Rare
Birds in Spain 10th year in a row informing on first-hand news on rare birds in Spain. 'Proud to gather observations from all those who make this possible for the benefit of birds and birding'.
The only comprehensive easy-to-read website on rare birds in Spain
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus (1-2)
(1-2) Cantabria There were two 2nd winters at Santoña, Cantabria, on 7.12 (Luis Mario Arce, Elías García Sánchez y David Álvarez Fernández). See a photo below of the birds walking on the mud (L.M.Arce). Seen also on 8.12 (Ernesto Villodas). See more photos in his blog here.Seen again at Santoña on 25.12 (Delfín González). See a photo below. And a video from 25.12 below or here(Delfín González).
Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota (1)
(1) A Coruña . The bird found on 6.11 at Baldaio, A Coruña, was still there on 13.12 (Carmen Mouzo, Xabier Varela). Seen again on 22.12 (Xabier Varela)
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (1,2,3)
(1) Cantabria . On 3-4.12 a bird was seen at Embalse del Ebro from Requejo, Cantabria (Anuario de Burgos; Mario Alonso).
(2) Zamora. There was one at R.N. Lagunas de Villafáfila, Zamora on 5.12 (Juan Antonio Casado)
(3) Ávila. A bird was found at Laguna del Oso, El Oso, Ávila on 24-25.12 (Juan Carlos Marín). The bird was photographed on 25.12 at long distance (see a thumbnail here) and other observers told the author that the goose remained in the lagoon on 27.12 (Unai Fuente).
Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris (1)
(1) Asturies . The bird found on 6.11 was seen again at Ría de la Villa, Villaviciosa, Asturies on 22.12 (Clemente Álvarez Usategui).
American Wigeon Anas americana (1)
(1) Gran Canaria On 26.12 a bird that turned up to be a male (photo below) reached Aldea blanca, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, at Gran Canaria, Canary lslands (Eugenio Hernandez; Miguel Avelino).See a photo below (Eugenio Hernández). This bird may have been in the area since November 2009 (José García Monzón)
American Black Duck Anas rubripes (1,2)
(1) Lugo.The Pepiño American Black duck was at Ría de Foz on 3-4.12 (Luis José Salaverri). And 10-12.12 (L.J.Salaverri).
(2) León.There was a female or 1w of this species at Santa Cristina del Páramo irrigating pond, León from 11.10 to 8.12 (David Miguélez Carbajo).
Blue-winged
TealAnas discors (1)
(1) Lugo. There was a drake at the sea off Lago beach, Xove, Lugo on 25.12 (Ricardo Hevia). See a photo below. Still there on 29.12 (Toño Salazar)
Ring-necked
DuckAythya collaris (1)
(1) Lleida There was a drake at an irrigating pond at Alcarràs, Lleida, with more diving ducks on 15.12 (José Guerra, Marc Gàlvez).There is a youtube video here (José Guerra).Still there on 16.12 (Marc Bonjonch) and 18.12 (Sergi Sales).Seen again on 20.12 (Francesc Moncasí), see three thumbnails here.
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata (1)
(1) Pontevedra. An inmature was found on 12.12 at A Lanzada bay, O Grove/Ogrobe, with a Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis (Encarna González, Ricardo Ferreiro). Seen again at A Lanzada bay on 25.12 with a Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), a near-rarity (Cosme Damian Romay, Xurxo Pinheiro).
Smew Mergus albellus (1)
(1) Cantabria. On 28.12 there were 2 females/1w at La Riva, Pantano del Ebro, Cantabria (Manuel Estébanez Ruiz).See photos in the Miradas Cantabricas Blog here.Seen again on 9.12 (Mario Alonso et al, see more photos in his blog here).The birds were relocated on 30.12, when photographed again (Pablo Fernández García). See a photo below (P.Fernández)
Goosander Mergus merganser (1)
(1) A Coruña. One male was found at Ría do Burgo, A Coruña, on 25-26.12 (Antonio Sandoval). There are stunning photos in Antonio's blog here and here.
Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus (1) SECOND FOR SPAIN
(1) León.There was an adult male of this species at Santa Cristina del Páramo irrigating pond, León on 8.12 (David Miguélez Carbajo). This is a regular area for overwintering Lesser Scaups and Ring-necked Ducks.
NEOAVES
Pacific DiverGavia pacifica (1-2) FIRST & SECOND FOR SPAIN AND SOUTH EUROPE
(1-2) Cantabria There was a first juvenile, initially identified as Black-throated, at Santoña, Cantabria, on 7.12. A 2nd bird also seen and photographed the same day was also a Pacific and has been considered different by the authors. Both were heard calling one to the other. (Luis Mario Arce, Elías García Sánchez y David Álvarez Fernández). See a photopage here and a sample photo below (D.Álvarez). More news in David Álvarez blog here. On 12.12 one of those was seen again (Leandro Meléndez, Mario Quevedo, Maria Jose Bañuelos, Beatriz Blanco y Jordi Moya)
Pied-billed
Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (1,2)
(1) A Coruña on 4.12 a bird was seen at ría de Ortigueira, A Coruña (Ricardo Hevia). It is not the bird still being seen at Riocaldo lagoons, Begonte, Lugo.Seen again on 5.12 (Jesús Menéndez y Olga Mijón)
(2) Lugo. The bird at Riocaldo lagoons, Begonte, Lugo was still there on 5.12 (José Otero)
Presumed
Hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta (1,2)
(1) Valencia. A bird not seen with any of the featured this year at Albufera de Valencia was reported from marjal d'Albalat de la Ribera, València, on 3.12 with a party of normal Egretta garzetta (Miguel Piera).See a photo here (opens in another window).
(2) Valencia. A bird was seen at marjal de Sollana, near El Romaní, Albufera de Valencia, on 4.12, and it is very probably the bird seen there by late November (Miguel Piera). See a photo here (opens in another window).
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga (1,2,3)
(1) Alicante The Estonian eagle Tõnn was seen again at El Hondo on 1.12, see a photo below (Graham Critchell).Seen again at the same place on 5.12 (Graham Critchell) and 9.12 (Graham Critchell). It was seen again on 19.12 (Graham Critchell et al) and on 26.12 (Graham Critchell). See a thumbnail here. Relocated on 29.12 (Graham Critchell).
(2) Girona On 12.12 a bird was seen flying over Pedret pond, Pedret i Marzà, Alt Empordà, Girona towards Mornau, Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park (Àlex Ollé).
(3) Alicante The other Great Spotted Eagle (a subadult9 at seen intermitently at El Hondo these weeks, was seen again on 16.12(Graham Critchell).
Lanner Falco biarmicus (1)
(1) Tarragona On 5.12 (but not on 7 or 8.12) an individual was seen and videotaped at Tancada saltpans, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona (Begoña Rodríguez). Report already submitted to CR-SEO/BirdLife.See the two videos below and some vidcaps here. The bird was seen again on 7.12 at El Clot, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Delta de l'Ebre (Mikel Garcia, Javier Aizcorbe, José Gómez).
African Swamphen Porphyrio (porphyrio) madagascarensis (1) FIRST FOR SPAIN
(1) Lanzarote The individual of this subspecies of the Purple Swamphen sometimes regarded as different species found exhausted at at Gran Canaria on 2.10.2009 and released into the wild at Charca de Maspalomas, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria on 25.10 was seen in the island of Lanzarote (!) at campo de golf de Tías on 31.12, at 230 km distance and 54,56º NE direction. (Juan Sagardía; F.José García Vargas). See two photos below (F.J.García Vargas)
Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus (1) FIRST FOR SPAIN (Cat.A)
(1) A Coruña The bird found on 20.1 and seen again in March and until November was relocated on 13.12 (Carmen Mouzo, Xabier Varela).See a photo below (X.Varela). Seen again on 22.12 (Xabier Varela)
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius (1)
(1) Asturies One was heard and seen at Bañugues beach, Gozón, Asturies on 27.12 (Daniel López Velasco).It was seen again on 28.12 (Nacho Castelao, Marco García y César A. Laó).See three thumbnails here (D.López Velasco).
