Cabo de Ajo, Cicero, Polder y Ría de Escalante, Puerto de Santoña and Barrio Escalante, Cantabria, Spain.

A bit of perseverance pays off this time.

Ebird List for Cabo de Ajo.

Ebird List for Cicero.

Ebird List for Polder y Ría de Escalante.

Ebird List for Barrio Escalante.

 

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) female.

I started the day back up at Cabo de Ajo trying to catch up with the Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) I missed yesterday, armed with a bit more info from a kind lady on the local Whatsapp group I returned to the same spot I had been already but instead of only looking in the short turf areas I carefully checked the patches of longer grass and on my second circuit of the area I found the two females feeding in a large tussock of taller grass.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) female.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) female.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) female.

Snow Bunting (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis) female.

They spent quiet a while feeding there before moving out into a more open area which made getting some Photo's easier, after watching them for the best part of an hour I left them be and continued on birding picking up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), a Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) which looked odd sat halfway down the cliff on a ledge, another group of Balearic Shearwaters (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x3, Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) as well as a Narcissus species which if I was in the south I would call Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) but this looked different ????

Hoop-petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) ????

My next stop was back on the Marismas but at Cicero where I checked the estuary and surrounding tree from the boardwalk finding Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull, Black-necked (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis) and  Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit, Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Looking across to Santoña from the boardwalk at Cicero.

I  made my way back to Santoña and went into the bar for some food and coffee before making a stop at Polder y Ría de Escalante but as it had started to rain by now and the local council workers were strimming everything to the ground I stayed in the car, it was just a short visit and I only added Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) x11, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and a flyby Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

2 of the 4 Greater Flamingo's (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus).

Male Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

I went back to Santoña and did a short stint at the wooden decked area but as it was still drizzling I only took the bins and didn't see much except for a Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis) and what was probably the same Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer) as yesterday in amongst the boats again.

Looking black out to sea from Santoña.

Across the Marismas back towards Cicero.

The weather was getting worse so I decided to head for the accommodation early, on the way I quickly scanned one of the pools at the top end of the industrial estate seeing Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera) and Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

I continued on and after calling in at the supermarket I decided to check some wet fields near Barrio Escalante instead of heading straight back, I parked on the side of the road and scanned the hedges and areas of mud finding Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), lots of Western Cattle Egrets, Eurasian Wren, Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Woodpigeon, Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) and a single Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta) which was feeding on the far side of a very wet patch.

Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes).

I headed back to the Accommodation and as I was chatting with Leonor the sun came out for a few minutes and I had my third butterfly species of the year when a Small White (Pieris rapae) flew passed.

Canal de Boo y Marismas de Bengoa, Cabo de Ajo, Molino de Santa Olaja and Puerto de Santoña, Cantabria, Spain.

Another warm sunny day along the Cantabrian Coast.

Ebird List for Canal de Boo y Marismas de Bengoa.

Ebird List for Cabo de Ajo.

Ebird List for Molino de Santa Olaja.

Ebird List for Puerto de Santoña.

A cloudy start to the day over the Canal de Boo but the sun was out not long after I took this.

I started the day as usual with a couple of Coffee's in the Bar El Muelle before starting the birding along the Canal de Boo, it was still quite dull and cloudy after some heavy over night rain but that soon cleared and I was later down to a T-shirt again.

Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus).

I parked by the side of the Canal at a few different spots and scanned the water from the car finding Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) and a distant Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) over the back of the Marismas.

Marismas de Bengoa.

After a while I parked and walked the track out between the Canal and the Marismas de Bengoa, on the Marismas I found good numbers of wildfowl including Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Porrón Europeo / Aythya ferina), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and a single female Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula). 

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis).

Other species seen included Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Zitting Cisticola (Cistícola Buitrón / Cisticola juncidis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta).

Out on the Canal I also added Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Black-necked Grebe (Zampullín Cuellinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus) and Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Cabo de Ajo.

Cabo de Ajo.

My next stop was further up the coast at Cabo de Ajo where I was searching for but failed to find 2 reported Snow Buntings (Escribano Nival / Plectrophenax nivalis), on the way I saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto). 

Cueva de la Ojerada.

Cueva de la Ojerada.

Whilst at this very nice spot I did however pick up Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) on land and Balearic Shearwater (Pardela Balear / Puffinus mauretanicus) x3 and a few Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) out to sea.

Italian Arum (Arum italicum).

On the way back to Santoña I called in at Molino de Santa Olaja but the only new species seen and heard were Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada) and a couple of calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) as well as Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x2, Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Italian Arum (Arum italicum) and Common Daisy's (Bellis perennis).

Bahia de Santoña.

Bahia de Santoña.

