Monday 31 August 2009

Danish Rare Bird News for August 2009

Hereby August 2009 Danish Bird News.

A Balearic Shearwater flew past Klitmøller, Nordjylland on July 31st,and one was at Skagen, Nordjylland on 1st. An adult drake FerruginousDuck was at Maribosøerne, Lolland on 4th. Up to two male Pallid Harriers, an adult and a 2nd summer, were summering near Ballum, Sønderjylland in the Waddensea during 2nd-29th. A Lesser Spotted Eagle was migrating at Fanø, Vestjylland on 7th. An adult Blyth's Reed Warbler was ringed at Gedser, Falster on 1st.

Aquatic Warblers were seen in the field at Vestamager, Copenhagen on 6th (a photographed juvenile) and at Rudbøl Sø, Sønderjylland on 7th (responding to sound).

Other August records include 17 Black Storks, a new Danish record 184Spoonbills at Vejlerne, Nordjylland on 15th, three probably escaped adult Red-breasted Geese at Tipperne, Vestjylland during 17th-27th, 10 Red-crested Pochards, a dubious Ruddy Shelduck, a returning, dubious drake Hooded Merganser, two adult Pectoral Sandpipers, four Great Snipes including three at Skagen, Nordjylland, five Long-tailed Skuas, one adult Sabine's Gull, two immature Glaucous Gulls, one adult Gull-billed Tern, one juvenile White-winged Black Tern, one Atlantic Puffin, four Bee-eaters, one Crested Lark remaining at Hirtshals, Nordjylland seen on 15th, 27th and 29th, four Tawny Pipits, one early Red-throated Pipit, one adult male White-spotted Bluethroat far north at Vejlerne, Nordjylland on 24th, a ringed 1st winter Savi's Warbler, four 1st winter Barred Warblers, one adult Rose-colored Starling, 12 Nutcrackers - probably adults from last autumn's invasion - and just four Ortolan Buntings.

Source: dofbasen.dk and netfugl.dk--Rolf Christensen/Skagen Fuglestation, Hvidefyrvej 4DK-9990 Skagen, Danmarke-post: rolf.skagen@gmail.com

Tuesday 11 August 2009

First TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL for ICELAND







This beautiful male TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL was photographed by Yann Kolbeinnson at Stoovarfjurdour on 7 August

The second MASKED SHRIKE for NORWAY




This adult female MASKED SHRIKE was trapped and ringed at Lista fyr, Farsund, in NORWAY on 10 August (Vegard Bunes)

RARE BIRDS IN THE WESTERN P - 1-10 AUGUST 2009


This juvenile SPOTTED SANDPIPER was discovered at Sartana Beach, Ferrol, Galicia (SPAIN) on 2 August and is still present today. The photograph above was taken by Pablo Gutiarrez - see his website at http://travellingbirds.blogspot.com/2009/08/pura-suerte.html
BLACK-WINGED KITE: One flew east briefly over Groot Schietveld, just north of Antwerp (BELGIUM) on 4 August.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE: a sub-adult was photographed at Smedby (SWEDEN) on 9 August (7th record)
BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE: at Ijdoorn, Dungerdam, Noord-Holland (THE NETHERLANDS) briefly on 7 August
LEAST SANDPIPER: an adult at Charca de Maspalomas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (CANARY ISLANDS) on 8 August
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: a juvenile was present at Sartana Beach (Covas), Ferrol, Galicia (SPAIN) from 2 to at least 11 August - 20th record
HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL: the long-staying bird still present at Baldaio Wetlands, Carballo, Galicia (SPAIN) on at least 4 August.
RIVER WARBLER: a pair nested successfully this June in Luxembourg, with two juveniles trapped and ringed at Marche-en-Farnenne on 5 August.
TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL: the first for ICELAND - an adult male - is with Common Crossbills at Stoovarfjorour on 6-7 August
MASKED SHRIKE: an adult female was trapped and ringed at Lista fyr, Farsund (NORWAY) on 10 August (2nd record)
AFRICAN HOUSE BUNTING: one was in Tarifa (SPAIN) on 6 August