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (1,2)
(1) Gipuzkoa One was reported from Plaiaundi, next to French frontier, on 3.12 (Aurélien André).See a photo here (opens in another window).
(2) Alicante. On 29.12 one was seen at El Hondo reservoir, Alicante (Graham Critchell)
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans (1,2)
(1) Asturies The same bird seen last year from March to November at ría de Avilés was seen again on 17.12 (César Álvarez Laó). See a photo below (C.Álvarez Laó). The bird, a 3rd winter, was seen again, photographed (see a photo below) and videotaped (see video here and embedded below) on 27.12 (Daniel López Velasco)
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (1,2,3)
(1) Pontevedra The same individual reported during august and coming from June 2009 and probably 24.1.2009 at the ría de Vigo and seen again on 28.11 at Canido - Samil beach area, wasspotted again on 2.12 (Xulio Valeiras).This same individual was seen at playa de A Calzoa, Vigo, on 20.12 (Xulio Valeiras).
(2) Cádiz. On 12.12 a bird was seen at Chipiona beach, Cádiz (Pablo Barrena, Rafael García Costales).See a photo below. More photos in Pablo Barrena's blog here. Download a pdf document with more photos from this link or see a youtube video here (also available at Facebook Rarebirdspain group). Apparently, this same bird had been seen already from 30.11 until 2.12 at Chipiona harbour (Jorma Vickholm). The bird was still there on 15 and 19.12 (Rafael García Costales). According to local fishermen (pers.comm. to Rafael García Costales) the bird had arrived by mid November.See another photo below (R.García Costales).
(3) Huelva. On 24.12 one bird was found at Juan Carlos I pier at Huelva (Paco Chiclana)
BELTED KINGFISHER Ceryle alcyon (1) FIRST FOR SPAIN AND SOUTH EUROPE.
(1) Murcia.The bird at Murcia was not seen from 28.11 to 4.12 by local observers despite search but it was seen again on 5.12 (Antonio Fernández-Caro Gomez; Javier Noguera) and 6.12 (Richard Howard; Graham Critchell).On 6.12 it was fishing in the middle of the Mar Menor and it was seen around the mouth of Rambla de Albujones and around Club Nautico de Los Urrutias, c. 4-5 km S of the Rambla. See a thumbnail here. See a map of the area where it is being seen below (A.Jesús Hernández).Report already submitted to CR-SEO/BirdLife.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus (1,2)
(1) Málaga. A bird was found at Málaga city on 3.12 at Parque de Málaga,Cortina del muelle street (Samuel Peregrina)
(2) Lanzarote A bird seen last month at Uga, Lanzarote, was still there on 8.12 (Juan Sagardía). See two photos below and more in his blog here.
Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis (1)
(1) Gipuzkoa. A bird was seen at Plaiaundi, Irún on 14.12 (Marc Gàlvez, José Guerra).See a photo below and two thumbnails here (Marc Gàlvez). Seen again and photographed on 30.12 (Ricardo Rodríguez), see a photo below and three thumbnails here. See larger versions at Ricardo's blog here (R.Rodríguez)
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (1)
(1) Gran Canaria The bird at Maspalomas pond, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria found on 21.11 was still there on 5.12 (Miguel Avelino).The bird was still there on 12.12 (Miguel Avelino, Eugenio Hernandes Ramires).
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (1)
(1) Lanzarote There was a 1w at Salinas de Janubio, Lanzarote, on 7.12 (Juan Sagardía).See photos in his blog here.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus (1-9,10-13)
(1-9) Gran Canaria On 12.12 there were nine birds at Playa de Las Alcaravaneras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: (8 1st winter and a 2nd winter). One of the 1w had been ringed in France (Xabier Remirez).
(10-13) Gran Canaria There were four birds at Bocabarranco, Telde on 12.12: (2 1st w, a 2nd winter and an adult (Xabier Remirez). Two were seen also independently the same day at the same site (Miguel Avelino)
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla (1)
(1) Lanzarote There was a male at Campo de golf de Teguise, Teguise, Lanzarote, on 7.12 (Juan Sagardía). See photos in his blog here.
