A nice little turn up

Sunday afternoon i received a text saying there was a Black Redstart at the Point of Ayre Lighthouse, I shot up there and took some shots and watched this bird for some 3 hours it was very flighty moving from roof tops to Garden and then back to wall tops.I noticed it kept going back to one place every 20 minutes or so, as it was getting dark I packed up and went home. Monday morning I got up there for 08:30 placed the spring trap where i thought it would go and within 10 Min's it was ringed and on its way.

A male Black Redstart ages as a 3 {this years young}

Today i popped down to Ramsey Harbour and the first thing i saw were two Colour ringed Rock Pipits, i got the camera out and took some shots. There were a few Rock Pipits un ringed so i set my Spring Traps and waited.

Rock Pipit ringed at Ramsey on 16/02/2011 seen today in Ramsey

Rock Pipit ringed at Port Mooar on July 30 2012 seen at Ramsey today

I got back to my car and watched the traps, 2 minutes later a bird flew towards one of them and sat on top of it. Another Black Redstart and no ring on it so it couldn't be the one from the Point of Ayre, which is only 7 miles away up the coast.

Another 3 Male Black Redstart ringed at Ramsey Harbour

Other Black Redstart ringing Records in Ramsey Harbour

1 ringed 23/11/2011

1 ringed 12/01/2012

1 ringed 29/01/2012

1 ringed 06/11/2013

Since my last post 82 new Linnets have been ringed another new Twite and 4 more Rock Pipits colour ringed.

Sunday afternoon i received a text saying there was a Black Redstart at the Point of Ayre Lighthouse, I shot up there and took some shots and watched this bird for some 3 hours it was very flighty moving from roof tops to Garden and then back to wall tops.I noticed it kept going back to one place every 20 minutes or so, as it was getting dark I packed up and went home. Monday morning I got up there for 08:30 placed the spring trap where i thought it would go and within 10 Min's it was ringed and on its way.

A male Black Redstart ages as a 3 {this years young}

Today i popped down to Ramsey Harbour and the first thing i saw were two Colour ringed Rock Pipits, i got the camera out and took some shots. There were a few Rock Pipits un ringed so i set my Spring Traps and waited.

Rock Pipit ringed at Ramsey on 16/02/2011 seen today in Ramsey

Rock Pipit ringed at Port Mooar on July 30 2012 seen at Ramsey today

I got back to my car and watched the traps, 2 minutes later a bird flew towards one of them and sat on top of it. Another Black Redstart and no ring on it so it couldn't be the one from the Point of Ayre, which is only 7 miles away up the coast.

Another 3 Male Black Redstart ringed at Ramsey Harbour

Other Black Redstart ringing Records in Ramsey Harbour

1 ringed 23/11/2011

1 ringed 12/01/2012

1 ringed 29/01/2012

1 ringed 06/11/2013

Since my last post 82 new Linnets have been ringed another new Twite and 4 more Rock Pipits colour ringed.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

HSC - Hardly Saw Coot...... let alone anything else!

Well, that's a lie. My schooling career officially ended today with the conclusion of the Biology HSC Exam, and I am a free man! I realised today that for this whole year, I have only made 4 blog posts, which is very bad (Max has made none! haha). So here's a quick summary - my survival guide for "How to bird successfully during Year 12" - I'm looking at you, Nathan/Henry/Simon/Julian!

1) DON'T MAKE EXCUSES, GO BIRDING!
Whilst a lot of time must be spent on schoolwork, there are always ways to fit in birding around it. Isn't that right Ashwin? ;)

2) GO ON PELAGICS, THE FRESH SEA AIR IS GOOD FOR YOU
I've been on a few pelagics this year, as they are very good single day breaks from study! I was on both the March and April Sydney Pelagics (in the vain hope of "twitching" New Zealand Storm Petrel, which has been sighted at that time of year over the last few years). No NZSP showed itself, however the April Pelagic was the day before Nathan's and Max's birthday, so I made an obligatory birdday cake which was well received on board.

An Edible (but not Tickable) New Zealand Storm Petrel

Little Penguin

Flesh-footed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

It is with great sadness that we learnt last month that the Halicat has been sold, and this era of Sydney Pelagics has come to an end, with a new arrangement needing to be organised at some point in the near future. Thankyou to Hal, Roger, Steve, Nikolas, and all the birders I have enjoyed my time with on board over the last few years - you kickstarted my love of ocean birding, and I hope to see you on the wide blue expanse again some other time!

Indeed, my last year of Halicatting held some fantastic experiences. My last bird tick was the March White-tailed Tropicbird, and while the April Pelagic netted me no new birds, we spotted pods of both Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins and Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, the former one of the first Sydney records, well out of range in the unusually warm Sydney waters. Soon after, we found a huge mass of floating pumice, with a whole marine ecosystem living off it. Steve dove in to grab some samples, and although I have no photos of this once-in-a-lifetime event, we were amazed by the display of spheroid orange, lime and spotted pufferfish, fluoro blue-striped slugs, pelagic sea snails, barnacles, and surface-dwelling crabs.

This is not a Tropicbird, but a White Tern, seen soon 

after the White-tailed Tropicbird disappeared

After a sudden influx of Common Diving Petrel sightings in June, (see SEAWATCHING) and a Blue Petrel of Wollongong, Max, Ashwin and myself quickly booked on an impromptu Swansea Pelagic, which was subsequently cancelled 5 minutes before we left home. A backup July Wollongong SOSSA Pelagic the next week was a milestone for me, first pelagic without a lifer! However we had a great day, with some great views of Buller's Albatross.

Buller's Albatross

3) SEAWATCHING... IT CAN BE ALRIGHT I GUESS
What a terrible idea. Who ever invented this? I've spent a fair few hours on North Head this year in perfect conditions (read raining, windy and cold), with very little to show for it. However, after the influx of Common Diving Petrels off the NSW coast, I decided to try my luck, and for the first time, I actually had some fantastic luck whilst seawatching! After only an hour, I saw a tiny bird right underneath me drop out of the sky and plunge into the water. After a tense minute, I finally relocated it, and had great views of Common Diving Petrel! Throughout the afternoon, I had 5 sightings,  at one point, 3 sitting an diving on the water right in front of me!

Double Common Diving Petrel

4) SYDNEY TICKING - EASIER THAN LIFERS
Max, Ashwin and myself spent a lot of effort this year on getting Sydney ticks, some of the highlights over our various trips to western Sydney being (in chronological order):

Great-crested Grebe
Square-tailed Kite (finally getting my bogey! Circing overhead as we quickly pulled over in Richmond)
Striated Pardalote (everywhere in Sydney this year)
Freckled Duck (everywhere all over Australia this year, with us counting 30 at Pitt Town in April)
Scarlet Robin*
White-naped Honeyeater*
Swift Parrot* (these last three on an exceptional morning at Mulgoa Nature Reserve in winter)
Eastern Barn Owl
Pallid Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Whiskered Tern

With a number of notable dips too, namely Australasian Bittern at Pitt Town Lagoon (double dip, one of which involved me wading through muddy thigh-deep water for an hour and bashing through almost impenetrable reeds) and Sooty Owl at Royal with Nathan Ruser, Henry Coleman, and disappointed visiting British birder Ben Jobson! We did get unbeatable views of four Freckled Ducks at Eastlakes though, and found some very cool glowworm colonies off southern Lady Carrington Drive.