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Satellite-tagged SAKER FALCONS in HUNGARY

Birds with satellite tags

In the frame of the Hungarian-Slovak SAKER FALCON conservation LIFE project 10 juvenile Sakers have been tagged with satellite transmitters (PTTs). The aim of the action is to learn about dispersal and migration of Sakers and to explore the temporary settling and wintering areas.Int he first year, five-five, 20g, solar-powered PTTs from two manufacturers – Microwave (www.microwavetelemetry.com) and NorthStar (www.northstarst.com) – help us to follow the falcons. Microwave PTTs have in-built GPS units that enable PTTs to locate the birds more times and more accurately. That is the reason of the differences in maps showing the Sakers’ movements, as well. From 2008, based on our experience, we use the 22g solar Microwave PTTs that include an internal GPS unit. Those PTTs are capable to locate the falcons with a few meters accuracy, several times a day. Results of first year’s satellite tracking have been far beyond expectations. Early summer 2008 four out of ten PTTs mounted in 2007 are still transmitting. It is very likely that two falcons perished just around fledging time. Two others stopped transmitting after a few months for unknown reason and their last signals came from Hungary. Two Sakers disappeared in Lybia.We learnt from the data that some of the juveniles leave the Carpathian basin in the autumn. We learnt also that the two surviving juvenile males roaming considerable distances after returning Hungary in spring, while at the same time both tagged juvenile females stay in the Carpathian basin after arrival.In 2008 we mounted 3 adult males in order to learn about their habitat use in the breeding season. In addition, seventeen juvenile Sakers were mounted in Hungary and three in Slovakia. From now the movements of the tagged falcons can be followed also on the internet. >>

In 2009, a juvenile has been tracked from Hungary to Spain, leaving that country on 25 July, flying over Croatia on 26 July, in Slovenia on 27 July, through both Italy and France on 28-30 July and in Navarra, Olite, in SPAIN on 31 July to 1 August - remarkable

RARE BIRDS IN SPAIN - JULY 2009

See http://www.rarebirdspain.net/

Canada Goose Branta canadensis (1) (1) Lugo The bird seen at Riocaldo lagoons, Begonte, Lugo last May and June was seen again on 6.7 (Toño Salazar).

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (1) (1) Lugo The bird seen at Riocaldo lagoons, Begonte, Lugo from 23.8.2007 then again in Spring and Autumn 2008 and from January 2009 to June 2009 was seen again at the lagoon on 6.7 (Toño Salazar).

Red-billed Tropicbird Phaeton aethereus (1-2) (1-2) Lanzarote Two adults were seen at Costa Teguise coast on 7.7 (Jose Antonio Matesanz).

Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor (1,2-3) (1) Ciudad Real There was a bird carrying a yellow ring at Laguna de la Veguilla, Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real on 21.7 (Tomas Velasco, Pedro Bustamante, Xurxo Piñeiro y Maria José Valencia). It has been seen in the area intermittently since last April and it was seen on 20.7 at nearby Laguna del Camino de Villafranca, Alcazar de San Juan (same observers). Seen again on 22.7 (Mª José Valencia).
(2-3) Ciudad Real There were 3 altogether on Camino de Villafranca lagoon on 22.7: one unringed, another presumably was bird (1) and a third bird carrying a red ring with white letters (Maria José Valencia). This might be an escaped bird which is lingering around S Spain for some time (read more in this post from Rarebirdspain blog). One of them (the unringed) seen again on 24.7 at the same area (Carmen Rivero y Javier Gómez).

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (1,2,3)(1) Gibraltar On 9.7 an adult arrived at Gibraltar (Mario Mosquera).(2) Cádiz. On 16.7 there was an adult around Tarifa, Cádiz (Javier Elorriaga).

