THE HOBBY IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

Hobby (Falco subuteo). Adult. John A. Thompson (taken from IBC).

In 2009-2010 SEO/BirdLife organized the first ever survey of nine diurnal woodland raptors (Palomino and Valls, 2011), the Hobby (Falco subbuteo) being one of the target species. Its estimated Extremadura population came out as 170 territories (range 140-200). This represents only 3.9% of the Spanish total (4410 territories), way below the figures for Castilla y León (1460) Galicia (650), Castilla-La Mancha (590) and Aragón (530). Extremadura's mean density is 0.4 territories per 100 km2, below the national mean of 0.9.

Broken down by provinces, Badajoz holds 120 territories and Cáceres 50. The densities (0.55 in Badajoz and 0.26 in Cáceres) are among Spain's lowest. In all it was detected in 7% of the 10k grids surveyed by means of lookout points (6% in Badajoz and 10% in Cáceres).

The Hobby has a patchy range in Extremadura, with the highest likelihood of sightings, and ipso facto the greatest abundance, in the eastern half of Badajoz and the southeast corner of Cáceres. There are also smaller population clusters in the Vegas del Guadiana and the centre of Badajoz. The map hardly predicts Hobby presence in pinewoods of the central mountain range, though there is in fact known to be a small population there. In general, the Hobby chooses in Spain cooler, low-rainfall, low-altitude areas with varied farmland scenery and nearby wetlands.

Predictive map of the Hobby's range in Spain, taken from Palomino and Valls (2011).

Car transects are not really a very suitable censusing method for this shy, retiring raptor. In Extremadura only 2 Hobbies were seen on average every thousand kilometres, matching exactly the average figure for Spain as a whole. It was detected in 7% of the surveyed 10k grids (3% in Badajoz and 11% in Cáceres). Of all the nine species studied, this species shows the lowest bird-per-kilometre figure both in Extremadura and Spain as a whole.

The Hobby's trend in Spain is unknown. The Spanish breeding birds monitoring project SACRE is not really suitable for surveying such a scarce, low-profile species. It shows a decline of 56% from 1998 to 2010 but this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Very little is known about the Hobby in Extremadura, so these findings are quite revealing. For example, this study threw up the first probable breeding record in such a heavily birded site as Monfragüe. Nonetheless the models obtained for this raptor in Spain are pretty inaccurate due to the low number of contacts. All the abovementioned information now needs to be confirmed in the field, especially in Badajoz, which records higher population figures than Cáceres even though the species has been observed 2-3 times less in the former province.

The fieldwork was coordinated and carried out by SEO volunteers and staff of the Environment Board of the Regional Council of Extremadura.

Source
- Palomino, D., y Valls, J. 2011. Las rapaces forestales en España. Población reproductora en 2009-2010 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [PDF]

THE SPARROW HAWK IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus). Adult female. Francis Martin.

The Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) was another one of the target species in the SEO/BirdLife-brokered national woodland raptor survey 2009-2010 (Palomino and Valls, 2011). The estimated Extremadura population came out as 690 territories (range 630-750). This represents 5% of the Spanish total (13,810 territories), ranking eighth behind Andalucía (4270), Galicia (1470), Castilla y León (1450), Aragón (1330), Castilla-La Mancha (1280), Valencia (810) and Catalunya (700). Extremadura's mean density is 1.7 territories per 100 km2, below the national mean (2.7) and ranking a modest 11th in Spain.

Broken down by provinces, Cáceres accounts for 430 territories and Badajoz 260. The densities (2.2 in Cáceres and 1.2 in Badajoz) are among the lowest in Spain. In all it was detected in 25% of the surveyed 10 k grids (20% in Badajoz and 30% in Cáceres).

The Sparrow Hawk has a somewhat patchy range in Extremadura, preferring the more wooded and mountainous areas. As with the Goshawk, the likelihood of a sighting is high in La Siberia and Las Villuercas y Los Ibores. Unlike the Goshawk, however, it is also fairly abundant in other areas, like the Sistema Central, Monfragüe, Montánchez, centre of Badajoz, Tentudía and Vegas Bajas del Guadiana. In Spain the Sparrow Hawk picks out the rainier areas with conifer woods, diverse landscape and warm months of May.

