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NEOAVES

See also last month news for late updates or long-stayers

Mute Swan Cygnus olor. On 3.12 two birds remained at the Cal Tet lagoon, Llobregat delta, Barcelona (Ferran López). There was one at laguna del Camino de Villafranca, Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real on 6.12 (Juan M.Ruiz).Still there on 12.12 (J.P.Portillo)
 

Whooper Swan* Cygnus cygnus(1,2,3,4) The Whooper Swans at ría de Foz, Lugo were photographed on 4.12 (José Ardaiz, Lander Goñi).Still there on 7.12 (Alejandro García Herrera y Guillermo Rodríguez).and 8.12 (Alfonso López López, Ángela Molina Garrido). Arrivals with the late December cold spell affecting N Spain: (2) On 28.12 an adult was seen at Ría de San Vicente, Cantabria (Jesús Saiz, Paolo & Lucca Gianfriddo) (3) The same 28.12 a 1st winter was seen at ría de Capitán, Cantabria (Jesús Saiz, Paolo & Lucca Gianfriddo) (4) There was one adult at Santoña NR on 29.12 (see a thumbnail here) (Juan Gómez Navedo-SEO/BirdLife; Fernando Arce; A.Bustamante, G.Rodríguez)

Bean Goose Anser fabalis. On 24.12, four birds landed at laguna de Fuentedepiedra,Málaga (José A. Sencianes). On 27-28.12 they were still there (Antonio Tamayo, Paco Rios, Andrés Serrano, Francisco Botella, Juan Ramírez).
 

White-fronted Goose* Anser albifrons . There were 4 1st winters at Lanuna del Oso, Castilla-León on 6-8.12 (Galerida Ornitólogos Arévalo).There were four within a flock of 350 greylags at La Riva meadows, Pantano del Ebro, Cantabria (Javier Portillo).There were 8 at La Zaida lagoon. Zaragoza on 18-19.12 (A.García Herrera, F.Tejera, M.Sánchez Cobo).These birds had been seen already on 11.11.The four at pantano del Ebro were still there on 25.12 (José Pedro Portilo, Javier Portillo)

Brent Goose Branta bernicla.There were 3 at Cicero, Marismas de Santoña, Cantabria on 2.12 (David Calleja Marcos). The 1st-year bird previously featured in the November report was observed (and photographed) again amongst hundreds of dabbling ducks Anas spp. at O Bao marshes, O Grove (Ogrobe),Galicia (Galiza) on 4-5.12 (Emilio Martínez Sabarís, Cosme Damián Romay Cousido, José Ramón Gómez González, Samuel Paz Parracho, Xurxo Piñeiro Álvarez). Only one remained at Santoña NR on 13.12 (Juan G.Navedo-SEO/BirdLife). There was one at Ría del Eo, Asturies/Lugo on 22.12 (Pablo Fernández)
 

Egyptian Goose* Alopochen aegyptiacus(1)There were 3 of unknown origin at ría de Villaviciosa, Asturies on 5.12 (Lluis Calvin,  Eduardo Bonhome, Xuan Cortés y Bernardo Busto). Also seen on 6.12 (Lander Goñi, Clemente A.Usátegui, Xuan Zaldivar, José Antonio, J.Ardaiz). See a photo below (J.Ardaiz)Not there on 10.12 (J.Antonio García Fdez., Elias García, Ricard Gutiérrez)

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. On 3.12 there were two at laguna de Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real (Tom Gullick).The two birds remained at laguna del Camino de Villafranca on 6.12 (Juan M.Ruiz)and on 12.12 (J.P.Portillo)
 

American Wigeon* Anas americana(1,2) (1) Two drakes (one alternate adult and one "unmarked" bird, perhaps eclipsed or not adult yet) were observed and photographed amongst ~300 Eurasian Wigeons Anas penelope at O Bao marshes, O Grove (Ogrobe), Galicia (Galiza) on 4-5.12 (Emilio Martínez Sabarís, Cosme Damián Romay Cousido, José Ramón Gómez González, Samuel Paz Parracho, Xurxo Piñeiro Álvarez). See a photo below (José Ramón Gómez) (2)On 4.12 there was a drake at ría del Eo, Lugo/Asturies (José Ardaiz, Lander Goñi, Pablo Fernández)Still there on 7.12 (Alejandro García Herrera y Guillermo Rodríguez).

