Culleredo in A Coruña, Playa de Riazor, Playa de Alba and Encoro de Cecebre, A Coruña, Spain.

Birding in and around A Coruña.

Torre de Hércules from Playa de Riazor.

I set off before light and found my way to Culleredo in A Coruña to have a second look for the Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus) but this time I walked to an area of waste ground behind Dia but didn't get any views of the Starlings but could hear them so I walked up the road and crossed to the other side of the railway line and look into the conifers from the other side and some had Rosy, Spotless (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) in the trees.

Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

In the same area I also saw Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

My next stop was at a Playa de Riazor where I had a nice view across to the Torre de Hércules but with Information from Cosme Damián I found what I was looking for on the rocks much closer to me, down below the sea wall I found at least 12 Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) along with several Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), 3x Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Shag (Cormorán Mondudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Just up the coast I made another stop where I checked through a flock of Gulls on Playa de Alba but I only found the usual species, Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

I also saw Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a Peacock (Aglais io) butterfly.

Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca).

My last stop of the day was at Encoro de Cecebre where I checked a couple of spots and found a couple of Egyptian Geese (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), 6x Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra) before returning to my accommodation.

la Playa de Nemiña and Ria de Lires, Muxia and Lagoa de Traba, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.

In search of some Gulls and Geese again.

Dawn at la Playa de Nemiña.

I set off early looking for a species I have long wanted to see, an American Herring Gull (Gaviota Argentea Americana / Larus Smithsonianus), armed with some extra information from Cosme Damián and Fernando Pereiras I was hopeful I might find Barrilete, an adult bird that has been returning to the area since 2007 but I was over optomistic and all I managed to find was a smart looking adult European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) which Cosme put me right on, thanks.

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) Cosme tells me its a female.

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

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

Also seen in this during a walk from the north end right down to the southern point were Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Yellow-legged (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and hundreds of Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) most of which were down by the Fish Farm.

la Playa de Nemiña.

Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera).

Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera).

As I walked along the beach I found several clumps of Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle (Lepas anatifera), some on more natural objects then others, there was also some plastic waste but some was more of a sign of the times with masks and disposable lateral flow tests on the tide line.

la Playa de Nemiña.

Other species were Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) along with several Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) which were on the wing in the sunny areas. 

Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

My next stop was near the fish farm but on the other side of the Ria de Lires where I parked near the Cemetrey and checked the river where I found the long staying Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus) and in the same area there was a large concentration of 60+ Grey Herons (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), due to the fish farm I am guessing.

Pink-footed Goose (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus).

Pink-footed Goose (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus).

I also had a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) Male.

Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

I headed North to Lagoa de Traba where Several Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) and a male Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) had been around for a little while.

Male and Female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila).

Female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila).

I parked and walked out towards a hide I could see, on the way I picked up Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) but there no ducks at all on the lake I could see from the hide.

Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).

As I had already checked Google Maps I knew there was another pool so I took a rather soggy track down to another hide I could see off in the distance and found a good flock of Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and mixed in with them were a male and at least two female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) but I suspect there were more females but they were feeding enthusiasticly which made counting difficult and the male Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) came out with the flock for a few seconds but then disappeared back behind the reeds.

Culleredo in A Coruña and San Valentín, Ferrol and Encoro de Cecebre, A Coruña, Spain.

A Fawn Yawn in A Coruña and a few more bits.

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola).

I set off to a spot on the outskirts of A Coruña where an immature Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus) had been for a few days but with just some sketchy Information I did not expect to find it, there is not a great deal of rare bird info in Spain at the best of times but for some time now birders report birds on certain sites without pinning locations for some reason.

Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus) Immature.

Rosy Starling (Estornino Rosado / Sturnus roseus) Immature.

Anyway I got to the spot nearest to the Ebird pin which was helpfully put in the middle of the river, I parked and crossed the railway and walked along the river side Paseo where I found  Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and several Spotless Starlings (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

After a while I saw a group of Starlings in some Laylandi trees at the back of a Dia store and when I walked closer I soon found the not so Rosy Starling sat up on a cable, not one of the nice pink adult birds but the name from the 80sthe fawn yawn is more apt for this chap but still very pleased to find it.

Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) female.

My next stop was a few KMs to the North at Ferrol on the river at San Valentín on the more Southern side of the river where I started my search for a reported Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia) but I could not find it and only added Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba).

Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

I had a look on Google Maps and decided to check an area opposite on the Northern side of the river, so I crossed the bridge and parked on an industrial estate before I walked along a path which followed there shore of the river. On the way I scanned the groups of Gulls but only turned up the same species as before, I also found Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Perparus ater) and Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus). 

Bonaparte's Gull (Gaviota de Bonaparte / Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

I turned around and walked back towards the car but checked a group of around a 100 or so Black-headed Gulls and was pleased to find the Bonaparte's out on the water at the far side of the flock but it stayed distant and when a Runner came passed and flushed the gulls up it disappeared even though most of the others returned.

Encoro de Cecebre.

I moved on to my last stop of the day at Encoro de Cecebre a reservoir where I had popped into yesterday, I walked the track back down to the water and again found the flock of Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) still in the same area but more spread out which made picking out the other species easier. I found the two Lesser Scaup (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis), a male and female along with 2 male and at least one female Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila).

Fuente de Nava, Palencia Province and Encoro de Cecebre, A Coruña, Spain.

A Spanish lifer and a few other nice bit and pieces for the year list.

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) before the hunters arrived.

I left Santi's in Silos and headed to Fuente de Nava arrivining before dawn but did not see any owl species as I had hoped for on the way, I parked at the Observatorio de Corralillos and waited for the light to improve as I sat in the corner of the hide trying to keep out of the very cold wind.

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

The first species I saw in the air were several Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and I soon started to hear the Geese getting restless and soon they were on the move but they flew straight out right in between the two places I could park so I missed most of them and only saw Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) when the hunters arrived.

Great Bustard (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda).

Species seen in the area included Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Spotless  (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and several Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus).

I looked at the direction the Geese were leaving in so I decided to head to Laguna Boada de Campos, on the way I came across a group of 12 Great Bustards (Avutarda Común / Otis tarda) and a small flock of Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) but the light was still not great so I continued on to the Laguna.

Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

I parked at the point where it say no access beyond this point and walked to the hide, on the way I had several Greylag Geese, Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), a good sized flock of Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons).

I got up into the hide to give myself a break from the wind, I set up the scope and found good numbers of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) along with Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata) and White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia). 

Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons).

I retraced my way back towards Fuente de Nava again, I was surprised to find the Great Bustards and Common Cranes were still there and they behaved very nicely until a convoy of 6x 4x4 full of Hunters came by with the hands on their horns and yelling out of the window at me flushing everything, Assholes.

3x Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons).

As all the birds had settled way off on the fields I made my way back to Observatorio de Corralillos where a decent sized flock of Geese were feeding on the fields and when I scanned them I found most were as expected Greylags but mixed in the group there were 17x Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) and 2x Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) which were new for my Spanish list.

Other species seen before I moved on were Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina) and Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba).

Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons).

I left the site and hit the road for Galicia, the postponed part of my Christmas holiday but before I arrived I checked Encoro de Cebere, a resovoir where there had been Lesser (Porrón Bola / Aythya affinis) and Greater Scaup (Porrón Bastardo / Aythya marila) but as it was raining when I arrived I just took my bins with and found a way down to the water where I found a good sized flock of Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) and I could see some Scaup species in the flock but could not Id which from the distance.