17 December 2007 - Great Bustards (Spain Birding), Los Monegros
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Post A Comment!
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5 February 2008 - Bustards |
| Posted by alexnaturals |
| Wow! and I wasn't able to find one as a wished lifer!!! |
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5 February 2008 - Bustard |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Can you disclose where you saw them?
Are there (more or less) reliable sites in Monegros? |
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6 February 2008 - Bustards |
| Posted by stephenc1 |
Hi guys
Although I see up to 40 or 50 during the winter, I'm afraid this population is on a knife-edge and, as you obviously appreciate from your message, it wouldn't be a good idea to spread their whereabouts around on an open forum (although its no big secret). I don't even run tours to see them after the breeding season appraoches.
There's enough to see anyway for the rest of the year with the Little Bustard, sandgrouse, Stone-curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Red-necked Nightjar, Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Dotterel, etc. all putting in an appearance at some time or another. And last year we even had a Buff-breasted Sandpiper a few metres away.
All the best
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6 February 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Hello Stephen,
Are birdwatchers the reason they are doing so badly in Monegros? I would rather think that birdwatching (done in a responsible way, obviously) could provide an incentive for better protection.
Sincerely,
Jan. |
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7 February 2008 - birders offering protection |
| Posted by stephenc1 |
I couldn't agree more in fact that was one of my main motivations for setting up Catalan Bird Tours. The more people know about and frequent these fantastic locations and birds, the safer they are. But this case is a little different.
We're talking about may be two breeding pairs here and any disturbances, however responsibly intended, will not help them. In fact my decision not to visit during the breeding season was brought about after I accidentally flushed them whilst looking for sandgrouse sometime back.
Hope you understand. Do you go to the Monegros then?
All the best
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8 February 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Hello Stephen,
I was in Monegros in october 2006. I thoroughly enjoyed the Dotterels, Sandgrouse, Larks.... But I was apalled by the huge irrigation projects being developped, right in the areas where larks and Dotterels were still common. If I remember correctly, even with European money! From your comments, I conclude that Great Bustards are still breeding in Aragon? And I do understand your arguments!
Sincerely,
Jan. |
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17 February 2008 - Monegros |
| Posted by stephenc1 |
Yes there's a few ironies around as well as the euro financial contribution to the systematic destruction of the wildlife.
Incidentally, we were out there a couple of days ago and only found two male Great Bustard's feeding just before we left. Plenty of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse in the fields though, together with a flyover flock of Black-bellied. Little Bustard we found nearer to Lleida with yet more Pin-tailed but my best moment was a female Merlin sitting in a tree by the car. A few Hen Harrier about too.
All the best
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About Me
I now spend my life birding in Spain, taking every opportunity to head out on my own even when not working as a professional bird guide.
Most of the birding trip reports and photos will be from my local patch, The Garraf Massif and Llobregat Delta around Barcelona, but I also visit The Ebro Delta, The Steppes of Lleida, Los Monegros, The Pyrenees, Cap de Creus and Aiguamolls de L'Emporda.
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