SPAIN –THE GRAND TOUR 2006

 

“This year’s grand tour of Spain was quite simply outstanding, with good bird after good bird, seen in a variety of landscapes - from the snowy, frozen Pyrenees to the sunny shores of the Straits of Gibraltar.  On our first morning we enjoyed scope views of a male Wallcreeper, closely followed by our first Lammergeiers (a displaying pair which were just 2 of a dozen seen that day), drumming Black Woodpeckers and close up views of Citril Finch, Alpine Choughs and summer plumaged Water Pipits.

 

Two nights around Sepulveda rewarded us with a Dupont's Lark on view for ten minutes (although it was a good job several of the group were over 6’ 4 or we may not have seen it!) as well as singing Western Orphean, Spectacled and Dartford Warblers, a couple of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, striking Western Black-eared Wheatears, Golden Eagle, an adult Great spotted Cuckoo, flocks of Rock Sparrows and displaying Calandra Larks, dwarfing (and drowning out) the Short-toed Larks.

 

During our journey south towards Extremadura we stopped for views of our first Purple Swamphens and Purple Herons, groups of Lesser Kestrels, and a fly over Goshawk with a Red Kite, the next day the same site produced a Black-shouldered Kite.  Monfrague was shrouded in mist and rain on our first morning but we were not to be put off so we waited by the Portillo del Tietar and in a break in the weather were rewarded with displaying, calling and perched Spanish Imperial Eagles.  Then an adult Eagle Owl flew past, sat in the open for several minutes, tried a couple of other perches before disappearing back into the cliff face.  And if this wasn’t enough, we also had brilliant views of Egyptian and Black Vultures, Black Storks, Rock and Cirl Buntings and a Bonelli's Eagle.  On one evening we enjoyed Great Bustards turning themselves inside out in display, while a couple of male Little Bustards called from the flower covered hillsides.

 

A full day spent in similar habitat produced several flocks of Sandgrouse, with Pin-tailed out-numbering Black-bellied.  This was exciting, but Santi was even happier when Dave picked up a 1st summer male Red-footed Falcon, about the 3rd record for Extremadura and a new bird for Santi.  At times it shared the scope view with Lesser Kestrel, Montagu's Harriers and flocks of Sandgrouse!  A Golden Eagle made a couple of appearances over our heads during the day, and we saw at least 5 Rollers along the wires, some of which kindly obliged by rolling for us.

 

Coto Donana had more water than last year, although the best birding was split between the large heronry in front of the Jose Antonio Valverde centre, which was stacked with Glossy Ibis, Purple Herons and Cattle Egrets and the small lake nearby where Marbled and White-headed Ducks shared the same scope view. Also Red-knobbed Coot were seen among over 100 Black-necked Grebe and hundreds of Terns included Gull-billed, Whiskered and Black; while Avocets and Black-winged Stilts mobbed a Marsh Harrier.  Nearby we saw more White-headed Ducks and Red-knobbed Coots, flocks of Audouin's Gulls and on the east side of the river were rewarded with more Greater Flamingoes, Slender-billed Gulls and 3 Red-necked Phalaropes, including two striking females.

 

The south coast was just as exciting and we enjoyed rare European breeding birds such as Little Swifts and Rufous Scrub Robins alongside migrant Honey Buzzards, an Ortolan Bunting and a couple of Black Wheatears.  Of course these were just some of the special birds and Spain is so bird rich that rarely a moment went by when there weren’t raptors overhead, Nightingales and Cetti's Warblers singing, or Woodchat Shrikes and Bee-eaters to be admired.

 

The tour was made all the more enjoyable with great company, good food, plenty of local wine and of course Santi’s local knowledge.”  James Lidster.

 

Bird List:

 

This is a list of all the species seen during the last four tours to Spain.

 

Column A = Number of tours on which this species has been recorded.

Column B = Number of days this species was seen on the last tour.

Column C = Maximum daily count for this species on the last tour.

H               = Heard only

 

A                                                                              B           C

 

4

Little Grebe  

7

20

 

Tachybaptus ruficollis

4

Great Crested Grebe  

7

12

 

Podiceps cristatus

4

Black-necked Grebe  

3

100

 

Podiceps nigricollis

3

Cory's Shearwater  

2

5

 

Calonectris diomedea

2

Balearic Shearwater  

2

3

 

Puffinus mauretanicus

4

Gannet  

3

15

 

Morus bassanus

2

Great Cormorant  

2

3

 

Phalacrocorax carbo

4

Grey Heron  

10

5

 

Ardea cinerea

4

Purple Heron  

5

20

 

Ardea purpurea

3

Little Bittern  

3

4

 

Ixobrychus minutus

4

Night Heron  

4

30

 

Nycticorax nycticorax

4

Squacco Heron  

2

4

 

