Desembocadura Río PIles in Gijon, Embalse de La Furta and Ría de Avilés-Ensenada de Llodero near Avilés, Faro de Cabo Peñas and Laguna de Verdicio, Asturias, Spain.

Some more Gull watching and a trip around and to the North of Avilés later. 

Ebird List for Desembocadura Río PIles.

Ebird List for Embalse de La Furta.

Ebird List for Ría de Avilés-Ensenada de Llodero.

 

Gijon and some Gulls with the sun on the town through the sea spray.

I started the day at the by heading back to the Desembocadura Río PIles in Gijon, where I was again looking for Gulls, as the tide was low most of the birds were on the beach, so I walked around the bay and out to the beach.

Looking along the beach.

Some more of the Gulls.

Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) plus 3rd winter and adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I scanned the flock finding the usual 4 species Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) but also picked up another bird which looked a bit like an adult European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

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

Unfortunately, just as I got the scope on the bird the first of a few mini storm surges came up the beach flushing the gulls and making me scamper a bit further inland.

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

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

After a while I relocated the bird and got some photos which were enough to confirm it as an adult European Herring, my first for the year.

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

After a while I walked back up onto the Paseo Muro de San Lorenzo and back around to the rocks, on the way I met Ignacio Vega, a local birder, we spent sometime chatting and exchanging information before I continued on finding the 3 Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) again but they were having a snooze unlike the good numbers of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) which were feeding amongst the debris which had been washed in by recent storms, Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

It started to rain, so I headed off to a spot not too far away where I had seen an Ebird report for a Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris), I arrived to find that there wasn't an easy way to check the lake which was behind a fence and surrounded by trees, however I set the scope up and did the best I could through the gaps.

After a while, through one of the smaller gaps, I managed to see the ♂ Ring-necked Duck with a ♀ Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) and several Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata).

Through another gap I added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) and heard a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) squeal twice.

Other species included Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail.

I moved on again and went up along the Rio in Avilés to Ría de Avilés-Ensenada de Llodero where I did a walk out to the hide and back to the car seeing Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Black-headed, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gull, Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little Egret, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Carrion Crow and European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

From here I drove up to the Faro de Cabo Peñas, on the way I saw Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) Bidens aurea, Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Climbing Groundsel (Senecio Angulatus).

Los Merenálavrez rocks.

Looking East towards the Pico's de Europa mountains.

same again.

At the Faro I only did a short walk to the end of the headland overlooking the Los Merenálavrez rocks as the rain had started again, I had a quick scan over the sea adding Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) x2 and a Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) before retreating to the car and heading back towards Avilés.

On the way I called in at the Laguna de Verdicio but apart from a few Mallards (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Cetti's Warbler, European Robin and lots of Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) it was quiet, so I returned to the hotel where I was surprised to find a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on the wing in the rain.

Later I got a message from Ignacio to say he had just seen the Ring-billed Gull (Gaviota de Delaware / Larus delawarensis) in Gijon.

Tina Mayor near Unquera and Desembocadura Río PIles in Gijón, Austarias, Spain.

Heading further West.

Ebird List for Tina Mayor.

Ebird List for Desembocadura Río PIles in Gijón.

 

Looking SW in the Pico's direction.

I left Leonor's after a very nice stay and headed West along the coast, on my way to Tina Mayor I saw Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

I pulled into a site which is just off the motorway where I have been to a few times before, it's a place where there has been a rather controversial introduction of several White-tailed Eagles (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla), I don't think it was very popular with the Spanish birders / ecologists.

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

In the area I recorded Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Yellow-legged Gull, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), a couple of Peregrine Falcons (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) which were interacting with several Northern Ravens (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) over the eucalyptus cover ridges off to the East, Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Meadow (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla) Adult.

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla) Adult.

I walked back towards the car but turned around when I heard Gulls and Crows calling loudly, straight away I picked up a huge bird coming in from the direction of the sea which was obviously one of the White-tailed Eagles and as it turned, I could see its white tail I realised it was a smart adult bird which circled a few times and then headed off east at height.

