LESSER CRESTED TERN. MORE BREAKING NEWS FROM EXTREMADURA

 

On 7 August 2012 two equivocal terns were seen and snapped at Llerena Reservoir, also called Arroyoconejos Reservoir, in Badajoz, by Francisco Montaño, Joaquín Vázquez and Benjamín Muñoz. The on-the-spot observers identified them originally as Royal Terns (Sterna maxima) but many pundits, after chewing over the photos, now plump for Lesser Crested Terns (Sterna bengalensis). Whichever, it's a first for Extremadura, since neither of the two species has ever been seen here before.

The support for Lesser Crested Tern are: size similar to neighbouring Black Headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus), the size of the terns and their wings in relation to the background Cattle Egrets and one of the birds has a completely back cap goes against the Royal Tern option. Apparently they tend to lose this feature very early in spring and very few birds hang onto the black cap up to June, never mind August when the photo was taken. Neither are the subtle colour differences between the two species sufficiently clear in the photograph.

It wouldn't be amiss now to fill in a few details about both species.

The Royal Tern is a tropical species that breeds in America (maxima subspecies) and Western Africa (albididorsalis subspecies), in the latter case in colonies in Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia. These birds tend to spread north as far as Morocco in post-breeding dispersal and it is thought to be this population that occasionally overshoots and turns up in Spain, where there have been 21 accepted records involving 26 birds up to 2009 (though there were none from 2007 to 2009). The bulk are seen in Andalusia, in provinces close to the Strait of Gibraltar, from July to November (although sightings range from April to December). In Europe, however, there have been at least two records of birds ringed in the US, one in the UK and another in Catalunya (in an unusual month: December).

For its part the Lesser Crested Tern breeds on the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Oceania, plus a small Mediterranean population (Libya), which migrates through the Strait of Gibraltar. It turns up in Spain more regularly than the Royal Tern. Since it has been classed as a rarity only since 2006, the species has not been analysed by De Juana (2006). Furthermore it is a rarity only in mainland Spain. On the other side of the Strait in Ceuta it is considered to be habitual. Even so 15 records of 21 birds have been accepted in four years (2006-2009), mostly in Andalusia around the Strait. The actual number is likely to be much higher, especially in recent years when more people have been on the lookout for the species.

 

Sources: 

- De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. 

- CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2011. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 58(2).

FIRST LITTLE SWIFT IN EXTREMADURA

Little Swift (Apus affinis). Cádiz coast. 25.05.2012 (Ángel Sánchez). 

 

On 20 June 2012 Extremadura clocked up another new species: the Little Swift (Apus affinis). Almost inevitably the bird was seen in Alange (Badajoz), a site that seems to have something special for swifts: it probably boasts Extremadura's biggest Alpine Swift colony (Tachymarptis melba); White-Rumped Swift breeds there on a regular basis (Apus caffer); Pallid Swift has been proven to overwinter there (Apus pallidus) and of course the Common Swift (Apus apus) is a regularly breeder. The single observer was José Antonio Román, one of the two persons who most consistently managed to spot the Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) that wintered in Extremadura last winter.

For the present the identification is deemed to be provisional, awaiting the verdict of SEO's Rarities Committee. The corresponding description has been submitted and we have had a chance to read it. Everything points to a correct identification (compact shape, similar to a House Martin, broad white rump, white throat, peculiar flight and straight-ended tail with no fork, etc.). There might possibly have been a second bird but this is not certain. The bird was seen only on 20 June; on four subsequent visits up to 27 July it didn't show. White-Rumped Swifts were seen on every visit.

The Little Swift has long been expected to turn up in Extremadura. Up to now we know of only one unconfirmed record of a bird seen on the border with Portugal (River Gevora, La Codosera, Badajoz), though the record was never published or sent up for acceptance, neither in Spain nor Portugal.

The Little Swift is still classed as a rarity in Spain, even though it has now been breeding on a regular basis for over a decade. It is a widespread species throughout the whole of Subsaharan Africa and India. In the C20th it colonised north Africa and is now common there too. In 1971 it bred for the first time in Turkey. In Spain the first certain record dates from 1981; it has probably been breeding in Cádiz since 1996, though the first certain breeding record dates from 2000 (captured birds with a brood patch). In 2004 a new colony was found, again on the coast of Cádiz, where they are now regularly ringed. In 2009 another possible breeding site was found in Seville province. There may also be a fourth breeding colony in Marbella (Málaga). The northern expansion is therefore continuing and the bird now seems to be here to stay in Andalusia, which accounts for the bulk of the sightings. Up to 2009 41 records of 142 birds had been officially accepted in Spain, although this is almost certainly only the tip of the iceberg. An idiosyncrasy of this species is the fact that it regularly overwinters. Although sightings peak in summer there are also year-round records.