I returned to the Puerto de Santoña had another coffee and then set myself up with the scope on the wooden walkway next to the Bullring and started to scan the Bahia de Santoña finding Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla) x800+, a single diving duck which I am fairly sure was a Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) but too distant to be sure, at least 11 more Great Northern Divers, Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis), European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) x2 and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), European Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) x2, White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba) and Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia).

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

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

Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) x2 and Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta).

After a good while I walked down to the part of the Port for the pleasure Boats and Yachts where I had good views of another Great Northern Diver and a couple of  Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis) which chased each other around the Jetties.

Puerto de Santoña.

It was now 17;00 so I headed back to my accommodation for the night.

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Great Northern Diver (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer).

Puerto Deportivo de Laredo, Observatorio de La Arenilla, Puerto de Santoña, Polder y Ría de Escalante, Canal de Hano and Playa de Berria, Cantabria, Spain.

A Spanish Lifer and some other good birds again.

Ebird List for Puerto Deportivo de Laredo.

Ebird List for Observatorio de La Arenilla.

Ebird List for Polder y Ría de Escalante.

Ebird List for Canal de Hano. 

My first views of the arriving Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

I headed out at 08:00 and it was still fairly dark but was getting better by the time I reached Laredo where I made my first stop of the day in Cafetería Pigalle where I had Coffee and a pinchos which set me up for a while.

Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula) on the next pier across.

I arrived at the port and parked before going for a long walk around the longest of the two Seawalls, as I went I picked up Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus),  Lesser Black-backed (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis) before I reached the end.

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

As I did get to the barrier at the end of the Seawall I picked up a gull in flight which I was fairly sure was the target Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula) and when it landed opposite me on another part of the port I was 100% certain it was as I could read the ring number through my scope.

Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

The bird then flew through the masts of the sailing boats and landed on one of the jetties before disappearing again.

Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).

I walked back around the port to the area where I had seen it but it took me another 2 hours or so to get better views but this time the bird sat brilliantly and allowed my self and the only other birder there to get some nice shots before flying off over the large seawall.

Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima).

I then walked back to the car adding Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis) and Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Thalasseus sandvicensis).

Lunch, Coffee and a mini French Omelette and Chorizo roll.

I moved on and made my way back to Santoña but stopped just short of there at the Observatorio de La Arenilla where I found the long staying male Common Eider (Eider Común / Somateria mollissima) fast a sleep, a Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gull, 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) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea).

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

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

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

Next I stopped for lunch in the bar on the Port and then went for a look of the sea front there seeing 5 or possibly 6 more Great Northern Divers (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus) and

Slavonian / Horned Grebe (Zampullín Cuellirrojo / Podiceps auritus).

Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor).

Slavonian / Horned Grebe (Zampullín Cuellirrojo / Podiceps auritus).

I returned to the car and went to the viewing point at Polder y Ría de Escalante where I set up the scope and scanned the Marses, Fields and Cliffs around me adding 2x Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Black-necked Grebe, Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) as well as my first two species of butterfly for the year Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) x1 and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) x3.

Male Green-winged Teal (Cerceta americana / Anas carolinensis).

I popped just down the road to the Canal de Hano bridge where I again soon found the male Green-winged Teal (Cerceta americana / Anas carolinensis), Slavonian / Horned Grebe (Zampullín Cuellirrojo / Podiceps auritus) but x3 today, Great Northern Divers x2, Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) and what I thought was going to be Razorbill (Alca Común / Alca torda) but turned out to be a more unexpected Common Guillemot (Arao Común / Uria aalge).

Common Guillemot (Arao Común / Uria aalge).

On my way back to my accommodation I stopped briefly at Playa de Berria but only managed to add European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) before I called it a day.

Spanish Lifer, Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula) in Cantabria, Spain.

Cape Gull (Gaviota cocinera / Larus dominicanus vetula).

 

This and the next shot were taken early in bad light.

It was first found by Gonzalo Pardo de Santayana at the Santoña fishing port on the 9th December 2024 and rediscovered by Alvaro Bustamante on the beach of Laredo on 3rd January 2025 and has been good enough to stay around until I returned to Spain from the UK.

I arrived on the Ferry into Santander on the 18th January but did some birding around Santander and Santoña that day but was at the Puerto Deportivo de Laredo just after first light and first Coffee stop.

I parked and walked out onto the longer of the two sea walls and just as I reached the far end the bird landed on the other seawall but close enough for me to get a few shots but as the light was still not great they are a bit grainy.

It then moved to one of the floating piers but was too distant for any photo's and the flew off and disappeared for the next couple of hours but I eventually refound the bird in better light and it sat on a boat and allowed my self and the only other birder I saw there to get some nice shot.