A list of the most notable records in Extremadura in April 2011, most taken from the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.
-Barnacle Goose: one bird at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 24/04 (Godfried Schreur, Martin Kelsey).
- Egyptian Goose: possibly the same bird seen at two ponds in Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres): at Valverdejo on 11/04 and at Fresnedillas on 14/04 (Ricardo Montero).
-Garganey: one drake at Galisteo Lake(Cáceres) on 5/04 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Red Crested Pochard: possible breeding; 5 drakes and one female at a small reservoir in northern Badajoz on 24/04 (Ángel Sánchez and Ángel Luis Sánchez).
-Glossy Ibis: 2 at Montijo Reservoir (Badajoz) on 3/04 (Jesús Solana).
-Grey Heron: colony with 185 nests on the island of Borbollón Reservoir(Cáceres) on 12/04 (Jes·s Montero, Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Osprey: single birds on passage at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 2/04 (César Clemente and Javier Mahillo), 6/04 (G. Schreur) and 30/04 (José Guerra and Marc Gálvez). One bird at River Tiétar, Valdeíñigos (Cáceres) on 2/04 (Pepe Guisado and Pilar Goñi). On 7/04 one bird at Casas de Belvís (Cáceres) (C. Clemente) and another at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey). One at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 20/04 (G. Schreur).
-Long-Legged Buzzard (rarity; pending acceptance): one bird at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres) on 3/04 (Stephen Daly) and 2 adults at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 24/04 (Javier Esteban).
-Goshawk: single birds at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 2/04 (Eva Palacios, Jesús Porras and S. Mayordomo), 9/04 (S. Mayordomo) and 27/04 (M. Kelsey). One at Monfragüe on 14/04 (Juan José Díaz).
-Montagu's Harrier: melanistic bird at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 5/04 (R. Montero).
-Purple Swamphen: first record for Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres): one bird on 30/04 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
-Baillon's Crake: one bird at River Gargáligas on 8/04 (J. Muddeman) and on 13/04; on the latter occasion another Baillon's Crake or Little Crake was seen nearby (Steve Fletcher).
-Lapwing: 2 pairs at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 5/04 (S. Mayordomo), 3 birds on 12/04 (J. Prieta) and one on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Brozas (Cáceres) on 6/04 (Á. Sánchez). Single birds at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 7/04 and 12/04 (M. Kelsey). Ten pairs at La Albuera (Badajoz) on 18/04 (Á. Sánchez and J. Fernández).
-Kentish Plover: 2 birds at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 8/04 (John Muddeman), 8 on 12/04 and 2 on 21/04 (Martin Kelsey).
-Curlew: one bird at Montijo Reservoir (Badajoz) on 3/04 (Jesús Solana).
-Bar-Tailed Godwit: female in summer plumage at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 21/04 (M. Kelsey).
-Great Snipe (rarity; pending acceptance): first record for Extremadura: 3 birds at Madrigalejo (Cáceres) on 1/04 (Roberto Cabo, Uwe George).
-Spotted Redshank: one at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 24/04 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey).
-Wood Sandpiper: one bird at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 5/04 (S. Mayordomo) and two on 12/04 (J. Prieta).
-Curlew Sandpiper: 2 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Temminck's Stint: one at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 22/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Common Tern: 4 birds at Sierra Brava Reservoir(Cáceres) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Black Tern: one at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 21/04 (M. Kelsey) and 5 at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 23/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Whiskered Tern: summer plumaged bird at River Guadiana, Mérida (Badajoz) on 2/04 (M. Kelsey). 8 birds in breeding plumage at Valdesequera (Badajoz) on 9/04 (Á. L. Sánchez). 12 birds at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 12/04 (M. Kelsey). 15 at La Albuera (Badajoz) on 18/04 (Á. Sánchez and J. Fernández). Several at the lakes of Torremejía (Badajoz) on 21/04 (Á. Sánchez). On 23/04 8 birds were seen at Arroyoconejos Reservoir(Badajoz) (Antonio Núñez), several at the Roman Bridge of Mérida (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez) and one at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Long-Eared Owl: adult with 2 fledgling chicks at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 3/04 (D. Langlois, J. Muddeman and S. Langlois). One seen on an island of Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird heard at Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres) on 13/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and another at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 18/04 (C. Clemente and J. Mahillo).
