Rare Birds in Spain
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The Black Guillemot at Ría de Villaviciosa, Asturies. August-September 2009

An original observation from Adolfo Villaverde & Juan Zaldívar

Photos by Pablo Galiano, Manuel Quintana, Nacho Vega

Comments edited by Ricard Gutiérrez

Introduction 

On 31.8.2009, two simultaneous observers saw from different points of the Ría de Villaviciosa an stunning and extremely rare bird for Spanish birders: a Black Guillemot. Adolfo Villaverde, one of the observers (the other being Juan Zaldívar), quickly spread the news. A number of observers saw the individual the same day and took photos: Nacho Castelao, Marco García, Nacho Vega, Manuel Quintana, Xuan Cortes, Daniel López-Velasco, Pablo Galiano et al. The bird initially looked very worn and tired. It was seen attempting to feed on the crabs at the El Puntal harbour pier, at the end of the Ría de Villaviciosa area. Some authors (NV and others) thought that the bird had lost part of its waterproof capability. Comments from the harbour sailors to the authors may believe that the bird had been in the area at least for four days before the 31.8 (PV,NV,AV). The bird stayed in the area at least until 2.9.2009 (AV), when some visiting birders coming from out of Asturies failed in its relocation.

Initially aged as a juvenile, a careful observation of feather growth by Rarities Committee member Daniel López-Velasco, revealed the bird might well be a 1st summer (2cy) instead, favouring a natural arrival to the area instead the option of ship-assistance, pointed out by some other authors:

'Entre otras cosas, las secundarias, y sobre todo las primarias, estan bastante desgastadas y tienen un color marron clarito, tipico de los 2cy.  Un juvenil tendria que tener unas primarias menos gastadas y de un color más oscuro. Ademas, el color general  (tanto cabeza como partes inferiores) es probablemente demasiado oscuro para un juv, pero sobre todo el dato importante es el de las primarias'.

See a compilation of the photos of the bird below, provided from the above authors.

Photographs

Photos © Pablo Galiano, Manuel Quintana, Nacho Vega

Photo above:© Pablo Galiano 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Pablo Galiano 31.8.2009

Photo above:©Pablo Galiano 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Manuel Quintana. 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Nacho Vega. 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Nacho Vega 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Pablo Galiano 31.8.2009

Photo above:© Manuel Quintana. 31.8.2009

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Adolfo, Xuan, Nacho, Pablo and Manuel and all the observers who sent information to Rare Birds in Spain and made possible this webpage.

Citation
Villaverde, A., Zaldívar, J.,Galiano,P., Quintana, M., & Vega, N.,.2009. The Black Guillemot at Ría de Villaviciosa, Asturies. August-September 2009. Rare Birds in Spain. Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsf056.htm 

(© Manuel Quintana)

The Black Guillemot at Ría de Villaviciosa, Asturies. August-September 2009

Summary:
Introduction
Photographs
Acknowledgements
Citation