ECO BIG YEAR CATALUNYA 2013

304 bird species (and 10.004 kms) seen by bike in one year

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…yo, poeta popular, provinciano, pajarero, fui por el mundo buscando la vida: pájaro a pájaro conocí la tierra...

Pablo Neruda

...el meu país és tan petit, que quan el sol se’n va a dormir,

mai no està prou segur d’haver-lo vist....

Canto i sempre em sabré malalt d’amor pel meu país...

Lluís Llach

(…me, a provincial, a poet of the people, a birder, I went around the world in search of life: bird by bird I discovered the country… Pablo Neruda)

(…My country is so small that when the sun goes to bed it is never quite sure if it has seen it…I sing and I know that I shall always be ill with love for my country… Lluís Llach)

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MYSELF

My name is Ponç Feliu Latorre. I was born in Girona in June 27th, 1975. I’m a Biologist (University of Girona, 1993-1997), and an Environmentalist (University of Girona 1997-2000) with a Master’s degree in Public Environmental Management (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 2000-2002).

Ponç Feliu at Aiguamolls Natural Park. August 2013. Foto: Miquel Àngel Lucena

I work as a Director of the Consorci del Ter (www.consorcidelter.cat), a consortium composed by 63 municipalities along the route of the Ter River Basin, in north-east Catalonia, where we have carried out conservation Projects, such as Riparia-Ter Life (www.liferipariater.com) or Potamo-Fauna Life (www.lifepotamofauna.com). We have also created the Ruta del Ter (www.rutadelter.cat), a 210km cycling and walking route from the river source in the Pyrenees to the river mouth on the Costa Brava.

Cap de Creus N. P. during a windy tramuntana day and wintering birds in Aiguamolls. February 2013

Since 2001, through Serpa Enginyeria i Consultoria Ambiental, the technical consultant’s we created (www.serpa.cat) I have been working as an ornithologist, monitoring birds and doing breeding and wintering censuses in the Cap de Creus Natural Park (www.gencat.cat/parcs/ cap_de_creus), and, since 2010, also in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park (www.gencat.cat/parcs/aiguamolls). I’ve also been very involved in the foundation of NGOs such as the Ateneu Naturalista de Girona (www.ateneunaturalista.org) and the Amics dels Aiguamolls (www.apnae.org), and I’ve also been working with and helping other institutions such as the Institut Català d’Ornitologia (www.ornitologia.org) , the Sociedad Española de Ornitología / Birdlife (www.seo.org), Iaeden (www.iaeden.cat) and working as a volunteer in many natural parks in the United States (California, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada). I’m the author of 7 different books, mainly about discovering Nature in NE Catalonia (Aiguamolls, Gavarres, Cap de Creus, Girona), about urban wildlife in the city of Girona and about Birds on the Cap de Creus.

Some of the books about Birds and Nature written by Ponç Feliu (some of them with other authors)

I’m part of the Tramuntana Birding Team (www.tbt.cat), that currently holds the European Big Day record (217 species in 24 hours). The TBT team has participated in and has won many birding competitions in Spain and we are one of the teams which have participated in both editions of Rally Birding Challenge in Peru (www.birdingrallychallenge.com).

AN ECO (OR GREEN) BIG YEAR:

As is widely known in the birding world, a Big Year is a challenge that consists of observing the greatest number of bird species as possible in one calendar year in a specified region. It’s very popular in North America, and also in some European Countries. It has even been done on a world-wide scale (“the biggest year”). However, many birders have recently proposed a new challenge: Eco Big Years or Green Big Years, where you can’t use any means of transport but your own strength, which has the aim of avoid contributing to Climate Change while birding. So, you can go birding on foot, by bike, by kayak, on horseback, and so on, but you cannot use any motorized transport (even public transport), and not even Electric vehicles (which may be charged by electricity produced by “unclean” energy). And, of course, you have to do it from your own house, there and back. You can make a trip, far away from home, but you are also supposed to use only your feet or your bike and, obviously, you can’t leave the bike in a good place and go and come back home by car. As you will see, I have done many several- daytrips (several-day trips) by bike during the Big Year: twice to Lleida (300 kms from home), 5 times to the Pyrenees, many times to the Aiguamolls, the Cap de Creus and Palamós, once to the Ebre Delta… And always doing a route by bike and “sleeping” with it.

MY MEANS

Although I’ve walked a lot (while climbing mountains in the Pyrenees and also in the Aiguamolls marshes) my main means of transport has been the bike. I’ve use my road bike (Scott Foil Ultegra, 2012) for moving around, and for days with dirt roads, my Mountain Bike (Scott BTT, 2009). During my daily life, I always use an urban bike, to go to work from Girona to the city of Salt (about 6 kms).

Bikes I’ve used most frequently (Mountain bike and Road bike). Aiguamolls - Roses harbour, March 2013

The luggage I carried when travelling far away and my urban bike for daily life. Lleida-Girona. May 2013

For short movements (<100 kms in one day and with no nights away) I used a backpack or at most a bike pack on the front of the bike. For long distances (such as Lleida, Ebre Delta, etc.) I also used a rear-mounted rack for holding other complementary gear (food, clothes, shoes…). I usually kept my binoculars on my body, but in some non-productive birding trips I kept them in my backpack. When in the Aiguamolls I used the Natural Park’s telescope and only when going to my wife’s parents’ house in Palamós, on the coast, did I use the telescope that my family took there by car, for seawatching.

While cycling, I was able to achieve a sustained speed of almost 30 kms/hour for several hours, which allowed me to be in the Aiguamolls or Palamós from home in one and a half hours, or in the Pyrenees in less than 5 hours.

I also went birding by kayak in the Mediterranean sea and on the Ter River, (having reached those places by bike), although these trips didn’t provide any new birds for the year.

Kayaking in the Ter River and in Cap de Creus N.P. with the family. Colomers and Llançà. May-July 2013

CATALONIA, THE GEOGRAPHYCAL CHOSEN LIMITS

I live in Girona, a city with about 100.000 inhabitants situated in NE Catalonia, not far from the border with France. It’s about 45 kms south of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, 60 kms south- west of the Cap de Creus, and 45 kms west of the Mediterranean coast in Palamós. It’s also not far from the Pyrenees Mountains, about 90 kms. However, the distance to the best birding place in Catalonia, the Ebre Delta, is about 300 kms, and it is a similar distance to the Lleida steppes; for this reason, I only went to these places once and twice respectively, to see 10 or 12 species that can’t be seen in the area around Girona and the Empordà.

Maps of Western Europe and Catalonia. The red triangle shows where the city of Girona is, in the NE corner of Iberian Peninsula, not far from the coast and near several Natural Parks in the Empordà area.

In previous years, many birders have made conventional annual lists in Catalonia, some of them reaching 300 species in one year, the record being 320 in 2012 (www.reservoirbirds.com). I personally had never done a serious Big Year before although some years I have counted the number of birds I’ve seen, never more than 285. Also in Spain and other European countries there are many birders that keep annual lists, but just a few doing it in the Green or Eco way.

During the whole year, I have kept a blog site, in Catalan, where I have explained everything about this special birding year www.ecobigyearcatalunya.blogspot.com, every day I have ecobigyeared . However, during the next pages, I’ll make an English monthly summary about the most interesting observations and cycling trips I’ve made during the year.

JANUARY:

January 1st was an important day to start with good sightings, so after New Year’s Eve, I started cycling towards the Aiguamolls. Apart from common resident birds and the typical wintering birds, the most interesting species was two wintering Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), on the Cortalet Lagoon, where many Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) were also feeding. The other important species seen was a Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) near Torroella de Fluvià, and some seabirds in Roses Bay, such as Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica), and wintering ducks at La Massona, but I missed Spoonbill and Osprey. On the way back to Girona, I saw a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), two Redwings (Turdus iliacus) in the Congost de Sant Julià, but I was not lucky with the Eagle Owl.

On January 2nd I went to Sant Martí de Llèmena, where I missed the Wallcreeper, but I saw Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Again to the Llémena Valley, on January 4th, I saw a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) at Canet d’Adri, and a Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) was also seen there on January 5th , when I managed to see it in a 40 minute bike ride from home.

On January 11th I rode the bike to the Baix Empordà, where I saw Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor) at the Platja d’Aro Lagoons, where also some Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) had been moving around since last year. I slept in Palamós, where I spent the weekend in my wife’s parents’ house. I seawatched there on January 13th, seeing Gannet (Morus bassanus), both Balearic and Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus and Puffinus yelkouan), Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus), Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and great birds such as Great Skua (Stercorarius skua), 2 Common Scoters (Melanitta nigra) and Razorbill (Alca torda). On the 45-km journey back to Girona, the north wind was strong and the temperature was just 6ºC.

During January 15th, a working day in Girona, using my urban bike I finally managed to see the wintering Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) on the Onyar River in Girona, where also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) and a Siskin (Carduelis spinus) showed around Illa del Ter de Pedret.

On January 17th, I went to the Aiguamolls to do the monthly winter wildfowl census. I spent the night in Mas Matà, after covering some Cormorant and Egret roosts at dusk. I again missed the Osprey, but the next day was good for some species, such as Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer), and also Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), as well as Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Great-Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and Common Pochard (Aythya ferina). During the last week of January I just saw common birds, like both introduced Parakeets Psittacula krameri and Myipsitta monachus in the city of Girona, and Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), although I tried several long night BTT rides along unpaved roads in the Gavarres hills, searching unsuccessfully for Woodcock. I finally finished January with a total of 124 species and 481 kms.

FEBRUARY:

February started very well, with good wintering species. During February 1st, I went again to the Aiguamolls from Girona. I stopped at the Sant Pere Pescador beach, where I saw the two Velvet Scoters (Melanitta fusca) that had recently been reported. I was also lucky with a Merlin (Falco columbarius) at l’Armentera and with Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) at the Aiguamolls, where a male Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) was actively singing, although I again missed Osprey at the Fluvià River and the Bluethroat that had been seen at the Estanys del Matà.

In Llançà, a Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitaries), perched on Quermançó Castle for a time while crossing Cap de Creus Natural Park. During the next few days, the wind was so strong (176 kms/hour!), that I could not return to Girona by bike until February 15th. So, during those days, I kept training hard with many spinning sessions at the gym!

On February 16th , I went to Sant Martí de Llémena, where I slept at a friend’s house and where I heard a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) the whole night. Next day we went for a Mountain bike ride around La Barroca and Sant Martí de Llémena; we missed the Wallcreeper and the Alpine Accentor that had been seen around the same day, but we saw woodlark (Lullula arborea), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) and Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), apart from Peregrines, Bullfinches and Hawfinches.

On February 18th, it was time for the next wintering census at the Aiguamolls. I left Girona in pouring rain, and I managed to reach Mas Matà, in the Aiguamolls, in less than an hour and a half. However, it was one of my hardest rides; I arrived absolutely freezing and soaked, and it took me a long time to warm up, while Barn Owl and Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) were screaming at dusk. But it was worth it, because during that day and February the 19th, we saw Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), up to five Jack Snipes (Lymnocryptes minimus) at Les Llaunes, and, at Pericos’ Marsh (a few kilometers away), there were Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax), and Little Ringed Plovers (Charadrius dubius). And the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) finally also showed at Caramany.

The end of February was terribly cold (-8ºC in Girona city center) and windy, and I just saw a few wintering birds in Girona, such as Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) among a flock of tits.

I also went to Banyoles, where a Ferruginous Duck had been seen. I missed it, but I saw some Red-Crested Pochard (Netta rufina). I finished February with 148 species and 1301 kms.

MARCH:

March 3rd, in Palamós was again a good seawatching day, with Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and many other seabirds around. On the way back, the first swallows (Hirundo rustica) showed over the village of La Pera. During the first week of March, strong and wet eastern winds brought hard rain (called “llevantada”), which also brought many interesting birds, even far inland, such as Little Gull (Larus minutus) in l’Esclet, near Girona, the first record ever. On March 6th, I went there by mountain bike where I saw it and, finally, after days and days of deep search, I was lucky with Crane (Grus grus), with a flock flying over. The fantastic day ended with a Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) at dusk, next to the Onyar River, a species that I had sought hard for during the whole of the winter that was just concluding.

