Gijón, Asturias, Spain.

Start of a few days in Gijón, a town with memories.

Iglesia de San Pedro.

I left Porras after loading the car and making sure all was tidy for Elena the owner and heade West to Gijón but shortly after leaving the rain started and it threw it down for most of the day.

I arrived and as I could not check in until 14.00 I parked by the Rio Piles and walked out onto the sea front and took the paseo del muro de san lorenzo around to the right for a couple of KM or so, on the way I saw Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed  (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

The rain just kept getting heavier and I was absolutly soaked so I rang the Hotel Santa Rosa and they kindly said I could check in a couple of hours early, I got the room sorted and then later at about 15.30 I noticed tha it had just about stopped raining so I went out again and walked out on to the Paseo by the Iglesia de San Pedro and walked the 4 KM or so back to Mirador Paseo Litoral where I had been this morning and back again via the Parque Isabel La Católica where I checked the pools.

On the Paseo I found a roost of around 40 Ruddy Turnstones and mixed in with them were 14 Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) a species I had hoped to find at this spot.

In the park I added Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina) and a good number of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were coming into roost. All of these species appeared to be wild which was more than could be said for many of the wildfowl on the pool, several of which are on the Spanish list and would be lifers but don't think I would get away with it.

I made my way back to the hotel and almost made it back before the rain started again, I returned to my room were I got a phone call and my plans had to change.

Fuente de, Pico's de Europa, Asturias, Spain.

Looking for mountain Species in the Snow.

The view from near the upper station.

I left Llanes for my last trip out from this area and headed down to Potes and then to Fuente De where I was going to get the Cable Car up in to the higher parts of the area for my first winter visit.

I had three targets, Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris), Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus) and Lammergeier / Bearded Vulture (Quebrantahuesos / Gypaetus barbatus). 

The view from near the upper station.

I was there a little early so I spent a while birding around the conifers in the car park and found 4+ Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre /Parus palustris) as well as Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and over head Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

I got the first box up and I was soon out on the snow above the upper station and with in seconds I had the first of the targets when half a dozen Alpine Chouchs flew past calling before landing on the roof of the Station as well as a couple of Chamois (Rebeco / Rupicapra rupicapra).

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I walked out a bit further and on one of the clear rocky areas I saw a single Alpine Accentor which allowed me to get quite close, four other birds on another clear patch about 20 meters away then flew up and they all went off down the slope and away.

Alpine Accentor (Acentor Alpino / Prunella collaris).

I found a nice flat rock on one of the clear spots and spent an hour or so scanning the ridges looking for Raptors but only saw more Griffons and a few Ravens so I went and had a couple of coffees before gong back out for another couple of hours walking a bit further out and again finding a rock to sit on but with the same results, no Lammergeier.

Chamois (Rebeco / Rupicapra rupicapra).

I decided to call it as the wind was getting up and was dam cold so I headed back to the Upper station but stopped to get a couple of shots of the Choughs, suddenly I heard a call and straight away knew it was a  Snowfinch (Gorrión Alpino / Montifringilla nivalis), a species I had not expected as several of the Spanish birders I had talked to earlier on the trip said they will all be down at lower levels during the winter so a bit of a bonus.

Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).

Alpine Chough (Chova Piquigualda / Pyrrhocorax graculus).

I got the next box down and it was a tad rougher than coming up, we had a bit of a swing going by the time we reached the half way point so I was pleased to get off and go for a walk up into the nearby woods where I added Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and more Marsh Tits.

Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus).

Time was now moving on so I decided to start heading back but made a stop at Los Llanos where I checked the river as I had seen Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus) there in the passed and I was not disappointed wen one gave me nice views but not quite close enough for a decent photo.

Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus).

In this area I also had Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) before I headed back to Porras for my last night.

Punta Jarri and Altu la Torneria, Asturias, Spain.

A bit of a sea watch and then a walk in the hills.

Female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

I went just down the road again and walked out to Punta Jarri where I set up for a while sea watching but it was much quieter than the last two visits and I only recorded 14x Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), 9x Balearic (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) and a single Manx Shearwater (Pardela Pichoneta / Puffinus puffinus), 3x Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda), a single Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) as well as Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Fire in the hills nearby there was another off to the left which had been burning all night.

Out on one of the rocky Islands I found a  Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) and as i walked back down to the car I added Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and a more unexpected female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) male.

I got to the car and went inland for a walk in the hills but stopped just down the road to get a shot a fire in the hills just down coast, there had been another fire off to the left which had been going all night.

Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

I drove upto and parked at Altu la Torneria and took the track out to Pico Los Resquilones, a nice 2.5 KM walk which give good views back down to the coast.

