March on Barcelona! City of Crakes & other migrants

March 2010 - Early Spring Migrants in Catalonia, Spain

Of course, the Spring had already started back in mid-February with the arrival of Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black-winged Stilts (see below) - incidentally both my earliest ever sightings - and Little Ringed Plover, along with the first wave of hirundines such as House Martin, Sand Martin and Barn Swallow.



But it still didn't feel like summer was on its way though until March strode into Catalonia, flanked on either side by warmer temperatures and a little-boy excitement at the impending invasion.



The Llobregat Delta

Common Chiffchaff were singing everywhere.  A stunning male Common Redstart flicked in front of me as I arrived breathless on 2nd March, giving me another 'earliest record' but, more importantly, reuniting me with a childhood friend once again.



Yet another earliest record, this Yellow Wagtail almost did likewise but for the fact that I grew up in the UK, where my youth was spent with it's yellow-headed cousin, flavissima.  Above is a male iberiae subspecies of course and was one of four, discovered skipping in front of me with glee along with two females and a male cinereocapilla, which looks similar but lacks the eye-stripe (photo below taken on 29th).



I skipped off with equal amounts of glee, but with added anticipation, and came across six Black-winged Stilt, the first for the reserve, if not for me, this season.

The lagoons were carpeted with migrants, either waiting to head off - like Common Snipe, a half-dozen remnant Lapwing, Common Teal, five Northern Pintail, a lone Tufted Duck and a good handful of Eurasian Wigeon - or getting their bearings from a recently-completed journey from Africa.



Criss-crossing across the shallows were waders such as Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and this Wood Sandpiper above, which counted as the first migrant as the birds I'd seen in The Ebro Delta earlier in the year were from a small wintering population.  But I must have been the only person in Catalonia not to have seen a Garganey yet.

Still, after listening to and watching Moustached Warbler, Penduline Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper, I was absolutely thrilled to jam the breaks on barely two minutes after leaving the reserve and hold my excited binoculars up to my eyes to welcome back the sight of a particular circling raptor - the whole area's first Spring 2010 record for Short-toed Eagle and, again, the earliest sighting of my ten-years-plus in Catalonia.



The Garraf Massis

Back in my garden, the Siskin (above) numbers went up to ten birds, low for the year, to remind me that winter wasn't quite over and a Common Minah (below) flew across my bonnet, en route back to Llobregat (where else would you want to be at this time of year?) on the 5th, to remind me that some things never seem to change.  Every time I think that this small family near my house has succumbed they contrive to show up again to prove me wrong.



This photo above was taken in February but sometimes months go by before I see them.



I finally caught up with Garganey (above) on The Llobregat on the 5th, with five males and a couple of females there by the 8th March.

But a morning spent beforehand brought up two Slender-billed Gull, with the needle-bills of one adult and a first winter mixed in with a haystack of Yellow-legged, Black-headed, Audouin's and summer-headed Mediterrranean Gulls and were only needled out with patience - or was it merely that we hadn't finished the chocolate-chip cookies yet?

In any case, we were fortunate as a wonderful winter-plumaged Little Gull suddenly bounced and dipped in front of the hide and encouraged us to stay even longer, during which time we also picked out two Black-necked Grebe diving together and enjoyed being swarmed by an invading flock of hirundines and Alpine Swift (below).



Although this was my first sighting of the year, word had already got out about the incredible and increasing numbers of hundreds of early birds that had been around Barcelona for a few days.  What was going on down there in Africa?



Red-rumped Swallow (above, with Barn Swallows, and below), was the last of the hirundines to be recorded for 2010 but, yet again, I got my earliest record on the 5th.  One of my top two sights of the Spring is watching all five European hirundines simultaneously filling the skies and my wishes were granted on 8th and 10th too.



