Birds of Extremadura (Spain)

SIERRA BRAVA: DUCK COUNTS

2012-02-05T13:25:00.001+01:00

Vast rafts of ducks on Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on the morning of 14 January 2012.

No, it's not a swarm of mosquitoes or a negative of the Milky Way but several thousand ducks
resting up on part of the reservoir (click to see it larger). By Javier Prieta.

The celebration of World Wetlands Day is as good a time as any to look at one of Extremadura's most outstanding waterfowl sites. Sierra Brava Reservoir lies in the southeast of the province of Cáceres in the catchment area of the River Guadiana, the whole reservoir falling within the municipality of Zorita. It forms part of the irrigation scheme called Central Zone of Extremadura, comprising several reservoirs and a vast area of cropfields, mainly maize, rice and orchards. Built in 1994, Sierra Brava did not become half full until 1998. In January 2002 it was "discovered" by the birding world. In 1995 the traditional wintering wildfowl count fell into disuse in Extremadura so there is no information on the wintering wildfowl of its early years. In January 2002, the recently created GOCE group (Grupo Ornitológico Cacereño, today SEO-Cáceres) decided to re-establish the wildfowl count in Cáceres. Their findings were a huge surprise. No one imagined such a massive concentration of ducks on one reservoir, reckoned to be about 61,000. And Sierra Brava is not alone; other smaller and larger reservoirs of the Central Zone also have huge duck flocks.

Ten years later SEO-Cáceres repeated the wintering wildfowl count in January 2012, aiming to take in the whole of Extremadura. Obviously this time Sierra Brava wasn't to come as such a big surprise. On Saturday 14 six members of SEO-Cáceres set out to census the wetlands of the Central Zone, concentrating on Sierra Brava. Anyone who knows the reservoir will realise that it is impossible to count the birds in situ (see above photo). The chosen method, partially tried out in earlier years, was a mixture of photographic and direct counting. Weather forecasts predicted mist for that day and it even rained on the way there but the morning turned out to be splendid, sunny and windless. This enabled us to make a detailed telescoping scan of the famous rafts of ducks from a nearby high point. For four hours the least numerous species were counted (Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon and Gadwall), the shores and inlet waters were checked out while also sketching out the proportions of the most abundant species. The fieldwork thus came up with no final result.

The second part of the study came back at home, counting one by one the photographed birds and also indicating species. The working material amounted to 199 photographs and several pages crammed with notes. The photos with fewer ducks were counted on the computer screen, while the more complex photos were printed out in colour. The number of birds per photo ranged from three to 2093 (mean of 252), adding up to 50,187, which turned out to be 86% of the total (58,000). Ascertaining how many corresponded to each species was not as difficult as might be thought since the duck species do tend to flock together on the reservoir. Thus, thanks to 72 field observation points, counting 9703 individual birds (c.20% of the total), one of the great rafts was seen to be formed 99.9% by Shovelers. The figures obtained for this species are reckoned to be accurate. The other big raft was formed almost exclusively by Teal at one end and Pintail at the other, merging in the centre. In most of the photos it proved possible to identify the species, so estimates were made only in doubtful cases in certain parts of the reservoir. Now it remained only to tally these findings with the field counts of scarcer species and zones not visible in the photos (the Mallards occupy above all the outer zones and shores).

Detail of Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on 14-01-2012. A total of 1019 ducks has been counted in this image, the immense majority being Teal (Anas crecca) with some Pintail (Anas acuta) in the foreground. By Eva Palacios.

As in other posts of this blog, the idea was to check the previous information published on Sierra Brava and the Central Zone. There is little to go on but we do have the official January counts of Extremadura passed on by SEO/BirdLife to the Environment Ministry. These figures are summed up in the tables below. Unfortunately there is no indication of the methods used, the authors of the count or the dates (some counts seem to have been conducted in February), so we decided to eschew any thorough check. The trend graph shows wild swings; this came as a surprise to us since the many visits paid to Sierra Brava over the last 10 years showed no such thing. It is also surprising to find that some counts give figures of zero Teal or only 140 Shoveler, figures that hardly tally with the real situation. The total Sierra Brava figures, ranging from 11,000 to 102,000 Anatidae, coots and grebes, have been quite controversial for various reasons. At least on two occasions there were simultaneous counts: in 2002 on the same day, throwing up estimates of 45,000 in one case and 73,000 in the other (66% difference; we decided to split this difference); in 2003 the two estimates were similar (about 100,000 birds) but with a very different species breakdown. Despite this, Sierra Brava's importance is unquestionable, accounting as it does for over half of Extremadura's wintering Anatidae on most occasions. If we consider the Central Zone as a whole the area ranks third in Spain for wintering wildfowl, coming behind only Doñana and Ebro Delta.

We don't know if photographic counts were employed on earlier occasions; judging from our 2012 experience, however, it is the method we recommend. Obviously there will be some error but we believe it to be simple and objective. The main limitation might be bad weather with bad light or especially, wind, so the right days do need to be carefully chosen. Coverage also needs to be improved on shores and some of the inlet waters to detect above all Mallards, which might well have been underestimated by this current count.

In case anyone is wondering, we also tried a computer count, using Photoshop, as well as the photographic count. The method works and it proved possible to determine the number of points per photo, but the figures came out 20-30% below the direct count since 2 or more adjacent birds might merge into a single point.

The 2012 count in the Central Zone of Extremadura forms part of the Extremadura Wintering Wildfowl Count brokered by SEO-Cáceres. The most meritworthy work in this endeavour was carried out by Eva Palacios, who patiently took the photos and even more painstakingly counted up the ducks on each one. Javier Prieta completed the fieldwork and came up with the final figures for Sierra Brava. Sergio Mayordomo, Marcelino Cardalliaguet, César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo censused the rest of the Central Zone. Independently, Miguel Ángel Romo and Javier Pérez Gordillo covered the ponds of Manzanares (Campo Lugar, Cáceres). Lastly, our thanks go to Raúl Guzmán for coming up with the alternate computer method and to Blas Molina (SEO/BirdLife) for the figures from the counts of earlier years.

WADERS IN LAS VEGAS ALTAS. JANUARY 2012

2012-02-02T09:18:00.001+01:00

On 2 February 1971 the Convention on Wetlands was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Since that date a World Wetlands Day has been held every year on 2 February. Many events have been scheduled in Spain over the coming days. Wetlands are perhaps the habitat most assiduously visited by birders; the waterfowl on show are often striking to the eye, the flocks are sometimes spectacular and rare vagrants are likely to turn up from time to time. Extremadura, rivers apart, is not exactly rich in natural wetlands like marshes or lakes. But in recent years many artificial wetlands have been created by man. This is certainly a controversial subject. Destroying natural habitat to create artificial habitat. A tricky dilemma. We have in fact talked about this contradiction on this blog. Reservoirs are the best known example; ricefields have less of a press, for good or ill. Many foreigners are in fact often surprised to find out that Extremadura is a big rice producer, in some years Spain's biggest. By 2009 there were over 30,000 hectares of ricefield in the region, the bulk of them in the area known as Vegas Altas. Ascertaining their birdlife is no easy task. Last January, however, a coordinated count of Vegas Altas ricefields was organised. To do so the 70,000+ hectares of ricefields were broken down into nine different sectors, each sector being visited on 18 January by one or two people. The joint result of the count was almost 54,000 water birds, pride of place going to waders, whose figures are shown in the following table.

It is worthwhile glossing these figures species by species. The Black-Winged Stilt count was the biggest regional figure ever recorded, multiplying tenfold the mean Extremadura figure in the period 2005-2008 (130 birds). The Little Stint also outnumbered its mean (16 birds). Avocet, Dunlin, Ruff, Curlew and the three little plovers (Ringed, Little-Ringed and Kentish) threw up normal figures. As regards the Black-Tailed Godwit, its pre-breeding migration starts as early as January so the birds seen are not really overwintering. By February the flocks build up to over 25,000 birds (see here). The figures for Lapwing, Golden Plover and Snipe understate the real population because the scattered flocks and birds are hard to count. Lastly, there is little past information to go on in terms of the three "shanks" (Red-, Green- and Spotted) and the three sandpipers (Common-, Green- and Wood) but the figures in general seem to be higher than past records, perhaps due to the wider, though hardly complete, coverage. Two Wood Sandpipers were once again seen, a scarce but regular winter visitor since 2002 in Vegas Altas.

The 2012 waterfowl count in Arrozales de Vegas Altas, part and parcel of the wintering waterfowl count in Extremadura, was organised by Luis Lozano, Juan Pablo Prieto and Fernando Yuste. Other participators were Ángel Sánchez, Atanasio Fernández, Javier Caldera, Domingo Rivera, Manuel Gómez Calzado, Ángel Luis Sánchez, Benigno Cienfuegos, Sergio Mayordomo, Marcelino Cardalliaguet and Javier Prieta.

THE GREAT CORMORANT IN LA SERENA RESERVOIR. 2011

2012-01-30T19:18:00.000+01:00

An earlier post of this blog presented the information to hand on the breeding of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in La Serena Reservoir. New figures have recently been published in Ardeola, so we hereby update that earlier information.

The Ardeola text ran as follows:
"Count of the breeding population in La Serena Reservoir in 2011 with a total of 341 breeding pairs shared out in five colonies: the biggest lies in the province of Badajoz with 313 pairs; in the same province there are two more breeding clusters with 11 and 3 nesting pairs; one 13-nest colony was found in the Córdoba part and one isolated nest in the Ciudad Real part". This therefore makes a total of 341 total pairs, 327 in Badajoz, 13 in Córdoba and one in Ciudad Real (Xurxo Piñeiro)."

Source:
Piñeiro, X. 2011. Cormorán grande Phalacrocórax carbo (pag. 487). In, Molina, B., Prieta, J., Lorenzo, J. A. and López-Jurado, C. Noticiario Ornitológico. Ardeola 58(2):481-516.

SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE. POPULATION IN 2011.

2012-01-27T18:05:00.001+01:00

Here you have the very latest figures on the population of the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) in Spain and Extremadura, published by the Spanish Environment Ministry for 2011. The situation is very upbeat for yet another year, with 39 more pairs than the previous year. This represents a 14% increase in a single year. From 2006 to 2011 the population has grown by no fewer than 102 pairs, pride of place going to Castilla-La Mancha, which has almost doubled its figures in this period. Extremadura, on the other hand, is only treading water, with one pair more than the previous year. Numbers have been holding steady in Extremadura for the last six years so the situation cannot exactly be called bad, but it is now lagging behind the considerable increases being recorded elsewhere. Witness the fact that only one of the 102 new pairs recorded since 2006 is nesting in Extremadura.

See more Imperial Eagle posts.

THE SPOONBILL IN EXTREMADURA. 2011

2012-01-24T17:48:00.000+01:00

The Extremadura breeding and wintering Spoonbill survey (Platalea leucorodia) continued in 2011. See other Spoonbill posts in this blog.

During the breeding season all Extremadura's heron colonies were visited as part of the national breeding heron survey. Nests occupied by Spoonbills were found in 7 of the heron colonies, adding up to a total of 73 pairs. These are the highest figures recorded to date. The colonies were the following:

- Montijo Reservoir (Badajoz). 25 pairs. Biggest colony ever recorded in Extremadura.
- Valle del Tiétar I (Cáceres). 22 pairs.
- Valle del Tiétar II (Cáceres). 12 pairs (8 certain and up to 15 possible). New site a few kilometres from the former one on private land. Access denied. All the nests are in a big Cork Oak; the size of the nests and the state of the colony suggest that the colony has been occupied for some years.
- Alqueva I Reservoir (Badajoz). 9 pairs.
- Alqueva Reservoir II (Badajoz). 1 pair.
- Valle del Alagón (Cáceres). 3 pairs with nest, no signs of breeding.
- El Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres). 1 pair of adults in one nest and one juvenile on the only visit made. New site.

Three visits were made to the Valle del Tiétar I colony to monitor breeding success. The 22 detected pairs all began breeding. In 15 nests it was possible to estimate the final number of fledglings: 41. Extrapolated to the whole colony this would give a figure of about 60 fledglings. This represents a fledgling rate of 2.93 chicks per successful nest and an estimated productivity and breeding success of 2.73 chicks per pair. Both parameters are well up on 2010 (1.94 and 1.43 respectively).

As regards wintering birds, in December we took part in the GRUSEC-brokered national Spoonbill count. Several sites were visited in Extremadura, with a total of 28 Spoonbills in six of them:
- Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz), 11 birds.
- Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz), 2 birds.
- Charcas de Los Arenales (Cáceres), 7 birds.
- Charca de El Ancho (Cáceres), 6 birds.
- Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres), 1 bird.
- Valdefuentes Gravel Pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), 1 bird.

Collaborators.
Spring count: Emilio Costillo, Javier Prieta, Sergio Mayordomo, Jesús Montero, César Clemente and Javier Mahillo. Breeding monitoring in the Valle del Tiétar: Javier Prieta.
Winter Count: Juan Carlos Paniagua, Antonio Núñez, Jesús Solana, Vanesa de Alba, José Guerra, Rafael Parra, Antonio Cebrián, Sergio Mayordomo, Carlos Fernández, Elvira del Viejo, José Luis Bautista, Pablo Herrador, César Clemente, Javier Mahíllo and Javier Prieta.

DECEMBER 2011. NOTABLE SIGHTINGS IN EXTREMADURA

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000+01:00

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispanioliensis). Male in winter plumage. By Atanasio Fernández.

A list of the most notable December 2011 records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- White-Fronted Goose: on 08/12 two birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) and one at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres) (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco).
- Greylag Goose: 758 birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/12 (J. Briz and V. Risco)
- Barnacle Goose: three birds on 03/12 at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) (Sergio Mayordomo) and six at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) (José Luis Barriga). One bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 07/12 (Martin Kelsey).
- Egyptian Goose: one bird at Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 18/12 (SEO-Cáceres) and three at Riolobos ricefield (Cáceres) on 28/12 (Javier Prieta).
- Shelduck: one female at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/12 (Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Ruddy Shelduck: four birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 30/12 (Juan Carlos Paniagua and S. Mayordomo)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). Drake in summer plumage. Guijo de Coria, Cáceres. 18-12-2011. By César Clemente.

- Wood Duck: one drake on a pond of Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 18/12 (SEO-Cáceres).
- Tufted Duck: eight ducks and two drakes at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres), on 08/12 (J. Briz and V. Risco). At Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), 30 birds on 08/12 (Antolín Redondo and Leandro), 31 on 10/12 and about 20 on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo). At El Manantío / Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), 24 birds on 21/12 (José Guerra and S. Mayordomo). Over 50 birds at Charca de Brozas (Cáceres) on 23/12 (Carlos Fernández).
- Ferruginous Duck: one drake at La Anguila Reservoir, Serrejón (Cáceres), on 10/12 (S. Mayordomo). At El Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), one drake on 21/12 (Alberto Gil, J. Guerra and S. Mayordomo) and three birds on 31/12 (Agustín Rodríguez, Florencio Carrero and Rafael Parra).
- Great Crested Grebe: 200 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/12 (Antonio Núñez, Jesús Solana and Vanessa de Alba).
- Cormorant: over 1000 on River Guadiana at Badajoz on 06/12 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Spoonbill: one immature at Sotillo Reservoir, Monroy (Cáceres), on 02/12 (S. Mayordomo). At Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz), 11 birds on 03/12 (J. C. Paniagua) and on 18/12 (A. Núñez, J. Solana and V. de Alba) and eight on 22/12 (J. Guerra). At El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), one bird on 15/12 (Paco Be Water) and six on 23/12 (R. Parra). At Los Arenales, Cáceres, four birds on 17/12 (Antonio Cebrián) and seven on 21/12 (J. Guerra and S. Mayordomo) and on 23/12 (C. Fernández). At Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz), two birds on 17/12 (Elvira del Viejo, José Luis Bautista and Pablo Herrador). One bird Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 24/12 (César Clemente and Javier Mahillo). One bird at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 28/12 (J. Prieta).
- Bittern: one certain bird and another possible at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 05/12 (Manuel García del Rey and S. Mayordomo).
- Little Bittern: on River Guadiana: three birds on 05/12, four on 08/12 and six on 10/12 at Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua) and at Mérida (Badajoz), six on 19/12 (Ángel Sánchez). One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 10/12 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at La Granja gravel pits (Cáceres) on 19/12 (Ricardo Montero).
- Night Heron: At River Guadiana: one young bird on 05/12 and a roost of at least 15 birds on 10/12, Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua), and at Mérida (Badajoz), six on 19/12 (Á. Sánchez).
- Squacco Heron: one bird at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 03/12 (Óscar Llama and Rafael Vicente). At River Guadiana, Badajoz, two birds on 03/12, five on 05/12, six on 06/12, nine on 08/12 and eight on 10/12 (J. C. Paniagua). One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 06/12 (M. García del Rey and S. Mayordomo). One bird at El Batán ricefields (Cáceres) on 08/12 (Javier Gayo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo), 17/12 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 30/12 (J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo).
- Black Stork: one bird at Madrigal de la Vera (Cáceres) on 17/12 (Dave Langlois). One bird at Los Arenales, Cáceres, on 21/12 (J. Guerra and S. Mayordomo). Four birds at Charca de Fresnedillas, Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres), late December (Jesús Montero). One bird at Laguna del Pozo de la Mozas, Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres), on 31/12 (S. Mayordomo).
- Osprey: one bird at Viñuelas gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 13/12, and several sightings of one bird at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) (Alberto Pacheco).
- Black Kite: one bird at River Gargáligas (Badajoz) on 03/12 (Lorenzo Alcántara). On 19/12, two birds at Mérida (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez) and one at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Los Frailes, Badajoz, on 27/12 (Gabriel Silva and J. C. Paniagua).

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). Some of the 500+ birds present at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe, on 12-12-2011. By Javier Prieta.

- Griffon Vulture: over 150 birds at on Cáceres landfill site on 03/12 (A. Gil). 512 birds counted and over 600 estimated at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 13/12 (J. Prieta).
- Cinereous Vulture: over 150 birds at Cáceres landfill site on 03/12 (A. Gil).
- Goshawk: one bird at Monesterio (Badajoz) on 03/12 (A. Pacheco).
- Crane: 1942 at River Tiétar, Malpartida de Plasencia, on 21/12 (J. Prieta). 6000 birds at Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 26/12 (C. Clemente, Goyo Naharro and J. Mahillo). 25,346 birds in the central zone (Badajoz-Cáceres) on 28/12 (Manuel Gómez Calzado, Miguel Gómez Guarín and José Antonio Román).
- Stone Curlew: roost of over 300 birds at La Nava de Santiago (Badajoz) on 17/12 (Á. Sánchez and Ángel Luis Sánchez). Roost of over 40 birds at Montijo (Badajoz) on 25/12 (J. L. Bautista and P. Herrador).
- Avocet: on 09/12 four birds at El Torvical (Badajoz) and 20 at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) (J. L. Barriga and Juan Pablo Prieto). On 18/12, 33 birds at Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz) (A. Núñez, J. Solana and V. de Alba) and 14 at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) (José Luis Pérez Chiscano and J. P. Prieto). Eight birds at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/12 (Chema Diu and R. Montero). One bird at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) from 21/12 to 24/12 (C. Clemente J. Mahillo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). 70 birds at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) on 26/12 (Elvira del Viejo, Juan Carlos Núñez, J. P. Prieto, María del Viejo and Miguel del Viejo). One bird at Valdehornillos (Badajoz) on 28/12 (José Antonio Román).
- Sociable Lapwing: One bird at Castuera (Badajoz) on 12/12 (Jan Hill and Les Battle).
- Kentish Plover: 25 birds at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 29/12 (Fernando Yuste).
- Curlew: one bird at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 21/12 (J. Prieta) and another at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo).
- Black-Tailed Godwit: one bird at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) from 03/12 to 22/12 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Twelve birds at Hernán Cortés (Badajoz) on 29/12 (Atanasio Fernández).

Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), in the background, and Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). El Batán, Cáceres. 30-12-2011. By Juan Carlos Paniagua.

- Jack Snipe: one bird at El Batán ricefield (Cáceres) on 30/12 (J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo).
- Woodcock: one bird at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 29/12 (J. C. Paniagua) and another at Dehesa Boyal de Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 30/12 (C. Clemente).
- Spotted Redshank: at El Batán ricefield (Cáceres), four birds on 03/12 (S. Mayordomo) and two on 17/12 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). At El Torviscal ricefields (Badajoz), two birds on 09/12 (J. L. Barriga and J. P. Prieto) and one on 26/12 (E. del Viejo, J. C. Núñez, J. P. Prieto. M. del Viejo and M. del Viejo). At Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres), three birds on 21/12 (J. Prieta) and one on 22/12 (S. Mayordomo).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: one bird at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 21/12 (J. Guerra and S. Mayordomo).
- Lesser Black-Backed Gull: 6500 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/12 (A. Núñez, J. Solana and V. de Alba).
- Whiskered Tern: one bird seen from the Roman Bridge of Mérida (Badajoz) on 04/12 (J. Solana).
- Stock Dove: four birds at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 19/12 (S. Mayordomo). At Galisteo (Cáceres) 50 birds on 21/12 (J. Prieta) and 200 on 24/12 (C. Clemente and J. Mahillo). Over 50 birds at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 30/12 (J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo).
- Short-Eared Owl: 17 birds at Hernán Cortés (Badajoz) on 12/12 and one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 15/12 (J. A. Román). One bird at Cocosa, Olivenza (Badajoz), on 28/12 and two at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 30/12 (F. Yuste).
- Pallid Swift: Wintering birds at Alange (Badajoz): 15 birds entering the eaves of the church on 01/12 (J. Solana), twelve on 06/12 (A. Núñez, J. Solana and V. de Alba), nine on 11/12 (L. Alcántara) and another nine on 27/12 (J. Solana).
- Wryneck: one bird at River Jerte, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 06/12 (S. Mayordomo).
- Carrion Crow: one bird at Huélaga (Cáceres) on 18/12 (SEO-Cáceres).
- House Martin: one bird at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 07/12 (J. Mahillo).
- Swallow: one bird at Mérida (Badajoz) on 19/12 (J. Solana).
- Red-Rumped Swallow: one bird at Plaza Mayor, Trujillo (Cáceres) on 01/12 (M. Kelsey).
- Goldcrest: several in one fir clump at Navaconcejo (Cáceres) on 10/12 (José Luis Rivero). Several at Piornal (Cáceres) on 15/12 (J. Prieta).
- Fieldfare: one bird at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 01/12 (D. Langlois).
- Alpine Accentor: on 03/12, three birds at Pico Villuercas (Cáceres) (M. Kelsey) and two at Monesterio (Badajoz) (A. Pacheco). 17 birds at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 08/12;. 19 at Sierra de Aguafría, Monesterio (Badajoz), on 23/12 (A.Pacheco) and five at Zarza de Montánchez (Cáceres) on 24/12 (A. Pacheco.)
- Pied Wagtail: on 18/12 one bird at Plasencia (Cáceres) and at Carcaboso (Cáceres) (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo) and at Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres) (J. Guerra). One bird at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 24/12 (C. Clemente and J. Mahillo). One bird at Riolobos ricefield (Cáceres) on 28/12 (J. Prieta).
- Brambling: one bird at Zarza de Montánchez (Cáceres) on 28/12 (Steve Fletcher).
- Bullfinch: one pair at Monesterio (Badajoz) on 03/12 (A. Pacheco). Six birds at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 13/12 and only one on 14/12 (D. Langlois). One bird at Huerto del Ojaranzo, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 14/12 (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 31/12 (J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo).

THE HOBBY IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-12-29T13:37:00.000+01:00

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)

2011-12-19T11:50:00.002+01:00

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

2011-12-13T09:35:00.003+01:00

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

2011-12-09T19:03:00.000+01:00

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

2011-12-02T23:39:00.002+01:00

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).

