Black is the colour

Today i was down at my local site Port Lewaigue. 2 60ft nets placed at 7:30

Birds Caught

6 Blackcaps  5 Males 1 Female

5 New Blackbirds 1 Retrap from October all Male

1 Willow Warbler

1 Gt Tit

1 Goldfinch retrap ringed on 17/7/10 in  my Garden 500 meters away            

1 Wren retrap from 30/04/10 

1 Song Thrush

1 Treecreeper

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Today

Another Wheatear caught this afternoon and then a go at flicking some Sandmartin's as they flew low over the gorse

3 Caught

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ARCTIC TERN IN EXTREMADURA

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea). Photographer: Ben Lascelles (taken from IBC-Lynx).

Arctic Sea Swallows in Extremadura? Hard to believe. Extremadura is a fair way from the sea and even further from the arctic, but it seems that some birds from those latitudes have passed through the region. Witness "Aves de Portugal" (Catry et al, 2010).

This book reports the first ever record for Extremadura. A flock of 8 Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) were seen flying over the River Tagus on 17 May 2002, where it runs along the Spanish-Portuguese border between Malpica do Tejo (Portugal) and Herrera de Alcántara (Cáceres). The birds were seen by Luis Gordinho. This surprising record, published and accepted by our Portuguese colleagues, seems to be trustworthy. This same birdwatcher has also seen other Arctic Terns along the Portuguese coast and is apparently conversant with the species. Although there are no known records hitherto of birds in inland Spain, the same publication also records another bird the same year in inland Portugal, in Paul de Boquilobo on 26 June 2002.

Catry, P., Costa, H., Elias, G. and Matias, R. 2010. Aves de Portugal. Ornitología do territorio continental. Assirio & Alvim. Lisbon.

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Gold Coast Birding

Binna Burra, Lamington National Park
The morning after a 12 hour trip in the car up to my Grandma's house in the Gold Coast, I was lucky enough to be driven to Binna Burra in Lamington National Park, to hopefully get a lifer or two, and some year ticks while I'm at it.

While driving towards the park, a glimpse of a White-headed Pigeon was welcome, but a short walk on the bellbird circut (only 1km or so) was the highlight of the day. I started well with Satin Bowerbirds and a female Regent Bowerbird feeding in a tree just off the path, followed by a small group of Logrunners being very vocal, but a wait-a-while vine didn't allow me to get very good views...

While walking back to the car, I heard a loud screech. Riflebird! I threaded my way down towards where it cam from, and then started scanning a fruiting tree with my binoculars. I then heard a very loud wing-rustle and a black shape flew over me, but not enough to tick. The next 30 minutes were spent going from tree to tree trying to find him, which was difficult with only one call every 3 minutes. I was walking back up to the path, when a black bird flew onto a tree trunk out of my line of sight. I stopped, and a beautiful male PARADISE RIFLEBIRD stuck his head out and regarded me quizzically. I quickly walked around to get a better view, and a minute or so passed without any hint of him. Just was I was losing hope, and loud screech alerted me to possibly the best view of a Riflebird I will ever get! Sitting on a sunlit branch only two metres away, the male started practising his display, wing raising and all. It took me a few minutes to get the camera out, and it wasn't a particularly good angle, but who cares? (You can tell I like birds of paradise, can't you?)

After that fantastic success, my mum and I headed up to the start of the border track. A hour and a bit of walking around got a little bit slow at times, but I was rewarded with some great birds. A Russet-tailed Thrush and Noisy Pitta were both heard, but I couldn't find them unfortunately. Making up for these losses were a Green Catbird, great views of Logrunners, a very vocal Grey Goshawk and some Yellow-throated Scrubwrens. A Pheasant Coucal on the side of the road was a good end to the morning. One day I'll go back in a better season and nail that elusive Lyrebird :)

On the way home, we stopped at a wetland near Emerald Lakes. Normally full of waterbirds, the only interestinf birds here were a few Magpie Geese, Little Egrets and Comb-crested Jacanas.

Coombabah Lake Nature Reserve
Being primarily a family trip, I didn't get out birding again for 4 days. Arriving at the gate (which was locked), we had to walk to the carpark before we got into the bush. If you want to see Australian animals at the Gold Coast, this is the place. The hundreds of kangaroos and wallabys were great to watch, and we did manage to find one of the 150 Koalas that inhabit the reserve.

