RECORD YEAR FOR RÜPPELL’S VULTURE

In May 2013 we published two simultaneous observations of Rüppell’s Vultures Gyps rueppellii) in Extremadura, one in Badajoz province and the other in Cáceres. Thanks to the collaboration of photographers we now know of two further sightings, one in June and the other in July, which means that we now have four records in 2013 (and there is still time for more!!). This is without precedent and clearly demonstrates the regular arrival of individuals in Extremadura. It is difficult to guess the numbers involved, but it must be more than we imagined, perhaps a few dozen.

The first of the photographed birds was “taken” in Villanueva del Fresno, Badajoz on 22 June 2013 by Alfonso Pérez del Barco. It is a different individual to the one seen twice in May, an older bird, perhaps of third or fourth calendar year. (Photo above).

The second photo was taken on 28 June 2013 close to the rubbish tip at Mirabel, Cáceres, by David Álvarez. One of the sightings in May took place here. Although the photos taken then were of poorer quality so a direct comparison is not possible, the field notes taken suggest that two different birds are involved, with a third-year bird in May and a second-year bird (showing no signs of moult) in July (see photo above).

[NOTE: There is still lots of time! Just a few days after posting this note we have been informed of a further record, the fifth this year. Justo Manuel García saw a Rüppell’s Vulture flying alone in the Sierra de Magacela (Badajoz) on 21 August 2013. Will it be the last?]

RUPPELL’S VULTURE….DOUBLE ACT

Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) is one of the most frequently featured species in this blog, being one of the national rarities most often recorded in Extremadura.  Since 2008, it has been recorded in six consecutive years, with one or two individuals annually and this is the fourth year running that we have shared the news here. And on this occasion with a double, given that in the same week in May, two individuals were seen: one in Badajoz province and the other in Cáceres.

The Badajoz bird, with plumage of a second-year juvenile (hatched in 2012), was found on 21st May 2013 by Marc Gálvez (see photo) in the roost site at Riscos de Valbellido, Salvaléon, in company with 240 Griffon Vultures (including birds tagged in Spain, France and Portugal). On the following days, at least until 25th May, it was also seen by Francisco Montaño, Antonio Núñez Ossorio, Joaquín Vázquez, Lorenzo Alcántara, José Portillo, José Gómez, Jerónimo Corral and Óscar Llama.

The Cáceres bird, with immature plumage of third calendar year (hatched in 2011), was found at Ecoparque (rubbish tip) at Mirabel on the morning of 25th May 2013 by Javier Prieta (photo above), together with 250 Griffon Vultures (three of them tagged in Spain) and more than 60 Black Vultures. A couple of hours later, Sergio Mayordomo and Eva Palacios (photo below) confirmed that it was still there, until 16.00 when it flew off. A little later, based on plumage similarities, it was seen at the Tajadilla in Monfragüe (Toril, Cáceres) by some Portuguese visitors and the following morning (26th May) it was again at the Mirabel rubbish tip (José Portillo), although there were no vultures still present there at midday (J. Prieta).

They appear to be the first Rüppell’s Vultures recorded in Spain in 2013. Based on a review by De Juana (2006), most records of the species in the Iberian peninsular are in May and October, coinciding with migratory movements to and from Africa by non-breeding Griffon Vultures. The two records from Extremadura given here, in areas where non-breeding birds were concentrating, also suggests that they accompanied the Griffon Vultures on their dispersal movements, As we have seen in a previous entry, in Extremadura the records are predominantly in May and June. With respect to age, of the eleven records in our region, seven were immature and four adults or sub-adults. De Juan’s (2006) review only covers the period to 2003, so we have also checked more recent data. In 2010, there were only two confirmed records, with none in Cádiz, where there are many sightings that are not submitted. In 2011 and 2012, although not yet confirmed, Rare Birds Spain collates 32 records in 2011 and 29 in 2012. No fewer than 52 of the two years combined were seen in post-breeding passage in Cadiz province. The rest, just eight birds, were spread between Cáceres (3), Teruel (2), Guadalajara (1), Lérida (1) and Albacete (1). Although the shape of the graph below is clearly skewed by the massive raptor watching effort in Cádiz, it can be seen that almost all of the sightings are between May and November. That is to say, when the Iberian Griffon Vultures arrive from and depart to Africa. Outside this period, there was one sighting in December (a bird on apparent passage to Africa, one in January (an immature in Cádiz) and another in March (an adult in a vulture colony, but not showing signs of breeding). The only record from Extremadura outside the May-November period is from January, again an adult, possibly hybrid.

Translated by Martin Kelsey.

[NOTE. A few weeks after the cases listed above, the June 22th, 2013, has been photograped by Alfonso Pérez del Barco, a third different vulture, aged third calendar year, at Villanueva del Fresno, Badajoz. Below is one of the picutres.]

