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Sunday 31 December 2023

Santo Domingo de Silos in Burgos Province, Travelling North, Bahía de Santander / Ensenada de San Bartolomé, Elechas in Cantabria, Spain.

Heading North from Santi's for a few days birding along the Coast.
Ebird List for Ensenada de San Bartolomé.

Ensenada de San Bartolomé.
After Breakfast Santi and I walked down to the Bakery, on the way back we saw several Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), a couple of Red Kites (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and a small group of around half a dozen Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) all fighting against the very strong wing.
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).
Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).
Once we were back I loaded the car, said goodbye to Santi and headed off to the North via Burgos to a spot to the South of Santander, on the way I saw lots more Red Kites, a single Golden Eagle (Águila Real / Aquila chrysaetos) being mobbed by a couple of Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) near Lerma and another large Eagle which I think was an adult Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) sat in a tree next to the motorway between Lerma and Burgos but as I couldn't stop I was not 100% sure.
General view of the bay.
Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia) is about the best I can do.
Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) getting blown around.
Other species were Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Roe Deer (Corzo / Capreolus capreolus) x5.
Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).
Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum).
Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana).
My only birding stop was at the Ensenada de San Bartolomé on the Estuary opposite Santander where I had a walk along the river, the tide was out which made seeing some of the species more difficult but I still found Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) as well as Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana), Redshank (Persicaria maculosa), Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) and Bidens aurea
Bidens aurea.
Bidens aurea.
Bidens aurea.
I returned to my car and headed to Isla to the East of Santander where I spent the night ready to start the year list in the morning.

Saturday 30 December 2023

Santo Domingo de Silos and La Yecla, Burgos Province, Spain.

Back out looking for the Wallcreeper.
Ebird List.

The Gorge at La Yecla.

After breakfast I went for a walk down the village and got the beard and then went for a couple of hours birding at La Yecla hoping to see the Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria), when I arrived there was little activity but within a few minutes the air was full of the local Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) with around a 100 birds circling above the cliffs.
On of the 100 or so Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) sat on the cliffs around the gorge.
Passing Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
As I stood there I also saw
Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) x2, Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) x2, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and then 5 minutes worth of the Wallcreeper but it was distant and right at the top of the crags for the whole time unfortunately but at least I got it for the year list (308).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
I returned to Santi's where we had a very nice French Cassoulet for lunch and then slobbed out for the rest of the day.

Friday 29 December 2023

Santo Domingo de Silos and Sad Hill, Burgos Province, Spain.

A walk into the village and then a visit to the Cemetery.
Ebird List for Sad Hill.




After Breakfast Santi and I walked down into the village to the Bakery where we picked up a few supplies and then walked back up to the house, during the walk I saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).
The final location from the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY.
Once we were back I headed out for a walk up at the Sad Hill Cemetrey, a place I love to visit and have a one sided chat with someone I miss greatly but feel close to here. 
An approaching bit of weather.
Once I got my head together I went for a longish loop walk around the site, as I walked through the Juniper trees I could hear good numbers of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and as I came out into a more clear area I saw a flock of 42 birds flying back behind me along the hill side.
Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).
I continued on around the site seeing more Fieldfare's as well as Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrushes (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), a single Citril Finch (Verderón Serrano / Serinus citrinella) which flew just as I pressed the shutter giving me a nice yellow blur through a rose bush and just one flowering Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium).
Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).
Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).
I returned to Santi's and spent the rest of the day catching up with a few bit whilst watching some nasty looking weather pass along the valley. 
Water trough in amongst the Juniper trees.

Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki).


Thursday 28 December 2023

Santo Domingo de Silos and La Yecla Gorge, Burgos Province, Spain.

Around and about near Silos.

La Yecla.
After breakfast Santi and I headed to Salas de los Infantes so that Santi could try and sort out something at the medical center there, on the way and on the way back we saw Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
La Yecla.
When we got back I popped up to La Yecla to see if I could find the elusive Wallcreeper (Treparriscos / Tichodroma muraria) but it did remain elusive and all I managed to see were loads of Griffon Vultures, Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
On the way back I did a slight detour along a track towards Santibáñez del Val which followed the Rio Mataviejas but it was generally quiet and I only added 20 odd Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) before returning to Santi's.
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Wednesday 27 December 2023

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

Off North to spend a few days with good Friend Santi.

Art work on the side of the house.
I was off at just before 06:00 and arrived at Santi's at 13:35 which considering half of the journey with made more difficult by some very thick Fog and even harder by drivers who can't be bothered to put any lights on let along switch on their fog lights.
Anyway once I cleared the fog near Madrid I dd see Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).
and again.
I made a stop to stretch my legs 130km north of Madrid and in a clearing in some roadside pines I added Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
Just before I arrived at Silos I passed through La Yecla gorge where I saw good numbers of Griffon Vultures circling.
The only species added at Santi's were the resident House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), we had some lunch and later a nice evening meal before I saw the large sculpture / Art work on the side of the house, stunning. 

Tuesday 26 December 2023

Near Huétor Tajar, Granada Province, Spain.

Siskin's on the feeders.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.

During the morning I spent a short while watching at least 5 male and 2 female Siskin's (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) coming to feed on my seed feeders just outside my back door in the fig tree.
Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.

Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) Male.


Monday 25 December 2023

Huétor Fieds and Sierra de Loja, Granada Province, Spain.

A bit of Christmas Day Birding.
Ebird List for Huétor Fields.
Ebird List for Sierra de Loja.

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) in the frost.
I started the day with a Whatsapp chat with Deb, Ian and Renate out in South Australia during which Deb managed to get me views of my number 1 Australian bird the Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and a Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) on her Mom's veranda, brilliant.
Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus).

This was quickly followed by the call I had been looking forward to from Alan, Becki and the three Grandkids Ryan, Zach and Finn.
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).

Later after doing a few bits at home I headed down to the fields to check what was about and was surprised to bump into Elena and Steve Powell just out side Huétor, they were up to look for the
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax) and then later they were going to go up Sierra de Loja looking for the Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) and they asked me to join them and I was very pleased to accept.
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
Little Bustards (Sisón Común / Tetrax tetrax).
At the spot where I met them we started the list with at least 17 Little Bustards, 100+ Stone Curlew (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.
Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica) female.
We moved to our next stop was up at the Lucerne fields, on the way we had the first 
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) of the day and a female Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).
Looking at the crags to the North.

S
hortly after parking we had what were almost certainly the same Little Bustards from the other field fly in, we also saw 2 more Little Owls, Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) male.
Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) male.
Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) male.
We again moved and made our way down to the Mesia Road irrigation channels finding Bluethroat (Pechiazul / Luscinia svecica), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).
Looking out West towards Antequera.
We made our way out to the motorway and then to the Abades service area were we took to the tracks up Sierra de Loja looking for and finding at least 30
Ring Ouzels (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) as well as Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae),  Black Wheatear (Collalba Negra / Oenanthe leucura), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
Charca del Negro.
We started to make our way back down the hill but only added a Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) Elena saw before we headed back to the hotel where I had left my car and then off home, back at the house there were several Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) on the feeders.