Freckled Ducks at Eastlakes

5) TWITCHING AS STUDY BREAKS
One of my favourite pass-times this year was chasing rare birds which turned up at convenient times when I was burnt out from study. I already made a blog post about the Barking Owl, but I also twitched a Satin Flycatcher pair at Sydney Olympic Park with Simon Gorta the week before the HSC began, and a pair of Oriental Plovers at Long Reef with Max during the first week of the HSC (getting very confused by a dodgy Pacific Golden Plover in the process!). But not stopping there, Max and I were at it again two weeks later as we headed out to Pitt Town to twitch Painted Honeyeater and Pectoral Sandpiper, finding two Ruff instead (see previous blog post)!

Barking Owl, Satin Flycatcher, Oriental Plover (and dodgy PGP), Ruff

Also made a trip up to the Central Coast to meet with Alan Morris for a great tour of Pioneer Dairy Wetlands just after my HSC Trials in September, and successfully twitched Pectoral Sandpiper (of course since then, they've shown up everywhere, including the Pitt Town Lagoon birds!), though a host of other great birds were around including Australian Owlet Nightjar peeking out of a nest box.

Pectoral Sandpiper Hiding

Sleepy Afternoon Australian Owlet Nightjar

6) IT'S NOT JUST THE BIRDS
Have also made a few herping/frogging attempts with Nathan Ruser this year around the Northern Beaches, with one particular night being quite successful, with some great frogs, reptile (singular) and insects observed, plus a Tawny Frogmouth. We plan to spend a few more nights getting some more species later this year.

Eastern Stone Gecko

Common Ringtail Possum 

 Eudocima materna

Hemicloea major (Flat Rock or Major Pancake Spider)

Spotted Marsh Frog

Tawny Frogmouth

Also found this Threatening Jumping Spider Helpis minitabunda (I think that ID is correct, not 100%) in my backyard frogpond the other day, which is slowly filling with Striped Marsh Frogs, much to annoyance of the neighbors...

Threatening Jumping Spider

7) LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FOUR MONTHS OF FREEDOM!
I've spent a lot of time this year organising my post-HSC movements, with three great trips coming up. Lake Cargelligo and Round Hill Nature Reserve with Ashwin and Lachlan Hall in December (it will be extremely hot, but we're looking for reptiles too!), and a month in Borneo with Max starting in late January.

I have had to cancel my previous plans with Max and Ashwin to bird in Northern NSW for schoolies, but only because my next stop is the wide, blue, cold, and windy Southern Ocean, with a huge thanks to Enderby Trust, Rodney Russ, and Heritage Expeditions for awarding me an Enderby Trust Scholarship to participate in the "Birding Down Under" expedition - Macquarie Island here I come!!! 9 days and counting...

____________________________

Furthermore, 15,000 blog views and counting, we're going pretty well!!!
Thanks for reading guys

Heading out for a night of celebration,
Joshua Bergmark

Well, that's a lie. My schooling career officially ended today with the conclusion of the Biology HSC Exam, and I am a free man! I realised today that for this whole year, I have only made 4 blog posts, which is very bad (Max has made none! haha). So here's a quick summary - my survival guide for "How to bird successfully during Year 12" - I'm looking at you, Nathan/Henry/Simon/Julian!

1) DON'T MAKE EXCUSES, GO BIRDING!
Whilst a lot of time must be spent on schoolwork, there are always ways to fit in birding around it. Isn't that right Ashwin? ;)

2) GO ON PELAGICS, THE FRESH SEA AIR IS GOOD FOR YOU
I've been on a few pelagics this year, as they are very good single day breaks from study! I was on both the March and April Sydney Pelagics (in the vain hope of "twitching" New Zealand Storm Petrel, which has been sighted at that time of year over the last few years). No NZSP showed itself, however the April Pelagic was the day before Nathan's and Max's birthday, so I made an obligatory birdday cake which was well received on board.

An Edible (but not Tickable) New Zealand Storm Petrel

Little Penguin

Flesh-footed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

It is with great sadness that we learnt last month that the Halicat has been sold, and this era of Sydney Pelagics has come to an end, with a new arrangement needing to be organised at some point in the near future. Thankyou to Hal, Roger, Steve, Nikolas, and all the birders I have enjoyed my time with on board over the last few years - you kickstarted my love of ocean birding, and I hope to see you on the wide blue expanse again some other time!

Indeed, my last year of Halicatting held some fantastic experiences. My last bird tick was the March White-tailed Tropicbird, and while the April Pelagic netted me no new birds, we spotted pods of both Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins and Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, the former one of the first Sydney records, well out of range in the unusually warm Sydney waters. Soon after, we found a huge mass of floating pumice, with a whole marine ecosystem living off it. Steve dove in to grab some samples, and although I have no photos of this once-in-a-lifetime event, we were amazed by the display of spheroid orange, lime and spotted pufferfish, fluoro blue-striped slugs, pelagic sea snails, barnacles, and surface-dwelling crabs.

This is not a Tropicbird, but a White Tern, seen soon 

after the White-tailed Tropicbird disappeared

After a sudden influx of Common Diving Petrel sightings in June, (see SEAWATCHING) and a Blue Petrel of Wollongong, Max, Ashwin and myself quickly booked on an impromptu Swansea Pelagic, which was subsequently cancelled 5 minutes before we left home. A backup July Wollongong SOSSA Pelagic the next week was a milestone for me, first pelagic without a lifer! However we had a great day, with some great views of Buller's Albatross.

Buller's Albatross

3) SEAWATCHING... IT CAN BE ALRIGHT I GUESS
What a terrible idea. Who ever invented this? I've spent a fair few hours on North Head this year in perfect conditions (read raining, windy and cold), with very little to show for it. However, after the influx of Common Diving Petrels off the NSW coast, I decided to try my luck, and for the first time, I actually had some fantastic luck whilst seawatching! After only an hour, I saw a tiny bird right underneath me drop out of the sky and plunge into the water. After a tense minute, I finally relocated it, and had great views of Common Diving Petrel! Throughout the afternoon, I had 5 sightings,  at one point, 3 sitting an diving on the water right in front of me!

Double Common Diving Petrel

4) SYDNEY TICKING - EASIER THAN LIFERS
Max, Ashwin and myself spent a lot of effort this year on getting Sydney ticks, some of the highlights over our various trips to western Sydney being (in chronological order):

Great-crested Grebe
Square-tailed Kite (finally getting my bogey! Circing overhead as we quickly pulled over in Richmond)
Striated Pardalote (everywhere in Sydney this year)
Freckled Duck (everywhere all over Australia this year, with us counting 30 at Pitt Town in April)
Scarlet Robin*
White-naped Honeyeater*
Swift Parrot* (these last three on an exceptional morning at Mulgoa Nature Reserve in winter)
Eastern Barn Owl
Pallid Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Whiskered Tern

With a number of notable dips too, namely Australasian Bittern at Pitt Town Lagoon (double dip, one of which involved me wading through muddy thigh-deep water for an hour and bashing through almost impenetrable reeds) and Sooty Owl at Royal with Nathan Ruser, Henry Coleman, and disappointed visiting British birder Ben Jobson! We did get unbeatable views of four Freckled Ducks at Eastlakes though, and found some very cool glowworm colonies off southern Lady Carrington Drive.