On March 8th, I went again to the Aiguamolls, where I saw Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), several new common “summer” birds, and a couple of Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus). However, I missed a Black stork. I slept at a friend’s house at El Far d’Empordà.

On March 10th, an early morning text message advised me of interesting birds at Platja d’Aro. I quickly headed for the new lagoons and saw a Common Gull (Larus canus), a rare bird in Catalunya, after a 78-km ride. Again to Esclet on March 12th, where I missed the Spotted Crake, but I saw the Iberian Shrike (Lanius meridionalis), seen during the morning. I also went there on March 15th, but it just produced Sand Martin (Riparia riparia), apart from more cranes, kites and hundreds of swallows. Spring was in the air during the third week of March, with Common Swift (Apus apus), Alpine Swift (Apus melba), and many other common migrating birds around Girona green’s patches. The most interesting one was a confident Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schonobaenus) seen in Hortes de Santa Eugènia on March 21st , that remained there for several days.

Again to the Empordà on March 23rd , first to the Aiguamolls de Pals and the Estany de Boada, then to Palamós, where I stayed for several days and saw some Parasitic Jagers (Arctic Skuas) (Stercorarius parasiticus) and dozens of Cory’s Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea). On March 27th, I went go to the Aiguamolls via Pals from Palamós, and then to Llançà, a long-ride day of more than 130 kms.

Over the next few days, I saw many spring migrants, with interesting new species such as Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinni) in Pals ricefields (after a flat tire), a female Little Crake (Porzana parva) at the Estany Europa during a family bike ride, and also a beautiful Red- rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) in Llançà, feeding very close to our house. I missed typical spring birds in Empordà area such as Great Spotted Cuckoo, Spotted Crake and Black Stork again.

The last days of March, during the Easter holidays, were spent in Llançà, with frequent rides to the Aiguamolls, where Garganeys (Anas querquedula), Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava), Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) had just arrived from Africa. Finally a Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) showed in the Matà Marshes, and I saw it while ringing in Aiguamolls.

Some rides and family walks around Cap de Creus and Sant Pere de Rodes provided nice views of Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) and Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).

Pallid Harrier by Alex Ollé and Little crake by Dani Valverde

However, the most important sighting was a male Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), a new bird in Catalonia for me, seen in Delfià by many birders during March the 27th. I finished March with 2316 kms and 186 species . APRIL:

During the first days of April, I went to Hortes de Santa Eugènia and Esclet several times, where I missed the Red-Throated Pipit and the Short-Eared Owl, both of which appeared for just one day. On April 5th, again under cold rain, I rode my bike to Palamós, where I seawatched during the weekend. I was rewarded with a nice puffin (Fratercula arctica) seen close to the coast at dusk, and hundreds of Shearwaters, Little Gulls, skuas and even Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Several dolphin also passed close to Cap Gros. During the second week of April, many common new birds, seen around Girona, Els Àngels and Salt, increased my list: Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) and even a Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), a scarce species, found in Fontajau, next to the Ter River.

On April 12th, a nice ride, finally in good weather, to the Aiguamolls again, provided many new common birds, such as Nightingale (Luscinia megarrhynchos), Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), both Reed and Great Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus and A. arundinaceus), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida), and a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) (not an easy species in the region) at the Estany d’en Túries.

I slept at Mas Matà, where I ringed for a couple of days in the company of my family, with Scops Owl (Otus scops), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Grasshoper Warbler (Locustella naevia) and, at the Estany de Palau, a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius), finally delighted me while screaming and flying around. However not a single Bittern had been heard there during the whole month, despite this being the best area for Bitterns. A ringed Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus) and a Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temmincki) were a couple of very highly appreciated species with which to end a really good weekend. During Mid April, I tried unsuccessfully a couple of times to find Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), at Fornells and Riudellots, but I finally heard it at Cartellà, not far from Girona. Some family rides and walks to Banyoles, Santa Eugènia and Esclet during weekends produced new birds, such as Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) and even 4 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) -a rare bird so far from the Pyrenees Mountains- and also the first Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) showed around at Hortes de Santa Eugènia on April the 21st. These absolutely wonderful spring family days where very welcome after a hard winter. During those days, although I missed a Great Snipe at Esclet, I heard a Quail (Coturnix coturnix) while a male Montagu´s Harrier (Circus pygargus) flew over the green cultivated fields.

On April 23rd, Sant Jordi’s Day, I got up really early, rode to the Aiguamolls and enjoyed a fantastic day, with really important birds at the Estanys del Matà such as Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) and Collared Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola).

I also saw two very sought-after birds: Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) in the Prats de Can Comas area, and finally an adult Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), seen flying over El Matà Tower. The last weekend of April brought probably the best spring birding days in years. Strong (and wet!) easterly winds brought dozens of scarce birds in Girona, such as several Wood Warblers and Montagu’s Harriers. In the Empordà, more than 10 Collared Flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), were seen, and one of them, a male, was found by me close to Romanyà; that was my lucky moment of the year! (The same day at dusk, I also saw a female, reported in Girona).

I also saw many migrating birds in Palamós, such as Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) and hundreds of seabirds very close to the coast, with some interesting new species like Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) and even Montagu´s Harrier on migration. The month concluded with another new bird in Catalonia for me, a Baillon’s Crake (Porzana pusilla), found in Platja d’Aro on April the 30th. April ended with 3125 kms and 228 bird species seen.

MAY:

May is a “key month” for migrating birds, and I didn’t want to miss many spring migrants, although on May 1st first I missed an Icterine Warbler and a Storm Petrel in the Cap de Creus, where I had to go by car for my job.

May 4th is The Day. It’s when our Big Day (we call it “Birding Marathon”) takes place, and our team, The Tramuntanada Birding Team, is ready to bird for 24 hours non-stop and, again, in the Green (or “Eco”) category. So, on May 3rd, I had to go, by bike, up to the Pyrenees from Girona, a 6 hour ride, up to 2130 meters above sea level at Vallter, where the Ter River starts. A cyclist friend joined me for half the route (72 kms), and during the day I saw new mountain birds such as Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), Citril Finch (Serinus citronella) and even a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) after a snow shower.

On May 4th itself, the Big Day didn’t start very well; no Tengmalm’s Owl singing. Later on, we did see Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) and also Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) and Yellowhammer (Emberiza citronella), while in the Garrotxa, many raptors were migrating north, such as Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), Vultures, Goshawk and also Sparrowhawk.

During that Big Day, we also managed to see many new birds that winter in Africa, mainly in the Empordà and the Aiguamolls, some of them new for my EcoBigYear List, such as Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta), Roller (Coracias garrulus), Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) and also Montagu’s Harrier, Red-Footed Falcon and lots of more interesting species in Delfià and Mollet.

Our itinerary on the Big Day, and photos of Grasshopper Warbler and Red-footed Falcon by Aleix Comas

We also saw White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), scarce migratory birds. On May 5th, the day after our Green Big Day, I missed the Great Snipe seen at Estanys del Matà. I came back to Girona, with a short stop at the River Ter, where I paddled for a couple of hours with the family.

After spending some days around Girona, May 10th was an important day. I got up very early, and again rode 50 kms to the Aiguamolls, plus 25 more up to Pla de les Gates, in the Cap de Creus, where the first Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) for Catalonia had been seen.

The first Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) for Catalunya was seen in Cap de Creus in May by Albert Burgas I also found Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae) and Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata), although no Rock Thrush, no Ortolan Bunting and no Black-eared Wheatear showed. In the Aiguamolls, however, I picked up two excellent new birds: Great Snipe (Gallinago media) and Red Knot (Calidris canutus), both very seldom seen in the Empordà. Mid-May didn’t provide many birds; I missed a Pectoral Sandpiper in Pals and I missed the Red-necked Nightjar in Salt twice, but I saw Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) during a night ride in Salt. On May 20th, we did the “Two Parks Marathon”, walking 42 kms from the Aiguamolls to Montgrí (I cycled way up to the Aiguamolls). It provided Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinoides), but the weather conditions were poor, and I had to ride back to Girona under the rain.

May was almost over when I did, with Oriol Pallarés, a cyclist friend, the big spring bike trip: We went from Girona to Lleida and back, on a 3 day tour. We did more than 600 kms, but it was worth the effort. The steppe areas in Alfés provided Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis), many Little Bustards (Tetrix tetrix), Greater Short- toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and, a little bit to the south and very close to the Catalan- Aragonese border, we again found Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica) and also Black- bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis). Finally, in the Utxesa Marshes we managed to see Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus), then Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) at the Estany d’Ivars, and the only Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) seen this spring in Catalonia showed very well in an open area close to Lleida City. 624 kms and several really good birds!

The sought-after Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Lleida Steppes photographed by Jose Guerra

So, after Lleida trip and many rides to the Aiguamolls, May finished with the amazing number of 4383 kms and 269 species.

JUNE:

June was my “break”. After the hard Lleida bicycle trip, I had lots of work to do. And, after that, I spent 15 days in Peru, invited by the Birding Rally Challenge for second time, with the Tramuntana Birding Team. A great experience and hundreds of new birds. You can find more information at http://www.birdingrallychallenge.com/2013

However, at the end of June I trained hard by bike, preparing for a summer that would take me far from Girona, up to the Vall d’Aran in the western Catalan Pyrenees, and many other places. June finished with almost the same numbers as May: 4489 kms and 269 species.

JULY:

The first week of July was spent around Girona, where I finally saw the Little Bittern (Ixorbychus minutus) at Hortes de Santa Eugènia. Then, mid-July rides to the Aiguamolls provided Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) at the Estany d’en Túries, where many Kentish Plovers also breed.

Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Lesser Kestrels, Great-Spotted Cuckoos and many other birds were seen during the Roller census at the Aiguamolls (see Elvira Guardia’s picture above), but on the seabird count in the Cap de Creus no Storm Petrels were seen. However, Eleonora’s Falcons (Falco eleonorae) showed very well at their roost on Ter River at Verges and, in Palamós on July 14th, 2 Storm Petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) finally flew past, not far from the coast, amidst hundreds of Shearwaters.

At the end of July, while the awesome Tour de France competition was in full swing, we began our family holiday. It was time to try for the mountain birds I still was missing. So, I climbed again with Oriol Pallarés to the Ripollès area, where my family joined me and we spent 5 days birding and walking in the really beautiful Pyrenean landscapes.

However, it was not easy, and birds like Grey Partridge, Ptarmigan, Alpine Accentor and Wallcreeper hid from us. But we did see Capercallie (Tetrao urogallus), and also more common mountain birds, such as Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), and Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). We also enjoyed nice views of an Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Coll de la Creueta.

So, after these pleasant family and birding/cycling/walking days at the end of July, with extraordinarily good weather in the Ripollès and Cerdanya areas of the Pyrenees, July ended with 5531 kms and 279 species.

AUGUST:

In the first week of August, still during our summer holidays, we stayed at our apartment in Llançà, north of the Cap de Creus Natural Park. Although there were no new birds around (just Storm Petrels, Eleonora’s Falcon, etc.) I enjoyed being with the kids, kayaking, going to the beach, fishing, relaxing and hard cycle climbs to the Cap de Creus, the Mare de Déu del Mont or almost daily up to to Sant Pere de Rodes twice (go up from Port de la Selva, down to Vilajuïga, and again up from Vilajuïga down to Port de la Selva again).

On August 11th, my really big Catalan Tour started. While I was going everywhere by bike, Mercè and my kids Ponç and Quim moved around by car, although we spent many days together climbing mountains, walking in forests or birding in the Pyrenees valleys. I went from Girona to the Cerdanya area, climbing up to the Coll de Canes (1004m), the Collada de Toses (1810m), the long Cerdanya Valley up to the steep Port del Cantó (1720m) and all the way up to Port de la Bonaigua (2072m.), where we climbed the high mountains on its north side to see Alpine Chough, Lammergeier and two new birds, Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) and Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis).

Over the next few days we enjoyed the Vall d’Aran, Vielha and Portilhon, where we also saw Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) at its only Catalan distribution site, and Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris).