THE BUZZARD IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-11-29T22:04:00.003+01:00

Buzzard (Buteo buteo). By José Ledo.

The Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 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 2870 territories (range 2790-2960). This represents 9.3% of the Spanish total (31,000 territories), coming in fourth behind three bigger regions: Castilla y León (5530), Andalucía (5520) and Castilla-La Mancha (3900). Extremadura's average density is 6.9 territories per 100 km2, a little above the national mean (6.1) but behind the Canary Islands (16) and the Cantabrian coast (9.5).

Cáceres, with an estimated 1490 territories, boasts Spain's biggest provincial population, followed by Badajoz with 1380 territories. Since both provinces are so big, the density (7.5 and 6.3 respectively) is lower than many other provinces, ranking 12th and 22nd respectively.

The Buzzard's range takes in the whole of Extremadura. It is most frequent in the province of Cáceres and thins out only in the Sierra de Gata, Las Hurdes, Las Villuercas and the southeast corner of the province. In Badajoz the best areas are in the northern third, near the River Guadiana, numbers dying down towards the south of the province. In Extremadura it was detected in 60% of the surveyed grids. The Buzzard is a very versatile raptor that can take to many different types of habitat. In general it prefers low- or medium-altitude areas that are not too hot and with a patchwork mixture of farmland, deciduous woods and Holm-Oak woods. It prefers high rainfall in hotter climes and low rainfall in colder areas.

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

The car transects in Extremadura threw up an average of 6.3 birds every 100 km (6.8 in Badajoz and 5.8 in Cáceres); it was observed in 85% of the surveyed grids. Spain's mean birds-per-kilometre figure was 6.8, with Salamanca (19.2), Cantabria (17.9) and Ávila (14.9) to the fore.

The Buzzard's trend in Spain is stable according to the breeding birds monitoring project SACRE, especially in the centre of the country, including Extremadura.

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]

THE SHORT-TOED EAGLE IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-11-21T14:22:00.003+01:00

Short-Toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus). Eva Palacios.

The Short-Toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 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 980 territories (range 940-1020). This represents 9.4% of the Spanish total (10,380 territories), ranking fifth behind the bigger regions of Castilla-La Mancha (1800), Castilla y León (1760), Andalucía (1620) and Aragón (1340). Extremadura's mean density is 2.4 territories per 100 km2, above the national average of 2.1 and behind only Aragón (2'8) and the Valencia Region (2.7).

Cáceres, with an estimated 570 territories, boasts Spain's biggest provincial population, albeit ranking fourth in density (2.87 territories per 100 km2) behind Castellón, Teruel and Guadalajara. Badajoz, for its part, accounts for 410 territories, 1.88 every 100 km2 (the 30th highest density in Spain).

The Short-Toed Eagle ranges widely over the whole of Extremadura. It is especially abundant in the eastern half of Cáceres and the northeast corner of Badajoz, the two areas with the highest sighting probability in the whole of Spain. Although it is less common in the province of Badajoz, especially in its western half, some parts of the province still throw up the highest one-off densities in the whole of Spain (2.5 territories in only 10 km2). In all it was detected in 41% of the surveyed 10k grids. In Spain the Short-Toed Eagle favours low-altitude, high insolation areas with extensive Holm Oak woods, warm but with a certain humidity and little farmland.

Predictive map of the Short-Toed Eagle's (Circaetus gallicus) range in Spain, taken from Palomino and Valls (2011). This clearly shows that the eastern half of Cáceres offers the highest likelihood of a Short-Toed Eagle sighting.

On the Extremadura car transects 2.5 birds were seen every 100 km; it tuned up in 65% of the sampled grids. The mean birds-per-kilometre figure for Spain as a whole was 1.6, led by Castellón (4.4), La Rioja (2.8), Ciudad Real (2.8), Badajoz (2.7), Segovia (2.7) and Cáceres (2.4).

The Short-Toed Eagle's trend in Spain is stable according to the breeding birds monitoring project SACRE, although migration figures across the Strait of Gibraltar increased at an annual rate of 6.6% over the 1998-2009 period. Given that Spain's population is the biggest in Europe, it is logical to conclude that it is on the increase; this is born out by comparing the birds-per-kilometre figure with previous studies.

Not much can be added to the SEO/BirdLife results. The apparent discrepancy between the different surveying methods (for example, Cáceres is the province with the highest sighting rate from lookout points but only the sixth in car transects) is only to be expected in samples where the zones visited might be different and there are also several factors that might muddy the subsequent analysis (low territoriality, territory overlaps and shared hunting grounds).

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]

SANDHILL CRANE. FIRST FOR EXTREMADURA AND SPAIN

2011-11-14T18:56:00.002+01:00

Manuel Gómez Calzado, without doubt the person with most crane-watching hours behind him in Extremadura, has reported the sighting of a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) in his personal blog (grullas veo). The bird was seen on 4 November 2011 grazing stubble in a flock of ten Common Cranes (Grus grus) on the estate called Don Benito between Torviscal and Palazuelo (Badajoz). He explains in the blog entry that the bird was only about 200 metres away, the visibility was perfect and he was able to take in all the plumage details for about 5 minutes: clearly smaller in size than the Common Cranes alongside, a paler grey colour overall, a bright red bald patch on the crown, no black in the neck and dark patches on the wing coverts, a characteristic of this bird's winter plumage. When it took flight its smaller size again stood out against its bigger cousins. This description suggests that it was not a young bird. Manolo Gómez returned to the area on following days but could not relocate the bird. After word of the finding got out, other birders flocked to the area but no one had any luck as far as we know. Although it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, there's a lot of winter left for looking, so there is still hope.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) photographed in United States by Ron Flemal (taken from IBC).

Unfortunately there are no photos of the Extremadura bird. If accepted by the rarities committee it will be the first record for Extremadura and Spain.

After a quick trawl through the Net in search of info we have come up with the following list of former sightings in Europe:
- Cork, Ireland (killed by hunters on 14/09/1905)
- Faroe Isles (one adult on 14/10/1980)
- Fair Isles, Shetland, Scotland (one juvenile on 26/04/1980)
- Shetland Isles, Scotland (one juvenile on 25 and 26/09/1991); this bird then moved on to Holland (17-26/09/1991; the firs record on mainland Europe)
- Flores Isles, Azores, Portugal (one juvenile from 26/06 to 03/07/2000)
- Orkney Isles, Scotland, (one adult, 22-29/09/2009)
- Les Landes, Southwest France (one adult on 11/10/2009). Might be the one seen earlier in Scotland. Hopes were harboured that it might move on to Spain but it was never seen here.
- Finland (one adult, 05/09/2011)
- Estonia (the former bird; 06-08/09/2011)
- Scotland (one 2nd-winter bird on 22-26/09/11 in Aberdeenshire, and then maybe the same bird in England 29/09 to 07/10/2011 in Northumberland). This might be the same bird that has turned up in Extremadura.

This means that, with the latest Badajoz sighting, there have only been 12 Sandhill Cranes seen in Europe, four of them in 2011. Our heartfelt congratulations therefore go out to Manolo Gómez Calzado for this memorable find, just reward or so many years watching his beloved cranes in the field. Note also that Manolo was the first person to see a Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo) in Spain, from 4 to 14 February 1996 in Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), later seen on 7-8 March in Gallocanta. In this case a feral bird cannot be ruled out. In any case it was the first accepted record of a Demoiselle Crane in Spain, a species that bred in the past, with the last Iberian records in Badajoz back in 1924.

OCTOBER 2011. Notable sightings in Extremadura

2011-11-07T17:42:00.006+01:00

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides). One of the birds seen at El Batán, Cáceres,
from 30.09.11 to 15.10.11. Javier Prieta

A list of the most notable October records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- Egyptian Goose: one bird still at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 26/10 (Sergio Mayordomo). Also three birds still at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 29/10 and two on 31/10 (Francisco Lopo).
- Shelduck: three birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 25/10 (Antonia Cangas, Elvira del Viejo and Juan Pablo Prieto) and two at Charca de Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres), on 30/10 (S. Mayordomo).
- Great Crested Grebe: 150 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 9/10 (A. Cangas, A. Garrote, Ángel Sánchez and E. del Viejo).
- Black-Necked Grebe: one bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) from 12/10 to 30/10 (A. Cangas, Á. Sánchez, Ángel Luis Sánchez, E. del Viejo, Francis Prieto, Juan Carlos Paniagua, J. P. Prieto, Miguel Rouco and S. Mayordomo). Still one bird at Ventaquemada Reservoir, Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres), on 19/10 (Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterur roseus). Rosarito Reservoir (AV-TO), 08.10.11 (Samuel Langlois).

- Greater Flamingo: two birds seen on 1/10 at the fishfarming ponds of Sierra de Fuentes (Cáceres) and one at Charca de Torrealba, Torremocha (Cáceres) (Andrés Maestre and Juanjo Espinigoitia); the latter was seen again on 5/10 (J. P. Prieto). Four at Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 6/10 (Rafael Parra). One bird near Robledillo de Trujillo (Cáceres) on 8/10 (Steve Fletcher). One bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 9/10 (A. Cangas, A. Garrote, Á. Sánchez and E. del Viejo).
- Glossy Ibis: at Santa Amalia (Badajoz): four birds on 3/10 (John Muddeman) and 6/10 (Á. Sánchez). One bird at El Batán ricefields (Cáceres) on 13/10 (J. Prieta). One bird at Torviscal ricefields (Badajoz) on 22/10 (J. P. Prieto).
- Spoonbill: 50 birds at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 6/10 (R. Parra).
- Night Heron: 24 birds at Mérida (Badajoz) on 10/10 (Á. Sánchez).
- Squacco Heron: present at El Batán ricefield (Cáceres) from 5/10 to 22/10 peaking at six birds on 8/10 and 15/10 (J. Prieta). One juvenile at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 6/10 (Á. Sánchez). One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/10 (Manuel García del Rey and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Casas de Belvís (Cáceres) on 15/10 (Javier Briz). One bird at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) on 29/10 (J. P. Prieto).
- Great White Egret: 15 birds at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 7/10 (S. Fletcher). Over 25 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 9/10 (A. Cangas, A. Garrote, Á. Sánchez and E. del Viejo). 29 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 13/10 (S. Mayordomo), the biggest flock ever seen in Extremadura. 16 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 25/10 (A. Cangas, E. del Viejo and J. P. Prieto).
- Little Egret: 147 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 12/10 (José Luis Guisado, M. García del Rey, Pilar Goñi and S. Mayordomo).
- Grey Heron: 83 birds at Reservoir Los Canchales (Badajoz) on 9/10 (A. Cangas, A. Garrote, Á. Sánchez and E. del Viejo).
- White Stork: 1000 birds at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 7/10 (Á. Sánchez).
- Osprey: one bird at River Tiétar (Cáceres) on 19/10 (José María Cano).
- Goshawk: one bird at Arrolobos, Hurdes (Cáceres), on 4/10 (Alberto Pacheco) and one female at Pasarón de la Vera (Cáceres) on 19/10 (Pedro Gómez).
- Merlin: one bird at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 8/10 (J. Muddeman). On 20/10, one bird at Riolobos (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and another at Torviscal (Badajoz) (J. P. Prieto). On 30/10, one female or juvenile at El Gordo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and another bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez).
- Little Bustard: 250 birds at one alfalfa field at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 6/10 (Fernando Yuste) and 120 birds at Zorita (Cáceres) on 31/10 (Martin Kelsey).
- Oystercatcher: one bird in flight over Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) and then on the ground at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 12/10 (J. L. Guisado, M. García del Rey, P. Goñi and S. Mayordomo).
- Avocet: One bird at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 7/10 (J. Muddeman and S. Fletcher).
- Grey Plover: one bird at Paredón Reservoir, Campanario (Badajoz), on 11/10 (José Luis Pérez Chiscano and J. P. Prieto).
- Kentish Plover: at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz): 62 birds on 7/10 (S. Fletcher), 6 on 28/10 and 15 on 31/10 (M. Kelsey). 14 birds at Puebla de Alcollarín ricefields (Badajoz) on 29/10 (J. P. Prieto).
- Snipe: 1000 birds at Santa Amalia ricefields (Badajoz) on 6/10 (Á. Sánchez).
- Spotted Redshank: Several at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 6/10 (Á. Sánchez). 47 birds at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 7/10 (S. Fletcher). Present at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 8/10 (Á. Sánchez). At Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres): two birds on 16/10 (S. Langlois) and 22/10 (Eva Palacios, Francis Martín and Miguel Ángel Muñoz), 9 birds on 28/10 and one on 30/10 (S. Mayordomo). 23 birds at ricefields de Torviscal (Badajoz) on 22/10 (J. P. Prieto).
- Wood Sandpiper: at Ahigal Reservoir (Cáceres): two birds on 7/10 (A. Pacheco). 19 birds at Torviscal ricefields on 20/10 and one at Puebla de Alcollarín on 29/10 (J. P. Prieto). 15 at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 31/10 (M. Kelsey).
- Buff-Breasted Sandpiper: Second record for Extremadura: one bird at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 5/10 (J. Prieta).
- Curlew Sandpiper: at Reservoir Ahigal (Cáceres): three birds on 7/10 (A. Pacheco). Four birds at Puebla de Alcollarín (Badajoz) on 29/10 (J. P. Prieto). Two at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 30/10. One bird at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 31/10 (M. Kelsey).
- White-Rumped Sandpiper: First record for Extremadura: One bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 19/10 (F. Prieto) and on 20/10 (Á. Sánchez, Á. L. Sánchez and F, Prieto) and 22/10 (A. Cangas, Á. Sánchez, E. del Viejo and J. C. Paniagua).
- Pectoral Sandpiper: One juvenile at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 21/10 (M. Rouco and S. Mayordomo), 22/10 (A. Cangas, Á. Sánchez, E. del Viejo and F. Prieto) and 29/10 (Lorenzo Alcántara).
- Temminck's Stint: one bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 22/10 (A. Cangas, Á. Sánchez, E. del Viejo and J. C. Paniagua) and 29/10 (L. Alcántara).
- Black-Headed Gull: 500 birds at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 7/10 (Á. Sánchez).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: one adult at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 30/10 (S. Mayordomo).
- Little Tern: one bird at Mérida (Badajoz) on 3/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Wryneck: At Plasencia (Cáceres): one bird on 2/10 and 22/10 (J. Prieta). One bird at Torrecillas de la Tiesa (Cáceres) on 5/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Chough: ten birds at Ahillones (Badajoz) on 13/10 (Antonio Núñez).
- Carrion Crow: two birds at Riolobos ricefield (Cáceres) on 22/10 (C. Clemente).
- Bluethroat: At El Batán ricefield (Cáceres): one female on 8/10 (J. Prieta), one male on 15/10 (E. Palacios and M. Á. Muñoz) and one bird on 22/10 (E. Palacios, F. Martín and M. Á. Muñoz). Two males at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/10 (J. L. Guisado, M. García del Rey, P. Goñi and S. Mayordomo). One male at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 16/10 (S. Langlois). One male at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 31/10 (S. Mayordomo).

Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria). El Batán, Cáceres, 21.10.11. Eva Palacios.

FIRST WINTER VISITORS
- Tufted Duck: 10 birds, 8 drakes and 2 females, at Charca de Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres), on 30/10 (S. Mayordomo).
- Crane: two birds in the central zone (Badajoz) on 6/10, 24 on the following day, including one Estonia-ringed bird, and 8805 on 21/10 (Manuel Gómez Calzado and Miguel Gómez Guarín). Five at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 7/10 (J. Muddeman and S. Fletcher). Nine at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) on 8/10 (Charo Casado and Mario Arcas). Ten birds at El Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 9/10 (Goyo Naharro).
- Golden Plover: one bird at Batán on 21/10 (E. Palacios and M. Á. Muñoz).
- Stock Dove: 121 birds on fallowfields at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 20/10 (S. Mayordomo).
- Skylark: two birds at La Aldea del Obispo (Cáceres) on 2/10 (J. Muddeman), one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 9/10 (F. Yuste) and five birds at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 10/10 (E. Palacios, M. García del Rey and S. Mayordomo).
- Chiffchaff: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 3/10 (J. Muddeman). Several at Casas del Castañar (Cáceres) on 6/10 and a big fall at Piornal (Cáceres) on 13/10 (J. Prieta).
- Goldcrest: two birds at Piornal (Cáceres) on 16/10 (J. Prieta).
- Starling: three birds at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 22/10 (J. Prieta) and another three at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 31/10 (S. Mayordomo).
- Song Thrush: two birds at Valdecañas de Tajo (Cáceres) on 6/10 (J. Muddeman). Two birds at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 8/10 and one at Piornal (Cáceres) on 13/10 (J. Prieta).
- Redwing: one bird at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 22/10 (J. Prieta).
- Dunnock: two birds at la Portilla del Tiétar, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 4/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Water Pipit: several seen on 6/10 at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez) and eight at Jerte Reservoir (Cáceres) (J. Prieta). One bird at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 7/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Bullfinch: one male at Serradilla (Cáceres) on 15/10 (Alfredo Gómez) and one bird at Villanueva de la Vera on 30/10 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois).
- Siskin: Several birds at river Jerte, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 25/10 (Ricardo Montero).
- Reed Bunting: two birds at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 31/10 (S. Mayordomo).

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava). Ángel Sánchez.

LINGERING SUMMER VISITORS
- Purple Heron: one adult at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/10 (J. L. Guisado, M. García del Rey, P. Goñi and S. Mayordomo).
- Short-Toed Eagle: one bird at Almaraz on 8/10 (J. Muddeman) and another at Esparragalejo on 12/10 (Á. Sánchez).
- Egyptian Vulture: one juvenile at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 1/10 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois). One juvenile and one adult at La Aldea del Obispo (Cáceres) on 2/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Montagu's Harrier: one juvenile at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 20/10 (S. Mayordomo) and one male adult at El Batán ricefield (Cáceres) on 22/10 (E. Palacios, F. Martín and M. Á. Muñoz).
- Hobby: three birds at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 5/10 (A. Pacheco) and one bird at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 7/10 (S. Fletcher).
- Lesser Kestrel: six birds at Las Canteras, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 2/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Collared Pratincole: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 6/10 (F. Yuste).
- Whiskered Tern: one bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 21/10 (Á. Sánchez, M. Rouco and S. Mayordomo) and 22/10 (A. Cangas, Á. Sánchez, E. del Viejo, F. Prieto and J. C. Paniagua).
- Scops Owl: one bird at Plasencia on 06/10/11 (J. Prieta).
- Pallid Swift: three at Piornal (Cáceres) on 6/10 (J. Prieta), one bird at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 21/10 (César Clemente), one bird found dead on Calle del Sol de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 22/10 (María José Escalante) and another bird at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 23/10 (J. Prieta).
- White-Rumped Swift: two birds still entering a nest at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 19/10 to 22/10 (M. Kelsey).
- Nightjar: six birds at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 5/10 (A. Pacheco).
- Red-Necked Nightjar: two birds at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 1/10 (J. Muddeman).
- House Martin: 3 birds at Badajoz on 19/10 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Sand Martin: 3 birds at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 6/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Short-Toed Lark: 4 birds at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 3/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Tree Pipit: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 3/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Tawny Pipit: en Trujillo (Cáceres): two birds on 3/10, one on 7/10 and five on 5/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Willow Warbler: on 20/10: one bird at Batán (Cáceres) two at Galisteo (Cáceres) (J. Prieta). Present at Esparragalejo on 22/10 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Savi's Warbler: one bird at Reservoir Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 1/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Sedge Warbler: one bird at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 15/10 (J. Prieta).
- Reed Warbler: three birds at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 6/10 (J. Muddeman) and two at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 15/10 (J. Prieta).
- Great Reed Warbler: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 3/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Melodious Warbler: one bird at Torrecillas de la Tiesa (Cáceres) on 5/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Garden Warbler: one bird at Monroy (Cáceres) on 2/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Whitethroat: one bird at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 2/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Spotted Flycatcher: one bird at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 4/10 and another at Trujillo on 5/10 (J. Muddeman).
- Pied Flycatcher: one bird at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 25/10 (R. Montero).
- Redstart: one bird at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 25/10 (R. Montero).
- Whinchat: one bird at Batán (Cáceres) on 20/10 (J. Prieta) and another at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 22/10 (C. Clemente).
- Yellow Wagtail: Subspecies M.f.flavissima: 2 males at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 5/10 (J. Prieta). Hundreds in Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 7/10 (S. Fletcher). One bird at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 15/10 (J. Prieta) and another at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 16/10 (S. Mayordomo).

THE GOSHAWK IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-10-31T09:10:00.001+01:00

Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). José Gordillo.

The Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) 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 700 territories (range 650-750). This represents 6.2% of the Spanish total (11,350 territories), ranking seventh behind the regions of Castilla y León (2490), Castilla-La Mancha (2010), Andalucía (1370), Aragón (1280), Galicia (900) and Catalunya (760). Extremadura's mean density is 1.7 territories per 100 km2, below the national mean (2.2) and ranking a modest 12th in Spain.

Broken down by provinces, Cáceres accounts for 420 territories, and Badajoz 280. The densities (2.1 in Cáceres and 1.3 in Badajoz) are among the lowest in Spain. In all it was detected in 14% of the surveyed 10 k grids (18% in Badajoz and 6% in Cáceres).

The Goshawk has a somewhat patchy range in Extremadura; this also holds true for the whole of Spain and France. It is very scarce in the central and western sectors of both provinces, barring some zones of the central mountain range and southern Badajoz. Conversely it is exceptionally common in eastern districts (La Siberia, Las Villuercas y Los Ibores), which contain the lion's share of the regional population; in fact the likelihood of a Goshawk sighting is higher here than anywhere else in Spain. In the northern two thirds of Spain the Goshawk chooses hilly, low-insolation, inland areas with conifer woods (especially pine). At lower altitudes it prefers high-rainfall areas, unlike in the upland areas.

Predictive map of the Goshawk's range in Spain, taken from Palomino and Valls (2011). This shows the high likelihood of Goshawk sightings in the centre-east of Extremadura.

Car transects are not really a very suitable censusing method for this shy raptor so rarely seen outside the display season. In Extremadura only 3 birds were seen on average every 1000 k, an identical finding to the whole of Spain. It was detected in 13% of the surveyed 10 k grids (20% in Badajoz and 5% in Cáceres).

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

The figures obtained for Spain as a whole were much higher than expected, even tripling the important French population. This has made even the survey authors chary of the results. The same goes for Extremadura, with figures way above forecasts and perhaps overstating the real case. Another striking finding is that the Goshawk's population should be just as big as the Sparrow Hawk's, a raptor of similar habits but more easily and regularly detected. Another apparent discrepancy arises between Cáceres and Badajoz. Contacts were higher in the latter but estimates were lower than for Cáceres. This might be due to the fact that best areas of Badajoz were surveyed more comprehensively than in Cáceres.

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]

SEPTEMBER 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-10-25T13:01:00.000+02:00

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia). Casatejada, Cáceres. Sergio Mayordomo.

