IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BLOG ON A PHONE PLEASE CHANGE TO WEB VIEW AT BOTTOM OF PAGE AS IT WILL LOOK BETTER, THANKS MICK.

Thursday 7 October 2021

Second half of the crossing to Portmouth and a drive to Albrighton, Shropshire, Britain.

Wet, Dark and Roadworks filled drive North up to the Midlands.
Trip to UK, Day Five.
 
I sort of woke up after one of the most uncomfortable night sleep I have had and went up on to the deck for the last few hours of the trip where I saw lots of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a couple of Great Skua's (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua) and lots of Common Dolphin's (Delphinus delphis).
We arrived in Southampton and after about an hour I was on my way North, slower than expected as the whole route was loaded with roadworks but after a 5.5 hour drive which should have taken just 3 hours I arrived in Albrighton. 

Wednesday 6 October 2021

Ría de San Martín near Suances and Marismas Blancas and Dársena de Raos y puerto deportivo in the Bahía de Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

Wetlands on my way to catch the ferry and the first half of the trip to UK.
Going North and trip to UK, Day Four.
Ebird List for Marismas Blancas.
Ebird List for Dársena de Raos y puerto deportivo.
 
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis).

Last day in Spain for a while was spent looking around some wetland and coast spots starting at a new site for me called Ria de San Martin, I parked and walked down to the Hide and took the track around the outside of the sewage works finding lots of Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), an escapee White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Red Knot (Correlimos Gordo / Calidris canutus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Reed (Carricero Común / Acrocephalus scrpaceus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti).
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis).
I walked back to the car and drove back towards Santander where I visited Marismas Blancas a fresh water lake next to the salt water inlets, there were good numbers of duckds on the water including 150 or so Gadwall, 60 Common Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and a few Eurasian Teal.
Other species included Mute Swan, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and others listed on the link above.
Santander from the ferry.

From the pool I went around to a spot near to the Santander Airport where I checked a couple of pools and an area of sea front where I added Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) before joining the que to get on to the Ferry Galicia for my trip over to Portsmouth.
Leaving the port.
I went up on deck for the first part of the trip and just out of the port I had a Sooty Shearwater (Pardela Sombría / Puffinus griseus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Tuesday 5 October 2021

Santoña area, Cantabria, Spain.

A rather damp day on the estuary and around the Port.
Going North and trip to UK, Day Three.
Ebird List first visit to hide.
Ebird List second visit to hide. 

Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).
I got up and headed back to the Observatorio de La Arenilla near Santoña as it was raining and I thought it would be a good spot to sit out the showers. 
Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).
Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).
Whilst there I saw Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) as well as others, see list above.
A returning fishing boat.
Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
The weather cleared a bt so I went down to the Port and had a walk round checking through the Gull species finding
Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) as well as Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
The approaching rain.
The weather closed in rapidly so I decided to get a sandwich from a nearby bar and take it with me for a longer session in the Hide. 
Ready for some birding.
I arrived at the hide and set up along side a Spanish birder who had been there for a while, during this visit I saw a lot of the birds I had seen earlier in the morning but added quite a few more species including the Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) which flew in from the estuary and started to feed in one of the muddy channels. 
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) Phonescope pic.
Other species seen included an Immature
Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa). Other species on the Link above. 
Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.

 

Monday 4 October 2021

Fuente de Nava and Embalse de Aguilar, Palencia Province and Santoña area, Cantabria, Spain.

Some more birding as I travel North.
Going North and trip to UK, Day Two.
 
Dawn at Fuente de Nava.
I started the day off by heading out to Fuente de Nava and arrived in the area before first light as I was hoping for Owl species and it worked out well, as I drove on the approach road I saw a white shape perched on a road sign which stayed as I drove passed so I turned around and had very nice views of a Barn Owl (Lechuza Común / Tyto alba) in my headlights.
Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).
I continued on and parked on the first of the car parks, I put on a couple of extra layers as it was Piggin freezing before I walked out on to the short boardwalk leading to the screen over looking the reedbeds.
Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.
Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.
Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) male.
As I stood there watching the sun come up the first
Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) started to get up and around along with Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and two Short-eared Owls (Buho Campestre / Asio flammeus) which were leaving there roost to feed on the fields.
Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
As it got lighter I added Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) and ust as I got back to the car I had a very smart male Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) in the roadside ditch.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) adult.
I Got back to the car and headed off North again to my second stop of the day at Embalse de Aguilar where a few days ago the second Short-billed Dowitcher (Agujeta Gris / Limnodromus griseus) for Spain had been seen but had departed so I did not expect to se it but thought I would have a look.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Immature.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Immature.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Adult and Immature.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Immature.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Immature.
I did find a few waders including good numbers of Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) along with Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).
Around the margins in the bushes and trees I had a female
Subalpine Warbler (Curruca Carrasquena / Sylvia cantillans) and Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra) before I headed North towards Santoña adding Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and several Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).
From the hide on the road into Santona I again saw the Male Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) as well as Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) and Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus). 
Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
My last stop off the day before I headed to my hotel was in the Port in Santoña where I found Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and a Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which sat up on one of the big light stands plucking it recent catch.
Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

 

Sunday 3 October 2021

Extremadura and Heading North to Palencia, Palencia Province, Spain

Up to Palencia in a 1300KM roundabout sort of way.
Going North to UK, Day One.

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).
I Started off the trip by driving down down to John's at Casares to drop his bag off which was left in my boot after our days birding and from there I pushed on North around Sevilla and up as far as Llanos de Cáceres where I stopped for some lunch.
On the way up I saw White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Eurasian Black / Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
I took to the tracks out on Llanos de Cáceresand within seconds I had 6 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) walking around in a field right by the side of the road but within a few more seconds a pickup came in the opposite direction and the birds flushed up and I only managed some back on flight shots.
In the same area I saw Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Crested (Cogujada / Galerida cristata) and Calandra Lark (Calandria / Melanocorypha calandra), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).
I continued on to my over night stop in Palencia, on the way adding Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) and Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) before arriving.