Number of rarities this month

Citations / Citaciones / Com citar

NEOAVES

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

Whooper Swan* Cygnus cygnus(1,2)
(1) The adult found at Santoña NR, Cantabria on 29.12.2004 was still there on 1.3 (Juan Manuel Pérez de Ana). See a thumbnail here and a photo below, to 11.3 (Alejandro García Herrera)
(2) The three birds at Ria de Foz, Lugo, were still present in the area on 11.3 (José Antonio López Lozano).See a thumbnail here

Pink-footed Goose* Anser brachyrhynchus(1)
(1) One was seen at laguna de la Nava, Palencia on 3.2 (Enrique Gómez Crespo)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota (1)
(1) On 5.3 (David Calleja) and 8.3 (Xabier Remirez) a bird (see photo below) was seen at Plaiaundi, Txingudi, Gipuzkoa. On 6.3 the bird had moved temporally to the nearby Hendaia island, France (D.Calleja) but came back to Plaiaundi on 8.3. Photo Xabier Remirez (above) and David Calleja (below).On 12.3 (Oliver Pérez) and 14.3 (Gorka Gorospe) it was still there.

Egyptian Goose* Alopochen aegyptiaca (1). E species in the new Spanish list but still considered rarity since possibilities of C, D or A birds are considered, hence its inclusion here.On 10.3 there were 2 at Estuario do Miño, A Guarda, Pontevedra (César Vidal). See a thumbnail here

Green-winged Teal* Anas carolinensis and hybrid with Teal(1,2,3,4)
(1) The drake found on 24.2 at Racó de l'Olla, l'Albufera de València was still there on 28.2 (A.Castelló, J.I.Dies) and 4.3 (J.I.Dies) being last seen on 5.3 (José Luis Terrasa). See a thumbnail here
(2) A drake found on 27.2-1.3 at Marjal dels Moros, València appears to be a hybrid of this species and Teal (Toni Castelló, Toni Andrés, Ignacio Nebot)
(3) A drake was seen on 10-11.3 at river Miño, within Lugo city (David Calleja). See a thumbnail here
(4) A drake was at Clot de Galvany, near Santa Pola, Alacant on 30.3 (Malcolm Palmer, Keith & Val Hudson, Jules Sykes)

Mandarin Duck* Aix galericulata (1)
(1) Three, two drakes and a female were seen on 4.3 at Racó de l'Olla, l'Albufera de València (J.I.Dies). Supposed to be the same found there on 18.11.2004, they had not been seen sinc 20.1.2005.

American Wigeon* Anas americana(1,2,3,4)
(1) A drake was found at laguna de la Nava, Palencia on 4.3 (Enrique Gómez Crespo).Still there on 5.3, when photographed (Miguel Angel García Matellanes).See a thumbnail here
(2)A drake was found on 11.3 at RN Santoña y Noja, Cantabria (Alejandro García Herrera)
(3)On 1.3 there still were 3 drakes at ensenada de O Vao, O Grove-Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, Galicia, this being their last sighting (Xurxo Pinheiro)
(4) From 4-26.3 a drake was seen at Aldea Blanca, Gran Canaria, Canary islands (Yeray Seminario; Miguel Avelino, José Gracia, Eugenio Santana, Daniela Santiago)

Ring-necked Duck*Aythya collaris(1,2) 
(1) A fine , and apparently adult, male was on the Embalse de Rosa de Catalina García, Fuerteventura, on 27.2 (John L.Middeman, Letizia Herrera), presumably being the same male seen there in December. See a thumbnail here.
(2) The female at La Furta, Asturies, seen in previous months was again seen on 8.3 (Clemente Álvarez Usategui) and 10.3 (Elías García Sánchez)and 25.3 (Clemente Álvarez Usategui) 

Lesser Scaup* Aythya affinis (1) 
(1)The 1w male at embalse de As Forcadas, A Coruña, found on 2.1 was still there on 13.3 (A.Gutiérrez). It was already showing adult plumage (see below, right bird © Antonio Gutiérrez) and compare with previous photos in january page

NEOAVES

Presumed hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta (1,2,3,4) On 5.3 there was a bird (see a photo below and a thumbnail here ) at Guadiloba reservoir, Cáceres, Extremadura (Javier Prieta, Jesús Calle, Carlos Fernández & Pepe Guisado). Photos from Javier Prieta. The bird might have been there since july 2003.Notice also some similarities with a bird from the Canary Islands seen last month
(2,3,4) There are 3 different presumed hybrids at L'Albufera de València area by mid March. One of them, not featured before in this website is depicted below (J.I.Díes)

