Carles Oliver
Well-known member
Our birding day yesterday at Ebro Delta starts with a nice sight on a Squacco Heron. Squacco Herons are a common spring-summer visitor, but its presence in Europe during winter is still really scarce, although increased due to climate chance.
After having some nice flocks of both Glossy Ibis (over 1.000) and Greater Flamingos (+500) we moved around the main fresh water lagoon, l'Encanyissada, looking for Bluethroat. It was not hard to find four of them, one singing on a fence!
But the reedbeds around were full of nice surprises. First and biggest was a Greater Bittern flying over the reeds, quite close to us. As we search in the flocks of birds around we found Whiskered Terns 6 and Gull-billed Tern 1!!!
We then moved by the see, expecting to have nice views of some sea ducks. Around l'Alfacada marshes we found out Common Scoters 24 and Black-throated Loons 2, both scarce winter visitors in Catalonia.
At the marshes around we could find a variety of waders: Avocet 1, Bar-tailed Godwit +40, Knot 2, Dunlin +300, Little Sandpiper +30, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank 4 as most reliable. Among all these birds seven Caspian Terns were having a nap and over ten Slender-billed Gulls having breakfast in the salty water.
Then we moved to the mountains that surrounded this huge delta. Alpine Accentor 1 was not difficult to find in our way up. Wallcreeper 1 was also appearing in the cliffs. Other birds here included 1 Rock Bunting and 23 Red-billed Chough!!!
In the way back to our accommodation in Ebro Delta we still spot a Little Owl!
Not so bad day, after all!!
Carles Oliver
After having some nice flocks of both Glossy Ibis (over 1.000) and Greater Flamingos (+500) we moved around the main fresh water lagoon, l'Encanyissada, looking for Bluethroat. It was not hard to find four of them, one singing on a fence!
But the reedbeds around were full of nice surprises. First and biggest was a Greater Bittern flying over the reeds, quite close to us. As we search in the flocks of birds around we found Whiskered Terns 6 and Gull-billed Tern 1!!!
We then moved by the see, expecting to have nice views of some sea ducks. Around l'Alfacada marshes we found out Common Scoters 24 and Black-throated Loons 2, both scarce winter visitors in Catalonia.
At the marshes around we could find a variety of waders: Avocet 1, Bar-tailed Godwit +40, Knot 2, Dunlin +300, Little Sandpiper +30, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank 4 as most reliable. Among all these birds seven Caspian Terns were having a nap and over ten Slender-billed Gulls having breakfast in the salty water.
Then we moved to the mountains that surrounded this huge delta. Alpine Accentor 1 was not difficult to find in our way up. Wallcreeper 1 was also appearing in the cliffs. Other birds here included 1 Rock Bunting and 23 Red-billed Chough!!!
In the way back to our accommodation in Ebro Delta we still spot a Little Owl!
Not so bad day, after all!!
Carles Oliver
