January 2018 Bird News

© Ricard Gutiérrez

Gener 2018 / January 2018

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 2018

Destacats / Highlights

El gener de 2018 ens ha portat els gavians escassos habituals: els argentats de Tarragona, un al delta de l’Ebre, i un de Barcelona que és repetidor a un col·legi. També uns quants caspis, no sempre als llocs habituals: Pla de l’Estany o La Selva. De Piules grosses han aparegut al delta de l’Ebre però també al Pla d’Urgell. Els exemplars habituals són al seu lloc: daurada petita del Pacífic, gamba groga petita, cabussons orelluts, mosquiter comú siberià i l’habitual híbrid de martinet del Delta del ‘Ebre. Han mancat altres anàtides rares com ara èider, morell d’ulls grocs o bec de serra gros que altres hiverns havien aparegut.

[January 2018 has  brought the scarce usual gulls: the Herring Gulls from Tarragona, another from Ebre delta and then one at Barcelona, frequenting a school. There have beeen a number of Caspian Gulls, some in rather unexpected sites as Pla de l’Estany or La Selva. Richard’s Pipit has been detected in the Ebre delta but in Pla d’Urgell too. The usual birds are at their respective sites: Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Slavonian Grebes and Siberian Chiffchaff plus the almost resident presumed hybrid Egret of Ebre delta. Other  ‘expected’ rarities, mostly scarce ducks, have not reached us this winter. It’s the case of Goosander, Eider or Goldeneye]

Remember when…

  • Fa 15 anys / 15 years ago

There was a Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena at Roses bay, Girona on 16.1.2003 (J.Martí

© R.Gutiérrez

Aledo, T.Montràs). The three 1st winter White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons seen the 2002 autumn at Llobregat delta were relocated during the january wildfowl count at Ricarda lagoon, El Prat de Llobregat (X.Larruy, J.Farreny, G.Siré et al). A Corncrake Crex crex crashed into a window at El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona on 3.1. It was brought to the town council where it was identified by their biologists (E. de Roa, P.Esteban). Later it was brought to the Llobregat delta NR and the recovery center (F.López). The bird was successfully recovered at Torreferrussa Center and was released at Maresma de les Filipines,Viladecans, Llobregat delta, Barcelona on 8.1 (Ferran López).

  • Fa 10 anys / 10 years ago.
© J.Ardaiz 5.1.2008

The two Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii at Mas de Bombita area, near Canal Vell lagoon, Deltebre, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona coming from late December 2007 were still in the area on 2-4.1 (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé) to 12.1 (Pablo Galiano, Xoan Ximenis; Isabel Bischoping, José Ruiz i Toni Alcocer) but on 13.1 the birds moved to Buda island (Clemente Álvarez, Pablo Fernandez, Toni Alcocer) where they remained on 14.1(Oriol Clarabuch).

On 10.1 a Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor was found at Punta de la Banya reserve,

© J.Ardaiz

Ebre Delta, Montsià (Ferran Blanch). It was still there on 22.1 (Ricard Gutiérrez). First case of wintering of Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos happened that winter: on 5.1, a bird was seen and photographed on ricefields near mas de la Comandanta, Deltebre, Delta de l’Ebre (José Ardaiz, Josep Tantull, Roser Solé). It was Seen again on 7.1 (Aimara Planillo, Asier Gómez, Cristian Jensen) and on 10.1 (Stephen Cristopher).

  • Fa 5 anys / 5 years ago
© F.López, 13.1.2013

An adult Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor reached the Punta de la Banya reserve, at Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 14.1 (Carles Domingo). On 16.1 it was still there, when photographed. It was unringed (Ricard Gutiérrez). The returning adult Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia, seen in Cambrils, Baix Camp on 27.12.2012 was photographed again on 5.1.2013 (Camilo Albert) and seen again on 8.1 (Edu Gràcia, Alfons Alier, Daniel Díaz-Diethelm at ornitho.cat) and 13.1 (Albert Cama, Marxalen Pauly, Ferran López, José Angel Lahoz i Alberto Somoza). On 18.1 two Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus were seen near Baqueira Beret sky resort at Naut Aran, Val d’Aran, Lleida (Marc Alonso).

