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JUNE 2011. Notable Bird Sightings in Extremadura

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Adult. Valdecañas Reservoir, 20-06-11. Javier Prieta.

List of the most notable records in June 2011, mostly taken from the GOCE forum. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo. N.B: The denomination "Valdecañas Team 2011" (VT2011) refers, in alphabetical order, to Joaquín Fernández, Manuel Flores, José Guerrero, Carlota Gutiérrez, Francisco Hurtado, Luis Lozano, Sergio Mayordomo, Javier Prieta, Domingo Rivera, Miguel Ángel Romo, Esmeralda Rodríguez and Ángel Sánchez.

-Black Swan: One at El Batán ricefield, Guijo de Galisteo (Cáceres), on 13/06 (Javier Prieta).
-Egyptian Goose: Second breeding site in Extremadura: a pair with 3 young at Valdecañas Reservoir(Cáceres) on 14/06 (Ángel Sánchez, Francisco Hurtado and Manuel Flores). 2 at La Serena reservoir Badajoz) on 04/06 (María José Valencia and Xurxo Piñeiro). One at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (Domingo Jorge, Esther Mateos and Jesús Solana).
- Shelduck: First Extremadura breeding record: at least 5 pairs and 21 young seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores), 16/06 (Sergio Mayordomo) and 20/06 (VT2011). Two birds at Portaje reservoir (Cáceres) on 25/06 (César Clemente and Javier Mahíllo).
-Mandarin Duck: Second Extremadura breeding record: a female with 5 large chicks on a pond in Valcorchero, Plasencia (Cáceres) on 26/06 (Carlos Martín).
-Shoveler: one female flushed off a nest with 8 eggs at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Sergio Mayordomo and Javier Prieta).
-Teal: 2 drakes and 1 duck on Talaván reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 5 birds at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Spoonbill: New breeding site: a nest occupied by a pair on an island of El Borbollón reservoir (Cáceres) on 08/06 (J. Mahíllo, Jesús Montero, Jonás Martín, J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Squacco Heron: 1 bird at Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz) on 12/06 (Á. Sánchez).
-White Stork: colony with 130 nests around the Mirabel landfill site (Cáceres), 82 nesting on Holm Oaks and 48 on high voltage powerline pylons (J. Prieta). Colony with an estimated 150 nests at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) (Jerónimo Jaén).
-Osprey: 1 at Charca de Camacho, Talaván (Cáceres), on 20/06 (José Luis Caballero).
-Rüppell's Vulture: one at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (Cáceres), on 18/06 (S. Mayordomo and Ricardo Montero).
-Goshawk: one at El Bronco (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Alberto Pacheco).
-Hobby: one at Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 02/06 (Dave Langlois) and another hawking dragonflies at Nuñomoral (Cáceres) on 21/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Great Bustard: birds in post-breeding dispersal in north Cáceres: 3 at Cerezo on 20/06 and 1 at El Gasco on 26/06 (reported by A. Pacheco).
-Crane: 1 at Madrigalejo (Cáceres) on 04/06 (Pep Tapia) and one adult at Gabriel y Galán reservoir (Cáceres) on 09/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Golden Plover: one pair at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and another on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Kentish Plover: New breeding locality, probably the biggest in Extremadura: at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) pairs with young seen on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and at least 47 birds counted on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Redshank: 5 at Valdehornillos ricefields (Badajoz) on 05/06 (Manuel Rodríguez). Present at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 17/06 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco) and 3 birds on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Greenshank: 2 at Casas de Hitos (Badajoz) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez). 3 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Green Sandpiper: 7 at Galisteo ricefield (Cáceres) on 11/06 (S. Mayordomo), 6 at Vegas Altas (Badajoz) on 16/06 (Á. Sánchez) and 5 at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Common Sandpiper: 3 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Dunlin: 2 at Valdecañas reservoir on 16/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 17/06 (J. Briz and V. Risco) plus another bird on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Collared Pratincole: new breeding site, the northernmost in Extremadura, with at least 43 adults and 22 young at Valdecañas reservoir on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Black-Headed Gull: 22 at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). Thirty one birds and three nests seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Mediterranean Gull: One first-winter bird at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (Á. Sánchez, S. Mayordomo and J. Prieta).
-Yellow-Legged Gull: 58 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06; at least 4 pairs have bred in 2011 (VT2011).
-Lesser Black-Backed Gull: 2 juvs at Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). One adult at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 16/06 (S. Mayordomo) and 3 on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Laughing Gull: First Extremadura record: One bird at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 14/06 (Á. Sánchez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores) and on 20/06 (Carlota Gutiérrez, Esmeralda Rodríguez, F. Hurtado and M. Flores).
-Common Tern: Six birds seen at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) including one pair incubating, on 16/06 (M. Flores). The pair was seen again on 20/06 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo). One bird at Valdesalor reservoir (Cáceres) on 19/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Black Tern: 2 Alange reservoir (Badajoz) on 11/06 (D. Jorge, E. Mateos and J. Solana). 11 at Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres) on 20/06 (VT2011).
-Whiskered Tern: 4 at Lagunas de La Albuera (Badajoz) on 19/06 (Antonio Núñez) and 8 at Valdecañas reservoir on 20/06 (VT2011).
-White-Rumped Swift: One pair entering a nest in the village of Guijo de Santa Bárbara (Cáceres) on 12/06 (Jesús Calle). 3 at Pico de Miravete (Cáceres) on 23/06 (Godfried Schreur). One at Canchos de Ramiro, Cachorrilla (Cáceres) on 25/06 (C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo). One at Casas de Millán (Cáceres) on 29/06 (G. Schreur and Pedro López).
-Nightjar: Low-altitude observation: one at Montehermoso on 09/06 (C. Clemente and J. Mahíllo) and on 11/06 (C. Clemente).
-Wryneck: 2 at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (Cáceres) on 25/06 (Juan Carlos Paniagua).
-Budgerigar: one albino bird at Torrequemada (Cáceres) on 10/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Hoopoe: at Garganta la Olla one bird entering its nest at a height of 1400 masl and another seen at 1570 masl on 15/06 (J. Prieta).
-Woodlark: at Garganta la Olla, males singing at 1700 masl, maximum height recorded in Extremadura (J. Prieta).
-Red-Backed Shrike: New site: one male at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 16/06 (Richard Coastwoth and R. Montero). At Puerto de Tornavacas (Cáceres-AV) a femle was seen on 01/06 (Iván Solana) and a pair on 25/06 (Eva Palacios and S. Mayordomo).
-Iberian Chiffchaff: one bird at La Garganta (Cáceres) on 05/06 (R. Montero).
-Savi's Warbler: New site: one bird singing at Laguna de Galisteo (Cáceres) on 24/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Rock Thrush: one at Puerto de Esperabán, Pinofranqueado (Cáceres) on 08/06 and a female and 4 males La Canchera, El Gasco (Cáceres) on 16/06 (A. Pacheco).
-Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robin: New sites at Villa del Campo (Cáceres) and Guijo de Coria (Cáceres) on 15/06 (S. Mayordomo).
-Wheatear: Low-altitude observations: one at Hinojal on 17/06 (S. Mayordomo) and one male at El Gordo on 20/06 (J. Prieta and S. Mayordomo).
-Black-Eared Wheater: one territorial male singing at Garganta la Olla at a height of 1600 masl, maximum altitude recorded in Extremadura (J. Prieta).
-Bullfinch: observation of two summering birds in Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres) on 05/06 (D. Langlois).

