Ryanair flight from Stansted into Zaragozar 12:30 ish, where we picked up the hire car and away by 13:00.
Itinerary and bird highlights (full species list at end):
9.11.2005 Weather was gale force wind, cold with some sun.
Drove up Motorway, then cross country route via Embalse de Sotenera to Loarre area. Then to Huesca to stay at Boletas Birdwatching Centre, Loporzano.
Main birds of interest on route to Sotenera were Red-billed Choughs.
At Loarre Castle there were Woodlark, Thekla Lark, Rock and Cirl Buntings, Yellowhammer etc.
In the Ayerbe area buntings, finches and tits, plus flock of 20+ Rock Sparrow, Peregrine, etc. Also large numbers of Red Kites (60+) and Griffon Vultures (40+) coming into roost.
10.11.2005 Sunny with more moderate wind than 9.11.2005.
Riglos: 4 Wallcreepers and same number of Alpine Accentors. Also, Rock Buntings, etc. This was a weekday sonly a few climbers on the pillars to disturb the birds. Abundant Griffon Vultures, Ravens, plus 1 Black Wheatear and 1 Crag Martin, etc.
San Juan de La Pena Monestary: The rejuvenation and extension of the building here has not helped the birdlife at all and we were very disappointed with highlights being crossbills, nuthatch etc. Mind you the view across to the snow-capped Pyrenees is still stunning.
11.11.2005 Sunny with light wind.
Sierra de Guara Parque (Pyrenees foothills - straight out the door at Boletas): Fantastic are to explore with lots of bird sites and stunning hill and rural scenery.
6 Lammergiers at feeding Station 4 adults (1 wing tagged) and 2 younger birds of different ages. Also good number of Griffon Vulture. 1 Citril Finch, Coldcrest, Serin, Greenfiches, Goldfinch, buntings etc.
Goshawk (1st year male), 8 Siskin, Southern Grey Shrike, Long-tailed Tits down the road.
Road to Rodellar through forested area Crested Tit, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Coal Tit etc. buntings and raptors etc.
PM travelled across plain shrouded in low cloud mist to Sarinena Lake Reserve area for a short visit. Great finch flock including 2 Bramblings. Crested Larks, Cattle Egrets, Marsh Harriers were main birds of interest etc. Plenty of other species present and we ran out of time.
12.11.2005 Steppe area near Ontinena. Misty & damp most of the day.
50+ Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
30+ Black-bellied Sandgrouse
80+ Calandra Larks
3 Little Bustards
Merlin (male)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Wet fields on return trip to Huesca
200+ Lapwing
10 Green Sandpipers
50+ Snipe
2 Water Pipits
2 Bluethroats
etc
13.11.2005 Only time for minimal birding on return to Airport at Zaragoza.
Monasterio de Mte Aragon
3 Black Wheatear
1 Dartford Warbler
Serin flock
3 Thekla Larks
2 Red Kites
etc
Embalse de Sotenera
1 Northern Wheatear and plenty of Mallard.
Footnotes:
1. Boletas Birdwatching Centre: Just walk out the door in this very rural place and see delights like Spotless Starling, Sardinian Warbler, etc. A fantastic place to stay where the welcome is big, the food is great and you can be pointed in the right direction to find your birds or merely to explore! They speak great English too!
2. As you might expect, winter birds from Northern Europe evident in many places throughout our stay, with good numbers of Blackbirds, thrush both Mistle and Song, Robins, Redwings and some Brambling, Siskin, etc.
3. Due to weather and priorities did not visit high Pyrenees this time around, but will be sure to return!!!.
List of birds seen:
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Cattle Egret
White Stork (3)
Greylag Goose
Mallard
Teal
Shoveler
Lammergier (6)
Griffon Vulture
Red Kite
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier (2)
Peregrine (3)
Merlin (3)
Kestrel
Red-legged Partridge
Moorhen
Little Bustard (3)
Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Snipe
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Rock Dove
Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Little Owl
Hoopoe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Calandra Lark
Skylark
Wood Lark
Crested Lark
Thekla Lark
Crag Martin
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Southern Grey Shrike
Dunnock
Alpine Accentor
Cetti’s Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Dartford Warbler
Chiffchaff
Firecrest
Goldcrest
Stonechat
Blue Rock Thrush
Northern Wheatear
Black Wheatear
Black Redstart
Robin
Bluethroat
Mistle Thrush
Redwing
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Crested Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Wallcreeper
Short-toed Treecreeper
White-throated Dipper
Wren
Jay
Magpie
Raven
Crow
Red-billed Chough
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Common Starling
Spotless Starling
Brambling
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Serin
Citril Finch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Crossbill
Rock Sparrow
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Cirl Bunting
Yellowhammer
Rock Bunting
Roger Puxley, 23.11.2005