Ring-necked Duck* Aythya collaris(1,2)  (1)There was still a female at La Furta, Corbera, Asturies on 3.12 (Clemente Álvarez Usátegui) and on 4.12, when last seen (D.L.Velasco).(2) On 15-18.12 there were two males at Catalina García, Fuerteventura (Mattia Altieri) See a thumbnail here

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca  A drake was still at La Furta, Corvera, Asturies on 3.12 (Clemente Álvarez Usátegui). A presumed hybrid nyroca x ferina was seen on 6.12 at laguna del Acebuche, El Rocío, Huelva (César Sánchez, Ángel Gómez Mendoza, MªJosé Cambón, Miguel Rouco).On 18.12 there was a bird at Sada beach, A Coruña (Amadeo A.Pombo, Xabier Varela, Ramón Sineiro, Mariana Roura, Alfonso Campos, David Lista).A presumed hybrid Pochard x Ferruginous duck Aythya ferina x nyroca was photographed at el Acebuche lagoon, PN Doñana, El Rocío, Huelva on 13.12 (César Sánchez, Ángel González Mendoza, MªJosé Cambón, Miguel Rouco). See a collage below (Miguel Rouco).

Scaup Aythya marila.  On 11.12 there was an adult male at El Joyel marshes, RN Santoña y Noja, Cantabria (Alejandro G Herrera)On 12.12 a female was seen at embalse de Vilagudín, Ordes-Cerdeda-Tordoia, A Coruña (Xabier Varela Varela). On 24.12 (J.A.Ucha Turumbay, J.I.Perez, G.Salcedo) and on 26.12 the Santoña bird was still there (G.Ocio, Sergio de Juan, Begoña Valcarce, Yolanda Ozaeta, César Urruela)

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis. The 1st winter found at Zeluan on 12.11 was still there on 6.12 (G.Lázaro, A.G.Herrera, J.Ardaiz, P.J.Menéndez, D.L.Velasco, C.A.Usátegui,Lander Goñi).See a photo below (J.Ardaiz).Still there on 9.12 (Delfín González; A.López López, A.Molina) and on 12.12 (Elias García, Ricard Gutiérrez, Antonio Sandoval, Ana) and 14.12 (Clemente Álvarez Usátegui)to 30.12 (M.Antonio, I.Rodríguez, J.A.García Fernández, C.A.Usátegui et al).

White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala. Only extralimital records. On 5.12 a female was seen at laguna del Prado Hondo, La Redondela, Isla Cristina, Huelva (Antonio Aguilera Nieves). In the last 20 years there had been no records there.

NEOAVES
 

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. On 26.12 a bird was seen from Faro del Pescador, Santoña, Cantabria (G.Ocio, Sergio de Juan, Begoña Valcarce, Yolanda Ozaeta, César Urruela)

Great Shearwater  Puffinus gravis. On 19.12, one bird was seen flying W from Estaca de Bares, A Coruña, Galicia (Antonio Sandoval, Ana Torres). A late record.

Balearic Shearwater  Puffinus mauretanicus. On 7.12 there were c.700 birds off Cartagena harbour, Murcia (Paco Chiclana). On 4.12 there were 55 off Cap de l'Horta, Alacant (Elías Gomis). On 5.12 there were 255 (216+39) at the same site (Elías Gomis).On 2.12 there were 8 at bahía de A Lanzada, O Grove- Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, one more on 3.12 (Xurxo Pinheiro).On 4.12 there were c.350 about 100 meters off playa del Pinet, Elx, Alacant (J.José Ramos Encalado).c.240-280 birds were counted on 9.12 in the Atlantic, off Pontevedra, at Complejo Intermareal Umia-Ogrove, a surprising number given these winter dates and probably linked to abundance of food (Xurxo Pinheiro)There were 2 birds at the mouth of A Coruña ria on 10.12 (Xabier Varela Varela).Highest post-breeding count at Albufera de València coast: +488 birds on 21.12 (from 08:45 to 10:15); birds were due south in loose groups (J.Ignacio Dies, Raquel Marín, Blén Royo). On 11.12 there were 488 around Benidorm island, Alacant, flying E in small groups (José Santamaría). The same day, at cala del Xarco, La Vila Joiosa, Alacanmt, there were c.20-25 birds offshore (F.Camuñas, A.Zaragozí). On 21.12 there were c.10 birds off Garraf-Llobregat delta coasts, and two Mediterranean Shearwaters P.yelkouan were also seen (F.López, A.Ramal, R.Gutiérrez).There were 2 off PN Aiguamolls on 24.12 and four off Cap de Norfeu, PN Cap de Creus the same day (Ponç Feliu)