Willow Warbler was the next year-tick but what a day the 8th was...  After being warned of the presence of a male Little Crake (top photo by Ferran Lopez-sanz), I waited in the rain - in the mean time entertained by Moustached Warbler, Grey Wagtail, of course Red-rumped Swallows and this Cetti's Warbler behind me -



- to get quite stunning views of the male at less than two metres.  And then after a slight lull, it suddenly ran from a dense patch of reeds chasing a female (below), who skulked away but was eventually relocated...



And I'd been impressed with my close-on views of Water Rail when I'd first arrived!



Strangely, my records show that this annual passage visitor had been first reported on The Llobregat Delta on more or less the same date for the past three years.



By the 10th March, after a freakish day of snow!, only the female was to be seen it seemed but again she ignored my feet and went about her business.

The 10th was probably going to be my last trip of the month, given that I was to be away for the last two weeks, and so I just sat in the hides all morning and watched March march by...



where there was always something different to keep me company.  Alpine Swifts (above), hirundines and even Monk Parakeets filled the skies...



the usual suspects such as these Northern Shoveler above and Northern Pintail below joined hundreds of other ducks, gulls and waders on the water...



occasionally heading for the skies as a Marsh Harrier or Peregrine swooped through.  And occasionally too, being joined by some special guests, like these Greater Flamingo, passing by...



I finally caught up with Night Heron today and, with a nice-surprise of a 2nd winter Common Gull on Vilanova beach whilst taking my son for a walk, currently stand on 192 species for 2010.  What a country this is!

Thankfully, with a little birding in the UK and a trip to Andujar in southern Spain to keep me excited in the mean time, I'll be back soon.

UPDATE: 31 March 2010

The highlights of two quick irresistible birding forays on 29th and 31st March after I got back from Andujar and the UK, included year-first Western Bonelli's Warbler in The Garraf en route to Purple Heron, Temminck's Stint, Marsh Sandpiper and Common Whitethroat on The Llobregat Delta, where Little Gull, Ruff, Whiskered Tern, Common Swift and a thunbergi Yellow Wagtail were also present and remnant Wigeon, Northern Pintail and a couple of Lapwing still remained.

However, the main attraction on both days was yet another crake, this time a long-staying Spotted Crake which spent much of its time, despite the impression given by my rubbish photos, out in the open...

Spring in the Steppes - a day tour in March

25th March 2008 - The Steppes of Lleida

A guided day tour to The Steppes in early Spring with Sam and Jamie Durrant, who kindly supplied his photos, on their quest for Great Spotted Cuckoos.




Due to a deliberately late start, traffic problems and wind building through out the day, we had to work hard for our birds today but these two Little Bustards, one of the first to pair up and set up a territory, would have made it worthwhile on their own.

Flocks of up to one hundred Calandra Larks and a couple of dozen Lesser Short-toed Larks sent up a welcoming chorus as I wound down the car window (o.k. with a button) upon our arrival in the Steppes.  Unfortunately, about the same number of dust grains blasted onto my eye balls and I wound it up again, deciding I'd appreciate their song another time.

We moved on quickly to try and capitalise on what little of the morning was left and were entertained by car side Hoopoe, several Stone-curlew and a stunning Black-eared Wheatear before a Black Kite did us a favour and flushed a small flock of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, which complained noisily as they headed off over the horizon.



A thorough scan of the surrounding fields failed to find any more but it did refill my eyes with dust thankfully just after locating four Dotterel that had been historically over-wintering in the area since December.  As usual during this time they had been politely posing for photos, a habit that seemed to be catching on as a Thekla Lark followed suit a few minutes later.

A diversion to nearby Aspa provided a welcome break from the wind and dust and an even more welcome opportunity for Jamie to pick up a lifer.  A short hunt ended with both male and female Black Wheatears showing well to complete the set for Spain (several migrating Northern Wheatear had already been ticked).