Anyway - the birds.

A male red-backed Fairy-wren allowed brief views, Drongos and Pheasant Coucals were everywhere, both being seen on at least 5 different occasions. A pair of Pale-headed Rosellas flew past, and Scarlet Honeyeaters were calling, and a quick look in some mangroves netted some Mangrove Gerygones and a Whistling Kite. The stars of the day were a male and female VARIED TRILLER, giving prolonged views from just off the path.

 Paradise Riflebird

 Paradise Riflebird calling

 Green Catbird

 Yellow-throated Scrubwren

 Little Egret

 Frog species

 Koala

 Male Varied Triller

Mangrove Gerygone

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Coonabrabran and the Pilliga

I was invited by Max Breckenridge to one of his fairly regular trips out to Coonabarabran in north-western NSW, where we spent the 4 days we had birding around his grandparent's property and Baradine, 50km north of Coona.

We started adding to our trip list as we crossed the Hawkesbury River and the best few birds we added driving between Sydney and Coona included: Wedge-tailed Eagle, Musk Lorikeet, Great Egret and Blue-faced Honeyeater. It was a very wet day of driving and we were very lucky not to be hit by a ute that came off the road just before Lithgow. The driver was very lucky to have had airbags (the front of his car was non-existent) and although very dazed seemed ok, a St. Johns Ambulance personnel was on hand soon afterwards.
 
We got to the property unscathed and after headed off birding as soon as was possible. In about two hours of birding we got onto some nice species in woodland around Mt. Ulamambri on the northern half of the 1000ha property; Inland Thornbill, Speckled Warbler, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, White-eared Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Little Lorikeet and plenty of button-quail platelets.  That night, I heard a distant calling Southern Boobook, a new bird for the property list.

We were up early and off again to finally snare a button quail on the slopes of Mt. Ulamambri. We saw many of the same birds as the day before, but added Brown Trecreeper in perfect habitat for this species. We trawled the mountainsides following endless platelets around the place and were about to give up when, in the biggest fluke ever, Max remarked "We'll just go around the corner, it looks like good habitat". We drove around a bit and as he parked the quadbike a pair of PAINTED BUTTON-QUAIL flushed just a metre ahead of us!  We followed to where we saw one land and flushed it again, finally giving me the assurance I needed to tick this bird.

We kept looking for them and managed to flush a pair of Spotted Quail-thrush instead! We crept behind the pair for a fair while, following their high-pitched contact calls and trying to make as little noise as possible until we eventually lost them in a thick clump of cypress-pine - great fun! We also added Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Grey-crowned Babbler, a migrating White-naped Honeyeater, Dusky Woodswallow and Fuscous Honeyeater that morning. Back around the house we got Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and heard Diamond Firetail. That night we briefly heard an Australian Owlet-nightjar while spotlighting, but little else.

The weather was good on Monday so we chose this day to head out to the Pilliga. Max had just procured his Learner's Licence so did all the driving on that day. Our first stop was Trapyard Dam in Merriwindi SF which was pretty dead so we moved on. A bit further up the road we got Turquoise Parrot, Mallee Ringneck, then Leaden Flycater, Emu and plenty of Peaceful Dove. The best area, we found, was along Stumpy Lane. We walked pretty much the whole way along and we had some great birding. Best birds: Restless Flycatcher, Sining Honeyeater, Little Raven, Bar-shouldered Dove, Cockatiel, Red-winged Parrot, Blue Bonnet, Yellow-throated Miner and a pair of Spotted Bowerbird. Our next stop was Carmel Lagoon where we observed a large flock (80+) of Plumed Whistling Duck. We also got White-necked Heron, Darter and Purple Swamphen. We drove back to the property via Dandry Gorge, but the only bird we added along the way was Olive-backed Oriole. While spotlighting that night we got terrific views of a cute little Boobook calling from an open branch right next to the car. We also flushed what look like a pale white nightjar , but it turned out to be a Nankeen Kestrel we must have disturbed roosting... dam

Before leaving on the Tuesday we spent about half an hour sitting at a dam just outside the property in the Pilliga Scrub. Although we didn't add anything it was great to just sit and enjoy a bevy of birds drink from the dam and feed in the trees above. While here we saw: Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Speckled Warbler, Grey Fantail, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Silvereye, both pardalotes, White-plumed Honeyeater and Grey Shrike-thrush.