Great White Egret Egretta alba. Observations outside of regular site at PN Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona. There were one on 1.12 (Rafa Romero) and 2 at corredor verde del Guadiamar, Sevilla, on 2.12 (Paco Chiclana).There were 4 at PN Salinas de Santa Pola, Alacant on 6.12 (A.Jacobo Ramos). See more details on this sighting at Natur@licanteThere were 3 at Brazo del Este on 12.12 (Rafa Romero)There were 2 at Los Canchales reservoir, Mérida, Extremadura on 13.12 (J.A.García Jiménez)On 17.12 there was one at río Grande, Pizarra, Málaga (Todor Todorov).There were 4 at Brazo del Este, Sevilla on 16.12 (Daniel L Huertas). Four more were at Ejea de los Caballeros ricefields, Zaragoza on 13.12 (Javier Capalvo). A single bird was seen at Fuentecantos, Soria on 14.12 (Juan Luis Hernández).A bird was at Segre river, Lleida on 10.12 (Albert Gispert). There was a bird overwintering at Villafáfila, Zamora on 7.12 (M.A.García Matellanes, Alfonso Rodrigo, J.M.Pérez García).See a thumbnail hereThere was one at bassa dels Pollancres, RN Remolar-Filipines, Llobregat delta, Barcelona on 20.12 (Ferran López). And at Ejea de los Cabaleros there were 2 on 18.12 and 2 more at Tauste, both sites at Zaragoza (Fran Alcalá)There were 2 at El Trobal ricefields, Sevilla, on 24.12 (Paco Chiclana). There were 3 at Utxesa, Lleida on 26.12 (Enric Farré).One was at San Vicente, Cantabria, on 28.12 (Jesús Saiz, Paolo & Lucca Gianfriddo). On 27.12 there was one at Port de Pollença, Mallorca, Illes Balears (Manolo Suárez). There were 3 at Entremuros, Sevilla on 24.12 (Fran Romero). Four were at Cabezas de San Juan ricefields, Sevilla on 28.12 (Daniel L Huertas).There was one at Tejina ponds, NE Tenerife, Canary Islands on 25.12 (Ola Nordsteier)
 

Presumed hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret* Egretta garzetta x gularis and Western Reef Heron (1) A presumed hybrid was seen at Río Grande, Málaga on 17.12 (Todor Todorov). See a photo below.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus. On 4.12 there were 3 at Marjal d'Almenara, Castelló (David Olmos Corral)Still there on 10.12 (Enric Amer/Acció Ecologista Agró).and on 11.12 (David Olmos Corral). Over 700 birds were counted at Isla Menor ricefields, Sevilla on 11.12 (Paco Chiclana, Ricardo Martín-Baylo).A single bird was seen at dusk on 17.12 at Emb. de Arrocampo, Cáceres (John Muddeman)
 

BALD IBIS * Geronticus eremita (1).Astonishing observation of an unringed and perfect shaped adult inland in C Spain. From 17.12 (César Torrejón) to 21.12 at least (Miguel Rouco, Alfonso Rodrigo), an adult Bald ibis was seen near Piedrahita, Ávila.There is only a previous record of a female shot at Doñana area on 13.7.1958. See two photos below (Miguel Rouco). Seen on 22.12 (Angel González Mendoza) but not observed anymore from 23.12 onwards (Miguel Rouco).