Ardeola ralloides

4

Cattle Egret  

8

200

 

Bubulcus ibis

4

Little Egret  

7

50

 

Egretta garzetta

3

Great Egret

2

2

 

Egretta alba

4

Black Stork  

1

6

 

Ciconia nigra

4

White Stork  

11

200

 

Ciconia ciconia

4

Eurasian Spoonbill  

4

50

 

Platalea leucorodia

3

Glossy Ibis  

2

200

 

Plegadis falcinellus

1

Bald Ibis

 

 

 

Geronticus eremita

4

Greater Flamingo  

4

65

 

Phoenicopterus ruber

4

Greylag Goose  

3

1

 

Anser anser

3

Shelduck  

1

1

 

Tadorna tadorna

4

Gadwall  

6

40

 

Anas strepera

3

Eurasian Teal  

2

3

 

Anas crecca

2

Marbled Duck  

1

3

 

Marmaronetta angustirostris

4

Mallard  

10

4

 

Anas platyrhynchos

2

Pintail  

1

2

 

Anas acuta

1

Garganey 

 

 

 

Anas querquedula

4

Shoveler  

4

12

 

Anas clypeata

4

Red-crested Pochard  

4

70

 

Netta rufina

4

Pochard  

4

100

 

Aythya ferina

4

White-headed Duck  

2

27

 

Oxyura leucocephala

3

Black-shouldered Kite  

1

1

 

Elanus caeruleus

4

Black Kite  

14

40

 

Milvus migrans

4

Red Kite  

10

25

 

Milvus milvus

4

Lammergeier  

2

12

 

Gypaetus barbatus

4

Egyptian Vulture  

7

10

 

Neophron percnopterus

4

Griffon Vulture  

12

150

 

Gyps fulvus

4

Black Vulture  

4

25

 

Aegypius monachus

4

Short-toed Eagle  

9

8

 

Circaetus gallicus

1

Hen Harrier

 

 

 

Circus cyaneus

4

Western Marsh Harrier  

7

10

 

Circus aeruginosus

4

Montagu's Harrier  

7

20

 

Circus pygargus

1

Northern Goshawk  

2

1

 

Accipiter gentilis

4

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  

6

8

 

Accipiter nisus

4

Common Buzzard  

10

6

 

Buteo buteo

1

Long-legged Buzzard

 

 

 

Buteo cirtensis

2

Honey Buzzard

2

45

 

Pernis apivorus

4

Spanish Imperial Eagle  

1

2

 

Aquila adalberti

3

Golden Eagle  

6

3

 

Aquila chrysaetos

4

Booted Eagle  

10

22

 

Aquila pennatus

4

Bonelli's Eagle  

1

1

 

Aquila fasciatus

2

Osprey  

1

1

 

Pandion haliaetus

4

Lesser Kestrel  

7

20

 

Falco naumanni

4

Common Kestrel  

11

11

 

Falco tinnunculus

3

Hobby  

1

1

 

Falco subbuteo

1

Red-footed Falcon

1

1

 

Falco vespertinus

4

Peregrine  

7

1

 

Falco peregrinus

1

Merlin

 

 

 

Falco columbarius

4

Red-legged Partridge  

9

10

 

Alectoris rufa

4

Quail  

3

1

 

Coturnix coturnix

2

Common Pheasant

 

 

 

Phasianus colchicus

2

Water Rail  

1

1

H

Rallus aquaticus

4

Moorhen  

8

10

 

Gallinula chloropus

4

Purple Swamphen  

6

10

 

Porphyrio porphyrio

4

Coot  

5

200

 

Fulica atra

4

Crested Coot  

2

3

 

Fulica cristata

4

Little Bustard  

2

3

 

Tetrax tetrax

4

Great Bustard  

2

17

 

Otis tarda

1

Oystercatcher  

 

 

 

Haematopus ostralegus

4

Black-winged Stilt 

7

200

 

Himantopus himantopus

4

Avocet  

4

112

 

Recurvirostra avosetta

4

Stone Curlew  

4

3

 

Burhinus oedicnemus

4

Collared Pratincole  

2

100

 

Glareola pratincola

3

Little Ringed Plover  

1

1

 

Charadrius dubius

4

Ringed Plover  

3

20

 

Charadrius hiaticula

4

Kentish Plover  

3

10

 

Charadrius alexandrinus

4

Grey Plover  

3

100

 

Pluvialis squatarola

2

Lapwing  

2

5

 

Vanellus vanellus

2

Knot  

1

2

 

Calidris canutus

4

Sanderling  

3

40

 

Calidris alba

4

Little Stint  

2

10

 

alidris minuta

1

Temminck's Stint  

 

 

 

Calidris temminckii

3

Curlew Sandpiper  

3

100

 