A list of the most notable September records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- Egyptian Goose: One bird still at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres), seen on 02/09 (Sergio Mayordomo), 10/09 (Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 16/09 (S. Mayordomo). Three birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 19 and 20/09 (Francisco Lopo).
- Shelduck: 5 adults and 11 young birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Ruddy Shelduck: 10 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 05/09 (Elvira del Viejo).
- Garganey: one female or young bird at Laguna Grande de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 22/09 (José Guerra and Marc Gálvez).
- Red Crested Pochard: one female at Laguna Grande de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 18/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). One eclipse drake at El Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), on 25/09, 27/09 (Manolo Iglesias) and 29/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Ferruginous Duck: one drake at El Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), on 27/09 (M. Iglesias) and 29/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Great Crested Grebe: Flocks: 153 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Ángel Sánchez), 117 birds at Valuengo Reservoir (Badajoz) on 14/09 (Antonio Núñez), 300 birds at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/09 (Alberto Pacheco) and 124 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (César Clemente, Javier Mahíllo, Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Black Necked Grebe: two birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez). One bird at Ventaquemada Reservoir, Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres), on 21/09 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Flamingo: one young bird at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Two at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 09/09 (E. del Viejo) and three on 24/09 (Á. Sánchez, Domingo Rivera and Joaquín Fernández). At Charca de Torrealba, Torremocha (Cáceres): three birds on 26/09 and one on 30/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Glossy Ibis: at Santa Amalia (Badajoz): one bird on 7/09 and 8/09 (Fernando Yuste), three on 14, 16 and 25/09 (F. Yuste, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and five on 30/09 (F. Yuste). One bird at Ayuela River, Casas de Don Antonio (Cáceres), on 29/09 (Juan Carlos Salgado and Mercedes Rodríguez).
- Spoonbill: Flocks: 30 birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 02/09 (S. Mayordomo); at Reservoir Los Canchales (Badajoz): 86 birds on 05/09 (A. Núñez), 80 birds on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Lopo, Juan Carlos Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and 60 birds on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo); 31 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 8/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo); 80 birds at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 11/09 (Rafael Parra); 44 birds at Laguna Grande de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 15/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 42 birds at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Squacco Heron: one bird at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 05/09 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 11/09 (E. Palacios, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo). At Santa Amalia (Badajoz): one on 21/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 30/09 (F. Yuste). One bird at El Batán ricefield (Cáceres) on 29/09 (J. Prieta).
- Cattle Egret: Roost count: 4562 birds at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 26/09 (J. Prieta).
- Great White Egret: 17 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Little Egret: Flocks: 95 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez) and 150 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Purple Heron: 4 young birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez). One young bird at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 15/09 (J. Prieta). One adult and one young bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/09 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at River Aljucén, PN Cornalvo (Badajoz), on 19/09 (M. Iglesias). One young bird at Galisteo ricefields (Cáceres) on 25/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Grey Heron: Flocks: 151 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez); 80 birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 254 birds at Portaje Reservoir on 16/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- White Stork: 1500 birds at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) on 17/09 (Á. Sánchez).
- Black Stork: two flocks of 8 and 38 birds near Trujillo (Cáceres) on 9/09 (Jesús Porras). Air count: on 23/09, 8 birds at River Aljucén (Á. Fernández) and 82 birds counted on 24/09: 15 at River Tiétar (Cáceres) (J. Mahíllo), 11 at Guadarroyo Stream (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and 45 birds at River Guadiana (Badajoz) (C. Clemente).
- Osprey: at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres): one bird on 10/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 16/09 (S. Mayordomo). At Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres): one bird on 16/09 and 3 birds on 20/09 (A. Pacheco). At Reservoir Ahigal (Cáceres): one Scottish-ringed bird on 19/09 (A. Pacheco) and 21/09 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Torrejoncillo (Cáceres) on 20/09 (Raúl Guzmán). One bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Spanish Imperial Eagle: One young bird at Riomalo de Abajo, Las Hurdes (Cáceres), on 28/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Goshawk: One bird at Cambroncino (Cáceres) on 13/09, another at la Sierra de Tentudía (Badajoz) on 17/09 and another at Riomalo de Abajo (Cáceres) on 28/09 (A. Pacheco).
-Montagu's Harrier: Dark phase birds: one young bird at El Gordo (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo), one young bird at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 13/09 (J. Prieta), one bird at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 14/09 (J. Porras) and another at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Peregrine Falcon: one bird at Tentudía (Badajoz) on 17/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Hobby: one bird at Majadas (Cáceres) on 14/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Lesser Kestrel: on 19/09 one bird seen at Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres) (J. Briz), over 20 at La Contienda, Villanueva del Fresno (Badajoz), (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 4 at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), (M. Kelsey). One bird going to roost at Iglesia at Torre de Miguel Sesmero (Badajoz) on 22/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Crane: Summering birds: one bird still at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir (Cáceres) on 2/09 (A. Pacheco) and two at Monroy (Cáceres) on 14/09 (there since June). Two birds still at Borbollón Reservoir (Cáceres) on 30/09 (Goyo Naharro), one possibly since April and the other was freed from a wildlife refuge centre.
- Avocet: 13 birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 02/09 (S. Mayordomo) and one at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz) on 28/09 (Martin Kelsey).
- Kentish Plover: At Santa Amalia (Badajoz): one bird on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Yuste, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and three on 14/09 (F. Yuste). Two birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Three birds at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Badajoz) on 28/09 (M. Kelsey).

- Bar Tailed Godwit: one young bird at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) from 06/09 to 15/09 (J. Guerra, M. Gálvez, M. Kelsey and S. Mayordomo, Photo attached).
- Spotted Redshank: at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres): one bird on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 8/09 (M. Kelsey). Present at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), from 06/09 to 27/09 peaking at 16 (Emilio Pérez-Balsalobre, E. Palacios, J. Prieta, Manuel García del Rey, Miguel Sánchez and S. Mayordomo). At Santa Amalia (Badajoz): two birds on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Yuste, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and 12 on 16/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Cáceres-Badajoz): 30 birds on 28/09 and 50 on 30/09 (M. Kelsey). Two birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 29/09 (J. Prieta). Three at Salor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 30/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Marsh Sandpiper: one bird at Los Arenales, Cáceres (Cáceres), on 28/09 (S.Mayordomo).
- Wood Sandpiper: At Santa Amalia (Badajoz): 24 birds on 04/09 (F. Yuste), 2 birds on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Yuste, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and on 14/09 (F. Yuste), 15 birds on 16/09 and one on 21/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Present at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres) from 06/09 to 21/09 peaking at 2 (E. Pérez-Balsalobre, E. Palacios, M. García del Rey, M. Sánchez and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 13/09 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Ahigal Reservoir (Cáceres) on 27/09 (A. Pacheco). Four at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo ricefields (Badajoz) on 28/09 (M. Kelsey).
- Ruff: Flocks: 60 birds at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 08/09 (F. Yuste) and 120 birds at Campo Lugar-Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 28/09 (M. Kelsey).
- Sanderling: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 08/09 (F. Yuste).
- Turnstone: one young bird at Valdesalor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 09/09 (Carlos Fernández) and one bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Curlew Sandpiper: one bird at Valdesalor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 09/09 (C. Fernández), 18/09, 19/09 and 20/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One young bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 11/09 (E. Palacios, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Temminck's Stint: one bird at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 8/09 (M. Kelsey). Three at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/09 (E. Palacios, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Laguna del Casar de Cáceres (Cáceres) on 23/09 (Antonio Ceballos, Attached Photo).
- Cream Coloured Courser: one bird at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 22/09 (Raymon De Smet and Sallaets Gaston).
- Collared Pratincole: Flocks at Santa Amalia: 164 birds on 04/09, 270 birds on 08/09 (F. Yuste), 230 birds on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Yuste, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo), 132 birds on 14/09 (F. Yuste) and 170 birds on 16/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Black-Headed Gull: Flocks: 615 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 and 800 birds at Mérida landfill site(Badajoz) on 17/09 (Á. Sánchez).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: two birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez). Six birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). One adult at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). One second-year bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Lesser Black-Backed Gull: Flocks: 3850 at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 and 2000 at Mérida landfill site (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez).
- Black Tern: one bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 02/09 (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez). On 24/09, two birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) and two at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Whiskered Tern: 71 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 06/09 (Á. Sánchez). One bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 11/09 (E. palacios, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and 24/09 (C. Clemente, J. Mahíllo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Long Eared Owl: one bird singing at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 19/09 (E. Pérez-Balsalobre, M. García del Rey, M. Sánchez and S. Mayordomo).
- Wryneck: one bird at Ahigal (Cáceres) on 7/09 and another at Portaje (Cáceres) on 16/09 (S. Mayordomo). On 18/09, one bird at Belvís de Monroy (Cáceres) (Javier Briz) and another at Valdesalor (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo). On 21/09, two at Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres) and one at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Sierra de San Pedro (Badajoz) on 25/09 (José Gordillo). One bird at Plasencia on 27/09 and 29/09 (Ricardo Montero).
- Iberian Chiffchaff: one bird at Valdesalor (Cáceres) on 18/09 and 19/09 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Ahigal (Cáceres) on 21/09 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Bluethroat: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 11/09 (E. Palacios, F. Yuste, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo). One male at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/09 and two males at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 25/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Redstart: one male at El Gordo (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Zorita (Cáceres) on 16/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). One male at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 19/09 (S. Mayordomo). One female at Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 21/09 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 23/09 (J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Río Ardila (Badajoz) on 24/09 (A. Núñez). Three at Riomalo de Abajo (Cáceres) on 28/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Tree Pipit: two birds on 13/09 and four on 28/09 at Casas del Castañar (Cáceres) (J. Prieta). One bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 16/09, and on 20/09 one at Botoa (Badajoz) and another at Alburquerque (Badajoz) (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Tawny Pipit: four birds at San Vicente de Alcántara (Badajoz) on 05/09 (J. Gordillo). Nine at El Gordo (Cáceres) on 08/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Three at Llanos de Cáceres on 13/09, at Hinojal one on 15/09 and 16/09, and another at Sierra de Fuentes (Cáceres) on 17/09 (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at El Canito (Badajoz) on 18/09 (J. Gordillo). On 19/09, two at Torrequemada (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo), one at Serrejón (Cáceres) (E. Pérez-Balsalobre, M. García del Rey, M. Sánchez and S. Mayordomo), four at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), (M. Kelsey), two at Villanueva del Fresno (Badajoz) (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and two at Ahigal (Cáceres) (A. Pacheco). At Campanario (Badajoz): five birds on 21/09 and three on 28/09 (José Luis Pérez-Chiscano and Juan Pablo Prieto). Six birds at Cáceres (Cáceres) on 22/09 (S. Mayordomo). At Trujillo: one bird on 23/09 (J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo) and several on 24/09 (M. Kelsey). At Torreorgaz (Cáceres): six birds on 26/09 and three on 28/09, and another two at Torremocha (Cáceres) on 26/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Yellow Wagtail: M. f. Flavissima subsp.: one male at Laguna de los Gañanes, Guijo de Coria (Cáceres), on 13/09 (J. Prieta); several at Ahigal Reservoir (Cáceres) on 27/09 (A. Pacheco) and two at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 29/09 (J. Prieta). M. f. Thunbergii subsp.: one male at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 21/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Flock: over 2000 birds at Badajoz (Badajoz) on 11/09/11 (Gabriel Silva).
- Waxbill: New breeding site: at Ribera de los Limonetes-Nogales, Torre de Miguel Sesmero (Badajoz) nine birds were seen on 15/09; seven, one carrying nesting material, on 18/09 and three, one with nesting material, on 20/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Yellow-crowned Bishop: at Puente de Palmas, River Guadiana, Badajoz (Badajoz); 12 birds on 18/09 and 20 on 24/09 (J. C. Paniagua).

FIRST WINTER VISITORS
- Greylag Goose: seven birds at Charca de Torrealba, Torremocha (Cáceres), on 30/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Widgeon: three eclipse drakes and two females at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 26/09 (J. Prieta) and two pairs at Ahigal Reservoir (Cáceres) on 27/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Pintail: on 19/09 six birds at Ahigal Reservoir (Cáceres) (A. Pacheco) and five at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres) (E. Pérez-Balsalobre, M. García del Rey, M. Sánchez and S. Mayordomo).
- Hen Harrier: one bird at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 24/09 (M. Kelsey).
- Merlin: one bird at Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 19/09 (M. Kelsey).
- Firecrest: one bird at River Jerte, Casas del Castañar (Cáceres), on 23/09 (J. Prieta).
- Meadow Pipit: three birds at Jerte Reservoir, Casas del Castañar (Cáceres), on 28/09 (J. Prieta).

LINGERING SUMMER VISITORS
- Black Kite: two birds at Salor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 25/09 (C. Fernández).
- Honey Buzzard: one bird at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 10/09 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Monfragüe on 23/09 (M. Kelsey).
- Nightjar: two birds at Portaje (Cáceres) on 10/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and one singing at Toril (Cáceres) on 30/09 (M. García del Rey).
- Bee-eater: flock flying over Piornal (Cáceres) on 15/09 (J. Prieta).
- Swallow: two birds at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 30/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Golden Oriole: one bird at Toril (Cáceres) on 11/09 (J. Porras) and two at Gargüera on 01/09 (J. Gayo).
- Woodchat Shrike: two young birds at Zorita (Cáceres) on 16/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and another two at Valdesalor (Cáceres) on 18/09 (S. Mayordomo).
- Bonelli's Warbler: one bird at Riomalo de Abajo (Cáceres) on 28/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Rock Thrush: two pairs at El Gasco, Las Hurdes (Cáceres), on 24/09 (A. Pacheco).
- Black-Eared Wheatear: several birds at Mohedas de Granadilla on 16/09 (A. Pacheco).

PECTORAL SANDPIPER: THE THIRD AMERICAN

2011-10-23T12:49:00.000+02:00

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), juvenile.
Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz), 21.10.11 (Sergio Mayordomo).

October continues to be American wader month in Extremadura. Now it's the turn of the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), seen on 21 October 2011 at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz). The sighting was quite serendipitous, because the target bird of the visit was the White-Rumped Sandiper seen on the same pond the day before. The White-Rumped failed to appear but this Pectoral popped up instead. It was found in the morning by Sergio Mayordomo; in the afternoon it was seen at least by Miguel Rouco and on the next day (22 October) it was seen by quite a few more observers (Ángel Sánchez, Francis Prieto, Elvira del Viejo, A. Cangas, Agapito,...). And on this day there was also a Temminck's Stint around... just for good measure . .

Of this month's three Nearctic sandpipers (click here and here), the Pectoral is the commonest. In Spain it is still rated as a vagrant though perhaps not for much longer, since nearly 300 birds have been accepted up to 2008 while in September and part of October 60 more were seen, including several inland records (Burgos, Palencia, Navarra, Albacete...). This bird will be at least the eighth for Extremadura, all juveniles on autumn passage. The sighting of two birds on Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) in September 2010 was previously reported in this blog. To find out more about this previous sighting, all other Extremadura records and general info on the species, click here.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), juvenile.
Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz), 22.10.11 (Ángel Sánchez).

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: A FIRST FOR EXTREMADURA

2011-10-22T12:40:00.000+02:00

White-Rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis).
Charca de Esparragalejo, Badajoz. 20-10-11 (Ángel Luis Sánchez).

In the last blog post we were "whining" about the lack of rare waders in September 2010; October now looks like being the month of American waders in Extremadura. On 19 and 20 October a juvenile White-Rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) turned up in the pond called Charca de Esparragalejo. It was found on the 19th by Francis Prieto and next day was seen by Francis Prieto again plus Ángel Sánchez and Ángel Luis Sánchez. This is the first known record for Extremadura. And this makes..... a fair few new species in the region since this blog kicked off.

The White-Rumped Sandpiper is a wader that breeds in the arctic region of Alaska and Canada, wintering in South America. It is as rare vagrant in Spain with 46 accepted records of 84 birds up to 2008, most in the Canary Islands (66 birds), where there was a "massive" irruption in October 2005 (over 50 birds). Two Portuguese records are also known up to 2007. Very few have turned up in 2011; only three other 2011 records are known up to 20 October: one young bird in Galicia in September and October and two adults in Delta del Ebro (Rare Birds in Spain). Up to 2003 there was only one record in inland Spain, in Fraga (Huesca) in October 2001 (Steve West and T. Nievas).

The best field marks are its intermediate size between Dunlin and Little Stint, its white rump, eye stripe and long-winged appearance with the primaries projecting beyond the tail when at rest.

Sources:
- De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.
- Catry, P., Costa, H., Elias, G. y Matias, R. 2010. Aves de Portugal. Ornitologia do território continental. Assírio & Alvim. Lisboa.
- CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57(2).

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER IN GALISTEO, CÁCERES

2011-10-10T13:30:00.001+02:00

Buff-Breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis), juvenile. Galisteo Lake, Cáceres, 05.10.2011 (Javier Prieta).

After a September with no news of vagrant waders in Extremadura, October kicked off with the interesting sighting of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 05.10.11. The lucky observer this time was the person writing this blog post (by name of Javier Prieta). This is the second ever record for the region after the first one in 2010, also in October, at Valdecañas on 15.10.10 (click here for more info). Both birds were juveniles, like most Spanish records. As on the previous occasion this Buff Breasted didn't stick around; birders who went there to see it that same afternoon lucked out.

As in 2010 this sighting coincides with a big influx of Buff Breasted Sandpipers in Spain. According to Rare Birds in Spain at least 30 different birds were seen in September and another 4 in the first days of October. All these sightings were in coastal provinces (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Catalunya, above all, Valencia, Cádiz, Canarias...), except for this Extremadura bird. The 2010 irruption was put down to successive Atlantic storms but there weren't any in 2011 so another explanation will have to be "invented". To find out more about this delicate American wader, see the 2010 post (click here).

THE BOOTED EAGLE IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-10-04T09:36:00.000+02:00

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), light phase. Portaje, Cáceres, 27-07-2010. By Eva Palacios.

The Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) was 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 2210 territories (range 2150-2270). This represents 12% of the Spanish total (18,500 territories), ranking fourth after three bigger regions: Castilla y León (3820), Andalucía (3790) and Castilla-La Mancha (3020). Extremadura's mean density is 5.3 territories per 100 km2, the highest in the whole country and way above the national mean (3.7). Behind Extremadura come Andalucía, Aragón and Castilla y León (densities of from 4.1 to 4.3).

Badajoz, with an estimated 1200 territories, boasts Spain's biggest provincial population, followed by Cáceres with 1010 territories. The highest provincial density is recorded by Sevilla (5.8), followed by Badajoz (5.5), Huelva (5.11) and Cáceres (5.08), all in the southwest quadrant of mainland Spain.

The Booted Eagle's range takes in the whole of Extremadura; it seems to be commonest in the northern half of Cáceres and scarcest in the centre-west of Badajoz. In all it was recorded in 57% of the grids with lookout points (65% in Cáceres and 52% in Badajoz). The Booted Eagle is a very versatile raptor. In Spain it prefers inland areas with cool, sunny springs, moderate relief and not too much farmland.

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

The car transects threw up an average of 4.4 birds every 100 km; it was observed in 77% of the sampled grids (83% in Cáceres and 71% in Badajoz). The mean birds-per-kilometre figure for Spain as a whole was 2.3, led by Salamanca (5.7), Valladolid (5.6), Segovia (4.8), Cáceres (4.5), Granada (4.5) y Badajoz (4.2).

The Booted Eagle's trend in Spain is a very sharp increase according to the breeding birds monitoring project SACRE, with a 43% rise from 1998 to 2010. In the central zone of Spain, including Extremadura, the increase is even higher: 53%. Gibraltar Strait counts of migrating birds have also multiplied fourfold since the 1990s, with almost 30,000 Booted Eagles being recorded nowadays (Fundación Migres).

As regards the figures thrown up by this survey, not much can be said because there is insufficient previous information to go on. Nonetheless some discrepancies are evident in the above paragraphs. The population estimates clearly bring out the importance of the southwest quadrant of mainland Spain (Extremadura and Western Andalucía), while the observation probability map (bound up with abundance) shows the highest probabilities in Cáceres and the south of the northern meseta. The same goes for the car transects, with highest bird-per-kilometre figures in the northern meseta. In both cases Salamanca comes out winning while Badajoz and Sevilla come out losing.

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]
- Fundación Migres: http://www.fundacionmigres.org/Noticia_aumento_poblaciones_rapaces.html

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER: TWENTY YEARS LATER

2011-09-29T09:19:00.002+02:00

Cream-Coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor). Trujillo, 22-09-2011. Raymond de Smet.

On 22 September a Cream-Coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor) was seen on Llanos de Belén, Trujillo (Cáceres) by Raymond de Smet and Sallaets Gaston. No less than 20 years have passed since the last Extremadura sighting of this species, on 25 September 1991 in Esparragosa de Lares (Badajoz) by Manuel Gómez Calzado. On that occasion the Courser was in a Dotterel flock (Eudromias morinellus). This time it was on its own, suddenly flying by when the observers were getting ready to photograph Bustards. Other birders who flocked to the spot next day lucked out.

As on other occasions when rarities have turned up, we'll take this chance to find out more about this species. Native to North Africa it also breeds in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura (about 2000 birds according to Carrascal et al., 2006). Within Africa the Courser is a migrator, breeding north of the Sahara and wintering to the south. On occasions, however, some birds stray off the normal migration routes, turning up in Europe as a vagrant. In the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries sightings in central Europe (France, UK, Germany) were not so infrequent as nowadays, possibly because the Courser was commoner back then. Nowadays it still turns up from time to time on mainland Spain and in the Balearic Islands (18 records and 32 accepted birds up to 2008) and in Portugal (6 records and 6 birds up to 2007), mainly in south Andalusia. Although it has been observed in Spain in nearly every month of the year, sightings peak at times of passage: spring (peaking in April) and late summer (peaking in September). 2001 was especially good, with a breeding record in Tabernas, Almería.

Let's hope we don't have to wait another 20 years to see this bird again in Extremadura. Our thanks go to Martin Kelsey for telling us about the finding (see the post in his own blog). More photos are on display in Rare Birds in Spain.

Cream-Coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor). Trujillo, 22-09-2011. Raymond de Smet.

Sources:
- Carrascal, L. M., Seoane, J., Palomino, D. y Alonso, C. L. 2006. El corredor sahariano en España. I Censo Nacional (2005-2006). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [PDF]
- De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.
- CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57(2).

POPULATION TRENDS OF COMMON EUROPEAN BREEDING BIRDS

2011-09-21T23:28:00.004+02:00

The European Bird Census Council (EBCC) has published a leaflet summarising population trends of European birds in the time period 1980 - 2009. The information has been culled from the national monitoring programmes run by volunteers, including the common breeding bird census (SACRE) of SEO/BirdLife. This proves the importance of collaborating in projects of this type, due to the knock on conservation effect at European level. To download the leaflet, just click here.

AUGUST 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-09-16T12:26:00.004+02:00

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), female. By José Gordillo.

