Trip Reports - February 2009

9th February.

Punto Umbria.
80+ Kittiwake-some near enough to touch!, Great Skua, Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Turnstone

10th February.

Marismas del Odiel.

3 Little Gull, Swallow, House Martin, Avocet, Grey Plover, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Flamingo, Sandwich Tern

12th February.

El Rocio Marisma (9.30a.m.).

Pintail, Pochard, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Grey Lag Goose, Greater Flamingo (500+), Spoonbill (50), Glossy Ibis(100+), Black Tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Serin, Azure Winged Magpie, Black Billed Magpies, White Wagtail, Swallow, House Martins - taking mud to build nests on church

Corredor Verde.

Raven,Glossy Ibis(500), Cattle egret(200), Buzzard, Black Crowned Heron (Roost) - 2 with yellow breasts! Black Redstart, Skylark, Collared Dove, Goldfinch,

Cañada de Rianzuela (11.15 – 1.00p.m.).

Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Buzzard, Pochard, Little Grebe, Shoveler, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Lag Goose, White Storks - on nests, Spoonbills, Common Crane, Zitting Cisticola, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Swallows, House Martins, Jackdaws, Black Winged Stilt, Redshank, Ruff, Lapwing(200)

Casa de Bombas (4.00p.m.).

Crested Lark, Kingfisher(2), Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis(300), Cormorant, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Zitting Cisticola, Corn Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Swallows, Red Kite, Penduline Tit (heard), Sardinian Warbler, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Yellow Legged Gulls.

Weather: much warmer than of late. Clear Blue Sky. Nice to have the warm sun on our backs and smell the Spring. Water levels high with a lot of standing water attractive to Ibis and Egrets. Puente de Vaqueros partly flooded but passable.

Highlights: Excellent views of Greater Flamingos-feeding and flying at El Rocio. Large flock of Glossy Ibis at new flash by road Entre Muros. Single male common Crane close to road. Hunting male and female Hen Harriers and Marsh Harriers. Noticeable influx of Barn Swallows

P.J.W.

14th February.

El Rocio - Marisma (2 hours before dark).

Pintail, Greylag Geese, Shovellers,Teal, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Flamingos, Spoonbills, Black Tailed Godwit, Lapwing, swallow, House Martin, Pochard, Spotless Starling, Iberian Magpie, Glossy Ibis, White Stork, Ring Necked Dove, Snipe, Penduline Tit, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Black Billed Magpies, Black Shouldered Kite, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Little egret, Red Kite, Starling, White Wagtail, Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Goldfinch

Weather: sunny and warm.

B.D. & J.D-P

18th February (Sierra de Aracena).

Fuente de Cantos.

3 Black Shouldered Kite,Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Little Owl, Kestrel, Cettis Warbler, Hoopoe, Swallow, 16 Great Bustard
La Serena

Stonechat, Mallard, Moorhen, Griffon Vulture, Red Kite ,Kestrel, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Crag Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Red Legged Partridge, 30 Great Bustard, 10 Common Crane, 2 Little Owl, Linnet, Greenfinch, Calandra Lark ,Meadow Pipit, Black Redstart, 2 GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO, Black Billed Magpie, Azure Winged Magpie, Zitting Cisticola, Chiffchaff,

Weather: Warm and sunny after overnight frost.The Dehesa white.

Highlight: Leck of Great Bustard displaying in the morning sun. Predatory Great Spotted Cuckoo chased by Black Billed Magpie. Pair of Black Shouldered Kite.
P.J.W.

22nd February

Corredor Verde (9.00a.m.).

Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, ZittingCisticola, Cetti’s Warbler, Serin, Greenfinch, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, CrestedLark, Meadow Pipit, Red Legged Partridge, 4 Hoopoe, Little Owl, Great Tit, BlueTit, Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Night Heron, HenHarrier, Linnet,Raven, Lesser Kestrel, House Martin, Swallow

Vado de Quema

Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Mallard

Laguna de San Lazaro (11.00a.m.).

Azure Winged Magpie, Meadow Pipit

Dehesa de Banco(11.30).

Lapwing, Glossy Ibis, Calandra Lark

Cañada de Rianzuela 1.30-2.30(lunch).

4 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Black Necked Grebe, 7 WHITE HEADED DUCK, Moorhen, Coot, Flamingo,20 Spoonbill, White Stork, Marsh Harrier, 2 Black Kite, Red Kite, Jackdaw, Skylark

Gravel Pits.

Grey Lag Goose

Casa de Bombas.

3 Griffon Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Great White Egret, Black Stork, Cormorant

Corredor Verde (5.00p.m.).

Booted Eagle, 8 Green Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank

El Rocio(6.00p.m.).

Red Rumped Swallow, Black Billed Magpie

Weather: Warm and still. Good soaring conditions

Highlights: Good numbers of soaring raptors including Griffon Vultures. Peregrine sun bathing and preening, viewed through scope. Good views of WHITE HEADED DUCK.

P.J.W

23rd February

Corredor Verde (9.00a.m.).

Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, Corn Bunting, Serin, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Robin,Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tits, Black Redstart, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrows, Wood Pigeon, Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Zitting Cisticola, Buzzard, Black Kite, 2 Black Shouldered Kite, Booted Eagle

Vado de Quema.

Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Coot

Laguna de San Lazaro (10.30)

Red Kite, 50 Azure Winged Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Black Stork

Villamanrique

Short Toed Treecreeper (heard)

Dehesa de Pilas (11.00a.m.)

Red Kite, Black Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Lapwing

Cañada de Rianzuela (1.00-2.00p.m.)

2 CRESTED COOT (both collared), Flamingo, Spoonbill, Cormorant, Jackdaw, Raven, Little Grebe, Black Tailed Godwit,

Rice Fields

SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE

Road to the JAV Visitors Centre.

2 Great White Egret, Black Stork, 150 Common Crane, 50 Calandra Larks, 6 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, Avocet, Black Winged Stilt, Flamingo, Redshank, Glossy Ibis, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen

Casa de Bombas (5.00p.m.)

2 Kingfisher,

6.30p.m.

Barn Owl, SHORT EARED OWL

Corredor Verde

GREAT BITTERN

Weather: Warm and still.

Highlights: Close view of Short Eared Owl on post, displaying Black Shouldered Kites, 12 different raptors in one day. Spot of the day GREAT BITTERN from car at 50 metres in reedbed, then viewed at leisure!

P.J.W

24th February (short day).

Dehesa de Pilas (8.00a.m.)

Quail calling.

Puente de Los Vaqueros

Squacco Heron

Cantarita

Little Stint, Ring Plover, Kentish Plover, Dunlin, Snipe, Golden Plover, Curlew,Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, 6 STONE CURLEW, Kingfisher,Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Cormorant, Lesser Short Toed Lark, PENDULINE TIT, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti’s Warbler, 2 YELLOW WAGTAILS Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE, Lesser Black Backed Gulls

Weather: Warm and still

Highlights: Close view of Squacco Herons. Spanish Imperial Eagles in scope. Yellow wagtails in sun. Good selection of waders.
P.J.W.