Destacats / Highlights
Remember when..
Fa 15 anys / 15 years ago
Fa 10 anys / 10 years ago
Fa 5 anys / 5 years ago
Novetats Gener / Bird News January 2020

 

Destacats / Highlights

El mes comença amb ocells que havien estat trobats ja el mes anterior (bec de serra gros, éider, còlit del desert, territ fosc) però el primer dia de l’any apareix una oca de collar al Fangar, delta del’Ebre. El dia 6 els reis porten un gavià Caspi a Tarragona. Després del pas de la borrasca ‘Glòria’ que va fer forts desperfectes al litoral sembla que hi ha una pluja de rareses de primera magnitud: polla menuda, voltor de Rüppell, daurada petita del Pacífic i dos (!) tetolets becllargs.

[January begins with the birds coming from December: Goosander, Desert Wheatear, Eider, Purple Sandpiper but on the 1st, a Brent Goose is found at Fangar bay, Ebre delta. On the 6th a Caspian Gull is seen at Tarragona. After the storm ‘Gloria’ a good number of rarities gather in Catalunya: Lesser Moorhen (1st record), Ruppell’s Vulture (adult, 1st to be accepted into the list) and Pacific Golden Plover plus 2 (!) Long-billed Dowitchers. Not bad.]

Remember when…

 

• Fa 15 anys / 15 years ago

The drake Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis found on 2.11.2004 at El Cortalet lagoon, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Alt Empordà was seen again on 6.1.2005  (Jordi Martí-Aledo).

A Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis was found at Ebre delta, Montsià, on 25.1.2005 (David Bigas)

There were at least 2 Richard’s Pipits Anthus richardi on 1.1 at Erms de la Tancada, Amposta, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià (Rafael Armada), these forming part of a group coming from autumn 2004. One was relocated at Besós river mouth, Sant Adrià de Besós, Barcelonès on 12.1.2005 (Quique Carballal). It was seen again on 27.1.2005 (Quique Carballal).

• Fa 10 anys / 10 years ago

A Presumed Hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta bird not seen before was recorded in the Ebre delta near Poble Nou, Amposta, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 1.1. (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé; photo enclosed). The usual bird at la Tancada lagoon, Delta de l’Ebre was seen also on 1.1. (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé).

 

On 6.1 an adult Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicodephaus philadelphia in winter plumage was seen and photographed within the Tarragona harbour. The bird was seen on 9.1.2010 at platja dels Prats, Vila-Seca, just to the S of the Tarragona harbour (Albert Cama, Camil Albert i Bernat Iglesias).

A 1w Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans was found on 10.1.2010 at Solius dump, Santa Cristina d’Aro, Baix Empordà (Carlos Álvarez Cros).

 

• Fa 5 anys / 5 years ago

On 22.1 a drake Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis was found at La Massona, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Alt Empordà, at the same place where the Pygmy Cormorant and a Ring-necked Duck were (Javi Mendoza, Carles Durà, Francisco Pou, Enric Foncuberta). It remained there on 24.1 (Quique Carballal, Bernat Iglesias et al) and 25.1 (Xavier Idígora @ ornitho.cat) to 30.1.2015 (Ramón Aguilar @ ornitho.cat).

The drake Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris found at La Massona lagoon, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, on 31.12.2014 remained there on 3.1 (Eio Ramón, Sergio Hoces), 4.1 (Xavier Aute; Jaume Prat, David Smiff, Manuel Caamaño, Elvira Morilla, Grabi de Jesús) to 31.1 (Sergi Fernández @ornitho.cat).

A Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena was seen at Susqueda reservoir, Selva only on 4.1 (Xavier Larruy).

The adult Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmeus found at La Massona, PN Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Girona on 13.12.2014 remained there into 2015: 2.1 (Santi Guallar @ornitho.cat; Xavier Idígora) to 31.1 (Xavier Idígora).

The Presumed hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta seen during the last months at Can Dimoni, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat was relocated on 6.1.2015 at Riera de Sant Climent, Viladecans, Barcelona. (Eio Ramón). See a photo below.

 

 

A Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus was seen at suburban areas of Deltebre, Baix Ebre, by the river Ebre, on 6.1 (Iain Hartley). The bird was seen intermitently and was elusive. Many local birders visited the area until 10.1 without further relocation of the bird.

