JULY 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).