Sources: 

- De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras de España. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. 

- CR-SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO). 2011. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 58(2).

JULY 2012: NOTABLE SIGHTINGS IN EXTREMADURA

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos). Bird ringed near Manchester (UK) in June 2012 and photgraphed at Valdecañas Reservoir on 19-07-2012 by Ángel Sánchez. 

A list of the most notable July 2012 records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo. 

- Egyptian Goose: Two birds at Charca de Corral Alto, Zorita (Cáceres), on 28/07 (Sergio Mayordomo).
- Shelduck: 24 birds, most of them young or chicks, at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 07/07 and 21/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Red Crested Pochard: At Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres), three drakes in eclipse on 18/07 and 26/07, and one female at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 28/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Pochard: One female at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 18/07 and five birds at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 28/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Ferruginous Duck: One drake at El Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), on 22/07 (Óscar Llama).
- Great Crested Grebe: Over 200 birds at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/07 (José María Castaño, José Manuel Rama and Ángel Sánchez). Over 300 birds at Sierra Brava Reservoir, Zorita (Cáceres), on 28/07 (S. Mayordomo).

- Greater Flamingo: 15 birds at Villalba de los Barros Reservoir (Badajoz) on 28/07 and 29/07, only one immature remaining on 30/07 (José Elías Rodríguez, photograph) and on 31/07 (Vanessa de Alba and Antonio Núñez).
- Glossy Ibis: First Extremadura breeding record. 5 young from at least two nests seen in the heron colony of Azud del Guadiana at Badajoz on 21/07 and 22/07 (Juan Carlos Paniagua and Atanasio Fernández). Still occupying the roost of Montijo Reservoir , Mérida, with 11-13 birds seen on 12, 18 and 19 July (Sergio Pérez Gil).
- Spoonbill: First successful breeding record at Valle del Alagón (Cáceres): nest with 3 fully grown chicks on 12/07 and 26/07 (S. Mayordomo). Flocks: 18 birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 15/07 (Francisco Lopo); at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), 32 birds on 15/07 and 35 on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo); at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) 18 birds on 18/07 (S. Mayordomo); and at Villalba de los Barros Reservoir (Badajoz), 38 birds on 29/07 (J. E. Rodríguez) and 17 on 31/07 (V. de Alba and A. Núñez).
- Bittern: First breeding record at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres): 2 young birds and one adult seen on 07/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Squacco Heron: One bird at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 06/07 (Elvira del Viejo and Antonia Cangas). Successful breeding proven at Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz with the observation of juveniles on 21/07 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Cattle Egret: New breeding colony at Tentudía Reservoir , Monesterio (Badajoz), with up to 50 nests on 06/07 (A. Pacheco).

- "Western Reef Egret": Bird with traits of the white morph of the subspecies E. g. schistacea at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/07 and 26/07 (S. Mayordomo -photograph-).
- Grey Heron: Flocks: 147 birds at Valuengo Reservoir (Badajoz) on 26/07 (Francisco Montaño and Damián).
- Osprey: One bird at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/07 (J. M. Castaño, J. M. Rama and Á. Sánchez). Goshawk: One bird mobbing a Honey Buzzard at Piornal (Cáceres) on 29/07 (Lorenzo Alcántara).
- Ringed Plover: Two birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 14/07 (S. Mayordomo, Eva Palacios and César Clemente).
- Kentish Plover: At Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres): four birds on 07/07 and one on 21/07 (S. Mayordomo). Three birds at Valuengo Reservoir (Badajoz) on 26/07 (F. Montaño and Damián). Four birds at Cubilar Reservoir (Cáceres) on 28/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Redshank: Ten birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 06/07 (E. del Viejo and A. Cangas). Three birds at Los Canchales Reservoir (Badajoz) on 15/07 (F. Lopo). One bird at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 20/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Spotted Redshank: At Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres): three birds on 15/07 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios) and five on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Santa Amalia ricefields (Badajoz) on 28/07 (Fernando Yuste).
- Greenshank: At Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres): one bird on 15/07 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios) and six on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo). On 26/07, one bird at Valuengo Reservoir (Badajoz) (F. Montaño and Damián), and another at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo).
- Wood Sandpiper: One bird at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 08/07. On 28/07 nine seen at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), and four at Cubilar Reservoir (Badajoz) (S. Mayordomo). Two birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 31/07 (F. Montaño).
- Ruff: At Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres): one male on 07/07 and 21/07 (S. Mayordomo). On 28/07 35 birds seen at Santa Amalia (Badajoz) (F. Yuste) and three at Cubilar Reservoir (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo).
- Dunlin: One bird at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/07 (S. Mayordomo). At Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz), two birds on 13/07 (Ángel Luis Sánchez and Á. Sánchez) and one on 14/07 (S. Mayordomo, E. Palacios and C. Clemente).
- Curlew Sandpiper: Two birds at Portaje Reservoir (Cáceres) on 26/07 (S. Mayordomo). On 31/07, one bird at Villalba de los Barros Reservoir (Badajoz) (V. de Alba and A. Núñez) and five at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) (F. Montaño).
- Pectoral Sandpiper: One adult at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 13/07 (Á. L. Sánchez and Á. Sánchez) and on 14/07 (S. Mayordomo, E. Palacios and C. Clemente).
- Little Stint: Two birds at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 26/07 (S. Mayordomo). On 28/07, four birds at Charca de Morantes (Badajoz) (José Luis Bautista) and three at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) (S. Mayordomo). Eight birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 31/07 (F. Montaño).
- Temminck's Stint: Three birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 31/07 (F. Montaño).