Predictive map of the Sparrow Hawk's range in Spain, taken from Palomino and Valls (2011).

Car transects are not really a very suitable censusing method for this shy, low-profile raptor. In Extremadura only 3 birds were seen on average every 1000 k, a somewhat lower figure than the mean for the whole of Spain (0.4 per 100 km). It was detected in 17% of the surveyed 10k grids (19% in Badajoz and 15% in Cáceres).

The Sparrow Hawk's trend in Spain is uncertain according to the breeding birds monitoring project SACRE; its trend within Extremadura is equally unsure.

The fieldwork was coordinated and carried out by SEO volunteers and staff of the Environment Board of the Regional Council of Extremadura.

Source:
- Palomino, D., and Valls, J. 2011. Las rapaces forestales en España. Población reproductora en 2009-2010 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [PDF]

SOCIABLE LAPWING IN LA SERENA . . . AGAIN

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius). Castuera, La Serena Badajoz. 12-12-2011.By Jan Hill and Les Battle.

At the end of last winter, on 13 March 2011, a Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) was seen in Castuera, La Serena (Badajoz) by Rodney Smith. Nine months later, on 12 December 2011, another bird, who knows if the same individual, was again spotted in Castuera. The lucky birders on this occasion were Jan Hill and Les Battle. As usual it was seen in a flock of (Northern) Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus). This time there is a photo to hand, no prizewinner it's true but beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. The bird was seen at kilometre point 77 of the 103 road to the north of Castuera (gravel track one k after white gates with the name "Hartosa año 1980"). Jan and Les tried to see it again the following day without success.

This is the fourth Extremadura record, all of them in Badajoz. The first two (2004 and 2008) have been officially accepted. The two 2011 sightings will have to wait in line for acceptance. An earlier blog post gives more details of the sightings in Extremadura and Spain of this bird, threatened on a worldwide level. Its IUCN conservation status is "Critically Endangered".

NOVEMBER 2011. Notable sightings in Extremadura

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). By Javier Briz.