On August 13th we left Vall d’Aran, going south to some remote Pallars valleys, where we looked unsuccessfully for Ptarmigan over two nice mountain days. I spent many hours on the bike, first climbing and then going downhill over many fantastic mountain passes.

Once in the Pre-Pyrenees, we climbed again to a small town with a an amazing vulture feeding station, where we saw up to 12 Lammergeiers (Gypaetus barbatus) and 11 Black Vultures (Aegypius monachus), two of them “wild” ones, which meant they were “countable” for my Eco Big Year List. From Pallars, I made a long ride south to the Lleida Steppes (again!), where a male Lesser Shrike (Lanius minor), the only wild one left in the whole Iberian distribution range, was waiting for me before leaving for Africa.

Apart from that, I again saw Calandra Larks, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and (another valuable bird), a group of 16 Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), that regularly stop at Alfés during their fall migration, found and photographed by José Guerra and Marc Gálvez.

My Catalan Tour was about to end, but I still went a little bit further, to spend some pleasant days at a friend’s house at Mora d’Ebre, close to the Ebre Delta. So, on August 20th, my Mora friend and I went down to the Delta, where I managed to add two more birds, Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) and Turnstone (Arenaria interpres).

We also saw many birds I had only seen once during the year, such as Greater Short-toed Lark, Oystercatcher, Slender-billed Gull, Common, Black, Gull-billed and Little Terns, Purple Gallinule, etc.

I then had to go back to Girona, which meant more than 300 kms from where I was. And that happened on August the 21th, when I went from there to La Selva (close to Girona), covering 241 kms in one single day, following the Catalan coast and crossing Tarragona and Barcelona from south to north. That day was really hard, not really because of the hot weather, the exhaustion or the strong August sun for the whole day, but mainly on account of the danger that doing such a long route and crossing such big cities entails. I finally managed to reach the territory of Girona, after while adding two more birds to my list, (not really exciting ones, actually, but they still count); Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) and Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) in the Vallès region.

After some relaxing days in Girona, Palamós and Llançà, August ended with two rarities at the Aiguamolls, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) and two young Citrine Wagtails (Motacilla citreola) at the Estanys del Matà, found by Alex Ollé and photographed by Pau Garcia.

August ended with some nice days at the Cap de Creus, where my family and I saw Bonelli’s and Short-toed Eagles, Scop´s Owls, Nightjars and Eagle Owls. We ringed Red-backed Shrikes and Orphean Warblers, we went diving and kayaking and we unsuccessfully looked for the missing Icterine Warbler.

So, this brought me to the end of the month. My exhausting August cycling tour around Catalonia provided me with an amazing number of kilometers covered, and a total of birds that I could never have imagined some months previously. So that, I finished August with a total of 6844 kms and 292 species.

SEPTEMBER:

During the first September days, I still wanted to look for the few mountain species that I had not seen in Vall d’Aran and Cerdanya. So, on September 2nd, I cycled up to Vallter again, where I stayed with friends and my father and, after having searched for it for more than 5 nights, a Tengmalm’s (Aegolius funereus) Owl finally answered me back.

September 3rd was a spectacular day, with a group of Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus), some Dotterels, Lammergeier, Rock Thrush, lots of Griffon Vultures, Choughs, Alpine Accentors (Prunella collaris) and even a Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), along with marmots, Chamois and other deer. It was worth cycling all the way again up to the Pyrenees, and walking up mountain peaks almost 3000 meters high.

After some more days in the Empordà and Cap de Creus (lots of Shearwaters, Storm Petrels there, plus many waders in Aiguamolls, but with no new birds), we did some end-of-summer mountain excursions, just before we went back to work. By mid-September the hard times had started again, with no new birds, not much cycling, lots of work to do and, most frustrating of all, waiting for new rarities to arrive.

Late September produced cycling opportunities to high peaks and mountain passes such as Bracons, Condreu, Rocacorba and Els Àngels, some family days and some ringing by the Ter River, in Salt, by Banyoles Lake and also in the Aiguamolls, but there was no occasion for adding new birds to my list. Actually, I had already seen all resident and breeding birds, and I was just hoping for an Icterine Warbler or an Aquatic Warbler -which can be seen at this moment of the year-, or luckily some rare wader or seabird. However, no new birds appeared and I finished September with 7613 kms and 296 species.

OCTOBER:

Apparently, October should be one of the best months for birding, but this year it happened to be the worst one I remember. It was really warm (hot, I would say!) and although I went everywhere searching for the few rarities that showed up, I missed them all. On October 5th, we went to Baix Ter, where we banded passerines and we saw a surprising Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), escaped from captivity! On October 8th, a Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed (but reported late) in Girona. From that day onwards, I spent hours and hours searching for it absolutely everywhere (it was the best fall for this rare species in Girona region, up to 9 sightings). I actively searched it for the whole month in Aiguamolls, Sils, Salt, Girona, Palau, Empúries (where I also dipped on a Red-breasted Merganser), but I was not lucky with that tiny warbler.

On October the 12th a rare goose arrived at the Aiguamolls, but it finally turned out to be a hybrid between Barnacle and Canada. I had neither of them on my list but I still could not add it! The same day, although we saw Cranes, Peregrine, Wryneck and other interesting migrants, we missed a Bittern, we heard a possible Dusky Warbler and we missed another Yellow- browed Warbler.

On October the 18th a couple more Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in the Aiguamolls, but I missed them again. I only saw a few interesting birds such as Bluethroat. By the end of October I realised it would probably be the first month without adding any species to my list, in spite of having ridden more than 600 kms by bike. After some more expeditions to several places in the Empordà, the Llémena Valley and the Gavarres hills, I ended October with a total of 8289 kms i 296 species.

NOVEMBER:

While this month seemed to start as badly as October (I missed two more Yellow-browed Warblers in Girona and Sils on the 2nd and the 5th), it turned out to be an exceptional time. However, I first did the Ruta del Ter, an amazing itinerary, following the Ter River from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea (www.rutadelter.cat).

Along with another keen cycler, Eliseu Climent, we did it during a hard but sunny day; up to 176 kilometers in one single day by mountain bike, on November 7th. We left in the early morning from Vallter (2130 metres above sea level) and rode through the Ripollès, Osona, and to the Sau, Susqueda and Pasteral Reservoirs. We finished in Girona, when it was already dark, flushing a couple of Woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) from the dirt path we were following.

After some hot days on the Cap de Creus and in the Aiguamolls, a huge fire started on November 11th in the Baix Empordà, where it burned up big pine forests and even some riparian forest in the Ter River basin.

Suddenly, the weather changed and became severe. Strong northern winds blew for more than two weeks, and winter arrived. I had been waiting for a change for more than 90 days, because no new birds had been available at a reasonable bike distance from Girona. And it was on November 17th when I received an urgent message from Miguel Ángel Fuentes (see next picture) and Gerard Dalmau; they had found a Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) in Pals rice fields. The weather was terrible. It has been raining for 4 days and it was cold and windy. But I had to go there. I needed to add a new bird! So, I got the bike and arrived there during the afternoon, where Jordi Bermejo was still waiting for me to show me where this incredible and rare bird in Catalunya (my 3rd sighting, actually) was.

And just 2 days later, Joaquim Martínez found a really scarce bird in Catalonia, a Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret). I was finally lucky; it was in my city, in Girona, just 3 kilometers from home! Although it was quite tricky, we finally saw it after a couple of days looking for it (and we even banded it some days later!).

After another wintering bird census in Aiguamolls (during a really cold and windy day, and with no Bitterns around), another November rarity appeared! A Snow Bunting (Plectophenax nivalis) was seen in Turó de l’Home (1700 metres high, on the Montseny Mountain).

The surprising Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret) and some of the twitchers and ringers by Jordi Bermejo

I was not sure about trying to go there, but I thought that if I wanted to reach the magic 300 number, I really had to climb up there. So, on November 23rd , during a frozen day, I climbed for more than 127 kms, more than five hard hours, and more than 2500 metres of climbing over several mountain passes. Pau Garcia Campderrós, who had already seen it, and who knows the Montseny Mountains perfectly, helped me with some food and warm clothes when I reached the peak. Many other birders, who were also on their way to see it (by car), supported me, which was really helpful while I was climbing such steep ramps.

And there it was, accompanied by 7 Snowfinches (Montifringilla nivalis) and 12 Alpine Accentors (Prunella collaris), both of these species seen just once during the year (in summer on the high Pyrenees summits). Yes, that was my 299th bird!

The Snow bunting (P. nivalis) by Javi Mendoza, and the hard climbing at Turó de l’Home by Pau Garcia

Me, just before the Bittern sighting in Ter Vell, which was species number 300 of the Eco Big Year, and a juvenile Great Northern Loon –or Diver- (Gavia immer) in l’Estartit Harbour by Fran Trabalón

By the end of November, I finally reached the magic bird number 300. That was in Ter Vell marsh on November 30th at 17:38, during the very last November light, when a Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) flew away above the reedbeds. We also saw my second Great Loon of the year in l’Estartit harbour. So, I finally finished November with an amazing number I had not even dreamed I would reach: 9352 kms and 300 species.

DECEMBER:

December started as cold as November ended. I spent the first day in Palamós, and went back by bike to Girona, from the Baix Empordà. No new birds appeared around during the seawatching in spite of the big waves around. During the first December weekend I went to Llançà by bike (72 kms in 2 hours and 20 minutes, non stop), where me, Mercè and the kids spent some great sunny days around the Cap de Creus (where we did the monthly seabird census), Llançà and the Aiguamolls. We saw crossbills next to the sea, some Cory’s Shearwaters among hundreds of Balearic and Mediterranean Shearwaters, and also a Rock Sparrow.

There weren’t any new birds around, but... who knew what could appear during a long 3-day holiday weekend? So, I decided to go up to the Empordà by bike. Actually, we were celebrating our Bird Festival, with different kinds of activities. The Aiguamolls Natural Park was full of people, many of them keen birders. Finally, on December 8th, new birds appeared! I saw a Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) on the Cap de Creus.

Red-throated Loon (by Àngel Torrent), Bean Goose (by Aleix Comas) and a Goosander, in the Aiguamolls

Then a Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) was found by Aleix Comas in the Estany del Cortalet and, at the same time I arrived there, Grabi de Jesús called me. He had just found a Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) at the beach, where also Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Razorbill, Arctic Loon and other seabirds had recently arrived. And, when I arrived there, Jordi Faus told me they had just seen a Goosander (Mergus merganser) flying around –I finally relocated it on the Massona Lagoon-. It was definitely a crazy day. I went back and forth by bike all around the Aiguamolls marshes, adding more and more new birds... up to four! In a couple of hours I saw more new birds than during the whole of the fall! Arriving at the beach where Red-throated Loon and Goosander had just been seen (by Ricard Busquets)

Celebrating the 4 new birds in one day (by Anna Mallol) and Mandarin Duck (by Pau Garcia Campderrós)

After that impressive day, December 8th, I went back to Girona, where I again saw (my second sighting for the year) a male Mandarin Duck. I spent a couple of weeks biking around Girona, where I didn’t see much (just some Hen Harriers, Lapwings, Mistle Thrush and other wintering birds) with the final aim of covering 10.000 kms in one year! Yes, December (and 2013) finished with 10.004 kms and 304 species.

ENGLISH CATALAN SCIENTIFIC FIRST OBSERVATIONS NAME NAME NAME SIGHTING

Mute Swan Cigne mut Cygnus olor Aiguamolls, 4-5 birds seen in Aiguamolls and Baix Ter throughout 18/01 the whole year

Greylag Goose Oca vulgar Anser anser Aiguamolls, Seen commonly in good numbers both winters in 01/01 Aiguamolls marshes

Bean Goose Oca pradenca Anser fabalis Aiguamolls, One single bird wintered in Aiguamolls from 08/12 December 2013 onwards.

Greater White- Oca riallera Anser albifrons Aiguamolls, 2 birds wintered in Aiguamolls in 2012/2013 and 2 fronted Goose grossa 01/01 more again in 2013/2014.

