23.12 (Martí Gonzàlez, Pedro Plans, Cristian Bonsoms, Guillem Saguer @ ornitho.cat). Still at Arenys de Mar harbour the last week of the year, where widely twitched: 24.12 (Ramón Prat @ornitho.cat; Xavier Idígora; Jonathan Skipper, Toni Fernández @ornitho.cat; Pancho Pou @ornitho.cat); 25.12 (Enric Badosa, Pep Arcos @ornitho.cat); 27.12 (Toni Alonso; Pau Rocabert, Matilde Londner @ornitho.cat; Roger Guillem , Oscar Bargalló @ornitho.cat); 28.12 (Sergi Sales, Núria Rodríguez; Jordi Faus, Lluís Vilamajó @ornitho.cat; Manuel Caamaño @ornitho.cat) and 30.12 (Quim Minoves, Ricard Gutiérrez; Miquel Àngel Lucena @ornitho.cat), see photos and vídeos below.

© Ricard Gutiérrez 29.12.2018

• Cabussó orellut / Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus  (n=2)

(1) Baix Ebre. On 3.12 one was reported from l’Ampolla, Delta de l’Ebre, Baix Ebre (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch). On 15.12 it was reported again (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch) and on 22.12 too (Manolo Sánchez Blanch). The bird off L’Ampolla was seen on 24.12 in company of 8 nigricollis (Xavier Parra @ornitho.cat).

(2) Montsià. On 1.12 a bird was found at La Tancada lagoon, Amposta, delta de l’Ebre, Montsià (David Bigas). The bird at La Tancada was seen again later that day (Harold Wijts @ornitho.cat; Ricard Gutiérrez) and on 5.12, when photographed (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé), see a photo enclosed. On 16.12 it was reported again (Harold Wijts @ornitho.cat) and on 22.12 morning (not present in the afternoon) too (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat).

 

• Daurada petita del Pacífic / Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (n=1)

(1) Montsià. The bird that reached the Delta in August has been relocated wintering between El Matar fields and la Comandanta area, like in previous winters. On 5.12 it was seen near Mas de la Comandanta, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià  (David Bigas). On 6.12 it was seen again (Marc Illa @ornitho.cat).

 

• Territ fosc  / Purple Sandpiper  Calidris maritima  (n=1)

(1) Barcelonès. One was found at Olympic harbour, Barcelona on 25.12 (Jan  Bisschop @ornitho.cat ). On 26.12 it was relocated (Oriol Tello), when first photographed too (Daniel Roca; Josep Crusafont @ornitho.cat; Guillem Izquierdo @ornitho.cat). That day it was moving around the outer pier of the Olympic harbour. Relocated again on 28.12 but a bit N, at the Mar Bella pier (Sergi Sales, Núria Rodríguez), then seen by more authors at this new site on 29.12 (Sergio Hoces; José Ángel Lahoz, Alberto Somoza; Lluís Gustamante; Jordi Jover; Quim Minoves, Ricard Gutiérrez; Marta Jornet; Ricardo Ramos; Cristian Bonsoms @ornitho.cat; Juan Miguel Díaz @ornitho.cat; Xavi Escobar @ornitho.cat).

 © Ricard Gutiérrez, 29.12.2018

 

• Gavinot / Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus (n=2)

(1) Alt Empordà. A 1w was found on 23.12 at Pedret i Marzà dump, Alt Empordà (Joan Goy). See photos below. Seen again on 29.12 (Joan Goy, Gabri de Jesus i Àlex Ollé).

(2) Pla de l’Estany A 1w was found on 31.12 at Porqueres dump (Gerard Dalmau).

 

• Gavinot polar / Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (n=1)

(1) Pla d’Urgell.  On 17.12 a 2w was found at Estany d’Ivars i Vila-Sana, Pla d’Urgell (Sergi Sales). At distance, a leucistic fuscus or whatever other species had to be discarded. Close examination and comparative photos, particularly of the bill structure, eye-colour , size and presence of brown feathering led to the conclusion of being an Iceland Gull, the 3rd for Catalunya. Seen again the following days: 18.12 (  [Quim Minoves ; Victor Iglesias –see photos enclosed- ; Francesc Moncasí; Roger Guillem); 19.12 (Javier Subirats; Juan Miguel Díaz @ornitho.cat); 20.12 (Vittorio Pedrocchi; Roger Guillem; Xavier Parra @ornitho.cat; Marc Noguera; Óscar Pérez @ornitho.cat); 22.12 (Jaroa López); 23.12 (Ramon Prat; Pere Baucells @ornitho.cat).