Blue Rock Thrush, Southern Grey Shrike, Corn Bunting, Red-billed Chough and Short-toed Eagle all delayed our arrival at a small almond orchard bordered by the all important pine trees that serve up the normally distateful caterpillars that our main target bird loves to gobble up.  We spent the next twenty minutes or more, accompanied by flocks of Linnets, head-shaving Alpine Swift and yet more Stone-curlew, stalking ever-better views of around seven or eight noisy and very flighty Great Spotted Cuckoos.



Once one settled in the fork of a nearby almond and sat there for a long-awaited study, Jamie did his customary 'lifer dance' (whilst I was looking the other way) and we were happy.

Time then for a quick stop at the dump to watch the hundreds of White Storks, Black-headed Gulls, Black Kites and Cattle Egrets (about a hundred of which rose up to float along side the car as we drove through) to fight it out over luncheon scraps.  A lone Red Kite made a last gasp attempt to get the 'raptor of the day' award as it descended over the car but an amazing assault of a Merlin on a passing Barn Swallow, failing in four attempts to tuck in to a late lunch, had already won that hands down.

March Birding Break, Catalonia, Spain

March 17th - 23rd 2008 - Full Week Tour

"Thank you for a wonderful week. Great birds, great lunches and a beautiful area.  We liked staying in one place and not having to pack up every night."

Younga Hennesey, Edwin Mayer, USA

17th March 2008 - The Llobregat Delta

A couple of hours at The Llobregat Delta after the hotel pick-up saw the now usual Black-winged Stilts, Garganey, Greater Flamingoes and a host of waders on the thankfully exposed muddy borders to the reserve's lagoons.  A close flock of about 40 Balearic Shearwaters and a floating Audouin's Gull from Cal Frances beach were quite superb but a single brand-new, brightly coloured male Common Redstart near the entrance barrier took some beating.

18th March 2008 - The Ebro Delta

From an early welcome by a male Peregrine as we made our way to L'Encanyissada, on The Ebro Delta, a flood of tireless Sand Martins and Barn Swallows provided a backdrop throughout the day.   Other spring arrivals included Garganey, Purple Heron, Willow Warbler and a handful of Spanish iberiae Yellow Wagtail with one particularly yellow individual really standing out against a bank of dark sticky mud.

Thankfully there was enough of this stuff about to attract 16 species of waders, all in good numbers, with even a single pink Water Pipit stepping between the toes of a small gathering of Little Ringed Pover and Green and Common Sandpipers.

The light phase Booted Eagle that stayed over winter made a few appearances during the day including hovering over Riet Vell where, for the day's highlight, two ABSOLUTELY SUPERB Little Crakes tip-toed lightly over floating vegetation for repeated viewings and photo calls.

A small flock of Lesser Short-toed Larks, the resident and presumed Western Reef Heron x Little Egret and a solitary Red-breasted Merganser all provided a little excitement around La Tancada.

At Les Olles, about 40 Whiskered Tern, all in winter plumage, hawked over the lagoon with a soon-to-depart still-bluey Bluethroat making us work for a decent view in the reeds there and a singing Moustached Warbler eventually doing likewise.  The nearby Golero hosted Glossy Ibis, both Slender-billed and Audouin's Gulls and a small group of very showy Caspian Tern finally settled down for a snooze.

19th March 2008 - The Pyrenees (plus Garraf)

In The Pyrenees, relentless rainfall and heavy snow scuppered our chances of bagging a few Pyrenean species to add to our growing list but we did use the occasional breaks to watch the bird life around a tributary of the river Llobregat.  Rock Bunting, Blackcap, Wren, Grey and White Wagtail and Willow Warbler all did their best to cheer us up but we were more than happy watching the comings and goings of no less than three (White-throated) Dippers apparently nest-building under the eaves of a bridge.

A Red Kite sailed over the car en route home to The Garraf where we enjoyed the local Red-legged Partridges and watched the Siskin and Crested Tits on the garden feeders.



