The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

Ebro Delights

A friend Sam Shippey recently drove us to the Ebre Delta for a days bird watching.
We turned off from the N340 at Sant Carles de la Rápita and headed along the road to the La Tancada, stopping at various places where we saw some bird activity.

Note – I´ve given the Castellano names for the birds after the English names.

Our first stop was to admire some Slender Billed Gulls (Gaviota picofina) resting amonst the more numerous Black Headed Gulls (Gaviota reidora). The rosy breasts of the Slender Billed Gulls stood out in the early morning sunshine.
Other birds in the area were one Caspian Tern (Pagaza piguirroja) sitting with Sandwich Terns (Charrán patinegro). the old salt pans were good feeding places for a variety of waders – some 50 or so Spotted Redshanks (Archibebe oscuro) , 15 Greenshanks (Archibebe claro), smaller numbers of Curlew (Zarapito real),Common Redshank (Archibebe común),Dunlin (Correlimos común) and a couple of Common Sandpipers (Andarrios chico).

Another place we stopped was were Sam had counted over a hundred Great White Egrets (Garceta grande) on a recent visit.
There were not as many today, but still at least 40 or 50 birds.

Grey Herons (Garza real), Cattle Egrets (Garcilla bueyera) and Little Egrets (Garceta común) were everywhere, and there were some more Common Sandpipers (Andarrios chico) feeding along the ditches, in company with lots of White Wagtails (Lavandera blanca).

We then travelled along the sandy spit leading to the Observation Tower at Punta del la Banya. At least 150 Mallard (Anade azulón) were resting on the spit and three Grey Plovers (Chorlito gris). Then we noticed another bird sitting on the ground?
It turned out to be a juvenile Merlin (Esmerejón), it looked fairly tired, perhaps just flown in.
Arriving at the lookout tower we scanned the area to see if we could spot the reported Lesser Flamingo (Flamenco enano) – no chance!
There were about 10,000 plus Greater Flamingos (Flamenco común), as far as the eye could see, even with the scopes we couldn´t get a close view of them.
There wasn´t much else in the area except a hundred or so Audouin´s Gulls (Gaviota de Audouin). So we moved on.

Before we left the sandy spit we came across a small group of birds – 14 Kentish Plovers (Chorlitejo patinegro), 9 Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo grande) and 8 Dunlin (Correlimos común).

We stopped off at the Observation Tower at La Tancada.On the water were more Mallard (Anade azulón) and a few thousand Common Coots (Focha común) – with no chance of picking out a Crested Coot (Focha moruna), too far away, and a few Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo lavanco).
Grey Herons (Garza real),Cattle Egrets (Garcilla bueyera) and Little Egrets (Garceta común) were round the edges of the water.

We moved on and drove slowly along the coast road to the Reserve of Riet Vell. We were hoping to see Lesser Crested Larks (Terrera marismeña) amonst the short coastal vegetation, but there were none to be seen. We did see plenty Crested Larks (Cogujada común).
A bonus was a Southern Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón real) which flew off just as Sam set up his camera!

The Hide at Riet Vell provided us with some close up views of Purple Swamphen (Calamon), as an adult fed in front of us.
There were at least eight other adults and juveniles in the area.

A couple of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho lagunero occidental)
flew over the pools and scattered Coots ((Focha común), Moorhens (Gallineta común) and Little Grebes (Zampullín común).

Some Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero común), Cetti´s Warbler (Ruiseñor bastardo) and a late Reed Warbler (Carricero común) were feeding in the vegetation nearby, and a Booted Eagle (Aguililla calzada) drifted overhead.

After we had admired the birds around the pools Sam suggested we go and look for the flock of 150 Glossy Ibis (Morito común)
he had seen on a previous visit. So we headed for the car ferry that takes you from one side of the Ebro river to the other, at Deltebre.Once on the other side we took the road heading towards the coast at Riumar.
The roads in and around the Ebre Delta are quite complex and similar, so I wasn´t surprised when Sam had difficulty remembering where exactly he had seen the Ibis before?
We then had a stroke of luck. We saw a flock of medium sized waders land in some rice fields – turned out to be 150 Black Tailed Godwits (Aguja colinegra)! - So we drove as near as we dared to avoid putting them up, and then set up our telescops.
As well as the feeding Godwits there were Ruff (Combatiente),
Wood Sandpiper (Andarríos bastardo), Green Sandpiper (Andarríos grande), Common Snipe (Agachadiza común), Curlew (Zarapito real), Spotted Redshank (Archibebe oscuro) and Greenshank (Archibebe claro), plenty to see.
Then bingo, Sam spotted two Glossy Ibis (Morito común) feeding. They both had white colour rings, and we were close enough to make out the numbers. Then a second bit of luck, a Common Kestrel (Cernícalo vulgar) flew over the Ibis and put them up.
We watched them circle round and land in another rice field, and then followed in the car.
As we approached them, Sam said “this is where I saw the big flock of Ibis,” and there round a corner behind some trees were at least 65 Glossy Ibis (Morito común), nice one.
We set up the telescops plus cameras and clicked away.

Just in time as it happened, because one of the locals drove by and gave us a glare – we were only taking a small part of the road up honest! He then drove past the Ibis and put them all up, guess he wasn´t a bird watcher then.
As the time was pushing on we decided to call it a day and head back home to our long suffering wife´s.

Another delightful day at the Ebro.

The Birdman of Alcossebre – October 2006 Bird News.

Red Backed Shrike, Short Toed Eagle and Lesser Kestrels were some of the highlights of the month.

84 species were seen this month in the Alcossebre area.

