Michael's Ninth Year

[michael-ibk]

216/E81) Wood Lark (Lullula arborea) / Heidelerche

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Not uncommon here but not too approachable this time.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

217/E82) Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca hortensis) / Orpheusgrasmücke

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Lifer! One of my top targets for this trip, and hooray, success. A really tricky bird, needed half an hour to get a photo. Quite vocal but a dastardly proficient skulker.

 

[michael-ibk]

218/E83) Western Black-eared Wheatear ( Oenanthe hispanica) / Maurensteinschmätzer

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Second sighting, and the first was also in this general area some years ago. Beautiful Wheatear.

 

[michael-ibk]

219/E84) Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura) / Trauersteinschmätzer

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Also second sighting, and the first was exactly here. Unfortunately just as poor this time as the first one. A fastly decreasing species.

 

 

Some bunnies to make up for this lousy photo:

 

[michael-ibk]

220/E85) Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) / Steinsperling

 

Mas de Melons, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Another brutal ebc.

 

 

Might as well post my surprise Iberian Ibex with this one.

 

[michael-ibk]

221/E86) Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) / Uhu

 

Vall Major (Utxesa-Sarroca), Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Such a cool bird! Exact same location as two years ago.

 

[michael-ibk]

222/E87) Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) / Korallenmöwe

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. As Gulls go quite a nice one.

 

[michael-ibk]

223/E88) Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) / Dunkler Wasserläufer

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Much better sighting than in Oman, especially since they are now in their decidedly cooler breeding plumage.

 

[michael-ibk]

224/E89) Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) / Steinwälzer

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Another one already seen in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

225/E90) Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalu) / Schwarzkopfmöwe

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Very rare in Austria, easy here.

 

[michael-ibk]

226/E91) Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) / Purpurhuhn

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. One of I think 5 "new" speces emerging from Purple Swamphen.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

227/E92) Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) / Lachseeschwalbe

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Another bird already seen in Oman this year.

 

[michael-ibk]

228/E93) Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) / Trauerseeschwalbe

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Very distant but not too likely I'll get another one this year so might just as well post it.

 

[michael-ibk]

229/E94) Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) / Zistensänger

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Such a good poser!

 

 

[michael-ibk]

230/E95) European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) / Goldregenpfeifer

231/E96) Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) / Tundra-Goldregenpfeifer.

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Pacific is a lifer for me! Expected to see this species in Oman but no luck there.

 

 

This is a European. All very, very distant unfortunately.

 

 

The bird on the left is the Pacific one. A bit smaller and more delicate.

[michael-ibk]

232/E97) Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) / Zwergohreule

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024.  Just back from their Winter quarters. Very vocal in the garden of the Delta Hotel where I stayed the night. Dit not have a proper spotlight but just about managed a decent with the magic help of PP.

 

 

Edited May 5 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

233/E98) Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) / Sichelstrandläufer

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Admittedly not much better than the lousy shot I got in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

234/E99) Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) / Rotschenkel

 

Ebro Delta, Catalonia / Spain, 14/4/2024. Common breeding bird here in the Delta. Also seen in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

That concludes this mini-trip to Catalonia. ebird report here with all the locations. 177 species in 3 birding days! A really awesome birding destination, especially in spring. Add one day in the mountains, and cracking 200 would be a sure thing.

Edited May 4 by michael-ibk

[TonyQ]

That looks like a really good trip @michael-ibk

A good variety of birds (including the very special Stock Dove)

The Black-eared Wheatear is beautiful.

It sounds like you had a good guide.

We will explore your eBird report as this area sounds very tempting 

[michael-ibk]

It is Tony. No problem self- driving there, but 4WD might be beneficial in the Steppe area. Which is a bit of a maze. One of the reasons i decided to go with a guide again. I can recommend Barcelona Birding Point. Both Sergi who was with me this time and Carles before are excellent. Accommodations are good value outside Barcelona. Oh, and don't forget about Catalan food. 

Edited May 4 by michael-ibk

[xelas]

Excellent set of birds from Catalunya, Michael. Now I know why lack of LK was not bothering you .

[michael-ibk]

LK?

[xelas]

Lesser Kestrel.

[Tdgraves]

looks like you had a great trip to Spain - love the vulture in front of the moon. How long did you wait for that shot?