On the drive home we stopped at both Lake Windamere and Lithgow STW. At Windamere, I fluked a beautiful male Musk Duck just as we were about to leave and the best birds at Lithgow were Australasian Shoveller and Satin Bowerbird. We were able to round off the trip list to 111 with Rainbow Lorikeet seen just before crossing the Hawkesbury!

A great little trip which really helped to boost both our year lists, and two lifers for me!
Note: Report written by Max and edited by me :)

 Button-quail Platelet

 Sunset

 Southern Boobook

The Property

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Mourning Dove

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GREAT SNIPE: FIRST FOR EXTREMADURA

Great Snipe (Gallinago media)

Another new bird for the Extremadura list, making four since this blog came on line in May 2010. This time it's the turn of the Great Snipe (Gallinago media), which now joins Goosander, Pied-Billed Grebe and Buff-Breasted Sandpiper as previous firsts published in this blog. In all four cases, however, the birds are national rarities, so the records are still pending acceptance by the SEO's Rarities Committee.

The three birds in question were seen by a group of German birdwatchers being led by Roberto Cabo. Roberto described the observation as follows:
"On 1 April 2011 I was guiding a group of German birdwatchers in Madrigalejo (Cáceres), 1.5 km from the village in the Casas de Hitos direction. It was one of those completely unexpected, unrepeatable and one-off events. Uwe George and I were watching a Marsh Harrier quartering low over a puddled area when three waders flew up. The three of them flew only a few metres before dropping back to the ground. We looked at each other speechlessly because it was obvious that the birds we had just seen were no "ordinary, run-of-the-mill" waders. Both of us independently swung round to the group exclaiming that we had just seen three Great Snipes. That few-second glimpse had been enough to show us a small-scale woodcock-like bird, ruling out any other species of European wader. I know the species from Poland and Greece and Uwe George knows it well from Scandinavia. Without the unwitting aid of the harrier, we would never have known they were there, showing once again that what we see out in the field is only a small part of what's there."

The Great Snipe is a migratory bird that breeds in the north of Europe and west Siberia, wintering in subsaharan Africa. Its normal migration route passes through the east of Europe, with regular sightings in Italy but only very rare observations further west. In Spain, up to 2008, 20 records involving 23 birds have been accepted; most in the northeast and in spring (especially April and May). In spring 2011 an unprecedented invasion is occurring, with at least 24 birds being recorded (22 in Catalunya, including a flock of 8, and 2 in the Balearic Isles) between 27 March and 24 April, to which we now have to add the 3 Extremadura birds. These records outnumber the whole past history of this species in Spain.

Sources: Rare birds in Spain [web] De Juana, E. 2006. Aves raras en España. Lynx Edicions. Comité de Rarezas de SEO. 2010. Observaciones de aves raras en España, 2008. Ardeola 57: 481-516.

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Reed Bed Species

Back in  February i cleared a net ride out of the small Reedbed site at The Dogmills.

  Today i placed a 60ft net in that ride. 

The first bed caught in this net ride was a Grasshopper Warbler. 

Grasshopper Warbler

Also Caught

3 Sedge Warbler   2 new 1 retrap from last week

Sedge Warbler

1 Reed Bunting

Reed Bunting

and 2 Blackbirds

well worth all that cutting

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Back at Close Sartfield

Great Morning back at Close Sartfield with Kev and his son. 

24 new birds caught and two Willow Warbler retraps from Tuesday

                                                                        

   Sedge Warbler 2
     Willow Warbler 5 (2)

Great Tit 6

Blue Tit 3

Blackbird 3

Chaffinch 2

Coal Tit 1

Wren 1

Treecreeper 1

Female Sparrowhawk just passed the net as well

Sedge Warbler

Willow Warbler

Wheatear

We packed up around 1ish and went back to the landfill to see if the Wheatears were still hanging around, not as many as yesterday we reckoned between 4/5

2 Females Ringed.

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Nice afternoon

I was in all morning waiting for a delivery by 1pm i had gone up to the Point of Ayre to put some more seed down for the Linnets. Not a lot going on Linnet wise but as i looked over the old landfill site there must of been 15 Wheatear hopping around, i got out the meal worms which had gone past there sell by date and stuck them on top of the car heater to warm up and wriggle about a bit.

