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Thursday 15 December 2022

Out to Sea between Santander and Southampton.

At sea under grey skies.

I had a none to great night as it was piggin freezing on board the Galicia and the chairs are less than comfortable so in the end I went back to the bar and got a bit of sleep on one of the seats there but it was still very cold on board.
Once it was light I found a window with a view but didn't see a great deal, best birds were a couple of Common Guillemot (Arao Común / Uria aalge), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), a group of Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla) and a few Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus).

Wednesday 14 December 2022

Santoña Port, Marismas Blancas, Bahía de Santander, Cantabria, Spain and a few hours at sea enroute to UK.

A bit more North Coast birding before getting the Ferry to the UK.
Ebird List for Marismas Blancas.
Ebird List for Bahía de Santander.

Looking along the Pleasure boat part of the port down to the Bull Ring.

After a good nights sleep at the Hotel Rural las Solanas de Escalante I went up to the Port in Santoña, had some breakfast and the did a walk along the Prom before it got light, on the way I saw Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).


It was still not very light by the time I got back to the car so I had another coffee before going out onto the main Jetty and setting up the scope, as I scanned I found Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Black-necked (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and out in the distance thousands of wildfowl, most I am guessing were Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta) but they were too distant to sort out.
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) in the foreground and masses of other ducks off into the distance.
I returned to the car and the drove towards Santander but pulled of the Motorway to have a look at Marismas Blacas, a pool I always enjoy visiting, today was no different as straight away I saw two immature
Little Gulls (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus) feeding low over the water very Tern like.
Marismas Blancas, the main pool.
As I scanned the water I added
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Great Cormorant, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Gulls.
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Little Gull (Gaviota Enana / Larus minutus).
Around the margins and in the air I found a couple of Firecrests (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) picking their way through a small Willow tree with a single Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).
Also seen were
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), White Wagtail, House Sparrow, Robin, Blackbird, Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and a passing Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).
My last stop before catching the Ferry was at the Bahía de Santander where I could see the Ferry in the docks opposite, I set up the Scope and scanned the river and almost the first bird I saw amongst a flock of Black-headed Gulls was another Little Gull, as had as I tried I unfortunately couldn't turn it into an immature
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla), 18x Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) flew over as did two large flocks of Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), on the rocks there were 50 odd  Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and a single Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
Leaving Santander, bet it won't look like this as we arrive in Southampton.
Other species seen included a Great Northern Diver, Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).
I went around to the port and then almost stright on to the ferry which I was suprised left on time at 14.00 instead of 16:00 which Brittany Ferries had said it would do in an email a few days earlier, as we started off I did a short sea watch but all I managed was a small flock of around 30 Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), a few Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and a single Razorbill.
Last View of Spain for a while.

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Driving North, Observatorio De Aves De La Arenilla, Santoña Port and Mirador Montehano, Santoña, Cantabria, Spain.

Travelling North from Santi's to Santoña for a bit of birding.
Ebird list for the Hide.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) Male.
I left Santi's after breakfast and drove North towards Santander and then across to Santoña, on the way I saw Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).
Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) Male.
Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).
My first stop was at the Observatorio De Aves De La Arenilla where I sat and scanned the estuary at about half tide, As I arrived I picked up the resident male Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) mid channel, lots of both Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata) and Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), as well as good numbers of Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), 50+ Northern Pintails (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), a large flock of around 250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) which I realized later was only part of the Flock, Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), 5x Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), a Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) which I got better views of later near the port, a distant Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), lots of Western Cattle (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) as well as a single Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba) which was feeding amongst the Spoonbills.
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
I moved just up the road and parked at the central point of the port and walked out onto the nearest of the larger jetties where I could see the full extent of the Brent Goose flock which must have numbered well over 400 birds.
Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) just surfaced.
Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).
Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) taking a deep breath.
Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) about to Dive.
I spent quite a while scanning the main channel in front of me and got better views of another Great Northern Diver, the Razorbill,
Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), 8x Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) after being flushed by photographers on a boat.
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).
Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).
I returned to the hide breifly but did not add anything new so I started to make my way around to my hotel for the night in Escalante, on the way I made a stop at the Mirador Montehano and checked the river and marshes, just below me I had my fourth Great Northern Diver, more Black-necked Grebes, Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and big numbers of Western Cattle Egrets flying passed heading for their roost.
Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).
Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).
Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).
Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).
Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda).
I arrived and checked in at the Hotel Rural las Solanas de Escalante before going for a couple of beers and some food just up the road at Mesón Blanyfer.
Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

View from the Port of Santoña.

Looking from Mirador Montehano to Escalante.

Christmas lights in Escalante.


Monday 12 December 2022

Santo Domingo de Silos to Burgos and back, Burgos Province, Spain.

A drive up to Burgos to get Santi's Car serviced.

We had breakfast and then headed up to Lerma and then to the Southern side of Burgos City where Santi dropped his car at the VW dealership and we caught the free bus into the City.
We did a bit of shopping and then had a coffee before catching the bus back and heading back to Silos.
The weather was hideous all day but during the drive there, back and on the walk around the City I saw Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) x 1, Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) x 20+, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) x 1, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) x 2, Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) x 5+, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Sunday 11 December 2022

North to Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos Province, Spain.

A wet, windy and snowy drive North to friend Santi's.

The main square in Silos with the Monasterio in the back ground.
I set off early but spent most of the time until it was light driving slowly due to the heavy rain, patchy fog and low cloud, once it was light things didn't get much better until I was well North of Madrid.
During the drive I saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), 2x Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Woodpigeons (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), 3x Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) in flight, Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), 2x Common Buzzards (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), 10+ Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
Heading for the Bar.
I arrived at Santi's just before Lunch, later in the evening we went down to the Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos where we listened to the best of the Gregorian Chants I have been to so far.
Whilst there we met up with Maria, a very nice friend of Santi's and we all went for a drink in Bar of the Hotel Rural Villa de Silos.