Snow Finches (Montifringilla nivalis) at la Molina - Castellar de n'Hug, Catalonia, March 2003 

Photos and text by Ricard Gutiérrez 

Introduction

On 3.3.2003 the areas near La Molina sky resort were fully covered by snow (see thumbnails in this page). The road between La Molina, Cerdanya county and Castellar de N'Hug, Berguedà, both at Catalonia Pyrenees, was open. This road (see the map below, the black grid has a 5km side) is in the Eastern limit of Parc Natural Cadí-Moixeró, and it is one of the known overwintering areas for Snow Finch in NE Spain. 

Travelling by car along the road by midday produced eight 'waypoints' featuring contacts with either the Snow Finch (coded as M) or Alpine Accentor (Prunella modularis) the other present species (coded P in the labels). Each waypoint features a number followed by a letter for any of the two interesting species and a number meaning the amount of birds observed of each species. A total of 10 Alpine and 25 Snow Finches were counted. See the photos of the latter below. 

Photographs

All photos depicting Snow Finches in waypoints 02M8P3 (see above map) by © Ricard Gutiérrez photographed using digital camera Agfa e-photo 1680 through Kowa TSN824 at 60x, on 03.3.2003. 

Snow Finch (Montifringilla nivalis). La Molina - Castellar de n'Hug, Catalonia, 3.3.2003 (Photos © Ricard Gutiérrez) 
Gorrión Alpino (Montifringilla nivalis). La Molina - Castellar de n'Hug, Catalunya, 3.3.2003 (Fotos © Ricard Gutiérrez)
Pardal d'ala blanca (Montifringilla nivalis). La Molina - Castellar de n'Hug, Cerdanya -Bedrguedà ,3.3.2003 (Fotos © Ricard Gutiérrez)

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Summary:
Introduction
Photographs
Acknowledgements

Panorama of the road between La Molina and Castellar de N'Hug on 3.3.2003 at waypoint 02M8P3 the first heading NW the lower heading SE. Almost all the area except road sides was covered by snow. Photos were taken from this position out of the authors car (also featured :-) )
Photos © Ricard Gutiérrez