On the way I saw several Bullfinches (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) but as usual they were secretive and difficult to get a clear shot of, I also saw a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) which flushed up from a track side ditch, Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), good numbers of Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and on the way back down a Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was feeding by a small pool and a couple of Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) which were on the wing in the warm sun. 

 

Santoña and Santaner areas, Cantabria, Spain.

Getting the Year list off to a good start.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I set off too early yet again and arrived at the Ría de Escalante near to Santoña half an hour before light but still managed to get a few species in the dark including Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope).

Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula).

As the light came up I got the scope out and walked to the observatory and scanned the river, the tide was out but down in the channel I could see two immature Great Northern Divers (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and then the female Goldeneye (Porrón Osculado /Bucephala clangula), the main bird I had come to this spot to see put in a brief appearance before it disappeared up river. 

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Other species added to the year list here were Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), loads of Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) which were heading out from their roost to feed up river, a singing Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Red-necked Grebe (Somormujo Cuellirrojo / Podiceps grisegena).

My next stop was at the Hide but I didn't actually go in but walked along the path towards the bridge where I scanned the channel and had distant views of a winter plumage Red-necked Grebe (Somormujo Cuellirrojo / Podiceps grisegena), 7x Common Scoters (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Distant 1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

Distant 1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides).

I returned to the car and then drove around to Santoña where I parked near the Bull Ring as I was hoping for one of the wintering Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) to come in but they were playing hard to get so I went out on to the sea wall and scanned the estuary finding Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), around 500 or so Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis) and whilst I was scanning a couple of Rock Pipits flew over me calling and landed on the wooden structure around the top of the Bull Ring before dropping down inside. 

A Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) which was suprised to see me sat on the wall when it surfaced.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I walked down to the Fish port but as it was a holiday all the boats were in port and there were very few gulls around so like at the last spot I went out onto the sea wall and scanned through the gulls out there finding Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and the 1st winter Iceland Gull (Gaviota Groenlandesa / Larus glaucoides) resting up on a sandy island as well as a few Shags (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) sat on the buoys where the smaller boats were moored and a Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) which was fishing from some rocks at the base of the sea wall.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

I crossed the road and went further up stream as I had seen a good number of distant grebes from the port, I sat down on the wall along side the river and scanned the birds seeing Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), another Great Northern Diver which surface to find me there and was none to happy for a moment but soon just carried on fishing and in amongst the 15 or so Black-necked and 10+ Great Crested (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus) I found a smart looking Slavonian / Horned Grebe (Zampullín Cuellirrojo / Podiceps auritus) but it always stayed distant.

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

My next stop was a few Kms up the coast at a pool by the Casa de las Mareas where I gave the year list a good boost with Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) but there was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) or the two Caspian Gulls (Gaviota del Caspio / Larus cachinnans) reported a day or so ago.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) on t the river.

I drove around to the far side of the Estuary and out to a spot along a track called Calle Santander where I parked and went up onto the Dunes where I scanned the now full channel, after a while I found the two Velvet Scoters (Negrón Especulado / Melanitta fusca) and as I continued I found two Red-breasted Merganser (Serreta Mediana / Mergus serrator) and the male Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) which I usually see from the hide all in a row on the sea just a 100 meters apart. 

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

Other species seen here included Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina) and Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) males.

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) on the lake.

I drove back around to the hide to give the Long-tailed Duck (Pato Havelda / Clangula hyemalis) another go but again I dipped so I decided to the back via Marismas Blanca but I could not find the Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) and only added a Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) before heading back to Porrua.

Punta de Jarri, Llanes, Asturias and San Vicente de la Barquera and Senda Fluvial del Nansa, Cantabria, Spain

Sea watching followed by two walks, one on the coast and one inland.

Ebird List for the Sea Watch.

My view West along the coast from Punta de Jarri.

I started the day by popping just down the road to Punta de Jarri where I took the scope and the chair and spent an hour and a half seeing what was passing, by far the commonest species was Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) with 336 all moving west as were several Razorbills (Alca Común / Alca torda), 2x Manx (Pardela Pichoneta / Puffinus puffinus) and 26x Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus), 5x Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and 2x Great Skuas (Págalo Grande / Stercorarius skua).

Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Other species seen in the area included Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), 2x Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Once I was back at the car I rove down to have a look along the river at San Vicente de la Barquera where a Goosander (Serreta Grande / Mergus merganser) had been seen a few days earlier but I did not find it, however during my walk along the river I did see Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Again I returned to the car and went just a short way inland where I saw a sign for a walk called the Senda Fluvial del Nansa where I followed the river and then retraced my steps back to the car, along the route I saw Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla) and a female Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).