- Collared Pratincole: 262 birds counted and over 300 estimated on ricefields between Palazuelo (Badajoz) and Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 26/07 (M. Kelsey -photograph-).
- Yellow Legged Gull: At Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres): 16 birds, including two young birds, on 07/07 and eight birds on 21/07 (S. Mayordomo). Several birds including young at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz), on 12/07 (J. M. Castaño, J. M. Rama and Á. Sánchez).
- Common Tern: One immature at Valdecañas Reservoir (Cáceres) on 07/07 (S. Mayordomo). One bird at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/07 (J. M. Castaño, J. M. Rama and Á. Sánchez).
- Whiskered Tern: One bird at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 11/07 (Manuel García del Rey and Javier Briz).
- Pintailed Sandgrouse: First ever sighting at Guijo de Coria (Cáceres): one male in a flock of Black-Bellied Sandgrouse on 31/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Long Eared Owl: One bird found dead in the road between Vegas de Coria (Cáceres) and Riomalo de Abajo (Cáceres) on 12/07 (Alberto Pacheco).
- Spectacled Warbler: One female at Piornal (Cáceres) on 29/07 (L. Alcántara).
- Redstart: Two birds at Sierra de Tentudía (Badajoz) on 07/07 (A. Pacheco).
- Rock Thrush: Two males and one female at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 10/07 (A. Pacheco).
- Tawny Pipit: Three birds at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 07/07 (A. Pacheco).

EARLY POST-BREEDING PASSAGE / WINTER VISITORS 
- Teal : One female at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) on 05/07 and four birds at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 23/07 (S. Mayordomo).
- Snipe: On 26/07 two birds seen between Palazuelo (Badajoz) and Campo Lugar (Cáceres) (Martin Kelsey) and three birds at Galisteo Lake (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo).

- Bonelli's Warbler: One bird at Sierra de Tentudía (Badajoz) on 16/07 (A. Pacheco). One bird capturred in a Mérida garden Badajoz) on 18/07 (DGMA -photograph by Atanasio Fernández-). At Monfragüe (Cáceres), one bird captured for ringing on 20/07 (Luis Lozano et al) and another singing on 22/07 (Javier Prieta).
- Sedge Warbler: Birds captured for ringing at Arroyo Budión, Rena (Badajoz): two on 15/07 and six on 28/07 (GIA Extremadura).
- Yellow Wagtail: One bird at Charco Salado, Casatejada (Cáceres), on 15/07 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios). One young bird at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 20/07 (S. Mayordomo).

FIRST BREEDING RECORD OF GLOSSY IBIS IN EXTREMADURA

The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is the latest addition to Extremadura's list of breeding birds, now standing at 205 species. This is now becoming almost routine; since 1998 30 new birds have been proven to breed. The most recent, besides the Glossy Ibis, are Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) in 2011 and Great White Egret (Egretta alba) in 2010.

The site where Extremadura's first Glossy Ibis chicks have been born is the traditional heronry of Azud del Guadiana, on the outskirts of Badajoz city itself. This colony breeds in three hectares or so of thick willow and ash scrub. According to 2011 figures (SEO/BirdLife, unpublished), this colony includes about 2000 pairs of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), 80 pairs of Night Heron (Nyctycorax nyctycorax) and 75 pairs of Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). In 2012 there were also at least two pairs of the scarce Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) and probably one breeding pair of Purple Heron in the area too (Ardea purpurea). Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is another habitual breeder in the area and there are also resident but non-breeding Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea).

