Trip reports

Murcia (southeast Spain), 15-27th May 2005

Jeremy Barker

Species seen:

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa

Seen in small groups over most areas of farmland

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix

Several males singing in cereal fields between Hellín and Laguna de Pétrola

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Up to 20 seen at San Pedro del Pinatar (Mar Menor); also seen at Santa Pola salinas and with one young duckling at Laguna de Pétrola

Gadwall Anas strepera

Seen at Laguna de Pétrola and Saladar

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Common at lagoons to the east of Albacete, otherwise just a few seen at Santa Pola

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

Drakes seen at Santa Pola and Laguna de Pétrola

Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris

8+ seen at El Hondo from the road, mainly in flight over the reeds, up to 5 at Santa Pola, and a group of 8 at Laguna de Pétrola

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina

4 birds seen at Santa Pola, 3 of which were drakes, and 6 adults with 6 downy ducklings at Laguna de Saladar

Common Pochard Aythya ferina

One pair at Santa Pola on the first visit, plus several birds at Laguna de Saladar

Sharpe's Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpie

Widespread but never in any number. Heard more often than seen

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Widespread and fairly numerous. Biggest group was 5 together (a family?) at El Hondo on the return to the airport, otherwise no more than two at a time.

European Roller Coracias garrulus

Single birds seen generally. Birds were seen in the area west of Calasparra, the Sierra del Baladre, north of the Embalse de Camarillas, and around the Sierra de María.

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

Common and widespread

Great Spotted CuckooClamator glandarius

A pair (?) of first-summer birds were watched for a long time at Pinilla, hunting caterpillars in short grass.

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Common and widespread, though not abundant

Alpine Swift Apus melba

Seen on just a couple of occasions, at the Embalse de Camarillas and round the Sierra de Alcaraz

Common Swift Apus apus

Very abundant - flocks of many hundreds seen regularly

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus

Very abundant, often mixed in with Common Swift

Scops Owl Otus scops

A single bird heard calling mid-afternoon at the Sierra de Espuña on the 16th, whilst several birds were heard around the Carcabo-Cieza road around dusk

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

One bird hooting after dark in the hills by the Embalse de Carcabo

Little Owl Athene noctua

Widespread

Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis

Heard and seen along the Carcabo-Cieza road, including one singing male caught in headlights on the road for a while

Feral Pigeon Columba livia var. domestica

Very common, although less frequent away from urban areas. Often nesting around the dams for the Embalses

Stock Pigeon Columba oenas

One bird heard and seen at the southern side of the Embalse de Alfonso XIII

Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus

Widespread but not common. Groups of up to 15 birds seen occasionally, but generally ones and twos

European Turtle-DoveStreptopelia turtur

Common. Heard singing just about everywhere, and seen regularly.

Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Common through most built-up areas

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

One squealing in the reeds at the Laguna de Saladar

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Several birds at Santa Pola, plus a dead adult in the road south of El Hondo

Common Coot Fulica atra

Several birds at Santa Pola, and 50+ at Laguna de Saladar

Pin-tailed SandgrousePterocles alchata

One group of four seen at distance at Laguna de Pétrola, though calling birds were heard a number of times

Black-bellied SandgrousePterocles orientalis

Calling birds heard often at Laguna de Pétrola, though just a pair seen flying by and later drinking at the pool

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

One at Santa Pola on the penultimate day of the trip

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Four at Laguna de Pétrola

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

A couple of birds seen each visit to Santa Pola

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

A small flock of 11 at the Mar Menor, all in full summer plumage, and two at Santa Pola on the penultimate day of the trip

Little Stint Calidris minuta

A single bird at the northern salinas of the Mar Menor, then three at least at Laguna de Pétrola

Dunlin Calidris alpina

One bird at the northern salinas of the Mar Menor

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Four birds in good summer plumage at the Laguna de Pétrola

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Common everywhere there was shallow water - only the embalses didn't have them

Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Common at Santa Pola and round the Mar Menor

Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula

Single birds seen here and there at Santa Pola and the Mar Menor, and a handful at Laguna de Pétrola

Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius

One bird at Laguna de Saladar

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

Quite common at Santa Pola, the Mar Menor and the lagunas we visited to the east of Albacete

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

A pair at Laguna de Pétrola had a downy chick, and another pair were present at the Laguna de Saladar

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii

One adult flew past at the estuary on the west side of the Mar Menor, whilst another adult was present on a dry saltpan at Santa Pola on the penultimate day of the trip

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Common throughout, including inland birds at the Embalse de Alfonso XIII and Laguna de Saladar

Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus

One bird seen at the Mar Menor

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Common around El Hondo and the Mar Menor; we also saw a few at Santa Pola

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei

Quite common at Santa Pola, though a little retiring

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

One or two present at Santa Pola each visit, and one adult at the northern salinas of the Mar Menor

