April rarities - 2009

[Peter]

Presumed Hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta
Cádiz. The 'usual' bird from Cádiz bay Natural Park was seen again on 8.4 (Rafael García Costales).

Marabou Leptoptilos crumeniferus  D CATEGORY SPECIES
Sevilla Presumed escape. The bird with a yellow PVC ring 'RD o RB', perhaps the same seen at Ojuelos, Marchena, Sevilla on 18.10.2008, and of unknown origin, seen at Brazo del Este, Puebla del Río, Sevilla on 28.3 remained in the area on 11.4 (Paco Chiclana, Gonzalo Lage, Quirri).

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (1,2,3,4)
(1) Cádiz On 5.4 one was seen from La Hoya area, Tarifa, Cádiz (Alberto Savijn,Rafa Romero y Jose Luis Anguita)
(2) Cádiz On 5.4 one very probable pale bird was seen from Los Lances, Tarifa, Cádiz (Alberto Savijn,Rafa Romero y Jose Luis Anguita)
(3) Cádiz On 23.4 one bird was seen at La Janda, Cádiz (Mario Martín, Fernando del Valle, Paco Chiclana)
(4) Ronda On 27.4 two birds were seen near to Montejaque (Peter Jones)

Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Cádiz One juvenile was seen at La Janda, Cádiz on 5.4 (Stephen Daly, John W Vanderpoel/ Peregrine Videos)

Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Sevilla One was found at Conde Chico, Brazo del Este, Sevilla on 2.4 (Alberto Savijn, Jose Luis Anguita) and 3.4 (J.L.Anguita). The bird was seen again on 5.4 (Carlos Gutiérrez Expósito) and 7.4 (David Muñoz; Paco Chiclana).

Rose Coloured Starling (Rosey Starling) Sturnus roseus
Pinar de la Algagda. One seen 10.4 on the road across marshes at far end of Pinar de la Algagda, it was around the first small farm on the left 200m beyond pines (John Cantelo).

Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
Málaga On 15.4 four birds were seen at Fuente de Piedra lagoon, Malaga, having been present there since February. Up to 7 birds were recorded at this site during March (Peter Jones). The groups of birds seen on March at Fuentedepiedra lagoon, Málaga were seen again, totalling six, on 6.4 (Albert Burgas) and 8.4 (John Cantelo) and four remained on 19.4 (Cristian Jensen/Audouin Birding Tours). Six remained on 25.4 and two were believed to be nesting. At least three that were checked were unringed individuals (Andy Paterson)

Little Swift Apus affinis
Cádiz There were two on 4.4 (Alberto Savijn,Rafa Romero y Jose Luis Anguita) and three at a coastal cave at Sierra de la Plata, Cádiz on 5.4 (Stephen Daly).
Cádiz There were seven birds and six occupied nests near Guadalquivir river mouth on 22.4 (Cristian Jensen, Lionel Maumary/Audouin Birding Tours). Two had been seen in the area on 3.4 (John Cantelo).

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Málaga On 6.4 three birds were seen at Río Grande, Málaga (Todor Todorov)


Peter

[john]

Glad you got my message regarding the R-C Starling.  I'll post further details anon when I write up my trip report.  There were still 6 Lesser Flaminogo at Fuente de Piedra on 8th April,

John

[Peter]

We also had 2 Long-legged Buzzards near to Montejaque on April 27th. Amazingly the total for 'winter' sightings in this area has increased dramatically over previous winters and between October 08 and now the number of days when this species was observed stands at 15!

Peter