• Oca de collar / Brent Goose Branta bernicla (n=1)
  

(1) Baix Ebre.  A bird was found at Fangar bay, Deltebre, Delta de l’Ebre, Baix Ebre on 1.1 ( Javier Subirats, Toni Carulla, Pep Gassó, Jaume Albaigés, Anna Palacin i Manolo Sánchez-Blanch). Twitched by many observers: 1.1 (Arnau Tolrà @ornitho.cat); 2.1 (Cristobal Mestre @ornitho.cat; Jordi Jover; Harold Wijts @ornitho.cat; Jofre Sendrós, Eduard Batista, Josep Bel @ornitho.cat); 3.1  (Roger Guillem, Ramón Ruiz Jarillo @ornitho.cat); 4.1 (Màrius Domingo; Víctor Iglesias -photo below-; Marc Noguera, Carles Durà, Pancho Pou @ornitho.cat). Last seen on 5.1 (Ramon Homs @ornitho.cat; Jordi Sala @ornitho.cat; Xavier Parra, Montse Gutiérrez @ornitho.cat) when it went hidden somewhere in the delta. Relocated again on 12.1 (Javier Subirats) and 13.1 around Racó del Fangar (Joan Barrachina; Ricard Gutiérrez -record shot below-; Jordi Sala, Hubert Mas @ornitho.cat; Ramón Ruiz) and present in the area the following day at least until 18.1 (David Molina, Andreu Duclau, Diego Callau @ornitho.cat; Javier Subirats, Anna Palacín; Manolo Sánchez Blanch; Marta Marín @ornitho.cat) and on 19.1 (Andreu Duclau, Oriol Soler, Jaume Albaigès @ornitho.cat). After the pass of the storm ‘Gloria’ it was seen at Buda island beach on 25.1 (David Bigas). On 27.1 it was back to El Fangar bay (Quim Minoves), photo below.

• Èider / Eider Somateria mollissima (n=1)
  

(1) Baix Ebre.  An adult drake continued from 2010 at Punta del Fangar, where present on 5.1 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch). Seen again on 8.1 (Sergi Sales), 9.1 (Ricard Gutiérrez, record shot below, hidden within a Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis group) and 11.1 (Xavier Subirats).

• Goosander / Bec de serra gros Mergus merganser  (n=1)

(1) Baix Ebre.  The female type bird found at l’Ampolla bay, Baix Ebre remained there on 4.1 (Carles Durà @ornitho.cat; Quique Carballal@ornitho.cat; Carles Oliver @eBird; Oriol Muntané, Lluís Toldrà, Albert Lozano i Frank Capdevila). Seen on 5.1 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch; Oriol Soler @ornitho.cat; Xavier Parra, Montse Gutiérrez @ornitho.cat) and relocated on 11.1 flying across the bay of Fangar towards port d’Illa de Mar, Deltebre (Javier Subirats; Oriol Cortés @ornitho.cat). Seen again on 12.1 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch; Javier Subirats; Xesco Puigdomenech @ornitho.cat), 13.1 (Hubert Mas; Joan Barrachina, Ricard Gutiérrez – record shot below-; Jordi Sala @ornitho.cat, Ramón Ruiz) and 18.1 (Xesco Puigdomènech @ornitho.cat). Not seen so far after storm ‘Gloria’.

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

(1) Baix Ebre.  The bird seen intermitently at l’Ampolla bay, Baix Ebre from 25-26.11.2019 was reported again from port d’Illa de Mar, Deltebre,  Baix Ebre on 1.1 (Arnau Tolrà @ornitho.cat) and 2.1 (Sergi Sales @eBird). Seen again on 6.1 (Manolo Sánchez Blanch) and 18.1 (Manolo Sánchez Blanch).

(2) Montsià.  On 31.1 one was reported from Els Alfacs bay, Montsià (David Guixé @ornitho.cat).

• Voltor de Rüppell / Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppellii  (n=1)

(1) Osona.  An adult bird was seen on 24.1 at Orís dump, Orís, Osona (Lluís Mir), see a photo below. [Primera cita d’adult a Catalunya i que permetrà una inclusió de l’espècie a la llista dels ocells de Catalunya]. Probably the same bird had been seen 15 days before at Buseu, Pallars Sobirà (Grefa/Buseu Project).