Calidris ferruginea

4

Dunlin  

4

200

 

Calidris alpina

4

Ruff  

1

2

 

Philomachus pugnax

3

Common Snipe  

 

 

 

Gallinago gallinago

4

Black-tailed Godwit  

2

47

 

Limosa limosa

1

Long-billed Dowitcher

 

 

 

Limnodromus scolopaceus

1

Bar-tailed Godwit  

2

5

 

Limosa lapponica

3

Whimbrel  

2

50

 

Numenius phaeopus

1

Curlew  

 

 

 

Numenius arquata

4

Spotted Redshank  

1

1

 

Tringa erythropus

4

Common Redshank  

4

10

 

Tringa totanus

4

Greenshank  

5

15

 

Tringa nebularia

2

Green Sandpiper  

 

 

 

Tringa ochropus

3

Wood Sandpiper  

 

 

 

Tringa glareola

4

Common Sandpiper  

5

7

 

Actitis hypoleucos

1

Purple Sandpiper

 

 

 

Claidris maritima

3

Turnstone  

3

50

 

Arenaria interpres

1

Red-necked Phalarope

1

3

 

Phalaropus lobatus

1

Great Skua  

 

 

 

Stercorarius skua

1

Pomarine Skua

 

 

 

Stercorarius pomarinus

1

Arctic Skua  

 

 

 

Stercorarius parasiticus

4

Black-headed Gull  

4

50

 

Larus ridibundus

2

Slender Billed Gull  

1

4

 

Larus genei

4

Lesser Black-backed Gull  

4

300

 

Larus fuscus

1

Great Black-backed Gull  

 

 

 

Larus marinus

4

Yellow-legged Gull  

5

100

 

Larus michahellis

4

Audouin’s Gull  

2

62

 

Larus audouinii

4

Gull-Billed Tern  

5

30

 

Gelochelidon nilotica

4

Sandwich Tern  

4

15

 

Sterna sandvicensis

1

Common Tern  

 

 

 

Sterna hirundo

2

Caspian Tern  

 

 

 

Sterna caspia

2

Little Tern  

3

100

 

Sterna albifrons

4

Whiskered Tern  

4

200

 

Chlidonias hybrida

3

Black Tern  

3

20

 

Chlidonias niger

2

Razorbill  

1

2

 

Alca torda

3

Black-bellied Sandgrouse  

1

30

 

Pterocles orientalis

2

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse  

2

70

 

Pterocles alchata

4

Feral Pigeon

14

100

 

Columba livia

1

Stock Dove  

 

 

 

Columba oenas

4

Woodpigeon  

9

30

 

Columba palumbus

4

Collared Dove  

14

10

 

Streptopelia decaocto

4

Turtle Dove  

2

2

 

Streptopelia turtur

4

Great Spotted Cuckoo  

3

3

 

Clamator glandarius

4

Cuckoo  

9

2

 

Cuculus canorus

1

Barn Owl

1

1

 

Tyto alba

4

Scops Owl  

3

1

 

Otus scops

4

Eagle Owl  

2

3

 

Bubo bubo

4

Little Owl  

4

2

 

Athene noctua

1

Tawny Owl  

1

1

H

Strix aluco

1

European Nightjar

 

 

 

Caprimulgus europaeus

3

Red-necked Nightjar  

1

1

H

Caprimulgus ruficollis

4

Common Swift  

12

500

 

Apus apus

4

Pallid Swift  

6

100

 

Apus pallidus

4

Alpine Swift  

1

3

 

Apus melba

1

Little Swift

2

4

 

Apus affinis

2

Common Kingfisher  

1

1

 

Alcedo atthis

4

European Bee-eater  

11

70

 

Merops apiaster

4

Roller  

2

5

 

Coracias garrulus

4

Hoopoe  

10

10

 

Upupa epops

2

Wryneck  

1

2

 

Jynx torquilla

4

Iberian Green Woodpecker  

3

1

H

Picus sharpei

4

Great Spotted Woodpecker  

9

1

 

Dendrocopos major

3

Black Woodpecker  

1

2

 

Dryocopus martius

4

Calandra Lark  

5

30

 

Melanocorypha calandra

4

Short-Toed Lark  

5

50

 

Calandrella brachydactyla

4

Lesser Short-toed Lark  

1

2

 

Calandrella rufescens

4

Crested Lark  

13

50

 

Galerida cristata

4

Thekla Lark 

5

10

 

 Galerida theklae

4

Woodlark  

6

3

 

Lullula arborea

4

Skylark  

4

6

 

Alauda arvensis

4

Dupont's Lark

1

1

 

Chersophilus duponti

4

Sand Martin  

10

500

 

Riparia riparia

4

Crag Martin  

10

40

 

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

4

Swallow  

14

100

 