20th March 2008 - Garraf Massif, Llobregat Delta

The morning couldn't have started better with the year's first gleaming black-throated form of the Black-eared Wheatear perched on top of a pruned grape vine.  Nearby Cirl Bunting, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparrow and a host of finches, wagtails and other passerines kept us busy until we headed off to the newest addition to the chain of birding spots in the Llobregat Delta.

After being welcomed by a streaky Squacco Heron - Ed's bird of the week - we discovered that the long-staying White-fronted Goose was staying a little longer, along with two male Wigeon.  A pinkish Water Pipit joined a small school of waders (Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and a gloriously close Black-tailed Godwit) picking morsels from the water's edge.

In the centre of the lagoon both Common and Red-crested Pochard dived for dinner whilst a Kingfisher did likewise from a overhanging reed on the border.  A stunning golden-lined Purple Heron then landed right in front of us - with a wriggling terrapin in its bill!

At another nearby spot a blood-red crab similarly fell victim to a Glossy Ibis which proceded to peel off its legs before gulping the rest down in one go!  Meanwhile, another first for the year apparently struggled on to find a snake or two as a Short-toed Eagle hovered over almost every section of the reserve.

21st March 2008 - The Steppes of Lleida

Where to start?  From the moment we arrived in The Steppes and stopped next to a Calandra lark, perched singing a few feet away, we never stopped.  A few worried moments ensued after discovering the three key steppe species were not in 'their usual places' but a handful of Stone-curlew, a few small flocks of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and a gathering of 14 Little Bustard all thrilled - at very close range - after a little improvisation.

In the meantime we added a good number of cackling Great Spotted Cuckoo, a couple of Southern Grey Shrike, an Alpine Swift and re-located three of the wintering Dotterel in the area.  A Little Owl watched on as a flock of Jackdaws saw off a Common Buzzard and nearby both forms of Black-eared Wheatear mixed it with many of their Northern Wheatear cousins.  After a brief chase, we even added a pair of Black Wheatear to complete the set.  All the larks including Thekla and Lesser Short-toed Larks were plentiful for comparisons and, yet again, the local dump provided a theatrical display, with one Red Kite in particular refusing to give up its lunch despite the dive-bombing attentions of two of the dozens and dozens of Black Kites dispersed across the waste site.

My moment of the day though was driving through several hundred Cattle Egret that rose up simultaneously to float along side the car before a handful of Lesser Kestrels were finally found towards Los Monegros.

22nd March 2008 - The Aiguamolls de L'Emporda

I have often called The Aiguamolls de L'Emporda a mini-Catalunya all in itself and so it proved, with almost all habitats represented.  Two steppe-land Stone-curlew stared at us from a fallow field as we arrived and, at the end of the day, a quite superb Great Spotted Cuckoo sat out in an open leafless tree. 

Many species we'd seen at the other wetland sites were of course here too but one particular rice-field in the heart of the Cortalet resort allowed us views of many wader species close enough to do without binoculars.  A Red Knot trying to hide its relative bulk amongst a flock of twenty Dunlin that swooped in late in the day was the highlight.  With such a good week behind us, it proved to be one of only four new species for the day, the others being Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Cetti's Warbler (which we had only heard).  Although we did find two marvellous cinerocapilla Yellow Wagtails among the parties of the local iberiae race.

Seeing everything again gave my American clients the chance for plenty of ID practice of course but even better was watching the birds do new things.  A crab-eating Yellow-legged Gull hoarding its prize, nest-building White Storks, tap-dancing Little Ringed Plover and two immature Great Cormorants playing tug-of-war with a stick were amongst those that entertained us until the threat of rain eventually sent us packing just in time to avoid the deluge.

23rd March 2008 - The Garraf

So few species were left on my clients' wish list after a great week that they decided to take the afternoon off but we began the morning looking for one that had avoided us, the Dartford Warbler.  We were rewarded almost immediately with sunlit choristers on the bankside of the Puig d'Aliga on the edge of the Foix park.