© Cristian Jensen/ Audouin Birding Tours 16.1.2013

On 12-13.1.2013, a male Caspian Stonechat Saxicola maurus hemprichii was found at Erms de la Tancada, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona (Josep Tantull, Roser Solé). The bird was relocated on 16.1 (Carles Domingo, Jordi Martí-Aledo; Ricard Gutiérrez) when photographed again too. Also present later on the afternoon of 16.1 (Cristian Jensen/Audouin Birding Tours) and 19.1 (Juan Sagardía, Óscar Llama, José Portillo, Josep Tantull, Roser Solé, Vittorio Pedrocchi, Sergi Fernandez, Josep Bujons, Ferran López, Rafael Armada, J.Luis Copete et al). But not on 20.1 perhaps due to strong (up to 120 km/h) winds. Last seen on 22.1 morning (Gorka Gorospe).

 

Novetats Gener 2018 / Bird News January 2018

  •  Híbrid de Martinet dels Esculls i Martinet blanc/ Presumed hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta (n=1)

(1) Montsià. The bird seen at Poble Nou ricefields, near Alfacs bay, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià
since 2002 (David Bigas in litt.) was seen again on 5.1 (Carles Oliver). The bird was seen again on 11.1 (Sergi Sales, Ricard Gutiérrez) . See photos below. Seen again on 16.1 (Carles Sànchez @ ornitho.cat)

© Sergi Sales, 11.1.2018
© Sergi Sales, 11.1.2018
© Ricard Gutiérrez, 11.1.2018

 

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

(1)  Baix Ebre. The bird seen near l’Ampolla, at Fangar bay, Delta de l’Ebre, Baix Ebre since December 2017 was still there on 1.1.2018 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch). On 12.1 it was still off l’Arenal, l’Ampolla (Sergi Sales; Manolo Sánchez-Blanch). And on 20.1 and 31.1 too (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch).

(2) Montsià. The bird found at Els Alfacs bay, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Delta de l’Ebre, Montsià on 14.12 was seen again on 6.1 (Manolo Sánchez-Blanch, Javier Subirats, Anna Palacín).

 

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

(1) Montsià. The Pacific Golden Plover seen during the previous months was relocated during the January winter count on 9-10.1.2018 at Mas de la Comandanta ricefields, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Montsià (David Bigas / PNDE, see a photo below). On 12.1 however, it was seen in the other part of the Delta, at Deltebre, SW of Canal Vell lagoon (Gunnar Gundersen). It is the first time that this individual has been reported in the Baix Ebre comarca.

Pluvialis fulva
© David Bigas, 10.1.2018

 

  • Gamba groga petita / Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (n=1)

(1) Baix Empordà. The 1w seen last month at Pals ricefields, near Basses d’en Coll, Pals, Baix Empordà was seen again on 4.1 (Joan Estrada Jofra, Montse Jofra, Víctor Estrada @ birdingemporda.com) and 5.1 (Albert Burgas @ ornitho.cat). On 7.1 (Carles Oliver) and 8.1 it was  still at Pals ricefields, Baix Empordà  (Josep Bosch @ ornitho.cat). It was seen again on 12.1 (Bob McMillan), see two photos below. On 15.1 it was still there (Joan Goy @ ornitho.cat) but it was not seen on 18.1. Also seen also the following week: 21.1 (Martí Franch & Albert Burgas @ ornitho.cat), 24.1 (Anthony Chaillou, David Thibault @ ornitho.cat) and 25.1 (Carles Sánchez @ ornitho.cat). The bird was seen again in February 2018.