Freckled Ducks at Eastlakes

5) TWITCHING AS STUDY BREAKS
One of my favourite pass-times this year was chasing rare birds which turned up at convenient times when I was burnt out from study. I already made a blog post about the Barking Owl, but I also twitched a Satin Flycatcher pair at Sydney Olympic Park with Simon Gorta the week before the HSC began, and a pair of Oriental Plovers at Long Reef with Max during the first week of the HSC (getting very confused by a dodgy Pacific Golden Plover in the process!). But not stopping there, Max and I were at it again two weeks later as we headed out to Pitt Town to twitch Painted Honeyeater and Pectoral Sandpiper, finding two Ruff instead (see previous blog post)!

Barking Owl, Satin Flycatcher, Oriental Plover (and dodgy PGP), Ruff

Also made a trip up to the Central Coast to meet with Alan Morris for a great tour of Pioneer Dairy Wetlands just after my HSC Trials in September, and successfully twitched Pectoral Sandpiper (of course since then, they've shown up everywhere, including the Pitt Town Lagoon birds!), though a host of other great birds were around including Australian Owlet Nightjar peeking out of a nest box.

Pectoral Sandpiper Hiding

Sleepy Afternoon Australian Owlet Nightjar

6) IT'S NOT JUST THE BIRDS
Have also made a few herping/frogging attempts with Nathan Ruser this year around the Northern Beaches, with one particular night being quite successful, with some great frogs, reptile (singular) and insects observed, plus a Tawny Frogmouth. We plan to spend a few more nights getting some more species later this year.

Eastern Stone Gecko

Common Ringtail Possum 

 Eudocima materna

Hemicloea major (Flat Rock or Major Pancake Spider)

Spotted Marsh Frog

Tawny Frogmouth

Also found this Threatening Jumping Spider Helpis minitabunda (I think that ID is correct, not 100%) in my backyard frogpond the other day, which is slowly filling with Striped Marsh Frogs, much to annoyance of the neighbors...

Threatening Jumping Spider

7) LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FOUR MONTHS OF FREEDOM!
I've spent a lot of time this year organising my post-HSC movements, with three great trips coming up. Lake Cargelligo and Round Hill Nature Reserve with Ashwin and Lachlan Hall in December (it will be extremely hot, but we're looking for reptiles too!), and a month in Borneo with Max starting in late January.

I have had to cancel my previous plans with Max and Ashwin to bird in Northern NSW for schoolies, but only because my next stop is the wide, blue, cold, and windy Southern Ocean, with a huge thanks to Enderby Trust, Rodney Russ, and Heritage Expeditions for awarding me an Enderby Trust Scholarship to participate in the "Birding Down Under" expedition - Macquarie Island here I come!!! 9 days and counting...

____________________________

Furthermore, 15,000 blog views and counting, we're going pretty well!!!
Thanks for reading guys

Heading out for a night of celebration,
Joshua Bergmark

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Tree Sparrows and Twite

A nice visit to the Regaby site on Thursday morning no wind and Sunshine, now that is a rarity of late.
As i type gale force winds howl outside.

17 birds caught at Regaby

3 new Tree Sparrows
4 new Goldfinch  1 retrap
1 new Greenfinch
1 new Blue Tit
2 new Chaffinch
1 retrap Robin
1 new Wren
2 Great Tits 1 new 1 retrap
1 House Sparrow


22 Tree Sparrows now ringed at this new site since March this year

Tree Sparrow

As i have mentioned gale force winds and rain have hampered most ringing activity over the last 3 weeks, seed has been placed at the whoosh site and birds are now starting to use it again even though it has been very windy it is still mild maybe when the temperature starts to drop more birds will be using it.

41 Birds ringed here this week

35 Linnets
1 retrap caught here in October 2011 and 1 in August 2012, 574 new Linnets Ringed at this site this year,  2785 since August 2010.

4 Goldfinch  473 ringed at this site

2 Twite
Always good to see the return of our wintering Twite to the Island. 6 seen on Friday hopefully numbers will rise to the normal 60+ we get most winters.

In the last 4 winters i have spent on the island a few female Merlin come to stay, with me feeding at the Point of Ayre and many finches about it would seem reasonable to assume these marvelous birds of prey would take advantage of this. On Friday i paid a visit to the site and as i pulled up a Merlin sat on one of the fence post i got out of the car and walk up to this bird and got with in 6ft of it. I obviously didn't want it about while i was trying to catch finches so i clap my hands and waved my arms and she still didn't move, when she did she flew 2 posts down either very hungry or just not bothered i was there.

Merlin

A nice visit to the Regaby site on Thursday morning no wind and Sunshine, now that is a rarity of late.
As i type gale force winds howl outside.

17 birds caught at Regaby

3 new Tree Sparrows
4 new Goldfinch  1 retrap
1 new Greenfinch
1 new Blue Tit
2 new Chaffinch
1 retrap Robin
1 new Wren
2 Great Tits 1 new 1 retrap
1 House Sparrow


22 Tree Sparrows now ringed at this new site since March this year

Tree Sparrow

As i have mentioned gale force winds and rain have hampered most ringing activity over the last 3 weeks, seed has been placed at the whoosh site and birds are now starting to use it again even though it has been very windy it is still mild maybe when the temperature starts to drop more birds will be using it.

41 Birds ringed here this week

35 Linnets
1 retrap caught here in October 2011 and 1 in August 2012, 574 new Linnets Ringed at this site this year,  2785 since August 2010.

4 Goldfinch  473 ringed at this site

2 Twite
Always good to see the return of our wintering Twite to the Island. 6 seen on Friday hopefully numbers will rise to the normal 60+ we get most winters.

In the last 4 winters i have spent on the island a few female Merlin come to stay, with me feeding at the Point of Ayre and many finches about it would seem reasonable to assume these marvelous birds of prey would take advantage of this. On Friday i paid a visit to the site and as i pulled up a Merlin sat on one of the fence post i got out of the car and walk up to this bird and got with in 6ft of it. I obviously didn't want it about while i was trying to catch finches so i clap my hands and waved my arms and she still didn't move, when she did she flew 2 posts down either very hungry or just not bothered i was there.

Merlin

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Ruff Ruff!

Headed out with Max to Pitt Town Lagoon on Friday to have a look for some recently reported rarities (Painted Honeyeater and Pectoral Sandpiper). We found neither, but instead located our own rarities, in the form of two Ruff and two Marsh Sandpipers. On finding the first Ruff, I sprinted back to the car to grab the camera leaving Max to keep track of the Ruff. On my return as I took photos, he scanned the shoreline and we had to triple check when he spotted a second Ruff 70m further on!

Pitt Town was positively booming, with our list at 68 species in only 2 hours. Other highlights included 15 Glossy Ibis, 5 Red-kneed Dotterel, a large mixed flock of Chestnut-breasted and Scaly-breasted Munia/Mannikin, Double-barred Finch, Whiskered Tern and hundreds of Sharpies.

A few hours at Scheyville National Park and the Turf Farms were not quite as fantastic, but some great birds including Zebra Finches and Trillers galore (Turf Farms), and at Scheyville, Pallid Cuckoos, Jacky Winter, White-throated Gerygone, Restless Flycatcher, White-browed Woodswallows, Crested Shrike-tit, Scarlet Honeyeater, Bar-shouldered Dove and Little Lorikeet.

