LEACH'S STORM PETREL: NEW SPECIES FOR EXTREMADURA

The Storm Petrels (family Hydrobatidae) are small pelagic (offshore) birds  that appear only inland in exceptional circumstances. Three species of storm petrel have been recorded in Extremadura. One of them recently, the story of which appears on the personal blog  of Victor Manuel Quintana. A Leach's storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) was found on January 21, 2013 in Miajadas (Cáceres). The bird must have died after colliding with the walls of a factory. Here we show a photograph taken by V. M. Quintana from his blog, where you can see more images of this individual.

All records in Extremadura of petrels relate to birds found dead or very weak in urban areas after wind storms in the Atlantic. Apparently the birds had been carried by the wind inland where they become disoriented, perhaps being attracted by the lights of the towns. In this case, on January 19, two days before, there was an explosive cyclone with strong winds and rain. In April 2012 a similar one occurred, as reported in this blog, which was also associated with the arrival of seabirds.

The first record in Extremadura of a storm petrel dates back to February 15, 1970, when a first winter Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro) was found dead in Badajoz city (J. Gómez-Tejedor). The second record was also a Maderian storm petrel: a bird ringed on January 28, 1995 in the colony  Farilhao Grande, Berlengas island (central Portugal), was found very weak on February 24, 1995 in Benquerencia de la Serena (Badajoz) and died the next day in a recovery center. Since being ringed only 27 days had elapsed and the distance travelled was 362 km (Oficina Anillamiento). This species breeds in winter in Macaronesia (in the archipelagos of Madeira, Azores and the Canary Islands) and a colony on Portuguese Iberian coast (Berlengas). Its taxonomy is being debated, with some authors include populations that breed in Cape Verde, in the South Atlantic and even in the Pacific. To complicate matters, there are two populations in the Azores, one breed in winter and other in summer, the latter being proposed as a separate species: the Monteiro's Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma monteiroi).

The third record of a storm petrel seen in Extremadura was of two European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) found, one dead and one wounded but died later, in Fregenal de la Sierra (Badajoz) on November 6, 1997 (Juan Carlos Delgado). Of the three species mentioned it's the only storm petrel breeding on Spanish coasts, both Mediterranean and Atlantic.

The fourth record was this Leach's storm petrel, a species that breeds in the North Atlantic, both in America and in Europe. And anecdotally, the first sighting of European storm petrels in Madrid took place on January 1, 1999, when one fell from the shy onto a group of people waiting at the door of a nightclub for a New Years Eve party.

DECEMBER 2012: NOTABLE SIGHTINGS IN EXTREMADURA

A list of the most interesting sightings sent to the GOCE forum. Composed by Sergio Mayordomo. CC= Cáceres province. BA= Badajoz province.

- Bean Goose: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 10/12 (Goyo Naharro, Fernando Salas and Antonio Torrijo), 11/12 (Sergio Mayordomo, Ricardo Montero, Hugo Sánchez y César Clemente), 15/12 (Javier Prieta, Javier Mahillo and C. Clemente) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and Eva Palacios).

- Pink-footed Goose One found on 02/11 at  the embalse de Valdecañas and still present on 02/12 (Vicente Risco and Javier Briz), 07/12 and 23/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- White-fronted Goose: One at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), on 01/12 (Manuel García del Rey, Juan R. Suárez and David Cuenca). At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 7 were seen on 02/12 (Juan Diego Acevedo), 8 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 23/12 (S. Mayordomo) and at least one on 29/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz). At the embalse del Borbollón (CC) 2 were seen on 10/12 (G. Naharro, F. Salas and A. Torrijo), 11/12 (S. Mayordomo, R. Montero and H. Sánchez), 15/12 (J. Prieta, J. Mahillo and C. Clemente) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios) and one on 13/12 (H. Sánchez).

- Bar-headed Goose: One in the rice fields of Trebolosa, Madrigalejo (CC), on 09/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Canada Goose: The bird seen in november was still present at Lagunas de Torremejía (BA) on 02/12 (Vanessa de Alba, Francisco Montaño and Antonio Núñez), 06/12 (Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Jesús Solana, E. Palacios -photo- and  Ángel Sánchez), 08/12 (John Muddeman) and 09/12 (S. Mayordomo, E. Palacios and Antonio Matador).

- Barnacle Goose: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) one was seen on 02/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz), 23/12 (S. Mayordomo), 25/12 (R. Montero) and 29/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz). One was seen at la Vega del Haza and the one seen last month on 03/12 (Chema Diu). One was at the embalse del Salor (CC) on 30/12 (Carlos Fernández).

- Egyptian Goose: One was at the charca de Corral Alto, Zorita (CC), on 06/12 (M. Á. Muñoz and E. Palacios -photo-). 2 were seen on a pond between La Nava de Santiago and La Roca de la Sierra (BA) on 23/12 (José Luis Bautista).

