Spain / Portugal 19 – 23 November 2006

19 – 23 November 2006

Richard Dunn, Alan Jack, Roger Forster, Rob Hopson

This trip was a quick raid into Portugal for just one long afternoon then a couple of days in the Donana area of Spain. There were many new birds for Rob who had not been before, a single gap filler for Roger, nothing new for Alan (who's been all over and seen lots) and just a single new bird for me.

November 19 Sunday

An early morning flight with EasyJet saw us arrive late morning at Faro airport in Portugal's Algarve and once the car was hired we were on our way and we had not done 5km when the first good birds of the trip were seen crossing over the road, 4 Azure-winged Magpie. We drove North towards the grasslands aiming for the specialities of that area, a few quick stops on the way up through hills proved to be very quiet until we crossed the river at the Ponte de Salir, here there were the first Fan-tailed Warbler's of the trip and although it was technically winter they were doing what they do and "zitting". Further up the road at another river, the Rib a do Vasco a good selection of birds seen, nine White Storks, a pair of Southern Grey Shrike's and the stars, fifty plus Azure-winged Magpie. We had a look along the road from Almodovar towards Mertola and scored with six Little Bustard in flight, a female Cirl Bunting and more Azure-winged Magpie. Back to Almodovar then on to Castro Verde and over the grassland we went. Along here more Little Bustard, fifty plus, eleven Red Kite, Black Stork and a flock of approx 100 Corn Bunting being the highlights. After dusk an easy drive down to Monte Gordo where we stayed overnight at the Hotel Casablanca.

  

Little Bustard in flight

November 20 Monday

An hour or so birding before breakfast at Villareal de Santo Antonio in the harbour, on the salt pans and along towards Castro Marim saw us looking at gulls and waders. At the harbour a couple of Lesser Black-back Gulls in winter plumage gave us a chance to study a plumage we rarely see. Also here at least three Mediterranean Gulls two first winter and a second winter, two Little Tern. At the salt pans there were plenty of waders and egrets as well as a few ducks but the star bird here was Crag Martin with 4 seen. Later as we left Monte Gordo after breakfast ten or more Crag Martins were flying around the hotels on the main road. Over the border in to Spain (I love birding in Spain) and onto the Marismas del Odiel at Huelva. The first stop was by the pool at the visitor centre (which was not open) and as soon as we got out of the car Rob found a Crested Coot, this gave some excellent views. While watching this an Osprey flew over and also Black-winged Stilts and Greater Flamingos. We drove though the marshes to near the mouth of the river where we found our target species, Audouin's Gull, a single that was pushed off by the rising tide, while here a Black-necked Grebe was seen and then over the river a Griffon Vulture flying over Spain's "Tees-side". Other birds seen here included good numbers of Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit and a single Sandwich Tern. Back through Huelva and down the coast neatly avoiding Matalascanas and along towards El Rocio calling in at El Acebuche where we had two Thekla Lark next to the toilet block and more Azure-winged Magpie and not much else, then on to El Rocio and the main lagoon by the town only to find that the water level was very high and there were very few birds here, although from the top of the burnt out SEO building Roger found a Black-shouldered Kite which was later joined by another and we saw a food pass take place. Back up the road to La Rocina and after two hides and plenty of time wasted, Alan found a Purple Gallinule which promptly vanished behind a small patch of reeds never to be seen by us again, also here a pristine male Black Redstart. By now it was dark so we made our way to Hinojos where we had rooms booked in a Hostal in town. Overnight Pino Donana Hostal Hinojos.

 

Crested Coot & Thekla Lark

November 21 Tuesday

A miscalculation on the time saw us outside the hostal in total darkness, we had moved from Portuguese time (the same as back home) into Spanish time so we were an hour too early for the light, so we joined the locals in a cafe for a morning coffee. We left town, still in the dark and headed for the marshes. The first stop of the day was by a field of fruit trees and this proved to be alive with birds, Chiffchaff, Serin, Greenfinch and Blackbird all being seen, then a large raptor proved to be a Red Kite along with a few others, 27 seen to leave a roost. In the opposite direction looking into the light a Black-shouldered Kite and a Southern Grey Shrike were on wires. Driving on, a few stops revealed very little until we came across a flooded rice paddy which had 385 Glossy Ibis, 30 Whiskered Tern, a single Little Gull and 2 Squacco Heron also Wood and Green Sandpiper, Golden Plover and Common Snipe. Further on along the track we found the first of 4 Great White Egrets on a small pool and a couple of Black Storks in the area. Just past the turn towards the Jose Valverde Centre a stop to look at a flock of Spotless Starling that also had a Common Starling with them to give a good comparison. A scan by Rob found a few Stone Curlew on a raised dyke, when the car was stopped, they flushed along with all the rest we hadn't seen, a total of 281 counted. Along this track is the Lucio del Lobo were the water levels were very high but there were 1500 approx Greater Flamingo here and a large flock of Avocet that were hidden from view until flushed by a Marsh Harrier, from dawn till dusk we had 60 Marsh Harrier, they were constantly on view. A stop at the Jose Valverde Centre to look for duck proved fruitless, none seen. But a decent flock of Black-winged Stilt and a cracking male Black Redstart. Half a mile up the track from the Centre another stop gave us a couple of Lesser Short-toed Lark which eventually gave decent scope views along with Calandra Larks. A return by a different route along side a flooded area and we saw our only Purple Heron of the trip also here 40 plus Purple Gallinule. While here a very low Griffon Vulture was seen to land on a mound by the side of the road so we drove on to see how close we could get, which wasn't very. When the vulture flew it flushed a flock of Greater Flamingos that gave a good fly-by as they went. A low flying raptor seen by Roger quickly vanished but his perseverance paid off when he found an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle sitting on top of a pylon against the wood, although it was distant the white shoulder patches could be seen clearly. After a few more twists and turns of the track we came across a flock of Corn Buntings that contained approx 2000 birds, from here we could see a flock of White Storks that was fantastic sight to see. We got to the point where the storks were and in 3 fields an estimated 3500 birds, with 2000 in one field alone, an amazing spectacle. With the storks, 700 plus Common Crane and 300 Greylag Geese. Also from here a Black-shouldered Kite was seen very close to the car, sadly too dark for photos but a wonderful bird. Overnight Pino Donana Hostal, Hinojos.