Egyptian Goose Oca egípcia Alopochen Estanys Platja Seen the whole year in Platja d’Aro lagoons and also aegyptiacus d’Aro. 11/01 in Aiguamolls (08/03 and 23/04)

Common Ànec blanc Tadorna Aiguamolls, Seen commonly both winters in Aiguamolls, and also Shelduck tadorna 01/01 4 adults during breeding season. Also in Ebre Delta

Mandarin Duck Ànec mandarí Aix galericulata Illa de Pedret, Dipped on two occasions in January before finding it Girona, 15/01 on January the 15th. Seen again (9/12 and 10/12)

Eurasian Wigeon Ànec piulaire Anas penelope Aiguamolls, Seen commonly throughout the year in Aiguamolls 01/01 marshes.

Gadwall Ànec griset Anas strepera Aiguamolls, Seen commonly throughout the year in Aiguamolls, 01/01 Ebre Delta, Llobregat, Sèquia Major, Girona, etc.

Eurasian Teal Xarxet comú Anas crecca Aiguamolls, Seen commonly both winters in Aiguamolls, and also 01/01 in Ebre Delta and on migration in Cap de Creus

Mallard Ànec coll- Anas Aiguamolls, Common throughout the year in Ter River, in verd platyrhynchos 01/01 Aiguamolls marshes and most wetlands

Northern Pintail Ànec cuallarg Anas acuta Aiguamolls, Scarce but present both winters in Aiguamolls 18/01 marshes. Also in Ter river mouth 05/10

Garganey Xarrasclet o Anas Aiguamolls, Seen also in Aiguamolls marshes on 29/03, 31/03 Roncaire querquedula 28/03 and 04/05.

Northern Ànec cullerot Anas clypeata Aiguamolls, Common throughout both winters in Aiguamolls. Shoveler 01/01 Also seen in Cap de CReus, Ebre Delta and Banyoles

Red-crested Xibec o Ànec Netta rufina Banyoles, Also seen in Aiguamolls in Spring and both winters, Pochard bec vermell 26/02 Banyoles, Ebre delta (20/08) and Sèquia Major. (21/08).

Common Pochard Morell cap- Aythya ferina Aiguamolls, Scarce but present both winters in Aiguamolls. Also roig 18/01 seen in Banyoles on 26/02 and Sèquia Major, 21/08

Tufted Duck Morell de Aythya fuligula Aiguamolls, Scarce but present both winters in Aiguamolls. Also plomall 01/01 in Banyoles Lake (26/06) and Ter in Girona (15/01)

Red-breasted Bec de serra Mergus serrator Llançà, Cap de A bird seen in Cap de Creus (10/01), but by zodiac. Merganser mitjà Creus, 08/12 Finally seen again in December.

Goosander Bec de serra Mergus serrator Aiguamolls, A single bird seen just one day on La Massona gros 08/12 lagoon, Aiguamolls Natural Park

Common Scoter Ànec negre Melanitta nigra Palamós, Also seen in Roses Bay, near Aiguamolls marshes 13/01 (18/01). Seen again in Aiguamolls (8/12)

Velvet Scoter Ànec fosc Melanitta fusca Palamós, Probably also seen before in Platja de Sant Pere 18/02 (18/01). Seen again in Aiguamolls (8/12)

Rock Ptarmigan Perdiu blanca Lagopus muta Coll de Geganta Seen after searching for 5 days in Pallars, Aran and Ulldeter, 03/09 Ripollès (03/05, 24/07, 12/08, 14/08, 15/08)

Grey Partridge Perdiu xerra Perdix perdix Estany Pudo, Seen after searching for 6 days in Ripollès, Cerdanya Val Aran, 12/08 and Pallars. Also seen on Pic de la Màniga, Pallars (14/08)

Red-legged Perdiu roja Alectoris rufa Aiguamolls, Common throughout year in Aiguamolls, Cap de Partridge 18/01 Creus. Also seen in Pallars, Lleida Steppes, Gironès, etc.

Capercallie Gall fer Tetrao Ripollès, 24/07 A female was flushed in the forest in Ripollès. Also urogallus searched unsuccessfully in Pallars and Val d’Aran

Common Faisà Phasianus Aiguamolls, Different sightings in Aiguamolls, Gironès and Platja Pheasant colchicus 01/02 d’Aro lagoons throughout the year

Common Quail Guatlla Coturnix Esclet, Gironès, Also seen (or heard) in Delfià, Garriga d’Avinyonet, coturnix 19/04 Lleida and other places around Girona

Black-throated Calàbria Gavia arctica Aiguamolls, Scarce but present (about 20 individuals) both Loon agulla 01/01 winters in Platja de Can Comas and Platja de Sant Pere

Red-throated Calàbria Gavia stellata Aiguamolls, After the first bird, up to 5 individuals wintered in Loon petita 08/12 Aiguamolls, Platja St. Pere, from December onwards

Great Northern Calàbria Gavia immer Aiguamolls Seen again in l’Estartit harbour in November; a Loon grossa 18/01 juvenile (30/11), and one adult in Aiguamolls (08/12)

Little Grebe Cabusset Tachybaptus Aiguamolls, Common throughout the year in all wetlands (Ter, ruficollis 01/01 Hortes, Ebre, Lleida, Llobregat, Banyoles, Aiguamolls)

Great Crested Cabussó Podiceps Aiguamolls, Seen in Aiguamolls and Cap de Creus (at sea), and Grebe emplomallat cristatus 18/01 also in Delta, Sèquia Major, Noguera and Segre rivers

Black-necked Cabussó Podiceps Aiguamolls, Just a few birds in Aiguamolls (in Roses bay, at sea), Grebe collnegre nigricollis 18/01 both winters 12/13 and 13/14

Scopoli’s Baldriga Calonectris Palamós, Common during summer and early fall (still 1 bird on Shearwater cendrosa diomedea 25/03 06/12) in Cap de Creus, Palamós and along the coast.

Mediterranean Baldriga Puffinus Palamós, Common on sea during the whole year in Cap de Shearwater mediterrània yelkouan 11/01 Creus, Palamós and Empordà.

Balearic Baldriga Puffinus Palamós, Common on sea during the whole year (except Shearwater balear mauretanicus 13/01 summer time) in Cap de Creus, Palamós and Empordà.

European Storm Ocell de Hydrobates Palamós, Also seen in Punta de Cap de Creus (07/08 and Petrel tempesta pelagicus 14/07 07/09)

Northern Gannet Mascarell Morus bassanus Palamós, Common during spring, winter and fall in Cap de 13/01 Creus and Palamós; also a few in summer. European Shag Corb marí Phalacrocorax Palamós, Common during the whole year in Cap de Creus, emplomallat aristotelis 13/01 Palamós and Montgrí rocky coastal areas.

Great Cormorant Corb marí Phalacrocorax Aiguamolls, Seen commonly in winter on the coast, river and gros carbo 01/01 almost every wetland.

Black-crowned Martinet de Nycticorax Aiguamolls, Seen several times from march to September in Night Heron nit nycticorax 28/03 Aiguamolls, Ebre Delta, Ter and Onyar rivers

Little Bittern Martinet Ixobrychus Hortes Santa Unsuccessfully searched for during spring. Seen 8 menut minutus Eugènia, 01/07 more times in Girona, Aiguamolls and in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Bittern Bitó Botaurus Llacuna del Ter Missed dozens of times in Aiguamolls, which had its stellaris Vell (30/11) first spring with no males booming

Squacco Heron Martinet ros Ardeola Hortes Santa Seen 11 more times, in Aiguamolls, Baix Ter, Medes ralloides Eugènia, 10/04 Islands, Ivars, Ebre Delta, Girona, Ridaura and Utxesa

Cattle Egret Esplugabous Bubulcus ibis Ter a Domeny, Common throughout the year in agricultural fields Girona, 02/01 and wetlands around the whole country

Little Egret Martinet Egretta Riu Güell a Fairly common throughout the year in Ter River, in blanc garzetta Girona, 05/01 Aiguamolls marshes and most of the wetlands

Great Egret Agró blanc Egretta alba Aiguamolls, Seen 31 more times during the year, in Baix Ter, 01/01 Girona, Ebre Delta and mainly in Aiguamolls.

Grey Heron Bernat Ardea cinerea Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year in Ter River, in pescaire 01/01 Aiguamolls marshes and most of the wetlands

Purple Heron Agró roig Ardea purpurea Aiguamolls, Fairly common during spring and summer in 29/01 Aiguamolls marshes, Ebre Delta and other wetlands

Black Stork Cigonya Ciconia nigra Aiguamolls, Searched for everywhere during March and April and negra 23/04 finally found on Sant Jordi’s Day!

White Stork Cigonya Ciconia ciconia Aiguamolls, Common during the whole year in Aiguamolls; also blanca 01/01 seen in Ebre Delta, Lleida, Girona, Baix Ter, etc.

Glossy Ibis Capó reial Plegadis Aiguamolls, Seen 9 more times (mainly spring and summer) in falcinellus 08/03 Aiguamolls, and also common in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Eurasian Bec-planer Platalea Aiguamolls, Seen 10 more times, all of them in Aiguamolls, from Spoonbill leucorodia 01/02 January to November.

Greater Flamingo Flamenc Phoenicopterus Aiguamolls, Scarce but present the whole year in Aiguamolls, and roseus 01/01 very common in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Honey Buzzard Aligot vesper Pernis apivorus Capsacosta, Seen during spring migration in Empordà, during 04/05 breeding season in Pallars and Aran, and also in fall

Black-winged Kite Esparver Elanus Torreribera, The bird had been seen for a week in the area, but it d’esp. negres caeruleus Lleida, 27/05 took us a whole morning to find it

Black Kite Milà negre Milvus migrans Abocador Common from March to September, mainly on Pedret, 08/03 passage in Empordà, Pyrenees, Lleida and Girona

Red Kite Milà reial Milvus milvus Aiguamolls, 8 more sightings, some in Empordà or Girona (spring 08/01 passage), but also in summer (Pyrenees and Lleida)

Lammergeier Trencalós Gypaetus Capsacosta, Also seen in the Pyreenes (26/07, 12/08, 15/08, barbatus 03/05 3/09), and a maximum of 12 birds together (17/08)

Egyptian Vulture Aufrany Neophron Coll de la Also seen a couple more times at Coll de la Creueta percnopterus Creueta, 26/07 (11/08), Vall d’Aran (15/08) and in Pallars (17/08)

Griffon Vulture Voltor comú Gyps fulvus Pla dels Socs, Although the first one was in Girona and some birds Salt, 21/04 seen in Lleida or Osona, commonly seen in Pyrenees.

Black Vulture Voltor negre Aegypius Buseu, Pallars 11 birds in Buseu feeder; just two of them were wild monachus Sobirà, 17/08 ones (not from Catalan reintroduction project)

Short-toed Eagle Àguila Circaetus Parc del Migdia, Common from March to October in many different marcenca gallicus Girona, 18/03 places around Catalonia; seen, at least, 28 times

Marsh Harrier Arpella vulgar Circus Aiguamolls, Common throughout the year in Aiguamolls; also on aeruginosus 01/01 passage in Girona and very common in Lleida or Ebre

Montagu´s Esparver Circus pygargus Esclet, Gironès, Also seen in 4 more times in breeding areas in Harrier cendrós 19/04 Empordà and Lleida, and in spring passage in Girona

Pallid Harrier Arpella Circus Delfià, The bird was seen on previous days. Dipped in the pàl·lida russa macrourus Empordà, 27/03 morning. My first one in Catalonia (by bike!)

Hen Arpella Circus cyaneus Aiguamolls, Seen 6 more times during both wintering seasons, Harrier pàl·lida 18/01 and on passage in Delfià. Also in Esclet (15/12).

Goshawk Astor Accipiter Sant Gregori, Scarce, but seen during the whole year around the gentilis Gironès, 02/01 country. Seen at least 8 more times.

Sparrowhawk Esparver Accipiter nisus Viladesens, Pretty common and seen during the whole year Gironès, 01/01 around the country, in forest areas.