Hirundo rustica

4

Red-rumped Swallow  

7

50

 

Hirundo daurica

4

House Martin  

14

200

 

Delichon urbica

4

Tawny Pipit  

5

4

 

Anthus campestris

4

Water Pipit  

1

10

 

Anthus spinoletta

3

Tree Pipit  

1

1

 

Anthus trivialis

1

Meadow Pipit  

 

 

 

Anthus pratensis

4

Spanish Wagtail  

7

20

 

Motacilla iberiae

4

White Wagtail  

8

10

 

Motacilla alba

4

Grey Wagtail  

3

2

 

Motacilla cinerea

3

Dunnock  

2

2

 

Prunella modularis

4

Dipper  

1

3

 

Cinclus cinclus

4

Wren  

9

2

 

Troglodytes troglodytes

1

Rufous Scrub Robin

1

2

 

Cercotrichas galactotes

4

Robin  

7

2

 

Erithacus rubecula

4

Nightingale   

11

20

 

Luscinia megarhynchos

4

Black Redstart  

5

6

 

Phoenicurus ochruros

2

Common Redstart  

1

1

 

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

4

Whinchat  

2

2

 

Saxicola rubetra

4

Stonechat  

11

20

 

Saxicola torquata

4

Wheatear  

9

20

 

Oenanthe oenanthe

4

Western Black-eared Wheatear  

5

5

 

Oenanthe hispanica

3

Black Wheatear  

1

2

 

Oenanthe leucura

4

Blue Rock Thrush  

5

6

 

Monticola solitarius

2

Rock Thrush

1

2

 

Monticola saxatilis

1

Ring Ouzel

 

 

 

Turdus torquatus

4

Blackbird  

14

6

 

Turdus merula

4

Song Thrush  

3

1

 

Turdus philomelos

4

Mistle Thrush  

6

4

 

Turdus viscivorus

4

Zitting Cisticola  

8

2

 

Cisticola juncidis

4

Cetti's Warbler  

10

6

 

Cettia cetti

4

Savi's Warbler  

3

2

 

Locustella luscinioides

2

Sedge Warbler  

1

1

 

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

4

Reed Warbler  

7

6

 

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

4

Great Reed Warbler  

3

2

 

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

4

Melodious Warbler  

4

1

 

Hippolais polyglotta

3

Dartford Warbler  

2

2

 

Sylvia undata

2

Common Whitethroat  

 

 

 

Sylvia communis

4

Spectacled Warbler  

1

2

 

Sylvia conspicillata

4

Subalpine Warbler  

3

3

 

Sylvia cantillans

4

Sardinian Warbler  

8

10

 

Sylvia melanocephala

1

Western Orphean Warbler  

2

2

 

Sylvia hortensis

3

Garden Warbler  

2

2

 

Sylvia borin

4

Blackcap  

12

20

 

Sylvia atricapilla

4

Western Bonelli's Warbler  

2

1

 

Phylloscopus bonelli

4

Chiffchaff  

1

1

H

Phylloscopus collybita

3

Iberian Chiffchaff  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus ibericus

3

Willow Warbler  

2

1

 

Phylloscopus trochilus

1

Goldcrest  

 

 

 

Regulus regulus

4

Firecrest  

5

3

 

Regulus ignicapillus

2

Spotted Flycatcher  

1

1

 

Muscicapa striata

2

Pied Flycatcher  

 

 

 

Ficedula hypoleuca

4

Long-tailed Tit  

5

2

 

Aegithalos caudatus

4

Crested Tit  

1

2

 

Parus cristatus

2

Marsh Tit

1

1

 

Parus palustris

4

Coal Tit  

3

6

 

Parus ater

4

Blue Tit  

11

6

 

Parus caeruleus

4

Great Tit  

14

6

 

Parus major

4

Nuthatch  

2

1

 

Sitta europaea

1

Common Treecreeper  

 

 

 

Certhia familiaris

4

Short-toed Treecreeper  

10

4

 

Certhia brachydactyla

4

Wallcreeper  

1

2

 

Tichodroma muraria

4

Golden Oriole  

6

4

 

Oriolus oriolus

4

Southern Grey Shrike  

6

4

 

Lanius meridionalis

4

Woodchat Shrike  

12

15

 

Lanius senator

1

Red-backed Shrike

1

1

 

Lanius collurio

4

Jay  

5

6

 

Garrulus glandarius

4

Iberian Azure-winged Magpie  

7

30

 

Cyanopica cooki

4

Magpie 

13

30

 

Pica pica

4

Alpine Chough  

2

300

 

Pyrrhocorax graculus

4

Red-billed Chough  

5

50

 

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

4

Jackdaw  

11

40

 

Corvus monedula

4

Carrion Crow  

9

6

 

Corvus corone

4

Raven  

12