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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stephen C" data-source="post: 3529021" data-attributes="member: 16111">[PLAIN]103 species: The last day of Winter around Barcelona, 16.2.17 [Part 3][/PLAIN]The Garraf Massis and the Llobregat Delta, Barcelona, 16.02.17As I entered the CAL TET hide, having only picked up Great Tit en route, I quickly dipped my head down to window level hoping for a similar array of birds resting on the island in front but the water level was so high there wasn’t much of an island, never mind birds.However, my disappointment was curtailed after only about ten minutes when, attracted to the direction of the Sabogal hide by what I can only describe as an explosion of birds, I caught sight of one of the two immature Northern Goshawks that overwinter in the delta disappearing at speed into a gap between reed beds.Of course, we all appreciate the tumble dryer effect caused by raptors, mixing up birds for us to re-scan, and this was no exception as, amongst the throngs that settled in front of the hide window was a lone Black-tailed Godwit.  May be I missed it at the other hide.Great Bittern is regularly seen at the reserve in Winter but I missed that too, although it’s not been seen for a few days so may be it’s headed off early.  Later in the day the vagrant Green-winged Teal that had showed up, and I had seen, on the river a few days ago would be reported from this hide (a first, and the 347th species for the delta!) but my next attraction was a singing Moustached Warbler.  Usually not too difficult to hear and see during the Winter on the delta so I was a little unsatisfied at the views I had to settle for.  But only a little.On arriving at CAL BESEIT to scan between the tall reeds for another long-staying vagrant, I quickly put my bins on eight bright male Red-crested Pochard diving in the pond and, sure enough, not too far from them, the female Common Goldeneye.  Still here then.The walk back into Los Calaixos along the river bank failed to add the usual Sandwich Tern but I did get a single Lesser Black-backed Gull swimming amidst all the other gulls, including a few more Audouin’s.Once at my destination, a series of reedy pools split by a narrow path, it didn’t take me long to pinpoint the sounds and subsequent sight of a small flock of bouncing Common Waxbill and I accidentally put up a hidden Common Kingfisher as I leaned over to get a better view of a pair of Penduline Tit pecking at either side of a rush head like bookends.  Nice spot.  But too difficult here to get on the squealing Water Rail.Back at the car, I contemplated checking out under the bridge where Caspian Gull and a very long-staying pair of Hooded Crow (currently nest-building in El Prat de Llobregat) are seen frequently but my stomach decided to head for lunch.But then my phone buzzed!  A tip off meant a quick diversion to the FILIPINES-REMOLAR reserve and, while scoffing a standing lunch and peering through a screen on an over-flooded marsh, I waited 30 minutes for a superb Spotted Crake to come out and play along its margins.  I just love crakes and this made my day.  With my first migrant, and stripped down to my t-shirt, Winter is definitely over.And Spring is definitely here.  Hide gossip reported the year’s first Black-necked Stilt and Little Gull earlier in the day.  Both were possibly sat in front of the Maresma hide right now but massive flooding have caused the neglected hide’s temporary closure but I was happy adding Marsh Harrier, Northern Pintail and Black-necked Grebe, all equally superb.There wasn’t much left of wetland species now and, as the day was warming past lunchtime, I’d miss my remaining targets back in the GARRAF MASSIS unless I made a move quickly.  So I did.Thankfully, with five residents and a common Winter flocking bird to aim for in an areas of coastal maquis, it took me little more than the hour it takes to walk there and back to enjoy pretty good views of all of, respectively, Iberian Grey Shrike, Dartford Warbler, Thekla Lark, Corn Bunting and Linnet.But the absence of the fifth resident, unsurprising given the time of day, meant I now had to make a steep, rocky, post-lunch climb into a lush ravine.  Spurred on then by the feeling I must be getting close to 100 species for the day, I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and hoped for a little more than the Blue Tit chirping at my face from a nearby bush.  Oh, and a Coal Tit.Wallcreeper winter in here but this would have required the kind of morning energy that I had spent long ago in Llobregat.Well, it was further away than I would have liked or, more honestly, than I fancied climbing so I took the cliff-perched Bonelli’s Eagle’s fortuitous decision to choose that very moment for a quick circle fly around as a sign, and left, very grateful for what I had received.  As I was for the two Common Raven that sailed over the car as I drove down the mountain back to the coast.Once again, I could have stopped for Alpine Accentor on the hillsides but history has taught me that it was far too late and time would be better spent somewhere flat. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />A quick count as I write puts me at 99 and I must have sensed this as I called in at a couple of ad hoc beach sites en route to my next, and final stop, hoping for a serendipitous Sandwich Tern or Eurasian Shag (subspecies desmarestii).  Hoopoe!  How had I forgotten about Hoopoe?  Fantastic.Another bird I had forgotten about, noticeable through its absence, was Little Egret, although, again, there’s always one or two in front of the closed hide in the Llobregat.That said, there’s always one or two everywhere so how had I missed it?  No matter.  As I pulled onto a little bridge and scanned into a recently scraped water channel through the side windows I was sure one would at least fly over.  None of it.But.  I did have success with the reason I was here.  And a perky, tail-cocking Bluethroat, finished off a bird rainbow of Greenfinch, Green Sandpiper, Goldfinch, Black Redstart, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail.  There were other species there too but they don’t have pretty colours in their name. |:d|So, 103 (or was it 104?) species.  A great day and a great Winter.Now all I had to do was pick up my son from school and take him to football!.</blockquote>

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