Trip Reports

Central and Northern Spain 2009

TRIP LIST
A total of 203 compared to 181 on the 2007 tour.

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)  Up to 40 seen at the SEO reserve near Miguel Esteban on La Mancha south of Madrid.  This reserve holds one of the largest colonies in Europe of this pretty little Grebe with 220 pairs.

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) A few seen at Miguel Esteban and in the Ebro Delta.

Great-crested Grebe (Popdiceps cristatus) Seen at the Almaraz reserve, near Madrigalejos, and in the Ebro Delta.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)  1 near Candeleda and a few in the Ebro Delta.

Common Shelduck(Tadorna tadorna) Three pairs at Miguel Esteban and several pairs in the Ebro Delta.

Mallard (Anas platyrhnychos) Small numbers throughout.
Gadwall (Anas strepera) A few seen throughout.
Pochard (Aythya ferina) Up to 20 seen at Miguel Esteban.  
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) 3 seen at Miguel Esteban. Common in the Ebro Delta.
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) About 6 seen at Miguel Esteban. This is a highly localised and rather uncommon species.

Garganey (Anas querquedula) 2 drakes seen at the Miguel Esteban reserve.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Fairly common.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Up to 10 seen at Almaraz, a single bird at Miguel Esteban and in the Ebro Delta.

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Seen at Belchite and a good number seen in the Ebro Delta.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) A few seen around Trujillo and in the Ebro Delta.

Great White Egret (Casmerodius alba) 2 seen at Almaraz Wetlands and in the Ebro Delta.  This species has spread dramatically across Spain to nearly all wetland areas.

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) Up to 15 at a nesting colony in the Ebro Delta.

Cattle Egret (Bulbulculus ibis) Very common throughout central Spain.
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) A pair seen at Almaraz and in the Ebro Delta.

Spoonbill (Platalea leucocordia) A pair seen at Madrigalejos.  A species that seems to be expanding its range in Spain.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) Up to 150 seen at Miguel Esteban. This species is now regular at this site. 1000 plus in the Ebro Delta.

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) Seen at numerous sites on the Meseta near Trujillo.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Common throughout.
Lammergier (Gypaetus barbatus) A pair at Gabardito.

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) Abundant around Trujillo and in the Pyrenean foothills.

Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) A good number seen at Cabaneros and on the plains near Trujillo as well as in the Montfrague NP.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) Small numbers throughout.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 1 Cabaneros NP and another at Gabardito.

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) A single sub-adult at Cabaneros and a couple of sub-adults at Santas Marta de Magasca. Superb views of this very rare species.

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) Only seen around Trujillo.  

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) Fairly common throughout.

Bonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) A pair seen near Santa Marta de Magasca and probably the same pair seen along the Rio Almonte later the same morning.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) Less common than usual. The only area where good were noted was in the Sierra de Gredos.

Black Kite (Milvus nigricans) Very common.
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeroginosus) Seen at several sites from Almaraz to Bardenas Reales.
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) Fairly common around Trujillo. Seen in small numbers elsewhere.

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) A ring-tail harrier almost certainly this species was seen near Miguel Esteban. Not counted in the overall total.

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) A pair seen at Cabaneros NP.  Excellent views of this local species in Spain.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo).

Honey Bzzard (Pernis apivorus) Three seen at Gabardito.  

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 1 near Santa Marta de Magasca.  
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) Common in and around Trujillo.

Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 1 Cabaneros, 1 Trujillo.  

Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) Seen at several sites throughout.
Red-legged Partridge (Alectris rufa). Common.

Common Quail (Cotornix cotornix) Heard at numerous sites throughout.

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Single near Cabaneros.

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chlorops).

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra).

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Several seen at Almaraz.  This is a species that has rapidly spread throughout Spain since a low point in the 1970’s, when it was more or less restricted to the Coto Donana.  Common in the Ebro Delta with up to 20 seen at one site.

Great Bustard (Otis tarda) Several males and females seen on plains around Trujillo. Excellent views of this stunning species.

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) Fairly common around Trujillo. None seen anywhere else.

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) Common in the Ebro Delta.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Seen throughout.

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) 4 seen in the Ebro Delta.

Little-ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) Seen at sites throughout.

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) Seen in the Ebro Delta.

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandinus) Seen in the Ebro Delta.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) A few seen at Miguel Esteban and one near Trujillo.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 5 seen in the Ebro Delta.

Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temmincki) Common in the Ebro Delta.

