Ondarroa and central Bilbao, Bilbao, Cantabria.

A wet visit to Ondarroa port and a chance meeting with a local birder.

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

Jayne and I headed out from the hotel in the rain which developed into sleet and snow as well as low cloud and fog, all of which made for an interesting drive. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

We eventually reached the port and found a parking space, due to the weather Jayne sensibly stayed in the car and I walked down to the port where almost straight away I bumped into Juan Andres who's interesting and helpful blog http://juankarandres.blogspot.com.es/ I have been following for some time. 

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

We spent an hour or so checking through the Gulls on site but the best we could do was a smart Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus) as well as lots of Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and several Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana /Larus canus).

The weather was getting no better so we made our way back to Bilbao where we had some lunch before going into the Fine Arts Museum in the center and then found and took a ride on the cities funicular railway to the top of the hill. 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

On a much better day you get a view out over the city but today we were lucky not to be washed or blown off the top so we returned to the town and had a couple of drinks, the one in a nice bar called Churchills. 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

Jayne had a Gin and Tonic which was a tad steep at €11 but worth it as the chap behind the bar did work hard on making it special and Jayne said it tasted good but I did have a very quiet sense of humour failure at €4.50 for a small bottle of coke light and a bit of ice !!!! 

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

We later had some tapas again before returning to our hotel for our last night in Bilbao.

2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ???

Rio Bilbao, Santona, Sollagua and Estuary and Rio Bilbao again, Bilbao, Cantabria.

A great days birding with several Spanish lifers and other good birds.

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

I was up and out early after a quick breakfast at the hotel heading just down the road in Bilbao to look for a 1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) which had been reported on the Internet yesterday. It was just getting light when I arrived and I could not find any sign of the Gull but I did see Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica).

I spent a while looking along the river but decided to drive towards Santona where I was going to be spending the day birding along the Estuary. 

Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica).

I started on the roadside between Santona and Cicero where I scanned the fields and pools on the landward side and the low waters of the estuary on the other. On the fields and pools I saw Great White (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Black-headed Gull and a fleeting Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) which flashed over the reeds.

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

On the seaward side I added Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and on the margins Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I moved on to Santona where I parked near the Bullring and then walked out to the port where I could see some more birders, I walked out towards them and as I did I had a Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) my first Spanish Lifer of the day fly over me calling. 

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Once I reached the pier I had a chat with the five guys there and had my second Lifer of the day in the shape of 300+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) as well as lots of Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Great Northern (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) x3 and Black-throated Divers (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) the latter coming in nice and close for some shots, Black-necked and Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) x4 and on the floating jetties several Great Cormorants and Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
We had another or the same Rock Pipit fly over us and picked out Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) amongst the Black-heads out on the water.

Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica).

During the talk we got around to the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Zarapito de Hudson / Numenius hudsonicus) which was in the area and decided to go around to the spot which was just a few KM around the bay.
I followed them and at the site we split up to check two areas, in the first spot I was with four of the group and we soon found plenty of the common Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Black-tailed (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa) and Bar-tailed Godwits (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica) and lots of Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).

The other twitchers.

After a while one of the guys got a call to say that they had the Hudsonian at a spot just a couple of hundred meters along the bank so we relocated and I joined the biggest twitch I have been in since moving to Spain along with around 15 other birders who had travelled to see this bird. After around 40 minutes of watching the bird I eventually got views I was happy with, also seen were Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), both Common (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) and Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) and yet another Rock Pipit which was feeding on the mud.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I said thanks and goodbye to the lads who I had followed round and then headed back towards the port at Santona as I wanted to get some shots of the Great Northern Diver which I did before heading out on to the opposite side of the Estuary looking for other species but only added Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) to the day and year list but I did get some better views of a female Velvet Scoter.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Just as I was about to head back towards Bilbao I met a Spanish Guy who gave me direction to a spot where I had distant but good views of two Whooper Swans (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus cygnus) and a single Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) feeding out on grassy meadows.

Velvet Scoter (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca).

I then drove back to Bilbao where I started the morning looking for the Iceland Gull and soon found the bird sat on rocks on the far side of the river but as it was getting on and raining the light was really bad (it had been bad all day) as are the photographs but it was the fourth new species for my Spanish list seen during the day.
I later met Jayne back at the hotel and we went back out into the city again and found a nice Italian for our evening meal.

1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) in the rain.

Dársena de Raos and Airport Pools, Marismas Alday and Marismas Blancos, Santander and the drive to Bilbao, Cantabria.

A move to Bilbao via a couple of birding spots and some shops.

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).

Jayne and I started to make our way towards our next in Bilbao but on the way we called at a shopping centre where I dropped Jayne off and then went birding along the Northern side of the Airport. 

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).

First of all I checked the pools on the side of the runway and soon found Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) heard only, Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaria), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

I then spent some time along the sea front and port area scanning the sea and rocks, I soon found several new species including Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis),  Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) x4, Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) and over 300 roosting Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra).

I got back to the carpark early so I went and had a look at the pools at Marismas Alday where I saw more Common Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Little Grebes, Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhen, Gadwall and then a bird which superficially looked like a Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) but it later turned out to be a Hybrid between a Ferruginous and a Common Pochard.

3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) ?????????

In the same area I also recorded Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Group of Ducks.

I met Jayne and we moved on to another wetland nearby called the Marismas Blancos, I only saw a few new species along with most of the other seen earlier, the new ones for the day were Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Group of Ducks.

We made our way to Bilbao and then spent a very nice evening wandering around the city finding the entrance of the Guggenheim Museum ready for Jayne's visit tomorrow and then the old part of the city. 

Ferruginous Duck X Common Pochard.

Later we walked back towards the main center where we had something to eat before returning to the hotel for the night.

Female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

The Guggenheim.

Out side the Guggenheim.

Some of the Tapas we had for our eveing meal.

Tapas selection.

Comillas, Ensenara de San Bartolomé and Santander Town, Cantabria.

A great visit to El Capricho de Gaudi in Comillas and then a look around the Santander area.

Adult Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

We returned to Comillas after remembering why we wanted to visit the town, we had a look around the town following a route given to us by the tourist office. 

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

On the beach I saw 3x Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) along with Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), 3x Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and several Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and several Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).

Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) x3.

Later, once it was open we went to the very impressive El Capricho de Gaudi house. We spent nearly 3 hours there before heading towards and past Santander to a spot where due to the weather I had a walk on the estuary while Jayne read her Kindle in the car. 

Comillas.

During the hour or so I was there I saw 100s of Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) x8, a Spanish Lifer in the shape of 3 Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca), Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and 2x Great Northern Divers (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Comillas.

On the mud flats there were also Eurasian Curlew (Zaoaito Real / Numenius arquata), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea). 

Gaudi's Gateway.

On the landward side I recorded Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and as I walked back an Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus) flew over carrying a very large fish.

Gaudi's sunflowers at El Capricho.

Later we drove into the city of Santander where we had a very nice lunch and later a walk along the seafront where saw Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and lots of House Sparrows (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus). 

El Capricho.

Later we drove back to the hotel via Suances for some food again.

Jayne sat with Gaudi.

Eurasian Spoonbills (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).

Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope).

Western Osprey (Águila Pescardora / Pandion haliaetus).

Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) honest !!!!

A cheese board for lunch.

Art on the sea front at Santander.

Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).