 First Glossy Ibis nest (Plegadis falcinellus) ever found in Extremadura. 

Azud de Badajoz. May 2012 (Atanasio Fernández). 

The story goes back to 15 April 2012, a day of surprise visitors at Azud del Guadiana. Six Spoonbills turned up (Platalea leucorodia) plus a pair of Glossy Ibises. The Spoonbill's visit was fleeting but the Glossy Ibises decided to stick around. A month later, from 18 to 20 May, the number of birds had built up to 16 and, even more importantly, the two first nests were spotted (Juan Carlos Paniagua, Luis R. Hernández and Atanasio Fernández). By the end of May at least nine pairs were sitting on eggs with perhaps more incubating pairs out of sight (A. Fernández, J. C. Salgado, Mercedes Rodríguez and J. C. Paniagua). These included four ringed birds, all from Doñana. The oldest, born in 2004, was B[5RN]; B[7U0] was born in 2007 and the other two in 2008: B[CNA] and B[85N]. Some of them had been spotted in previous years in Huelva, Cádiz and Seville, but never in Extremadura. The birds' main feeding area seems to be to the west, across the nearby border in Portugal, in the ricefields of Alfarófia about 3.5 km from Azud del Guadiana; here, on 5 June, flocks of 15, 4 and 3 Glossy Ibises were seen. There were also sightings from the ricefields of River Gévora, in Extremadura.

Just when everything seemed to be going like clockwork, however, the Glossy Ibis colony mysteriously disappeared. On 14 and 15 June only one bird was seen (ring B[CNA]) carrying nesting material to a nest out of sight. On 17 June a flock of 30 Glossy Ibises was seen in Alfarófia (Portugal), suggesting that the birds had abandoned the Extremadura colony. On 29 June, almost by chance, a nest was found with at least two chicks, although later sightings showed that there were three chicks being fed by the adult [CNA], possibly a female. Tags were kept on this nest throughout July until, finally, on 14 July a fledgling was seen outside the nest. On 21 and 22 July at least five fledglings were seen in the colony, suggesting the presence of at least one other nest that had produced two more chicks.

The minimum result of Extremadura's first record of breeding Glossy Ibis is therefore as follows: nine breeding pairs, two with success and five fledglings. This could therefore represent the first ever inland breeding record in the Iberian peninsula, unless other records turn up later from 2012.

First family of Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) seen in Extremadura. An adult (possible female with ring W[CNA]) next to two chicks. Azud de Badajoz. June 2012 (Atanasio Fernández). 

Up to now the Glossy Ibis has always been a scarce bird in Extremadura, albeit with an increasing number of sightings as the Doñana population to the south soared. Here the bird is known to have bred from the eighteenth to early twentieth century, when breeding stopped due to direct persecution and habitat loss. The last breeding record, according to J. A. Valverde, dates from 1909. Luckily, decades later, two pairs bred in Albufera de Valencia in 1993 with another breeding pair in the same site in 1994 but no more breeding records thereafter. In 1996 it began to breed in Spain's biggest wetlands: Doñana (7 pairs) and Delta del Ebro (4 pairs), and in 1997 on the saltpans of Santa Pola (Alicante, 2 pairs). The number of breeding pairs in Delta del Ebro had built up to 119 pairs by 2007 with 15 in Santa Pola the same year. The increase in Doñana was much more spectacular, with 1125 pairs by 2004, 3643 in 2007 and about 7200 in 2011 (see table; taken from Máñez and Rendón-Martos, 2009).

The severe drought of winter 2011-2012 produced a widespread dispersion of Glossy Ibises from Doñana throughout the whole Iberian Peninsula, including deep inland and the north coast, with records of several hundred from Albufera de Valencia. In Extremadura the biggest ever Glossy Ibis flock was seen in November 2011: 70 birds in a roost in Madrigalejo (Cáceres); in the spring of 2012 small groups began to turn up in suitable breeding habitat, such as the reservoirs of Arrocampo (Cáceres) and Montijo (Mérida). In Arrocampo sightings peaked at ten birds in March-April, including two ringed birds, both born in 2011 in Doñana. In Mérida the presence was more numerous and constant, with a maximum of 24 (Ángel Sánchez), several ringed in Doñana, and occupation of the roost until August.