-Short-Eared Owl: one bird at Campiña Sur (Badajoz) on 23/04 (A. Núñez).
-Wryneck: at least one bird seen and heard at Villanueva de la Vera throughout the whole of April, with a peak of 3 on 16/04 (Dave Langlois and Sammy Langlois). Two males singing at Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres) on 10/04 (J. Prieta).
-Bearded Tit: single birds at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 3/04 and 8/04 and two on 23/04 (M. Kelsey).
-Iberian Chiffchaff: one bird at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 8/04 and another at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 24/04 (M. Kelsey).
-Grasshopper Warbler: one bird at Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres) on 13/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo), another at River Guadiana, Badajoz, on 15/04 (J. C. Paniagua) and another at Plasencia Reservoir(Cáceres) on 22/04 (J. Prieta).
-Sedge Warbler: one bird at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 3/04 (José Antonio López and Óscar Llama). Single birds at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 5/04 (S. Mayordomo) and 12/04 (J. Prieta). One bird in a wheat field at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 7/04 (M. Kelsey). One bird at River Gargáligas, Vegas Altas (Badajoz), on 8/04 (J. Muddeman). One bird at River Guadiana, Badajoz, on 14/04 and two on 23/04 (J. C. Paniagua). One bird in an oats field at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Moustached Warbler: One bird at River Guadiana, Puente Viejo, Badajoz, on 2/04 (J. C. Paniagua).
-Garden Warbler: 2 birds at Vegas Altas (Badajoz) on 12/04 (M. Kelsey). At Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres), one bird on 16/04 and 17/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois). One bird at Valdastillas (Cáceres) on 27/04 (J. Prieta).
-Ring Ouzel: one bird at Los Canchales Reservoir(Badajoz) on 6/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Whinchat: 2 males at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 7/04 (J. Prieta). On 8/04 3 females and one male were seen at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) and 4 males at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 9/04 and another at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey). One male at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 14/04 (R. Montero). One male at Cáceres on 18/04 (S. Mayordomo). Ten birds between Almendralejo, Hinojosa and Ribera del Fresno (Badajoz) on 21/04 (Á. Sánchez). One female at Mirandilla (Badajoz) on 27/04 (J. Ledo). Two birds at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 28/04 (M. Kelsey).
-Tawny Pipit: 5 birds at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 4/04 (M. Kelsey). 4 birds at Brozas (Cáceres) on 6/04 (Á. Sánchez). On 8/04 one bird at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo), another at Arrocampo (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey) and another at Trujillo (Cáceres) (J. Muddeman). On 9/04, 2 birds at Acehúche (Cáceres) (Iván Solana) and one at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey). At Cáceres 3 birds on 16/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 5 on 18/04 (S. Mayordomo). On 28/04, 2 at Valdesalor, Cáceres, (S. Mayordomo) and another at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey).
FIRST SUMMER VISITORS
-Honey Buzzard: one bird at Grimaldo, Cañaveral (Cáceres), on 15/04 (Raúl Guzmán) and one on passage over Plasencia on 28/04 (J. Prieta).
-Hobby: one bird at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Villanueva de la Vera on 16/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Little Tern: 2 birds at Badajoz on 23/04 (J. C. Paniagua), another 2 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 24/04 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey) and another 2 at Cornalvo (Badajoz) on 26/04 (José Ledo).
-Gull-Billed Tern: 30 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 7/04 (M. Kelsey) and over 40 on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Turtle Dove: one bird at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 14/04 (M. Kelsey). On 17/04 one was seen at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) (J. C. Paniagua) and another at Belvís de Monroy (Cáceres) (G. Schreur).
-White-Rumped Swift: one at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 27/04 (M. Kelsey) and several on 29/04 (R. Montero).
-European Nightjar: one singing at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 26/04 (D. Langlois).