3 Spring traps placed around the place an hour later i had ringed 6 Wheatear 

4 Female and 2 Male all 2nd year birds {Born Last Year}

ohh and 2 more Linnets

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Close Sartfield

I was set up at Close Sartfield for 08:00 today 2 x 60 ft nets and a 40ft net. 

a beautiful day at the nature reserve with Brown Hares displaying all over the place.

23 Birds Caught

8 Willow Warbler

1 Blackcap

4 Blue Tits

4 Gt Tits  3 new 1 retrap with  a B ring on 

this bird was ringed as a chick in a nest box on the 25/05/2008 at the wildlife park
which backs onto Close Sartfield 

4 Robins

2 Chaffinch

other birds about

Female Hen Harrier over 

Snipe

Grey Heron 

Song Thrush

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Back in February

Back in February i photographed an Oystercatcher's ring in Ramsey and managed to get the whole number 

FA99928

Today we got the detail back from the BTO

Ringed on the 16 November 1996 as an Adult

in Whiteford Point near Swansea

14 Years 80 days since it was first ringed

Distance of 186 Miles

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Sedge Warbler makes it back

Down at the reed bed site today only one bird caught a Sedge Warbler retrap, i ringed this bird with Mark  back on the 30/07/2010. 

Never fails to amaze me how far these small birds travel and find there way back to the same small reed bed

All Sedge Warblers spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and as far south as the eastern Cape Province of South Africa and northern Namibia. 

This aft 2 more Adult Herring Gulls in the Garden ringed with T1XG and  T2XG

Yesterday 1 Herring Gull Ringed in Garden and colour ringed with T5XF

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Linnet L623149 goes to Lancashire

I got an email of Kev saying he had seen on Seumus Eaves blogg that a Linnet L623149 had been controlled at Rossal Point Lancashire on Friday. 

L629149 was caught on the 25/09/2010 at the point of Ayre and was aged as euro age 5M. 

Fantastic, on friday i was back at the point and another 27 new Linnets were ringed with 3 retraps from

August 2010.

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Red-Cowled Cardinal

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Last Few Days

Up at the Point of Ayre yesterday to put some more food down at the woosh net site as i pulled up 4 Twite were feeding . So i set up and 10 minutes later 3 Twite caught

 2 new birds and 1 retrap from January

also 2 linnets caught 1 new 1 retrap

Twite

I packed up and set off to Ronaldways where my old mate Andy had been working for the day.

Picked him up and an indian takeaway on the way home and a evening of stella and Iron Maiden

was had a great laught.

Up at 8 and off for a Manx full English and then a few hours spent watching Harriers Sky Dance

Then of back to the airport  to get him home it was great to see him again.

back to Leeds Bradford

Then the woosh net in the garden was set up and so far 1 rook and 1 Wood Pigeon Ringed.

Rook

Goldfinch are now back on the nyger feeder with 21 caught in the last few days 

also 

1 Female Siskin showing brood patch

1 Starling

4 Chaffinch

1 Dunnock

2 Greenfinch 1 (1)

1 House Sparrow

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Wags wooshed

 The last few weeks Kev and i have been discussing where would be a good place to set up some woosh nets. Sandwick seemed ideal, so today we met up and had a test run of finding a place clearing as much weed and crap from the area and having a go. A great morning with Choughs feeding right by the net and 3 White Wagtails ringed.

Then a quick visit to Castletown harbour and another Mute Swan ringed.

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MARCH 2011: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris). Guijo de Santa Bárbara, Cáceres. 06-03-2011. Raúl Guzmán.

A list of the most notable records sent to the GOCE forum in March 2011 (compiled by Sergio Mayordomo). Click here for backdated months.