The River Guadiana, as it flows through Badajoz, accounted for half of Extremadura's records up to 2000 . The first two published records correspond to 2-5 birds seen in October and November 1989 (C. de la Cruz et al) and one bird in May 1990 (J. Hernández); April (J. Gayo), June and September 1994 (I. Galván); and April 1995 (S. Lozano). Later on, two adults of differing size, perhaps male and female, were first seen in a Portuguese ricefield on 25/06/1999, and then flying in at dusk for weeks on end to Badajoz's heron roost (D. Rivera), with one record as late as 15/08/1999 (J. L. Valiña). On 10/09 and 19/09/1999 a young bird was seen (R. Morán and L. Sanabria). More recently, in a meadow close to Azud del Guadiana, a Glossy Ibis was seen from 22 to 27/08/2010 (A. Fernández), and a pair in the same meadow on 03/03/2012 (J. C. Paniagua).

All the credit for finding Extremadura's first breeding Glossy Ibises and writing the text goes to Juan Carlos Paniagua and Atanasio Fernández. Juan Carlos Salgado, Mercedes Rodríguez, Eva Palacios, César Clemente, Sergio Mayordomo and Luis R. Hernández have also chipped in with their own observations. Much more detailed information can be gleaned from the excellent blog of Atanasio Fernández, "Desde mi chajurdo", a must for the quality of its photographs and eminently readable texts. 

Bibliography: 

- Máñez, M. and Rendón-Martos, M. (Eds.). 2009. El morito, la espátula y el flamenco en España. Población en 2007 y método de censo. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. 

- Prieta, J. and Mayordomo, S. 2011. Aves de Extremadura, vol. 4. 2004-2008. SEO-Cáceres. Plasencia. 

- Prieta, J. 2007. Aves de Extremadura. Volumen 3. 2001-2003 Versión digital. ADENEX. Mérida.

JUNE 2012: NOTABLE SIGHTINGS IN EXTREMADURA

Gull-Billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). By Juan Carlos Paniagua. 

A list of the most notable June 2012 records sent to the GOCE birdwatching forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo.

- Greylag Goose: Two birds at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (Cáceres), on 24/06 (Sergio Mayordomo and Eva Palacios). Probably feral. 
- Egyptian Goose: Seven pairs, one with eight chicks, at La Serena reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/06 (Sergio Pérez, Miguel Sánchez, Fermín Sierra, Domingo Rivera, Demetrio Vázquez and Ángel Sánchez).
- Shelduck: Two birds at Charca de Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 07/06 (E. Palacios and César Clemente). At Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) 12 adults and 20 chicks on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, Javier Prieta and C. Clemente) and 18 adults and 39 chicks in 5 family groups on 21/06 (Manuel Flores, José A. Guerrero and Á. Sánchez). Second year running with breeding records at Valdecañas reservoir .
- Wood Duck: One bird on irrigation ditches of Casas de Belvís (Cáceres) on 02/06 (Javier Briz and Alejandro Briz). One drake on a village pond of Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 21/06 (C. Clemente).
- Shoveler: One drake at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Red-Crested Pochard: Three birds, two drakes and one duck at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (Badajoz), on 05/06 (Joaquín Vázquez and Francisco Montaño). One drake at Soto gravel pit, Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz), on 11/06 (Jesús Solana).

- Pochard: On 01/06 three drakes and one duck seen at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres), and one drake at Los Arenales, Cáceres (S. Mayordomo). At Charca del Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), 11 drakes and 4 ducks on 02/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 10 birds on 07/06 (E. Palacios and C. Clemente). Seven drakes and three ducks at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 23/06 (S. Mayordomo). One duck with several chicks at Villalba de los Barros reservoir (Badajoz) on 28/06 (José Elías, photograph).
- Ferruginous Duck: One drake at El Manantío, Aldea del Cano (Cáceres), on 02/06 (S. Mayordomo) and on 17/06 (Antonio Ceballos). - Great-Crested Grebe: Over 250 birds at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Glossy Ibis: At Montijo reservoir, Mérida (Badajoz), 15 birds came into roost on 02/06 (Antonio Calvo), twelve on 07/06 (E. Palacios, C. Clemente and Antonia Cangas) and seven on 17/06 (J. Solana). At Azud de Guadiana, Badajoz, birds were still seen throughout June (Juan Carlos Paniagua and Atanasio Fernández; bottom photograph).
- Sacred Ibis: One bird at Montijo reservoir, Mérida (Badajoz), on 14/06 (Gerardo Pizarro and Andrea García) and 17/06 (J. Solana).

