Finally an ACROLA!

Post date: Sep 24, 2014 3:44:08 PM

After one week of rain and thunderstorms (during which I saw Balearic, Great, Cory's and Sooty Shearwaters, loads of skuas (three species) and Gannets!), I managed to carry out a ringing session last Sunday evening and another this morning. Had plenty of visitors on the evening session: the family Calado with a friend, Mariana P. as well as Tim. There were 67 captures and six retraps of 13 species, of which 38 were Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava flava/flavissima). There was also a Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta), three Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica), one Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Cetti's, Reed and Willow Warblers etc.

Today's session resulted in 40 captures and 11 retraps of 18 species, including my first Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) of the year (though one had been trapped in August by a collaborator at the same site). There was also a Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), five Stonechats (Saxicola torquata/rubicola), five Robins (Erithacus rubecula), which seem to be arriving now, five Whitethroats (Sylvia communis), as well as Garden, Grasshopper, Reed, Willow, Sedge and Cetti's warblers, among others.

Two photos of a juvenile Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) (A353827)

A juvenile Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), an adult male

During our free time, we could observe Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), which must of on migration or just arrived to the wintering quarters, a few juvenile Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) that are still around, Black-shouldered Kites (Elanus caeruleus) and many other species that make this site a fantastic place for birding.

More ringing will be undertaken during the next couple of days, as the weather forecast seems to be good. So, there will be more news at the end of the week.

Cheers

JMN