After adding Sparrowhawk to the weeks' list, we stumbled upon a stunning male Sub-alpine Warbler  making no attempt to hide amongst the brambles outside a local farm house.  Nearby a usual stop produced a reliable but, on this occasion, distant Bonelli's Eagle soaring through the white clouds above the Garraf's peaks.  It was close enough at least to see that it was an adult though.

Three Hoopoe, a flock of Alpine Swift and a steady flow of tits, finches and thrushes kept the morning rolling until a pair of Long-tailed Tit earned the weeks' trip a final total of 158 species, a very pleasing reward for a birding holiday in early Spring.

A New Year Winter Wonderland - Catalonia, Spain

January and February 2010

As I write, on 23rd February 2010, this generous, welcoming birding country in North-east Spain has already presented me with 175 species for the year so far.  Here's a few highlights - including the two Lammergeier below - and thanks to Tommy Maul and 16-year-old Blair Morrison for some of the best photos...



After spending an itchy New Year's Day in Barcelona feeling like I was betraying my true 'birding' mistress, I spread my self about a bit on 2nd January, with a surprising Squacco Heron en route to The Garraf coast the first of a string of encounters which also included about twenty Balearic Shearwaters, several 'splash down' Northern Gannet, Audouin's Gull, a handful of Mediterranean Shag and a wonderfully exciting but distant Great Skua teasing me with a promise to come ever-closer.

On land and inland, Hoopoe, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush and both Cirl Bunting and Rock Bunting ensured all my guilt had disappeared and my sense of faithfulness had returned before the day ended with a poof - of pigeon feathers as a Peregrine found itself a meal and reminded me to attend to my own cravings of a different kind.



By the way this Peregrine, caught in The Steppes in February, is munching away on a Cattle Egret!

A pair of displaying Bonelli's Eagle, seen frolicking on the 8th January when dropping my son off at school, were the only other year tick The Garraf Massif could provide before my first real venture in to The Llobregat Delta on 12th January.



On this day a flock of about 40 Common Waxbill (above) settled in the thorny brambles beside me and continued the love-theme in the gentlest of ways.  Other notable additions were Greater Flamingo, Penduline Tit, Moustached Warbler and impressive views of Razorbill and Common Scoter, although nothing like the views afforded when I eventually caught up with this individual in The Aiguamolls de L'Emporda on 2nd February.



But neither it, nor the handful of magnificent Stone-curlew eye-ing me out from within the cryptic background of a ploughed field, could match the hour and more I spent in the company of this Black-shouldered Kite (relocated on 19th February).



I was surprised that it - also known as a Black-winged Kite of course - spent almost all of this time preening, only breaking off to repeatedly shake off this pesky Magpie, which seemed to take exception to sharing every and any bare perching twig around.

Four or five individuals have been reported across Catalunya this winter and indeed I had caught up with another bird in The Steppes of Lleida back in December.



On 7th January, still in The Aiguamolls, I managed to squeeze in a very profitable morning before torrential rain hit, collecting a host of waders as well as Black-necked Grebe, a Water Rail at my feet, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck (both uncommon here) and a beautiful pair of Black-throated Diver - which grew to four by the 2nd February - in Roses Bay.

A lone Red-throated Diver, diving in and out of the surf on an unsettled sea at The Llobregat Delta, was the only new species for the year on 15th January but that just topped a remarkable list of wintering and resident wetland species, many of which have been mentioned above.



On the 11th January however I had added a whole bundle of eagerly-awaited year-firsts on my first year visit to The Pyrenees. 

Siskin (which remarkably didn't arrive in my garden until the 12th, three months later than they normally do!), Dipper, Griffon Vulture, Crossbill and the small flock of Redwing that we'd first spotted in December, all helped to warm us up on a bright and sunny but cold day.