- Squacco Heron: At Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, up to four birds in breeding plumage seen throughout June (Juan Carlos Salgado, J. C. Paniagua and A. Fernández; photograph). Three birds at Montijo reservoir, Mérida (Badajoz), on 07/06 (E. Palacios, C. Clemente and A. Cangas).
- Cattle Egret: Flock of about 5000 birds at La Serena reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/06 (S. Pérez, M. Sánchez, F. Sierra, D. Rivera, D. Vázquez and Á. Sánchez).
- Montagu's Harrier: One dark morph bird between Álcántara and Membrío (Cáceres) on 13/06 (Javier Mahillo, C. Clemente and Carlos López Albar).
- Hobby: One bird at Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz) on 14/06 (F. Montaño).
- Great Bustard: One bird flying north at Castillo de Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 16/06 (Samuel Langlois). One male at Mohedas de Granadilla (Cáceres) on 21/06. Nine females, one of them with one chick, at Llanos de Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 21/06 (C. Clemente).
- Crested Coot: One bird marked with a neck collar at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (Badajoz), on 05/06 (J. Vázquez and F. Montaño). Second Extremadura record.
- Lapwing: Two birds at Los Arenales, Cáceres, on 01/06 (S. Mayordomo). 200 birds on the ricefields between Palazuelo (Badajoz) and Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 12/06 (A. Calvo) and only one bird on 16/06 (Martin Kelsey). 50 birds on Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 13/06 (S. Mayordomo).

- Kentish Plover: 11 birds, including one female incubating three eggs, at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente; photograph by César Clemente).
- Green Sandpiper: One bird at Laguna de Campanilleros, Saucedilla (Cáceres), on 09/06 (E. Palacios). Two birds at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 16/06 (M. Kelsey). One bird at Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, on 17/06 (J. C. Paniagua and A. Fernández).
- Ruff: One bird at El Batán ricefields (Cáceres) on 22/06 (S. Mayordomo).
- Common Sandpiper: One bird at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 22/06 (S. Mayordomo).
- Dunlin: One bird at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (Badajoz), on 05/06 (J. Vázquez and F. Montaño).
- Collared Pratincole: Colony of about 200 pairs at La Serena reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/06 (S. Pérez, M. Sánchez, F. Sierra, D. Rivera, D. Vázquez and Á. Sánchez). Colony with over 25 pairs at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Yellow-Legged Gull: 22 birds at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06, including one adult with territorial behaviour in the Gull-Billed Tern colony (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Little Tern: Colony with about 100 pairs at La Serena reservoir (Badajoz) on 12/06 (S. Pérez, M. Sánchez, F. Sierra, D. Rivera, D. Vázquez and Á. Sánchez). Colony of over 15 pairs at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Sandwich Tern: One bird in the Gull-Billed Tern colony at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 21/06 (M. Flores, J. A. Guerrero and Á. Sánchez). Second record for Extremadura.
- Common Tern: On 21/06 two birds were seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) (M. Flores, J. A. Guerrero and Á. Sánchez) and four at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) (M. Sánchez, Joaquín Fernández, Jesús Prieto and Á. Sánchez).
- Black Tern: Two birds at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (Badajoz), on 05/06 (J. Vázquez and F. Montaño). Seven birds at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, J. Prieta and C. Clemente).
- Whiskered Tern: Two birds at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (Badajoz), on 05/06 (J. Vázquez and F. Montaño).
- Nightjar: One bird in a low-altitude area at Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 01/06 (Alberto Pacheco). One bird singing at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 14/06 (J. Mahillo and C. Clemente).
- Wryneck: Four birds at Dehesa de Aceituna (Cáceres) on 08/06 (A. Pacheco).

- Yellow Crowned Bishop, Euplectes afer. Several birds on 17/06 at Alfarofia ricefields (River Caya, Elvas, Portugal) at less than one k from the border with Badajoz (J. C. Paniagua and A. Fernández, photograph). A small population was found in this area in 2002 comprising at least five pairs, but no records are known from subsequent years; it seems, therefore, as though the species is still hanging on ten years later.
- Carrion Crow: One bird at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 24/06 (J. C. Paniagua).
- Spectacled Warbler: One male at Ovejuela, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 16/06 (A. Pacheco). Two males at Refugio del Brezo, Losar de la Vera (Cáceres), on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, Pepe Guisado, J. Prieta and C. Clemente). Ten males at Pitolero, Cabezabellosa (Cáceres), on 22/06 (J. Prieta).
- Song Thrush: one male singing throughout June from a Cedar in the garden of Campamento Carlos V, Jerte (Cáceres) (Iván Solana). Second probable Extremadura breeding record, the previous dating from 1999 at Descargamaría, Sierra de Gata.
- Rock Thrush: At Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), three males, two adults and a young bird, on 12/06 and one male on 25/06 (A. Pacheco).

