30 September 2008 - Spain Birding: September 2008 Summary
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Barcelona and the wetlands of Llobregat and Ebro Delta
September sees the real start of the raptor migration down the coast and, if you're anywhere near Barcelona, that means regular visits to the raptor viewpoints at Collserola Park. The usual overhead array of southbound Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Hobby are joined by the occasional Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Black Stork and, this year on the final day of the month, a quite amazing Greater Spotted Eagle (to be ratified).
Some of these, especially Osprey and Marsh Harrier, also take the lowland route through the Llobregat wetland reserves and are often joined by Montagu's Harrier, the last of which was seen on the 16th at Remolar-Filipines and on the 18th hugging the Garraf coastline.
Many passerines are also passing through at this time of year of course and Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler can be seen at most sites, joined by coastal accumulations of spanish Yellow Wagtail and Roller (last seen on 19th in Llobregat and on the 20th in the Ebro Delta, where a single individual put on a spectacular blue-flashing, bug-catching, car-side display).
Last entries for Little Bittern (10th), Squacco Heron (20th) and Purple Heron (20th, mostly juveniles latterly) were also recorded, although the latter two species in particular are increasingly seen over winter. Many such as Reed and Great Reed Warbler won't finally leave until next month of course and resident breeders like Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Common Waxbill and Penduline Tit were seen to gradually spend more time at Llobregat as the month progressed.
“Brilliant. Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable day in Barcelona.
Without your help and experience we would never have been able to find those sites. The day was a perfect contrast to the inevitable hustle and bustle of the city and yet just 15 minutes on the metro to your pick-up point."
Betty & John Winnard, U.K. (Llobregat and Collserola, Barcelona)
Joining them, even at this early juncture, ready for the onset of winter, were Black-necked Grebe (although a stunning summer-plumaged individual was seen on the Ebro Delta on the 9th), Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Common Snipe and, amongst the many thousands of arriving ducks, you may pick out a brief passage visit, as we did, from the regal Northern Pintail.
The advance of the month sees a change in another duck as the moulting Red-crested Pochard were first seen coming out of their eclipse and into the splendour of their full breeding plumage from the 20th. This day, on the Ebro Delta, also saw the famous Western Reef Heron x Little Egret hybrid at close quarters, up to 100 Glossy Ibis feeding in a nearby muddy field, flocking Lesser Short-toed Lark, a rather ill Hobby sulking in a tree, several fish-eating Osprey and the first sighting of one of my most eagerly-awaited winter arrivals, the enigmatic and surprisingly cryptic Bluethroat - singing!
The usual seabirds - including Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Tern and juvenile Black Tern - were visible throughout and most species of European wader were quite easily picked off, especially on the Ebro Delta. Particular highlights however were one or two Temminck's Stint close at hand, a cluster of three Marsh Sandpiper (9th) and the continuation of the rather incredible influx of vagrant Pectoral Sandpiper that Catalonia, and Spain for that matter, has seen over the past few weeks (last sighting, 20th).
"We thoroughly enjoyed our three days with you. You certainly know your Spanish birds and where to find them. An additional plus was the fact that our birding treks with you took us to some interesting off-the-beaten-track locations. Thanks for a very productive birding experience."
Julian & Lynn Lee, New Mexico (Ebro Delta, Steppes, Llobregat, Garraf)
Away from the wet - the Steppes and the Garraf Massif
The departure of Black Kite from the Steppes are timed perfectly to accommodate their Red Kite cousins dropping into the lowlands to occupy the same niche for the winter. Similarly Montagu's Harrier, a male and female last seen on the 8th, move over for the imminent arrival of Hen Harrier as they sprawl over the countryside.
Golden Eagle too, mostly white-windowed first-winters and other immatures, are evicted into the massive expanse of non-irrigated flatlands and are joined by Griffon Vulture and of course the usual movement of migrant hawks, buzzards, falcons and eagles. The highlight was a rather late and beautifully lit male Lesser Kestrel refusing to take flight from the car-side on the 23rd.