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica (1) (1) Asturies There was one at ría de Avilés from 1-3.7 (César A. Laó) to 6.7 (Ángeles Pastur Torres). The bird was seen again on 11.7 (Gabriel Martín).

Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus (1) FIRST FOR SPAIN (Cat.A)(1) A Coruña The bird found on 20.1 and seen again on 20-26.3 at Baldaio, Carballo, A Coruña was relocated at the same area on 5.7 (Xabier Varela). The bird was relocated on 12.7 (Xabier Varela)and it was still there on 17 and 18.7 ( Antonio Ceballos, Ana Narciso, Xabier Varela).

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca (1) (1) Cádiz On 10.7 an individual was seen at playa de Montijo, Chipiona, Cádiz (Paco Chiclana, Fabio di Pietro).

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (1,2) (1) Asturies On 27.7 one was seen at charcas del Cierrón, Ría de la Villa, Villaviciosa, Asturies (Adolfo Villaverde).(2) Ciudad Real. On 31.7 a bird was seen at Laguna de la Veguilla, Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real (Xurxo Piñeiro, María José Valencia)

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (1) (1) Murcia An adult summer plumaged bird was at Salinas of San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, on 20.7 (Richard Howard).

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus (1) (1) A Coruña On 27.7 one was seen from Estaca de Bares, A Coruña (Antonio Sandoval, Ricardo Hevia)

African Royal Tern Sterna maxima (1)(1) Huelva There was an adult at Doñana National Park, Huelva on 16.7 (Carlos Gutiérrez Expósito).

Lesser-Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis (1,2)(1) Cádiz There was an adult at Playa de los Lances, Tarifa, Cádiz on 20.7 (Blanca Pérez /Fundación Migres; Javier Elorriaga /Fundación Migres).
(2) Huelva On 29.7 an adult was found at a Salinas Aragoneas roost, Huelva (Xurxo Piñeiro).

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii (1-3,4,5) (1-3) Cádiz. On 12.7 three individuals were recorded at La Jara beach, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cádiz (Paco Chiclana, Fabio di Pietro). (4) Cádiz On 31.7 an adult was found at Salinas de la Tapa, Cádiz (Rafael García Costales). (5) Huelva On 28.7 an adult was found at Salinas Aragoneas roost, Huelva (Xurxo Piñeiro).

Little Swift Apus affinis (1-6,7-18) (1-6) Cádiz There were five or six at Bolonia cave, Sierra de la Plata, Cádiz on 1.7 (Javier Gómez Aoiz). At least three were present on 14.7 at the same area (Pablo Fernández García).(7-18) Cádiz. There were 12 at Chipiona beach, Cádiz on 13.7 (Paco Chiclana, Fabio di Pietro)

Sunday 2 August 2009

RARE BIRDS IN DENMARK - JULY 2009

Hereby July 2009 Danish Bird News, July records include a late calling Ballion's Crake at Sneum Sluse,Vestjylland during 5th-15th. A Terek Sandpiper was at Margrethe Kog,Sønderjylland on 12th. A Whiskered Tern flew past Kongelunden, Copenhagen on 4th. A probably escaped, singing adult male Indigo xLazuli Bunting hybrid was ringed at Stenbjerg, Nordjylland during 4th-8th and found at nearby Gjersbøl on 14th. Other July reports include three Balearic Shearwaters during 20th-31st, two Black Storks, three drake Red-crested Pochards, one drake Ruddy Duck, four Pectoral Sandpipers, three adult Long-tailed Skuas, one Gull-billed Tern, five White-winged Black Terns, one Bee-eater, one Crested Lark remaining at Hirtshals, Nordjylland on 11th, one Tawny Pipit, one breeding pair of Stonechats at Melby near Copenhagen during 13th-15th, two River Warblers, four Savi's Warblers, one Greenish Warbler and 14 Nutcrackers including one Nordsjælland breeding. Source: DOFcall.dk, DOFbasen.dk