- Pied Flycatcher: Five pairs in nestboxes of Poyales pinewood, Losar de la Vera (Cáceres), on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo, P. Guisado, J. Prieta and C. Clemente -photograph-).
- Redstart: Several at Aceituna (Cáceres) on 08/06 and one male at Ovejuela, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 16/06 (A. Pacheco).
- Rufous-Tailed Bush Robin. One pair at Rebollar (Cáceres) in a bramble patch between two cherry orchards on 10/06 (I. Solana). First record in Jerte Valley and in cherry orchards, habitat not previously recorded for the species.
- Tawny Pipit: Two birds at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres), on 12/06 and 25/06 (A. Pacheco).

THE CINEREOUS VULTURE IN EXTREMADURA. 1974-2009.

The minutes have recently been published of the International Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) Symposium held in Córdoba in 2004. It stands to reason, given the important Extremadura population of this species, that several of the published contents should refer to this region. The huge time-lag between the event itself and the publication of these minutes means that some of the articles have already fallen behind the times. Luckily, some of the submitted papers have been updated. This is the case of an article dealing with the Extremadura Cinereous Vulture population, with additional figures from 2009 phased in (Caldera, 2012). Tapping into this data, we have compiled the published figures on this species in Extremadura, from the first estimates of 1974 up to the 2009 count. The results are displayed in the following table (click on it to open it up).

In more intuitive form the following graph shows clearly the upward trend in Extremadura's Cinereous Vulture population, although the population of the early years was greatly underestimated. The figures are more trustworthy from 1990 onwards. We also show the trend over time of the two biggest colonies, Sierra de San Pedro and Monfragüe. Bear in mind here that the figures refer to pairs that start breeding, so the actual population, including non-breeding birds and those undetected due to methodological reasons, is higher. In 2006 the breeding population was 829 pairs in Extremadura whereas the actual population is estimated to have been over 1200 pairs (De la Puente et al., 2007).

The lower map below shows the distribution (modified from Costillo, 2004). To match the colonies with the figures of the top table, the three northern colonies, marked with in green (Sierra de Gata), light blue (Las Hurdes) and dark blue circles (Granadilla) are considered to be a single group. In the southwest lie the big colony of Sierra de San Pedro (grey circles) and Tajo-Salor (dark green). In the centre-east of Cáceres lie Monfragüe (yellow, as from 2004 it has spread westwards) and Los Ibores (pink), which should really be taken to be a single unit. In the northeast of Badajoz are the two small clusters of Cíjara (red) and La Siberia (white; dying out in 2012). The original map dates from 2004 so it does not include the new expansion areas, which have been added on with a larger coloured circle: Canchos de Ramiro (red), Cañaveral (light green), Montáchez (blue) and Villuercas (orange). This latter cluster does not figure in any official count but birds are known to have nested there since 2007 (one certain pair and another probable), as recorded in the Extremadura Ornithological Yearbook (Anuario Ornitológico de Extremadura: Herrera et al., 2011).

Sources: 

- Caldera J. 2012. El buitre negro Aegypius monachus en Extremadura (España), pp. 38-40. In: Dobado, P. M. and Arenas, R. (coords). El Buitre Negro: Situación, Conservación y Estudios. Actas del Primer Simposium Internacional sobre el Buitre Negro Aegypius monachus (Córdoba, Spain, 21-23 October 2004). Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía. 

- Costillo, E. 2004. El buitre negro en Extremadura. Doctoral Thesis . Universidad de Extremadura. 

- De la Puente, J., Moreno-Opo, R. and del Moral, J. C. 2007. El Buitre Negro en España: Censo Nacional (2006). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. 

- Dobado, P. M. and Arenas, R. (coords). 2012. El Buitre Negro: Situación, Conservación y Estudios. Actas del Primer Simposium Internacional sobre el Buitre Negro Aegypius monachus (Córdoba, España, 21-23 October 2004). Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía. 

- Herrera, J. A., Cerezo, J. and N. Baeza. 2011. Buitre negro Aegypius monachus. In, Prieta, J. and Mayordomo, S. Aves de Extremadura, vol. 4. 2004-2008. SEO-Cáceres. Plasencia.

- Rodríguez, Á. 2012. El buitre negro Aegypius monachus en el Parque Nacional de Monfragüe (Cáceres, Extremadura, España), pp. 223-226. In: Dobado, P. M. and Arenas, R. (coords). El Buitre Negro: Situación, Conservación y Estudios. Actas del Primer Simposium Internacional sobre el Buitre Negro Aegypius monachus (Córdoba, España, 21-23 October 2004). Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía.