- Egyptian Goose: two at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 03/03 (Martin Kelsey) and one at Valverde de Mérida gravel pit(Badajoz) on 22/03 (Jesús Solana).
-Shelduck: 12 at Sierra Brava Reservoir (Cáceres) on 03/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Mandarin Duck: one pair at Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres), on 17/03 (Carlos Martín).
-Garganey: one pair at Arrocampo Reservoir (Cáceres) on 12/03 (Eva Palacios, Jesús Rodríguez, José Luis Calvo, Juan Jesús Pelegrín, Natalia Moral and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Glossy Ibis: one at Cerro Alto, Saucedilla (Cáceres), on 05/03 (Antonio J. Julián, Godfried Schreur and Iván Solana).
-Squacco Heron: two wintering birds hanging on at Campo Lugar (Cáceres) on 03/03 (M. Kelsey). One at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 19/03 (Javier Briz and Óscar J. González) and two on 20/03 (Dave Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and Sammy Langlois).
-Grey Heron: colony count of 135 nests at Talayuela (Cáceres) on 15/03 (Javier Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Osprey: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 01/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo), two on 07/03 (M. Kelsey) and one on 23/03 (M. Kelsey). One on River Tiétar, at La Bazagona (Cáceres), on 07/03 (Juan Carlos Salgado and Mercedes Rodríguez).
-Goshawk: one at La Tajadilla, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 20/03 (Luis Martínez) and one pair at Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 30/03 (Alberto Pacheco).

-Long-Legged Buzzard: one immature (2nd winter) at Belén, Trujillo, on 26/03 (Dave Allen, Clive Mellon and Dennis Wir).
-Avocet: one at Galisteo Lake on 02/03 and 08/03 (S. Mayordomo) and two on 09/03, 11/03 and 12/03 (César Clemente, Javier Mahillo, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). Four in flight at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 18/03 (Ricardo Montero). One at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Sociable Lapwing: one adult female at Castuera (Badajoz) on 13/03 (Rodney Smith).
-Curlew: 16 at Riolobos rice fields(Cáceres) on 17/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Jack Snipe: One at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Spotted Redshank: one at El Batán rice field (Cáceres), on 08/03, 09/03 and 11/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo); and another at Galisteo Lake Cáceres) on 17/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Yellow-Legged Gull: one at Alange Reservoir (Badajoz) on 05/03 (J. Solana).
-Whiskered Tern: one at River Guadiana, Mérida (Badajoz), seen several times on 18/03 and up to the end of March (J. Solana).
-Carrion Crow: one pair carrying nest material to a Pine Tree in Talayuela (Cáceres) on 15/03 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Bearded Tit: 2 males and one female at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres), on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo), three on 20/03 (D. Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and S. Langlois) and one on 25/03 (S. Mayordomo).

