Near Ablitas, Laguna del Lor and near to Vera de Moncayo, Navarre, Spain.

A more successful morning than expected.

Deb and Ian, Day Fourty Two.

Ebird List for Ablitas area 1.

Ebird List for Ablitas area 2.

Ebird List for Laguna del Lor.

 

The Habitat.

We were up and out early and on site near Ablitas just before dawn and as soon as we parked up we could hear a calling Dupont's Larks (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti), 3 at least but probably up to 5.

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Even more surprising was when one of the birds sat up on a small bush for a couple of minutes, the views through the bins were great but the light was still too bad to get any photo's so we just stayed put until the light improved a bit and eventually the bird popped up another couple of times giving us some amazing views and my best photo's so far.

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

After a while the bird went up for a song flight which lasted for around ten minutes, during which time it went up to a good height along with a couple of Calandra Larks (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra) before plummiting to the ground some distance from the track where we were parked.

Dupont's Lark (Alondra Ricotí / Chersophilus duponti).

Deb went for a walk in the one direction and I went in the other where I had views of a second bird which sat nicely again in a clump of vegetation 25 meters from the track.

Calandra Larks (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra).

Calandra Larks (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra).

In the same area we also saw Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), European Bee-eater (Abejaruco Europeo / Merops apiaster), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Crested (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Greater Short-toed (Terrera Común / Calandrella brachydactyla), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Woodlark (Alondra Totovía / Lullula arborea), Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca Mirlona Occidental / Curruca hortensis) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

After about 1.5 hours on site we headed into Ablitas where we found a bar and had a couple of coffee's and a sausage tapa's breakfast whilst watching the clouds of Common Swifts chasing around the plaza, 150+ birds in total making quite a racket which was wonderful to hear.

We returned to the same site and spent another 3 hours there but apart from hearing several birds calling, one of which was close to where we parked we didn't get any sightings this time, on the drive into the site we picked up  Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus),  Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Rock Sparrow (Gorrión Chillón / Petronia petronia),European Bee-eater, Western Orphean Warbler, Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

 Thyme-leaved Rockrose (Fumana thymifolia).

Thyme Species ?????

Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa).

Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata).

Carduus nigrescens ????

Carduus nigrescens ????

 Rough Star-Thistle (Centaurea aspera).

Centaurea bofilliana ????????

Echium asperrimum.

White Stonecrop (Sedum album).

On the verge we also found several plant species including Shrubby Gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa), White Stonecrop (Sedum album), Brown Bells (Dipcadi serotinum), Rough Star-Thistle (Centaurea aspera), Carduus nigrescens, Echium asperrimum, Thyme-leaved Rockrose (Fumana thymifolia), Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), most still need names but I will work on that.

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Back up at the main spot we again parked on the main track, we saw 3 male Western Black-eared Wheatears (Collalba Rubia Occidental / Oenanthe hispanica), Short-toed Snake (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus) and Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas) before Deb went for a walk along the track and Ian and I got the chairs out and sat near the car and scanned the area adding Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Booted Eagle (Aguila Calzada / Aquila penntuas), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Bath (Pontia daplidice) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Deb returned after adding a Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Terrera Marismena / Alaudala rufescens) to her list, we then drove out a couple more KMs but apart from a very nice Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) in a roadside culvert we added nothing new so we headed out to the nearby Laguna del Lor where we walked the one side.

Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum).

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

As we walked we picked up Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Small Red-eye (Erythromma viridulum), Blue / Common (Anax imperator) and Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Bath , Small and Large White (Pieris brassicae), Painted Lady, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Lulworth (Thymelicus acteon) and Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) insect wise.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus).

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris).

Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe).

Birds seen included Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis),  Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Western Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta), Cetti's (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Great (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Common Reed Warbler (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Melodious Warbler (Zarcero políglota / Hippolais polyglotta).

We returned to the car and on our way back to the accommodation we called at a supermarket and then spent a while chilling after our early start. 

Just before dusk we headed out on some nearby tracks a found Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Calandra Lark, Western Black-eared Wheatear and a fly over Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo).

Bird Observatory in Laguna Navaseca, Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel in Ciudad Real and driving North to Zaragoza area in Navarre, Spain.

A morning at the wetlands again and then a longish drive North.

Deb and Ian, Day Fourty One. 

Ebird List for Navaseca.

Ebird List for Tablas.

Ebird List for 107 Fields.

 

Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

We were up before breakfast and did a walk around the grounds and looked for some Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix) which had been calling all night but we didn't manage a view but did find Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata) and European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis).

Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides).

Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides).

After breakfast we headed up the road to Laguna Navaseca and after parking we all did a walk around to the Northern side of the lake where we had views of at least 2 Savi's Warbler (Buscarla Unicolor / Locustella luscinoides) which was a lifer really for Deb and Ian as they had only ever heard them before.

Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).

As we walked we also saw Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Red-crested (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina) and Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenuela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Pied Avocet (Avoceta Común / Recurvirostra avosetta), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Thinornis dubius), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Black-crowned Night Heron (Marinete Común / Nycticorax nycticorax), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Crested Lark (Cogujada Común / Galerida cristata), Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos), Common Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal / Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Corn Bunting (Escribano Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Back at the hide we saw a small Lizard which I was unsure about which I now think is a new species for me the  Catalonian Wall Lizard (Podarcis liolepis). 

Catalonian Wall Lizard (Podarcis liolepis). 

Catalonian Wall Lizard (Podarcis liolepis). 

We had planned to go straight from here to our next overnight stop up to the North East of Zaragoza but after missing a couple of species we made a second briefer visit to Tablas and did the same loop as yesterday but in reverse.

Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti).

During the walk we saw most of the above species again but added Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Whiskered Tern (Fumarel Cariblanca / Chilidonias hybridus), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Purple Heron (Garza Imperial / Ardea purpurea), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oropéndola Europea / Oriolus oriolus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Spanish (Yellow) Wagtail (Lavandera Boyera / Motacilla flava iberiae) but best of all was we spent some time watching a stunning male Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nest building.

Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Common Nightingale (Ruisenor Común / Luscinia megarhynchos).

Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba).

Eurasian Penduline Tit (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus) nest building.

On the walk we also saw Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Small White (Pieris rapae), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), Perez's Frog (Rana Común / Pelophylax perezi) and Stripe-necked Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa). 

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathinerum).

Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea).

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).

We returned to the car and started the longish drive North East but about 100km from Madrid we pulled off the mortorway and did a drive out onto some fields where I have seen Great Bustard (Avutarda Euroasiática / Otis tarda) in the passed but not today, however we did find 3 more Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans), Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real / Lanius meridionalis), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Calandra Lark (Calandria Común / Melanocorypha calandra), Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta) and lots of the nice arable wildflower the Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus).

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Ganga Ibérica / Pterocles alchata).

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

We stopped at a bar before we returned to the motorway and had a coffee and some food, on the drive north we picked up a Cinereous (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and a few Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) but nothing else new.

We arrived at Vera de Moncayo and after a little bit of a problem finding the accommodation we checked in and chilled for the evening, after dark we could hear an amazing number of Natterjack Toads (Bufo calamita) croaking from the waste ground over the road.