RARE BIRDS IN EXTREMADURA 2010

The last volume of the Ardeola journal (vol. 59-2, December 2012) contains the report of the Spanish Rarities Committee for the year 2010. Of the approved 360 citations, only ten records were in Extremadura. Because in May 2010 this blog begun, most of them have more or less detailed posts. As a reminder they are presented below.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podylimbus podiceps). An indeterminate age male was seen in the Pond at Huerta de la Magdalena, Trujillo, Caceres, on 13, 14 and 15 May 2010 (Nigel Milbourne, John Barnet, Jack Willmott, Sid Massey, Jesus Porras and Pieter Vantieghem). This is the first sighting in the southern half of the peninsula and the only one in Extremadura. [See post and photography]

Marabou Stork (Leptotilos crumeniferus). A new record of a bird seen in October and November 2008 at Acehúche and Plasencia (Cáceres). The same individual was seen on February 28, 2009 by Manuel Perez Gonzalez at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres). [See post and photography]

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii). Two observations have been approved, both in Monfragüe (Cáceres). One is for the year 2008: in Tietar Portilla an immature was observed on May 24, 2008 (Alfonso López and Ángela Molina). [See post and photography]. The second was in 2010: a second-year bird seen in the Salto del Gitano on 5 and 6 June 2010 (Sergio Mayordomo, Jesus Porras, Ernest Garcia, Manuel Garcia del Rey and others). [See post and photography].

Allen's Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni). This record has never been reported in this blog. An adult was picked up exhausted in the industrial area at Plasencia (Cáceres) on January 25, 2010 (Nuria Carrasco -author of photography, provided by Antonio Castellanos-). It was then transferred to the Centro de Recuperación de Los Hornos (Sierra de Fuentes, Cáceres), where it died the next day. This is the only report for Extremadura and the tenth in mainland Spain.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). Two juveniles were seen in the lagoon of Galisteo (Cáceres) on 17 to 19 September 2010 (Ricardo Montero, Sergio Mayordomo, Javier Prieta, Cesar Clemente, Eva Palacios, Miguel Ángel Muñoz and José Ramón Martín). This is the sixth sighting approved in Extremadura [View post and photographs]

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). A juvenile was observed at Valdecañas Reservoir, El Gordo (Cáceres), on 15 October 2010 (Angel Sanchez). First record approved for Extremadura [View post and photographs]

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). A first winter bird was seen at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on September 8, 2010 (Fernando Yuste and others). Possibly the same bird was seen again in Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on September 14, 2010 (José María Benítez). This record was treated only briefly in a monthly summary in this blog (September 2010). Photographs taken by José María Benítez can be seen in the following links: here and here.

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii). An individual was seen on January 2, 2010 at Pela Navalvillar paddies, Badajoz (Antonio Ceballos), and Casas de Hitos and localities, Navalvillar Pela (Badajoz)-Madrigalejo (Cáceres), on 24 and 28 January 28 and February 1, 2010 (Local Group SEO-Cáceres). It is the only known record in mainland Spain. However, this species is currently included in the D (origin uncertain) in the list of birds of Spain, but in Europe there are known cases of natural arrivals. [See post and photography]

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). A record of a bird seen in La Serena, Badajoz, on April 22, 2007 (Jorgen Ballegaard and Alex Kirk Sand) has been approved. It is certainly of this species but had leashes so had escaped from captivity or falconry. So it goes to swell the list of Class E and is not considered a natural vagrant.

Apart from sightings approved, there have been others rejected. Specifically two Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus): the first in Belen, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 11 June 2010 and the second in Los Cerralbos, Trujillo (Cáceres), on 22 June 2010. This does not mean that they can not be of that species, especially as it is so difficult to identify this species safely. Here you can read a review of this species, including photographs of one of the rejected specimens. It also rejects a Common pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) seen in the Alqueva reservoir (Badajoz) on January 8, 2009. In this case, the description is considered insufficient, however, it is known that this birds corresponds to this species according to other accounts from the Spanish and Portuguese sides of this reservoir.

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.