White-tailed Eagle* Haliaetus albicilla(1) FOURTH FOR SPAIN. On 15.12 a 1st calendar-year bird was seen at Lagunas de las Cañas, Viana, Navarra at 11:00 AM (Joaquin Blanco). The bird left the area by 14-15:00 towards the NE, to Mendavía, Navarra (Ignacio Gámez; Oscar Gutiérrez, Javier Robres). It was relocated the following day, 16.12 at the same lagoon (Ignacio Gámez,Pedro Arratibel, Alfonso Llamas, David González Ortega). The bird was PVC ringed with a red ring in the right leg and another blue in the left leg. Three photos were taken (Alfonso Llamas). See a photo below and two thumbnails here.  Seen on 18.12 (X.Remirez, I.Gámez) But not there on 19.12 (Gorka Gorospe) Dr. Björn Helander, from Naturhistoriska riksmuseet Stockholm, Sweden comments on this sighting that the all blue ring visible in the left leg agrees with the age and ringing scheme program since it is a colour introduced in 2004. However the left ring appears black, but this is not completely sure. If so, this bird would be an individual from Sweden's Baltic coast ringed in 2004 and would become the southernmost sighting ever recorded of a sea-eagle from that breeding area. The only remote alternative would be a bird from Latvian origin.

Black Vulture Aegypius monachus. Only extralimital records. On 5.12 a bird was seen perched on a pilon at Cardedeu, Barcelona. It was wing-tagged with cream-coloured marks (Javi M.O.) The bird had been the day before around Banyoles lake, Girona: it remained at Pla d'Usall, Porqueres and the wing-tags mentioned above may well be decoloured feathers (Carles Feo Quer). It seems that had arrived there on 30.11 and may well be a bird from the Cevennes reintroduction scheme (ed.comment).
 

Lanner* Falco biarmicus(1,2)  (1)On 2-3.12 a 1st winter bird was found at Vistabella, PN El Fondo, Elx, Alacant (A.Jacobo Ramos).The bird did not show any sign of coming from captivity. See more details on this sighting at Natur@licante. See a photo below and a thumbnail here (2) There was a bird near the Corredor Verde del Guadiamar, Sevilla on 8.12 (Paco Chiclana)

Cream-coloured Courser* Cursorius cursor(1,2) From 4-7.12 one was found with a party of (overwintering?) Dotterels at Las Amoladeras, Cabo de Gata, Almería (Raimundo Martín Rodríguez; Manuel Sánchez/SEO-Almería).See a photo below. (2) On 8.12 a bird was found near El Clot de la Unilla area, Alguaire, Lleida (Jordi Moix). The 2nd for Catalonia. See a thumbnail here (Jordi Moix).Seen also on 9.12, when photographed (Rafael Armada) , 10.12 (E.Farré, G.Bota, O.Clarabuch, S.Sales) and on 11.12 (F.López,J.L.Copete, J.Castelló, Gemma, F.Capdevila; X.Dot,A.Cama,J.Vázquez; Q.Carballal,J.Moix, Jaume Bonfil)

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus.Probable overwintering flock.  On 2.12 there was a party of 28 birds (!) at Las Amoladeras, Cabo de Gata, Almería (Raimundo Martín Rodríguez), coinciding with a large amount of flying ants. Amazingly, they were near a Cream-coloured cursor seen the following day at the same area near 11 dotterels (R.Martín Rodríguez). On 6.12 there were 11 dotterels, the courser and a Golden Plover all within a single flock (Manuel Sánchez/SEO-Almería).

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima. Only Mediterranean records. On 9.12 there were 2 birds at Malaga river pier (Antonio Tamayo). These two birds were still there on 11.12 (P.Herrera, E.Alba, M.Peregrina, S.Peregrina) and 19.12 (Blás López, Paco Ríos, Fran Vázquez)

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii. There were 3 at Isla menor ricefields, Sevilla on 24.12 (Paco Chiclana)

Sabine's Gull Larus sabini. On 26.12 four birds (a 1st winter and three adults) were seen from Faro del Pescador, Santoña, Cantabria (G.Ocio, Sergio de Juan, Begoña Valcarce, Yolanda Ozaeta, César Urruela). 
 