Common Buzzard Aligot comú Buteo buteo Sant Mori, Commonly seen throughout the year, almost Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country.

Golden Eagle Àguila Aquila Pastuira, Also seen in Pallars Sobirà (a juvenile on 15/08) and daurada chrysaetos Ripollès, 03/05 an adult in Ulldeter (03/09)

Booted Eagle Àguila Aquila pennata Capsacosta, Also in Empordà (17/05, 31/05 and 30/06), Garrotxa calçada 04/05 (19/07), and several times (Aran and Lleida, August)

Bonelli’s Eagle Àguila Aquila fasciata Santa Creu, Cap 9 more sightings in breeding areas (Cap de Creus) cuabarrada de Creus, 30/05 and also in Garcia (19/08) and Aiguamolls (13/10)

Osprey Àguila Pandion Illa Caramany, Missed 7 times in Caramany before 02/01. Then seen pescadora haliaetus Fluvià, 02/01 in Aiguamolls (31/05, 18/10) and Besalú (03/09)

Lesser Kestrel Xoriguer petit Falco naumanni Delfià, Scarce but present every time I was in breeding Empordà, 27/03 areas in Empordà; also seen in Lleida (18/08)

Common Kestrel Xoriguer Falco Torroella de Commonly seen throughout the year, almost comú tinnunculus Fluvià, 01/01 everywhere in the country.

Merlin Esmerla Falco Aiguamolls, Also seen in Aiguamolls during 2013/2014 winter columbarius 18/02 (21/11)

Red-footed Falcó cama- Falco Hortes de Santa Also seen 4 more times in Empordà (23/04, 04/05, Falcon roig vespertinus Eugènia, 21/04 10/05 and 19/05).

Peregrine Falcon Falcó pelegrí Falco La Barroca, Seen 26 more times during the whole year, in Cap de peregrinus Llèmena, 02/01 Creus, Girona, Aiguamolls, Lleida and Pyrennes Eleonora’s Falcon Falcó de la Falco eleonorae Ter a Foixà – Also seen in Llançà (03/08 and 26/08) and in Cap de reina Verges, 07/07 Creus (07/08), always a single bird

Eurasian Hobby Falcó Falco subbuteo Hortes de Santa Seen 12 more times, until the 29/09 (Banyoles), in mostatxut Eugènia, 21/04 Aiguamolls, Baix Ter, Lleida, Cap de Creus and Girona

Water Rail Rascló Rallus aquaticus Aiguamolls, Commonly heard and scarcely seen in wetlands 01/01 during the whole year in most of the visited wetlands

Spotted Crake Polla pintada Porzana Aiguamolls, After 9 days looking for it in Aiguamolls, Ridaura, Ter porzana 23/03 and Esclet ditches, finally found at Matà.

Little Crake Rascletó Porzana parva Aiguamolls, Seen easily at the typical place during spring passage 26/03 in March, Estany Europa.

Baillon’s Crake Rasclet Porzana pusilla Gola del Also seen in Aiguamolls (even chicks with adults) on Ridaura, 30/04 08/08 and 24/08. Finally seen for my Catalan list!

Common Polla d’aigua Gallinula Aiguamolls, Common in wetlands and rivers during the whole Moorhen chloropus 01/01 year in most of the visited wetlands

Eurasian Coot Fotja Fulica atra Aiguamolls, Commonly seen in marshes (Ebre, Sèquia Major, 01/01 Aiguamolls, Banyoles, Ivars, Baix Ter or even Girona)

Purple Polla blava Porphyrio Estany d’Ivars, Also in Ebre Delta (20/08) and Sèquia Major (21/08). Swamphen porphyrio 27/05 Extinct from Empordà, I had to see it in south Catalonia

Common Crane Grua Grus grus Esclet, Gironès, After long search, also seen in Girona (06/03), Esclet 06/03 (15/03), Aiguamolls (26/03, 13/10, 22/11)

Little Bustard Sisó Tetrax tetrax Secà de Also in other places in Lleida (26/05, 27/05) and Belianes, 26/05 again some birds at Lleida Steppes, Alfés (18/08).

Eurasian Garsa de mar Haematopus Sant Martí After the bird in Empordà (which made me ride in Oystercatcher ostralegus Empúries,19/05 the rain), again seen in Goleró, Ebre (20/08)

Black-winged Stilt Cames- Himantopus Aiguamolls, Common from March to October in most of the llargues himantopus 08/03 wetlands visited.

Pied Avocet Bec d’alena Recurvirostra Aiguamolls, Also seen in Empordà (Aiguamolls, 26/03, 29/03, avosetta 19/02 31/03 and 19/05), and Roses Bay (19/05).

Stone Curlew Torlit Burhinus Aiguamolls, Often seen (or heard calling) in Empordà throughout oedicnemus 18/02 the year. Also Lleida (27/05, 28/05, 18/08) and Esclet

Collared Perdiu de Glareola Aiguamolls, Also in Aiguamolls (10/05 and 17/05) and in Ebre Pratincole mar pratincola 23/04 Delta (20/08)

Little Ringed Corriol petit Charadrius Aiguamolls, Common in rivers and wetlands in Empordà, Lleida, Plover dubius 19/02 Ebre Delta, Girona, etc. from March to October

Common Ringed Corriol gros Charadrius Aiguamolls, Commonly seen in wetlands in Empordà, Lleida, Ebre Plover hiaticula 18/01 Delta, during April-May and also August-November.

Kentish Plover Corriol Charadrius Aiguamolls, Regularly seen during the whole year in Aiguamolls, camanegre alexandrinus 18/01 Baix Ter and also in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Eurasian Dotterel Corriol pit- Charadrius Alfés, Lleida, Also 2 birds in Ulldeter, Pyrenees (03/09) and 4 birds roig morinellus 18/08 in Esclet (06/09)

European Golden Daurada Pluvialis Aiguamolls, Common both winters in Aiguamolls and Empordà Plover apricaria 01/01 fields and open land.

Grey Plover Pigre gris Pluvialis Aiguamolls, Also seen several times during winter and spring squatarola 01/01 passage in Aiguamolls, and in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Northern Fredeluga Vanellus Aiguamolls, Common in Winter (Empordà, Gironès) and also on Lapwing vanellus 01/01 migration, even in Cap de Creus (02/03)

Red Knot Territ gros Calidris canutus Aiguamolls, Another bird seen on fall migration in El Goleró, 10/05 Ebre Delta (21/08)

Sanderling Territ tres- Calidris alba Aiguamolls, A few birds both winters in Aiguamolls, and a few on dits 01/01 spring pasage. Also seen in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Little Stint Territ menut Calidris minuta Aiguamolls, A few birds both winters in Aiguamolls, and some on 19/02 spring and fall passage. Also in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Dunlin Territ variant Calidris alpina Aiguamolls, Some birds wintering in Aiguamolls; common on 01/01 spring and fall. Also in Pals (12/05) and Ebre (20/08)

Temminck’s Stint Territ de Calidris Aiguamolls, Also 2 birds in Pals (12/05), and 1 juvenile in Temminck temmincki 13/04 Aiguamolls (24/08)

Curlew Sandpiper Territ bec- Calidris Aiguamolls, Also seen in Aiguamolls (04/05, 10/05, 24/08), and llarg ferruginea 23/04 hundreds in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Pectoral Territ Calidris Aiguamolls, Missed in Arrossars de Pals (12/05) during spring Sandpiper pectoral melanotos 24/08 passage, before the August bird in Aiguamolls

Ruff Batallaire Philomachus Aiguamolls, Common in spring and fall passage in Aiguamolls pugnax 18/02 marshes

Jack Snipe Becadell sord Lymnocryptes Aiguamolls, Up to 5 birds seen the same day during Aiguamolls minimus 18/02 wintering waterfowl census

Common Snipe Becadell Gallinago Aiguamolls, Common in Aiguamolls on passage and winter. Also comú gallinago 01/01 seen in Aro (11/01), Esclet (15/03, 02/04), Ebre, Ter.

Great Snipe Becadell gros Gallinago Aiguamolls, Missed in Aiguamolls in spite of a long search on two media 10/05 ocasions (04/05, 05/05)

Eurasian Becada Scolopax La Creueta, Finally seen after 8 long night bike-searching Woodcock rusticola Girona, 06/03 expeditions in Gavarres, Onyar and Sant Daniel.

Black-tailed Tètol Limosa limosa Aiguamolls, Also seen in Aiguamolls on pasage (02/03, 26/03, Godwit cuanegre 19/02 29/03, 31/03 and 05/07) and in Sèquia Major (21/08)

Bar-tailed Godwit Tètol Limosa Aiguamolls, Also seen in Aiguamolls (05/05, 19/05) and in Ebre cuabarrat lapponica 04/05 Delta (20/05)

Whimbrel Pòlit cantaire Numenius Aiguamolls, Also Bird heading north along the coast in Palamós phaeopus 12/04 (27/04)

Eurasian Curlew Becut Numenius Aiguamolls, Common in Aiguamolls on migration and in Winter. arquata 01/02 Also seen in Esclet (06/03)

Common Xivitona Actitis Ter a Girona, Common in Aiguamolls and Ter River throughout the Sandpiper hypoleucos 15/01 year. Also seen in Lleida, Ebre Delta, Llobregat, Pals

Green Sandpiper Xivita Tringa ochropus Aiguamolls, Seen commonly during spring and fall migration in 15/01 wetlands; also some wintering birds in Aiguamolls Common Gamba verda Tringa Aiguamolls, Seen several times during spring and fall migration in Greenshank nebularia 18/01 wetlands; also some wintering birds in Aiguamolls

Spotted Gamba roja Tringa Aiguamolls, Seen regularly during spring and fall migration in Redshank pintada erythropus 18/01 wetlands; also some wintering birds in Aiguamolls

Marsh Sandpiper Siseta Tringa Aiguamolls, Finally seen in Aiguamolls, a fter intense searching stagnatilis 23/04 in March. Again found in fall, but I had already seen it

Common Gamba roja Tringa totanus Aiguamolls, Seen several times during spring and fall migration in Redshank vulgar 19/02 different wetlands. Also in Cap de Creus (30/03)

Wood Sandpiper Valona Tringa glareola Esclet, Gironès, Seen commonly during spring and fall migration in 06/03 almost every visited wetland

Turnstone Remena-rocs Arenaria El Goleró, Delta Missed during spring in Aiguamolls and Cap de Creus. interpres de l’Ebre, 20/08 Then, it was seen in Aiguamolls again in September

Arctic Skua Paràsit Stercorarius Palamós, Also seen in Palamós (25/03, 05/04, 07/04 and cuapunxegut parasiticus 23/03 27/04) and again in Cap de Creus in fall (05/10)

Pomarine Skua Paràsit Stercorarius Palamós, Finally found in Palamós, where I spent many hours cuaample pomarinus 27/04 of seawatching looking for it

Great Skua Paràsit gros Stercorarius Palamós, Also seen in Palamós (25/03, 05/04, 07/04, 27/04, skua 13/01 14/07) and in Cap de Creus (07/06, 05/10, 07/09)

Black-headed Gavina vulgar Chroicocphalus Aiguamolls, Very common throughout almost all the year in Gull ridibundus 01/01 rivers, wetlands and the coast

Slender-billed Gavina Chroicocphalus Aiguamolls, Also a few birds seen in El Goleró, in Ebre Delta Gull capblanca genei 05/07 (21/08)

Little Gull Gavina Hydrocoelus Esclet, Gironès, Also seen 11 more times during spring, (Palamós, menuda minutus 06/03 Cap de Creus, Llançà, and also inland in Aiguamolls)

Mediterranean Gavina Larus Palamós, Commonly seen during the whole year on the coast Gull capnegra melancephalus 13/01 at Aiguamolls, Cap de Creus, Palamós, Llançà, etc.

Yellow-legged Gavià Larus Aiguamolls, Very common almost everywhere (except the Gull argentat michahellis 01/01 Pyrenees) throughout the whole year.

