Migrants in Extremadura

John Muddeman
13/03/2009 23:50:57

Migrant birds are flooding in, helped by the good weather conditions.

Posted in: Birds | Extremadura | Spanish Mainland, Western Spain

Migrant birds are pouring into Extremadura according to several reports from the region, while wintering birds are also still lingering to some degree.

- booming Great Bittern (JPRR), a couple of Squacco (various) and a Purple Heron & Savi's Warbler (JP/SD) 7/03 Arrocampo (JPRR)
- singing Sedge Warbler, singing Common Redshank, Great White Egret, male Northern Pintail, Woodchat Shrike & several Reed Buntings 7/03 Arrocampo (DL, SL)
- Osprey 7/03 Cerro Alto (DL, SL)
- 4 Spoonbills, Great White Egret & Back Kite 7/03 Charco Salado (DL, SL)
- Common Cuckoo 8/03 Emb. del Portaje (MAM)
Hybrid Little x W Reef Egret
Egretta gularis x garzetta© John Muddeman- 3 flava Yellow Wagtails 9/03 Galisteo rice fields (JP/SD)
- several singing male Subalpine Warblers 8/03 Monfragüe (JP/SD)
- Black-eared Wheatear 10/03 Guijo de Coria (JP/SD)
- Eurasian Scops Owl 10/03 Plasencia (JP)
- Alpine Swifts and Black-crowned Night Herons 10/3 Badajoz (JCPM)
- Brambling still near Piornal on 11/03 (RM)
- a flock of 42 Garganey 11/03 Emb. de Sierra Brava (SF)
- 2 Alpine Swifts 11/03 Plasencia (JP)
- hybrid Little x Western Reef Egret, 6 Garganey, Purple Heron, 5 Squacco Heron, 2 Bluethroats and 1 Spotted Crake 13/03 Emb. de Arrocampo (SF)
- Common Cuckoos & Woodchat Shrikes are now quite widespread

In the Sierra de Aracena from c.9-12/03, numerous Iberian Chiffchaffs, plus Subalpine Warbler, Common Cuckoo, Woodchat Shrike etc., plus lingering winter visitors including Dunnock and Alpine Accentor, Bullfinch, Song Thrush and Siskin (RR)

- numerous waders and other birds are still passing through the rice fields in C Extremadura: c.100 Ruff, c.100 Greenshank, 12 Dunlin, 12 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Stint, 3 Kentish Plover, 3 Spoonbills, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Eurasian Curlew, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Iberian Yellow Wagtails, 1 Common Redshank, 1 European Golden Plover, and many Common Snipe and Water Pipits 17/03 Miajadas area (SF)

- 4 Willow Warblers at Villanueva de la Vera 19/03 (DL)
- 12 Willow Warblers & 7 Siskins Villanueva de la Vera 20/03 (DL)
- pale morph Booted Eagle Villanueva de la Vera 21/03 (DL)

My thanks to various members of the GOCE forum for the records (Sergio Domo, Steve Fletcher, Dave & Sammy Langlois, Ricardo Montero, Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Juan Carlos Paniagua Montero, Javier Prieta, Juan Pablo Resino Rubio, Rafa Romero).

- another website in Spanish notes Montagu's Harrier from 11/03, Greater Short-toed Lark from 19/03 and 3 Alpine Accentor still in Villuercas on 17/03 (Jesús Porras blogspot).

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