Ring-billed Gull* Larus delawarensis(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)On 4.12  a first winter was seen at Plaiaundi, Irún, Bahía de Txingudi, Gipuzkoa (David Calleja Marcos, Javier Ferreres y Miguel Angel López de Armentia). See a photo below (D.Calleja) (2)There was a 1st winter at Sada beach, A Coruña, on 18.12 (Amadeo A.Pombo, Xabier Varela, Ramón Sineiro, Mariana Roura, Alfonso Campos, David Lista). (3) There was a 1st winter too at Pantin beach, Cedeira, A Coruña, on 18.12 (Antonio Gutiérrez) (4)On 18.12 a 1st winter was found at Mundaka, Bizkaia, Euskadi (Gorka Ocio). (5) On 16.12 an adult was found at Cedeira harbour, A Coruña, for it what seems to be its 3rd consecutive overwintering season in the area (Pablo & Antonio Gutiérrez). See a photo below. (6)A 1st winter was found at Salías, Ría del Eo (Lugo/Asturies) on 8.12 (Pablo Fernández García).  (7)There was a 1st winter at Santurtzi harbour, Bizkaia on 21.12 (Gorka Ocio) (8)On 21.12 one adult was found at La Magdalena park, Santander, Cantabria (Guillermo Rodríguez) (9) There was a 1st winter at Cariño beach, A Coruña (Antonio Gutiérrez) (10) A first winter was at ría de Foz, Lugo, on 20.12 (Clemente A.Usátegui, Daniel L.Velasco). See a thumbnail here (11) An adult was found on 29.12 at El Rinconín, Xixón beach, Asturies (Elías G.Sánchez, Pedro J.Menéndez, Daniel L.Velasco) See a thumbnail here (12) There was one 1st winter at El Abra, Bilbao on 28.12 (Gorka Ocio)

Iceland Gull* Larus glaucoides (1,2.3,4,5) Small influx after N cold spell by the end of the month. (1) A 1st winter was found at Zeluán, Asturies on 28.12 (Elías García, M.Enrique Carballal del Valle, Pedro José Menéndez, César A. Laó). See a photo below and a thumbnail here.Seen again on 30.12 (D.L.Velasco et al, Ivan Rodríguez, Clemente Álvarez Usátegui) (2) On 27.12 another 1st winter was found at Ares beach, A Coruña, Galicia (Antonio Gutiérrez, Pablo Gutiérrez). See a photo below and a thumbnail here (3) Another 1st winter was at Ondarroa harbour, Bizkaia on 28.12 (Jon Hidalgo) (4) On 30.12.2004 a 2nd bird of 1st winter was found at Zeluán, Asturies, being photographed and told from (1) onthe basis of bill colours  (Daniel López Velasco). See a photo below (Daniel López Velasco) and compare with bird (1) (5) A 1st winter was seen on 30.12 (Mikel Etxaniz, Pedro Arratibel) and 31.12 at laguna de San Lorenzo, Plaiaundi, Irun, Gipuzkoa. It stayed into 2005,when photographed (David Calleja Marcos, José María Gimón).

Little Auk Alle alle. On 7.12 a bird was found dead at playa de Salinas, Asturies (Daniel López Velasco). See a thumbnail here.On 17.12, one was seen flying W off Punta Mirallos, Tapia, Asturies (Pablo Fernández).On 21.12 one was seen at the harbour of Santurtzi, Bizkaia, both on the water and on a ramp. It was possibly carrying a ring (Gorka Ocio)It died the following day (J.Menéndez; G.Ocio).
 