Audouin’s Gull Gavina corsa Larus audouinni Arrossars de Also seen in Aiguamolls (29/03, 19/05, 05/07), Llançà Pals, 26/03 (07/07). Common in Ebre Delta (20/08), Tarragona (21/08)

Common Gull Gavina Larus canus Estanys Platja Missed before finally seen in March in Pals (Basses cendrosa d’Aro, 10/03 d’en Coll) and Aiguamolls.

Lesser Black- Gavià fosc Larus fuscus El Far- Vilasacra Also in Palamós (25/03, 05/04, 27/04), Aiguamolls backed Gull Empordà, 08/03 (29/03, 04/05), Cap de Creus (09/03), Ebre (20/08)

Kittiwake Gavineta de Rissa tridactyla Palamós, Also seen in Cap de Creus (09/03, 06/04) and tres dits 03/03 Palamós (09/03, 23/03 and 25/03)

Gull-billed Tern Curroc Gelochelidon Aiguamolls, Seen again in Pals (12/05), Aiguamolls (19/05), Ivars nilotica 04/05 (27/05) and very common in Ebre Delta (20//08)

Caspian Tern Xatrac gros Hydropogne El Goleró, Delta Missed during sping in Aiguamolls and l’Escala caspia de l’Ebre, 20/08 (19/05), finally seen at Ebre Delta. Sandwich Tern Xatrac bec- Sterna Aiguamolls, Common during almost the whole year along the llarg sandvicensis 18/01 coast (Aiguamolls, Cap de Creus, Llançà, Ebre, etc.)

Common Tern Xatrac comú Sterna hirundo Palamós, Seen again in Palamós (27/05) and very common in 07/04 Ebre Delta (20/08)

Little Tern Xatrac menut Sternula Palamós, Seen commonly along Goleró coastal area in Ebre albifrons 27/04 Delta (20/08)

Whiskered Tern Fumarell Chlidonias Aiguamolls, Common in Aiguamolls during spring migration, and carablanc hybrida 12/04 very common in Ebre Delta (20/08)

Black Tern Fumarell Chlidonias niger Palamós, Also seen in Aiguamolls (04/05 and 13/10), Cap de negre 27/04 Creus (03/08) and Ebre Delta (20/08)

White-winged Fumarell ala- Chlidonias Aiguamolls, Some birds seen again at the same place in Tern blanc leucopterus 04/05 Aiguamolls (05/05)

Atlantic Puffin Fraret Fratercula Palamós, Also seen again from Cap de Creus, 3 birds flying arctica 05/04 south at Cap de Creus (07/06)

Razorbill Gavot Alca torda Palamós, Also seen from Cap de Creus during winter months 13/01 (02/02, 09/03 and 10/11)

Black-bellied Xurra Pterocles Secà de Maials, Not easy to find, just one Bird flushed in front of us Sandgrouse orientalis 26/05 in Lleida Steppes.

Pint-tailed Ganga Pterocles Alfés, Lleida, Finally found, after missing it at Alfés (25/05). Seen Sandgrouse alchata 26/05 again in the same place (18/08)

Wood Pigeon Tudó Columba Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost palumbus Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country

Stock Dove Xixella Columba oenas Aiguamolls, Missed in January, but seen in Aiguamolls (17/02). 01/01 Common in Lleida (26/05/27/05, 18/08)

Rock Dove Colom roquer Columba livia Vilaür, Very common throughout the year around the Empordà, 01/01 country. Also some “pure” birds in Cap de Creus

Eurasian Collared Tórtora turca Streptopelia Sant Mori, Very common throughout the year around almost Dove decaocto 01/01 everywhere in the country

Eurasian Turtle Tórtora de llei Streptopelia Ter a la Pilastra, Fairly common around open areas in the country Dove turtur Bescanó, 11/05 from April to September

Monk Parakeet Cotorreta de Myiopsitta Parc Central, Seen in cities (Girona, Barcelona) and some other pit gris monachus Girona, 23/01 areas in Empordà

Rose-ringed Cotorra de Psittacula Rutlla, Girona, Seen in cities (Girona, Barcelona) and some other Parakeet Kramer krameri 06/01 areas in Empordà

Great Spotted Cucut reial Clamator Aiguamolls, Finally found after 8 times searching in usually good Cuckoo glandarius 13/04 areas. Then, one juvenile in Aiguamolls (06/07)

Common Cuckoo Cucut Cuculus canorus Aiguamolls, Fairly common around the country from April to 12/04 September

Barn Owl Òliba Tyto alba Sant Martí Also in Aiguamolls several times during the year, and Llémena, 15/02 also in Lleida.

Scops Owl Xot Otus scops Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the country, mainly in 13/04 the lowlands, from April to September Little Owl Mussol comú Athene noctua Aiguamolls, Scarce, but also seen throughout the year in Girona, 18/01 different towns in Empordà, Lleida, Baix Ter, Montjoi

Eurasian Eagle Duc Bubo bubo Vall Pujolar, Cap Missed in Congost del Ter several times. Then, heard Owl de Creus, 27/03 again in Cap de Creus (31/08) and Montgrí (08/10)

Tawny Owl Gamarús Strix aluco Sant Daniel, Heard several times in Girona, Gavarres, Pyrenees Girona, 20/01 (July and August), and also Osona and Segarra (May).

Long-eared Owl Mussol Asio otus Cartellà, Sant Not heard although searched for during the night in banyut Gregori, 16/04 some territories around Girona (12/04, 15/04)

Tengmalm’s Owl Mussol Aegolius Baga Carboners, Not heard in Ulldeter (03/05, 04/05), and also missed pirinenc funereus Ripollès, 02/09 over 6 nights in Ripollès, Pallars, Cerdanya, Aran

European Enganyapas- Caprimulgus Deveses de Salt, Also heard in Empordà (28/07, 31/08), Pyrennes Nightjar tors europaeus 13/05 (24/07) and even seen at home in Girona (16/07)

Red-necked Siboc Caprimulgus Timoneda Alfés, Missed in Salt (13/05, 14/05). Heard again in Ribera Nightjar ruficollis Lleida, 26/05 d’Ebre (19/08)

Common Swift Falciot negre Apus apus Carrer Rutlla, Very common from April to September almost Girona, 21/03 everywhere in the country

Pallid Swift Falciot pàl·lid Apus pallidus Aiguamolls, Very common from April to October in Cap de Creus 12/04 and Empordà. Also seen in Girona, until December

Alpine Swift Ballester Apus melba Carrer Rutlla, Seen daily in Girona from April to September and Girona, 19/03 also common in mountains and coastal cliffs

Common Blauet Alcedo atthis Aiguamolls, Scarce but seen on almost every river, marsh and Kingfisher 18/01 wetland during the whole year

European Bee- Abellerol Merops Aiguamolls, Common from April to September almost eater apiaster 12/04 everywhere in the country

European Roller Gaig blau Coracias Secans Mollet Commonly seen in Lleida Steppes (May and August) garrulus Peralada, 04/05 and in Aiguamolls (May to September). Also in Esclet

Eurasian Hoopoe Puput Upupa epops Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year in open areas, 01/01 mainly in spring and summer

Wryneck Colltort Jynx torquilla Vilallonga Ter, Also heard in Cap de Creus in spring and seen in Ter Ripollès, 04/05 at Jafre (05/07), and Aiguamolls (24/08 and 12/10)

European Green Picot verd Picus viridis Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year in forested areas Woodpecker 01/01 across almost the whole country

Great Spotted Picot garser Dendrocopos Cartellà, Sant Common throughout the year in forested areas Woodpecker gros major Gregori, 04/01 across the country

Lesser Spotted Picot garser Dendrocopos Illa de Ter, Seen at least 14 more times in Girona, Salt, Baix Ter, Woodpecker petit minor Girona, 15/04 Aiguamolls, Esclet, Garrotxa and Osona

Middle Spotted Picot garser Dendrocopos Portilló, Vall It took us more than 3 hours to hear it. Then, Woodpecker Mitjà medius d’Aran, 13/08 another bird was seen in the same forest.

Black Picot negre Dryocopus Pastuira, Also heard in other places in Pyrenees; 2 birds in Woodpecker martius Ripollès, 03/05 Toses, Ripollès (24/07, 11/08) and 2 in Pallars (15/08)

Calandra Lark Calàndria Melanocorypha Sant Ramon, Also frequently seen in Segrià, Garrigues and Anoia calandra Segarra, 25/05 (25/05, 26/05, 27/05) and in Segrià (17/08, 18/08)

Greater Short- Terrerola Calandrella Secans Mollet Seen or heard several times around Mollet during toed Lark vulgar brachydactyla Peralada, 04/05 spring-summer, and also in Aspa and Alfés (26/05)

Lesser Short-toed Terrerola Calandrella Matxerri, Aspa, Also heard again (at least one bird) in Ebre Delta Lark rogenca rufescens Segrià, 26/05 (20/08)

Thekla Lark Cogullada Galerida Pla Gates, Cap Fairly common throughout the year in Cap de Creus. fosca theklae de Creus, 10/05 Also seen in Lleida (26/05 and 27/05)

Crested Lark Cogullada Galerida Aiguamolls, Common throughout the year in almost every open vulgar cristata 01/01 area in lowlands

Woodlark Cotoliu Lullula arborea La Barroca, Fairly common throughout the year in forested areas Llémena, 16/02 with open fields.

Common Skylark Alosa Alauda arvensis Aiguamolls, Common in winter in fields and open country. Also in 01/01 breeding season in Empordà, Pyrennes and Lleida

Horned Lark Alosa Eremophila Pla Gates, Cap It took us less than 2 hours to find the bird in Cap de banyuda alpestris de Creus, 10/05 Creus, the first for Catalonia, found by A. Burgas.

Common Sand Oreneta de Riparia riparia Esclet, Gironès, Fairly common during spring and fall migration; also Martin ribera 15/03 some birds in Lleida in breeding season

Barn Swallow Oreneta Hirundo rustica La Pera, Baix Very common from March to October almost vulgar Empordà, 03/03 everywhere in the country

Red-rumped Oreneta cua- Cecropis Llançà, Cap de Common in Empordà (mainly in Cap de Creus) from Swallow rogenca daurica Creus, 26/03 March to September. Also seen in Lleida, Ebre, Garraf

House Martin Oreneta Delichon urbica Carrer Rutlla, Very common from March to October almost cuablanca Girona, 23/02 everywhere in the country

Eurasian Crag Roquerol Ptyonoprogne Aiguamolls, Common in lowlands during winter time. Very Martin rupestris 17/01 common in breeding season in the Pyrenees.

Tawny Pipit Trobat Anthus Secans Mollet Also seen several times on Cap de Creus. Also on Pla campestris Peralada, 04/05 d’Anyella (26/07) and in Lleida (26/05, 27/05, 18/08)

Water Pipit Grasset de Anthus Aiguamolls, Common in Aiguamolls during winter months, and muntanya spinoletta 01/01 common in high Pyrenees during breeding season

Meadow Pipit Titella Anthus Sant Mori, Very common from October to April in lowlands and pratensis Empordà, 01/01 open fields

Red-throated Piula gola- Anthus cervinus Aiguamolls, Previously a bird was seen in Esclet (05/04), where I Pipit roja 23/04 missed it twice (02/04 and 03/04)

Tree Pipit Piula dels Anthus trivialis Calonge, Baix Also on passage (27/04, 01/05, 04/05, 10/05, 15/09), arbres Empordà, 26/04 & Pyrenees (04/07,24/07,25/07,26/07,11/08,15/09)

Yellow Wagtail Cuereta Motacilla flava Aiguamolls, Fairly common on passage, and in breeding wetlands groga 26/03 (Ebre, Lleida,Aiguamolls, S.Major,Baix Ter, Llobregat)

Grey Wagtail Cuereta Motacilla Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year on rivers, mainly torrentera cinerea 01/01 in Pyrenees in summer and lowlands in winter

White Wagtail Cuereta Motacilla alba Sant Miquel de Very common throughout the year almost blanca Fluvià, 01/01 everywhere in the country Cirtine Wagtail Cuereta Motacilla Aiguamolls, Two birds were found (by Alex Ollé) a couple days citrina citreola 24/08 before; it took us only 10 minutes to find them.