Frustratingly the Pectoral Sandpipers and Painted Honeyeater were resighted over the next two days, so another trip is in order as soon as I finish these damn exams on Monday!

 Ruff #1

 Ruff #2

Marsh Sandpiper #1 and #2

Headed out with Max to Pitt Town Lagoon on Friday to have a look for some recently reported rarities (Painted Honeyeater and Pectoral Sandpiper). We found neither, but instead located our own rarities, in the form of two Ruff and two Marsh Sandpipers. On finding the first Ruff, I sprinted back to the car to grab the camera leaving Max to keep track of the Ruff. On my return as I took photos, he scanned the shoreline and we had to triple check when he spotted a second Ruff 70m further on!

Pitt Town was positively booming, with our list at 68 species in only 2 hours. Other highlights included 15 Glossy Ibis, 5 Red-kneed Dotterel, a large mixed flock of Chestnut-breasted and Scaly-breasted Munia/Mannikin, Double-barred Finch, Whiskered Tern and hundreds of Sharpies.

A few hours at Scheyville National Park and the Turf Farms were not quite as fantastic, but some great birds including Zebra Finches and Trillers galore (Turf Farms), and at Scheyville, Pallid Cuckoos, Jacky Winter, White-throated Gerygone, Restless Flycatcher, White-browed Woodswallows, Crested Shrike-tit, Scarlet Honeyeater, Bar-shouldered Dove and Little Lorikeet.

Frustratingly the Pectoral Sandpipers and Painted Honeyeater were resighted over the next two days, so another trip is in order as soon as I finish these damn exams on Monday!

 Ruff #1

 Ruff #2

Marsh Sandpiper #1 and #2

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

26 Oct 13 - Happisburgh to Trimmingham

Started the morning off with a visit to the church yard at Happisburgh, where a Radde's Warbler had been reported yesterday. Unfortunately, there was no sign of it, but there were plenty of birds coming in off the sea, mainly Skylarks, Starlings and finches. I headed north and stopped off at a few places along the coast until I got Mundesley, where I parked up at the holiday camp and walked south along the cliff top towards Bacton Gas Terminal, checking the fields and the sheltered habitat below the cliff.
There was a particularly co-operative Snow Bunting near the car park, which was presumably fresh-in and allowed me to get quite close to it. Further along the cliff-top path the characteristic twitter-"tuuuu" call of a Lapland Bunting attracted my attention as it flew around with some Skylarks. I remained in that area for a while (the smallest grassy field midway between the holiday camp and the gas terminal) and counted up to five birds together at once in the field. There were lots of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the fields, but nothing rarer.

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

I then headed into Mundesley and looked around the sheltered areas near Sandy Gulls Caravan Park. There were a few birds, along with quite a big Long-tailed Tit flock in the area, but nothing to shout about. I then headed up to Trimming. Just after I passed the radar station I saw a swift flying around over the road, so I jumped out and managed to get some half-decent photos of it.
As first I thought it was a Common Swift as it was so dark and the outer primary was the longest, but as Chris Batty quickly informed me, these features don't rule out Pallid. You can see a number of features that point towards Pallid Swift in the photos below. The most telling feature is that the throat is grey and not white and the eye stands out because the grey goes behind the eye, making they eye more obvious. You can also make out some 'scaling' of the underparts in some of the photos and pale tips to the coverts on the upperwing.

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

After the swift headed off inland I headed over to the north side of Trimmingham, where I found other birders watching a Pallid Swift between Trimmingham and Sidestrand. Although this bird was a bit more distant the paleness of this bird was very obvious and although the light had gotten a bit better now, I'm pretty sure this wasn't the bird I'd seen and photographed earlier.

Started the morning off with a visit to the church yard at Happisburgh, where a Radde's Warbler had been reported yesterday. Unfortunately, there was no sign of it, but there were plenty of birds coming in off the sea, mainly Skylarks, Starlings and finches. I headed north and stopped off at a few places along the coast until I got Mundesley, where I parked up at the holiday camp and walked south along the cliff top towards Bacton Gas Terminal, checking the fields and the sheltered habitat below the cliff.
There was a particularly co-operative Snow Bunting near the car park, which was presumably fresh-in and allowed me to get quite close to it. Further along the cliff-top path the characteristic twitter-"tuuuu" call of a Lapland Bunting attracted my attention as it flew around with some Skylarks. I remained in that area for a while (the smallest grassy field midway between the holiday camp and the gas terminal) and counted up to five birds together at once in the field. There were lots of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the fields, but nothing rarer.

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

Snow Bunting, Mundesley

I then headed into Mundesley and looked around the sheltered areas near Sandy Gulls Caravan Park. There were a few birds, along with quite a big Long-tailed Tit flock in the area, but nothing to shout about. I then headed up to Trimming. Just after I passed the radar station I saw a swift flying around over the road, so I jumped out and managed to get some half-decent photos of it.
As first I thought it was a Common Swift as it was so dark and the outer primary was the longest, but as Chris Batty quickly informed me, these features don't rule out Pallid. You can see a number of features that point towards Pallid Swift in the photos below. The most telling feature is that the throat is grey and not white and the eye stands out because the grey goes behind the eye, making they eye more obvious. You can also make out some 'scaling' of the underparts in some of the photos and pale tips to the coverts on the upperwing.

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

Pallid Swift, Trimmingham

After the swift headed off inland I headed over to the north side of Trimmingham, where I found other birders watching a Pallid Swift between Trimmingham and Sidestrand. Although this bird was a bit more distant the paleness of this bird was very obvious and although the light had gotten a bit better now, I'm pretty sure this wasn't the bird I'd seen and photographed earlier.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Catch up

A quick catch up on what has been going on.

September saw another 315 birds ringed.

141 Meadow Pipits
69  Linnets
38 Goldfinch
10 Siskin
12 Chaffinch
6 Greenfinch
5 House Sparrow
2 Starling
2 Magpie
4 Gt tit
7 Blue Tit
1 Coal Tit
3 Robin
6 Rock Pipit
8 Dunlin

Not as good as last September but i was away for a week in Majorca and was busy with guests and other stuff.

October has started with gales and rain but i am still managing to get out and carry on with the Rock Pipit Colour ringing project. 21 ringed in the last 2 weeks. Also another 3 Stonechats ringed at the Point of Ayre.

Dunlin

Stonechat

Rock Pipit

A quick catch up on what has been going on.

September saw another 315 birds ringed.

141 Meadow Pipits
69  Linnets
38 Goldfinch
10 Siskin
12 Chaffinch
6 Greenfinch
5 House Sparrow
2 Starling
2 Magpie
4 Gt tit
7 Blue Tit
1 Coal Tit
3 Robin
6 Rock Pipit
8 Dunlin

Not as good as last September but i was away for a week in Majorca and was busy with guests and other stuff.

October has started with gales and rain but i am still managing to get out and carry on with the Rock Pipit Colour ringing project. 21 ringed in the last 2 weeks. Also another 3 Stonechats ringed at the Point of Ayre.