WHITE STORK: 2012, A TERRIBLE YEAR

There are few easier birdwatching tasks than studying White Storks in Extremadura. Almost by inertia, therefore, monitoring of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) population in Plasencia and roundabout began back in 1998. 2012 therefore saw the culmination of 15 years' work. Sadly, however, for natural and man-induced reasons, it has been the worst season since the series started, with an all-time low of 74 occupied nests recorded. This figure is 40% lower than the peak of 122 nests in 2005 and 12% lower than the start of the study in 1998 (84 pairs). The reason for this fall is basically the systematic removal of nests from powerlines and buildings, since the White Stork population has continued to grow in neighbouring areas. In the grid QE22, for example (Valle del Alagón) it grew by 63% from 2004 to 2011 (from 87 to 142 pairs; Corchero, 2011) and the colony of Mirabel landfill site by 210% in the same period (from 42 to 130 nests).

 

The study zone almost coincides with IBA 304 "Plasencia y Sierra de San Bernabé" and takes in the built-up area of Plasencia (56 pairs in 2012 - see distribution by buildings in the image above - peaking at 75 in 2001-2002), three powerline colonies (13 pairs in 2012, peaking at 45 in 2005) and five isolated pairs on the churches of Casas del Castañar, El Torno, Valdastillas, Barrado and Gargüera. All nests were built on artificial structures barring one rock-based nest (active for five years but never with breeding success) and another in a Cork Oak (active for eight years), both associated with a powerline colony.

The above graph shows the population trend. There was a big increase in pairs in the first three seasons(1998-2000) the rise levelling off in the next five (2001-2005). The upward trend finally came abruptly to a halt in 2006, when 19 pairs were lost after the removal of 20 nests from the powerline of the N-110 road (eight new nests were built and this same number remains in 2012 though with continual changes of site after further nest-removal campaigns) and 15 from the Centro Universitario-Cuartel de la Constancia (seven new nests were built). Further destruction followed in March 2008 when all the nests (25) were removed from the Cathedral, the biggest colony in the area. Fortunately local ginger groups forestalled new dissuasive measures and 18 nests were rebuilt, remaining occupied in 2012. Fifteen nests were also removed from the powerline of El Robledo, Malpartida de Plasencia; eight were rebuilt and only four remain in 2012. After slight dip in 2011 the biggest percentage reduction came in 2012 when all nests were removed from the powerline of Gargüera (none rebuilt) with only two occupied of the 15 that once existed on the Centro Universitario. It is paradoxical that it should be an ostensibly educational institution perpetrating this persecution of the storks. In this period many of the buildings of Plasencia have lost their nests, some on blocks of flats, others on property of the bank Caja de Extremadura (hotel, auditorium, offices), several in the bishop's palace and some from stately homes. In general tolerance is higher in religious buildings than in civil buildings.

 

If we factor in the poor weather conditions it is now easy to explain the extremely low breeding success in 2012. The situation seems to have been similar in the rest of Extremadura and in other regions of Spain, and also with the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) in Cáceres too. White Storks began to breed in a poor physical state due to the dearth of food after a long and severe drought from November 2011 to March 2012. Untimely bursts of rain and cold snaps in April then exacerbated the situation and undoubtedly led to the death of small chicks in the nest, as shown by the graphs. The number of fledglings was the lowest ever, only 59, way below the 283 recorded in the exceptional year of 2001 and the mean figure of 162. This represents fewer than one chick per pair, specifically 0.8, half of the mean figure. The percentage of successfully breeding pairs (53%) is also the lowest in the 15-year series (mean of 75%); the same goes for the fledgling rate (number of chicks per successful pair). In 2012 only two pairs managed to rear three chicks. By way of comparison, in 2001 there were five nests with five fledglings and 21 with four. In general, the breeding parameters show a downward trend, especially after 2008; this might be bound up with the persistent removal of nests. In the last six years only three cases of four-fledgling nests have been observed, whereas this was fairly habitual up to 2006. Nonetheless, the breeding success is determined above all by the weather. The factors most detrimental to breeding success are wet springs (high chick death) low fledgling rate but with a high percentage of successfully breeding pairs; witness 2009) and drought (high nest failure, with a good fledgling rate, as in 2005). In 2012 both factors obtained, so the result was a dire breeding season across the board.

 

Sources: 

- Corchero, E. 2011. La cigüeña blanca en municipios de regadío del valle del río Alagón (NW Cáceres). Censo y parámetros reproductivos. Informe inédito.