 

• Gavià argentat de potes roses / Herring Gull  Larus argentatus (n=7)

  

(1) Tarragonès. On 3.12 perhaps the same bird seen one month ago was seen at Tarragona harbour (Camilo Albert, Raül Aymí @ornitho.cat). This bird was seen again at Tarragona harbour on 9.12 and 22.12 (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat).

(2) Montsià. On 2.12 a 3w was found near Punta de la Banya hide, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Montsià (David Bigas).

(3) Montsià. On 8.12 there was a 2w at Punta de la Banya beach, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Montsià (David Bigas).

(4) Alt Empordà. On 8.12 there was a 1w at Pedret dump, Pedret i Marzà, Alt Empordà (Joan Goy).

(5) Pla de l’Estany.  There was a 1w at Banyoles lake on 9.12 (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat). The same bird was seen at Porqueres dump on 15.12 (Guillerm Saguer @ornitho.cat).

(6) Tarragonès. On 22.12 an adult was seen at Tarragona harbour (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat).On 26.12 there was an adult at Tarragona harbour (Pere Josa, Camil Albert @ornitho.cat).

(7) Baix Ebre. There was one 1w at L’Ametlla de Mar harbour on 18.12 (David Bigas, photo below) and 20.12 (Pere Josa @ornitho.cat).

 

• Gavià Caspi / Caspian Gull  Larus cachinnans  (n=6+)
  

(1) Tarragonès. On 2.12 there was a 2cy at Tarragona harbour (Raül Aymí, Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat). Yellow PVC ringed ‘P.U80’

(2-3) Pla de l’Estany.  There were two 1w at Banyoles lake on 9.12 (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat). Presumably these two were seen again at Puigpalter dump, Banyoles on 24.12 (Gerard Dalmau), see a photo enclosed of one of them, and later in the afternoon seen again (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat).

(4) Pla de l’Estany.  There was another at Puigpalter dump, Porqueres, on 15.12 (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat).

(5-6) Alt Empordà.  At leat there were two 1w at Pedret i Marzà dump, Pedret, Alt Empordà on 29.12 (Joan Goy, Gabri de Jesus i Àlex Ollé).

 

• Botxí d’Estepa / Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris  (n=1)

(1) Montsià. The 2nd for Catalunya, a 1w presumed female found on 22.11 at Tancada marshes, Amposta, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià remained there on 1.12 (David Bigas), 2.12 (Quique Carballal; Ricard Gutiérrez, Helena Arbonés). See two photos below. Seen again on 6.12 (Lluís Toldrà @ornitho.cat; Josep Tantull, Roser Solé) and 7.12 (Antonio España Ruiz; Poli Hernández). Seen again on 8.12 (Xavier Jiménez, Rafa Armada, Javier Subirats, Jaume Abaigés; Ramon Prat @ornitho.cat) and 9.12 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch; Javier Subirats).  Seen again on 10.12 (Vicente Francisco Tamarit @ornitho.cat), 11.12 (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé), 12.12 (Cristian Jensen / Audouin Birding Tours), 15.12 Daniel Fernández Guibnerteau @ornitho.cat; Màrius Domingo, Eduard  Gràcia, Lluc Sernis, Jordi Jover, Víctor Iglesias, Ricard Gutiérrez). Seen again on 16.12 (Harold Wijts @ornitho.cat). See photos below. Still present on 16.12 (Harold Wijts; Arnau Vilanova @ornitho.cat) to 21.12 (Vicente Francisco Tamarit @ornitho.cat), 22.12 (Harold Wijts; Ricard Gutiérrez, Oriol Muntané) and 23.12 (Jana Marco, Álex Alamán, Josep Tantull, Roser Solé). Still present on 24.12 (Xavier Parra; Laurent Majorel, Carles Durà @ornitho.cat); 27.12 (José A.Fernández; Thomas Kuppel, David Bigas @ornitho.cat); 28-29.12 (Vittorio Pedrocchi, see a photo below), and 30.12 (Dani Valverde).