Dunlin

Stonechat

Rock Pipit

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

SEPTEMBER 2013. Notable observations in Extremadura

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) by Sergio Mayordomo

Dedicated to the memory of Natalia Moral

Annotated list of the most interesting records in Extremadura in September 2013. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo. Translated by Martin Kelsey.

- Egyptian Goose: 11 seen at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Three at Brovales reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), on 10/09 (Francisco Montaño). 33 birds at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (CC), on 14/09 (Juan Pablo Prieto -photo). The largest group ever seen in Extremadura.

- Shelduck: Three at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Talaván reservoir (CC) two young birds seen on 26/09 (Javier Esteban) and 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo).

- Garganey: One present at the large lagoon La Albuera (BA) on 05/09 (M. Gálvez)

- Red-crested Pochard: At La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC) a female seen on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo), five present on 22/09 (César Clemente, Jesús Solana and S. Mayordomo), three on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and six on 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo). At the Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), 30 were present on 06/09 (Carlos González), six on 13/09 (Ángel Luis Sánchez and C. González) and two on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 08/09 (Juan Carlos Paniagua). A female at the gravel pits at Valdefuentes, Galisteo (CC), on 09/09 (Ricardo Montero). A female at Alange reservoir (BA) on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Ferruginous DucK: Two at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). At the Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), two were seen on 06/09 (C. González) and a male on el 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González). At La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), four males present on 22/09 (C. Clemente, J. Solana and S. Mayordomo) and a male on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Black-necked Grebe: One at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), on días 06/09 (C. González) and 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González). At Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), three present on 07/09, 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 10/09 (M. Kelsey). One at Los Calles pool, Toril (CC), on 20/09 (J. Prieta).

- Great Cormorant: 569 birds at Valuengo reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), on 18/09 (José Antonio Román).

- Squacco Heron: One at Matachel River, Alange (BA), on 06/09 (J. Guerra).

- Cattle Egret: Roost of about 750 birds at Ardila River, La Bazana, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA) on 12/09 (Juan Carlos Delgado).

- Black Stork: Postbreeding gatherings. 11 at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (BA), on 10/09 (J. Guerra, Juan Carlos Albero, M. Gálvez and Silvia Fernández). 15 at Torrecillas de la Tiesa reservoir (CC) on 17/09 (John Hawkins).

- Glossy Ibis: Three on irrigated land at Santa Amalia (BA) on 01/09 (Fernando Yuste). One at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 06/09 (C. González). At Galisteo lagoon (CC) one on 18/09 (Kenet Sánchez and R. Montero), three on 25/09 (J. Prieta -photo-) and four on 30/09 (R. Montero). On 21/09 more than 60 birds seen at Casas de Hitos, Madrigalejo (CC), (J. Hawkins) and one at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), (Antolín Redondo). One at the rice fields at El Batán (CC) on 25/09 (J. Prieta). On the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) three seen on 27/09 (M. Kelsey) and on 28/09 (A. Calvo).

- Spoonbill: Postbreeding gatherings. 20 at Alange reservoir (BA), on 02/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Los Canchales reservoir (BA) 70 seen on 03/09 (Elvira del Viejo, J. Solana, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 47 on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). At Valuengo reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), 26 birds were seen on 06/09 and 25 on 18/09 (J. A. Román -photo-). At the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) 22 present on 07/09 (J. C. Paniagua), 33 on 24/09 and 22 on 25/09 (J. A. Román).

- Greater Flamingo: Continued presence of between 9 and 56 birds from 05/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) until 24/09 (Á. L. Sánchez, Á. T. Mejías, C. González, E. del Viejo, Francis Martín, F. Montaño,  J. A. Román, J. Guerra, J. C. Paniagua, Juan Carlos Salgado, Juanma Brías, M. Gálvez, Mercedes Rodríguez, Paco Bernáldez and Paco Macías). Nine present at the  Valdelagrana pool, La Albuera (BA), on 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González).

-Goshawk: One at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 (J. Prieta). One at Montánchez (CC) on 24/09 (Nacho Rodríguez). A juvenile at Alburquerque, Sierra de San Pedro (BA), on 21/09 (L. Sitges).

- Osprey: Two at La Pesga(CC) on 02/09 (A. Pacheco). At Montijo reservoir, Mérida (BA), one seen on 03/09 (J. Solana), one on 12/09 (Fernando Díez) and another on 29/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Alange reservoir (BA) one seen on 06/09 (J. Guerra, J. A. Román and M. Gálvez), two on 09/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías), one on 10/09 (J. Guerra, J. C. Albero, M. Gálvez and S. Fernández), one on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo) and one on 29/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC) one 07/09 and 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). One at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (CC), on 14/09 (J. P. Prieto). One at Guijo de Coria (CC) on 18/09 (K. Sánchez and R. Montero). One at Zorita (CC) on 18/09 (Henk Zweers). One on Guadiana Riverpassing through Mérida (BA) on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at Los Canchales Reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Red-footed Falcon: Three present at Cornalvo Natural Park (BA) el 23/09 (Diego Recio).

- Hobby: One at Esperabán Pass, Pinofranqueado (CC), on 16/09 (A. Pacheco). Three, 2 adults and a juvenile, at Villanueva de La Vera (CC) on 24/09 (Dave Langlois).

- Red-knobbed Coot: Two individuals at the large lagoon La Albuera(BA) on 05/09 (J. Guerra), one of the these had a neck collar and was still there on 09/09 (J. C. Paniagua).

- Avocet: At Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), two seen, an adult and a juvenile, on 01/09 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco) and one there on 09/09 (José Carlos López), 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two in flight over Alange reservoir (BA) on 03/09 (J. Guerra). One at Morantes pool, Badajoz, on 09/09 (José Luis Bautista). Nine at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), on 26/09 (J. Guerra y M. Gálvez).

- Kentish Plover: At Alange reservoir (BA) two seen on 09/09 (J. A. Román) and one on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). One at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey).

- Red Knot: One individual at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 14/09 (J. C. Paniagua -photo-), 20/09 (E. del Viejo, P. Bernáldez and P. Macías) and 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Temminck’s Stint: One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 06/09 (J. Guerra, J. A. Román and M. Gálvez). One at large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 13/09 (F. Montaño). Three at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Curlew Sandpiper: Two juveniles at Salor reservoir, Cáceres, on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo). A juvenile at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 10/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). Two juveniles at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías), 21/09 (J. C. Paniagua) and 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), and three on 25/09 (J. A. Román). One at Torrecillas de la Tiesareservoir (CC) on 15/09 (J. Hawkins). A juvenile at Valdelagrana pool, La Albuera (BA), on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Bar-tailed Godwit: A juvenile at Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), on 20/09 (J. Prieta -photo-), 21/09 (E. Palacios) and 25/09 (R. Montero). Two at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 21/09 (J. Esteban).

- Curlew: One at large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 05/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), 06/09 (J. C. Salgado and M. Rodríguez), 07/09 (F. Martín and J. C. Paniagua) and 20/09 (E. del Viejo).