* Those species which are rarities only within the islands and are dealt with by CR/SEO are included here. Such records should be submitted to Juan Antonio Lorenzo at canarias @ seo.org
** Canarian records of species which are rarities nationwide are included in the main text in violet type.
*** Ringed birds in Spain have to be submitted and accepted by CR/SEO-BirdLife, according to Environment Ministery of Spain and the authonomous communities agreements, to be accepted as valid ringings in the national database. Otherwise, non submitted or rejected records will be deleted and ringings will not be included in national or international databases. Ringers not submitting rare bird ringings will be listed. Submitting ringing records is hence specially encouraged as a contribution to global bird knowledge..
REPORTS OF NON RARITIES OR FORMER RARITIES
Please consider the option to send reports of former rarities or interesting concentrations of non rarities to be featured in the Birdspain Blog, also linked in the homepage of this website.
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
All
birds featured in this page are rarities needing homologation by the CR/SEO
From March
2005 this webpage only includes records of birds needing homologation
by CR/SEO. For other local rarities contact local bird reports or records
committees. See here those rarities only for the
Canary Islands also dealt by CR/SEO. Changes in application to the rarity
list from January 2006. New rarities include Sylvia curruca, Crex crex,
Sterna bengalensis and others. Larus delawarensis and Anthus
richardi have been withdrawn from the rarity list and are not be included
from 2006.
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 for their knowledge if enough substantiated but inclusion in this page does
not imply acceptance or homologation of any kind which needs a form to be sent. 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
a icon. We would welcome to receive
a spare copy of those journals using these news for commercial purposes.
Contact RG at address at the front page. From April 2005 only news of rarities
needing homologation by the Spanish Rarities Committee are included. Reproduction
of the contents of this page in commercial websites (e.g. *.com) or for
commercial purposes is forbidden if not agreed in advance..
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 para su conocimiento, pero su inclusión
aquí no implica su aceptación u homologación de ningún
tipo y son responsabilidad de sus autores y del envío de la ficha correspondiente. 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 Abril de 2005 se incluyen
únicamente citas de rarezas que necesitan homologación
por el Comité de Rarezas de SEO/Birdlife. La reproducción
total o parcial de los contenidos de esta página está prohibida
en sitios web comerciales (p.ej. *.com) si no se autoriza de antemano. 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 i és responsabilitat dels seus
autors que haurien d'enviar la fitxa corresponent emplenada. 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.Desd'Abril
de 2005 únicament s'inclouen cites de rareses que necessiten homologació
pel Comité de Rarezas de SEO/Birdlife.La reproducció total
o parcial dels continguts d'aquesta plana és prohidia per a qualsevol
lloc web de caire comercial (e.g. *.com) sinó s'ha autoritzat de
forma prèvia. Tornar a l'inici de la plana.
Lamentablemente,
de momento no hay versión castellana disponible. Lamentablement,
de moment no hi ha versió catalana disponible.
Rarities
individuals
reported so
far this month
40
Only Canary Islands rarities
16
Gibraltar rarities
0
22 photos
4 videos
18 thumbnails
Rarity
distribution
DECEMBER 2009
(only national
rarities)
Rarity
forecast
according
to amount of data received per udpate
Number of
rarities individuals per month in this website in 2005 and 2006 Latest
highlights:
The Belted Kingfisher, again visible at Mar Menor, Murcia (Richard Howard)
The Lanner from Ebro delta on 5.12 (Begoña Rodríguez)
The Siberian Chiffchaff at Irun as on 14.12 (Marc Gàlvez).
The 1st-ever Ring-necked Duck for Lleida as on 20.12 (Francesc Moncasí)
The Estonian Greater Spotted Eagle that overwinters at El Hondo lagoon as on 26.12 (Graham Critchell)
The Bean Goose at El Oso laggon on 25.12, with a Greylag (left) (J.Carlos Marín).
Three images of the Spotted Sandpiper from Bañugues beach, Asturies, on 27-28.12 (Daniel López Velasco)
The Siberian Chiffchaff at Plaiaundi as on 30.12 (Ricardo Rodríguez)