Tringa flavipes
© Bob McMillan 12.1.2018
Tringa flavipes
© Bob McMillan, 12.1.2018

 

  • Gavià argentat / Herring Gull Larus argentatus (n=6)
Larus argentatus
© Sergi Sales

(1-3) Tarragonès. There were three birds at the Tarragona harbour during January: an adult and two 1w. On 7.1 the adult and two 1w were seen (Camilo Albert @ ornitho.cat). One of the 1w, the palest, was seen again on 9-10.1 (Camilo Albert @ ornitho.cat). On 13.1 this pale 1w and the adult were seen again (Camilo Albert, Raül Aymí @ ornitho.cat). And the three birds were seen altogether on 14.1 (Camilo Albert @ornitho.cat). On 20.1 the adult was seen (Albert Cama, Sergi Sales, Carolina García, Ricard Gutiérrez; Camilo Albert), see two photos;  the pale 1w too (Albert Cama, Sergi Sales, Carolina García, Ricard Gutiérrez), see a photo below; and the other darker 1w too (Camilo Albert), so the three birds remained in the area. The three birds were seen again on 20.1 and one of the 1w on 21.1 (Camilo Albert). On 28.1 the two 1w were seen again (Camilo Albert) and on 29.1 the three birds as well (Camilo Albert) but only the two 1w on 31.1 (Camilo Albert @ ornitho.cat).

Larus argentatus
1w © Ricard Gutiérrez
Larus argentatus
© Ricard Gutiérrez

(4) Barcelonès. The usual adult visiting Lestonnac school at Barcelona visited the area on 8.1 (Eduard Batista @ ornitho.cat).

(5) Montsià. There was an adult bird at  Migjorn, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Montsià, on 11.1 (David  Bigas/ PNDE).

(6) Osona. There was an adult at Roda de Ter, at Puig-neró property, Osona, on 27.1 (Jordi Faus, Martí Franch @ ornitho .cat).

 

  • Gavià del Caspi / Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans (n=  13)

(1) Baix Llobregat . On 4.1,  a 1w was seen at the Llobregat river under the Nelson Mandela bridge, El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat (Ferran López). On 23.1 another (or the same) 1w bird was seen at the Nelson Mandela bridge (Ferran López). Later relocated too (Jaroa López).

(2) Pla de l’Estany. On 4.1 a 1w was seen at Puigpalter dump, Banyoles, Pla de l’Estany (Gerard Dalmau). See a photo below and a small thumbnail here too.

(3-4) Pla de l’Estany. There were two birds on 11.1 at Abocador de Puigpalter, Porqueres, Pla de l’Estany (Joan Goy, Gerard Dalmau). It is not clear if one of them is the (2) bird (see above). Both seen also on 12.1 at Estany de Banyoles (Gerard Dalmau), see a photo below.

 

© Gerard Dalmau 4.1.2018
Larus cachinnans
© Gerard Dalmau, 12.1.2018

(5-6) Tarragonès. There were two different birds at Tarragona harbour. On 7.1 a 1w was found (Raül Aymí; Camilo Albert ). On 13.1 this same bird was seen again (Camilo Albert; Raül Aymí) but on 15.1 a new 1w appeared in the same area (Camilo Albert). See photos below. One of these was seen again on 27.1 (Raül Aymí @ ornitho.cat) and 28.1 (Camilo Albert @ ornitho.cat).

© Camilo Albert, 7.1.2018
© Camilo Albert 15.1.2018

(7) La Selva. A 1w was seen and photographed at Lloret de Mar beach, La Selva, on 17.1 (Ricard Gutiérrez), see two photos below. On 18.1 it was seen again (Ricard Gutiérrez, Sergi Sales).

© Ricard Gutiérrez
© Ricard Gutiérrez

(8-9) Tarragonès. An adult and a different 1w were seen at Tarragona harbour on 21.1 (Camilo Albert). See a photo below.

© Camilo Albert 21.1.2018

(10-11) Gironès. Two 2cy were seen at Solius dump, Llagostera, Gironès on 21.1 (Carlos Álvarez-Cros @ ornitho.cat). One was there on 27.1 (Carlos Álvarez-Cros @ ornitho.cat).

© David Bigas

(12) Baix Ebre. A 1w was seen at L’Ametlla de Mar harbour on 23.1 (David Bigas, Julia Piccardo). See two photos enclosed.

 

 

 

 

 

© David Bigas

(13) Tarragonès. A different 1w was seen at Tarragona harbour on 28-31.1 (Camilo Albert). See a photo below.