Alpine Chough (two photos above) did show well - and call! - as they reliably do but on 22nd January a photo-count resulted in a total of no less than 300 birds!!

This day was notable too for White-winged Snowfinch, although only a handful before the snow really fell and the show really started, on 1st and 5th February, with flocks in excess of 170 birds nervously shifting from place to place - although thankfully that place sometimes put them almost at our feet!



And Alpine Accentor were equally as accommodating...



...and the supporting cast, yet more year-ticks, included Golden Eagle, Red-billed Chough, Citril Finch, Ring Ouzel and of course, putting on some enthralling displays of their own, Lammergeier.



Wallcreeper can be seen in the Pyrenees, even at this time of year despite popular opinion, but of course most do make their way down to lower altitudes for a warmer winter and this was one of two birds seeking shelter in The Garraf Massis...



Amazingly, 30th January was my first sighting of 2010, but this was more due to an incidental lack of priority by my clients rather than my self.  Still, it was certainly worth the wait and in the mean time, The Garraf also threw up other year firsts of fifty-plus Rock Sparrow (24th January), Hawfinch (13th February) and, quite remarkably, an Iberian Chiffchaff!? on 31st January keeping loose company with a couple of Common Chiffchaff, a very common wintering visitor to the region.

A quite ridiculous claim of course but, after being drawn to it by its white underparts and contrasting and distinctly greenish (rather than brownish) upper parts as it was preening on a twig, it was observed at close-enough quarters and for easily long enough to note its yellow-flushed flanks and front part of the supercilium, its apparently paler lower mandible and, of course, its obvious pink-brown-orange legs.  Many individuals are difficult to identify in the field without calls or song but this, thankfully, seemed like a text book example.

It's difficult to be 100% certain of course but the only remaining doubts are created by the time of year, when apparently it should be in Africa, but the truth is that relatively little is known about this relatively 'new' species and, even if a wintering bird is unlikely, you have to remember that Spring is early in this part of the world and many other migrants began to arrive in the days that followed.



On 17th January, a family celebration in Lleida provided an exciting less-than-twenty-minute sneakaway to The Steppes, where I clocked off 80 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (below) in their usual spot, hundreds of very noisy Calandra Lark and a few roaming Red Kite.



More raptors were chalked up on my first trip proper, on 23rd January, with stunning encounters with Hen Harrier, lark-chasing Merlin and even a nervy Goshawk accidentally flushed from an early morning rest.



This Goshawk above was actually taken in The Garraf on 3rd February.



But back in The Steppes, Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse (both just outside Catalonia of course), Little Owl (above), Southern (or now Iberian) Grey Shrike (below), Stock Dove and Thekla Lark all played along too but we had to wait until 31st January for Little Bustard (in flight, four photos up).



A 1st-summer Great Spotted Cuckoo (below), complete with black head rather than grey, on 18th February was a real treat and subsequently proved to be my earliest sighting ever.  I wonder if these young birds tend to arrive earlier than adults, perhaps to moult before the battle for a mate begins... note to check notes.



My one and only trip to The Ebro Delta in January, on 21st, didn't disappoint, with expected highlights of Glossy Ibis, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, a fistful of wintering Whiskered Tern, lots of Bluethroat and a sleepy flock of 30 Eurasian Spoonbill.

A couple of Wood Sandpiper completed an extensive list of 22 waders for the year so far and, after a dozen or so Bar-tailed Godwit on 7th February, left space (of the season's usual shorebirds) only for ticks against Ruff and Temminck's Stint.



The 7th February also brought the year's first Booted Eagle, Red-breasted Merganser and this vagrant female Goldeneye (above, but thankfully actually seen much closer than the photo).



This came just a day after another stroke of luck on The Llobregat Delta pushed this also rare Crested Coot, aka Red-knobbed Coot, our way (on 6th February).  With the code UTUT on its collar, it appears to be a single remnant of a reintroduction programme initiated less than a decade ago - and the same bird that seems to divide its time between here and the Ebro Delta.