The even-closer Little Owl put on regular performances of doing nothing but staring as they believed themselves to be camouflaged against rock and ruins but their stillness was contrasted with the antithesis of scampering flocks of Dotterel, observed in the same loyal patches year after year.
But of course it's always the steppe birds that hold centre stage and the disappointment of my first two visits was finally melted away by the sight of eight male Great Bustard having arrived at their wintering grounds in Los Monegros, their tail fluffing and wagging presumably an assertion of hierarchy as the group builds in numbers and settles in for the winter. Now they will be easily found until at least February.
September is a difficult month for Little Bustard however as the disadvantages and consequences of their moult renders them harder to find, as is the case with Stone-curlew (Eurasian Thick-knee) as their numbers shrink as the month grows older and expand instead at coastal sites. Black-bellied Sandgrouse, on the other hand, were generous in their presence, even if they didn't always provide us with the thrill of close ground views, and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse only failed us on one occasion. The intricate feather-detail of this bird on the ground is truly a sight to behold.
No danger either of disappointment from the representatives of the Alaudidae, with Calandra, Thekla, Crested, Sky-, Wood- and both Lesser and Greater Short-toed Larks all putting in regular appearances and, on the 23rd, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike put in a farewell appearance on behalf of its species.
We were similarly accommodated by the residents of the Garraf Natural Park, with Bonelli's Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Blue Rock Thrush, Southern Grey Shrike, Crested Tit, Rock Bunting and Rock Sparrow all making us feel welcome. Audouin's Gull and resting mediterranean Eurasian Shag were also regular highlights and there were last-sightings for Bee-eater (19th), Golden Oriole (10th) and Red-rumped Swallow (10th), two juvenile of which were perched on a cable above the car and confirmed a good year for this localised and uncommon breeder.
“We had a great day! When we’re back in the area I'll be sure to get in touch.
Our main target species was Great Bustard and we got excellent views of a number of birds, both on the ground and in flight. In addition we also saw several firsts for Europe - Bluethroat, Calandra Lark, Purple Swamphen and Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
All in all, a fascinating and enjoyable day with a knowledgeable and interesting guide. The hurried (FREE add-on tour!) visit to Llobregat at the end of the day was a definite bonus.”
Julie and Chris Dawson, U.K. (Steppes and Llobregat)
The Emporda
I only had the opportunity to visit this area once in September but a short adventure in the hinterland of the Cap de Creus Natural Park on the 24th threw up most of the usual migrant passerines together with a number of entertaining Pallid Swift and Woodlark.
Most of the day was spent in the Aiguamolls de L'Emporda however and it couldn't have started - or the month ended - much better with no less than twenty species sharing a small pool overlooked by a raised hide. Initially a Glossy Ibis was the star attraction, with Spotted and Common Redshank, Green, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Snipe and Greenshank all scuttling about the shallows and water-edges around it like a gathering of awe-struck teenagers.
But a sneaky entrance from not one but two bold Water Rail soon upstaged them all and the opportunity to study its plumage and feeding habits for over half an hour was only challenged for excitement by an absolutely pristeen Bluethroat flying in and landing right by the side of one of them.
Several attempts to tear ourselves away failed but we were rewarded, when we finally did so, by Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and a swarm of nervous Linnets seemingly unable to decide just where to settle for a late breakfast. Other moments to mention were yet more migrating raptors including Honey-buzzard and Short-toed Eagle, a small group of mainly juvenile Red-rumped Swallows hawking over the fields around Tres Ponts and a field of cryptic Stone-curlew appearing like magic one by one until a passing truck encouraged take-off - and there was almost 100 of them!
“Just a quick note to thank you for a nice day in the field. You certainly nailed some good spots and id’d many species that I would have missed or been totally unable to make out.
This was a nice itinerary, ideally varied for someone like me. I'll give you a pre-advice of when I will be back in Barcelona.”
Mark Harris, USA (Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls)
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