- White Fronted Goose: At Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz): one juvenile on 13/11 (Marc Gálvez, Eva Palacios, José Guerra, María José Valencia, Sergio Mayordomo and Xurxo Piñeiro) and two adults on 20/11 with plumage features of the subspecies A. a. flavirostris (Dave Langlois and Sammy Langlois).
- Barnacle Goose: At Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz): one bird on 10/11 (Martin Kelsey), three on 13/11 (M. Gálvez, E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. J. Valencia, S. Mayordomo and X. Piñeiro), two on 20/11 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois) and one on 26/11 (Fran Molinos, José Mari Salazar, Juani, Javi, Mila, Mertxe and Agustín). One bird at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 18/11 (S. Mayordomo) and on 22/11 (Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Egyptian Goose: At Los Canchales reservoir (Badajoz): two birds on 1/11 (Francisco Lopo) and on 25/11 (F. Molinos, J. M. Salazar, Juani, Javi, Mila, Mertxe and Agustín). One bird at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 5/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Cubilar reservoir (Cáceres) on 13/11 (X. Piñeiro, E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. J. Valencia and S. Mayordomo).
- Shelduck: two birds at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres), on 1/11 (Javier Briz). Three birds at Los Canchales reservoir on 19/11 (Antonia Cangas, Elvira del Viejo, Pedro and Marina). One bird at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Teal: 480 birds at Cubilar reservoir (Cáceres) on 13/11 (X. Piñeiro, E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. J. Valencia and S. Mayordomo). 442 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 15/11 (J. Prieta).
- Red Crested Pochard: At Cubilar reservoir (Cáceres): one female on 13/11 (M. Gálvez, E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. J. Valencia, S. Mayordomo and X. Piñeiro) and three drakes on 15/11 (Paco Bernáldez). At Moheda Alta (Badajoz): one drake on 29/11 (M. Kelsey).
- Black Necked Grebe: One bird at a pond beside Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 5/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). At Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres), one bird from 18/11 to 26/11 (J. Prieta; E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 18/11 (Chris Mills). One bird at Cubilar reservoir (Cáceres) on 27/11 (Arantxa Murguiondo, Catalina Perera, Eva Bratek, José Carlos López, José Luis Bautista, Pablo Herrador and S. Mayordomo). One bird still at Ventaquemada reservoir, Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres), on 30/11 (S. Mayordomo and J. Prieta).
- Greater Flamingo: One bird at Los Canchales reservoir (Badajoz) on 19/11 (A. Cangas, E. del Viejo, Pedro and Marina).
- Pelican: One bird in flight near Don Benito (Badajoz) on 21/10 (Atanasio Fernández).
- Cormorant: 1000 birds at River Guadiana, Badajoz, on 11/11 (Juan Carlos Paniagua).
- Glossy Ibis: 70 birds at a mixed heron roost in Madrigalejo (Cáceres) in mid November 2011 (anonymous comment). The biggest flock ever seen in Extremadura.
- Spoonbill: Wintering birds: At El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), five birds on 6/11 (Carlos Fernández, Juanma Brías and Rafael Parra) and 12 on 28/11 (R. Parra). Three at Los Canchales reservoir on 19/11 (A. Cangas, E. del Viejo, Pedro and Marina). Three birds at Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 29/11 (Ricardo Montero and S. Mayordomo).
- Bittern: One bird at Santa Amalia on 1/11 (Fernando Yuste and Juan Pablo Prieto). One bird at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/11 (E. Palacios, Isabel Gallardo, Manuel García del Rey, Miguel Ángel Muñoz and S. Mayordomo).
- Little Bittern: Wintering birds: one at El Torviscal(Badajoz) on 5/11 (J. P. Prieto). On river Guadiana: three birds at Badajoz on 11/11 (J. C. Paniagua), one at Mérida on 13/11 (Á. Sánchez) and another three at Badajoz on 30/11 (J. C. Paniagua). One bird at Arrocampo reservoir on 16/11 (E. Palacios, I. Gallardo, M. García del Rey, M. Á, Muñoz and S. Mayordomo).
- Night Heron: Wintering birds: two birds at river Guadiana, Mérida (Badajoz), on 14/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- Squacco Heron: Wintering bird: one bird at Laguna los Hornos, Santa Amalia (Badajoz), on 6/11 (F. Yuste) and two on 12/11 (África Yuste and F. Yuste). At river Guadiana, Badajoz (Badajoz), one bird on 12/11 and 2 on 30/12 (J. C. Paniagua). At Palazuelo ricefields, one bird (Badajoz) on 13/11 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. J. Valencia, S. Mayordomo and X. Piñeiro) and two on 29/11 (M. Kelsey). On 18/11 one bird at El Batán ricefields (Cáceres) (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Great White Egret: On 13/11 11 birds were seen at Cubilar reservoir (Cáceres) (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. J. Valencia, S. Mayordomo and X. Piñeiro) and 20 at Los Canchales reservoir (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez).

Possible hybrid between Western Reef Egret and Little Egret (Egretta gularis x garzetta)
in a Little Egret flock (Egretta garzetta). Navalmoral de la Mata, 20.11.2011 (Javier Briz).