-Red-Necked Nightjar: one at Pago de San Clemente, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 10/04 (M. Kelsey) and another at Serrejón (Cáceres) on 12/04 (Manuel García).
-Golden Oriole: 2 birds at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 11/04 (S. Langlois) and three on 13/04 (D. Langlois). One bird at Casas del Castañar (Cáceres) on 13/04 (J. Prieta).
-Melodious Warbler: One bird at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman) and another at Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres) on 10/04 (J. Prieta).
-Whitethroat: birds on passage: one at Mérida (Badajoz) on 6/04 (J. Muddeman) and two at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres)on 8/04 (S. Mayordomo). In breeding habitat: 2 males at Piornal (Cáceres) on 8/04 (J. Prieta).
-Spectacled Warbler: on 5/04 one bird was seen at Piornal (Cáceres) (J. Prieta) and two at Jaraicejo (Cáceres) (J. Muddeman). Two birds at Jaraicejo (Cáceres) on 10/04 (M. Kelsey). One male at Cáceres on 18/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Rock Thrush: 12 birds on passage in the central sierras of Badajoz on 16/04 (Á. Sánchez). In breeding habitat: one bird at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 20/04 (G. Schreur).
-Spotted Flycatcher: present at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 29/04 (C. Clemente).
-Pied Flycatcher: birds on passage: one male at Mérida (Badajoz) on 6/04 (J. Muddeman). Another at Parque del Príncipe, Cáceres on 10/04 (R. Montero). In breeding habitat: one male at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 15/04 (J. Prieta) and 10 territorial males at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 23/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robin: on 28/04 3 pairs were seen at Montehermoso (Cáceres) (J. Mahillo) and one bird at Ahigal (Cáceres) (R. Montero).
-Redstart: one female at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 7/04 and one male at Cabañas del Castillo (Cáceres) on 10/04 (M. Kelsey). One male singing at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 14/04 (D. Langlois). Another at La Codosera (Badajoz) on 16/04 (G. Schreur). One pair at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 17/04 (J. C. Paniagua). Two males at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 23/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Ortolan Bunting: one bird at Piornal (Cáceres) on 15/04 (J. Prieta). One bird at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 20/04 (G. Schreur). One bird on passage at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 25/04 (M. Kelsey).
LINGERING WINTER VISITORS AND SPRING MIGRANTS
-Wigeon: pair at Sierra Brava Reservoir(Cáceres) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Pintail: pair at Sierra Brava Reservoir(Cáceres) on 24/04 (G. Schreur).
-Teal: pair at Galisteo Lake(Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Prieta).
-Hen Harrier: one bird at Badajoz on 18/04 (Á. Sánchez and J. Fernández) and one bird at Talaván (Cáceres) on 21/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Breeding cannot be ruled out.
-Crane: one bird at Mohedas de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 1/04 (Alberto Pacheco). One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 8/04 (M. Kelsey). One bird flying with difficulty on the island of Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Montero, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One juvenile at Dehesa Boyal of Talaván on 21/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and on 24/04 (J. Esteban).
-Snipe: one bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 12/04 (M. Kelsey), three at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo) and one bird at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 22/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Chiffchaff: one male singing on the island of Borbollón Reservoir(Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Montero, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Wheatear: two females at Llanos de Cáceres on 28/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Meadow Pipit: 5 birds at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 7/04 (J. Prieta). 6 at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 8/04 and three at Torreorgaz (Cáceres) on 14/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Reed Bunting: one female at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 3/04 (J. A. López and O. Llama).
FIRST SUMMER VISITORS
-Honey Buzzard: one bird at Grimaldo, Cañaveral (Cáceres), on 15/04 (Raúl Guzmán) and one on passage over Plasencia on 28/04 (J. Prieta).
-Hobby: one bird at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Villanueva de la Vera on 16/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Little Tern: 2 birds at Badajoz on 23/04 (J. C. Paniagua), another 2 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 24/04 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey) and another 2 at Cornalvo (Badajoz) on 26/04 (José Ledo).