A list of the most notable August records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- Egyptian Goose: 1 bird at Portaje reservoir(Cáceres) on 11/08 (Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo) and 22/08 (S. Mayordomo). 6 birds at Sierra Brava reservoir(Cáceres) on 26/08 (Ángel Luis Sánchez and B. Cienfuegos).
- Garganey: 1 female at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres)on 02/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 2 on 04/08 (Emilio Pérez-Balsalobre and M. García del Rey).
- Little Grebe: 395 birds on Brozas pond (Cáceres) on 17/08 (Carlos Fernández).
- Great Crested Grebe: 1 leucistic bird at Esparragalejo pond Badajoz) on 22/08 (Ángel Sánchez).
- Greater Flamingo: 1 adult at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (Javier Prieta)
- Glossy Ibis: 1 lame bird still at Cerro Alto, Saucedilla (Cáceres) on
06/08 (Manuel García del Rey), 17/08 (Hugo Sánchez), 28/08 (Jaime Collado) and
30/08 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco).
- Spoonbill: Flocks at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres): 57 on 02/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo), 45 on 07/08 (M. García del Rey), 58 on 09/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 16/08 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo), 113 on 20/08, biggest flock ever recorded in the province of Cáceres (César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo), 63 on 21/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 61 on 25/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) 33 birds at Portaje reservoir(Cáceres) on 11/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). 70 at Los Canchales reservoir (Badajoz) on 13/08 (Francisco Lopo). Thirty seven birds at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 18/08 (Carlos Fernández) and 61 on 28/08 (S. Mayordomo).
- Squacco Heron: 1 bird at Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz) on 08/08 and another
at Galisteo lake(Cáceres) on 29/08 (J. Prieta).
- Purple Heron: 1 adult at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), and 1 juvenile on 05/08 (Juan Carlos Paniagua, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo), plus 1 on 13/08 (S. Mayordomo), 21/08 (C. Clemente) and 31/08 (S. Mayordomo). Another bird at Portaje reservoir(Cáceres) on 05/08 and 22/08 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Arroyo Valdesegura, Jarilla (Cáceres), on 07/08 (S. Mayordomo). One bird
at Valdeobispo lake(Cáceres) on 08/08 (C. Clemente). One bird at Santa Amalia rice fields (Badajoz) on 27/08 (Fernando Yuste).
- Black Stork: 18 at River Matachel (Badajoz) on 31/08 (Roberto Sánchez).
- Osprey: 1 bird at Portaje reservoir(Cáceres) on 22/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 2 at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (J. Prieta).
- Rüppell's Vulture: 1 subadult at Serradilla (Cáceres)on 05/08 (David Álvarez,
Ismael Izquierdo and Iván Álvarez).
- Spanish Imperial Eagle: 1 adult at Sierra de Santa Bárbara, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 17/08 (Julián Martín Garde).
- Montagu's Harrier: dark morph birds (melanistic): 1 juvenile at Guijo de
Coria (Cáceres) on 04/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo), 1 at Sierra de Fuentes
(Cáceres) on 15/08 and another at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 27/08 (S. Mayordomo).
- Lesser Kestrel: 368 birds counted at a roost in La Vera on 03/08 and
483 on 24/08 (J. Prieta) and an estimated 1000 birds in mid August(Pedro Gómez). At least 2950 birds at a roost in central Badajoz and an estimate of 3500-4000 on 30/08 (Á. Sánchez and 15 collaborators of DEMA and Junta de Extremadura).
- Crane: 1 bird still at Gabriel and Galán reservoir(Cáceres) on 01/08 (A. Pacheco).
- Purple Swamphen: 1 bird at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 02/08 (E.
Palacios, J. Briz, S. Mayordomo and V. Risco).
- Kentish Plover: 2 birds at Santa Amalia rice fields(Badajoz) on 28/08 (Fernando Yuste).
- Spotted Redshank: present all month at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), peaking at 15 birds on 26/08 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). 3 birds at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 12/08 and 2 at Ayuela reservoir, Casas de Don Antonio (Cáceres), on 19/08 (C. Fernández). 2 birds at Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 21/08 (S. Mayordomo). Another 2 at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (C. Fernández). 1 bird at Laguna Grande de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 31/08 (J. C. Paniagua).

Black-Necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), winter plumage, Esparragalejo (Badajoz), 22.08.11 (by Ángel Sánchez).

- Wood Sandpiper: present all month at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), peaking at 8 birds on 16/08 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Two juveniles at Cerro Alto, Saucedilla (Cáceres), on 06/08 (M. García del Rey) and 1 on 29/08 (E. Palacios and Miguel Ángel Muñoz). One bird at Galisteo lake on 07/08 and 2 on 20/08 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) 19/08 (C. Fernández and S. Mayordomo) and 27/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 5 birds on 28/08 (Steve Fletcher). Three birds at Ayuela reservoir, Casas de Don Antonio (Cáceres), on 19/08 (C. Fernández). In the ricefields of Galisteo a maximum of 10 birds on 26/08 (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Esparragalejo pond(Badajoz) on 21/08 (Á. L. Sánchez). Seven birds at Santa Amalia rice fields(Badajoz) on 31/08 (F. Yuste).
- Curlew Sandpiper: 2 birds at Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 02/08
(Antonio Núñez). One bird at Talaván reservoir(Cáceres) on 14/08 (S. Mayordomo). Six birds at Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz) on 21/08 (Á. L. Sánchez). Three birds at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 25/08 (C. Fernández), 2 on 27/08 and 1 on
28/08 (S. Mayordomo).
- Temminck's Stint: 1 bird at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 28/08 (S. Fletcher).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: 42 birds Valdecañas reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (J. Prieta).
- Whiskered Tern: 2 birds at Esparragalejo pond(Badajoz) on 21/08 (Á. L. Sánchez).
- Nightjar: 1 bird churring at Malpartida de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 09/08 (Godfried Schreur).
- Red-Backed Shrike: 7 juvs seen at Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres-Ávila), 3 on the Cáceres side, on 19/08 (B. Molina and J. Prieta) and 3 juvs on the Cáceres side on 30/08 (J. Prieta).
- Raven: roost with 300 birds at Tentudía (Badajoz) on 21/08 (A. Pacheco).
- Sand Martin: over 6000 birds at Puente de Palmas, Badajoz, on 30/08 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Iberian Chiffchaff: 1 bird at River Jerte, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 28/08 (J.
Prieta).
- Savi's Warbler: 1 bird at Arroyo Rivillas, Badajoz, on 30/08 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Sedge Warbler: 1 bird at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 13/08 and 31/08 (S. Mayordomo).
- Yellow Wagtail: 90 birds at Galisteo lake(Cáceres) on 23/08, including the subspecies M. f. thunbergii (S. Mayordomo).

FIRST POST-BREEDING DISPERSAL RECORDS
- Pochard: 1 at Gabriel and Galán reservoir(Cáceres) on 01/08 (A.Pacheco). 6 birds at Aldea del Cano pond(Cáceres) on 12/08 (C. Fernández). 6 birds at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (J. Prieta).
- Black-Necked Grebe: 1 bird at Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz) on 22/08
(Á. Sánchez) and 2 at Valdecañas reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (J. Prieta).
- Avocet: 7 birds at Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz) on 08/08 (Á. L.Sánchez). One bird at Salor reservoir (Cáceres), on 12/08 and 10 on 25/08 (C. Fernández). 18 birds at Ayuela reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/08 (C. Fernández). One bird at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 23/08 (J. Prieta).

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), summer plumage, Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz), 23-08-11 (by Ángel Sánchez).

- Grey Plover: One bird at Esparragalejo pond(Badajoz) on 23/08 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez) and another at la Laguna Grande de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 31/08
(J. C. Paniagua).
- Curlew: 2 birds at Valdecañas reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/08 (J.Prieta).
- Black Tern: 2 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 21/08 and 1
bird at Portaje reservoir(Cáceres) on 22/08 (S. Mayordomo). 4 birds at La Haba pond (Badajoz) on 28/08 (Juan Pablo Prieto).
- Wryneck: 1 bird at Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 19/08 (Blas Molina and J. Prieta).
- Garden Warbler: 2 birds at Las Mestas (Cáceres) on 15/08 (Francis Martín)
and another 2 at Tentudía (Badajoz) on 21/08 (A. Pacheco).
- Pied Flycatcher: 3 birds at Piornal (Cáceres), on 10/08 and 5 on 17/08 (J.
Prieta). One bird at Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 19/08 (B. Molina and J. Prieta). First seen in low-lying areas on 27/08 at Plasencia (J. Prieta) and at Casas de Belvís on 29/08 (J. Briz).
- Bluethroat: 1 female at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 31/08 (S. Mayordomo).
- Redstart: 1 young male on 13/08 at Mirandilla (Badajoz) (José Ledo). One male at Vicente de Alcántara (Badajoz) on 18/08 and a female on 20/08 (José Gordillo).
- Whinchat: 1 bird at Cáceres on 29/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 3 at Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 30/08 (J. Prieta).
- Tree Pipit: 1 bird at Piornal (Cáceres) on 10/08 and several on 17/08 (J.
Prieta).
- Tawny Pipit: 1 bird at Cáceres on 25/08 and 30/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 2 birds at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 29/08 (J. Prieta).

LINGERING SUMMER VISITORS
- Little Tern: 7 juvs and 1 adult at Esparragalejo pond (Badajoz) on
21/08 (Á. L. Sánchez). 2 juvs and 1 adult at Talaván reservoir(Cáceres) on
22/08 and 2 birds at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 25/08 (C. Fernández).
- Gull-Billed Tern: 1 bird at Los Arenales (Cáceres) on 18/08 (C. Fernández),
another at Salor reservoir(Cáceres) on 19/08 (S. Mayordomo) and 1 adult and 1 juv at Esparragalejo pond(Badajoz) on 22/08 (Á. Sánchez).
- Swift: 20 birds at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 23/08 (J.Prieta).

SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE: 2010 POPULATION

2011-08-31T10:53:00.003+02:00

An earlier post in this blog gave the 2009 population figures for the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti). This post updates the figures for 2010 (source: Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs). The specie's trend is still upwards, with 11 new Spanish pairs. In Extremadura it is holding steady, with one pair fewer.

GREAT BUSTARDS IN THE WORLD

2011-08-30T10:42:00.003+02:00

Great Bustard (Otis tarda). Male at the height of its breeding display. Photograph by Carlos Palacín, one of the authors of the work quoted in the text (taken from Proyecto Avutarda).

The first volume of the scientific review Chinese Birds regales us with an update of the worldwide status of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), written by two Spanish experts (Alonso and Palacín, 2010). The worldwide population is estimated to be 50,000 birds (44,100-57,000), most of them in Spain (57-70%). Europe boasts the biggest populations, Spain being followed by European Russia (10,000), Portugal (1900) and Hungary (1500). Much less is known about the Asian populations but the most important sites seem to be China, the central steppes and Turkey. The good news is that there is no sign of a global decline in the last decade, largely thanks to the growth in Iberia's population. The Asian information is less trustworthy with an uncertain trend in many areas and a slight decline in others. Of particular interest is the small nearby population in Morocco (100 birds), as well as those of Austria (200) and Germany (115), both on the increase.

The bulk of Iberia's population lives in the region of Castilla y León, where the most recent counts point to new increases. As for Extremadura, there are no recently published figures; the most recent information to hand shows the following: 5176 birds counted in January 2003 and 2852 birds in spring 2002 (Corbacho et al., 2005). Nonetheless, Alonso et al. (2005) consider these Extremadura counts to be imprecise, especially due to the huge 2500-bird difference between the spring and winter figures (2000 in the Province of Badajoz). According to them such a gap should not exist because it has never been recorded in other regions. Alonso et al. (2005), based above all on the January count, thus estimate the Extremadura population to be 5500-6500 birds.

Population trend of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) worldwide and in Spain, maximum estimates between 1985 and 2010. The earlier estimates are rough and ready figures that may well understate the true population.

Country breakdown of the Great Bustard population (Otis tarda) in 2010.

Sources:
- Alonso, J. C. and Palacín, C. 2010. The world status and population trends of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda): 2010 update. Chinese Birds 1:141-147 [download in PDF].
- Alonso, J. C., Palacín, C. and Martín, C. A. 2005. La avutarda común en la península Ibérica: población actual y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid [download in PDF].
- Corbacho, C., Fernández, A., Costillo, E., Lozano, L., Acedo, F. and Gil, A. 2005. La avutarda común en Extremadura: distribución, población y tendencias. In: Alonso, J. C., Palacín, C. and Martín, C. A. La avutarda común en la península Ibérica: población actual y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.

THE HONEY BUZZARD IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-08-25T10:29:00.006+02:00

Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). Left: adult female with a honeycomb in its claws(Joel Brueziere, taken from Fat Birder). Right: adult male (Stephen Daly, taken from IberiaNature). Adults are distinguished by their yellow iris and tail with dark bars only at the base. Males have grey heads and lack the female's "tiger stripe" pattern running across the secondaries. The plumage of this species is very variable, ranging from very dark to very light forms through various reddish and brownish hues.

In 2009-2010 SEO/BirdLife brokered a national count of nine diurnal woodland raptors (Palomino and Valls, 2011). One of the species that came into this trawl was the Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) [click for general survey aspects and methodology]. According to this survey Extremadura's population comes out as an estimated 43 territories (range 29-58), 36 in the province of Cáceres and 8 in the province of Badajoz. This represents only 2.3% of Spain's total population (1850 territories), way below the figures for Galicia (710), Castilla y León (510) and Asturias (280). The mean regional density was 0.10 territories per 100 km2, a long way below the national mean (0.37); the figure was much higher in Cáceres (0.18) than in Badajoz (0.04). As expected the highest densities were recorded in Atlantic Spain; the four Galician and Asturian provinces are the only ones clocking up a mean of 2 territories per 100 km2.

The Honey Buzzard has a local range in Extremadura, with at least 5 population clusters. The main one is in the Cáceres part of the Gredos mountain chain (La Vera and the valleys of Jerte and Ambroz), then stretching westwards to Tierras de Granadilla and Valle del Alagón. The second biggest nucleus occupies the Sierra de Gata and the third Villuercas. In Badajoz there are 2 small clusters, recently discovered, one in Cíjara and the other in Tentudía. In general, Honey Buzzards choose patchwork deciduous woodland and farming habitat in areas with rainy springs. Most of Extremadura's population nests in oakwoods (Quercus pyrenaica), although in marginal areas there are also territories occupied in Cork-Oak woods and pinewoods (Cíjara).
Predictive map of the Honey Buzzard's range in Spain (Pernis apivorus), taken from Palomino and Valls (2011). Notes: (1) The highest likelihood of a Honey Buzzard sighting in the whole country is in the Cáceres part of the Gredos mountain chain. (2) The five sites with proven nesting in Extremadura are marked in red. (3) The sectors marked in grey outside these areas have no known Honey Buzzard sightings in the breeding period. (4) The Tentudía site does not feature on the map.

The lookout counts showed Honey Buzzards to be especially common in the valleys of the Jerte and Ambroz rivers , where the likelihood of sightings is the highest in the whole of Spain. Densities sometimes build up to 9 territories per 100 km2. The vehicle transects were far less successful. In Extremadura as a whole an average of only 4 Honey Buzzards were seen every 1000 km, albeit with local sightings of 3 birds per 100 km in Jerte valley. Lastly, the Honey Buzzard population trend in Extremadura is unknown, although the trend is considered to be "possibly upwards" for Spain as a whole.

So much for the results thrown up by the SEO/BirdLife survey, carried out by volunteers and drawn from complex statistical calculations, all subject to a certain error. The survey authors themselves point out that the results are lower than previous estimates (in the cases of Madrid, Catalunya and Cantabria) and should be considered as minimum figures. The same goes for Extremadura, with previous estimates of 75 pairs. The actual population might well exceed 43 territories, for in Jerte valley alone the fieldwork showed up 25 possible territories plus 12 more in adjacent areas (J. Prieta, own figures). Such doubts are inevitable when dealing with a species so poorly studied in Spain as the Honey Buzzard, a highly idiosyncratic raptor because of its diet (bees and wasps) and its short stay among us (only from May to August). The sampling period was therefore very short and the sample itself was small (detected in Extremadura in only 10 of the ten-k grids with lookout points). Other aspects of the Honey Buzzard's behaviour makes them difficult to quantify: they pair off very quickly and their wing-clapping display flight period is also very brief; the significant non-breeding population (50-85%) is very visible sometimes with sizeable flocks; territories overlap; they range over large hunting areas (7-10 km from the nest) and they rarely betray their presence with any calls (Bijlsma, unpublished). Lastly, they are sometimes hard to tell apart from Buzzards (Buteo buteo), especially when a long way off.

The fieldwork was coordinated and carried out by SEO volunteers and personnel of the Environment Board (Dirección General del Medio Natural) of the Regional council of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura).

Sources:
- Palomino, D., and Valls, J. 2011. Las rapaces forestales en España. Población reproductora en 2009-2010 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [download in PDF format]
- Bijlsma, R. B. Inédito. Abejero Pernis apivorus. Propuesta de método de censo. Informe inédito para SEO/BirdLife.

WOODLAND RAPTORS IN EXTREMADURA (2009-2010)

2011-08-24T10:19:00.007+02:00

Short-Toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus). Adult feeding its chick with a Horseshoe Whip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). Photo: Juan Tevar (taken from SEO/BirdLife).

The latest Spanish Bird Monitoring Report (No.36) brought out by SEO/BirdLife deals with woodland raptors (Palomino and Valls, 2011). In the springs of 2009 and 2010 the fieldwork was carried out to ascertain national populations of seven diurnal woodland (or at least tree-nesting) raptors for the first time: Honey Buzzard, Short-Toed Eagle, Goshawk, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Booted Eagle and Hobby. The figures gleaned also helped to update information on Red Kite and Black Kite, both dealt with in recent national surveys, in 2004 and 2005.

The sampling method was twofold: (1) low-speed car transects and (2) lookout points with good views. The national coverage was good, with records for 1059 10-m2 grids, 27,440 km of vehicle transects and 2614 lookout points adding up to about 9000 viewing hours. The coverage in Extremadura was very good, with 4187 km of transects in 113 grids and lookout points in 81 grids. As a region it ranked first in the number of vehicle transects and second in lookout points. The transect results are expressed as birds per kilometre, a widely employed abundance measurement that allows for comparison with previous studies; it is especially useful for raptors that hunt over open-country (buzzard, short-toed eagle, booted eagle and the two kite species). In the lookout points a note was made of all birds seen in each 10-minute period, an objective, abundance-related value that measures the observation frequency. Observers also gave their subjective estimate of the number of territories existing within the viewpoint area. On the basis of these three values (birds per kilometre, frequency and territories) a distribution and abundance map was built up for each species in Spain together with an estimate of the population size (expressed in territories, not necessarily of breeding birds). The latter result is shown in the following table:
The set of these nine raptors make up a total of 108,340 territories in Spain and 10,843 in Extremadura; this means that Extremadura ranks fourth among Spanish regions behind Castilla y León, Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha, all bigger regions. In terms of density, however (21.5 territories/100 km2 in Spain), the Atlantic regions of northern Spain come first, as might be expected: Basque Country (28.1), Asturias (27.4), Cantabria (26.6) and Galicia (26.2). Extremadura 26.0) comes fifth in terms of density, albeit clocking up the highest density among Mediterranean regions. Behind this group, at a median level(20-25 territories/100 km2) come Castilla y León, Navarra, Andalucía, Madrid, Aragón and La Rioja. The rest of the Spanish regions (in the Mediterranean arch, Castilla-La Mancha and the Balearic and Canary Isles) do not reach the figure of 18 territories/100 km2. In terms of birds per kilometre, Extremadura comes second (3.7 birds/10 km), behind Cantabria (4.3) and ahead of Castilla y León (3.5) and Madrid (2.7). Broken down by provinces, the highest densities are recorded by Salamanca (8 birds /10 km), Segovia (4.7), Ávila (4.5), Cantabria (4.3), Cáceres (4.2) and Badajoz (3.2).

The fieldwork was coordinated and carried out by SEO volunteers and personnel of the Environment Board (Dirección General del Medio Natural) of the Regional council of Extremadura (Junta de 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. [Download in PDF format]

RÜPPELL'S VULTURE: AND THAT MAKES THREE

2011-08-17T13:41:00.002+02:00

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), sub-adult. Serradilla, Monfragüe, Cáceres. 05-08-11 (David Álvarez).

In June 2010 and also in June 2011 this blog reported sightings of Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) at Salto del Gitano, Serradilla, Monfragüe. One-and-a-half months after the last of these observations, on 5 August 2011, another different bird was seen and photographed hard by, within the same municipal district of Serradilla (Cáceres). The excellent photograph (click on it to open it up) shows that this bird was a sub-adult, maybe in its 4th or 5th year. The lucky observers this time were David Álvarez, Ivan Álvarez and Ismael Izquierdo.

To date there have been 3 accepted records of this species in Extremadura (May-June 1992, May 2000 and June 2004) plus another three, ostensibly genuine, yet to be officially accepted (May 2008, June 2010, June 2011). There have also been 3 accepted records in Portugal, where the river Tagus runs along the border with Extremadura: 26 May and 11 June 1992 (the same bird recorded in Spain), 5 June 1998 and 18 February 1999. There are also several other Extremadura records without much to go on. This all suggest a very scarce but more or less regular presence in the region. Among the records now "lost to science" a Rüppell's Vulture was said to have been photographed in late 2010 eating carrion in Serrejón-Casatejada (Cáceres).

See previous entries about Rüppell's Vulture in Extremadura.

JULY 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-08-09T13:25:00.005+02:00

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris). Photo by Ángel M. Ceballos.

A list of the most interesting records sent to the GOCE forum in July 2011. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- Egyptian Goose: 4 adults and 12 young at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on
28/07 (Ángel Sánchez and Ángel Luis Sánchez).
- Shelduck: 2 adults and 12 young at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07
(Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
-Mandarin Duck: one female in the bathing channel of La Isla, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 17/07 (Javier Prieta).
- Red-Crested Pochard: one female at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 31/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Glossy Ibis: one lame bird still at Cerro Alto, Saucedilla (Cáceres) on 09/07 (Javier Briz and Manuel García del Rey). One bird at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
- Spoonbill: over 70 at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 21/07 (Á. Sánchez). A flock of 30 at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres) on 21/07 (Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 40 on 26/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Squacco Heron: breeding proven at Orellana Reservoir (Badajoz: one pair with 2 chicks on 05/07 (Á. L. Sánchez, B. Cienfuegos, Domingo Rivera, P. J. García and P. Gasco). Fifteen birds including 8 young on ponds around Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 21/07 (Á. Sánchez). One young bird at Charca de La Haba (Badajoz) on 30/07 (José Luis Pérez Chiscano and Juan Pablo Prieto). Eight birds on a pond of Montijo (Badajoz) on 30/07 (Á. Sánchez).
- Purple Heron: one young bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/07 and 31/07
(S. Mayordomo). Four birds at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres) on 23/07 (César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo) and on 29/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Osprey: one bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 09/07 (A. Cangas and Elvira del Viejo). One bird at River Tiétar, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 16/07 (María, park guard).
- Marsh Harrier: new breeding site and first in the Alagón catchment area: one pair and one juvenile over Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 27/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Hobby: one bird at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 24/07 (Ricardo Montero).
- Crane: one bird at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 03/07 (Martin Kelsey). Two adults at Monroy (Cáceres) on 30/07 (Manu de Hauwae).
- Purple Swamphen: breeding confirmed at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres): 2 adults and 2 large chicks seen on 26/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Avocet: one bird at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
- Kentish Plover: 30 birds including 2 small chicks at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
- Temminck's Stint: one bird at Portaje Reservoir(Cáceres) on 31/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Lesser Black-Backed Gull: adult in breeding plumage at Valdesalor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo) and several birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus). Two adults in the centre together with several Yellow-Legged Gulls of various ages and a Black-Headed Gull. Valdecañas Reservoir, 12.07.11 (Ángel Sánchez).

- Mediterranean Gull: 15 adults seen at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/07 (Á. Sánchez, J. A. Guerrero and Manuel Flores) and 2 on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez). This is the biggest group ever recorded in Extremadura.
- Common Tern: 5 birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/07 (Á. Sánchez, J. A. Guerrero and M. Flores).
- Whiskered Tern: 2 birds at Portaje Reservoir(Cáceres) on 22/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Reed Warbler: one male singing at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 03/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Western Olivaceous Warbler: 3 birds captured for ringing (one young and 2 adults) at River Guadiana, Badajoz capital, on 18/07 and 19/07 (Antón David Pérez). Could be Extremadura's second breeding record.
- Pied Flycatcher: one male in breeding plumage at Cornalvo National Park(Badajoz) on 09/07 (José Ledo).
- Tawny Pipit: one bird at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 24/07 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).