There was one new species to add to the Alcossebre list this month – Lesser Kestrel, see 19th October.
Other highlights were the second Red Backed Shrike – see 8th October and a Short Toed Eagle on the 19th October.
Otherwise we had the usual overlap of summer birds and winter visitors.
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Observations started on the 6th October.
Off shore 3 Balearaic Shearwaters were the only record for the month and Sandwich Terns peaked at 47 birds .
Inland passage included 12 Alpine Swifts and two Turtle Doves.
Two wintering Blue Rock Thrush appeared. A Mistle Thrush was the first of the year. The first of the wintering Blackcaps arrived with 8 birds seen.
The first of three Southren Great Grey Shrikes arrived, and the first Stonechat was seen.

The first Robins and Cetti´s Warbler arrived on the 8th October. A single Little Egret flew past over the sea.
One of the local hotspots – the sewage works – turned up only my second Red Backed Shrike. a juvenile (it stayed until the 11th October).

The 9th October gave me my highest number of Hoopoes in one day since I´ve been here – 22 birds. By next day they were back down to more normal numbers, 3 birds.
A flyover Black Kite was the only record for the month.
A solitary Gannet was seen off shore.

Two Lapwings flying East on the 10th October were the only record for the month, as were 18 Blue Headed Wagtails feeding in an Artichoke field

Three Song Thrushes were the first of the winter.
One Hobby was a flyover heading south west.

The sewage pond turned up a Little Grebe on the 12th October, and the first Skylarks of the winter arrived.

A Grey Heron flew south on the 13th October while a Cirl Bunting was singing in the farmland.

Overnight arrivals on the 14th October included 3 Willow Warblers while 2 Crag Martins were the first of winter, and the last Sand Martins passed through.
5 Little Owls were counted today.

Two Gannets passed along the coast on the 15th October and a Honey Buzzard was being mobbed by Starlings inland.

The 16th October saw 14 Cormorants going South and 2 Grey Herons go East.
Inland the only Kingfisher for the month was seen and the first Chaffinches, and Black Redstarts of winter.

The first Merlin of the year passed through on the 17th October, as did another Alpine Swift. A male Sparrowhawk caused panic amonst the small birds at the sewage pond, with a Subalpine Warbler joining in and alarm calling.
Crested Larks peaked at 17 birds, and Collared Doves at 120 birds.

The 19th October followed a day of heavy rain and overcast conditions which brought in a variety of passage birds. They were all intent to make up for lost time!
The Raptor count was 3 Booted Eagles, 3 Common Kestrels,4 Lesser Kestrels – my first Alcossebre record, 3 Hobbies. A Short Toed Eagle was trying to get a rest on some pine trees,but 8 Magpies took exception to it.
8 Alpine Swifts and 2 Common or Pallid Swifts flew south. The first of the winter Chiffchaffs (3) were seen.
Finches were going through all day at a rate of 150 Chaffiches per hour, 75 Greenfinches per hour, 75 Goldfinches per hour and 40 Linnets per hour.
So we are talking of thousands of birds on the move!

There were still birds passing through in numbers on the 20th October.e.g. Swallows, a 100 per hour and the last House Martins passed through.
A couple of Arctic Skuas chasing terns off shore.
Inland the first Meadow Pipits arrived for winter, and overnight arrivalls included Booted Eagle,Turtle Dove, Common Redstart and another Subalpine Warbler.

The 21st October was quiet in comparison. Another Common Redstart and a Reed Warbler arrived overnight, and a male Sparrowhawk was mobbed by Starlings.

The 22nd October provided two addittions to the month list. 22 Mallard flying East and a Common Wheatear. The last Alpine Swift flew South, Sam Shippey saw 2 more. At least 21 Sardinian Warblers were counted.

Song Thrushes were going through at 60 birds per hour on the 23rd October, and a 2 more Common Wheatears were seen.

The only Common Sandpiper of the month was seen by my friend Sam Shippey along the coast on the 24th October. Inland 44 Skylarks ,14 Fan Tailed Warblers and 54 Blackcaps were counted.

The 26th October saw another Arctic Skua pass by as did 45 Black Headed Gulls, inland a Coal Tit was the only one seen this month. 17 Magpies were counted.

The 28th October saw a big increase in White Wagtail numbers, counted 43 birds in one field. The first Dartford Warbler of the winter seen, and a Sparrowhawk headed South. A total of 94 Cattle Egrets were seen in the fields, including one which was dyed pink!

Sea passage on the 29th October included 204 Cormorants and 120 Black Headed Gulls heading South West. Inland a Booted Eagle soared overhead, two Common Teal were flushed from the sewage pond and the first Reed Buntings of winter were seen. Black Redstart numbers were up to 21 birds, and 16 Stonechats were counted.

Robin numbers were up to 35 birds, Chiffchaffs to 18 birds and Corn Buntings to 16 birds.by the 30th October.

Alcossebre weather for October 2006.

October was a fairly settled month with mainly sunny and warm weather – average daytime temperatures were 26C (79F) with a high of 33C (91F) on the 1st October.
This was 3C higher than October 2005.

Average night temperature was 16C(66F), again 3C higher than 2005.

There were only five days with rain, three of which was light overnight rain.
Heavist rainfall was on the 18th October when 2.8 inches( 68mm)of rain fell during the day.
The months rainfall total was only 4.3 inches (108 mm).

Winds were mainly light to gentle. Most mornings the wind direction was from the North West, while the afternoon wind direction varied from the East to the South West.
Unusually for here there was only one day of strong wind, on the 5th October.