- Spotted Redshank: At the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) four seen on 01/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías), three on 06/09 (J. C. Salgado and M. Rodríguez), one on 09/09 (A. T. Mejías),  two on 13/09 (F. Montaño) and four on 20/09 (E. del Viejo, P. Bernáldez and P. Macías). One at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo). One at Salor reservoir, Cáceres, on 10/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). At Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), 14 birds  present on 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), two on 15/09 (J. Briz) and four on 20/09 (J. Prieta). One at Esparragalejo pool (BA) on 25/09 (J. Guerra). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey). Two at Alange reservoir (BA) on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Wood Sandpiper: Three on irrigated land at Santa Amalia (BA) on 01/09 (F. Yuste). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 09/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías). Four seen at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 09/09 and one on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías). Two at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at Galisteo reservoir (CC) on 25/09 (J. Prieta). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey).

- Yellow-legged Gull: At Alange reservoir (BA) an adult present on 05/09 (M. Gálvez) and an immature on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). 27 birds, the majority adults, at Vadecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Whiskered Tern: At the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) one on 07/09 and three on 09/09 (J. C. Paniagua). On 10/09 a juvenile seen at Ahigal reservoir (CC) (A. Pacheco) and three at Brovales reservoir, Jerezde los Caballeros (BA), (F. Montaño).

- Black Tern: One at Brovales reservoir, Jerezde los Caballeros (BA), on 10/09 (F. Montaño). Two juveniles at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M.Gálvez). At Talaván reservoir (CC) a ju8venile present on 25/09 (M. Kelsey) and 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo).

- White-winged Black Tern: One at Torrecillas de la Tiesa reservoir (CC) on 09/09 (J. Hawkins -photo-).

- Ring-necked Parakeet: One at the alcazaba in Mérida (BA) on 22/09 (Juan José Ramos Encalado).

- European Nightjar: Three seen at the Sierra de San Serván, Mérida (BA), on 17/09 (Antonia Cangas).

- Wryneck: One on banks of Guadiana River in Medellín (BA) on 09/09 (F. Yuste). One trapped for ringing at the Sierra de La Mosca, Cáceres, on 23/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Tawny Pipit: One at Torremocha (CC) on 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). On the plains of Cáceres seven seen on 13/09 and four on 25/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Tree Pipit: Two at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 and five at Piornal (CC) on 20/09 (J. Prieta). One at La Albuera (BA) on 21/09 (J. C. Paniagua). Seven seen at Jerte reservoir, Casas del Castañar (CC) on 24/09 (J. Prieta).

- Yellow Wagtail: Examples of Motacilla flava thunbergi: one at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 08/09 (J. Guerra y M. Gálvez) and one at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo).

- Grasshopper Warbler: One at Casar de Cáceres (CC) on 06/09 (Alberto Sánchez -photo-). One impaled on barbed-wire by an Iberian Grey Shrike at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 16/09 (Jesús Porras). One at Piornal (CC) on 20/09 (J. Prieta). Two at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 22/09 (A. Pacheco). One trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 24/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Sedge Warbler: Seen on Guadiana River in Badajozon 08/09 (J. C. Paniagua). Two trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 27/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Iberian Chiffchaff: One trapped for ringing at La Lapa (BA) on 01/09 (Hugo Gómez-Tejedor). At least one at Acehúche (CC) on 07/09 (Manuela Rodríguez). In the Sierra de La Mosca, Cáceres, one trapped for ringing on 23/09 and another on 26/09 (GIA Extremadura). Two trapped for ringing at Gargáligas River, Rena (BA), on 28/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Bearded Tit: A female at Arrocampo Reservoir (CC) on 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

FIRST POSTBREEDING SIGHTINGS

- Greylag Goose: 13 at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 07/09 and 8 at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (Jose Guerra and Marc Gálvez). Five still present at Borbollón reservoir (CC) on 15/09 (Javier Prieta). One remaining at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (Eva Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and Sergio Mayordomo).

- Eurasian Wigeon: Three at Esparragalejo pool (BA) on 25/09 (J. Guerra). On the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) one on 27/09 (Martin Kelsey) and eight on 28/09 (Antonio Calvo). On 29/09 two seen at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo), and two at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC) and seven at Talaván reservoir (CC) (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).

- Red Kite: In Badajoz, one on 12/09 at Fregenal de la Sierra (BA) (J. C. Delgado).

- Hen Harrier: One at Talaván (CC) on 29/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). One on Cáceres plains (CC) on 01/10 (GIA Extremadura).

- Common Crane: 20 flying over Plasencia (CC) on 29/09 (Javier Parra). Ten over Cáceres on 02/10 (Arturo Domínguez). One at Tietar River, Malpartida de Plasencia (CC), on 03/10 (Javier Manzano and Juan Óscar Carretero).

- Stock Dove: Two at Galisteo (CC) on 28/09 (R. Montero).

- Skylark: One at El Batán (CC) on 30/09 (R. Montero).

- Meadow Pipit: One at Jerte reservoir, Casas del Castañar (CC), on 24/09 (J. Prieta).

- Bluethroat: On Salor River, Cáceres, a male captured for ringing on 20/09 and a female on 24/09 (GIA Extremadura -photo-). One at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), on 28/09 (R. Montero).

- Song Thrush: Two at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 (J. Prieta).

- Willow Warbler: One trapped for ringing at Gargáligas River, Rena (BA), on 28/09 (GIA Extremadura).

LATE OBSERVATION SOF SUMMER VISITORS

- Quail: One at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), on 02/09 (S. Mayordomo). One at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 04/09 (J.Solana). One at La Albuera(BA) on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías).

- Honey Buzzard: Two at Campo Lugar (CC) on 15/09 (A. Calvo). One at Riomalo de Abajo (CC) on 27/09 (Alberto Pacheco).

- Common Swift: One at Alange (BA) on 21/09 (Bernat Iglesia, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Latest record ever in Extremadura.

- Bee-eater: 15 at the Sierra de la Mosca, Cáceres, on 11/09 (GIA Extremadura). Several over Plasencia (CC) on 13/09 (S. Mayordomo). Two over Monterhermoso (CC) on 19/09 (Javier Mahillo).

- Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush: A male at Esperabán Pass, Pinofranqueado (CC), on 16/09 (A. Pacheco). Three, a male and two juveniles, at Montánchez (CC) on 24/09 (N. Rodríguez).

- Western Bonelli’s Warbler: One at Aldea del Cano (CC) on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo).

- Golden Oriole: A male at Valuento reservoir (BA) on 05/09 (J. C. Delgado). One at Acehúche (CC) on 11/09 (M. Rodríguez). One at Jerez de los Caballeros (BA) on 18/09 (J. A. Román).

- Woodchat Shrike: A juvenile at Fregenal de la Sierra(BA) on 06/09 (J. C. Delgado). A juvenile trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 10/09 (GIA Extremadura). A juvenile at Oliva de Plasencia (CC) on 15/09 (J. Prieta).

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) by Sergio Mayordomo

Dedicated to the memory of Natalia Moral

Annotated list of the most interesting records in Extremadura in September 2013. Compiled by Sergio Mayordomo. Translated by Martin Kelsey.

- Egyptian Goose: 11 seen at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Three at Brovales reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), on 10/09 (Francisco Montaño). 33 birds at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (CC), on 14/09 (Juan Pablo Prieto -photo). The largest group ever seen in Extremadura.

- Shelduck: Three at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Talaván reservoir (CC) two young birds seen on 26/09 (Javier Esteban) and 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo).