- Western Reef Egret x Little Egret: One probable hybrid on 18/11 and 20/11 at Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres) (J. Briz, M. García del Rey and Vicente Risco).
- White Stork: 1200 birds at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 6/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- Black Stork: Wintering birds: 18 birds on 4/11 at Canal de la Dehesas, Logrosán (Cáceres), and 3 immatures 6/11 at Mérida (Á. Sánchez). One bird at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 6/11 (C. Fernández, J. M. Brías and R. Parra). One bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 10/11 (M. Kelsey). One bird at on reservoir de Gargáligas (Badajoz) on 23/11 (E. Palacios, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Jarilla reservoir (Cáceres) on 30/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Osprey: Wintering bird: the habitual winter visitor has returned to de Gabriel y Galán reservoir (Cáceres) (Alberto Pacheco).
- Booted Eagle: Wintering birds: one light phase bird at Hinojosa del Valle (Badajoz) on 1/11 (Á. Sánchez, J. Sánchez e Isabel). One light phase bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 10/11 (M. Kelsey). One dark phase bird at river Gargáligas (Badajoz) on 20/11 (Lorenzo Alcántara). One bird at Gargáligas reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/11 (Jacobo Hernández and J. P. Prieto). One dark phase bird at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 25/11 (Javier Mahíllo).
- Goshawk: One bird at Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 23/11 (Helios Dalmau).
- Great Bustard: 50 birds at Vegas Altas (Badajoz) on 10/11 (M. Kelsey).
- Little Bustard: 300 birds at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 25/11 (Steve Fletcher).
- Crane: 32,200 birds in the central zone (Badajoz-Cáceres) on 18/11 (Manuel Gómez Calzado, Miguel Gómez Guarín and Ángel Nubla).
- Sandhill Crane: One bird between Palazuelo and El Torviscal (Badajoz) on 4/11 (M. Gómez Calzado). First ever record for Spain and Extremadura.
- Avocet: At Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz): one bird on 5/11 (J. P. Prieto) and 9/11 (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo) and 22 birds on 24/11 (J. Hernández and J. P. Prieto). One bird at Palazuelo ricefields (Badajoz) on 13/11 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. J. Valencia, S. Mayordomo and X. Piñeiro). 15 birds on 20/11 at Gabriel y Galán reservoir (Cáceres) (C. Mills). One bird at Portaje reservoir on 22/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Two birds, one ringed in France and another with a large tumour, at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 25/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 26/11 (J. Prieta).
- Kentish Plover: At Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz): 21 birds on 5/11, 28 on 8/11 (J. P. Prieto) and 8 on 9/11 (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo). Five birds at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 8/11 (F. Yuste). Five birds at Palazuelo ricefields (Badajoz) on 24/11 (J. Hernández and J. P. Prieto).
- Curlew: One bird at Gabriel y Galán reservoir (Cáceres) on 5/11 (A. Pacheco). One bird at Llanos de Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 8/11 and four at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 25/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Black Tailed Godwit: One bird at Galisteo ricefield on 25/11 (E. Palacios and S.Mayordomo) and 26/11 (J. Prieta).
- Woodcock: One bird at Mohedas de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 14/11 (A. Pacheco) and another on 22/11 and 23/11 at Trujillo (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey).
- Spotted Redshank: One bird at the following sites: Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 4/11 (R. Montero and S. Mayordomo); El Torviscal(Badajoz) on 9/11 (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo); Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 18/11 (S. Mayordomo); and El Batán (Cáceres) on 22/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 25/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), right, and Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). By Juan Pablo Prieto.

- Wood Sandpiper: One bird at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) on 5/11 (J. P. Prieto) and another at El Torviscal(Badajoz) on 9/11 (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo).
- Dunlin: 600 birds at Santa Amalia ricefields (Badajoz) on 8/11 (F. Yuste) and 180 at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) on 9/11 (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo).
- Mediterranean Gull: One first-winter bird at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 6/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- Little Tern: Wintering bird: at river Guadiana, Mérida (Badajoz), one bird on 14/11 and 29/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- Pintailed Sandgrouse: 170 birds at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 7/11 (M. Kelsey).
- Stock Dove: 231 birds at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 2/11 (J. Prieta). 36 birds at Portaje (Cáceres) on 5/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). 56 birds in flight over Plasencia on 17/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). 25 birds at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 18/11 (J. Prieta).
- Short Eared Owl: One bird at Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres) on 28/11 (R. Parra).
- Pallid Swift: At Alange (Badajoz): six birds on 29/11 and seven flying into building niches at dusk on 30/11 (Jesús Solana).
- Wryneck: Wintering birds: one bird at Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 7/11 (M. Kelsey), at Toril on 12/11 (J. Briz) and at Plasencia on 29/11 (S. Mayordomo).
- Chough: Eight birds at El Pitolero, Cabezabellosa (Cáceres), on 21/11 (R. Montero). Two birds at Arroyo reservoir Conejos (Badajoz) on 26/11 (Antonio Núñez, J. Solana and Vanessa de Alba).
- Carrion Crow: One bird at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 8/11 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- House Martin: Wintering birds: on 7/11, three 3 birds at Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua) and one at Plasencia (Cáceres) (J. Prieta). One bird in a Crag Martin flock at La Tajadilla, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 13/11 (M. Kelsey). Two birds at Mérida (Badajoz) on 14/11 (Á. Sánchez). One bird at Charca del Judío, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 18/11 (J. Prieta).
- Red-Rumped Swallow: Wintering birds: one bird at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 11/11 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Four birds at La Tajadilla, Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 13/11 and at the Plaza Mayor of Trujillo (Cáceres), 20 birds on 14/11, seven on 23/11 and one on 28/11 (M. Kelsey).
- Goldcrest: Two birds at Riomalo de Abajo (Cáceres) on 10/11 (A. Pacheco).
- Dipper: One bird at Charca del pueblo de Robledillo de Trujillo (Cáceres) on 5/11 (S. Fletcher).
- Ring Ouzel: One bird at Guadalupe (Cáceres) on 12/11 (Emilio Costillo).
- Bluethroat: One male at El Batán (Cáceres) on 4/11 (S. Mayordomo) and three males at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 25/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Alpine Acccentor: One bird at Puerto de Esparabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 17/11 (A. Pacheco).
- White/Pied Wagtail: Two birds of the M. a. yarrellii subspecies at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 6/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- Bullfinch: One bird at Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres) on 13/11 (Jesús Calle) and a pair at Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 17/11 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Yellowhammer: Four birds, one of them male, at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 17/11 (C. Mills and R. Montero).