Source: Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.

A RÜPPELL'S VULTURE IN LLANOS DE CÁCERES

An immature specimen Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) was photographed on 12 October 2012 at Aldea del Cano (Cáceres) by Sebastián Molano. This is the sixth sighting in Extremadura of this African vulture species, considered rarity in Spain, which was also reported in this blog. It is also the fifth consecutive year since 2008, of sightings in the region. Altogether, there are five accepted records in Extremadura (May-June 1992, May 2000, June 2004, May 2008, January 2009 -a possible hybrid-) and four possibles (June 2010, June and August 2011 and October 2012). Considering the difficulty in identifying the species, especially immatures, the abundance of vultures and the lack of areas visited by birders, it is likely that the presence of this species of vulture spotted in Extremadura is regular but scarce.

From these nine observations, it shows a predominance of sightings in May and June. In terms of age of the nine birds observed, five were immature and four adults or subadults. This high proportion of mature birds digresses from of the pattern observed in Tarifa (Cádiz), area with the majority of sightings in Spain, is clearly dominated by inmature birds (Javier Elorriaga, in litt.). It's really suggestive of the possibility of Rüppell's vultures breeding in Extremadura. However, with such a small sample it is impossible to obtain any conclusion.

SOME NOTES ON RARE BIRDS: PECTORAL SANDPIPER, RÜPPELL’S VULTURE, SANDHILL CRANE AND CACKLING GOOSE

Posts of this blog habitually deal with the vagrants that turn up in Extremadura. On this occasion we are going to look at several at once, each one of which had its own blog post or mention in the past.

Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). The July 2012 summary reported the sighting of one bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 13 July (Ángel Luis Sánchez and Ángel Sánchez, top photo) and 14 July 2012 (Sergio Mayordomo, Eva Palacios -bottom photo- and César Clemente). This was the ninth record for Extremadura, the previous birds turning up in 2002, 2006, 2008 (3 birds), 2010 (2 birds) and 2011. As it happens the last bird also turned up in the same pond, Charca de Esparragalejo. The eight previous records were juveniles on post-breeding passage in September and October. The 2012 bird was an exception to this rule, an adult that turned up in July; it was also one of the four birds reported in Spain that month (according to Reservoir Birds) [Posts on pectoral sandpiper in Extremadura].

The pectoral sandpiper is in fact one of the most frequently reported rarities in Spain, with over 250 records up to 2009. There has also been an upward trend of observations in recent years, with at least 50-60 birds reported each year in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Oddly enough, in 2009 not one bird was seen in Spain; the last time this happened was back in 1989 (CR-SEO, 2011).

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii). In an earlier post we commented on a bird photographed in San Vicente de Alcántara (Badajoz) on 10 January 2009 (José Gordillo); this bird has now been accepted by the rarities committee (CR-SEO, 2011); according to the committee it was an adult with plumage features typical of the west African population. But the nature magazine Quercus of July 2012 has surprised us with an article signed by one of the photographers of the bird in question (Gordillo, 2012) suggesting that the bird shows traits typical of both Rüppell's Vulture and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). It is therefore quite possible that the bird is a hybrid, an opinion backed up by raptor experts like Dick Forsman, William Clark and Javier Elorriaga. The case doesn't yet seem to be closed, therefore. Sierra de San Pedro in Extremadura was the first site in Spain to record Rüppell's Vulure back in 1990; in the Portuguese stretch of the River Tagus a bird was seen shortly afterwards sitting on a nest (incubating?) and since then to date there have been regular sightings of adults in this area, especially over the border in Portugal. [Other posts on Rüppell's Vulture]

To wind up this small compilation of rarities, we are pleased to report that two Extremadura records of the utmost interest have now been officially accepted:
- Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis), seen in November 2011 and January 2012 in Don Benito (Badajoz). First record for Spain.
- Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii), seen in January and February 2010 in Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz)-Madrigalejo (Cáceres). Second record for Spain.

Sources: 

- CR-SEO (Rarities Committee of SEO). 2011. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2009. Ardeola 58(2). 

- Gordillo, J. 2012. Posible híbrido entre buitre leonado y buitre moteado. Quercus 217:43.

RARE BIRDS IN EXTREMADURA. 2009

The latest issue of the birdwatching magazine Ardeola (vol. 58-2, December 2011) contains the Spanish Rarity Committee's findings for 2009. Only six of the 291 accepted records correspond to Extremadura (two of these dating from 2008). Most are based on photos so we can use these to illustrate said records.

Possible hybrids of Western Reef Heron x Little Egret (Egretta gularis x garzetta). Three different birds were seen in Extremadura. The identification of these birds is debatable since it's not certain whether they are in fact hybrids or melanistic Little Egrets. Up to 2009 there had been 53 records of 65 birds accepted by the rarity committee in Spain as assumed hybrids (plus 35 pure Reef Herons), five of them in Extremadura (plus two pure birds).