 

Richard's Pipit* Anthus richardi (1,2,3,4)  (1) The birds found on 24.10 at Cabo Peñes, Gozón, Asturies were 10 on 6.12 (G.Lázaro, A.G.Herrera, J.Ardaiz, L.Goñi, P.J.Menéndez, D.L.Velasco, C.A.Usátegui).See a thumbnail of one of the birds here (J.Ardaiz).At the same place, 9 birds on 9.12 (Delfín González) and +11 birds on 10.12 (Elías García, Jose Antonio García Fernández, Ricard Gutiérrez). See a videocapture below and more here (R.Gutiérrez) (2)There were at least 2 on 12.12 (Albert Cama) and at least 3 different at Erms de la Tancada, Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona on 15.12 (Ricard Gutiérrez, Emma Guinart, David Camps). The area is holding these days four bird (David Bigas, com.pers.). See a thumbnail here (3) On 14.12 a bird was found at Besós river mouth, Sant Adrià del Besós, Barcelona (X.Larruy).See a thumbnail here. The bird was still there on 15.12 (Quique Carballal) and on 29.12 (Xavier Larruy) (4) At Marjal d'Almenara, Castelló, a bird was photographed on 8.12 (Joan Capella). See a thumbnail here

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus. On 2-3.12 a bird was found at Vistabella, PN El Fondo, Elx, Alacant (A.Jacobo Ramos).See more details on this sighting at Natur@licante

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. A bird was seen within a flock of 40 Skylarks at Salave meadows, Tapia, Asturies on 17.12 (Pablo Fernández García).See a thumbnail here.There were 2 at Salinas beach, Asturies, on 30.12 (Daniel López Velasco)

Suggested citations / Citaciones recomendadas / Citació recomanada:

• Whole document/ Documento entero/ Document sencer: Gutiérrez,R. (ed) (year, latest update), Recent Reports: [month year]. Rare Birds in Spain. Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsr000.htm 
• e.g. Gutiérrez, R. (ed) (2002, April 3). Recent Reports: April 2002. Rare Birds in Spain.Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsr000.htm 
• Single records/ Citas sueltas/ Cites aïllades: Author (year). [Species] in Gutiérrez,R. (ed) (year, latest update), Recent Reports: [month year]. Rare Birds in Spain. Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsr000.htm 
• e.g. Rebassa, M. (2002) Great White Egret Egretta alba in Gutiérrez, R. (ed) (2002, April 3). Recent Reports: April 2002.Rare Birds in Spain. Retrieved from http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsr000.htm

Recent reports includes the latest sightings from the whole of Spain which are both personal observations, communications or have been released in E-Mail lists. Please contact the authors before using any photo for anything else than personal reference. Any submitted news to this page will be forwarded to the Spanish RC if enough substantiated but inclusion in this page does not imply acceptance or homologation of any kind. Gibraltar news are included thanks to Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society but this has no more implication than the sake of completeness given this area situation. Names of localities are featured as given by the authors of the records, that should be cited as those. Today news are marked with .From 2004 on news on Pied Wagtail and Caspian Tern are no longer included except in case of major unusual concentrations .Go back to top

Citas recientes incluye las últimas novedades del conjunto del país que tanto son observaciones personales, comunicaciones al autor o noticias difundidas en listas de correo. Por favor contacten los autores para cualquier uso de las fotografias fuera del estrictamente personal.Cualquier cita que se envie a esta página sera reenviada al CR/SEO pero su inclusión aquí no implica su aceptación u homologación de ningún tipo.Los nombres de las localidades se incluyen como son enviadas por los colaboradores, que deben ser citados como autores de las citas. Las noticias más recientes se marcan con .Desde enero de 2004 no se inluyen citas de lavandera blanca enlutada ni de pagaza piquirroja excepto en casos de grandes concentraciones inusuales Ir al inicio de la página

Cites recents inclou les darreres novetats del conjunt de l'estat que són observacions pròpies, comunicacions o noticies difoses a llistes de correu. Si us plau contacteu amb els autors de les fotos per a a qualsevol ús fora de l'estrictament personal. Qualsevol cita que sigui enviada a aquesta plana serà rebotada també al CR/SEO si bé la seva publicació aquí no implica la seva aceptació o homologació de cap mena. Els noms de les localitats són posats tal i com són enviats pels autors, que han de ser referenciats com a autors de les cites. Les notícies més recents són les marcades amb .Des de gener de 2004 no s'inclouen cites de cuereta blanca endolada ni de xatrac gros llevat de possibles casos de concentracions inusuals. Tornar a l'inici de la plana.