PALLID HARRIER WINTERING IN VEGAS ALTAS

On December 26, 2012 a Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) was observed for the second time this year in Extremadura, and is also only the third sighting for Extremadura. The second dates from March 26, 2012 and was the subject of a separate entry in this blog, which also gave details about the presence of this rarity in Spain. This third record was made in Acedera, Badajoz, in the region of Vegas Altas. The fortunate observers were Miguel Gómez Guarín (supplier of the photographs) and Manuel Gómez Calzado, who wrote in his personal blog "Grullas veo" where you can also read of other interesting sighting, told in a very entertaining manner. In his blog, Manolo said that this same bird could have been seen on the 6th of December, although not for certain.

[NOTES. Subsequent to the publication of this post has received information from a previous observation made ​​in Madrigalejo on December 3, 2012 by Jose Manuel Vadillo. The December 30, 2012 was found by Jose Tapia and Maribel Jimenez a mixed roost with Marsh and Hen Harriers at Madrigalejo, Cáceres, where the pallid harrier sleep. Several others have observed it again in this roosting bird on 31 December 2012 and 4 and January 8, 2013 (Jose Tapia, Maribel Jimenez, Antonio Calvo, Sergio Mayordomo, César Clemente, Pepe Guisado, Pilar Goni, Lola Huerta, Mariano Martinez, José Guerra and Marc Galvez).]

Like the previous two observations in Extremadura, this one is an adult male, the plumage of which makes it easier to identify, which also suggests that the presence of immatures or females could be going unnoticed. The previous two sightings in Extremadura, both in Badajoz, were on a migratory path. The presence of Pallid Harrier winter in Iberia is recent, but increasing, and had already been predicted by some experts knowing the westward expansion of its breeding area in Europe. In the previous blog post we discussed the presence between November 2011 and January 2012 from various individuals, especially in Andalusia, but also in Gerona, Palencia and Valencia. In this winter 2012-2013 there are again sightings being reported of pallid Hrriers in Doñana and Cadiz. Luckily, Extremadura adjoins some wintering areas, so we have to be very careful and start studying the plumage of this beautiful bird.

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What a year

Well that's it for 2012 

5663 new birds ringed and 80 Species

 or there abouts just waiting for Kev the group secretary to confirm all details.

 Another record year for Manx Ringing Group. 

I think the wind and rain has scuppered tomorrows efforts.

But what will 2012 be remembered for, probably the wettest summer ever the worst breeding season for a long time. I do not mind the winter being bad you expect that but to have no real Summer was a shocker. Warbler numbers were down on 2011 some of our sites were under water or there was just no birds about.

The Linnet numbers were great again this year with 1179 new birds being ringed. 

Some of the highlights when i look back were the 62 Wheatear caught, i just love this long distance

migrant.

 58 Dunlin caught not bad as they were all dazzled, { Mostly by the dazzle king Kev}

 a new small Cormorant colony on the gravel pits was colour ringed for the first time this year as well as the one at Maughold. So in 2013 we will see if this grows in size.

We are very susceptible to wind living on a small island, so the whoosh net gives us a bit more scope 

when the wind puts mist nets out of action.

The site at the Point of Ayre has been great again this year with 1563 new birds caught this way

970 Linnets

411 Meadow Pipits

68 Goldfinch

57 Twite

46 Lesser Redpoll

3 Chaffinch

7 Redwing

1 Oystercatcher

1 Lapland Bunting

A big thanks to the Department of Infrastructure (waste operations unit) for giving us access to the site and taking a great interest in what we do. 

Friends coming to stay and joining in the ringing is always good fun

Kev with Gillian and Kane and a Black Guillemot

Me old mucker Andy

Thanks to everybody who has helped us ring birds in 2012

A big heads up again to Kev Scott my new mucker for entering all the data and taking care of all the admin

and doing a bit of ringing now and again ;-) 

also to Chris Sharpe and Kaye and Mark Fitzpatrick for there help and contributions to the group.