White-throated Merla d’aigua Cinclus cinclus Ter a Setcases, Also regularly seen in Pallars, Aran, Ripollès and Dipper Ripollès, 03/05 Cerdanya during July and August

Eurasian Wren Cargolet Troglodytes Sant Martí de Fairly common throughout the year in forested areas troglodytes Llémena, 02/01 across almost the whole country

Dunnock Pardal de Prunella Sant Mori, Commonly seen in lowlands in winter, and also seen bardissa modularis Empordà, 01/01 in summer, in bushy alpine habitat in Pyrenees

Alpine Accentor Cercavores Prunella collaris Bastiments, Missed during hard walks in Pyrenees and Empordà. Ripolles, 03/09 Also 12 birds in Turó de l’Home (23/11)

European Robin Pit-roig Erithacus Vilaür, Very common throughout the year around almost rubecula Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country, especially in winter

Common Rossinyol Luscinia Vilopriu, Very common from April to August around almost Nightingale comú megarrhynchos Empordà, 12/04 everywhere in forested areas

Bluethroat Cotxa blava Luscinia svecica Aiguamolls, Searched hard for in spring passage. Also seen in 08/03 Aiguamolls on fall passage (12/10)

Black Redstart Cotxa fumada Phoenicurus Torroella de Common throughout the year in cities, rocky coasts ochruros Fluvià, 01/01 and fields (winter). Common breeder in Pyrenees

Common Cotxa cua- Phoenicurus Vilajuïga, Cap Fairly common during spring and fall passage in Redstart roja phoenicurus de Creus, 28/03 lowlands. Also seen in breeding habitat in Osona

Whinchat Bitxac rogenc Saxicola rubetra Aiguamolls, Fairly common during spring and fall passage in 12/04 lowlands. Also seen in Pallars during summer

Common Bitxac comú Saxicola Sant Miquel de Commonly seen throughout the year in open Stonechat rubicola Fluvià, 01/01 lowland areas; also in Pyrenees during summer

Northern Còlit gris Oenanthe Palamós, Fairly common during spring and fall passage in Wheatear oenanthe 05/04 lowlands. Very common in summer in high Pyrenees

Black-eared Còlit ros Oenanthe Arbeca, Also seen in Cap de Creus during breeding season Wheatear hispanica Segarra, 26/05 (07/06, 07/08, 09/08) and in Lleida (27/05, 18/08)

Black Wheatear Còlit negre Oenanthe Matxerri, Aspa, Also one bird seen again south of Alfés, Lleida leucura Segrià, 26/05 Steppes (18/08)

Rufous-tailed Merla Monticola Coll de la Seen again in Aran (12/08), Pallars (15/08) and Rock Thrush roquera saxatilis Creueta, 26/07 Ulldeter (03/09 and 14/09)

Blue Rock Thrush Merla blava Monticola Quermançó,Cap Seen regularly throughout the year in Palamós, Cap solitarius de Creus, 01/02 de Creus, Girona and also in Lleida (26/08 and 18/08)

Spotted Papamosques Muscicapa Calonge, Baix Common during spring and fall passage, and also Flycatcher gris striata Empordà, 26/04 during summer months across the country

Pied Flycatcher Mastegatat- Ficedula Ter a Fontajau, Fairly common during spring and fall passage in xes hypoleuca Girona, 08/04 lowlands. Seen in Empordà, Gironès, La Selva, Segrià

Collared Papamosques Ficedula Romanyà, Also a female the same day during the afternoon in Flycatcher de collar albicollis 28/04 Fontajau, Girona. New bird for my Catalan List!

Ring Ouzel Merla de pit Turdus Vallter, Ripollès, Also a male in Tossa d’Alp, Cerdanya (27/07) and a blanc torquatus 04/05 juvenile in Ulldeter (14/09) Common Merla Turdus merula Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost Blackbird Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country

Song Thrush Tord comú Turdus Vilaür, Very common in winter in lowlands, and common philomelos Empordà, 01/01 throughout the year around in wet forest areas

Fieldfare Griva cerdana Turdus pilaris Sant Miquel de A single bird seen on January the first; not seen again Fluvià, 01/01 the first winter, neither the second one.

Redwing Tord ala-roig Turdus iliacus Ter al Congost A single bird seen the first winter (2012-2013) in Ter St. Julià, 01/01 river riparian forest

Mistle Thrush Griva Turdus La Barroca, Scarcely seen in lowland during winter, but very viscivorus Llémena, 16/02 common during summer in the Pyrenees and Lleida

Cetti’s Warbler Rossinyol Cettia cetti Aiguamolls, Very common throughout the year along rivers, in balquer 01/01 forests, marshes and wetlands

Zitting Cisticola Trist Cisticola Aiguamolls, Very common throughout the year (mainly heard juncidis 01/01 during spring) in lowland grasslands

Grasshopper Boscaler Locustella Aiguamolls, Also heard or seen in Cap de Creus (01/05), Warbler pintat gros naevia 13/04 Aiguamolls (3 birds, 05/05) and Flaçà (12/05)

Savi’s Warbler Boscaler Locustella Aiguamolls, Missed several times in Aiguamolls before 19/05. comú luscinioides 19/05 Also seen in Ebre Delta (19/08)

Moustached Boscarla Acrocephalus Aiguamolls, Also in Aiguamolls (13/04, 10/05) and in Utxesa, Warbler mostatxuda melanopogon 01/02 Lleida (26/05)

European Reed Boscarla de Acrocephalus Aiguamolls, Very common in reedy marshes and wetlands from Warbler canyar scirpaceus 12/04 April to September. Also other places on migration

Great Reed Balquer Acrocephalus Aiguamolls, Very common in reedy marshes and wetlands from Warbler arundinaceus 12/04 April to September, mainly Aiguamolls, Ebre, Lleida

Sedge Warbler Boscarla dels Acrocephalus Hortes Santa Also seen (or ringed) at Aiguamolls (3 times on joncs schonobaenus Eugènia, 21/03 26/03, 19/03, 31/03) and in Girona (09/04, 10/04)

Melodious Bosqueta Hippolais Besalú, Fairly common throughout the year across bushy and Warbler vulgar polyglotta Garrotxa, 04/05 open country from May to August.

Dartford Warbler Tallareta Sylvia undata Aiguamolls, Common in Cap de Creus throughout the year. Also cuallarga 18/01 in Lleida, Cerdanya and in Aiguamolls (winter)

Blackcap Tallarol de Sylvia atricapilla Vilaür, Baix Very common throughout the year around almost casquet Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in wood/forest areas, mainly in winter

Sardinian Tallarol Sylvia Sant Mori, Very common throughout the year almost Warbler capnegre melanocephala Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in Mediterranean lowlands

Spectacled Tallarol Sylvia Pla Gates, Cap Also seen in Cap de Creus (07/06, 07/08) and in Warbler trencamates conspicillata de Creus, 10/05 Lleida (26/05)

Garden Warbler Tallarol gros Sylvia borin Aiguamolls, Also on migration (Palamós, 28/04, PNCC, 30/08) and 13/04 breeding (Albera, 29/06, Pyrenees 7 times in July)

Orphean Warbler Tallarol Sylvia hortensis Delfià, Common from April to August in Cap de Creus. Also emmascarat Empordà, 04/05 heard on the way to Lleida (25/05)

Subalpine Tallarol de Sylvia cantillans Delfià, Fairly common on passage in lowlands. Also in Warbler garriga Empordà, 27/03 summer (Empordà, Girona, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Lleida) Common Tallareta Sylvia Hortes Santa Seen (and also ringed) 8 more times in Empordà and Whitethroat vulgar communis Eugènia, 09/04 Girona on spring and fall migration

Eastern Bonelli’s Mosquiter Phylloscopus Pujada Àngels, Common from April to Augustin almost wooded and Warbler pàl·lid bonelli Girona, 10/04 bushy areas

Wood Warbler Mosquiter Phylloscopus Ter a Fontajau, Excellent spring for this scarce migrant. Also Palamós xiulaire sibilatrix Girona, 08/04 (28/04), Gi (28/04), Empordà (01/05, 04/05, 05/05)

Willow Warbler Mosquiter de Phylloscopus Ter, Deveses de Common during spring and fall passage in lowlands. passa trochilus Salt, 21/03 Seen in Girona, Empordà, Pla Estany, La Selva, Segrià

Common Mosquiter Phylloscopus Vilaür, Very common during winter in lowlands; common in Chiffchaff comú collybita Empordà, 01/01 wet forests in breeding season

Iberian Chiffchaff Mosquiter Phylloscopus Aiguamolls, The bird ringedon 17/04, turned to be this species ibèric ibericus 12/04 after some experts (J.L. Copete) checked pictures

Goldcrest Reietó Regulus regulus Les Pedreres, Very common year all round in Pyrenees forests, and Girona, 23/02 scarce in lowlands pine forest during winter

Firecrest Bruel Regulus Sant Mori, Very common throughout the year in almost all ignicapilla Empordà, 01/01 forest areas

Bearded Reedling Mallerenga Panurus Utxesa, Segrià, It took us more than an hour to see one beautiful de bigotis biarmicus 26/05 male in Utxesa Reservoir, Lleida

Red-billed Rossinyol del Leiothrix lutea Cabanyes,Vallès Thanks to Pau García Campderrós, a group easily Leiothrix Japó Oriental, 21/08 found in a Mediterranean forest in Vallès Oriental

Common Waxbill Mallerenga Aegithalos Vilaür, Common throughout the year almost every forested cuallarga caudatus Empordà, 01/01 area in the country

Great Tit Mallerenga Parus major Aiguamolls, Very common throughout the year almost carbonera 01/01 everywhere in the country

Blue Tit Mallerenga Parus caeruleus Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost blava Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country, mainly wooded areas

Crested Tit Mallerenga Lophophanes Llorà, Llémena, Common throughout the year in almost every pine emplomallda cristatus 02/01 forest

Coal Tit Mallerenga Periparus ater Palamós - Common throughout the year in almost every pine petita Montràs, 03/03 forest in Pyrenees. Also seen in Baix Empordà

Marsh Tit Mallerenga Poecile palustris Capsacosta, Also a few birds in Aran (13/08), Osona (24/09) and d’aigua 03/05 Garrotxa (24/09)

Eurasian Pica-soques Sitta europaea La Barroca, Common in wet mountain forests in Pyrenees. Also Nuthatch blau Llémena, 16/02 seen in Garrotxa, Selva, Osona, Empordà and Gironès

Wallcreeper Pela-roques Tichodroma Gra de Fajol, Searched in winter for 4 days In Barroca, Gironès. muraria Ripollès, 03/09 Also missed in Aran, Pallars, Ripollès in summer.