 

• Graula / Rook Crow Corvus frugileus (n=3)

(1-3) Alt Empordà . There were three at Figueres fair area on 18.2 (Albert Campsolinas @birdingempordà.com).

• Cornella emmantellada / Hooded Crow Corvus cornix (n=4)

(1-4) Baix Llobregat. On 2.12 a bird was seen flying over Gavà city, Baix Llobregat  (Eio Ramón). See a photo below. There were two at Nelson Mandela bridge, El Prat de Llobregat on 11.12 (Pau Esteban @ornitho.cat). On 15.12 one bird was seen within El Prat de Llobregat city (Pau Esteban @ornitho.cat) while another was at Nelson Mandela bridge  (Quico Serra @ornitho.cat). On 18.12 there were four at Cal Nani, El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat (Pau Esteban @ornitho.cat).Birds seem a bit spread over the Llobregat Delta: there was one at Gavà, near the Barnasud commercial area, on 25.12 (Josep Calaf @ornitho.cat) and another at Mercabarna bridge, El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat on 25.12 (Pau Esteban @ornitho.cat). Another, perhaps the Gavà bird, was seen on 29.12 within Viladecans town (Daniel Jiménez Pulido @ornitho.cat).

 

• Mosquiter comú siberià / Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis (n=2)

(1) Pla d’Urgell. A bird  was trapped and ringed at Estany d’Ivars i Vila-Sana, Pla d’Urgell, on 1.12 (Sergi Sales, Víctor Iglesias), see photos below.

 

(2) Maresme. A bird was seen and heard on 6.12 at Tordera, Maresme (Arnaul Tolrà @ornitho.cat).

 

• Mosquiter de doble ratlla / Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus (n=1)

(1) Baix Llobregat. A bird found on 28.11 at Riera de Sant Climent, Viladecans, Baix Llobregat, remained there on 5.12 (Ferran López). Still there on 10.12 (Manolo García Tarrasón @ornitho.cat).

• Mosquiter de Hume / Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei (n=1)

(1) Baix Llobregat. The bird found on 22.11 at Riera de Sant Climent, Viladecans, Delta del Llobregat, Baix Llobregat, remained there on 1.12 (Eio Ramón, Sergio Hoces), 3-5.12 (Ferran López) and 6.12 (Eio Ramón), see  photos below. Seen again on 8.12 (Eio Ramón, Sergio  Hoces). Still there on 10.12 (Manolo García Tarrasón @ornitho.cat), 13.12 (Ferran López, Jaume Bartra @ Llobregat delta bird news blog) and 15.12 (Andrés Anguís, Xavier Parra @ornitho.cat). At least present until 18.12 (F. López, M. Iranzo, S. Bosch @consorcideltallobregat blog).

 

• Piula grossa / Richard’s Pipit  Anthus richardi (n=10)

(1-7) Alt Empordà. On 1.12 there were 7 birds at Can Comes, Castelló d’Empúries, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Alt Empordà (Miquel Àngel Lucena, Guillem Izquierdo). At least four remained on 2.12 (Jozef Leestmans @ornitho.cat) and on 3.12 (Àlex Ollé, see  a photo enclosed). At least two were seen on 5.12 (Roger Guillem, Joan Padró) and on 6.12 (Pedro Plans @ornitho.cat). On 8.12 there was at least one (Joan Pujol, Jordi Sala, Salva i Roger Casas, Biel Bernat, Jaume Castellà; Marc Noguera) and two on 9.12 (Vittorio Pedrocchi @ornitho.cat). There were two at Can Comes on 9.12 (Vittorio Pedrocchi; Hubert Mas @ornitho.cat), 4-5 birds on 12.12 (Àlex Ollé @birdingempordà.com and still one on 15.12 (Miquel Arxer @ornitho.cat). There remained 7 at Can Comes on 20.12 (Gerard Dalmau, Ricard Vila) and two on 21.12 (Pedro Plans @ornitho.cat) and on 24.12 (Josep Ramoneda @ornitho.cat)

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(8-10) Montsià. There were three birds during the month around El Serrallo area, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià (David Bigas).

 

 

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