Brovales Reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz), 10.01.08 (Emilio Costillo).

Arrocampo Reservoir, Saucedilla (Cáceres), 12 and 13.03.09 (Collin Jewitt; Steve Fletcher).

Charca de Los Gañanes, Guijo de Coria (Cáceres), 18.07.09 and the same bird again at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 07.08.09 and 12.09.09 (Sergio Mayordomo, César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo). This is possibly the same bird that was seen in 2008 in Coria and in Guijo de Coria (Ardeola, 57: 491).

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii). Two birds seen in Extremadura, to be added to three previously accepted records (1992, 2000 and 2004). The sum for the whole of Spain is now 43 records involving 58 birds.

San Vicente de Alcántara (Badajoz). In Sierra de San Pedro, an adult with typical plumage features of the western African population on 10.01.09 (José Gordillo).

Monfragüe, Portilla del Tiétar (Cáceres). An immature bird on 24.05.08 (Alfonso López and Ángela Molina).

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius). Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz), 03.11.09 (José María Salazar Alonso and M. Rial). This is the only record accepted without photographs. It is the second accepted record for Extremadura; the first was in Mirandilla (Badajoz) from 19.02.04 to 04.03.04 (F. Prieto, J. Ledo and J. M. Benítez). Up to 2009 42 records had been accepted in Spain.

The records rejected by the Committee involved no Extremadura bird. Nonetheless, we do know of other rarities seen in 2009. On 28.02.09, Manuel Pérez González saw at Portaje Reservoir the same Marabou Stork (Leptotilos crumeniferus) seen in October and November 2008 in Plasencia and Acehúche (Cáceres), respectively (photo above taken in 2008 in Acehúche by Andrés Rodríguez). Also in 2009 a possible Western Reef hybrid was seen in Portugal near the Badajoz border on 12.05.09 and on 13.07.09, Caia Reservoir (the nearest colony is in Badajoz city), and a pure Western Reef Heron on 02.10.09 flying in the direction of the Badajoz heron roost (Luis Venancio). Last but not least, an assumed Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) was seen at Arroyo Guadalefra, Orellana la Vieja (Badajoz) on 14.05.09 by Stefaan Horemans (source: Rare Birds in Spain). If accepted this would be a first for Extremadura but it doesn't even seem to have been submitted.

Source:
CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2011. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 58:441-480.

RÜPPELL'S VULTURE: AND THAT MAKES THREE

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.

ANOTHER RÜPPELL'S VULTURE IN MONFRAGÜE

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).

A RÜPPELL’S VULTURE IN MONFRAGÜE

The normal range of the Rüppell’s vulture(Gyps rueppellii), also known as Ruppell’s Griffon or Rueppell’s Vulture, takes in Subsaharan Africa, north of the equator from Guinea to Tanzania. It is catalogued worldwide as Near Threatened due to its recent decline. It is considered to be a rarity in Spain with only 31 sightings involving at least 43 birds accepted by SEO’s Rarities Committee up to 2007. Most were seen in Andalucía, especially near the Straits, and further inland. In Extremadura it has been spotted on several occasions although only three records have been officially accepted: one bird in May and June 1992 in Valencia de Alcántara and Santiago de Alcántara, an immature bird in Oliva de Mérida in May 2000 and an adult in June 2004, again in Valencia de Alcántara. Other claimed sightings since 1990 were not accepted. As for Monfragüe there is only one sighting pending acceptance, of an immature seen at the Portilla del Tiétar in May 2008, backed up by on-the-spot photos.

Another immature Rüppell’s has now turned up in Extremadura, observed on 5 and 6 June 2010 in the famous birdwatching spot called Salto del Gitano in Monfragüe. As part of the "Aves en vivo y en directo" (Birds live and on the spot) programme, SEO/BirdLife have been running a weekend and holiday information stand on this spot from 13 March to 6 June 2010, patiently manned by Sergio Mayordomo and Manuel García del Rey. On the morning of 5 June a local guide called Jesús Porras spotted the Rüppell’s Vulture in flight from the lookout point, whereupon it was also seen by the other people present at the time. Ernest García, ex-member of SEO’s rarities committee, happened to be in the area that weekend and also saw the bird on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, duly confirming the identification. The photos at the start and end of this blog entry clearly show an immature Rüppell’s Vulture, possibly a juvenile born in 2009 making its first moult. This therefore represents the fifth Extremadura record, all in the months of May and June, at which time immature birds in post-breeding dispersal probably join up with flocks of Griffon Vultures wintering in Africa and return with them to Europe in spring. Nonetheless, adult birds have also been recorded on the border between Cáceres and Portugal, including a bird sitting on a nest in 1998 on the Portuguese side of the border.