la Playa de Nemiña and Ria de Lires, Muxia and Lagoa de Traba, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.

In search of some Gulls and Geese again.

Dawn at la Playa de Nemiña.

I set off early looking for a species I have long wanted to see, an American Herring Gull (Gaviota Argentea Americana / Larus Smithsonianus), armed with some extra information from Cosme Damián and Fernando Pereiras I was hopeful I might find Barrilete, an adult bird that has been returning to the area since 2007 but I was over optomistic and all I managed to find was a smart looking adult European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) which Cosme put me right on, thanks.

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) Cosme tells me its a female.

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Also seen in this during a walk from the north end right down to the southern point were Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and hundreds of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) most of which were down by the Fish Farm.

la Playa de Nemiña.

Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera).

Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera).

As I walked along the beach I found several clumps of Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera), some on more natural objects then others, there was also some plastic waste but some was more of a sign of the times with masks and disposable lateral flow tests on the tide line.

la Playa de Nemiña.

Other species were Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) along with several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) which were on the wing in the sunny areas. 

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

My next stop was near the fish farm but on the other side of the Ria de Lires where I parked near the Cemetrey and checked the river where I found the long staying Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus) and in the same area there was a large concentration of 60+ Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), due to the fish farm I am guessing.

Pink-footed Goose (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus).

Pink-footed Goose (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus).

I also had a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) Male.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

I headed North to Lagoa de Traba where Several Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) and a male Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) had been around for a little while.

Male and Female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila).

Female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila).

I parked and walked out towards a hide I could see, on the way I picked up Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) but there no ducks at all on the lake I could see from the hide.

Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).

As I had already checked Google Maps I knew there was another pool so I took a rather soggy track down to another hide I could see off in the distance and found a good flock of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and mixed in with them were a male and at least two female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) but I suspect there were more females but they were feeding enthusiasticly which made counting difficult and the male Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) came out with the flock for a few seconds but then disappeared back behind the reeds.