Eurasian Raspinell Certhia Portilló, Vall Just seen (common) in Vall d’Aran, after not finding it Treecreeper pirinenc familiaris d’Aran 13/08 in Eastern Pyrenees (04/05, 25/07, 27/07, 11/08)

Short-toed Raspinell Certhia Ter al Congost, Very common throughout the year in almost all Treecreeper comú brachydactyla St. Julià, 01/01 forest areas

Penduline Tit Teixidor Remiz Aiguamolls, Common in winter in Aiguamolls. Also seen in pendulinus 01/01 Girona, Lleida, Ebre valley. Golden Oriole Oriol Oriolus oriolus Hortes de Santa Fairly common from April to September in almost all Eugènia, 21/04 forest areas across the country

Red-backed Escorxador Lanius collurio Vallfogona, Also seen in Ripollès (24/07), Pla d’Anyella (26/07), Shrike Ripollès, 23/07 Cerdanya (27/07) and Cap de Creus (30/08)

Lesser Grey Trenca Lanius minor Torreribera, Missedbefore in Aiguamolls (20/05), and also in Shrike Lleida, 18/08 Lleida (27/05), where it arrived two days latter

Iberian Grey Botxí Lanius Esclet, Gironès, Also seen in Empordà (04/05), and in Lleida (26/05, Shrike meridionalis 12/03 27/05 and 18/08)

Woodchat Shrike Capsigrany Lanius senator Pedret i Marzà, Fairly common from April to September in bushy and Empordà, 26/03 open areas across the country, mainly in lowlands

Eurasian Jay Gaig Garrulus Sant Mori, Common throughout the year in almost all forest glandarius Empordà, 01/01 areas

Common Magpie Garsa Pica pica Aiguamolls, Very common throughout the year almost 01/01 everywhere in the country

Red-billed Gralla de bec Pyrrhocorax St. Roc Barroca, Common in Pyrenees; seen in Ripollès, Cerdanya, Chough vermell pyrrhocorax Llémena, 02/01 Aran, Pallars. Also in Lleida (26/05, 27/05 and 18/08)

Alpine Chough Gralla de bec Pyrrhocorax Coll de la Also in Tossa d’Alp (26/07) and a flock of 18 in groc graculus Creueta, 25/07 Pallars/ Vall d’Aran (17/08)

Western Jackdaw Caua Corvus Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year around monedula 01/01 Empordà, Girona, Lleida and other open lowlands

Common Raven Corb Corvus corax St. Roc Barroca, Fairly common throughout the year across the Llémena, 02/01 country, mainly in mountain areas

Carrion Crow Cornella Corvus corone Vilaür, Common throughout the year in open areas with Empordà, 01/01 fields and scattered forests

Common Starling Estornell Sturnus vulgaris Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost vulgar Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country

Spotless Starling Estornell Sturnus unicolor Estanys Platja Very scarce in Northern Catalonia, but Common in negre d’Aro, 11/01 West and South, where seen in May, July and August

House Sparrow Pardal comú Passer Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost domesticus Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country

Eurasian Tree Pardal xarrec Passer Ter a Sant Fairly common throughout the year in open areas, Sparrow montanus Gregori, 02/01 also in cities

Common Rock Pardal roquer Petronia Valldevià i Saus, Scarce but regularly seen in dry areas in Empordà. Sparrow petronia Empordà, 18/02 Also in Girona and in Lleida, Garrigues, Ebre Valley

White-winged Pardal d’ala Montifrigilla Estanyó, Pallars After long walks, seen in Tuc de Marimanya and Snowfinch blanca nivalis Aran, 13/08 Estanyó. Also 4 birds in Turó de l’Home (23/11)

Common Waxbill Bec de corall Estrilda astrild Mogent -Besós, Missed before in Llobregat Delta (21/08) and in senegalès Vallès O., 21/08 Montcada (21/08)

Common Pinsà comú Fringilla coelebs Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost Chaffinch Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country, mainly in winter

Brambling Pinsà mec Fringilla Sant Martí de Also seen in Llémena (16/01) and in Gualta, Baix montifringilla Llémena, 05/01 Empordà (24/02) European Serin Gafarró Serinus serinus Vilaür, Very common throughout the year almost Empordà, 01/01 everywhere in the country

European Cardina Carduelis Sant Mori, Very common throughout the year almost Goldfinch carduelis 01/01 everywhere in the country

European Verdum Carduelis chloris Sant Mori, Very common throughout the year almost Greenfinch 01/01 everywhere in the country

Citril Finch Llucareta Carduelis Pastuira, Fairly common in high Pyrenees, seen in May, July, citronella Vallter, 03/05 August and September

Common Linnet Passerell Carduelis Aiguamolls, Fairly common throughout the year in opean areas comú cannabina 01/01 across the whole country

Lesser Redpoll Passerell Carduelis Girona, 19/11 My first Redpoll in Catalonia, it was a star bird and it gola-negre cabaret was even ringed (23/11)

Eurasian Siskin Lluer Carduelis spinus Illa de Ter, Scarce but seen both winters in Gironès, Pla de Girona, 15/01 l’Estany, Empordà (Baix Ter, Cap de Creus, Garrotxa)

Common Trencapinyes Loxia Pastuira, Common in high Pyrenees, where seen in May, July, Crossbill curvirostra Vallter, 03/05 August and September. Also Empordà (12/10)

Eurasian Bullfinch Pinsà Pyrrhula Sant Martí de Fairly common in wet mountain forests, where seen borroner pyrrhula Llémena, 02/01 in summer. Also in Gironès, Osona, Selva, Garrotxa

Hawfinch Durbec Coccothraustes Canet d’Adri, Also seen in Llémena, Gironès (05/01 and 16/02) and coccothraustes 04/01 in Delfià, Empordà (27/03)

Snow Bunting Sit blanc Plectophenax Turó de l’Home, This vagrant species to Catalonia was found on 19/11 nivalis 23/11 and seen after a hard ride up to Turó de l’Home

Yellowhammer Verderola Emberiza Llanars, Scarce but seen in Pyrenees; Pla d’Anyella (26/07), citrinella Ripollès, 04/05 Toses (11/08), Pallars (12/08) and Aran (13/08)

Cirl Bunting Gratapalles Emberiza cirlus Viladesens, Common throughout the year in open areas, mainly Gironès, 01/01 in lowlands

Common Reed Repicatalons Emberiza Aiguamolls, Common in wetlands during winter; seen in Empordà Bunting schoeniclus 01/01 (Alt and Baix) and in Gironès

Ortolan Bunting Hortolà Emberiza Pla d’Anyella, Although missed several times in Cap de Creus hortulana Ripollès, 26/07 during spring, also seen again in Cap de Creus (07/08)

Rock Bunting Sit negre Emberiza cia Sant Martí de Also regularly seen throughout the year in rocky Llémena, 02/01 areas, as Cap de Creus; also in Girona, Osona, Pallars

Corn Bunting Cruixidell Emberiza Sant Miquel de Common throughout the year in open agricultural calandra Fluvià, 01/01 lands and fields, and in bushy areas

BIRDS I MISSED SEEN IN CATALONIA DURING 2013

Ferruginous Duck Morell Aythya nyroca Missed by a few hours in Banyoles (18/02). Also missed in Sèquia Major xocolater (21/08) and in Llobregat Delta (21/08)

Marbled Duck Xarxet Marmaroneta Missed in Ebre Delta, where a very few birds remain throughout the year marbrenc angustirostris in unreachable places White-headed Ànec Oxyura A bird seen in Sèquia Major in February and some birds in Ebre Delta in Duck capblanc leucocephala winter. Too far to twitch by bike.

Ruddy Duck Ànec de Oxyura A bird seen in La Bombita, Ebre Delta in November. Too far to twitch by jamaica jamaicensis bike.

White Pelican Pelicà vulgar Pelecanus Missed the bird seen in Figueres (02/09), although I was cycling in the onocrotalus same place at the same time

Spanish Imperial Àguila Aquila heliaca Some birds were seen on Lleida Steppes during summer. Not seen Eagle imperial although searched for on 16/08, 17/08 and 18/08

Terek Sandpiper Siseta Xenus cinereus A bird seen in Aiguamolls on 02/09. I tried but dipped on 05/09, when it cendrosa was not there anymore.

Pacific Golden Daurada del Pluvialis fulva Missed in Ebre Delta by 4 days (I was there too early), although it stayed Plover Pacífic around for a month. Too far to ride back there again!

Buff-breasted Territ rogenc Tringytes The bird in Aiguamolls on May was not reported. The 2 juveniles in Ebre Sandpiper ruficollis Delta missed by 7 days. Too far to ride back there again!

Long-billed Tetolet bec- Limnodromus A bird seen in Ivars, in early October. Too far to twitch by bike. Dowitcher llarg scolopaceus

Red-necked Escuraflas- Phalaropus A bird missed in Ebre Delta by just 5 days (I was there too early). Phalarope cons bec-fi lobatus

Long-tailed Skua Paràsit Stercorarius Just one bird seen in Llobregat Delta (and again in Gallecs) on 30/09). I cuallarg longicaudus had been there a week before.

Bonaparte’s Gull Gavina de Larus A bird wintering again in Tarragona and Cambrils. Too far to twitch by Filadèlfia philadelphia bike.

Herring Gull Gavià de Larus A few birds seen in Tarragona Harbour (not seen on 21/08), in Barcelona potes roses argentatus during both winters and also irregularly in Solius Landfill refuse dump.

Lesser Crested Xatrac Sterna I missed the bird seen in Roses Harbour (03/09); it was not there again Tern bengalí bengalensis on 05/09

Royal Tern Xatrac reial Sterna maxima Just one bird seen in Platja d’Aro, flying south on November 10th, not seen again any more

Short-eared Owl Mussol Asio flammeus A bird ringed in Esclet, but my phone was switched off that night emigrant (12/04). Some other ones (Baix Ter, Aiguamolls), also missed.

Eastern Bitxac asiàtic Saxicola maura I searched for it (by car) at Ebre Delta on January. I missed it, even by Stonechat car!

Isabelline Còlit pàl·lid Oenanthe A bird seen in Vilobí d’Onyar on April the 30th was not seen again any Wheatear isabellina more

Richard’s Pipit Piula grossa Anthus A bird missed in L’Escala (18/02). richardi

Moussier’s Cotxa Phoenicurus Seen (by car) on Constantí, Tarragonès, on 17/03. Too far to twitch by Redstart diademada mousieri bike.

Lesser Tallarol Sylvia curruca A bird seen in Besós on 16/09. Too far to twitch by bike. Whitethroat xerraire

Icterine Warbler Bosqueta Hippolais Searched everywhere in May-June and August-Sept. No luck! Seen in icterina icterina Cap de Creus (by car), 01/05. The worst dip! Isabelline Bosqueta Hippolais opaca I went to look for the bird seen on 20/05 in Cap de Creus, but it was not Warbler pàl·lida there again on 24/05

Aquatic Warbler Boscarla Acrocephalus A bird missed by 30’ at Ridaura on 30/04. Poor spring for this scarce but d’aigua paludicola regular spring migrant. Also one bird in fall in Vallès, too far to go.

Yellow-browed Mosquiter de Phylloscopus Several birds missed in Empordà, Girona (one probably heard at Warbler doble ratlla inornatus Aiguamolls 13/10 and Joanet 23/11), in spite of long and intensive search work

Hooded Crow Cornella Corvus cornix I missed the bird seen in Pals Marshes on 16/03, when I was there on emmantellda the 17/03

Brown-necked Corb de coll Corvus ruficollis I searched for it (by car) near Tarragona in May. I missed it, even by car! Crow roig

Rose-coloured Estornell Pastor roseus A bird was briefly seen at Llobregat Delta on August, but it was not seen Starling rosat again; I didn’t try to reach the place again.

Eurasian Ocell sedós Bombycilla A few winter records in Vall d’Aran, too far to reach during winter time Waxwing garrulus by bike.

Common Pinsà Carpodacus A single bird was seen not far from Girona, at Amer, on 03/09, but it was Rosefinch carminat erythrinus not seen again. I didn’t try to see it.

PROFILES OF PASSES AND PEAKS CLIMBED DURING 2013

ÀNGELS FROM MADREMANYA: 3 times ÀNGELS FROM GIRONA: 13 times

SANTA PELLAIA: Twice ROMANYÀ: 6 times

ROCACORBA: Once MARE DE DÉU DEL MONT: Once

VALLTER 2000: Three times CONDREU: Once

BRACONS: Twice COLLADA DE TOSES: Twice

SANT PERE DE RODES (PORT SELVA): 9 times SANT PERE DE RODES (VILAJUÏGA): 4 times

EL PENÍ FROM ROSES: 4 times EL PENÍ FROM PORT DE LA SELVA: 3 times

BONAIGUA (FROM D’ESTERRI): Once BONAIGUA (FROM ARTIES): Once

PORT DEL CANTÓ (FROM ADRALL): Once PORTILLÓ (FROM BOSSOST): Once

COLL DE CANES – SANTIGOSA: Twice COLL DE LA CREUETA: Twice

TURÓ DE L’HOME: Once SANT HILARI: Three times

COSTES DEL GARRAF: Once COLLSUSPINA: Once