Rare Birds in Spain
Photos

Killdeer at Galicia, November 2007 - January 2008

Photos by Xabier Varela, José Ramón Gómez, Pablo Gutiérrez, Samuel Paz, Daniel López Velasco & Ferran López

Comments edited by Ricard Gutiérrez

Introduction 

On 24.11 a Killdeer was located at river Mero, Abegondo-Cecebre reservoir, A Coruña (Xabier Varela, Alfredo Álvarez). This would be the 3rd for Galicia (after records at O Porriño and Baiona) but so far there are only two accepted records for Spain up to 2004. Seen again on 25.11 (Jorge Valella, Pablo Fernández, José Guerra, Pablo Miranda, Pedro J Menéndez, Ricardo Hevia, José Miguel Pumar, Tito Salvadores, Cosme Damian Romai, Daniel López Velasco) and on 26.11 (Clemente Álvarez Usategui, José Antonio García Fernández).On 27.11 some stunning photos (see below) were taken (Pablo Gutiérrez, Amadeo Pombo, José Luis Rabuñal). It remained into December. Until the end of November, c.35 birders had twitched the individual, quite a score for Spanish standards. It appeared in the local press and a comment on this was published in the Rarebirdspain blog here.

By early December the bird went unnoticed and dissapeared for some days. It remained visible on 1.12 (M.A.Fernández, J.Sanromán, G.Rodríguez, L.Mario Arce), but it was seen intermitently afterwards: 8.12 (Cesar Urruela, Yolanda Ozaeta, Gorka Ocio), 13.12 (Pablo Gutiérrez) and last seen on 14.12 (Xabier Varela). It was not until 28.12, when many people thought it was gone that it was rediscovered at the same place (Amadeo Pombo).It was seen again on 30.12 (Xabier Varela) and it stayed in the reservoir into 2008. Changes in the water level and feeding habits of the bird had prevented a more regular recording. Directions on how to find the individual were published in early January in the Rarebirdspain blog here.

On 6.1 the bird was found again (Xabier Varela) and by 17-18.1 new photographs were taken (see below). An increase in the water levels of the reservoir by 20.1.2008 will probably reduce the available feeding area for the bird that may dissapear shortly. Last photographed at the reservoir on 20.1, it was relocated five days later, on 26.1, at Ensenada da Insua, Ponteceso, c. 53 km to the W of the reservoir (J.L.Rabuñal). This is an account of the published photos of this interesting sighting.

Photographs

Photos from Killdeer at Galicia by ©Pablo Gutiérrez,©Xabier Varela ©Daniel López Velaco, ©Samuel Paz ©José Ramón Gómez and ©Ferran López. More photos in the Xabier Varela blog here.

November 2007

Photo above: Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 27.11.2007 (Pablo Gutiérrez)

Photo above: Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 27.11.2007 (Pablo Gutiérrez)

January 2008 Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 17.1.2008 (José Ramón Gómez)
Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 18.1.2008 (Xabier Varela)

Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 18.1.2008 (Xabier Varela)

Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 17.1.2008 (José Ramón Gómez)

Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 18.1.2008 (Xabier Varela)

Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 17.1.2008 (José Ramón Gómez)
Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 20.1.2008 (Ferran López)
Killdeer, Cecebre reservoir, Abegondo, A Coruña Galicia. 20.1.2008 (Ferran López)

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Xabier Varela, Pablo Gutiérrez, José Ramón Gómez, Ferran López, Dani López Velasco and all the observers who sent information to Rare Birds in Spain and made possible this webpage.

Citation
Varela, X., Gómez,J.R, Gutiérrez,P., Paz,S.,López Velasco, D.& López, F.2008. Killdeer at Galicia: November 2007 - January 2008. Rare Birds in Spain. Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsf052.htm 

(©Daniel López Velasco)

Summary:
Introduction
Photographs
Acknowledgements
Citation

Above: 28.11.2007 (©Samuel Paz)




Above: 25.11.2007 (©Daniel López Velasco)