• Polla menuda  / Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata (n=1)

(1) Garrotxa.  A bird was seen exhausted near Olot waste treatment plant, Garrotxa, on 23.1 (Adrià Ferrussola). The bird was caught and hand-held for a while then released into the wild near the plant by the initial observer. Later, around midday, seen by three more observers (Jordi Baucells, Pere Baucells, Oriol Clarabuch) but not relocated during the following days. 1st for Catalunya.

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

(1) Montsià. On 24.1 a bird was found at La Comandanta ricefields, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià (David Bigas), photos below. On 25.1 it was still there (Sergi Sales, Ricard Gutiérrez, Helena Arbonés). Seen again on 28.1 (Quim Minoves) and on 31.1 (Marc Gàlvez, photo below).

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

  

(1) Barcelonès. The perhaps returning bird seen last winter and found at Olympic harbour, Barcelona, Barcelonès on 20.11 was seen again on 1.1.2020 (Sergi Sales @eBird; Ricard Gutiérrez, Helena Arbonés – photos below-; Fernando Medrano @eBird; Ricardo Ramos @eBird) and 3.1 (Oriol Cortés @ornitho.cat). Seen again on 6.1 (Lluís Toldrà @ornitho.cat) and 7.1 (Xavier Parra, Arnau Soler, Gonzalo Jara @ornitho.cat) to 11.1 (Jaume Albaigès). Still in the area on 15.1 (Guillem Izquierdo).Not seen so far after storm ‘Gloria’.

• Tetolet cf. becllarg / cf. Long-billed Dowitcher  Limnodromus cf. scolopaceus (n=2)

(1-2) Montsià. On 25.1 morning Sergi Sales found a bird at ricefields close to Migjorn canal, just N of the Violí area, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià. The bird was associated to a large flock of Calidris alpina and Calidris pugnax amongst other waders. They were very mobile across the diferent flooded ricefields. The bird was seen flying to the coast (Sergi Sales) but oddly relocated later closer to the river (Ricard Gutiérrez, Helena Arbonés, Sergi Sales) where seen minutes later too (José Luís Copete, Francesc Kirchner; Xavier Riera; Josep Bel @ornitho.cat). Suspicions on how could have been such quick relocation and sudden appearance were confirmed in the afternoon, when not one but two Dowitchers were seen altogether side by side (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé, José Luís Copete, Francesc Kirchner). Both seen again on 26.1 (Manolo Sánchez Blanch, Javier Subirats). One seen again on 27.1 (Màrius Domingo).

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

(1-5) Tarragonès. The 3 1w, the 2w and the adult coming from 2019 were still at Tarragona harbour on 1.1 (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat). On 4.1 there were the adult, 2 1w and the 2w (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat). Four to five birds wer seen on 5.1: 3 1w, the 2w and the adult (Camilo Albert, Raül Aymí, Marc Olivé @ornitho.cat) and 2 on 6.1 (Camilo Albert). The adult and 1w were seen on 11.1 too (Albert Cama, Sergi Sales, Ramón Ruiz Jarillo, Ricard Gutiérrez). See two photos below (Ricard Gutiérrez). Three remained at the harbour on 22.1 (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat).

(6) Pla d’Urgell. The adult seen at Estany d’Ivars i Vila-Sana, Ivars d’Urgell, Pla d’Urgell on 18.12.2019 was seen again on 4.1 (Quim Minoves).

(7) Pla de l’Estany. A 2cy bird, different from that seen last December, was seen at Estany de  Banyoles, Pla de l’Estany, on 25.1 (Guillem Saguer @ornitho.cat).

• Gavià Caspi / Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans (n=2)

(1) Tarragonès. There was a 3w/4cy at Tarragona harbour on 6.1 (Camilo Albert). See photos below.

(2) Baix Ebre. A 2cy presumed hybrid argentatus x cachinnans was seen at l’Ametlla de Mar harbour, Baix Ebre, on 30.1 (Xavier Riera). It was ringed with a yellow PVC ring with code XEVA and it came from Germany. Photographed in the afternoon (Sergi Sales), see below.