© Camilo Albert 31.1.2018
  • Cornella emmantellada / Hooded Crow Corvus cornix (n=5)

(1-5) Baix Llobregat/ Barcelonès. There were three birds lingering  between Zona Franca, near Mercabarna (2.1, Víctor Cañadas @ ornitho.cat) and El Prat de Llobregat (4.1, Feliu López @ornitho.cat, two birds) but not always fixed to a concrete place but rather mobile. On 9.1 there were 3 ind at El Prat de Llobregat, Baix Llobregat (Xavier Parra @ http://ornitho.cat  ), two were seen on 10.1 at 11 de Setembre street, El Prat de Llobregat (Mondejar Manuel @ornitho.cat) and two more were seen for a while at Llobregat river, by Nelson Mandela bridge on 13.1 (Ricard Gutiérrez,  Carolina García, Belén Pérez, Emma Sans et al). On 14.1 one was at Constitució square of El Prat de Llobregat (Sergi Sales). On 18.1 there were 5 individuals at El Prat de Llobregat between c/ Tarragona and Ctra la Bunyola, Baix Llobregat. They were feeding near the cars, see photos below (Darío Fernández). On 19.1 one was seen near the river mouth (Ferran López) and on 20.1 one was at Nelson Mandela bridge (Robert Manzano @ ornitho.cat) and two were seen flying towards the river (Javier Valladares @ ornitho.cat). The birds are mobile but prefer to remain close to El Prat town. The crows continue showing mostly within a radius of 5 km from El Prat de Llobregat: 23.1 at the place they bred in 2017 (Marc Gàlvez, José Guerra), on 24.1, one at Nelson Mandela bridge (Víctor Cañadas @ ornitho.cat), on 25.1 three at the same place (Jaume Campderròs) and two at the river mouth, perhaps part of the three mentioned below or the two lacking to be the 5 individual group present in the area (Ferran López). Two were at the river mouth on 31.1  (Ferran López).

Corvus cornix
© Ricard Gutiérrez, 13.1.2018
Corvus cornix
© Darío Fernández
Corvus cornix
© Darío Fernández
Corvus cornix
© Darío Fernández
  • Mosquiter comú siberià / Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis (n=1)

(1) Baix Llobregat. The bird found in November at Bassa dels Pollancres, Maresma de les Filipines, Delta del Llobregat, Viladecans, Baix Llobregat remained in the area on 3.1 (Àlex Sastre, Pau Ortega @ ornitho.cat). The bird was seen again on 5.1 (Pers.com. to Paco Torres @ ornitho.cat). The bird at Bassa dels Pollancres was seen intermitently during the 2nd week of January: 9.1.2018 (Xavier Parra @ http://ornitho.cat ), 11.1 (Jaume Campderròs @ ornitho.cat; Ferran López). The bird was reported again on 18.1 (Néstor Carmona@ ornitho.cat). Seen again on  24.1 (Antoni Ferro de La Fuente @ ornitho.cat) and 25.1 (Jaume Campderròs; Havier Notario @ eBird).

 

  • Piula grossa / Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi (n=5)

(1-2) Montsià. On 10.1 a bird was seen near Mas de la Comandanta, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Montsià (Ricard Gutiérrez), see a record shot below. This bird is one of the two seen in the area in October that had been seen in the area in the autumn (David Bigas pers.com.). On 12.1 one or perhaps two birds were seen also there (Sergi Sales).

© Ricard Gutiérrez 11.1.2018

(3) Montsià. On 10.1 a new bird was seen at Mas del Madrilenyo, El Serrallo, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Montsià (David Bigas /PNDE).

(4) Montsià. On 15.1 a new bird, or bird (2) having moved, was seen at Villareal, Arrossars Illa de Riu, Sant Jaume d’Enveja (David  Bigas, Yago Brugnoli, Laura Lix, Mona Burtz). See a photo below (David Bigas/PNDE).

Anthus richardi
© David Bigas / PNDE

(5) Pla d’Urgell. On 20.1 a bird was reported from Vilanova de Bellpuig, Pla d’Urgell (Joan Carles Bellido @ ornitho.cat).