I hope you all have a great 2013

Species list

                                                                         Full grown           Pulli    Recoveries            Total

                Cormorant                                                    0               86                12                98

          Shag                                                             2                 0                 5                 7

          Grey Heron                                                   1                 0                 0                 1

          Mute Swan                                                   16                 0              100              115

          Greylag Goose                                               1                 0                 1                 2

          Brent Goose                                                   0                 0                 3                 3

          Mallard                                                       14                 0                 0                14

          Hen Harrier                                                  0                 0                 1                 1

          Sparrowhawk                                                2                 0                 0                 2

          Kestrel                                                          0                 3                 0                 3

          Peregrine                                                      0                 0                 1                 1

          Moorhen                                                       3                 0                 0                 3

          Oystercatcher                                             15                 8                 4                26

          Ringed Plover                                                6                 5                 1                12

          Knot                                                             1                 0                 0                 1

          Sanderling                                                     3                 0                 1                 4

          Dunlin                                                         58                 0                 0                58

          Woodcock                                                     1                 0                 0                 1

          Whimbrel                                                      1                 0                 0                 1

          Curlew                                                          0                 1                 0                 1

          Redshank                                                      1                 0                 0                 1

          Turnstone                                                    11                 0                 1                12

          Black-headed Gull                                          1                 0                 7                 8

          Common Gull                                                5                 6                 0                11

          Lesser Black-backed Gull                                0                 7                 9                16

          Herring Gull                                              116               94                56              265

          Great Black-backed Gull                                 3               10                 3                16

          Kittiwake                                                      2                 0                 0                 2

          Arctic Tern                                                    5                 2                 0                 7

          Little Tern                                                     5               12                 6                23

          Guillemot                                                      3                 0                 0                 3

          Black Guillemot                                             4                 0                 2                 6

          Rock Dove                                                     1                 0                 0                 1

          Woodpigeon                                                  1                 0                 0                 1

                                                                                                             

                                                                                                         Retraps/

                                                                 Full grown           Pulli    Recoveries            Total

          Collared Dove                                                6                 2                 0                 8

          Skylark                                                         3                 0                 0                 3

          Sand Martin                                                 58                 0                 1                59

          Swallow                                                       79              177                 0              256

          House Martin                                                 3                 0                 0                 3

          Meadow Pipit                                             415                 0                 1              416

          Rock Pipit                                                    28                 0                26                54

          Pied/White Wagtail                                      10               14                 0                24

          Waxwing                                                       5                 0                 0                 5

          Wren                                                          17                 0                 2                19

          Dunnock                                                      60                 0                 8                68

          Robin                                                          79                 4                10                93

          Black Redstart                                               2                 0                 1                 3

          Whinchat                                                      4                 0                 0                 4

          Stonechat                                                     10                 0                 0                10

          Wheatear                                                    62                 0                 0                62

          Blackbird                                                    74                 1                 8                83

          Song Thrush                                                  5                 0                 1                 6

          Redwing                                                        7                 0                 0                 7

          Sedge Warbler                                               2                 0                 0                 2

          Lesser Whitethroat                                         1                 0                 0                 1

          Whitethroat                                                   6                 0                 0                 6

          Blackcap                                                     13                 0                 2                15

          Chiffchaff                                                     8                 0                 1                 9

          Willow Warbler                                           21                 0                 0                21

          Goldcrest                                                     21                 0                 1                22

          Spotted Flycatcher                                          1                 0                 0                 1

          Long-tailed Tit                                             28                 0                 5                33

          Coal Tit                                                     191                 0                57              248

          Blue Tit                                                     408               79              193              680

          Great Tit                                                   341               75                98              514

          Treecreeper                                                   2                 0                 1                 3

          Chough                                                         0               37                70              107

          Jackdaw                                                        8               63                 1                72

          Rook                                                           11                 0                 0                11

          Hooded Crow                                                 1                 0                 1                 2

          Starling                                                       14                 0                 0                14

           House Sparrow                                           230               33                11              274                               

                   

          Chaffinch                                                  349                 0                23              373

          Brambling                                                     2                 0                 0                 2

          Greenfinch                                                  68                 0                 2                70

          Goldfinch                                                  419                 0                24              443

          Siskin                                                        250                 0                34              284

          Linnet                                                      1177                 1                30            1208

          Twite                                                          58                 0                16                72

          Lesser Redpoll                                             92                 0                12              104

          Lapland Bunting                                            1                 0                 0                 1

          Yellowhammer                                              4                 0                 0                 4

          Reed Bunting                                                 7                 0                 1                 8

                                                Total:                4943              720              843            6506

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