- Garganey: One present at the large lagoon La Albuera (BA) on 05/09 (M. Gálvez)

- Red-crested Pochard: At La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC) a female seen on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo), five present on 22/09 (César Clemente, Jesús Solana and S. Mayordomo), three on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and six on 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo). At the Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), 30 were present on 06/09 (Carlos González), six on 13/09 (Ángel Luis Sánchez and C. González) and two on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 08/09 (Juan Carlos Paniagua). A female at the gravel pits at Valdefuentes, Galisteo (CC), on 09/09 (Ricardo Montero). A female at Alange reservoir (BA) on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Ferruginous DucK: Two at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). At the Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), two were seen on 06/09 (C. González) and a male on el 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González). At La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), four males present on 22/09 (C. Clemente, J. Solana and S. Mayordomo) and a male on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Black-necked Grebe: One at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo) and 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at Valdelagrana pools, La Albuera (BA), on días 06/09 (C. González) and 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González). At Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), three present on 07/09, 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 10/09 (M. Kelsey). One at Los Calles pool, Toril (CC), on 20/09 (J. Prieta).

- Great Cormorant: 569 birds at Valuengo reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), on 18/09 (José Antonio Román).

- Squacco Heron: One at Matachel River, Alange (BA), on 06/09 (J. Guerra).

- Cattle Egret: Roost of about 750 birds at Ardila River, La Bazana, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA) on 12/09 (Juan Carlos Delgado).

- Black Stork: Postbreeding gatherings. 11 at Arroyoconejos reservoir, Llerena (BA), on 10/09 (J. Guerra, Juan Carlos Albero, M. Gálvez and Silvia Fernández). 15 at Torrecillas de la Tiesa reservoir (CC) on 17/09 (John Hawkins).

- Glossy Ibis: Three on irrigated land at Santa Amalia (BA) on 01/09 (Fernando Yuste). One at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 06/09 (C. González). At Galisteo lagoon (CC) one on 18/09 (Kenet Sánchez and R. Montero), three on 25/09 (J. Prieta -photo-) and four on 30/09 (R. Montero). On 21/09 more than 60 birds seen at Casas de Hitos, Madrigalejo (CC), (J. Hawkins) and one at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), (Antolín Redondo). One at the rice fields at El Batán (CC) on 25/09 (J. Prieta). On the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) three seen on 27/09 (M. Kelsey) and on 28/09 (A. Calvo).

- Spoonbill: Postbreeding gatherings. 20 at Alange reservoir (BA), on 02/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Los Canchales reservoir (BA) 70 seen on 03/09 (Elvira del Viejo, J. Solana, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) and 47 on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). At Valuengo reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), 26 birds were seen on 06/09 and 25 on 18/09 (J. A. Román -photo-). At the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) 22 present on 07/09 (J. C. Paniagua), 33 on 24/09 and 22 on 25/09 (J. A. Román).

- Greater Flamingo: Continued presence of between 9 and 56 birds from 05/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez) until 24/09 (Á. L. Sánchez, Á. T. Mejías, C. González, E. del Viejo, Francis Martín, F. Montaño,  J. A. Román, J. Guerra, J. C. Paniagua, Juan Carlos Salgado, Juanma Brías, M. Gálvez, Mercedes Rodríguez, Paco Bernáldez and Paco Macías). Nine present at the  Valdelagrana pool, La Albuera (BA), on 13/09 (Á. L. Sánchez and C. González).

-Goshawk: One at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 (J. Prieta). One at Montánchez (CC) on 24/09 (Nacho Rodríguez). A juvenile at Alburquerque, Sierra de San Pedro (BA), on 21/09 (L. Sitges).

- Osprey: Two at La Pesga(CC) on 02/09 (A. Pacheco). At Montijo reservoir, Mérida (BA), one seen on 03/09 (J. Solana), one on 12/09 (Fernando Díez) and another on 29/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). At Alange reservoir (BA) one seen on 06/09 (J. Guerra, J. A. Román and M. Gálvez), two on 09/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías), one on 10/09 (J. Guerra, J. C. Albero, M. Gálvez and S. Fernández), one on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo) and one on 29/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC) one 07/09 and 08/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). One at Cubilar reservoir, Logrosán (CC), on 14/09 (J. P. Prieto). One at Guijo de Coria (CC) on 18/09 (K. Sánchez and R. Montero). One at Zorita (CC) on 18/09 (Henk Zweers). One on Guadiana Riverpassing through Mérida (BA) on 26/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two at Los Canchales Reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Red-footed Falcon: Three present at Cornalvo Natural Park (BA) el 23/09 (Diego Recio).

- Hobby: One at Esperabán Pass, Pinofranqueado (CC), on 16/09 (A. Pacheco). Three, 2 adults and a juvenile, at Villanueva de La Vera (CC) on 24/09 (Dave Langlois).

- Red-knobbed Coot: Two individuals at the large lagoon La Albuera(BA) on 05/09 (J. Guerra), one of the these had a neck collar and was still there on 09/09 (J. C. Paniagua).

- Avocet: At Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), two seen, an adult and a juvenile, on 01/09 (Javier Briz and Vicente Risco) and one there on 09/09 (José Carlos López), 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Two in flight over Alange reservoir (BA) on 03/09 (J. Guerra). One at Morantes pool, Badajoz, on 09/09 (José Luis Bautista). Nine at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), on 26/09 (J. Guerra y M. Gálvez).

- Kentish Plover: At Alange reservoir (BA) two seen on 09/09 (J. A. Román) and one on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). One at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey).

- Red Knot: One individual at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 14/09 (J. C. Paniagua -photo-), 20/09 (E. del Viejo, P. Bernáldez and P. Macías) and 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Temminck’s Stint: One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 06/09 (J. Guerra, J. A. Román and M. Gálvez). One at large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 13/09 (F. Montaño). Three at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Curlew Sandpiper: Two juveniles at Salor reservoir, Cáceres, on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo). A juvenile at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 10/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). Two juveniles at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías), 21/09 (J. C. Paniagua) and 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), and three on 25/09 (J. A. Román). One at Torrecillas de la Tiesareservoir (CC) on 15/09 (J. Hawkins). A juvenile at Valdelagrana pool, La Albuera (BA), on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Bar-tailed Godwit: A juvenile at Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), on 20/09 (J. Prieta -photo-), 21/09 (E. Palacios) and 25/09 (R. Montero). Two at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 21/09 (J. Esteban).

- Curlew: One at large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 05/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), 06/09 (J. C. Salgado and M. Rodríguez), 07/09 (F. Martín and J. C. Paniagua) and 20/09 (E. del Viejo).

- Spotted Redshank: At the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) four seen on 01/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías), three on 06/09 (J. C. Salgado and M. Rodríguez), one on 09/09 (A. T. Mejías),  two on 13/09 (F. Montaño) and four on 20/09 (E. del Viejo, P. Bernáldez and P. Macías). One at the Torrealba pool, Torremocha (CC), on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo). One at Salor reservoir, Cáceres, on 10/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). At Charco Salado, Casatejada (CC), 14 birds  present on 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez), two on 15/09 (J. Briz) and four on 20/09 (J. Prieta). One at Esparragalejo pool (BA) on 25/09 (J. Guerra). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey). Two at Alange reservoir (BA) on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo).