• Graula / Rook Corvus frugilegus (n=10)

(1-10) Alt Empordà. There were eight birds at Figueres, Alt Empordà on 21.1 (Albert Campsolinas @birdingemporda.com). Ten were seen also at Figueres on 24.1 (Manel Barrios @birdingemporda.com) and two at Vilamacolum, Alt Empordà on 24.1 too (Sergi Sales). On 26.1 there were 10 at Figueres, Alt Empordà (Jordi Martí-Aledo @birdingempordà.com).

• Cornella emmantellada / Hooded Crow Corvus cornix (n=7)

(1-5) Baix Llobregat. There were two birds at El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat on 1.1 (Pau Esteban @ornitho.cat). On 5.1 there were 5 a Parc de la Muntanyeta, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Carlos M.V. @ornitho.cat). On 8.1 there was one at Sant Boi too (Rafael González de Lucas @ornitho.cat), plus three more in another part of the village (José Antonio García Moreno @ornitho.cat). Five were seen again at Parc de la Muntanyeta, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Xavier Parra @ornitho.cat). On 22.1 a bird was seen at Alcampo comercial park, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Sergi Sales).  The same day 22, four were at Ca l’Inglada road, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Jordi Ruestes @ornitho.cat). Four were at Can Dimoni, Sant Boi de Llobregat, on 25.1 (Carlos Nos @eBird). On 27.1 there were three at Camí de ca l’Inglada, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat (Xavi Larruy @ornitho.cat) and two at Nelson Mandela bridge, El Prat de Llobregat (Xavi Larruy @ornitho.cat).

(6) Vallès Occidental. There was one at Palau de Plegamans, Palau Solità i Plegamans, Vallès Occidental on 7.1 (Albert Mazarico @ornitho.cat). The bird was seen with a Carrion Crow carrying something which seemed material. On 8.1 it was seen at Sentmenat, Vallès Occidental (Israel Estopà @ornitho.cat).

(7) Baix Empordà. A bird was seen on 7.1 at Ter river, Torroella de Montgrí, Baix Empordà (Santi Ramos, Anna Planella, Albert Burgas @birdingemporda.com). Also seen on 8.1 at Mas Pla ricefields, Baix Ter (Xavi Larruy, Joan Ventura, Dani Burgas @birdingemporda.com).

• Tallarol xerraire / Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca (n=1)

(1) Vallès Oriental. There was a bird near Granollers library, Vallès Oriental, on 24.1 (Oriol Baena).

• Còlit del desert / Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (n=1)

(1) Montsià. The bird found on 7.12.2019 in the middle of Delta de l’Ebre, Amposta, Montsià, at camí de Pescadors, sèquia de l’Agulla bridge contined at the same place in 2020: 1.1 (Javier Subirats, Toni Carulla, Pep Gassó, Jaume Albaigés, Anna Palacin i Manolo Sánchez-Blanch; José Guerra, Marc Gàlvez @eBird; Jaume Prat @ornitho.cat), 2.1 (Sergi Sales @eBird; Pau García Campderròs @eBird; Enric Ortega, Jofre Sendrós, Jordi Jover, Josep Bel, Eduard Batista @ornitho.cat ); 3.1 (Cristóbal Mestre, Roger Guillem @ornitho.cat; Ramón Ruiz Jarillo); 4.1 (Carles Oliver @eBird; Víctor Iglesias -photo below-; Quique Carballal, Oriol Muntané, Lluís Toldrà, Albert Lozano i Frank Capdevila). Seen again on 5.1 (Carles Durà, Xavier Parra, Montse Gutiérrez, Jordi Sala @ornitho.cat), 8.1 (Ricard Gutiérrez), 9.1 (David Bigas et al) and 10.1 (Iago Brugnolli, Ricard Gutiérrez). On 11.1 it was seen again (Oriol Cortés, Sergi Fernández @ornitho.cat) and 12.1 (Joan Pujol @ornitho.cat). On 13.1 it was still there (Hubert Mas @ornitho.cat) but on 18.1 it showed a damaged wing, while still present at the same place (Arnau Soler, Ramón Iglesias, Diego Callau).

• Piula grossa / Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi (n=1)

(1) Montsià. There was a bird at Migjorn grassfields, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 27.1 (Quim Minoves).