FIRST SUMMER VISITORS
-Purple Heron: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo) and another at Valdefuentes Gravel Pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), on 30/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Montagu's Harrier: one at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 20/03 (M. Kelsey) and 3 males and one female on 22/03 (G. Schreur). One male at Usagre (Badajoz) on 21/03 (Ángel Sánchez).
-Ringed Plover: two at El Batán rice field (Cáceres) on 08/03 and one on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo). One at Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz) on 22/03 (J. Solana).
-Collared Pratincole: 14 at Valverde de Mérida (Badajoz) on 22/03 (J. Solana) and two at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Swift: several at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 31/03 (C. Clemente and J. Mahillo).
-Cuckoo: one at Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres) on 05/03 (Florencio Carrero). One at Portaje on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo). One at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 17/03 (M. Kelsey). First female at Villanueva de la Vera on 26/03 (D. Langlois) and at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 27/03 (S. Mayordomo).
-Roller: one at La Pulgosa, Cáceres, on 27/03 (Santi Villa).
-Bee-eater: several at Usagre (Badajoz) on 20/03 (Emilio Costillo), at Las Hurdes (Cáceres) on 25/03 (A. Pacheco) and at Mérida (Badajoz) on 26/03 (Steve Fletcher).
-Wryneck: three at Villanueva de la Vera on 26/03 and one on 28/03 and 30/03 (D. Langlois).
-Woodchat Shrike: one at Esparragalejo (Badajoz) on 10/03 and another on 12/03 (Ángel Luis Sánchez). One at Cáceres on 13/03 (Javier Caballero).
-Short-Toed Lark: one at Galisteo (Cáceres) on 30/03 (S. Mayordomo), six at Zorita (Cáceres) and two at Palazuelo (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey).
-Willow Warbler: one at Casatejada (Cáceres) on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo). Several individuals observed at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) as from 25/03 with a peak of 7 on 30/03 (D. Langlois).
-Iberian Chiffchaff: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 22/03 and three on 24/03 (D. Langlois and S. Langlois). One at Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 27/03 (E. Palacios, R. Montero and S. Mayordomo) and another on 29/03 (J. Prieta, Luis S. Cano and S. Mayordomo). One at River Ruecas at Palazuelo (Badajoz) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Bonelli's Warbler: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 31/03 (D. Langlois).
-Savi's Warbler: several at Arrocampo Reservoir(Cáceres) on 19/03 (J. Briz and Ó. J. González).
-Grasshopper Warbler: one at Ibahernando (Cáceres) on 21/03 (S. Fletcher) and one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 26/03 (D. Langlois).
-Sedge Warbler: one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 18/03 (S. Mayordomo), 20/03 (D. Langlois, J. Briz, Ó. J. González and S. Langlois) and 25/03 (S. Mayordomo). Another at Zorita (Cáceres)on 30/03 (M. Kelsey) and three at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres), (S. Mayordomo).
-Reed Warbler: on 20/03 one at Arrocampo (Cáceres) (D. Langlois and S. Langlois), another at Puente Viejo in Badajoz (Juan Carlos Paniagua) and another at Arroyo Budión, Torviscal (Badajoz), (Luis Lozano).
-Great Reed Warbler: on 30/03 one on River Ruecas at Palazuelo (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey), another at Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo).
-Orphean Warbler: one at Montehermoso (Cáceres) on 31/03 (J. Mahillo).
-Spectacled Warbler: one at Zorita (Cáceres) on 30/03 (M. Kelsey).
-Nightingale: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 25/03 and five on 26/03 (D. Langlois); on this same day another at Monfragüe (Cáceres) (Manuel García del Rey) and at Mérida (Badajoz) (S. Fletcher).
-Redstart: one male at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 25/03 and 28/03 (D. Langlois). One at Plasencia (Cáceres) on 29/03 (R. Montero).
-Whinchat: one at Cerezo (Cáceres) on 14/03 (A. Pacheco).
-Black-Eared Wheatear: one at Acehúche (Cáceres) on 20/03 (A. J. Julián). On 21/03 one pair at Usagre (Badajoz) (Á. Sánchez) and another bird at Cerezo (Cáceres) (A. Pacheco).
-Tree Pipit: one at Trujillo (Cáceres) on 24/03 (J. Muddeman).
-Yellow Wagtail: one at Oliva de Plasencia (Cáceres) on 13/03 (A. J. Julián) and another at Santa Marta de Magasca (Cáceres) on 20/03 (M. Kelsey). One male of the M. f. flavissima subspecies at Usagre (Badajoz) on 21/03 (Á. Sánchez) and another at Arrocampo (Cáceres) on 25/03 (S. Mayordomo).

LINGERING WINTER VISITORS
-Greylag Goose: eight at Alange Reservoir(Badajoz) on 05/03 (J. Solana), two at Portaje Reservoir Cáceres) on 11/03 (S. Mayordomo) and one flying over Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 22/03 (John Muddeman).
-Lapwing: 11 at Galisteo (Cáceres) (S. Mayordomo) and one at Casas de Hitos, Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz) (M. Kelsey) on 30/03.
-Alpine Accentor: two at Portilla de Jaranda, Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres), on 06/03 (Raúl Guzmán).
-Brambling: two at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 08/03 (R. Montero) and 20 on passage at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres) on 12/03 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Bullfinch: two at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 05/03 (D. Langlois).

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Spring is in the Air

Well what gorgeous weather we have enjoyed over the last few days, it definitely makes you believe that Spring is in the Air. It has been, or has seemed to me at least, a long and cold winter.


There has been very little activity from the birds in my garden during the past few weeks, even the Starlings seem to be far fewer in number. I have not seen the Coal tits for a long time and Blue tits

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Northern Mockingbird

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