The Extremadura bird (J.Prieta)

The Valencia bird (J.I.Dies)

BALD IBIS *Geronticus eremita (1).3rd for Spain. What was undoubtedly the the bird seen at Extremadura on January (F.J.Pizarro quotes it from 1-6 December 2004) was relocated midday on 24.3 at Trujillo, Cáceres on top of the ruined Iglesia de Santo Domingo, near the town castle (Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays, John Muddeman, Javier Briz). It was photographed and showed no signs of captive origin. The observers consider it to be a subadult (probably a 2nd calendar-year bird -a 1st summer-) .See a photo below (Javier Briz) and a thumbnail here (J.Muddeman). The bird was still there on 25.3 (Jesús Porras) and 27.3 (C.A.Usategui). Some discussion within observers and research done in Spain might show that: a) this bird is different from that recorded last December at Piedrahita, Ávila, b) the correct way in which both birds feed, particularly the Ávila individual may talk of a wild origin since some authors think that captivity-bred individuals do not feed 'correctly' in the wild. However, these statements have to be yet confirmed with captivity-breeders, c) there would be c.700 birds kept in captivity elsewhere, d) three of the birds released last year in Cádiz province had gone lost but they were ringed with three rings, one metallic, e) the Cádiz province project responsables think that although the situation in Spain may be controlled, after conversations with the CITES responsables from Portugal, the Lisbon Zoo Bald Ibis collection curators and some Spanish bird keepers, they feel these two birds may well come from a private bird keeper from Portugal since there is no need of having the birds neither registered nor ringed in that country. 
These two cases then probably heading for 'D' category once reviewed and accepted (ed.comment).

Sacred Ibis  Threskiornis aethiopicus (1,2)
(1) On 10.3 a bird was found at Filipines marsh, Llobregat delta, Viladecans, Barcelona (Pedro Bescós). The bird was at the same site the following day, 11.3 (Ferran López; Ricard Gutiérrez). See a photo here
(2) A bird was at Son Navata, Felanitx, Mallorca, Illes Balears on 24.3 (Maties Rebassa). See a photo below.

Pallid Harrier* Circus macrourus (1,2,3).
1st overwintering known case in mainland Spain.At least from 14 february to 3rd March 2005 a 1st winter Pallid Harrier has been lingering around Marjal d'Almenara, Castelló (David Olmos Corral, Joan Capella). It was identified on the basis of the below photos when submitted to this web having been overlooked as another harrier. On 3.3 it was seen again and properly confirmed in the field as Pallid Harrier (Bosco Díes, Toni Alcocer, Toni Castelló). See two photos below (© Joan Capella). Know more about the Marjal d'Almenara (including bird records) here (website in valencià/catalan)The bird was still there on 9.3 (Miguel Tirado, Gregorio Ros; Isabel Oleander, Toni Alcocer).Still near Almenara ponds on 22.3 (David Olmos)
(2) On 25.3 a male was seen 1 km SW of the Delfià church, Alt Empordà, Catalunya flying S (Pete & Debby Saunders)
(3) On 29.3 evening an adult male was seen at PN Aiguamolls de l'Empordà near Estany de Palau (Pere Serrano). It was not seen subsequently despite thorough search (P.Serrano, J.Martí-Aledo, O.Clarabuch, M.Jiménez, T.Montràs, et al ).

The Almenara bird (Joan Capella)

The juvenile recovered in the Canary Islands in January (see january 2005 page). Note the similarities with the Almenara bird (Photo provided by J.A.Lorenzo/SEO-Canarias)

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (1)
(1) On 17.3 one was seen flying over la Mata del Fang, l'Albufera de València (José Luis Terrasa)

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus (1)
(1) On 9.3 an adult was seen at Entremuros, PN.Doñana, Sevilla/Huelva (José Luis Arroyo). See a thumbnail here

Lesser Spotted Eagle* Aquila pomarina (1)
(1) On 5-6.3 the bird that has being lingering around El Rocío, PN Doñana, Huelva sincel late 2004, was seen again and was photographed (José Luis Arroyo, Juan Gil, Samuel Peregrina et al). See a photo below and a thumbnail here (José Luis Arroyo)

Lanner* Falco biarmicus (1,2)
(1) On 27.2 a 1w bird was seen at La Janda, Cádiz (Eva Rojas, F.Javier de La Cruz)The same bird was seen again on 5.3 (Eva Rojas, F.Javier de La Cruz, Carlos Navarro, Rafa Romero)
(2) On 6.3 one was seen at Marjal de Pego-Oliva, València. It was a 1st winter erlangeri bird of unknown origin (Isabel Oleander, Bosco Dies, Toni Alcocer, José Ruiz)

Saker* Falco cherrug (1)
(1) An adult bird was reported at 1800 m high at Pineta valley, Ordesa National Park, Huesca on 26.3 (Freddy Rivas, Alicia Piolí).