- Ruddy Shelduck: 2 were at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 15/12 (S. Mayordomo, Marta Gómez, J. Prieta, J. Mahillo and C. Clemente).

- Shelduck: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 5 were seen on 02/12 (V. Risco, S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey, J. Prieta and J. Briz), 3 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 4 on 23/12 (S. Mayordomo). At the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) 1 was seen on 02/12 (Adenex), 16/12 (J. Solana) and 29/12 (Francisco Lopo), and 2 on 13/12 (Juani Vilches, José Mari Salazar, Javier Arias and Fran Molinos). A female at the embalse del Sotillo, Monroy (CC), on 12/12 (S. Mayordomo). A pair in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 16/12 (José Antonio Román).

- Red-crested Pochard: A male on charca de Morantes (BA) on 23/12 (J. L. Bautista and F. Lopo). 3 at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), on 18/12 (A. Maestre).

- Ferruginous Duck: A female at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (CC), on 02/12 (S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey and J. Prieta).

- Common Quail: 2 in the rice fields at Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).
- Great Northern Diver: One was collected from an industrial estate at Almendralejo (BA) on 03/12 and taken to AMUS (Jesús Sánchez and Isabel González). The bird was released the next day.

- Black-necked grebe: On 01/12 sone was seen at the Balsa de Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), (José Carlos López) and 4 on the Charca de Brozas (CC) (Godfried Schreur).

- Bittern: At the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) one was seen on 02/12 (Javier G. Labrador) and 3 on 23/12 (Julio Ceballos and Antonio Ceballos). One was at the rice fields of Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).

- Little Bittern: At least 3 at the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman). On the River Guadiana as it passes through Badajoz 2-5 were seen between 13/12 and 29/12 (Juan Carlos Paniagua and José Guerra).

- Night heron: One on the River Guadiana in Badajoz between 06/12 and 29/12 (J. C. Paniagua and J. Guerra).

- Squacco Heron: On the River Guadiana at Badajoz, 1-4 were seen between 05/12 and 29/12 (J. C. Paniagua and J. Guerra). One at Azud del Guadiana on 29/12 (Juan Carlos Salgado -photo-).

- Great white Egret: 49 went into a roost at Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman). Biggest group sighting in Extremadura. 12 were on the River Guadiana in Mérida (BA) on 08/12 (Antonio Calvo).

- Black Stork: 2 were at the canal de Las Dehesas, Logrosán (CC), on 18/12 (Á. Sánchez). On 19/12 one was seen at Oliva de Plasencia (CC) (S. Mayordomo), another at La Bazagona (CC) (J. Prieta and Iván Hernández) and another at Macarra, Toril (CC) (Javier Parra). One was at Monesterio (BA) on 27/12 (Javier Conejero).

- Glossy Ibis: 3 were seen at Santa Amalia (BA) on 02/12 (Á. Sánchez).

- Black Kite: 2 in Badajoz on 30/12 (J. Guerra).

- White-tailed Eagle: A first winter bird was seen at Talaván (CC) on 06/12, 07/12 (Julio Gutiérrez) and 09/12 (J. Gutiérrez, Javier Cuesta and Enrique Álvarez). It was relocated at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (CC), on 24/12 (José Luis Rivero) and between Talaván and Torrejón el Rubio (CC) on 27/12 (Luis J. González).

- Marsh Harrier: The roost at Madrigalejo had 140 birds on 30/12 (Pep Tapia and Maribel Jiménez)

- Pallid Harrier.  An adult male was seen at Madrigalejo (CC) on 03/12 (J. M. Vadillo) and Acedera (BA) on 26/12 (Miguel Gómez Guarín and Manuel Gómez Calzado). It was relocated at the roost at Madrigalejo (CC) on 30/12 (P. Tapia and M. Jiménez) and on 31/12 (P. Tapia, M. Jiménez and A. Calvo).

- Goshawk: 2 at Alía (CC) on 02/12 (Noelia Baeza, Jorge Ángel Herrera and Jaime Cerezo).

- Booted Eagle: In Mérida (BA) one was seen on 02/12 (Ángel Sánchez) and 20/12 (Paco Bernáldez). One in Plasencia (CC) on 06/12 (J. Prieta). One in Badajoz on 29/12 (J. Guerra).

- Osprey: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 13/12 (H. Sánchez). One at the embalse de Tentudía, Calera de León (BA), on 19/12 (Alberto Pacheco).

- Lesser Kestrel: A male at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 06/12 and at Montijo (BA) on 08/12 (Joaquín Fernández).

- Little Bustard: On 06/12 a group of 420 were seen at Cabeza del Buey (BA) and another 210 close by with 330 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse between Cabeza del Buey and Castuera (BA) (J. M Vadillo).

- Avocet: 9 at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 01/12 (Pablo Herrador).

- Kentish Plover: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) one was seen on 07/12 (J. Muddeman) and 35 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo). 24 were in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 24/12 (Juan Pablo Prieto).