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Little Tern update

Back in June we caught a little Tern ring Number NV95538

we now have the info back on it

This Little Tern was ringed as a chick back in 1998 in a colony at

Gt Yarmouth Norfolk .

13 years ago

now nesting in the isle of Man

{ANOTHER NORFOLK COME-OVER}

another great record

Back in June we caught a little Tern ring Number NV95538

we now have the info back on it

This Little Tern was ringed as a chick back in 1998 in a colony at

Gt Yarmouth Norfolk .

13 years ago

now nesting in the isle of Man

{ANOTHER NORFOLK COME-OVER}

another great record

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Linnets Stonechat and GANNET!!!!!

This Morning i went up to check woosh site as i had placed seed down two days ago. 8 linnets feeding when i got there so i set up. No big flocks coming in yet but small family parties dropping in.

10 Linnets Ringed

1 juv Stonechat

As i was ringing the Stonechat, Eddy from the gravel Pits turned up and told me he had a Swallow in the car that had flown into the crusher.

I took it out the box and it was dazed, no sign of damage to wings. I left it in the box so it could rest.

He then said I've got a Gannet sat on the main track as well

A Gannet!

Yes its sat on the main track in the way of all the vehicles, can you come and have a look.

When i got there the bird looked fine i picked it up and it was full of fight. There was a small amount of damage to the carpel joint but it was flapping its wing ok .

I decided to take it down to one of the big lakes and see how it went on.

As soon as it got on the water it was bathing and flapping and paddling around .

I watched it for ten minutes and it seemed ok.

I didn't Put a ring on it

The Swallow was taken out the box an hour later it was flapping its wings like mad so i ringed it and off it flew quite happy.