Sociable Plover* Vanellus gregarius (1). 
On 3.3 a bird was found at Marjal de Pego-Oliva, València (Jules Sykes, Bill Brooking). see a photo below and a thumbnail here.The bird was still there on 5.3 (F.J.Llacer), 6.3 (Isabel Isabel) and 7.3 and showing well (Jules Sykes; Isabel Oleander, Toni Alcocer). The bird was seen again on 13.3 and 16.3 (Jules Sykes). There are more bird news on this site here (in Spanish) and here as well

Lesser Yellowlegs* Tringa flavipes (1)
(1) On 29.3 a bird was found moulting into breeding plumage at El Prado Hondo, La Redondela, near PN Marismas de Isla Cristina, Huelva (Antonio Aguilera). The bird remained there into April.

Bonaparte's Gull* Larus philadelphia (1,2). 
(1)The adult bird featured last month was relocated at Miño river mouth, Pontevedra, Galicia (César Vidal). See three thumbnails here. It was seen again on 31.3 (César Vidal) and this confirms it is a different bird from (2) based on pattern of ear-coverts of both birds (see a new thumbnail here)
(2) One, the same above?, was seen at playa da Xunqueira, Moaña, Pontevedra on 23.3 (José Ramón Gómez). See a thumbnail here

Ring-billed Gull* Larus delawarensis (1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
(1) On 3.3 there was a new bird at Ares beach, A Coruña: a 2nd winter that joined the almost resident adult in the area (Antonio Gutiérrez)See a thumbnail here
(2) On 4.3 there was a 1st winter-summer bird at Getxo harbour, Bizkaia, Euskadi (Gorka Ocio). See a thumbnail here
(3) The bird featured last month as present at Sant Antoni de Calonge, Girona was still at that place of Palamós bay on 6.3 (Miquel Angel Domingo) and 13.3 (Carlos Álvarez Cros) .See a thumbnail here. Still there on 20-28.3 (Miquel Angel Domingo) and it remained in the area into April.
(4) At the famous hotspot of Parque Isabel La Católica, Xixón, there were 2 adults and a 1w on 9.3 (Delfín González, Nacho Vega) and 12.3 (Daniel L.Velasco). See one thumbnail of one of the adults here On 10.3 there were six birds at Xixón area: three adults and three 1st w at Parque Isabel La Católica - Piles river (Elías García)
(5) On 1.3 there was a 2nd winter at playa de la Bola, Getxo, Bizkaia (Fernando Arce)
(6) One was at playa da Xunqueira, Moaña, Pontevedra on 22-23.3 (José Ramón Gomez). See two thumbnails here
(7) From 15.3 (José Bort) to 22.3 at least (Miguel Tirado et al) there was a 1st winter at Burriana harbour, Castelló. See a thumbnail here

Caspian Gull* Larus cachinnans(1,2) FIRST FOR SPAIN
(1) The first for Spain, a 1st winter found at ría de Avilés on 22.2 was still there on 1.3 (Pablo Fernández) and 2.3 (César A.Laó). A photo-page is in preparation.
(2)Incredible row of findings at the same area: Another bird at Asturies. An adult was correctly identified and seen at Serín rubish tip, Asturies on 17.3 (César A.Laó, Willy).

Iceland Gull* Larus glaucoides (1,2)
(1)On 1.3 there was one at playa de la Bola, Getxo (Fernando Arce) and on 4.3 there were 2 altogether at El Abra harbour, Santurtzi, Bilbao (Gorka Ocio).. At least one of them remained on 11.3 at Ereaga beach, El Abra, Bilbao (Gurutz Larrañaga)and still around El Abra on 28.3 (Karmelo de Dios)
(2) One of the Xixón birds was still at the harbour on 17-18.3 (Daniel L.Velasco)
(3)On 24.3 one 1st winter seen last mont was still at Embalse de San Andrés, Asturies (José Antonio García)