LINGERING SUMMMER VISITORS
- Purple Heron: One bird at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/11 (E. Palacios, I. Gallardo, M. García del Rey, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo).
- Pallid Swift: One bird at Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres) on 22/11 (J. Briz).
- Alpine Swift: On 19/11 two birds were seen at Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua) and three at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) (J. Solana). Last birds at Mérida (Badajoz) on 21/11 (Á. Sánchez).
- White-Rumped Swift: Two birds, one of them entering a nest, on 13/11 at Monfragüe (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey). Latest Extremadura record.
- Willow Warbler: One bird at river Rivillas, Badajoz, on 7/11 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Whitethroat: One bird at river Guadiana, Badajoz, on 11/11 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Wheatear: On 9/11, one bird at Palazuelo (Badajoz) and another at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) (J. P. Prieto and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Mirandilla (Badajoz) on 20/11 (J. Solana).
- Yellow Wagtail: One tailless bird on 11/11 at Arrocampo reservoir (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

RARE GEESE IN EXTREMADURA

Greylag Goose (Anser anser). The only frequently seen goose species in Extremadura. By Juan Pablo Resino.

Winter in Extremadura is the time of cranes ... and also of geese. The latter are relative newcomers to the region and their distribution is still patchy but there is always the potential thrill of finding a stowaway rare goose amongst the annual winterers. Sometimes you can luck into one easily but usually it takes of hours of patiently scanning the hundreds or thousands of Greylags. The site hosting the national Crane Festival on 4 December is the place where most of the rarer geese have been sighted in Extremadura, so it provides the ideal chance for a bit of a "wild goose chase".

Ten different species of geese have been seen in Extremadura to date. Apart from the Greylag (Anser anser) these include four "grey geese" of the Anser genus and five "black geese" of the Branta genus. The best sites are those that also host the biggest wintering Greylag flocks, especially Vegas Altas (up to 15,000 geese), but also in reservoirs like Valdecañas (up to 4000), Portaje, El Borbollón, Arroyoconejos or Los Canchales.

White Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). First winter. Portaje Reservoir, January 2011.

By Sergio Mayordomo.

The least rare of the nine is the White Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), recorded 20 times in Extremadura since 1998 between the months of November and February in the reservoirs of Portaje Alange, Valdecañas, Sierra Brava, Arrocampo and Los Canchales and, above all, in the crop fields of Vegas Altas. In all, the sightings add up to nearly 50 birds, the biggest group being five. In November 2011 it has already been spotted several times in Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela, including a possible sighting of two birds of the Greenland flavirostris race, classed as a rare vagrant in Spain. Also in 2011, but back in January and February of last winter, it was seen in Sierra Brava, Portaje, Peraleda de la Mata (near Valdecañas) and in Moheda Alta.

White Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). Two birds with a very heavily barred breast, a typical feature of the Greenland subspecies (flavirostris). Moheda Alta, November 2011. By Samuel Langlois.

The Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) was the most numerous goose in the northern meseta until the mid nineteenth century. But the huge contraction of its wintering range has turned it into an official rarity since 2006. In Extremadura there have been only five records (11 birds) in the years 1998-99, 2002, 2005, 2007 (accepted by the rarities committee) and January 2011 (pending acceptance). It has been seen between November and February and only in Vegas Altas (Sierra Brava and Navalvillar de Pela) and Los Canchales, with records of both subspecies, the Tundra Bean Goose (beak nearly all black) and Taiga Bean Goose.