FIRST POST-BREEDING DISPERSAL RECORDS
- Garganey: one female at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 16/07 (Sergio Mayordomo) and 17/07 (J. Prieta). One drake at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 17/07 (J. Prieta).
- Shoveler: one female at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/07 and another at Charco Salado on 26/07 (S.Mayordomo).
- Teal: one female at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 16/07 (S. Mayordomo) and 17/07 (J. Prieta). Four birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Ringed Plover: one bird at Valdesalor Reservoir(Cáceres) on 23/07, another at Talaván Reservoir(Cáceres) on 25/07 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
- Snipe: 4 birds at Galisteo Lake(Cáceres) on 27/07 and 1 bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 31/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Redshank: 2 birds on 23/07 at Valdesalor Reservoir (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and 1 at Galisteo Lake(Cáceres) (C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo).
- Spotted Redshank: 1 bird at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 21/07 (E.
Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and 8 birds, 5 in breeding plumage, at the same site on 26/07 (S. Mayordomo). One bird in breeding plumage at Charca de La Haba (Badajoz) on 26/07 (J. L. Pérez Chiscano); still there on 30/07 (J. L. Pérez Chiscano and J. P. Prieto). One bird at Valdesalor Reservoir(Cáceres) on 30/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Wood Sandpiper: 1 bird at Sotillo Reservoir, Monroy (Cáceres), on 17/07 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 23/07
(C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo).
- Ruff: 1 bird at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez).
- Dunlin: 1 bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/07 and 2 at Valdesalor Reservoir (Cáceres) on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Curlew Sandpiper: 15 birds at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (Á. Sánchez and Á. L. Sánchez) and 2 at Valdesalor Reservoir(Cáceres) on 29/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Little Stint: several on a Mérida pond on 31/07 (Á. Sánchez).
- Willow Warbler: 1 bird at Cornalvo (Badajoz) on 27/07 (Á. Sánchez, Isa and Jesús).
- Iberian Chiffchaff: 1 bird at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 27/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Bonelli's Warbler: 2 birds at Cornalvo (Cáceres) on 09/07 and 10/07 (J. Ledo) and another 2 at Tentudía (Badajoz) on 14/07 (Alberto Pacheco).
- Sedge Warbler: 2 birds la Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 29/07 (S.Mayordomo).
- Whitethroat: 1 bird at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 31/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Wheatear: 1 bird at Cornalvo (Badajoz) on 27/07 (Á. Sánchez, Isa and Jesús).
- Yellow Wagtail: at least 6 birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 21/07 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).

LAMMERGEIER IN EXTREMADURA: UNEXPECTED VISITORS

2011-08-03T14:12:00.009+02:00

Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus). Hortelano, identifiable by the discoloured feathers in the centre of the left wing. Male released in 2010 in Andalucía and present in Extremadura during April, May and June 2011. Photo: Fundación Gypaetus.

This blog entry has drawn freely on the information furnished by F. Javier Ortega Pinilla, a tireless compiler of Lammergeier records and stories.

If we look for the phrase "Lammergeier in Extremadura" in any search engine we get no hard and fast info back. This is surprising, given that this singular vulture still bred in the region only half a century ago, as pointed out by Javier Ortega in an article pending publication(Ortega, in press). This article tells us that at least the sierras of Gredos, Hurdes, Villuercas, San Pedro and Monesterio were home fairly recently to the "Bearded Vulture". J. Ortega has also compiled 13 Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) sightings, presumably of Pyrenean birds, in the 30-year period running from 1979 to 2008, most of them in the eastern half of the region and in Badajoz (9 records against 4 for Cáceres). Another "oversight" is the absence of this species from the Regional Catalogue of Threatened Species(Catálogo Regional de Especies Amenazadas), where it should by rights feature as an extinguished species.

The number of Lammergeier records in Extremadura has recently soared due to the launch of a reintroduction programme in Andalucía, in the sierras of Cazorla y Segura, and especially the satellite tracking of the released birds. The first juveniles were released in 2006, after which a total of 19 were released in Andalucía up to 2010, the release programme then being called off in 2011. Ten of these releases are still alive; 8 have died and the whereabouts of another is unknown. The early deaths of some birds and technical hitches meant that only 11 birds were tracked for over one year, with records of seven birds spending time in Extremadura. Although the journeys made by these birds differ greatly from one individual to another, a general pattern can be discerned, with several months spent at first in the release area(Cazorla and roundabout) and then dispersal from about the age of one year with wide-ranging movements about the mountain ranges of the whole Iberian Peninsula. This vulture species matures slowly (6-8 years to breeding age), so no breeding pairs have yet been formed, though hopes were raised in 2011 with the pair bonding of the male Tono (born in 2006) and the female Malena (n. 2009).

During the first five years of the project only a handful of these birds spent any time at all in Extremadura, which didn't seem to be much to their liking. At the beginning of 2011 8 birds were still being tracked by satellite, although this number fell to six by June due to the lamentable death of two birds in May.

The Extremadura records from 2006 to 2010 fit into a meagre paragraph. Faust, born in 2006 and still alive, visited us from 25 to 31 May 2007, when it was found in the south of Badajoz (Malcocinado and Fuente de Cantos). The visit of Pontones, born in 2007 and dying in May 2011, was even briefer. On 5 September 2009, in one of its trips between the Cordillera Cantábrica and Cazorla, it flew right across Extremadura without landing, entering the region in Las Hurdes in the north and leaving it in La Siberia in the south. Lastly, the female Cata, born in 2009 and also dying in May 2011, spent two weeks of June 2010 in the centre and south of Badajoz, in the areas of La Serena, La Siberia and Alange.

In 2011, however, Extremadura seems to have become all the rage among Andalusian Lammergeiers. Of the 6 being tracked in June, 5 of them born in 2010, 4 passed through the region (see the maps below)... and it remains to be seen what happened in July and what might happen in the future:
- Hortelano. This was the trailblazer and most loyal bird. After 3 months in Cazorla, it left the area in April, stopping over in Villuercas and the Cáceres part of the Gredos mountain chain (Vera and Jerte). In May it returned to Gredos on a lightning trip to Salamanca. In June it remained in the area, visiting Las Hurdes as well as Madrid, Teruel and several other provinces.
- Tranco. This bird followed in the former's "footsteps". After 3 months of lounging about it suddenly set off to explore the world further afield. In May it roamed widely around the southern half of Spain, including Cáceres, and also entered Portugal. After returning to Cazorla, in June it spent a longer spell in Gredos (Vera and Jerte) and in Hurdes-Batuecas.
- Huéscar. This is the bird that has visited most Extremadura sites of the 4, with June stopovers in Villuercas and the whole central mountain system of Cáceres, from Gata to Gredos, passing through Las Hurdes.
- Quiteria. Only 1 of the two 2010-born females has arrived briefly in Extremadura, with a short spell in Villuercas in June.

As usual in tracking arrangements of this sort, few field sightings have been made. We know of only one by Environmental Agents (Ángel Sánchez, pers. comm.) So we should all keep on the qui vive in the hope of more luck in the future. As well as the tracking devices all the birds are also marked with coloured rings(one on each foot, uncoded) and discoloured wing feathers (for more details click here).

Sources:
- Fundación Gypaetus. Evolución de los ejemplares liberados [web].
- Ortega, F. J. In press. El quebrantahuesos (Gypaetus barbatus) en Extremadura: revisión histórica y presencia actual. In: Prieta, J. and Mayordomo, S. Aves de Extremadura, vol. 4. Anuario 2003-2008. SEO-Cáceres. Plasencia.

JUNE 2011. Notable Bird Sightings in Extremadura

2011-08-01T13:37:00.003+02:00

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Adult. Valdecañas Reservoir, 20-06-11. Javier Prieta.

List of the most notable records in June 2011, mostly taken from the GOCE forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo. N.B: The denomination "Valdecañas Team 2011" (VT2011) refers, in alphabetical order, to Joaquín Fernández, Manuel Flores, José Guerrero, Carlota Gutiérrez, Francisco Hurtado, Luis Lozano, Sergio Mayordomo, Javier Prieta, Domingo Rivera, Miguel Ángel Romo, Esmeralda Rodríguez and Ángel Sánchez.

-Black Swan: One at El Batán ricefield, Guijo de Galisteo (Cáceres), on 13/06 (Javier Prieta).
-Egyptian Goose: Second breeding site in Extremadura: a pair with 3 young at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 14/06 (Ángel Sánchez, Francisco Hurtado and Manuel Flores). 2 at La Serena reservoir Badajoz) on 04/06 (María José Valencia and Xurxo Piñeiro). One at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (Domingo Jorge, Esther Mateos and Jesús Solana).
- Shelduck: First Extremadura breeding record: at least 5 pairs and 21 young seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores), 16/06 (Sergio Mayordomo) and 20/06 (VT2011). Two birds at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 25/06 (César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo).
-Mandarin Duck: Second Extremadura breeding record: a female with 5 large chicks on a pond in Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres) on 26/06 (Carlos Martín).
-Shoveler: one female flushed off a nest with 8 eggs at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Sergio Mayordomo and Javier Prieta).
-Teal: 2 drakes and 1 duck on Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 5 birds at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Spoonbill: New breeding site: a nest occupied by a pair on an island of El Borbollón reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/06 (J. Mahíllo, Jesús Montero, Jonás Martín, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Squacco Heron: 1 bird at Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz) on 12/06 (Á. Sánchez).
-White Stork: colony with 130 nests around the Mirabel landfill site (Cáceres), 82 nesting on Holm Oaks and 48 on high voltage powerline pylons (J. Prieta). Colony with an estimated 150 nests at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) (Jerónimo Jaén).
-Osprey: 1 at Charca de Camacho, Talaván (Cáceres), on 20/06 (José Luis Caballero).
-Rüppell's Vulture: one at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 18/06 (S. Mayordomo and Ricardo Montero).
-Goshawk: one at El Bronco (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Alberto Pacheco).
-Hobby: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 02/06 (Dave Langlois) and another hawking dragonflies at Nuñomoral (Cáceres) on 21/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Great Bustard: birds in post-breeding dispersal in north Cáceres: 3 at Cerezo on 20/06 and 1 at El Gasco on 26/06 (reported by A. Pacheco).
-Crane: 1 at Madrigalejo (Cáceres) on 04/06 (Pep Tapia) and one adult at Gabriel y Galán reservoir (Cáceres) on 09/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Golden Plover: one pair at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and another on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Kentish Plover: New breeding locality, probably the biggest in Extremadura: at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) pairs with young seen on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and at least 47 birds counted on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Redshank: 5 at Valdehornillos ricefields (Badajoz) on 05/06 (Manuel Rodríguez). Present at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco) and 3 birds on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Greenshank: 2 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez). 3 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Green Sandpiper: 7 at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 11/06 (S. Mayordomo), 6 at Vegas Altas (Badajoz) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez) and 5 at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Common Sandpiper: 3 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Dunlin: 2 at Valdecañas reservoir on 16/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 17/06 (J. Briz and V. Risco) plus another bird on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Collared Pratincole: new breeding site, the northernmost in Extremadura, with at least 43 adults and 22 young at Valdecañas reservoir on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Black-Headed Gull: 22 at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). Thirty one birds and three nests seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Mediterranean Gull: One first-winter bird at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Á. Sánchez, S. Mayordomo and J. Prieta).
-Yellow-Legged Gull: 58 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06; at least 4 pairs have bred in 2011 (VT2011).
-Lesser Black-Backed Gull: 2 juvs at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). One adult at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 3 on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Laughing Gull: First Extremadura record: One bird at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and on 20/06 (Carlota Gutiérrez, Esmeralda Rodríguez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores).
-Common Tern: Six birds seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) including one pair incubating, on 16/06 (M. Flores). The pair was seen again on 20/06 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Black Tern: 2 Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). 11 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Whiskered Tern: 4 at Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 19/06 (Antonio Núñez) and 8 at Valdecañas reservoir on 20/06 (VT2011).
-White-Rumped Swift: One pair entering a nest in the village of Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres) on 12/06 (Jesús Calle). 3 at Pico de Miravete (Cáceres) on 23/06 (Godfried Schreur). One at Canchos de Ramiro, Cachorrilla (Cáceres) on 25/06 (C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo). One at Casas de Millán (Cáceres) on 29/06 (G. Schreur and Pedro López).
-Nightjar: Low-altitude observation: one at Montehermoso on 09/06 (C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo) and on 11/06 (C. Clemente).
-Wryneck: 2 at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 25/06 (Juan Carlos Paniagua).
-Budgerigar: one albino bird at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 10/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Hoopoe: at Garganta la Olla one bird entering its nest at a height of 1400 masl and another seen at 1570 masl on 15/06 (J. Prieta).
-Woodlark: at Garganta la Olla, males singing at 1700 masl, maximum height recorded in Extremadura (J. Prieta).
-Red-Backed Shrike: New site: one male at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 16/06 (Richard Coastwoth and R. Montero). At Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres-AV) a femle was seen on 01/06 (Iván Solana) and a pair on 25/06 (Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Iberian Chiffchaff: one bird at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 05/06 (R. Montero).
-Savi's Warbler: New site: one bird singing at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 24/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Rock Thrush: one at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 08/06 and a female and 4 males La Canchera, El Gasco (Cáceres) on 16/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robin: New sites at Villa del Campo (Cáceres) and Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 15/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Wheatear: Low-altitude observations: one at Hinojal on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo) and one male at El Gordo on 20/06 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Black-Eared Wheater: one territorial male singing at Garganta la Olla at a height of 1600 masl, maximum altitude recorded in Extremadura (J. Prieta).
-Bullfinch: observation of two summering birds in Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 05/06 (D. Langlois).

BREEDING HERON COUNT IN CÁCERES: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

2011-06-25T11:28:00.003+02:00

Colony of Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea), 9 nests, and White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), 3 nests. The photograph shows the whole colony, built in a single dead Maritime Pine. The 9 Grey Heron nests break down into 5 nests with chicks of varying ages, two nests with sitting adults and two empty ones. Toril, Cáceres. 19-05-2011 (Javier Prieta). Click on the photo to see it bigger.

Now that summer has come for real, the breeding heron count in Cáceres is pretty much over. With some last-minute information still to come in, with the consequent tweaks and corrections, we can give a foretaste here of the final results, mainly to reward the participants and thank them for their sterling efforts. These thanks are fully deserved because the censusing team achieved practically complete coverage of the whole province. Once all the final results are in, especially from the province of Badajoz, which has bigger populations than Cáceres for most heron species, this blog intends to give a complete account of this final result. To see other entries on herons in Extremadura, click here.

Breeding heron count in the province of Cáceres. Preliminary results, 2011.

- Grey Heron. At least 44 colonies found with about a thousand breeding pairs between them. It is the most widespread heron species in the province, with presence in all the heron colonies found. Sharp upward trend.

- Cattle Egret. Present in only 6 colonies with a total of about 1700 pairs. Although it is still the most numerous of Extremadura's heron species, this is the lowest known figure for the species in Cáceres, with an appreciable downward trend, both in the number of colonies and the number of pairs.

- Little Egret. About 60 pairs found in 5 colonies, all mixed colonies with Cattle Egret. It has always been a scarce species in Cáceres and the present result is similar to previous counts (stable trend).

- Night Heron. One known colony (Arrocampo Reservoir) with about 20 pairs. Slight increase.

- Purple Heron. Estimated 46 pairs in the province's only breeding site (Arrocampo). Stable trend.

- Squacco Heron. At least three pairs, also in Arrocampo Reservoir. Stable trend.

- Great White Heron. After breeding for the first time in Arrocampo in 2010, at least two pairs are now nesting in the same site this year.

- There is no information on two heron species that were not targeted by the count: Little Bittern (common breeder) and Bittern (occasional breeder).

- Interesting spinoff Spoonbill information was also obtained during the heron count, with 4 breeding sites found accounting for a total of about 40 breeding pairs. These are the highest provincial figures, both in terms of colonies and breeding pairs (see 2010 figures). Upward trend.

From here we pass on our thanks to all participants and wish all blog readers a good summer.

MORE PHOTOS OF THE VALDECAÑAS LAUGHING GULL

2011-06-24T11:22:00.003+02:00

A few days ago we reported Extremadura's first ever Laughing Gull record (Larus atricilla), a bird seen at Valdecañas Reservoir, Cáceres (click here). The first sighting was on 14 June 2011 (Ángel Sánchez, Francisco Hurtado amd Manuel Flores) and the second - and for now the last - was made on 20 June (F. Hurtado, M. Flores, Esmeralda Rodriguez and Carlota Gutierrez). The three photos below were taken by Francisco Hurtado on this latter occasion.

ANOTHER RÜPPELL'S VULTURE IN MONFRAGÜE

2011-06-22T10:57:00.002+02:00

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), immature. Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe, Cáceres. 18-06-11 (Sergio Mayordomo).

Nearly exactly one year ago this blog duly reported the sighting of a Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) at Salto del Gitano in Monfragüe on 5 and 6 June 2010 (click here). This short entry is to report another bird seen in the same place on 18 June 2011. Again it's an immature bird, maybe in its 2nd or 3rd year. The observers this time were Sergio Mayordomo and Ricardo Montero.

We gave fairly copious information on the bird last time. Suffice it here to say there are only three confirmed records of this species in Extremadura with another two, ostensibly valid, in the queue for acceptance. As already pointed out there are other poorly documented records, suggesting that the bird is present in the area in low numbers on a fairly regular basis. These questionable records include a recent sighting of a bird seen near Trujillo in spring 2011, maybe an adult or subadult, for it is described as a "dark Griffon Vulture with white spots on the plumage" (María José Moreno and Julián Panadero).

LAUGHING GULL. FIRST EVER RECORD FOR EXTREMADURA

2011-06-21T11:02:00.001+02:00

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) in the foreground with a Black-Headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) in the background. Valdecañas Reservoir, Cáceres. 14-06-2011 (Ángel Sánchez)

On Tuesday 14 June 2011 Extremadura's first ever Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) was spotted in Valdecañas Reservoir in the province of Cáceres. This American species is fairly similar to our Black-Headed Gull (Larus ridibundus). Gulls as a group are usually hard to identify; in this case, however, the bird was an adult in full breeding plumage so the few differences stood out well. The Laughing Gull's hood spreads much further down the neck; its mantle is a darker grey and its legs are longer. The lucky observers were Ángel Sánchez, Francisco Hurtado and Manuel Flores. Six days later, on Monday 20 June, the same bird was relocated on the opposite shore of the same reservoir, 7 km from the first site (F. Hurtado, M. Flores, Esmeralda Rodríguez y Carlota Gutiérrez).

Prima facie this seems a very surprising record, especially due to the date in late spring and the fact that the bird is an adult. A trawl of past records, however, shows both factors to be less extraordinary than might at first be thought. Maybe the most surprising fact after all is that it is an inland record, since all previous Spanish records were in coastal provinces, both on the Atlantic and Mediterranean side of the country.

Up to 2008, the most recent year with officially accepted records, a total of 51 Laughing Gulls had been recorded in Spain, 7 in the Canary Islands (CR-SEO, 2010). Still pending confirmation are two records from early 2009, in the Canaries and Málaga; there were no reported records in 2010. Up to June 2011 the Cáceres record seems to be the only one in the year (see the websites rarebirdspain and reservoir-birds). Nearly half (22) of the accepted sightings occurred in late 2005 when many storm-blown birds appeared after Hurricane Wilma.

De Juana's analysis (2006) of the 21 accepted sightings up to 2003 shows no clear seasonal pattern, with observations in almost every month of the year and peaks in winter (December-January) and during post breeding dispersal (July-August). The Cáceres record probably fits into the latter category. Broken down by ages, up to 2003 half the birds detected were adults, although there might be an in-built bias here as immatures are more likely to go unnoticed.
Sources: - De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. - CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57(2).

MAY 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-06-15T23:01:00.003+02:00

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Talaván Reservoir, Cáceres. 14.05.2011 (Eva Palacios).

A list of the most notable bird sightings in Extremadura in May 2011, most taken from the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo

- Greylag Goose: flock of 7 adults and 2 chicks at Alqueva Reservoir(Badajoz) on 11/05 (Ángel Sánchez). First breeding record in Extremadura, although feral birds cannot be ruled out.
- Barnacle Goose: one bird seen during April at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) still there on 02/05 (Eva Palacios, Paco Ramírez, Javier Prieta, Miguel Ángel Muñoz and Sergio Mayordomo).
- Shelduck: up to 18 pairs seen at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres)on 05/05 and a pair with 2 chicks on 11/05 (Á. Sánchez, Francisco Hurtado, José Guerrero and Manuel Flores). First breeding record for Extremadura.
- Shoveler: 1 drake at La Albuera lakes (Badajoz) on 01/05 (José Guerra and Marc Gálvez). Three drakes and 1 duck at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo). One drake at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 05/05 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado, J. Guerrero and M. Flores). One at Talaván Reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/05 (Antonio Núñez).
- Red-Crested Pochard: 5 drakes and 1 duck at River Guadiana, Talavera la Real (Badajoz), on 04/05 (G. Schreur). 10 drakes and 2 ducks at Alange Reservoir(Badajoz) on 17/05 (Á. Sánchez).
- Pochard: one drake at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo). 2 drakes at Aldea del Cano (Cáceres) on 13/05 (S. Mayordomo).
- Tufted Duck: one pair at a small reservoir Zorita (Cáceres) on 11/05 (Á. Sánchez).
- Cormorant: 250 occupied nests counted at La Serena Reservoir Badajoz) in 2 colonies of 240 and 10 nests on 15/05 (Mª José Valencia and Xurxo Piñeiro) and 262 nests at the first of these colonies on 26/05 (Á. Sánchez, Domingo Rivera and Luis Lozano). This gives a total of 272 nests on this reservoir.
- Spoonbill: two new breeding colonies discovered, one with an estimated 12 nests at Valle del Tiétar on 04/05 (J. Prieta) and another at Valle del Alagón with 3 nests on 20/05 (César Clemente).
- Squacco Heron: one bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo), 2 on 11/05 (J. Prieta) and 1 on 15/05 (J. Briz). This makes at least 3 pairs present at this reservoir in spring 2011.
- Hobby: one at Dehesa Boyal de Montehermoso (Cáceres) in early May (Javier Mahillo). One at the dam of Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 14/05 (G. Schreur). One at Alange on 18/05 and another at Santa Marta de Magasca on 19/05 (Martin Kelsey). Three birds seen at Talayuela (Cáceres) on 22/05 (Jesús Calle). One bird at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 28/05 (Dave Langlois).
- Purple Swamphen: one at River Guadiana, Talavera la Real (Badajoz), on 04/05 (G. Schreur).
- Lapwing: over 10 birds at La Albuera lakes(Badajoz)on 01/05 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 7 with breeding behaviour on 04/05 (G. Schreur). One at Torremejía Lake (Badajoz) on 02/05 (A. Núñez). One at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 14/05 (M. Kelsey). Three at Galisteo ricefields(Cáceres) on 22/05 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Kentish Plover: about 10 birds at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo).
- Black-Headed Gull: 20 pairs with breeding behaviour at Alange Reservoir(Badajoz) during May (Á. Sánchez). 81 birds at Madrigalejo (Cáceres) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo). 40 birds on Yelbes ricefields(Badajoz) on 07/05 (Jesús Solana). 5 breeding-plumage adults at Portaje Reservoir(Cáceres) on 21/05 and 8 breeding-plumage adults at Galisteo ricefields(Cáceres) on 22/05 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: 4 nests at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 05/05 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado, J. Guerrero and M. Flores). Some immatures at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 17/05 (Á. Sánchez).
- Long-Eared Owl: one at Alconchel (Badajoz) on 02/05 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- White-Rumped Swift: as well as numerous Monfragüe records, one bird was observed at Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres) on 08/05 (G. Schreur) and 22/05 (Jesús Calle) and 4 at los Canchos de Ramiro (Cáceres) on 22/05 (C. Clemente).
- Yellow Wagtail: several males singing at Casas de Hitos ricefields(Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo) and 1 bird on 14/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Tree Pipit: One territorial male singing at Dehesa de Abajo, Tornavacas (Cáceres), on 10/05 (J. Prieta). Third likely breeding record for Extremadura.
- Skylark: several birds seen at Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 02/05 and one at Garganta la Olla (Cáceres) (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Llanos del Convento, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 07/05 (Alberto Pacheco).
- Chiffchaff: one male singing in Holm Oaks next to Arroyo Fresnedoso, Talayuela (Cáceres) on 04/05 and another in a pinewood at Dehesa de Abajo de Tornavacas (Cáceres) on 10/05 (J. Prieta).
- Iberian Chiffchaff: one male singing at Puerto de Miravete (Cáceres) on 24/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Spotted Flycatcher: one at River Almonte, Trujillo, on 09/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Rock Thrush: one pair at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 05/05 (A. Pacheco). 2 males and 1 female at Pico Villuercas (Cáceres) on 13/05 (Fergus Crystal and Juan Pablo Prieto). One pair at Pitolero, Cabezabellosa (Cáceres), on 21/05 (Eric Quin) and 1 male in the same place on 22/05 (R. Montero).
- Redstart: several pairs at Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) during May (A. Pacheco). One male at La Codosera (Badajoz) on 06/05 (G. Schreur). Two males in a pinewood at 1550 m at Dehesa de Abajo, Tornavacas (Cáceres); 2 males in same place on 10/05 (J. Prieta) and 1 different male on 24/05 (Iván Solana and J. Prieta). At Brezo mountain refuge, Losar de la Vera (Cáceres), one male on 14/05 and 3 on 21/05 (D. Langlois). Three males at Sierra de Alor, Olivenza (Badajoz), on 15/05 (Juan Carlos Paniagua). One pair in a Cork-Oak wood at Sierra de Santa Catalina, Serradilla (Cáceres), on 20/05 (Alfredo Gómez).
- Wheatear: one pair at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 19/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Crossbill: one male singing at 1520 m in a pinewood at Dehesa de Abajo, Tornavacas (Cáceres), on 10/05 (J. Prieta) and a young bird seen there on 24/05 (I. Solana and J. Prieta). Second certain breeding record and site for Extremadura.