Gannet

Gannet on Lake

Stonechat

This Morning i went up to check woosh site as i had placed seed down two days ago. 8 linnets feeding when i got there so i set up. No big flocks coming in yet but small family parties dropping in.

10 Linnets Ringed

1 juv Stonechat

As i was ringing the Stonechat, Eddy from the gravel Pits turned up and told me he had a Swallow in the car that had flown into the crusher.

I took it out the box and it was dazed, no sign of damage to wings. I left it in the box so it could rest.

He then said I've got a Gannet sat on the main track as well

A Gannet!

Yes its sat on the main track in the way of all the vehicles, can you come and have a look.

When i got there the bird looked fine i picked it up and it was full of fight. There was a small amount of damage to the carpel joint but it was flapping its wing ok .

I decided to take it down to one of the big lakes and see how it went on.

As soon as it got on the water it was bathing and flapping and paddling around .

I watched it for ten minutes and it seemed ok.

I didn't Put a ring on it

The Swallow was taken out the box an hour later it was flapping its wings like mad so i ringed it and off it flew quite happy.

Gannet

Gannet on Lake

Stonechat

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Rock Pipits season starts again

Waiting in all morning for the heating oil to be delivered. This afternoon went down to Port Moar to check on the Rock Pipit situation only 5 Pipits about all unringed and the beach was very clean not much seaweed about. I place two spring traps out and caught 2 juv Rock Pipits which i colour ringed.

This evening another 3 Herring Gulls wooshed in the garden

Also yesterday we had 7 retraps at the new feeder site

1 of the Blue tit retraps was ringed as a 3J in July 2006 at the wildlife park

by our very own Kev Scott.

Nice one

Rock Pipit

This evening another 3 Herring Gulls wooshed in the garden

Also yesterday we had 7 retraps at the new feeder site

1 of the Blue tit retraps was ringed as a 3J in July 2006 at the wildlife park

by our very own Kev Scott.

Nice one

Rock Pipit

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Back down to earth

Last few days been out checking the Gull Colonies at the gravel pits and the tip 2 new Herring Gull Chicks ringed and colour ringed. And a bird we had just metal ringed as we ran out of Darvics last visit we recaught and added a colour ring, all the Gulls are now flying and will soon be moving off.

Also another 20 Sand Martins caught 19 new birds and 1 re trap from last year.

Today the first 3 hours were spent at Close Sartfield

Only 6 Birds ringed

Song Thrush
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Blue Tit
Gt Tit
Treecreeper

Mark is back over on holiday and came out with me today we had a walk down the lane from Close Sartfield. There is a garden there with a fantastic feeding station so we knocked on the door and asked
if we could ring. The owners a Mr Mrs Colvin said yes. 1 40FT net and 2 hours later we had caught 81 birds

7 re traps the rest new

Mainly Tits, Blue, Gt and Coal with a good number off Chaffinch
Siskin
Goldfinch
Tree Sparrow
and
Blackbird

Hopefully we will ring here once a month from now on

Also another 20 Sand Martins caught 19 new birds and 1 re trap from last year.

Today the first 3 hours were spent at Close Sartfield

Only 6 Birds ringed

Hopefully we will ring here once a month from now on

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Starlings go for a Day Out

I sat outside with my bowl of cornflakes, enjoying a rare moment of peace in the early morning sunshine. In the uppermost branches of the tall conifer that overlooks our garden, were a multitude of Starlings. How many, I could not hazard a guess at, some were in full view while others were merely ghostly heads showing through the foliage.

The Starlings were unusually quiet, normally an endless

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Ringing on the island of Flatey

A short video of the visit to Iceland a great time was had by all, Me and Kev returned on Friday, Kane and Chris are staying on. They leave the island tomorrow where they go north to start catching the Whooper Swans for WWT

i received a text from kane today saying the weeks totals were as follows

663 Kittiwake

180 Shag

71 Black Guillemot Chicks

61 Red necked Phalarope

55 Arctic Terns

27 Puffins

24 Fulmar

21 Snipe

16 Snow Bunting

12 Mallard

11 Eider

9 Ringed Plover

9 Redwing

6 Meadow Pipits

5 Redshank

4 Oystercatcher

1 Whitewagtail

1 Grey Phalarope Chick

i received a text from kane today saying the weeks totals were as follows

663 Kittiwake

180 Shag

71 Black Guillemot Chicks

61 Red necked Phalarope

55 Arctic Terns

27 Puffins

24 Fulmar

21 Snipe

16 Snow Bunting

12 Mallard

11 Eider

9 Ringed Plover

9 Redwing

6 Meadow Pipits

5 Redshank

4 Oystercatcher

1 Whitewagtail

1 Grey Phalarope Chick

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