Back on The Ebro Delta on 16th February, our fortune continued, aided by some hard work and relentless scanning, when the outline of a Great Bittern (above) was picked out amongst the reeds and we watched it preening for more than twenty minutes.  And if that wasn't great enough, we jammed on the breaks and dived out of the car to be ignored by a laid-back Great Northern Diver (below) just metres from the bay road in Ampolla.



And finally, on 17th February back yet again on The Llobregat Delta, three Fieldfare gorged themselves on juicy red berries as I smiled inanely at them, having just waited patiently and successfully for a reported male Ferruginous Duck (below) that turned up in the exact same narrow water-channel as the Crested Coot.



That's 78 species mentioned, leaving almost a hundred uncredited and going to show just how many common species there are out there in Winter!

UPDATE:

On 26th February I added my first Sand Martin on The Ebro Delta, with Barn Swallow and House Martin not far behind on the 28th in The Aiguamolls de L'Emporda.  The same day saw me catch up with wintering Northern Pintail at last but three Black-winged Stilt still managed to steal the show.  Spring's coming!

"I highly recommend Stephen's bird tours - fine accommodation and full days of birding.  Stephen is a very qualified bird guide who knows where to find the birds.  He shows the needed patience in a strong and dedicated effort to find your target birds... wonderful sights of Wallcreeper and Lammergeier to mention just two.  Beside that, Stephen is reliable and very pleasant company."

31st January - 1st February, Tommy Maul, DENMARK

"I heartily thank you for the long list of birds we have seen.  Now I can remember each day and enjoy the birds!  Many thanks for your excellent guiding."

21st -  24th January, Manfred Hoffmann, GERMANY

"Thank you for an amazing two day birding holiday.  I have never known anyone with such ability to find birds.  You certainly spotted everything that was out there and we got some great photos."

16th, 18th February, Alister Lynn, Blair Morrison, SCOTLAND

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Client Trip Report: Winter Break, February 2008

February 11th - 15th 2008 - Trip Report written by Mark Dawson

"We would like to thank you for a really great trip [their second in 6 months] and we both hope to bird with you again in the future."

Mark and Lorna Dawson

11th February 2008, Arrival

Our flight arrived on time and Steve was there to collect us punctually as usual.  After a short trip to the well-stocked supermarket in Sitges to purchase provisions, we arrived at Steve's birding accommodation.

12th February 2008, THE GARRAF and LLOBREGAT DELTA

Refreshed after a good night’s sleep, we awoke to see Crested Tit, Black Redstart and (a first for Spain and somewhat out-of-context for me) a small flock of Siskin on the feeder outside the kitchen window!  What great birds to start our trip.

After a short drive to the Garraf, our first target species was a much-anticipated Alpine Accentor.  Following a false alarm of a Dunnock, we took a short walk down the hill and were rewarded with stunning views from a distance of approximately eight feet.  No illustration or photograph that I have ever seen could do justice to the subtleties of the plumage when seen at such close range (Thanks Steve!).

It was then on to Llobregat Delta where, after a very unhurried and enjoyable lunch provided by Steve,  Moustached Warbler was regrettably only heard and teasingly not seen on various occasions, although the reeds seemed to be alive with Chiffchaff.  Kingfisher was glimpsed fleetingly, Purple Swamphen and Marsh Harrier were in abundance, but Penduline Tit seemed to elude us, until a stunning male performed its full acrobatic repertoire in the swaying reeds.  Definitely our bird of the day.  As we walked towards the sea, Crag Martin swept overhead, and Reed and Cirl Bunting vied in song in nearby bushes.   Black-Necked Grebe, Spoonbill, a very out-of-context White-Fronted Goose and a group of Night Heron all showed the diversity that a trip to Catalonia in winter can offer.