Pink Footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus). Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela. 27 November 2010.
By José María Salazar.

The Pink Footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) was for a long time considered to be a subspecies of the similar Bean Goose so you need a keen eye to spot this rarity. Only two birds have ever been recorded in Extremadura, a single bird each time in Vegas Altas: Sierra Brava (Cáceres) on 12/01/2002 (J. Muddeman; accepted) and Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 27/11/2010 (J. M. Salazar et al; pending acceptance).

The fourth rare goose, the Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) is in fact a feral bird that originally escaped from European wildfowl collections. There have been four records in Extremadura, always a single bird, in Valdecañas (January 1987), Arroyoconejos (February 1996), Saucedilla (March 2003) and Portaje (with ring, July to October 2009).

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis). Portaje Reservoir, November 2011. By Sergio Mayordomo.

Moving onto the "black" geese, we find that the commonest one is the Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis), recorded 20 times in the region since 1993 between the months of November and February, with a one-off seen in April-May 2011. The best spots, with more than 5 records each one, are Valdecañas reservoir and its hinterland and Vegas Altas (Sierra Brava, Madrigalejo and Navalvillar de Pela). It has also been seen in the reservoirs of Portaje, Ayuela, Borbollón, La Anguila (Serrejón) and Arroyoconejos. In all they account for 26 sightings, the biggest group being five. In November 2011 three birds have already been seen in Moheda Alta and one bird in Portaje Reservoir. In 2010 there were sightings in Valdecañas, Casas de Hitos and Moheda Alta.

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla). Pale-Bellied bird, a typical plumage feature of the American hrota subspecies. Guadiloba Reservoir, April 2008. By Martin McGill.

The rest of the black geese are really rare in the region. The Red-Breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis), a species "Endangered" on a world level, has been seen only once in the region: a juvenile on 12/01/2002 in Sierra Brava Reservoir (in a flock with six species of geese and a hybrid) and on the next day in a Madrigalejo ricefield (J. Muddeman). The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is originally from America but now has many feral populations in Europe. The four Extremadura records (seven birds) are very scattered in time: two in Valdecañas in 1977 and 1999 and two recent in Sierra Brava and Moheda Alta in December 2009 and 2010. The Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) accounts four records, in November 1993 (Arroyo de la Luz), November 1996 (Los Canchales) and April 2008 (reservoirs of Guadiloba and Charco Salado, maybe the same bird, reckoned to be the American hrota subspecies).

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii). Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela. 2 January 2010. By Antonio Ceballos.

To wind up, mention must also be made of the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii), seen for the first time on the Iberian Peninsula in Casas de Hitos on 02/01/2010 (A. Ceballos) and again on 24 and 28 January and 1 February (SEO-Cáceres, including on a group excursion of this forum). Breeding in the American Arctic, it has only recently been separated from the Canada Goose and does even yet have an official name in Spanish. Although haling from such distant climes, ringed birds have proven that it does turn up in Europe naturally.

This brief overview shows that all the geese species recorded in Spain can, with luck, be found in Extremadura. All of them? No. There is one species that has yet to show up: the Lesser White Fronted Goose (Anser erythropus). Recently there was an exciting near miss, however. The above photo shows a tiny goose that seemed at first to be a juvenile Lesser White Front (size, wing length, beak colour), but was finally identified at as first-winter White Fronted Goose (Moheda Alta, Navalvilar de Pela, 13/11/2011; by M. Gálvez, J. Guerra, M. J. Valencia, X. Piñeiro, E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo; photo by Eva Palacios). Recently, however, a project in Sweden to reintroduce this internationally threatened species was dropped because the introduced birds were proven to have genes of the White Fronted Goose. Maybe the "half and half" bird of the photograph has something to do with this project... but this is pure speculation.

Sources:
- Anuarios ornitológicos of Extremadura (1998 to 2008).
- Monthly summaries of this blog (May 2010 to November 2011).
- Base de datos de Aves de Extremadura. Sergio Mayordomo (2009 and 2010, unpublished).