LINGERING WINTER VISITORS AND SPRING MIGRANTS
- Teal: One drake at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo) and a pair there on 13/05 (Godfried Schreur).
- Osprey: One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres) on 08/05 (Javier Esteban) and 09/05 (G. Schreur). One bird mobbed by a Raven at Borbollón Reservoir(Cáceres) on 11/05 (Rafael Vicente).
- Hen Harrier: one bird at Valverde de Leganés (Badajoz) on 04/05 (G. Schreur).
- Golden Plover: 3 birds in breeding plumage at Santa Amalia ricefields (Badajoz) on 02/05 (Fernando Yuste).
- Ringed Plover: 4 birds at a pond at Alange (Badajoz) on 11/05 and on 18/05 and two at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 14/05 (M. Kelsey). 14 birds at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 18/05 (S. Mayordomo).
- Black-Tailed Godwit: one bird at La Albuera Lakes(Badajoz) on 01/05 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).
- Redshank: one bird on a pond between Alange and Almendralejo (Badajoz) on 11/05 (M. Kelsey). One bird at Guadiloba Reservoir on 24/05 (S. Mayordomo).
- Marsh Sandpiper: one bird at Casas de Hitos ricefields (Badajoz) on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo).
- Green Sandpiper: one bird at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 18/05 (S. Mayordomo).
- Dunlin: one bird in breeding plumage at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz)on 02/05 (E. Palacios, P. Ramírez, J. Prieta, M. Á. Muñoz and S. Mayordomo) and 7 birds at Torremejía Lake(Badajoz) (A. Núñez). Two birds at a pond between Alange and Almendralejo (Badajoz) on 11/05 and one at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 14/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Curlew Sandpiper: one bird at La Albuera lakes(Badajoz) on 01/05 (J. Guerra and M. Galvez). One bird at a pond between Alange and Almendralejo (Badajoz) on 11/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Little Stint: 4 at Torremejía Lake(Badajoz) on 02/05 (A. Núñez). Two birds on a pond between Alange and Almendralejo (Badajoz) on 11/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Sanderling: one bird on a pond between Alange and Almendralejo (Badajoz) on 11/05 (M. Kelsey).
- Lesser Black-Backed Gull: 2 birds at Torremejía lake(Badajoz) on 02/05 (A. Núñez). One bird at Yelbes ricefields (Badajoz) on 07/05 (J. Solana). Several at on Alange Reservoir(Badajoz) on 17/05 (Á. Sánchez). One immature at Galisteo ricefields (Cáceres) on 22/05 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Black Tern: 3 at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 21/05 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Whiskered Tern: 6 at La Albuera lakes (Badajoz) on 01/05 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 5 there on 04/05 (G. Schreur). Ten at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 05/05 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado, J. Guerrero and M. Flores). Two at Valdesalor Reservoir on 06/05 (S. Mayordomo). One at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 21/05 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
- Whinchat: One female at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 09/05 (G. Schreur), another female at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 13/05 (S. Mayordomo) and another at Cabezabellosa on 21/05 (E. Quin).
- Garden Warbler: 20+ birds feeding on blackberries in the hedgerows of River Guadiana at Talavera la Real (Badajoz), up to 9 birds in one bush, on 02/05 (G. Schreur).
- Sedge Warbler: one bird under the Roman Bridge of Mérida (Badajoz) on 11/05 (M. Kelsey).

BREEDING CORMORANT COLONIES IN EXTREMADURA

2011-06-02T12:41:00.000+02:00

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Plasencia Reservoir, Cáceres. By Javier Prieta.

The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a recent coloniser in Extremadura. It must have been a scarce winter visitor for much of the twentieth century, becoming common only as from the 1980s (e.g. a count of 804 in 1986). Since then numbers have soared; witness the two national roost-based wintering Cormorant counts, one held in January 1996, producing a figure of 8656 (25% of the Spanish total) and another in January 2003 with 12,265 (18%). In both cases Extremadura was the region with most wintering Cormorants in Spain (Prieta, 2007).

It didn't take long for the first nests to be found in Spain (del Moral and de Souza, 2004). Before 1990 only a few one-off breeders were known from the Medas Islands off the coast of Girona in Catalunya. The first inland record was a failed breeding attempt in Santillana Reservoir, Madrid, in 1989. The first breeding record in Extremadura involved a weakly-flying pair that produced two chicks in Valuengo Reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros, in 1993 (F. Gragera). Similar one-off cases recurred in other parts of Spain until, in 1997, the first breeding colony was found on Navalcán Reservoir, Toledo. By the beginning of the C21st there were several established colonies, adding up to over 40 breeding pairs. The first Extremadura colony of 10 breeding pairs was found in 2002 on La Serena Reservoir(Prieta, 2007).

Cormorant Colony (Phalacrocorax carbo) on La Serena Reservoir, Badajoz, in 2007 (photos: Carlos Sunyer).

The first and only national count of breeding Cormorants dates from 2007 (Palomino and Molina, 2009), producing a total of 532 pairs in 11 Spanish sites. The main population has built up in Toledo, with 4 colonies and 214 pairs, the lion's share of them in Rosarito Reservoir (202 pairs). Badajoz accounts for the second-biggest population, 3 colonies with 132 pairs: 102 at La Serena Reservoir (on dead Holm Oaks where the River Esteras flows into the reservoir, in the municipal district of Capilla), 26 pairs at the reservoirs of Valuengo and La Albuera (River Ardila, Jerez de los Caballeros) and 4 pairs on the River Guadiana (Valdetorres). The only breeding record in the province of Cáceres was a failed attempt on the River Tagus in the National Park of Monfragüe; a pair built a nest on a dead Eucalyptus tree in May 2006 without any signs of an ensuing clutch (J. Prieta).

By 2011, four years after the abovementioned count, news has come in of the three Extremadura "colonies", although it should be made clear that there has been no official regional count of the species. La Serena Reservoir recorded unprecedented figures. In mid-May Xurxo Piñeiro and María José Valencia counted 250 occupied nests in two colonies: the traditional one on an islet with 240 nests on 29 trees, nearly all Holm Oaks, plus a much smaller colony with 10 more nests. Some days later, on 26 May, personnel from the Regional Council of Extremadura counted 262 occupied nests in the first colony, broken down into 3 subcolonies of 248,11 and 3 nests (Ángel Sánchez, Luis Lozano and Domingo Rivera). This is therefore without doubt one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the whole of Spain. Conversely, the other two sites recorded in the 2007 count, Guadiana-Valdetorres (Jesús Solana) and Valuengo-La Albuera (Antonio Nuñez), seem to be empty. Or rather they did not even exist any more, since there were no signs of any nests or nest remains in either site. It might well be the case that the so-called colony of the River Guadiana, recorded in 2007, never existed, arising from a mistake in the interpretation of the figures. As for Valuengo, we lack precise information on 2007 and the following years, but it would seem in principle that the 2007 figures were valid.

In sum: the known breeding Cormorant population in Extremadura in 2011 is confined to a single site (La Serena Reservoir) with 272 nests shared out in 2 colonies of 262 and 10 nests. This is the biggest known figure for the species, so the trend is still upwards.

Sources:
- Del Moral, J. C. and de Souza, J. A. 2004. Cormorán Grande invernante en España. II Censo Nacional. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
- Palomino, D. and Molina, B. 2009. Aves acuáticas reproductoras en España. Población en 2007 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
- Prieta, J. 2007. Aves de Extremadura, vol. 3. Anuario 2001-2003. ADENEX. Mérida

OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY!

2011-05-22T12:45:00.006+02:00

Just like birds themselves, time flies. Hard as it is to believe for some of us, this blog you've now got on screen first took off one year ago. We hope it has achieved its objective, as expressed in the first blog-presentation entry published on 9 May 2010: appeal to a wider public by giving the breaking news on Extremadura's birdlife. The final say is the readers'. But the number of hits over the last year seems to justify our endeavour and encourages us to continue. There are no figures on the first feet-finding months, but, Spanish version, from July 2010 the site has clocked up over 25,000 hits, with a peak of nearly 4000 in March 2011. True it is that the blog took some time to get going, not topping 1000 monthly hits until September 2010 and 3000 in January 2011. The English version has registered 6500 hits in the same period, with a much slower upward trend, not topping 1000 monthly hits until March 2011, peaking at 1100 in April. Between both versions, therefore, some months have clocked up over 5000 hits (lots or few, according to the yardstick used).

The second entry of "Bird of Extremadura", and the first with content after the presentation, was entitled "Winter Hotspots", dealing with the provisional species-richness map after the fieldwork of the SEO/BirdLife-brokered Atlas of Wintering Birds in Spain. The definitive map has just been published in SEO's Bird Monitoring Survey 2009-2010 (Escandell et al., 2011). The picture hasn't changed much, although in the later version actual figures for the number of species in each grid are given, with red hues for those with over 50 and blue hues for those with fewer. The importance of Extremadura, especially Cáceres and North Badajoz, still stands out, but another notable feature is the species richness of some of the rivers. It's easy to pick out the course of the rivers Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Tagus, and even some of the bigger tributaries like Jarama, Alberche and Aragón.

Acknowledgements: This first anniversary would not have been possible without the collaboration of many people, especially Dave Langlois and Sergio Mayordomo. The first has translated nearly every entry into English while the second has painstakingly recorded all the sightings of interest in Extremadura to compile the month by month summaries. This blog would probably not exist but for the Goce birdwatching forum, a lively virtual meeting and debating ground for Extremadura's bird lovers, always teeming with ideas and information that this blog has drawn on constantly. I'd like to give my thanks to all the participants in this forum and also those from elsewhere who have chipped in from time to time. Many thanks to one and all. Javier Prieta.

Escandell, V.; Palomino, D.; Molina, B.; Leal, A.; Remacha, C.; Bermejo, A.; De la Puente, J. y del Moral, J. C. (Eds.) 2011. Programas de seguimiento de SEO/BirdLife en 2009-2010. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.

WINTERING HERON COUNT, JANUARY 2011: EXTREMADURA RESULTS

2011-05-18T18:16:00.000+02:00

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). Galisteo, Cáceres. Javier Prieta

As already mentioned in this blog, the National Count of Wintering Herons was held last January. As usual the overall result will be published by SEO/BirdLife. For the moment, however, we can give you a foretaste of the Extremadura results.

The chosen methodology was to count birds in communal roosts. The main date was the weekend 15-16 January, although some counts were held a few days later. No information was obtained for the abundant but non-roost-forming Grey Heron. The same goes for the scarcer heron species (Squacco Heron and Bittern) or the ones that are nocturnal or difficult to detect (Little Bittern).

RESULTS BY SPECIES

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). 30,917 birds (22,315 in Badajoz and 8602 in Cáceres) in 38 roosts (23 in Badajoz and 15 in Cáceres). Eleven roosts held over one thousand birds, the standout ones being Azud de Badajoz (6103), River Zújar in Villanueva de la Serena (4200), Valuengo Reservoir (2700), Madrigalejo (2400) and River Guadiana in Montijo (2000). The attached map, plotting the location of the roosts, brings out the obvious importance of the River Guadiana and its surrounding meadows, which account for the lion's share of the regional population.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). 1273 birds (823 in Badajoz and 450 in Cáceres) in 38 roosts (20 in Badajoz and 18 in Cáceres). Seven roosts held over 50 birds, the biggest being Valuengo Reservoir (230), Madrigalejo (125) and River Guadiana in Montijo (100).

Great White Egret (Egretta alba). 67 birds in 18 roosts (31 in Badajoz and 36 in Cáceres). The biggest roosts were on the River Tiétar in Malpartida de Plasencia (15), Arrocampo Reservoir (9), Valdecaballeros Reservoir(7) and River Zújar in Villanueva de la Serena (6).

Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). 52 birds in 5 roosts, all on the River Guadiana in the province of Badajoz. The most important roosts were Montijo Reservoir in Mérida (29) and Azud de Badajoz (10).

TREND

There's nothing specific to go on in terms of wintering herons in Extremadura. In January 1992 and 1993, however, two Iberian counts were conducted, giving the results by catchment areas (Fernández-Cruz and Farinha, 1992; Sarasa et al., 1993), but without breaking down the figures by regions or provinces. Working from the maps shown in the 1992 count, we estimate about 53,000 Cattle Egrets and 1500 Little Egrets in Extremadura. The 1993 figures were lower but the estimate is rougher because there is no map to go on; maybe the figures were about 42,000 and 700 respectively.

The number of Cattle Egret roosts has fallen from 64 in 1992 to 37 in 2011, a 40% drop. The fall in the number of birds was similar, about 35% on the mean figure for 1992-1993. This decline is much more notable in the Extremadura part of the Tagus catchment area (-60%) than in that of the River Guadiana (-20%). This figures should not really be taken in isolation, however, since the wintering population of the southwest Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and Morocco, tends to behave as a metapopulation acting as a whole unit. Due consideration also has to be given to the possible differences in the censusing effort in the two years and the big swings from year to year and even month to month. Thus, in January 2011 5200 Cattle Egrets were counted in the Cáceres catchment area of the Tagus; only a few months earlier, in October 2010, two roosts alone pooled over 3000, this figure falling to 700 in January 2011 and then soaring to no less than 6000 in November 2007. Some districts with heron roosts in autumn were also empty by the following January. Although the information on previous years is bitty, it might well be a habitual practice for the Cáceres catchment area of the Tagus to have a bigger Cattle Egret population in autumn than in winter. What has been clearly recorded is a marked fall in some roosts associated with landfill sites; witness the case of the roost near the capital city of Cáceres capital, which was Spain's biggest in 1992, with nearly 8000 birds; by 2011 the number had dropped to one thousand.

As for the Little Egret, it is difficult to establish a clear trend due to the big difference in the estimated figures for January 1992 (1500 birds) and January 1993 (700). The number of roosts was almost the same 1992 (37) and in 2011 (38) and the number of birds in 2011 (1273) is 15% up on the mean figure for 1992-1993 (1100). Unlike the Cattle Egret, the Little Egret's wintering population has risen sharply in the Tagus catchment area since 1992, with a slight fall in the Guadiana. Another factor that has to be taken into consideration here is the possibility of confusion in some counts with the abundant Cattle Egrets; some small Little Egret roosts might even go totally unnoticed.

According to the annual January Wildfowl Count the trends in Spain (Molina, 2011) for the four heron species are:
- Cattle Egret: reduction in the 1991-2009 period and especially in 2000-2009
- Little Egret: sharp increase from 1991 to 2009, flattening out in 2000-2009
- Grey Heron: increase in the 1991-2009 period
- Great White Heron: sharp increase in the 1991-2009 period.

Lastly, neither in 1992 nor in 1993 were Night Herons or Great White Egrets detected in Extremadura; they would therefore seem to be new winter visitors to the region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The National Wintering Heron Count is a project of SEO/BirdLifes' Bird Monitoring Area, run by Juan Carlos del Moral. In Extremadura the survey was coordinated by José María Traverso (Badajoz) and Javier Prieta (Cáceres). The fieldwork involved the collaboration of the 59 following collaborators: Pablo Caballero Javier Prieta, César Clemente, Javier Mahillo, Sergio Mayordomo, Eva Palacios, Jesús Montero, Manuel García del Rey, Emilio Pérez-Balsalobre, Javier Briz, Vicente Risco, Laura Alicia Rodríguez, Carmelo López, Helios Dalmau, Colin Jewitt, Marcelino Cardalliaguet, F. Javier Caballero, José Luis Caballero, Martin Kelsey, Jesús Solana, Juan Carlos Paniagua, Emilio Costillo, Casimiro Corbacho, Fernando Yuste, José Gordillo, Pedro Schreur, Godfried Schreur, Jesús Morena, José Antonio Fimia, Maria Jesús Tarín, Alfredo Mirat, Jesus Rojas, Carmen Galán, Álvaro Martín, Chema Traverso, Álvaro Sánchez Arribas, Antonio Núñez, Diego González Romero, Raquel Rangel Vanessa de Alba, Toribio Álvarez, Celsa Agudo, José María Abad, Patricia Gordon, María Jesús García-Baquero, Manuel Parejo, Raquel García Hierro, J. Elías Rodríguez, Juan Luis Soriano, María Luisa Villoslada, Juan Antonio Barquero, Elvira del Viejo, Juan Villalobos, Antonia Cangas, José Ángel Salas, Gerardo Pizarro, Emilio Jiménez, Agustín Sanabria.

Sources
- Fernández-Cruz, M. & Farinha, J. C. 1992. Primer censo de ardeidas invernantes in la península Ibérica and Baleares (1991-92). Airo 3:41-54. [download PDF]
- Sarasa, C. G., Bartolomé, J., Fernández-Cruz, M. & Farinha, J. C. 1993. Segundo censo de ardeidas invernantes in la penínsulas Ibérica and Baleares (1992-93). Airo 4:41-50. [download PDF]
- Molina, 2011. Censo nacional de aves acuáticas invernantes, Enero 2009. In, Escandell, V.; Palomino, D.; Molina, B.; Leal, A.; Remacha, C.; Bermejo, A.; De la Puente, J. and del Moral, J. C. (Eds.). Programas de seguimiento de SEO/BirdLife in 2009-2010. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [download PDF]

APRIL 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-05-14T12:07:00.006+02:00

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana). El Torno, Cáceres. Javier Prieta.

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).

BALTIC GULL IN EXTREMADURA

2011-05-07T13:35:00.002+02:00

Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus). 04.06.06. Eggegrund, Gastrikland, Sweden (photo: P. Aspenberg). Bird ringed in Villanueva de la Serena on 22.02.06 por J. M. Traverso.

Some of our recent blog entries have dealt with species seen for the first time in Extremadura. Or rather the first known and conscious sightings of said species. On this occasion we are recording what we believe to be the first ever certain record in Extremadura of a particular subspecies of the otherwise common Lesser Black Backed Gull (Larus fuscus). The nominate subspecies of this gull is called the Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus). This race has a very dark, almost black back; field observations are never accepted, only of ringed birds in the hand. The photo of the Baltic Gull alongside was taken on 4 June 2006 on the Baltic coast of Sweden, in Eggegrund, Gõvle, Gastrikland (P. Aspenberg). What's so special about a Baltic Gull seen on the Baltic coast, where, as their name suggests, they're abundant. Well, the remarkable fact in this case is that the bird was ringed in Extremadura two years earlier, on 22 February 2004. At the time the bird was classed as an immature female; it was captured and marked with a white ring (code N548) on the landfill site of Villanueva de la Serena by Chema Traverso. The information published here would never have come to light without the collaboration of Javier Marchamalo, who passed on crucial data.

The Lesser Black Backed Gull is traditionally divided into three subspecies in Western Europe:
- graellsii: slate grey mantle, breeding in the British Isles and the centre and west of Europe; this is Extremadura's commonest wintering gull
- intermedius: darker mantle that phases into the other two races at both extremes; also turns up now and then in Extremadura; its range is the North Sea so it is intermediate not only in mantle colour but also in distribution
- fuscus: very dark mantle, breeding in the Baltic Sea and wintering in Africa, migrating through Eastern Europe; it is considered to be a rare vagrant on the Iberian Peninsula.

A few pundits choose to divide the bird into two species: Lesser Black Backed Gull (Larus graellsii, with two races, graellsi and intermedius) and Baltic Gull as a species in its own right (Larus fuscus).

BIRD MONITORING SURVEY, 2009-2010

2011-05-05T20:14:00.006+02:00

SEO/BirdLife has just brought out a new booklet on the various bird monitoring projects it runs for the two-year period 2009-2010. As on previous occasions this hard-copy booklet is issued free of charge to all voluntary collaborators in the various long-term bird monitoring schemes run by SEO/BirdLife (Common Breeding-Bird Census and Nocturnal Bird Monitoring Scheme) while the online English version can be downloaded free by just clicking on the cover.

The contents of this 36-page survey, crammed with priceless information, are the following:

- Spring Common Breeding-Bird Census (showing the population trends of common breeding birds)
- Winter Common Bird Census (initial results)
- Nocturnal Bird Monitoring Scheme (population trend of nocturnal birds)
- Breeding Bird Monitoring Ringing Plan
- BIRDS AND CLIMATE (records of first arrivals of migrating birds)
- Spanish Wintering Wildfowl Count. January 2009
- Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Spain (provisional results)
- National Census of Woodland Raptors (population estimates and sighting frequency maps for nine species: Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Short-Toed Eagle, Goshawk, Sparrow Hawk and Hobby)
- The Fuerteventura Stonechat (world census 2005-2006)
- The Lesser Grey Shrike (2003-2010 censuses)

ARCTIC TERN IN EXTREMADURA

2011-04-26T12:14:00.002+02:00

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea). Photographer: Ben Lascelles (taken from IBC-Lynx).

Arctic Sea Swallows in Extremadura? Hard to believe. Extremadura is a fair way from the sea and even further from the arctic, but it seems that some birds from those latitudes have passed through the region. Witness "Aves de Portugal" (Catry et al, 2010).

This book reports the first ever record for Extremadura. A flock of 8 Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) were seen flying over the River Tagus on 17 May 2002, where it runs along the Spanish-Portuguese border between Malpica do Tejo (Portugal) and Herrera de Alcántara (Cáceres). The birds were seen by Luis Gordinho. This surprising record, published and accepted by our Portuguese colleagues, seems to be trustworthy. This same birdwatcher has also seen other Arctic Terns along the Portuguese coast and is apparently conversant with the species. Although there are no known records hitherto of birds in inland Spain, the same publication also records another bird the same year in inland Portugal, in Paul de Boquilobo on 26 June 2002.

Catry, P., Costa, H., Elias, G. and Matias, R. 2010. Aves de Portugal. Ornitología do territorio continental. Assirio & Alvim. Lisbon.

GREAT SNIPE: FIRST FOR EXTREMADURA

2011-04-25T12:08:00.002+02:00

Great Snipe (Gallinago media)

Another new bird for the Extremadura list, making four since this blog came on line in May 2010. This time it's the turn of the Great Snipe (Gallinago media), which now joins Goosander, Pied-Billed Grebe and Buff-Breasted Sandpiper as previous firsts published in this blog. In all four cases, however, the birds are national rarities, so the records are still pending acceptance by the SEO's Rarities Committee.