Sanderling (Calidris alba) Numerous in the Ebro Delta.

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleuca) Seen in small numbers throughout.

Redshank (Tringa totanus) A few seen.

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) Seen at Miguel Esteban.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostalegus) 3 seen in the Ebro Delta.

Slender-billed Gulls

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) Common in the Ebro Delta.

Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) Abundant in the Ebro Delta.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) A few at Miguel Esteban and in the Ebro Delta.

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) 1 pair in the Ebro Delta.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans) A few seen around Trujillo and common in the Ebro Delta.

Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) Several small flocks in the Ebro Delta.

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) Common in the Ebro Delta. 

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilocta) Good numbers seen south of Trujillo, at Miguel Esteban and in the Ebro Delta.

Black Tern (Chlidonius niger) 2 seen in the Ebro Delta.

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonius hybridus) Abundant at Miguel Esteban and in the Ebro Delta.

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) 3 seen in the Ebro Delta.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) Up to 15 seen near Santa Marta de Magasca.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles achata) Heard only near Santa Marta de Magasca.  

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia).
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) Common throughout.

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) Common.
Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

Great-spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) Several individuals seen near Trujillo. One pair seen mating near Santa Marta de Magasca. Often an unpredictable species.

Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) A single adult seen at Montfrague.

Long-eared Owl (Asio clamator) Young heard and an adult seen near Trujillo. 

Little Owl (Athene noctua) 1 heard at Berdun.  
Scops Owl (Otus scops) Many heard at Trujillo. A single bird seen in Berdun.

Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) Seen during the day at San Juan de La Pena.

Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) A single bird seen at Trujillo and several others heard there.

Common Swift (Apus apus) common.

Alpine Swift (Apus melba).

Hoopoe (Upupa epos) Common.

Kingfisher (Alcedo affinis) Several recorded throughout.

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) Common.

European Roller (Coracicus garulus) Up to 10 seen south of Trujillo near Zorita.  None seen near Santa Marta de Magasca or elsewhere.

Green Woodpecker (Picus viridius sharpei) Several heard throughout.
Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major) Fairly common.
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Heard La Plataforma, Sierra de Gredos. Small numbers at Canyon del Duraton. Common in the Pyrenees.

Crested Lark (Alauda cristata) Common.

Thekla Lark (Alauda theklae) Fairly common.
Woodlark (Lullulla arborea) Common.

Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) Seen at Canyon del Duraton and others at Bardenas Reales.
Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens) Seen at Bardenas Reales and in the Ebro Delta.
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha clandra) Common around Trujillo. Also seen Canyon del Duraton,  Bardenas Reales and El Planeron.

Dupont’s Lark – record shot

Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) 2 singing birds seen at Canyon del Duraton. Birds were watched at length feeding on the ground, singing from exposed rocks and intermittently giving short display flights.  This is often considered a hard bird to see but at sites in the vicinity of this natural park they are extraordinarily local but not difficult to see.

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) A few seen near Trujillo. A large colony noted near Soria.

Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) Common.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Common. Very late flocks of migrating birds noted in the Sierra de Gredos and the Pyrenees streaming through the passes.

House Martin (Delichon urbica) Common.

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) Fairly common in Extremadura.
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) A few seen at sites throughout.

White-throated Dipper (Cinlcus cinclus) 3 seen Sierra de Gredos.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Fairly common.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Small numbers throughout.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava ibericae) Migratory birds found in the Sierra de Gredos and Pyrenees passing through in small flocks.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Small numbers throughout.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) Found in higher mountains.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) Small numbers near Trujillo, Bardenas Reales and El Planeron.
Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) Seen Cabaneros and in the Pyrenees at Formigal.

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) Common.

Western Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) 1 pair seen at Pedraza and another at Canyon del Duraton.

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) Common in the Sierra de Gredos.

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) Very few recorded.

Subalpine warbler (Sylvia cantillans) Fairly common in Maquis scrub habitats.

Spectacled warbler (Sylvia conspicillata) Fairly common at Canyon del Duraton. Great views of what can be an awkward customer.

Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) 1 Sierra de Gredos and another in Montfrague.

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidus)  Common in open areas.

Savi’s Warbler (Locustela luscinioudes) Seen at Almaraz and heard at Miguel Esteban.  Several seen in the Ebro Delta.

Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) Common.

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Several at Almaraz and in the Ebro Delta.

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) Seen and heard at Almaraz and Miguel Esteban.

Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglota) 1 pair seen near Soria but no others.  Usually a common to abundant species at this time of year.

Chiff-chaff (Phylloscopus collybita) 1 heard in Cabaneros NP. Normally more common.

Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) 1 seen in the Sierra de Gredos. Also found to be common in stunted oak woodlands near Soria.

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)

Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) Seen in the Sierra de Gredos,  Pyrenees and other upland areas.

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) 1 in the El Planeron reserve near Belchite.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Common.

Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchus) Abundant.

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) Common.

Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) 2 heard Sierra de Gredos.
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) A few seen in the Sierra de Gredos.  Common in the Pyenees. Seen on migration elsewhere.

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica) 1 pair Trujillo, fairly common at Hoces del Duraton.
Black Wheatear (Oenanthe lucura) 1 pair Rio Almonte

Whinchat (Saxicola rubra) Several seen near Trujillo and in the Pyrenees. This species has usually passed through at this time.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) Common.

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) Seen at several sites.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis ) 3 seen in the Sierra de Gredos and several in the Pyrenees. A lovely species.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) 1 heard and seen in the Sierra de Ayllon. Usually only found in the Pyrenees.

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) Small numbers throughout.
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) Several pairs noted at Belagua pass.
Great Tit (Parus major) Fairly common.
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus).

Coal Tit (Parus ater) Common in higher mountains.
Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) 1 heard at Gabardito.

Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) Fairly common from the Gredos northwards.
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) A few throughout.

Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) Small family flock heard and seen at Miguel Esteban.

Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) A pair nest building along the Ebro river. 

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europea) Seen in Gredos mountains and in the Pyrenees.

Wallcreeper (Trichodroma muraria) A singing male seen at Gabardito.  Superb scope filling views of this bird were had by the whole group. Probably the overall favourite bird of the trip.
Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) Seen at Gabardito.
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) Common.

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius (excubitor) meridioalis)  Fairly common in Extremadura.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) 1 seen on passage south of Soria. Not seen at all in the Pyrenees, where usually common at this time of year.

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) Common.

Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus) Abundant in central Spain

Common Magpie (Pica pica) Abundant.
Eurasian Jay (Garulus glandarius) A few seen throughout.
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) Fairly common.   

Red-billed Chough (Phyrrocorax phyrrocorax) Fairly common at Canyon del duration and in the Pyrenees.

Alpine Chough (Phyrrocorax graculus) Common in the Pyrenees.
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone ).
Raven (Corvus corax) Pairs seen throughout.  A group of 60 seen near Pedraza was unusual.
Spotless Starling (Sturna unicolor) Common.

Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) Heard at many sites. We did not specifically look for this species but it is common in suitable habitat.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispanicus) Common in Cabaneros area and around Trujillo. Near Monroy we saw over 3500 birds in two separate flocks.
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) A few seen in the Ebro Delta and heard elsewhere.

Rock sparrow (Petronia petronia) Commonly seen in suitable habitat.

Chaffinch (Fringila coelobs) Common throughout.
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) Seen around Trujillo and further north.
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Common.

Siskin (Carduelis spinus) 1 pair Sierra de Gredos.
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) .
Citril Finch (Serinus citrinella) Heard in the Gredos and a few seen at Gabardito and Belagua.

Serin (Serinus serinus) Abundant.
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes cocothraustes) Seen in Cabaneros NP.   

Bullfinch (Phyrrhula phyrrhula) A pair at San Juan de La Pena and another at Gabardito.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) In winter flocks at Formigal. An unusual sight in May when males are usually singing on breeding grounds.

Cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus) A few seen in the Sierra Ayllon.

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) 1 seen in the Sierra de Gredos. None on the breeding slopes.

Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) Several pairs seen throughout.

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) Abundant

Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) A flock of 25 seen near Madrigalejos.

MAMMAL LIST

A good number of mammals were seen  as the cold winter and persistent snows had forced them lower.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Several seen near Montfrague

Fallow Deer (Cervus dama) Seen near Candeleda.

Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Several seen throughout.

Spanish ibex (Capra hircus pyrenaica) Common at La Plataforma in the Sierra de Gredos.

Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) 4 at Col du Portalet.  Some authorities consider the Pyrenean populations to be a separate species the ‘Izard’.
Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) Seen around Trujillo.

Common Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Common.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) 1 seen at Gabardito and another at Formigal.

Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota) Common at Portalet. 

Male Ibex in the Sierra de Gredos

BUTTERFLY LIST

Relatively few butterflies were seen this year as it was colder than usual.