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla) Adult.

White-tailed Eagle (Pigargo Europeo / Haliaeetus albicilla) Adult.

As I got back to the car, there was a bit of a kerfuffle over the flooded fields where the Pipits were when a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) came in low and quick to try and snatch a snack for lunch.

Gijón seafront.

Some of the Gulls below me on the riverside.

I continued on to the West, my next stop was at the Desembocadura Río PIles where soon after parking I was scanning through the Gull flock on the beach and in the Rio, I found Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) of various ages (Thanks to Ed McKrill-Verstraeten for help with a lot of this info as I am not too good with Gulls 😁😁😁).

34VJ Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

A9PT Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

36EH Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

3rd Winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

3rd Winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

2nd Winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

1st Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus graellsii).

Baltic Type Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus fuscus) I actually got this one right but got it confirmed by Ed.

Other species seen were two more for the year list, Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator) and Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima), along with Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Little (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Northern Raven, Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

At this point it started to rain, so I headed for my accommodation in Hotel El Horreo in Llaranes which is part of Aviles where I was shown the place by Javi who was informative and helpful.

Marisma de Colindres, Playa de El Regatón y Ría de Treto, Port at Laredo, Marisma de Colindres again, Observatorio de La Arenilla and the Puerto de Santoña, Cantabria, Spain.

A bit of a grey day around the Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel Parque Natural. 

Ebird List for the Marisma de Colindres. 

Ebird List for Playa de El Regatón y Ría de Treto. 

Ebird List for the Marisma de Colindres again.

Ebird List for Observatorio de La Arenilla. 

Ebird List for the Puerto de Santoña.

 

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

I had a nice slow start today after looking out of the window and seeing the clouds and drizzle, eventually I headed off to the other side of the Estuary to a new spot for me at the Marisma de Colindres, after finding a parking place I walked the walk way around to the Calle de Mar pier.

On the way I picked up Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and a couple of ♀ European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus).

Once I was halfway along the Pier I sat on one of the benches and set the scope up and scanned the Ria adding Yellow-legged of the northern race lusitanius, a single Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and plenty of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), 3x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) which flew overhead and continued on towards Mirador de Sollagua and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

As I walked back towards the car I noticed a group of Gulls dropped behind one of the factory building, so I went to check them out and found a swimming pool which was, as it was winter not being used, so the Gulls were taking advantage, I found more Black-headed,Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gull bathing and drinking.

I walked back around the path to the car, picking up Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Once back at the car I went further along towards El Puntal but parked on the way and walked out onto Playa de El Regatón y Ría de Treto where I had arranged to meet Pep from the other day in Vitoria-Gasteiz, by the time I got there the drizzle had returned, but we managed to find the flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) which were unfortunately being chased off the feeding area by a loose dog, Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), several Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), Great Northern and Red-throated Diver (Colimbo Chico / Gavia stellata), European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola).

Kelp / Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

Kelp / Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

Kelp / Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

We walked back to the cars and Pep headed for the Port at Laredo and I started to head there but stopped off for a coffee on the way, by the time I arrived Pep had seen the bird and was leaving, so I dropped into the port where I got nice views of the Kelp / Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula) as well as Yellow-legged, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls before I went back to the Marisma de Colindres to have another look now the tide was higher.

1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) northern race lusitanius.

1st winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) northern race lusitanius.

1st winter Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

1st winter Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

1st winter Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

I parked and checked the swimming pool out again but found the same species as earlier, so I pushed on around to where I could see Pep and a couple of other birders I had seen yesterday, whilst we chatted I saw a few new species for the day list including Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).

Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis).

The other couple moved on as they still wanted to see the Red-throated Diver and Pep and I said goodbye and I headed around to the Observatorio de La Arenilla nearer to Santoña, I didn't find anything new, so I finished the day near the Bullring where I saw 2 definite but probably 4 European Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) as they flew in and out.