The three birds in question were seen by a group of German birdwatchers being led by Roberto Cabo. Roberto described the observation as follows:
"On 1 April 2011 I was guiding a group of German birdwatchers in Madrigalejo (Cáceres), 1.5 km from the village in the Casas de Hitos direction. It was one of those completely unexpected, unrepeatable and one-off events. Uwe George and I were watching a Marsh Harrier quartering low over a puddled area when three waders flew up. The three of them flew only a few metres before dropping back to the ground. We looked at each other speechlessly because it was obvious that the birds we had just seen were no "ordinary, run-of-the-mill" waders. Both of us independently swung round to the group exclaiming that we had just seen three Great Snipes. That few-second glimpse had been enough to show us a small-scale woodcock-like bird, ruling out any other species of European wader. I know the species from Poland and Greece and Uwe George knows it well from Scandinavia. Without the unwitting aid of the harrier, we would never have known they were there, showing once again that what we see out in the field is only a small part of what's there."

The Great Snipe is a migratory bird that breeds in the north of Europe and west Siberia, wintering in subsaharan Africa. Its normal migration route passes through the east of Europe, with regular sightings in Italy but only very rare observations further west. In Spain, up to 2008, 20 records involving 23 birds have been accepted; most in the northeast and in spring (especially April and May). In spring 2011 an unprecedented invasion is occurring, with at least 24 birds being recorded (22 in Catalunya, including a flock of 8, and 2 in the Balearic Isles) between 27 March and 24 April, to which we now have to add the 3 Extremadura birds. These records outnumber the whole past history of this species in Spain.

Sources: Rare birds in Spain [web] De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras en España. Lynx Edicions. Comité de Rarezas de SEO. 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57: 481-516.

MARCH 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

2011-04-11T14:37:00.003+02:00

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris). Guijo de Santa Bárbara, Cáceres. 06-03-2011. Raúl Guzmán.

A list of the most notable records sent to the GOCE forum in March 2011 (compiled by Sergio Mayordomo). Click here for backdated months.

- Egyptian Goose: two at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 03/03 (Martin Kelsey) and one at Valverde de Mérida gravel pit(Badajoz) on 22/03 (Jesús Solana).
-Shelduck: 12 at Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on 03/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Mandarin Duck: one pair at Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 17/03 (Carlos Martín).
-Garganey: one pair at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/03 (Eva Palacios, Jesús Rodríguez, José Luis Calvo, Juan Jesús Pelegrín, Natalia Moral and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Glossy Ibis: one at Cerro Alto, Saucedilla (Cáceres), on 05/03 (Antonio J. Julián, Godfried Schreur and Iván Solana).
-Squacco Heron: two wintering birds hanging on at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 03/03 (M. Kelsey). One at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 19/03 (Javier Briz and Óscar J. González) and two on 20/03 (Dave Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and Sammy Langlois).
-Grey Heron: colony count of 135 nests at Talayuela (Cáceres) on 15/03 (Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Osprey: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 01/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo), two on 07/03 (M. Kelsey) and one on 23/03 (M. Kelsey). One on River Tiétar, at La Bazagona (Cáceres), on 07/03 (Juan Carlos Salgado and Mercedes Rodríguez).
-Goshawk: one at La Tajadilla, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 20/03 (Luis Martínez) and one pair at Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 30/03 (Alberto Pacheco).

-Long-Legged Buzzard: one immature (2nd winter) at Belén, Trujillo, on 26/03 (Dave Allen, Clive Mellon and Dennis Wir).
-Avocet: one at Galisteo Lake on 02/03 and 08/03 (S. Mayordomo) and two on 09/03, 11/03 and 12/03 (César Clemente, Javier Mahillo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Four in flight at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 18/03 (Ricardo Montero). One at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Sociable Lapwing: one adult female at Castuera (Badajoz) on 13/03 (Rodney Smith).
-Curlew: 16 at Riolobos rice fields(Cáceres) on 17/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Jack Snipe: One at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Spotted Redshank: one at El Batán rice field (Cáceres), on 08/03, 09/03 and 11/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo); and another at Galisteo Lake Cáceres) on 17/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Yellow-Legged Gull: one at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 05/03 (J. Solana).
-Whiskered Tern: one at River Guadiana, Mérida (Badajoz), seen several times on 18/03 and up to the end of March (J. Solana).
-Carrion Crow: one pair carrying nest material to a Pine Tree in Talayuela (Cáceres) on 15/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Bearded Tit: 2 males and one female at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres), on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo), three on 20/03 (D. Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and S. Langlois) and one on 25/03 (S. Mayordomo).

FIRST SUMMER VISITORS
-Purple Heron: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and another at Valdefuentes Gravel Pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 30/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Montagu's Harrier: one at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 20/03 (M. Kelsey) and 3 males and one female on 22/03 (G. Schreur). One male at Usagre (Badajoz) on 21/03 (Ángel Sánchez).
-Ringed Plover: two at El Batán rice field (Cáceres) on 08/03 and one on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo). One at Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz) on 22/03 (J. Solana).
-Collared Pratincole: 14 at Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz) on 22/03 (J. Solana) and two at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Swift: several at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 31/03 (C. Clemente and J. Mahillo).
-Cuckoo: one at Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres) on 05/03 (Florencio Carrero). One at Portaje on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo). One at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 17/03 (M. Kelsey). First female at Villanueva de la Vera on 26/03 (D. Langlois) and at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 27/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Roller: one at La Pulgosa, Cáceres, on 27/03 (Santi Villa).
-Bee-eater: several at Usagre (Badajoz) on 20/03 (Emilio Costillo), at Las Hurdes (Cáceres) on 25/03 (A. Pacheco) and at Mérida (Badajoz) on 26/03 (Steve Fletcher).
-Wryneck: three at Villanueva de la Vera on 26/03 and one on 28/03 and 30/03 (D. Langlois).
-Woodchat Shrike: one at Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 10/03 and another on 12/03 (Ángel Luis Sánchez). One at Cáceres on 13/03 (Javier Caballero).
-Short-Toed Lark: one at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 30/03 (S. Mayordomo), six at Zorita (Cáceres) and two at Palazuelo (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey).
-Willow Warbler: one at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo). Several individuals observed at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) as from 25/03 with a peak of 7 on 30/03 (D. Langlois).
-Iberian Chiffchaff: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 22/03 and three on 24/03 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois). One at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 27/03 (E. Palacios, R. Montero and S. Mayordomo) and another on 29/03 (J. Prieta, Luis S. Cano and S. Mayordomo). One at River Ruecas at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Bonelli's Warbler: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 31/03 (D. Langlois).
-Savi's Warbler: several at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres) on 19/03 (J. Briz and Ó. J. González).
-Grasshopper Warbler: one at Ibahernando (Cáceres) on 21/03 (S. Fletcher) and one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 26/03 (D. Langlois).
-Sedge Warbler: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo), 20/03 (D. Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and S. Langlois) and 25/03 (S. Mayordomo). Another at Zorita (Cáceres)on 30/03 (M. Kelsey) and three at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), (S. Mayordomo).
-Reed Warbler: on 20/03 one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) (D. Langlois and S. Langlois), another at Puente Viejo in Badajoz (Juan Carlos Paniagua) and another at Arroyo Budión, Torviscal (Badajoz), (Luis Lozano).
-Great Reed Warbler: on 30/03 one on River Ruecas at Palazuelo (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey), another at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo).
-Orphean Warbler: one at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 31/03 (J. Mahillo).
-Spectacled Warbler: one at Zorita (Cáceres) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Nightingale: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 25/03 and five on 26/03 (D. Langlois); on this same day another at Monfragüe (Cáceres) (Manuel García del Rey) and at Mérida (Badajoz) (S. Fletcher).
-Redstart: one male at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 25/03 and 28/03 (D. Langlois). One at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 29/03 (R. Montero).
-Whinchat: one at Cerezo (Cáceres) on 14/03 (A. Pacheco).
-Black-Eared Wheatear: one at Acehúche (Cáceres) on 20/03 (A. J. Julián). On 21/03 one pair at Usagre (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez) and another bird at Cerezo (Cáceres) (A. Pacheco).
-Tree Pipit: one at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 24/03 (J. Muddeman).
-Yellow Wagtail: one at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 13/03 (A. J. Julián) and another at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 20/03 (M. Kelsey). One male of the M. f. flavissima subspecies at Usagre (Badajoz) on 21/03 (Á. Sánchez) and another at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 25/03 (S. Mayordomo).

LINGERING WINTER VISITORS
-Greylag Goose: eight at Alange Reservoir(Badajoz) on 05/03 (J. Solana), two at Portaje Reservoir Cáceres) on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo) and one flying over Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 22/03 (John Muddeman).
-Lapwing: 11 at Galisteo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and one at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey) on 30/03.
-Alpine Accentor: two at Portilla de Jaranda, Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres), on 06/03 (Raúl Guzmán).
-Brambling: two at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 08/03 (R. Montero) and 20 on passage at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Bullfinch: two at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 05/03 (D. Langlois).

WINTERING GREYLAG GEESE IN EXTREMADURA

2011-04-04T18:43:00.000+02:00

Flock of Greylag Geese (Anser anser). Casas de Hitos lake, Navalvillar de Pela, Badajoz. 22-01-2011. Juan Pablo Prieto.

The traditional wintering areas for Greylag Geese (Anser anser) in Spain are in the northern plains of Spain, the "meseta norte" (Zamora and Palencia) and in the saltmarshes of the River Guadalquivir in the south. Until a few years ago these two areas accounted for almost the whole Iberian population. Extremadura lies between these two spots and all geese heading for Doñana must overfly it. For decades they did just that, flew straight over without hardly stopping. This stands to reason given the dearth of natural wetlands in Extremadura. The figures are telling: the January counts from 1978 to 1989 throw up the paltry mean figure of 59 Greylags wintering in the area. But two factors brought about a change in this situation; firstly the construction of more reservoirs and irrigated farming land and secondly the increase in the European Greylag population. From 1991 to 1995 the mean number of wintering Greylags in Extremadura soared to 2700, increasing almost fifty-fold, with peaks of 3750. The standout site is Valdecañas Reservoir in northeast Cáceres, with 33-65% of the total. The rest are spread around large and medium-sized reservoirs, each of which holds at most a few hundred birds. During the next seven winters no January counts were made in Extremadura but the general impression was of a continuing upward trend. At the turn of the century the number of wintering Greylags perhaps topped 5000 for the first time. The January count of 2002 came out as 4500 in the province of Cáceres alone and an estimate of 8000 for the whole of Extremadura. The renewed regional counts as from January 2003 bear this out, with figures that were undreamt of only a few years back. The 2006 count was 19,043 Greylags and 10,380 in 2007. Numbers seem to have been quite similar in 2010 and 2011. Nonetheless, a detailed look at the figures shows that in most places, mainly reservoirs, the numbers have held pretty steady since the 1990s. Barring one district: the Vegas Altas of Guadiana, where the massive takeup of irrigated farming created the conditions for a new and sizeable wintering area for Greylags. This district now boasts 14,000 birds, sometimes up to 90% of Extremadura's wintering Greylags, most of them feeding in maize and rice stubble. This poses a stiff and thrilling challenge for birdwatchers for these huge flocks often have a few stowaways of the rarer and much sought-after geese species.

Greylag (Anser anser) in Extremadura. The red bars show the figures recorded in the official January counts (DGMN, GIC-UEX, SEO/BirdLife). The blue bars show estimates for years without a count or not yet published (2010). Some official counts (e.g.2008) are partial, given that the main aim was to count the wildfowl in wetlands and many of Extremadura's wintering Greylags live and feed in cropland that does not come into the wildfowl count. Another factor that hinders counts is that geese do not usually form winter roosts in Extremadura.

SPRING'S SPRUNG. THE NIGHTINGALES HAVE ARRIVED!

2011-03-27T22:18:00.003+02:00

Didn't take them long. The first got to Spain on 21 March and only four days later, on 25 March, we had the first report of a Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) in Extremadura. This harbinger of spring turned up in Villanueva de la Vera. As usual it was Dave Langlois who enjoyed the privilege of hearing the first one. On the next day there were five birds in the same area and Nightingale was heard in Monfragüe (M. García del Rey), in Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua) and in Mérida (S. Fletcher).

No better way of celebrating the event than sharing in this blog the masterful message sent by Dave Langlois to the Goce birdwatching forum.

"The great soloist has arrived! Not for him the Blackbird's wimpy readiness to blend in his beauty with his peers or the lesser choristers. His style is standout or nothing, grabbing centre stage by voice alone. Eye-catching plumage he looks down on as a lowly ploy like plastic surgery, clutched at by those born without his divine right to rule by vocal prowess. Every single one of his phrases demands the attention of any living being who is not brain-dead. And if this one doesn't turn you on sunshine, he seems to say, try this one for size . . . or this one . . . or this one . . . or this one . . . because every one's different and there are plenty more where those came from. Listen! Marvel at the number of notes that can be packed into one second or the length of time a single note can be drawn out to. "I will show you fear in a handful of dust," said T.S. Eliot; well I'll show you bliss in a bunch of crochets.

Truth be told, this morning's Nightingale was still a bit travel weary. But be it known, he told me, that this is just a passing thing and in no way a slackening of his indomitable will power. Just give him a bit of time to shake off the dust of the road and then - pin back your ears! Two months of daily acoustic miracles await us, my friends. Are you up for it?" [by Dave Langlois]

WHY DO BLACK KITES ADORN THEIR NESTS?

2011-03-21T20:00:00.003+01:00

Together with the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), the Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is Extremadura's commonest diurnal raptor. The only count ever conducted, back in 2005, threw up an estimate of 3000 pairs in the region, the lion's share in the province of Cáceres (1600-2.000 pairs) and the rest in Badajoz. To this figure must be added about 4700 non-breeding birds and the young that fly each year. There are therefore many Black Kite nests in Extremadura. These birds have a well-known habit of bringing the most varied range of trinkets to add to the nesting material, both natural (fish bones, eggshells) and artificial (pieces of plastic and metal). Up to now no one has come up with an explanation for this behaviour. But now a team of researchers from Doñana Biological Station (Higher Board of Scientific Research: CSIC in Spanish initials) have provided the answer in an article published in the prestigious review Science. They do so to show off their physical prowess. Birds in their physical prime (10-12 years of age) adorn their nests more than the younger, less expert birds or the older birds. This warns off their neighbours and avoids many physical conflicts, rather like the coloured belt system in martial arts. No one tackles a black belt. When more objects were experimentally added to the nests, the mature birds kept them but the younger and older birds got rid of them to avoid giving a show of more physical strength than they actually possessed. Another curiosity is their preference for white plastic as adornment, found in 90% of the nests. The study is based on fieldwork in Doñana involving over 150 nests of ringed Black Kites with known ages.

Photo. From left to right: nest of a 3-year old Black Kite, nest of an 11-year old bird and nest of a 22-year old bird. Photographs: F. Sergio, published on the CSIC website.

- Sergio, F.; J. Blas; G. Blanco; A. Tanferna; L. López; J. A. Lemus; F. Hiraldo (2011). Raptor nest decorations are a reliable threat against conspecifics. Science 331: 327-330 [abstract].
- Palomino, D. 2006. El milano negro en España. I censo nacional (2005). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [PDF]

SOCIABLE LAPWING IN LA SERENA

2011-03-15T17:27:00.006+01:00

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), winter plumage (source: IBC-Lynx).

On 13 March 2011, Rodney Smith reported a Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) sighting on the reservoir birds website. The bird was seen in Castuera (La Serena, Badajoz) alongside the BA-35 road between km 20 and 21.

The Sociable Lapwing is a rare vagrant in Spain. Not only that but it is also classed as "Critically Threatened" (CR) due to plummeting numbers recently, a category including the 190 species with the most critical conservation status worldwide. This makes it an even juicier tidbit for twitchers. It is estimated that only 11,000 adult birds remain in the whole world, breeding on the central Asian steppes and wintering from Sudan to India. To get a better idea of the problem besetting the bird, BirdLife is now conducting a conservation programme including satellite tracking of several individuals.

This rare plover seems to winter regularly on the Iberian Peninsula. There are sightings ranging in time from 21 September to 18 April. Up to 2008 41 records had been accepted from Spain and 8 in Portugal. They are always one-offs, normally a fellow traveller in flocks of the abundant Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). The last rarities report (2008) mentioned four birds in Spain. In the winter 2008-2009 there were at least four sightings. In winter 2009-2010 five more turned up. These sightings are widely scattered (Gerona, Le¾n, Valladolid, Soria, Zaragoza, Toledo, Ciudad Real, Badajoz and Seville in 2008-2010), the birds sometimes staying for a long time, up to four months, in the same spot. Curiously enough, this Badajoz sighting seems to be the only one in winter 2010-2011. According to the study of De Juana (2006), in France it turns up above all on spring and autumn passage, in northwest Iberia in both winter and on passage and in southwest Iberia mainly in winter. It therefore seems to be a true winter visitor in Spain, turning up after its arduous journey in very small numbers due to its low population worldwide.

This is the third sighting for Extremadura. The first was a bird seen from 19/02/04 to 4/03/04 in Mirandilla (Badajoz), initially in winter plumage and then moulting into its spring plumage during its stay (F. Prieto, J. Ledo and J. M. Benítez; accepted record). The second was a bird present on 03/11/09 in Los Canchales reservoir (Badajoz, J. M. Salazar); pending acceptance by the rarities committee (if a description was even sent in).

Sources:
- De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.
- Catry, P., Costa, H., Elias, G. and Matias, R. 2010. Aves de Portugal. Ornitologia do territorio continental. Assirio & Alvim. Lisbon.
- CR-SEO (Rarities Committee of the SEO). 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57(2).

FEBRUARY 2011: Notable Bird Sightings in Extremadura

2011-03-08T13:31:00.004+01:00

Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata). Male. Óscar J. González.

A list of the most notable records sent to the GOCE forum in February 2011 (compiled by Sergio Mayordomo). (Click here for backdated months).

- White-Fronted Goose: the young bird seen in January at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) was still there on 1/02 and 12/02 (Sergio Mayordomo). One bird at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 7/02 (Martin Kelsey) and 2 adults and 2 juveniles on 11/02 (Godfried Schreur, M. Kelsey, Tim Appleton).
- Egyptian Goose: 2 birds at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 4/02 (Steve Fletcher), 9 on 6/02 (Colin Jewitt and Merilyn Jewitt) and 8 on 12/02 (Alicia Ortega, Andrés Maestre, Jesús Solana and Raúl Urquiaga). Two at Dehesa Boyal de Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres) on 8/02 (Pedro Gómez). One at Huélaga (Cáceres) on 19/02 (César Clemente).
- Shelduck: 22 at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz on 11/02 (G. Schreur, M. Kelsey et al) and 23 on 12/02 (J. Solana). Eight at Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/02 (J. Solana) and 6 on 26/02 (Rafael Porrino).
- Red-Crested Pochard: one drake seen on 6/02 at Charca de Brozas (Cáceres) (Florencio Carrero, Paco Be Water and Rafael Parra) and one pair at Cubilar Reservoir (Cáceres) (C. Jewitt and M. Jewitt). One pair at Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on 11/02 (G. Schreur, M. Kelsey et al).
- Tufted Duck: 65 at Charca de Brozas (Cáceres) on 6/02 (F. Carrero, P. Be Water and R. Parra).
- Goosander: the two young females seen in January were still around in February: at La Torrecilla, Plasencia (Cáceres) it was seen for the last time on 5/02 (Jus Pérez) and at Torrejón-Tiétar Reservoir, Monfragüe (Cáceres) it was seen on 10/02 (S. Mayordomo), 13/02 (Dave Langlois and Sammy Langlois), 24/02 (Natalia Moral), 25/02 (Ángel González, Cristina Sánchez and Unai Fuentes) and 26/02 (John Muddeman and Raúl Guzmán).
- Greater Flamingo: 11 at La Albuera (Badajoz) on 9/02 (José Mª Álvarez) and 4 on 11/02 (Antonio Núñez and Luis Sanabria).
- Bittern: one at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres) on 27/02 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey).
- Night Heron: 18 at River Guadiana, Badajoz, on 6/02 (G. Schreur and Juan Carlos Salgado).
- Squacco Heron: 2 at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres) on 3/02 (J. Muddeman) and 1 on 27/02 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey). One at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher).
- Osprey: one at Gabriel and Galán Reservoir(Cáceres) on 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15/02 (Alberto Pacheco).
- Goshawk: one at Puebla del Maestre (Badajoz) on 18/02 (A. Pacheco).
- Purple Swamphen: new site: one at Morantes Reservoir, La Roca de la Sierra (Badajoz), on 7/02 (Ángel Luis Sánchez).
- Avocet: 14 at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher) and 1 on 13/02 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). One at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres)on 12/02 and 15/02 and two on 24, 25 and 26/02 (Javier Gayo, Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
- Kentish Plover: 15 at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher) and 2 on 13/02 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). Two at Puebla de Alcollarín (Cáceres) on 13/02 (Juan Pablo Prieto).
- Curlew: 34 observed at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 4/02 and 1 on 20/02 (S. Mayordomo). Seven at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher). Twenty one on Riolobos ricefields on 12/02 and 3 on 22/02 (S. Mayordomo).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: one at Mirabel landfill site on 2/02 (S. Mayordomo) and 16 at Mérida landfill site on 5/02 (Á. Sánchez).
- Whiskered Tern: one winter-plumage bird at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 5/02 (Juan Carlos Paniagua, S. Mayordomo and Toribio Álvarez).
- Spotted Redshank: one at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 20/02 (S. Mayordomo).
- Stock Dove: 100 at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 20/02 (S. Mayordomo).
- Wryneck: 2 at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher). One at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 10/02 (S. Mayordomo). One at Saucedilla (Cáceres) on 13/02 (Javier Briz).
- Alpine Accentor: 15 at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 12/02 (A. Pacheco).
- Brambling: several at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 3/02 (Jaime Collado) and 8 at Riolobos (Cáceres) on 15/02 (J. Prieta). Two to four birds seen in a pinewood at Piornal on 4, 11 and 18/02 (J. Prieta).

FIRST SUMMER VISITORS
- Garganey: 2 drakes and 1 female at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 11/02 (G. Schreur, M. Kelsey et al).
- Quail: one bird heard at La Serena on 27/02 and several on 28/02 (R. Porrino).
- Black Stork: one bird in breeding territory at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 6/02 (Eva Palacios and Miguel Ángel Muñoz).
- Short-Toed Eagle: one at Cabañas del Castillo (Cáceres) on 26/02 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey). On 27/02 two at Monfragüe (C. Clemente, F. Carrero, Javier Caballero, J. Caballero). On 28/02 two at La Serena (Badajoz) (R. Porrino), one at Mérida (Badajoz) (Ángel Sánchez) and another between Trujillo and Cáceres (J. Caballero).
- Black Kite: one at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 10/02 (M. Á. Muñoz). One at Cáceres on 16/02 (F. Carrero). One at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 23/02 (M. Kelsey). One at Galisteo on 24/02 (S. Mayordomo).
- Egyptian Vulture: one at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 4/02 (S. Fletcher). One at Canchos de Ramiro (Cáceres) on 20/02 (Fernando Yuste). Two at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 21/02 (C. Jewitt and Ricardo Montero).
- Booted Eagle: one at Mérida (Badajoz) on 6/02 (Á. Sánchez). One at Casas de Hitos (Cáceres/Badajoz) on 12/02 (A. Ortega and R. Urquiaga). One at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 25/02 (G. Schreur and M. Kelsey). A few birds do overwinter so it is hard to ascertain whether or not these records represent the first summer arrivals.
- Redshank: one at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 24/02 (S. Mayordomo).
- Scops Owl: one singing at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 26/02 (J. Muddeman) and another at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 27/02 (J. Prieta).
- Pallid Swift: 8 at Cáceres on 14/02 (F. Carrero). 2 at Alburquerque (Badajoz) on 22/02 (G. Schreur). 3 at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 24/02 (J. Prieta). 4 at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 28/02 (C. Clemente).
- Alpine Swift: 20 at Alange dam (Badajoz) on 26/02 (R. Porrino).
- Red-Rumped Swallow: 2 at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 4/02 (Roberto Cabo). One at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 7/02 (G. Schreur and R. Montero).
- Sand Martin: 3 at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 6/02 (S. Mayordomo and T. Álvarez).
- Subalpine Warbler: one male at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 26/02 (Rafael Vicente).
- Wheatear: One male at La Serena (Badajoz) on 28/02 (R. Porrino).