- Wood Sandpiper: Three on irrigated land at Santa Amalia (BA) on 01/09 (F. Yuste). One at Alange reservoir (BA) on 09/09 (P. Bernáldez and P. Macías). Four seen at the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) on 09/09 and one on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías). Two at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). One at Galisteo reservoir (CC) on 25/09 (J. Prieta). One on rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) on 27/09 (M. Kelsey).

- Yellow-legged Gull: At Alange reservoir (BA) an adult present on 05/09 (M. Gálvez) and an immature on 28/09 (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo). 27 birds, the majority adults, at Vadecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 and 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

- Whiskered Tern: At the large lagoon at La Albuera (BA) one on 07/09 and three on 09/09 (J. C. Paniagua). On 10/09 a juvenile seen at Ahigal reservoir (CC) (A. Pacheco) and three at Brovales reservoir, Jerezde los Caballeros (BA), (F. Montaño).

- Black Tern: One at Brovales reservoir, Jerezde los Caballeros (BA), on 10/09 (F. Montaño). Two juveniles at the large lagoon at La Albuera(BA) on 24/09 (J. Guerra and M.Gálvez). At Talaván reservoir (CC) a ju8venile present on 25/09 (M. Kelsey) and 29/09 (E. Palaciosand S. Mayordomo).

- White-winged Black Tern: One at Torrecillas de la Tiesa reservoir (CC) on 09/09 (J. Hawkins -photo-).

- Ring-necked Parakeet: One at the alcazaba in Mérida (BA) on 22/09 (Juan José Ramos Encalado).

- European Nightjar: Three seen at the Sierra de San Serván, Mérida (BA), on 17/09 (Antonia Cangas).

- Wryneck: One on banks of Guadiana River in Medellín (BA) on 09/09 (F. Yuste). One trapped for ringing at the Sierra de La Mosca, Cáceres, on 23/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Tawny Pipit: One at Torremocha (CC) on 12/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo). On the plains of Cáceres seven seen on 13/09 and four on 25/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Tree Pipit: Two at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 and five at Piornal (CC) on 20/09 (J. Prieta). One at La Albuera (BA) on 21/09 (J. C. Paniagua). Seven seen at Jerte reservoir, Casas del Castañar (CC) on 24/09 (J. Prieta).

- Yellow Wagtail: Examples of Motacilla flava thunbergi: one at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 08/09 (J. Guerra y M. Gálvez) and one at Portaje reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo).

- Grasshopper Warbler: One at Casar de Cáceres (CC) on 06/09 (Alberto Sánchez -photo-). One impaled on barbed-wire by an Iberian Grey Shrike at Talaván reservoir (CC) on 16/09 (Jesús Porras). One at Piornal (CC) on 20/09 (J. Prieta). Two at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 22/09 (A. Pacheco). One trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 24/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Sedge Warbler: Seen on Guadiana River in Badajozon 08/09 (J. C. Paniagua). Two trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 27/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Iberian Chiffchaff: One trapped for ringing at La Lapa (BA) on 01/09 (Hugo Gómez-Tejedor). At least one at Acehúche (CC) on 07/09 (Manuela Rodríguez). In the Sierra de La Mosca, Cáceres, one trapped for ringing on 23/09 and another on 26/09 (GIA Extremadura). Two trapped for ringing at Gargáligas River, Rena (BA), on 28/09 (GIA Extremadura).

- Bearded Tit: A female at Arrocampo Reservoir (CC) on 12/09 (J. Guerra and M. Gálvez).

FIRST POSTBREEDING SIGHTINGS

- Greylag Goose: 13 at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 07/09 and 8 at Valdecañas reservoir (CC) on 11/09 (Jose Guerra and Marc Gálvez). Five still present at Borbollón reservoir (CC) on 15/09 (Javier Prieta). One remaining at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) on 29/09 (Eva Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and Sergio Mayordomo).

- Eurasian Wigeon: Three at Esparragalejo pool (BA) on 25/09 (J. Guerra). On the rice fields between Palazuelo (BA) and Campo Lugar (CC) one on 27/09 (Martin Kelsey) and eight on 28/09 (Antonio Calvo). On 29/09 two seen at Los Canchales reservoir (BA) (E. Palacios, J. Guerra, M. Gálvez and S. Mayordomo), and two at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC) and seven at Talaván reservoir (CC) (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo).

- Red Kite: In Badajoz, one on 12/09 at Fregenal de la Sierra (BA) (J. C. Delgado).

- Hen Harrier: One at Talaván (CC) on 29/09 (E. Palacios and S. Mayordomo). One on Cáceres plains (CC) on 01/10 (GIA Extremadura).

- Common Crane: 20 flying over Plasencia (CC) on 29/09 (Javier Parra). Ten over Cáceres on 02/10 (Arturo Domínguez). One at Tietar River, Malpartida de Plasencia (CC), on 03/10 (Javier Manzano and Juan Óscar Carretero).

- Stock Dove: Two at Galisteo (CC) on 28/09 (R. Montero).

- Skylark: One at El Batán (CC) on 30/09 (R. Montero).

- Meadow Pipit: One at Jerte reservoir, Casas del Castañar (CC), on 24/09 (J. Prieta).

- Bluethroat: On Salor River, Cáceres, a male captured for ringing on 20/09 and a female on 24/09 (GIA Extremadura -photo-). One at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), on 28/09 (R. Montero).

- Song Thrush: Two at Tornavacas Pass (CC) on 18/09 (J. Prieta).

- Willow Warbler: One trapped for ringing at Gargáligas River, Rena (BA), on 28/09 (GIA Extremadura).

LATE OBSERVATION SOF SUMMER VISITORS

- Quail: One at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), on 02/09 (S. Mayordomo). One at Soto gravel pits, Valverde de Mérida (BA), on 04/09 (J.Solana). One at La Albuera(BA) on 12/09 (A. T. Mejías).

- Honey Buzzard: Two at Campo Lugar (CC) on 15/09 (A. Calvo). One at Riomalo de Abajo (CC) on 27/09 (Alberto Pacheco).

- Common Swift: One at Alange (BA) on 21/09 (Bernat Iglesia, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Latest record ever in Extremadura.

- Bee-eater: 15 at the Sierra de la Mosca, Cáceres, on 11/09 (GIA Extremadura). Several over Plasencia (CC) on 13/09 (S. Mayordomo). Two over Monterhermoso (CC) on 19/09 (Javier Mahillo).

- Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush: A male at Esperabán Pass, Pinofranqueado (CC), on 16/09 (A. Pacheco). Three, a male and two juveniles, at Montánchez (CC) on 24/09 (N. Rodríguez).

- Western Bonelli’s Warbler: One at Aldea del Cano (CC) on 06/09 (S. Mayordomo).

- Golden Oriole: A male at Valuento reservoir (BA) on 05/09 (J. C. Delgado). One at Acehúche (CC) on 11/09 (M. Rodríguez). One at Jerez de los Caballeros (BA) on 18/09 (J. A. Román).

- Woodchat Shrike: A juvenile at Fregenal de la Sierra(BA) on 06/09 (J. C. Delgado). A juvenile trapped for ringing at Salor River, Cáceres, on 10/09 (GIA Extremadura). A juvenile at Oliva de Plasencia (CC) on 15/09 (J. Prieta).

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