- Sanderling: One at the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo).

- Curlew Sandpiper: 2 in the rice fields of Santa Amalia (BA) on 23/12 (Á. Sánchez).

- Woodcock: One at Las Mestas (CC) on 13/12 (A. Pacheco). One at Casas del Castañar (CC) on 20/12 (J. Prieta).

- Curlew: One at the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) on 02/12 (V. Risco, S. Mayordomo, Pedro Gómez, M. García del Rey, Manuel Flores, Juan Pablo Resino, J. Prieta and J. Briz). One in the rice fields of Riolobos (CC) on 06/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Spotted Redshank: 2 at the charca de Brozas (CC) on 01/12 (G. Schreur). In the rice fields of Santa Amalia one was seen on 01/12 (Manuel Rodríguez and Blanca Arenaz) and 23/12 (Á. Sánchez). 7 were in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 24/12 (J. P. Prieto).

- Black-headed Gull: 13.000 went to roost at the embalse de Alange (BA) on 06/12 (J. Solana).

- Yellow-legged Gull: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 3 were seen on 02/12 (S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey and J. Prieta) and 4 on 23/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Little Gull: At the embalse del Borbollón (CC) a first winter was seen on 10/12 (G. Naharro, F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 11/12 (S. Mayordomo, R. Montero and C. Clemente) and 2 first winter birds on 13/12 (M. Á. Muñoz, J. Mahillo, H. Sánchez -photo-, E. Palacios and C. Clemente) and on 15/12 (J. Prieta, J. Mahillo, G. Naharro and C. Clemente).

- Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. On 06/12 a group of 330 birds mixed with 210 Little Bustards, between Cabeza del Buey and Castuera (BA) (J. M Vadillo)

- Stock Dove: In the rice fields of Riolobos (CC) 75 were seen on 09/12 (J. Prieta) and 73 on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo). 40 at La Senda, Montemolín (BA), on 20/12 (A. Pacheco). 200 at Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).

- Long-eared Owl: The same bird as before at IES Zurbarán at Navalmoral de la Mata (CC) on 01/12 (Jesús Garrido and Carlos Andrés). 2 on a roundabout of the N-V in Navalmoral de la Mata (CC) on 02/12 (P. Gómez).

- Short-eared Owl: One at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 13/12 (J. Vilches, J. M. Salazar, J. Arias and F. Molinos) and 16/12 (F. Lopo).

- Pallid Swift: Between 1 and 3 birds in Alange (BA) present for the whole of december (J. Solana).

- Wryneck: One at the Jerte river en Plasencia (CC) on 31/12 (Alberto Salvador).

- Barn Swallow: One at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (CC), on 03/12 (Rafael Parra). One at Barquilla de Pinares (CC) on 30/12 (J. Briz).

- Red-rumped Swallow: One at Alange (BA) on 21/12 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).

- House Martin: Between 1 and 3 in Alange (BA) present for the whole of december (J. Solana and J. Guerra). At least 5 at the Castillo de Benquerencia de la Serena (BA) on 10/12 (J. Muddeman).

- White Wagtail: Subespecie M. a. yarrellii: One at the weir at Mirabel (CC) on 12/12 (S. Mayordomo). One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 15/12 (S. Mayordomo and M. Gómez).

- Alpine Accentor: At Pinofranqueado (CC) 7 were seen at the puerto de Esperabán and 5 at the Bolla Chica el 06/12 (A. Pacheco). One was at the castillo de Benquerencia de la Serena (BA) on 10/12 (J. Muddeman).

- Black Redstart: A leucistic bird was seen at Navalvillar de Pela (BA) on 04/12 (Ángel Luis Sánchez).

- Common Redstart: A male at Logrosán (CC) on 14/12 (Emilio Peña).

- Fieldfare: 2 at Vinosilla, Plasencia (CC), on 22/12 (M. Á. Muñoz, E. Palacios and Carlos Espadero).

- Goldcrest: One at Matallana, Alía (CC), on 08/12 (N. Baeza, J. Á. Herrera and J. Cerezo). 4 in Mérida (BA) on 16/12 (J. Solana). 2 in Zafra (BA) on 18/12 (F. Montaño).

- Bearded tit: One at the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman).

- Carrion Crow: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 11/12 (S. Mayordomo and R. Montero) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios). One at Calamonte (BA) on 23/12 (J. Guerra). One at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (CC) on 27/12 (J. C. Paniagua). 2 in a cut rice field at Riolobos (CC) on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Brambling: 3 at Robledillo de Gata (CC) on 06/12 (A. Pacheco). A female at Villar de Plasencia (CC) on 07/12 (H. Sánchez). 10 in Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta). Many birds at Cuacos de Yuste (CC) on 31/12 (Manuel Nieto).

- Bullfinch: 3 males in Alía (CC) on 08/12 (N. Baeza, J. Á. Herrera and J. Cerezo).