[Back into the Garraf and no sign of the wintering Wallcreeper, with only Rock Bunting, mediterranean Shag, Audouin's Gull and a single Balaeric Shearwater showing at Falconera.  Stephen C.]

13th February 2008, THE PYRENEES

We awoke earlier the next day still intrigued to see our friends visiting the bird feeders - the Siskin being particularly raucous.  We then drove to the Pyrenees, en route passing the almost unworldly Montserrat ridge. 

We arrived to bright sunshine and crisp mountain air and after a short walk we stationed ourselves in anticipation of the bird we perhaps most wanted to see.  After about forty-five minutes and half-a dozen Griffon Vulture, we were rewarded with the awe-inspiring sight of an adult Lammergeier.  Looking through Steve’s scope with a trembling heart, all the salient points were seen - the long diamond -shaped tail and long, broad wings were displayed as the bird obligingly banked.  Mission accomplished!

Many Alpine Accentor were seen at the side of the road, though none as close as on the previous day!  Crested Tit sang from the pine trees, and brilliant views of Common Crossbill, both male and female, in this beautiful, high Pyrenean valley, rounded off a magical day.

[Other highlights included Citril Finch, distant views of  a hundred Alpine Chough circling and breaking formation with military precision to land mountain-side and three albeit brief Golden Eagles.
Photo: Montserrat from the Pyrenees.  Stephen C.]

14th February 2008, THE LLEIDA STEPPES and LOS MONEGROS

Our target species were sandgrouse and bustard but it proved far more fruitful.  We were greeted by the spectacle of many small flocks of Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse, both on the ground and in flight, giving us the opportunity to scrutinise their intricate plumage.  Flocks of wintering Skylark were in flight together with singing Calandra Lark, with their distinctive triangular black underwing, and equal numbers of Thekla and Crested Lark, where Steve’s expertise helped in distinguishing these two very similar species.

The next port of call was the local municipal dump, where the vista of hundreds of White Stork, Red Kites, Cattle Egret, Black-headed Gulls and thousands of Starlings was only slightly marred by the whiff of decomposing rubbish!  Another short journey and I had what turned out to be my bird of the day, a brilliant male Rock Bunting.  I defy any photographer or bird artist to reproduce the striking colours of this much under-rated bird.

We then drove to our next site, Los Monegros, and our lunch break.  Steve’s choice of cheeses, cold meats, gorgeous home-made soup, equally gorgeous home-made spinach and potato tortillas, and fresh salad pepped us up for the rest of the day.  I unfortunately missed the Black-Bellied Sandgrouse in flight, but this was more than made up for by the adult Golden Eagle by the side of the road, followed by two very obliging male Great Bustards that were seen very clearly for some minutes.  As we drove around to our final site, we had very close views of a female Merlin [in a tree by the car], our third of the day, and not a bird that one associates with Spain, followed some minutes later by a brilliant male Hen Harrier and a solitary Little Bustard in flight, our clearest view ever.


15th February 2008, half-day, EBRO DELTA

Sadly our last day.  We drove to the enigmatic Ebro Delta, where our first port of call was the hide adjacent to the visitor centre.  Here the familiar sound of a Wren competed with Cetti’s Warbler in the reeds below.  We were then rewarded with our second view of Penduline Tit, while in the distance flocks of Greater Flamingo fed on that most majestic of Spanish rivers. 

In the lagoons of La Tancada a wide selection of birds familiar to Northern Europeans were seen.  These included flocks of Avocet, Little Stint, Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank together with Grey, Kentish and Golden Plover, while Grey and White Wagtail were seen feeding on the periphery, as were Water Pipit.  Hoopoe and Caspian Tern reminded us, if we needed it, that we were very much in the Mediterranean. 

A solitary Booted Eagle dived, initially giving the impression of an Osprey, then circled for several minutes, allowing its black and white under wing to be clearly seen.  A great finale to our second trip with Steve and one that we hope to repeat very soon.