-Gull-Billed Tern: 30 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 7/04 (M. Kelsey) and over 40 on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Turtle Dove: one bird at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 14/04 (M. Kelsey). On 17/04 one was seen at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) (J. C. Paniagua) and another at Belvís de Monroy (Cáceres) (G. Schreur).
-White-Rumped Swift: one at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 27/04 (M. Kelsey) and several on 29/04 (R. Montero).
-European Nightjar: one singing at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 26/04 (D. Langlois).
-Red-Necked Nightjar: one at Pago de San Clemente, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 10/04 (M. Kelsey) and another at Serrejón (Cáceres) on 12/04 (Manuel García).
-Golden Oriole: 2 birds at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 11/04 (S. Langlois) and three on 13/04 (D. Langlois). One bird at Casas del Castañar (Cáceres) on 13/04 (J. Prieta).
-Melodious Warbler: One bird at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman) and another at Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres) on 10/04 (J. Prieta).
-Whitethroat: birds on passage: one at Mérida (Badajoz) on 6/04 (J. Muddeman) and two at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres)on 8/04 (S. Mayordomo). In breeding habitat: 2 males at Piornal (Cáceres) on 8/04 (J. Prieta).
-Spectacled Warbler: on 5/04 one bird was seen at Piornal (Cáceres) (J. Prieta) and two at Jaraicejo (Cáceres) (J. Muddeman). Two birds at Jaraicejo (Cáceres) on 10/04 (M. Kelsey). One male at Cáceres on 18/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Rock Thrush: 12 birds on passage in the central sierras of Badajoz on 16/04 (Á. Sánchez). In breeding habitat: one bird at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 20/04 (G. Schreur).
-Spotted Flycatcher: present at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 29/04 (C. Clemente).
-Pied Flycatcher: birds on passage: one male at Mérida (Badajoz) on 6/04 (J. Muddeman). Another at Parque del Príncipe, Cáceres on 10/04 (R. Montero). In breeding habitat: one male at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 15/04 (J. Prieta) and 10 territorial males at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 23/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robin: on 28/04 3 pairs were seen at Montehermoso (Cáceres) (J. Mahillo) and one bird at Ahigal (Cáceres) (R. Montero).
-Redstart: one female at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 7/04 and one male at Cabañas del Castillo (Cáceres) on 10/04 (M. Kelsey). One male singing at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 14/04 (D. Langlois). Another at La Codosera (Badajoz) on 16/04 (G. Schreur). One pair at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 17/04 (J. C. Paniagua). Two males at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 23/04 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
-Ortolan Bunting: one bird at Piornal (Cáceres) on 15/04 (J. Prieta). One bird at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) on 20/04 (G. Schreur). One bird on passage at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 25/04 (M. Kelsey).
LINGERING WINTER VISITORS AND SPRING MIGRANTS
-Wigeon: pair at Sierra Brava Reservoir(Cáceres) on 8/04 (J. Muddeman).
-Pintail: pair at Sierra Brava Reservoir(Cáceres) on 24/04 (G. Schreur).
-Teal: pair at Galisteo Lake(Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Prieta).
-Hen Harrier: one bird at Badajoz on 18/04 (Á. Sánchez and J. Fernández) and one bird at Talaván (Cáceres) on 21/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Breeding cannot be ruled out.
-Crane: one bird at Mohedas de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 1/04 (Alberto Pacheco). One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 8/04 (M. Kelsey). One bird flying with difficulty on the island of Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Montero, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One juvenile at Dehesa Boyal of Talaván on 21/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and on 24/04 (J. Esteban).
-Snipe: one bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 12/04 (M. Kelsey), three at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 15/04 (S. Mayordomo) and one bird at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 22/04 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Chiffchaff: one male singing on the island of Borbollón Reservoir(Cáceres) on 12/04 (J. Montero, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Wheatear: two females at Llanos de Cáceres on 28/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Meadow Pipit: 5 birds at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 7/04 (J. Prieta). 6 at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 8/04 and three at Torreorgaz (Cáceres) on 14/04 (S. Mayordomo).
-Reed Bunting: one female at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 3/04 (J. A. López and O. Llama).