WINTERING EURASIAN SPOONBILLS IN EXTREMADURA

2011-03-01T09:49:00.003+01:00

The Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) was a very scarce bird in Extremadura until a couple of decades ago. Nowadays it breeds and regularly winters and turns up everywhere on migration, with records from over one hundred different sites. Its breeding in Extremadura has been monitored quite closely from the word go but few studies have been made of wintering Spoonbills; this is quite possibly the first article published.

Spoonbills began to winter in Extremadura fairly recently. Little is known about it because the peak of wintering birds in December falls outside the normal wildfowl count season in January. For this reason the Spanish Spoonbill Monitoring Group (GRUSEC) organise a December Spoonbill count every year. The following graph has been drawn up from these counts plus records from the Ornithological Yearbooks of Extremadura.

The apparent fluctuation is due mainly to varying observer effort from one count to another. Even so the graphs do show a clear upward trend. In fact a complete regional count has never been carried out. The normal procedure is to visit certain areas they are known to be fond of and then feed in other one-off observations. Spoonbills tend to move about widely during the day to feed and then come together in flocks to rest, normally at dusk. Different figures may therefore be obtained for the same site at different times of day. For this reason some counts almost certainly fall well short of the real number.

The most regular wintering site is Los Arenales (Cáceres), with records every winter from 2005 to 2010 and flocks of 5 to 21 birds. These birds also roam over nearby wetlands such as El Ancho (Arroyo de la Luz). The second most important site is Los Canchales reservoir, with records in five winters from 1998 to 2010 and a peak of 10 birds. There are also December records in another six sites: two in the River Alagón catchment area(Portaje reservoir and Guijo de Coria), two from Campo Arañuelo (Lugar Nuevo in Peraleda de la Mata and Arrocampo reservoir), two in Vegas Altas (Sierra Brava and Cubilar reservoirs) and one in Badajoz (Valdesequera). In the six first sites mentioned Spoonbill presence in December is patchy, with records of 1 to 6 birds on some days. December flocks of 18 have been recorded in Valdesequera, where the presence is more continuous and the birds tend to spread out in nearby wetlands during the day, as in Los Arenales. There is no information on previous years from Valdesequera, so wintering birds there might have gone unnoticed beforehand.
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Extremadura's importance on a national scale is very low: 1% in 2009 and 4% in 2010; it is notable, however, as the only inland wintering site. In December 2009 and 2010 856 and 861 Spoonbills were counted in Spain, Andalucía weighing in with 71% and Galicia with 18%. Wintering birds are also regular on the Cantabrian coast, Rías Baixas and Cádiz Bay, with occasional records from the Mediterranean coast. The most important sites are Doñana (peak of 595 birds), El Grove (A Coruña, peak of 157) and Santoña (Cantabria, peak of 62).
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Results of Extremadura's December Spoonbill counts *:
- 2007: 22 birds. Los Arenales (15), Peraleda de la Mata (6), Arrocampo (1).
- 2008: 26 birds. Los Arenales (21), Portaje reservoir(3), Guijo de Coria (1), Galisteo (1).
- 2009: 8 birds. Los Arenales (6), Los Canchales (2).
- 2010: 32 birds. Valdesequera (18), Los Arenales (13), Portaje (1).
* Collaborators: Carlos Fernández, Javier Caballero, Flore Carrero, Rafael Parra, Ángel Sánchez, Ángel Luis Sánchez, Emilio Costillo, Jesús Solana, Javier Briz, Sergio Mayordomo and Javier Prieta.
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Sources:
- GRUSEC. Censos invernales: 2009, 2009, 2010, 2010.
- Extremadura Birds Database. J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo.

RED KITE: A BEAUTIFUL RAPTOR IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

2011-02-24T01:03:00.008+01:00

Red Kite (Milvus milvus). Immature. 27.12.2010 (Ángel Sánchez)

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) has just been officially listed as a species "In danger of extinction" in the new Spanish catalogue of threatened species. The reason for this sad milestone is the dramatic plunge in its population due to the illegal use of poisoned bait. Over 200 poisoned Red Kites have been found in Spain over the last five years, although SEO/BirdLife puts the real figure much higher at about 7000. More than a thousand a year! A staggering figure and a tragic toll on this and other raptors.

The Red Kite is endemic to Europe and is hence one of the best known birds of prey. The ample information to hand shows a drastic population change in recent decades, varying from region to region. Numbers have built up to unprecedented levels in Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, while the population has plummeted to an all-time low in the Iberian Peninsula, France and maybe Germany as well. This trend prompted an international symposium in France in 2009 to weigh up the global situation of the species. Although a couple of years have passed since then it is still worthwhile summing up the main findings of that meeting.

* The Red Kite breeds regularly in 20 countries, all in Europe, and its worldwide population is reckoned to be 20,700 to 24,900 pairs.
* Germany accounts for 50%; France and Spain together another 20%; and the UK, Sweden and Switzerland another 20%. This means that 90% of the population breeds in only six countries.
* The overall C20th trend was downwards. From 1990 to 2000 it increased in a few countries but numbers continued to fall in Germany, France and Spain. After 2000 it continued to fall in France and Spain, held steady in Germany and increased in some countries where more and more birds are now overwintering, like UK, Switzerland, Italy and Sweden (Aebischer, 2009).
* In Spain the last Red Kite count was carried out in 2004, with an estimated figure of about 2100 pairs, 46% down on the previous count of 1994. The estimated wintering population in 2004 was 36,000 birds, half of the estimated 70,000 figure ten years earlier (Cardiel, 2006).
* In Extremadura the 2005 count throws up a figure of 250-310 breeding pairs and 7700 wintering birds. The trend is bleak with a 65% breeding-season decline in 10 years (85% in Badajoz). The decline in the wintering population was less, 33%, albeit centred solely in Badajoz (Prieta, 2007).
* In recent years a greater inflow into the Iberian Peninsual through the western Pyrenees has been detected (Urcun and Codaccioni, 2009).
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Sources:
- Aebischer, A. 2009. Distribution and recent population changes of the Red Kite in the Western Palaearctic - results of a recent comprehensive inquiry. Proceedings of the Red Kite international Symposium, October 17th & 18th 2009, Montbéliard, France.
- Cardiel, I. 2006. El milano real en España. II censo nacional (2004). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
- Prieta, J. 2007. El milano real en Extremadura (1994-2005). Unpublished report for SEO/BirdLife.
- Urcun, J. P. & Codaccioni, O. F. 2009. The Migration of the Red Kite over the Pyrenees. Proceedings of the Red Kite international Symposium, October 17th & 18th 2009, Montbéliard, France.

WINTERING QUAIL: A MUDDY PICTURE

2011-02-22T14:23:00.002+01:00

The Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) is a highly mobile species, especially the males, which move around at random in the breeding season in search of females. This mobility is the response to a complex reproduction system, without territory, and their particular breeding habitat, unirrigated cropland, which often changes its position from one season or year to another. Quails in fact may well breed more than once a year in Europe, first in the south and then further north. When the cereal crop is harvested they are forced to move anew; on the Iberian Peninsula they usually congregate in the meseta norte, where the crop is harvested latest in the year. Lastly, come autumn, they move off to Africa. Not all of them, however; a few wintering birds do stay behind. For example during the field work of the Atlas of Wintering Birds in Spain there were 112 contacts over three winters (2007-2010), 31 of them in Extremadura; Badajoz is the Spanish province with most wintering Quails (22 contacts). The provisional map below shows the places where these wintering Quails were found (sampled grids shown in red, grids with wintering quail shown in blue).

But a curious event begs new questions. On 04/12/2010 in Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) a hunter was seen carrying a shot Quail (S. Mayordomo, C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo). Nothing extraordinary about this because Quail are known to winter here sometimes. A few days later, on 20/12/2010, three people were seen releasing Quail in another part of the same area, three complete crates of birds; they then started shooting at them forthwith, killing at least six (Á. Sánchez). This unexpected event, perhaps a one-off, poses doubts about whether the wintering Quail are natural. We know for sure only about this one case of deliberate Quail release in winter and winter Quail observations are fairly widespread, so the logical conclusion to draw is that wild birds do winter. This is borne out by studies conducted in Portugal which show the presence of migratory birds from September to December and sedentary birds from December to March, when the first migrants return from Africa. The proportion of migrants, judging from body fat, peaks in October (40-50%) and there are always more migrants in the north than in the south, where up to 70% of the birds are non migrators. Autumn density is usually high, up to 130 Quails per km2. Sedentary birds start breeding very early in the year, singing as from November and pairing off as from December. They breed before the migratory birds and the first brood is itself able to breed after a few months in their first summer. This sedentary behaviour seems to be recent, as the result of changes in farming practices. Although Portuguese authors argue that the same thing happens in north Africa and part of Spain, including Extremadura, there is no actual information to confirm this. In fact there are no known records of singing Quail in Extremadura in December or January (the first are heard in February) and winter records, even allowing for the specie's retiring habits and low detectability, are still few and far between (only nine from 2005 to 2008).

Sources:
- Catry, P., Costa, H., Elias, G., and Matias, R. 2010. Aves de Portugal. Ornitologia do territorio continental. Assirio & Alvin. Lisbon.
- Anuarios Ornitológicos de Extremadura (Aves de Extremadura) 1998-2008.

SWAROVSKI CHOOSE EXTREMADURA

2011-02-16T11:28:00.002+01:00

Swarovski, the well known manufacturer of top-range optics, chose Extremadura for the international presentation of its new binoculars, Swarovision EL 12x50. A group of 25 people from different countries, mostly Europeans but also from United States and South Africa, had the privilege of trying out the new bins in the field, even before they come on the market. From 10 to 14 February 2011 they toured Extremadura, visiting the birdwatching hotspots: Monfragüe, Llanos de Cáceres-Trujillo and Vegas Altas del Guadiana. The guests included leading figures from the birdwatching world, such as tour guides, photographers, publishers, organisers of bird fairs and birdwatching competitions, among others. Extremadura, thanks to Swarovski, will therefore be featuring widely in the news over the coming weeks. As part of the promotion a small website was set up with various images of Monfragüe, plus a bird-identification internet game with three different venues: Extremadura, Austria and Texas (USA).

The long list of birds observed over these four days includes Black Stork, Griffon Vulture, Monk Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Red-Rumped Swallow, Eagle Owl, Pintail, White-Fronted Goose, Common Crane, Shoveler, Merlin, Lesser Kestrel, Garganey, Great Bustard, Pintailed and Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Shelduck, Golden Eagle and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

More information:
- Martin Kelsey's blog (in English), one of the local tour guides together with Godfried Schreur (author of the photograph above).
- International competition "Digiscopers of 2010". The first three were all Spanish.
- Swarovski Optik

HOW MANY CRANES WERE WINTERING IN SPAIN AND EXTREMADURA IN JANUARY 2011?

2011-02-11T17:06:00.000+01:00

Quite honestly, we can't really answer this question because we have no formal counts to go on. We can, however, draw on figures from elsewhere to gain some sort of an idea. First of all we should remember that that the last Spanish Crane count (Grus grus) was held in December 2007, thanks to the effort of hundreds of collaborators. The results showed a significant increase in Spain's wintering population, with about 150,000 birds in the whole country and 80,000 in Extremadura. It also showed a tendency for the species to winter further north: Extremadura's share of the national total thus fell from 87% in 1980 to 53% in 2007. Nonetheless, due to the huge overall growth, Extremadura's population grew tenfold in this period (Prieta and Del Moral, 2008).

Coming back to today's situation, we have three main sources of information to gauge the current trend of the western European population. First of all there are the many counts of autumn migration carried out in the region of Central Hesse, Germany. In autumn 2010 no fewer than 210,000 cranes were counted up to 13 December (Kraft, 2010). Yet another all-time high, showing that the population has not yet peaked. Four autumns ago, in 2006, the figure for Hesse was 190,000 birds, with an estimate of 230,000 for the total European population. Simple extrapolation gives a current estimate of about 250,000 birds, one quarter of a million, which is not to be sniffed at. The second source of information comes from the equally numerous winter counts conducted in France (Deschartes, 2011). In January 2011 France clocked up another record figure: 108,000 cranes, topping the 103,000 figure for January 2010 and the 81,600 for January 2009. In 2011 the region of Aquitaine in southwest France accounted for the lion's share, with 66,000 cranes, followed by Champagne-Ardenne (20,200) and central France (15,000). The third source of information comes from Gallocanta Lake in Aragón, Spain, where regular counts are conducted. This year's January count of 18,500 cranes was slightly down on the mean figure of previous years (Heraldo.es).

These three sources of information are pretty much all we have to go on. Bearing in mind, however, that cranes also winter in Portugal, Morocco and Germany, about 130,000 cranes are likely to have wintered in Spain in 2010-2011, somewhat below the figure for 2007-2008 (the French estimate a figure of 124,000 cranes in Spain during the previous winter, January 2010). The dearth of information from Spain, except for Gallocanta and a roost or two elsewhere, rules out any estimate of the population in Extremadura. Nonetheless, everything seems to suggest that it was also down on the 80,000 figure for 2007. Who knows if for the first time in many centuries Extremadura has lost its status as Europe's biggest crane wintering area, losing out to Aquitaine in France? Food for thought: how much have we changed Europe in only two decades for a bird to change its winter range so radically?

Figures apart, another small reflection as the cranes begin to wing north again for spring. The crane spawns all sorts of conferences, festivals and presentations, mainly with a tourism bent. Curiously enough, however, we know very little about the resource we are selling because we don't know exactly how many cranes come here each winter. We can't hope to complete with the industrious French and German and the instant data they are capable of coming up with at the drop of a hat. But it still wouldn't be amiss to conduct at least some sort of joint count in Spain every few years.... Some there are, even on specialist forums, who have asked if cranes still winter in Extremadura (no comment).

Graph. Wintering Common Crane (Grus grus) Trend in France (taken from Dechartes & Le Roy, 2010).

Sources:
- Deschatres, Aurelien. 2011 (Francia). Message in the Forum grus-grus.
- Deschartes, A. & Le Roy, E. 2010. La grue cendrée en France. Migrations et hivernage - Saison 2009-2010 (Migration and Wintering of the Common Crane in France, 2009-2010) [download].
- Kraft, Martin. 2010 (Germany). Message in the Forum grus-grus.
- Heraldo.es (Aragón). 4 Febuary 2011. [read]
- Prieta, J. and Del Moral, J. C. 2008. La grulla común invernante en España. Población en 2007 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. [download]

SPAIN'S "EAR-SPLITTING" WHITE STORKS

2011-02-08T00:19:00.002+01:00

This blog entry in the Spanish version comments on the worrying trend of stork-nest intolerance after a long tradition of man and stork living in mutual harmony in Extremadura's villages. Two recent TV reports, one in Extremadura and the other in Catalunya, have highlighted this trend, with an ill-researched and biased focus on their "noise" and "dropping" nuisance. Although the image of the stork is still meretriciously used as a tourism lure, there are in fact increasing examples of wholesale nest removal from official buildings and powerline pylons, both in Extremadura and elsewhere.

JANUARY 2011: Notable Bird Sightings in Extremadura

2011-02-06T11:02:00.005+01:00

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). Arrocampo Reservoir, Cáceres, 9 January 2011 (Samuel Langlois).

A list of the most notable records sent to the GOCE forum in January 2011 (compiled by Sergio Mayordomo). (Click here for backdated months.).

-Emu: 2 escaped birds are known to have been present in the olive groves of Marchagaz, Cerezo and Palomero (Cáceres) since 17/01, although they have probably been living feral there for even longer (Alberto Pacheco).
-Bean Goose: one bird of the rossicus subspecies at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 9/01 (Martin Kelsey). Rarity pending acceptance by rarities committee.
-White Fronted Goose: one adult at Sierra Brava reservoir (Cáceres) on 03/01 (Xurxo Piñeiro); one young bird at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 26/01 (Javier Prieta) and 5 birds at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (Cáceres) on 29/01 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Shelduck: 27 birds seen at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) 27/01 (M. Kelsey), 28 on 29/01 (Godfried Schreur) and 27 on 31/01 (Luis Lozano). Biggest ever flock seen in Extremadura.
-Egyptian Goose: 1 at Cornalvo (Badajoz) on 11/01 (comm. José Ledo) and 5 from 21/01 (J. Ledo) to 30/01 (Ángel Sánchez). 1 at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz)on 20/01 (Gonzalo Núñez-Lagos) and 3 on 22/01 (SEO-Cáceres). One bird at Ahigal reservoir (Cáceres) on 21/01 (J. Prieta).
-Red Crested Pochard: One drake at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) on 21/01 (Eva Palacios, Joaquín García, Miguel Ángel Muñoz and Paco Ramírez).
-Goosander: One first-winter female at La Torrecilla pond, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 9/01 (J. Prieta, Ricardo Montero and S. Mayordomo) with many more observations until 29/01 (Alfonso Rodrigo, César Clemente, Eduardo Amengual, E. Palacios, Javier Gayo, Javier Gómez, Javier Mahillo, J. Prieta, Manuel Curiel, Mario Alonso, M. Á. Muñoz, P. Ramírez and S. Mayordomo). Another first winter female on the River Tiétar at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 21/01 (José María Benítez), on 23/01 (Manuel García del Rey, M. Kelsey and S. Mayordomo) and on 31/01 (M. Kelsey). Rarities pending acceptance.
-Cormorant: 1500-strong roost at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (Cáceres) in mid January (Chema Traverso).
-Glossy Ibis: one bird at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 4/01 (Javier Briz and M. García del Rey). One bird in the Madrigalejo heron roost (Cáceres) on 9/01 and on 22/01 (M. Kelsey).
-Spoonbill: 19 birds at Los Arenales, Cáceres, on 9/01 (Javier Caballero). See more Extremadura records at GRUSEC.
-Bittern: one bird at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 8/01 (S. Mayordomo).
-Little Bittern: one at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 9/01 (J. Briz and Vicente Risco); 6 at Entrepuentes, Badajoz, on 16/01 (Juan Carlos Paniagua); 10 at Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, on 25/01 (Casimiro Corbacho, J. C. Paniagua, Manuel Parejo, Mª Jesús García-Baquero and Patricia Gordón) and one female at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 28/01 (M. Kelsey).
- Night Heron: one at Entrepuentes, Badajoz and 8 at La Alameda, Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua); at least 20 at Montijo reservoir (Badajoz) on 23/01 (Jesús Solana); 4 at Talavera la Real (Badajoz) on 24/01 (Antonia Cangas, E. del Viejo, Godfried Schreur and Pedro Schreur) and 10 at Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, on 25/01 (C. Corbacho, J. C. Paniagua, M. Parejo, Mª J. García-Baquero and P. Gordón).
-Squacco Heron: one bird at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres on 4/01 (J. Briz and M. García del Rey) and two on 9/01 (Dave Langlois and Sammy Langlois). One bird at Palazuelo ricefields (Badajoz) on 22/01 (SEO-Cáceres).
-Great White Heron: 18 birds on 27/01 at Toril and Malpartida de Plasencia (Cáceres), 15 at a River Tiétar roost(J. Prieta).
-Black Stork: one bird at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 2/01 (C. Clemente, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo); one at Serrejón (Cáceres) on 13/01 (José Luis Rivero and Steve Fletcher); two at Zorita (Cáceres) on 21/01 and one at Vegas Altas (Badajoz) on 23/01 (E. Palacios, J. García, M. Á. Muñoz and P. Ramírez); one at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 27/01 (M. Kelsey); one at Alburquerque (Badajoz) on 30/01 (Juan Carlos Salgado) and at least one at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 31/01 (M. Kelsey).
-Osprey: one at Arrocampo reservoir (Cáceres) on 4/01 (J. Briz and M. García del Rey). One at Gabriel and Galán reservoir on 4/01, 19/01, 20/01 and 21/01 (A. Pacheco).
-Booted Eagle: one light-phase bird at Talavera la Real (Badajoz) on 24/01 (A. Cangas, E. del Viejo, G. Schreur and P. Schreur).
-Avocet: 55 birds at Sierra Brava reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/01 and 12 at Casas de Hitos pond, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) (SEO- Cáceres).
-Kentish Plover: 15 birds at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 22/01 (SEO-Cáceres) and 25 on 28/01 (M. Kelsey).
-Curlew: 6 at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 4/01 (J. Briz and M. García del Rey), 10 on 8/01 (S. Mayordomo) and 9/01 (D. Langlois, J. Briz, S. Langlois and V. Risco), and 5 on 15/01 (M. Kelsey). 34 seen at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 7/01 (S. Mayordomo) and 30 on 19/01 (J. Prieta). 2 birds at El Batán (Cáceres) on 19/01 (J. Prieta). 2 at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 28/01 (M. Kelsey). One bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 31/01 (Á. Sánchez).
-Whimbrel: one bird at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) on 31/01 (Á. Sánchez). First winter record in Extremadura.
-Spotted Redshank: one at Laguna del Estanco, Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres), on 2/01 (C. Clemente, J. C. Paniagua and S. Mayordomo) and another at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 28/01 (M. Kelsey).
-Wood Sandpiper: one at Sierra de Fuentes (Cáceres) on 12/01 (Á. Sánchez). First winter record in Tagus catchment area.
-Ruff: 300 birds at Santa Amalia ricefields(Badajoz) on 29/01 (Fernando Yuste).
-Common Gull: one first winter bird at Sierra Brava reservoir (Cáceres) on 13/01 (N. P. Roberts).
-Yellow-Legged Gull: one at Ahigal reservoir(Cáceres) on 12/01 (A. Pacheco) and another at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), on 21/01 (S. Mayordomo).
-Wryneck: one at Madrigalejo (Cáceres) on 22/01 (M. Á. Muñoz and P. Ramírez).
-Bearded Tit: one at Arrocampo reservoir(Cáceres) on 15/01 (M. Kelsey).
-Brambling: 2 birds at Moheda de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 21/01 (A. Pacheco), 4 at Hervás (Cáceres) on 22/01 (R. Montero), over 25 at Cabrero (Cáceres) on 28/01 and at least one at Tejeda del Tiétar (Cáceres) on 30/01 (J. Prieta).

First summer visitors
-Great-Spotted Cuckoo: one at Mérida on 18/01 (J. Solana), in the centre of Badajoz province, on 23/01 (Ferguss Crystal) and Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres) on 29/01 (Rafael Parra).
-Pallid Swift: a flock of up to 15 swifts, possibly Pallid Swifts, at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 3/01, 4/01 and 5/01 (J. Solana). One bird heard in Plasencia on 26/01 (S. Mayordomo).
-House Martin: several seen in Plasencia (Cáceres) on 4/01 (M. Á. Muñoz and X. Piñeiro) and 4 at Alange (Badajoz) (J. Solana). 5 birds at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 9/01 (Jesús Porras). Detected in Navalmoral de la Mata (J. Briz) and Coria (J. Prieta) on 11/01.
-Sand Martin: one at Trujillo in early January (Jukka Rokkanen).
-Swallow: one at Alange (Badajoz) on 6/01 (Á. Sánchez), one at Brovales reservoir(Badajoz) on 15/01 (Antonio Núñez), 4 at Los Canchales (Badajoz) on 23/01 (G. Schreur), one at Sierra Brava (Cáceres) (M. Rodríguez) and Badajoz capital (J. C. Paniagua) on 25/01 and 10 at Coria (Cáceres) on 26/01 (J. Prieta).