Glaucous Gull* Larus hyperboreus(1,2,3)
(1) One 2nd winter was seen roosting at one mussel-culture platform (batea) amongst dozens of Yellow-legged Gulls Larus michahellis at Raxó, Sanxenxo, Galicia, on 3.3 (Emilio Martónez Sabarís)
(2) A 1st winter coming from last month, was still at Burela, Lugo on 13.3 (Antonio Gutiérrez).
(3)On 24.3 a 1st winter/summer was seen at Embalse de San Andrés, Asturies (José Antonio García)

Glaucous Gull x Herring Gull* Larus hyperboreus x argentatus(1)
(1) The bird at Zeluán featured in previous months (see december and january pages) and photographed here  was seen on 1.3 at San Andrés reservoir, Asturies, half way between Zeluán where discovered and El Musel where last seen previously (Pablo Fernández)On 9.3 was still at San Andrés reservoir (J.Antonio López, Clemente Alvarez Usategui).See a thumbnail here. Also seen there on 10.3 (Elias Garcia).Still at Embalse de San Andrés, Asturies on 18.3 (Daniel L.Velasco) and 24.3 (José Antonio García)

Horned Lark* Eremophila alpestris(1)
SECOND FOR SPAIN. On 3.2 a bird was found within a flock of c.50 Skylarks at flooded meadows at Sebrayu, ria de la Villa, Asturies. It was still there on 2.3 (Pablo Fernández).On 16.3 the bird was exactly in the same corn field where initially found (Clemente A.Usategui).

Richard's Pipit* Anthus richardi (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 
(1)Three new birds reached Cabu Peñes, Gozón, Asturies on 2.3 now totalling 6 birds. These individuals are believed to be on passage northwards (César A.Laó)These birds were still there on 24.3 (Eduardo Amengual)
(2)On 3.3 there were 3 new birds at Verdicio, Gozón, Asturies (Jorge Valella)
(3) On 12.3 there was one at Cabu Nigru, Asturies, probably one coming from the overwintering flock seen in January (Elías García).
(4) On 14.3 there was a new bird at Ferrero meadows, Gozón, Asturies (Daniel López Velasco)See a thumbnail here
(5) From the party of 3-4 seen at Tancada area, Ebre delta, Tarragona by the end of 2004, at least one bird has been seen during march (Rafael Armada), e.g. on 19.3 (R.Gutiérrez, H.Arbonés)
(6) Two birds were recorded on 5.3 at the southern part of A Lanzada beach, O Grove (Ogrobe), Galicia (Galiza); on 24.3 the number of birds increased to five (Xurxo Pinheiro). At least three remained on 26.3 (Cosme Damián Romai, Atocha Ramos, Xurxo Pinheiro) and two were at the same place on 27.3 (C.Damián Romai)
(7) Another bird was observed next to a Water Pipit at Punta Silva marshes, Árdia, O Grove (Ogrobe), c.1,5 km N of A Lanzada on 27.3 (Xurxo Pinheiro)

Northern Mockingbird* Mimus polyglottos (1) FIRST FOR SPAIN
According to Danish sources, a male Northern Mockingbird, would be 1st for the Canary Islands and Spain has been present during the last week of March and up to 2.4 at Arguineguin, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Lars Sandberg)

Redpoll* Carduelis flammea cabaret (1)
(1) On 9.3 there were 4 birds at Cau de Llastres, Asturies where they were seen within a large flock of finches (Elías García Sánchez)

Lapland Bunting* Calcarius lapponicus (1). Two were at Cabu Peñes, Asturies on 14.3 (Elías García Sánchez)

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. From March 2005 news of Egretta alba, Plegadis falcinellus, Falco eleonorae, Porzana sp., Charadrius morinellus and Calidris temminckii are no longer included .icons are related to a new birding competition running in three areas of Spain during the year regarding rarity sightings. See more here (in Spanish) . 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 inusualesDesde Marzo de 2005 no se incluyen regularmente  citas de  Egretta alba, Plegadis falcinellus, Falco eleonorae, Porzana sp., Charadrius morinellus yCalidris temminckii  Los iconos anteriores se refieren a una nueva competición ornitológica que se celebra en tres áreas de España durante 2005 relativa a la observación de rarezas. Más detalles aquí.  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 Des de Març de 2005 no s'inclouen regularment  les cites d'Egretta alba, Plegadis falcinellus, Falco eleonorae, Porzana sp., Charadrius morinellus i Calidris temminckii. Les icones es refereixen a una competició ornitológica que es fa durant el 2005 entre Galicia, Asturies i Catalunya quant al nombre i diversitat de rareses observades. Més dades en castellà (llevat de la plana de l'equip català aquí) en aquesta plana principal del concurs. . Tornar a l'inici de la plana.