Michael's Ninth Year

[Kitsafari]

what a beauty that Leiothrix is!

[Galana]

Congratulations on the double century. A Lifer is a Lifer no matter its ancestry.

[Zim Girl]

Great batch of birds, Michael.  Congratulations on the 200!

[Tdgraves]

Congratulations on the double century (although this is small fry for you )

[TonyQ]

Well done on 200 @michael-ibk

You certainly got a good selection of birds on your "work" trip!

I didn't know the Leothrix was in Europe

[BRACQUENE]

Congratulations with your 200 Michael and a great lifer to arrive there ! 

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on the double century, Michael! And with a bird I had never even heard of. Some really good species and great bustard shots from your Barcelona  trip ! 

[pedro maia]

49 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

Congratulations on the double century, Michael! And with a bird I had never even heard of.

This is where I saw the Leiothrix https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3083359/bird-list, it’s not far from Sintra, but according to ebird the last sighting was nearly 2 years ago.

[michael-ibk]

Thanks @xelas, @pedro maia, @Kitsafari, @Galana, @Zim Girl, @BRACQUENE,
@PeterHG, @TonyQand @Tdgraves!
 

 

Alex, the Leioxthrix behaves more like a Warbler. Sounds very much like a Blackcap.

Edited May 4 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

201/E65) Eurasian Thick-knee aka Stone-Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) / Triel

 

RN 2000 Secans Belianes-Preixana, Catalonia/Spain, 13/4/2024. A classic here in the Steppes but did not see many of them this time, just three or four.

 

[michael-ibk]

202/E66) Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) / Rötelfalke

 

RN 2000 Secans Belianes-Preixana, Catalonia/Spain, 13/4/2024. Another key species here in the Lleida Steppes.

 

 

The female is difficult to tell apart from a Kestrel.

 

 

Here you can see the very pale (not black) talons, one of the few distinguishing features.

 

 

Only got a very distant shot of the male.

[michael-ibk]

202/E67) Eurasian aka Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) / Jackdaw

 

RN 2000 Secans Belianes-Preixana, Catalonia/Spain, 13/4/2024. Often sharing "house" with Lesser Kestrels.

 

[michael-ibk]

203/E68) Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) / Kalanderlerche

 

RN 2000 Secans Belianes-Preixana, Catalonia/Spain, 13/4/2024. My new favourite Lark! It's incredible how well they can mimic other bird songs. A nice tidbit from Wiki: The song is considered so musical to human ears that the calandra lark was formerly a popular cagebird in its range. It is mentioned in, for instance, the Tuscan proverb "Canta come una calandra", he or she sings like a lark,[9] and the Spanish ballad "Romance del prisionero", where its song is the only way the prisoner knows when day breaks.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

204/E69) Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca iberiae) / Iberien-Bartgrasmücke

 

C-13, Camarasa, Catalonia / Spain, 13/4/24. Just back from their winter areas. Attractive little Warbler.

 

 

Not so shy little guy, come out come out!

 

 

Ok, nice, but couldn't you have done that on that first twig nicely in the light?

[michael-ibk]

205/E70) (Eurasian) Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) / Gänsegeier

 

Boumort RNC-- Cingles de Pessonada, 13/4/2024. Cinereous Vulture is what I was really after - and I saw two, but so high up I did not even try with the camera. So quite a frustrating way to see a lifer. Still, a great area, got 4 Vulture species here, Griffon, Bearded, Egyptian and Cinereous.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

206/E71) Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) / Bartgeier

 

Boumort RNC-- Cingles de Pessonada, 13/4/2024. There are several hides in this area for Vulture. Decided against them because I enjoy walking around much more, but might try next time. Vultures rarely are in the habit of being close enough.

 

[michael-ibk]

207/E72) Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) / Alpenkrähe

 

Boumort RNC-- Cingles de Pessonada, 13/4/2024. Misleading German name - we don't have them in the Alps.

 

[michael-ibk]

208/E73) Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) / Zaunammer

 

Boumort RNC-- Cingles de Pessonada, 13/4/2024. A bird I have never seen in Austria - we do have a few very localised populations.

 

[michael-ibk]

209/E74) Merlin (Falco columbarius) / Merlin

 

Secans Anglesola-Vilagrassa, Catalonia / Spain, 13/4/2024. A very late bird - should already be heading North. Cool sighting for me, only my 5th, and my most photographable so far.

 

[michael-ibk]

210/E75) Stock Dove (Columba oenas) / Hohltaube

 

Timoneda d'Alfés--La Cogullada, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. I know @TonyQwill be very happy for me now.

 

[michael-ibk]

211/E76) Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) / Iberienraubwürger

 

Timoneda d'Alfés--La Cogullada, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. A bird not doing well at all Sergi told me. And indeed, this distant sighting was all we got.

 

[michael-ibk]

212/E77) Thekla's Lark (Galerida theklae) / Theklalerche

 

Timoneda d'Alfés--La Cogullada, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. I really cannot tell them apart from Crested and even their song is quite similar. So good to have a top guide like Sergi along. We also heard the extremely rare Dupont's Lark which would have been a lifer but could not get a visual. And I don't count "HOs" for lifers.

 

Edited May 4 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

213/E78) European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster ) / Bienenfresser.

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Lucky to see them - freshly arrived from their Winter Quarters, among the first records for Catalonia this year.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

214/E79) Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) / Rotkopfwürger

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Hanging with his buddy Corny here.

 

[michael-ibk]

215/E80) Mediterranean (formerly Lesser) Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) / Stummelerche

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Good bird to get, only my second proper sighting.