September Rarities 2009

[Peter]

Barolos Shearwater Puffinus (assimilis) baroli
Cádiz. One was seen entering the Mediterranean from Isla de Las Palomas, Tarifa, on 21.9 (Carlos Noivo, Javier Elorriaga/Fundación Migres).

Presumed Hybrid Western Reef x Little Egret Egretta gularis x garzetta
Cádiz. The returning bird was at Salinas de Puerto real, Cádiz on 2.9 (Rafael García-Costales).

Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii
Cádiz. Two birds were seen and photographed near Tarifa on 5.9 (Ricardo Fernández Nieto).According to Javier Elorriaga (in litt.) there might be up to three birds in the area: 'un joven sin mudas, otro un inmaduro con una muesca evidente y asimétrica en la secundarias centrales del ala izquierda y el otro muestra una muda activa evidente con muchas irregularidades en las plumas de vuelo' (an unmoulted juvenile, an immature with an asymetric broken feather in its left wing and a further bird in active moult with an irregular trailing edge).On 8.9 there were two at La Pena watchpoint seen and photographed at a carcass with Griffon Vultures. (Oliva Rama Tours/Jules Sykes, Richard & Jane Palmer, Michael & Wendy Ball, John Thorogood, John Tookey and Aileen Bishop; see photos below, © J. Tookey). On 12.9 there were two birds at Valle de Ojén, Sierra de los Alcornocales, Cádiz (Manolo Villaécija, Paco Chiclana). Two birds (or three) were seen the same day at Cazalla observatory (Javier Elorriaga/Fundación Migres) while one was at the same site on 13.9 (Cristian Jensen, Ray Moller and others /Audouin Birding Tours). Late news comment that on 4.9 'the juvenile' mentioned by Javier Elorriaga was seen at Cazalla observatory, Tarifa, Cadiz (Brigitte, Christian & Matthias Schoebinger). One bird was seen at Cazalla bird observatory, Tarifa, on 22.9 (Cristian Jensen/Audouin Birding Tours). One was roosting on the cliffs at La Pena on 18-20.9 - broken/missing secondary wing feather (Martin Coates). Another at Santuario, Tarifa on 18.9 (Miguel Rouco, see a photo below). At the Cazalla observatory on 19-20.9 one immature present several times on both days and possibly two (i.e. a third bird) but we are still checking the photos (Martin Coates)

Cádiz. Two individuals were seen at Los Barrios, Cádiz. They were amongst Griffons and one was an unmoulted juvenile, a rarely seen age-class in the Straits (Javier Elorriaga/Fundación Migres)

Cádiz. At least 6 individuals could be around Tarifa these days. Mike Buckland saw at least 5-6 altogether one day and has brought us photos of six different birds. His observations were 1 on 16.9, 2 on 19.9, 5-6 on 21.9, and 3-4 on 22.9 (MIke Buckland)

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (1,2)
(1) Cádiz On 12.9 one was seen heading inland from Los Lances beach, Cádiz, with Black Kites (Oliva Rama Tours/Jules Sykes, Richard & Jane Palmer, Michael & Wendy Ball, John Thorogood, John Tookey and Aileen Bishop).

(2) Cádiz On 10h of 16.9 one cirtensis was seen and photographed at Trafico observatory, Tarifa (Stephen Daly). See two photos below and two thumbnails here (Stephen Daly)

Lanner Falco biarmicus (1)
(1) Cádiz There was a bird at the Tarifa area, Cádiz, on 18.9. It was photographed in flight (see below) (Pako Zufiaur). This or another was seen at the same place on 19.9 (Martin Coates) and 21.9 (Cristian Jensen/Audouin Birding Tours)

Saker Falco cherrug (1) SECOND FOR SPAIN (and first for Cat.A)
The bird had reached the Straits of Gibraltar area at Barbate after visiting the Doñana National Park on 19.9 (see the complete story in the Rarebirdspain blog here). The bird crossed the straits on 19-20.9 and even went S to Morocco and the Sahara! (Matyas Prommer in litt.). See a couple of maps of the whole Iberian journey and data until 24.9 of the bird, courtesy of LIFE project managers).

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Cádiz. On 10.9 three were altogether at La Dehesilla, Parque Natural de Doñana, Sanlúcar de Barrameda. One was a bird moulting from juvenile to 1w and the rest possibly adults (José Luis Arroyo).

Royal Tern Sterna maxima
Cádiz There were two individuals at Playa de los Lances, Tarifa, Cadiz on 7.9. (Tery Fenton). They were (1 adult, 1 first winter) sheltering from wind with 68 Audouin's gulls Larus audouinii.

Lesser-Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
Cádiz There was one bird at Los Lances beach, Tarifa, Cádiz on 18.9 (Miguel Rouco).

Orange-billed Tern Sterna sp (elegans like)
Cádiz There were two orange.billed birds on 2.9: the adult well known for having been breeding at Ebro delta and Albufera de Valencia, PVC ringed (see below) plus a juvenile yellow-billed of unknown origin, perhaps an offspring of this (Rafael García- Costales). Seen again on 5.9 afternoon, the juvenile asking for food to the adult (Rafael García-Costales). These birds might come from Ebro Delta since the yellow-billed tern pair recorded there in May 2009 did indeed produce a chick that eventually flight with them (Carles Domingo com.pers.). See a video of the marked adult here (Rafael García Costales) and another from the juvenile here (Rafael García costales). Also in the Rarebirdspain blog here.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Cádiz. The sixth this season was seen on 2.9 at Cadiz bay saltpans (Rafael García Costales). This bird was still in the area on 3.9 with a juvenile (2) (Rafael García Costales).
Cádiz. The seventh this season was a juvenile seen with bird (1) on 3.9 (Rafael García Costales).
Cádiz.*** One British Museum ringed individual was trapped and controlled at La Trapa saltpans, Cádiz on 23.9 (Rafael García Costales).The eight this season there.

Little Swift Apus affinis
Cádiz There were four birds at Sierra de la Plata, Cádiz on 13.9 (Cristian Jensen, Ray Moller and others /Audouin Birding Tours). Two were still recorded there on 22.9 (Cristian Jensen and others/Audouin Birding Tours)

House Bunting Emberiza sahari
Cádiz. The adult of this species seen at Tarifa, Cádiz last month was seen again feeding as usual on 21.9 (Cristian Jensen/Audouin Birding Tours).

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Ronda One adult bird seen accompanying Northern and Black-eared Wheatears at Llanos de Libar 5.9 (Peter Jones et al).

Peter

[Derek]

Good effort Peter and thanks for the useful and usual top rate information.

Derek