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Two birds fishing just offshore at Playa de Marina, just south of Santa Pola on the penultimate day

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Several birds seen each day at Santa Pola, along with a number present at the Mar Menor

Little Tern Sterna albifrons

Quite common at the Mar Menor and around Santa Pola, giving spectacular views at times

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Quite common at El Hondo and Santa Pola

Red Kite Milvus milvus

One bird seen very early one morning near Bullas

Black Kite Milvus migrans

One bird being mobbed by Carrion Crows, just to the west of Calasparra

Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus

Several seen around the Sierra de María

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus

Single birds seen occasionally - at the Sierra de Alcaraz and at Bullas

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

One second-year male hunting over the road at El Hondo

Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus

Singles seen at the house on two dates

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

Singles and a pair seen, in the Sierra de Esp and near the house

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Single pale phase birds seen at the Sierra de E, and from the Via Verde

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

One male and perhaps a female at the Laguna de Pétrola

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Common everywhere

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

One bird seen briefly near Calasparra, and a pair near the Laguna de Pétrola

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Several pairs present at the Laguna de Saladar

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Common at Santa Pola, with several also at the Mar Menor

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

A pair at the Laguna de Saladar, and a single bird at the salinas on the north end of the Mar Menor

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Common around Santa Pola and El Hondo, with single birds seen occasionally inland

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Common around Santa Pola and El Hondo

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Several seen in flight around El Hondo, and more at Santa Pola

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Very common around El Hondo, and seen in small numbers pretty much randomly elsewhere

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

Two seen in flight at El Hondo

Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax

Several seen at both El Hondo and Santa Pola

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

One female at the northern salinas of the Mar Menor was the only one seen

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Common at the Mar Menor in the salinas, and very common at Santa Pola

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Three seen in flight on the penultimate visit to Santa Pola

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Two flew across the car at Santa Pola on the penultimate visit

Southern Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalis

Widespread, but never abundant

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator

Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus

Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Common Raven Corvus corax

Eurasian Golden-OrioleOriolus oriolus

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

European Robin Erithacus rubecula

Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Rufous-tailed Scrub-RobinCercotrichas galactotes

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

Short-toed TreecreeperCerthia brachydactyla

Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Coal Tit Parus ater

Crested Tit Parus cristatus

Great Tit Parus major

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica

Northern House-MartinDelichon urbicum

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla

Fan-tailed CisticolaCisticola juncidis

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon

Eurasian Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans

Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata

Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra

Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla

Lesser Short-toed LarkCalandrella rufescens

Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Thekla Lark Galerida theklae

Wood Lark Lullula arborea

Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

Spanish Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava iberiae

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

European Serin Serinus serinus

European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

Rock Bunting Emberiza cia

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

Very common and widespread, wherever there is arable farmland

Other species

Butterflies

Mediterranean Skipper Gegenes nostrodamus

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae

Sage Skipper Muschampia proto

Singles of this species seen at the Embalse de Alfonso and XXXX

Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae

Seen at a number of places, including Santa Pola and the Embalse de Alfonso

Marbled Skipper Carcharodus lavatherae

Seen in several locations, including the back garden of the house!

Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon

Very common throughout

Mediterranean Skipper Gegenes nostrodamus

Several individuals, apparently of his species, seen and photographed at Santa Pola and the Mula Embalse

Swallowtail Papilio machaon

Widespread, but not common

Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius

Seen frequently, but never common

Large White Pieris brassicae

Occasional individuals seen

Small White Artogeia rapae

Seen occasionally

Southern Small White Artogeia mannii

One of possibly this species at XXXX

Bath White Pontia daplidice

Very widespread, and rather common

Moroccan Orange Tip Anthocharis belia

Common in the Sierra de Alcaraz, and one also seen near Bullas

Clouded Yellow Colias crocea

Seen frequently, but never in any numbers

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni

Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra

Seen occasionally, particularly round La Rafa, the Sierra de María and the Sierra de Alcaraz

Wood White Leptidea sinapsis

One drifting around at the Sierra de E.

Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini

Very common around wooded areas

Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus

Several drinking at the Rio Mundo

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Western Marbled White Melanargia occitancia

Widespread, and fairly common

Spanish Marbled White Melanargia ines

Seen at Bullas, along the Via Verde, and in the Sierra de E.

Grayling Hipparchia semele

One or two at the ford at the upper end of the Rio Luchena

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina

A few flying here and there, particularly on the Via Verde

Spanish Gatekeeper Pyronia bathsheba

Seen at a number of places, though not in any numbers

Dusky Heath Coenonympha dorus

Several seen at the Embalse de Alfonso and the Sierra de E., offering nice photo opportunities at times

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Several of the nominate race seen at various locations, particularly in wooded areas

Wall Brown Lasiommata megara