 

Black Redstart & Greater Flamingo

November 22 Wednesday

After yesterdays early start in the dark, another early visit to a cafe for coffee, a different cafe as the one visited yesterday was not open, then a long drive round past Seville down to the salt pan complex at Bonanza. Once past the rush hour traffic of Seville we started to see some birds mostly Cattle Egret, but when we were passing Dos Hermanos a huge flock of approximately 2500 Cattle Egret were seen flying north away from their roost. We eventually arrived at Sanlucar and following signs for Bonanza ended up lost in the suburbs, we did manage to find the right place after asking a local directions. Drove straight out into the complex and the first birds seen were Slender-billed Gulls with about 20 seen, with Greater Flamingos in the distance. A little further up the track and waders could be seen, Curlew Sandpipers and Kentish Plovers as well as Redshanks and Greenshanks with Avocets and Black-winged Stilts. A Black-necked Grebe was seen in a small channel next to the track. Stopping to look back at the wader flock on the next pool I was scanning around and picked out a flying Caspian Tern which came in to land and when on the ground a quick check revealed a total of 4 Caspian Terns as well as 4 Sandwich Terns. In one scope field of view we had Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Black-winged Stilt and Avocet. Also here 2 Osprey on pylons. Just up the road from Bonanza is Algaida and the Laguna de Tarelo, this was the next stop. White-headed Duck being the target and we were not to be disappointed with 36 birds seen, all on the other side of the pool from the hide / screen. Also seen 2 juv Night Heron and 2 Kingfishers. We continued back north through the pine woods with a couple of stops as we went, seeing Black Redstarts, Chaffinches and Great Tits. At the last stop in the woods near the northern end we had a very brief Short-toed Treecreeper. Continuing north through the Lebrija Marismas the only new bird of note was a single Little Ringed Plover. Back onto good roads and headed for the Brazo del Este, we managed to navigate our way through a town and on out into the countryside and then I took a wrong turn, not happy with the directions (which should have been followed) eventually we arrived and straight into birds, 2 Squacco Heron flying by and 2 Booted Eagles the gave a good show. We drove the raised track through the middle of the marshes until it was no longer passable due to the condition of the surface. The birds seen here were just as good as Donana; 12 Black Storks, approx 4000 White Storks, 4 Great White Egrets, 150 plus Black-winged Stilts, 400 plus Purple Gallinules (everywhere, even in the rice paddies), Cetti's Warbler, Bluethroat (probably 5) big numbers of sparrows that had approx 70 Spanish Sparrows with them. While coming back along the track a stop to look at 2 Marsh Harriers on the track flushed 19 more from a roost on a small pool at the side of the track. From here we just travelled back to the accommodation using the ferry at Coria del Rio. Overnight Pino Donana Hostal, Hinojos.

 

Slender-billed Gull & Caspian Tern

November 23 Thursday

Another early start and another early morning coffee, before the drive back to the airport. No birding until we crossed the border back into Portugal when we paid a brief return visit to Castro Marim, the birds being much the same as the previous visit on Monday although the numbers of Crag Martins had increased to about 100. Back on to the main road and along to Faro and the marshes that you fly over on the way in and out. Some good birding right till the end, many waders included a flock of 40 Little Stint and a Whimbrel, also finishing as we started 70 plus Azure-winged Magpie. And then time was up and we had a flight to catch.

Species

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Great White Egret (Ardea alba)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Pintail (Anas acuta)

Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Eurasian Griffon-vulture (Gyps fulvus)

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila (heliaca) adalberti)

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Common Coot (Fulica atra)

Common Crane (Grus grus)

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)

European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus (cachinnans) michahellis)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)

Little Gull (Larus minutus)

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae)

Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

Crag-martin (Hirundo rupestris)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

House Martin (Delichon urbica)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti)

Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Great Tit (Parus major)

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius (excubitor) meridionalis)

Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana)

Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Raven (Corvus corax)

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Serin (Serinus serinus)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Eurasian Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)