Rarest of the rare 2016 [El más raro de los raros 2016]

Rarest of the rare 2016 [El más raro de los raros 2016]

Castellano: mirad más abajo


Rarest of the rare contest is back again! In its 7th year edition, you'll find enclosed below a selection of of perhaps the rarest sightings obtained in the country during 2016 chosen by the webmaster of Rarebirdspain.net according to scarcity or singularity of the records.

This year, Rare Birds in Spain, in its 16 year-in-a-row online period has published until 21th December 2016 news on 1237 rarities and near-rarities (532 RC 2016 criteria rarities and 705 up to 2015 rarities, the ‘near rarities’, 933 of both in 2015).

The web has published 608 large images (720 pixels wide) original photos (501 in 2015), 14 videos (8 in 2015) and 362 (368 in 2015) small sized (thumbnails) supporting photos kindly sent by the authors. There have been 6 maps too and 8 Gibraltar sightings as well. It therefore has not been easy to choose a selection of the rarest birds recorded amongst those 1237 records and 984 media received, but once again the rarest of the rare is below and it's up to you choose which sighting and species will be.

Please vote the poll (right side of the blog) to see which species sighting can be considered the rarest of the rare 2016!. As in previous editions, winner will be included in the website gif banner in due course. You can choose several choices, not only one, we suggest three is a good number. If interested in the different sightings, follow the links to the original report of the species in the Rare Birds in Spain website.

Every year, the selected species are impressive, and this edition is no exception. They reflect the interest of our area for birds and birdwatching as well as the work of all the observers, not only finding the species but also recording them carefully for the future.

Happy rarest of the rare 2016 and a better 2017 year!

Number of rarity and near-rarity records per month @ rarebirdspain.net 2016 [Número de rarezas y casi rarezas registradas en la web rarebirdspain por mes durante 2016]

Number of photos (dark blue), thumbnails (medium blue) and videos (pale blue) plus maps (violet) featured in rarebirdspain.net 2016 on a monthly basis [Número de fotos (azul oscuro), minuaturas (azul claro), videos (azul pálido) y mapas (violeta) publicadas en la web rarebirdspain por mes durante 2016]

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Ya está aquí el concurso 'El más raro de los raros' otra vez! En su 7º edición anual, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2016, escogidos por el webmaster de Rarebirdspain.net de acuerdo con la escasez o singularidad de las citas. Había más, algunas sin imágenes, pero éstas bien pueden representar el conjunto de citas más raras recogidas.

Este año, Rare Birds in Spain, en su 16º año consecutivo online, ha publicado hasta el 21 de Diciembre de 2016 novedades de 1237 rarezas y casi rarezas (532 rarezas de acuerdo con los criterios del Comité de Rarezas para 2016 y 705 especies que eran rarezas hasta el 31.12.2015, las 'casi-rarezas'. En comparación a las 1237 citas, en 2015 se citaron 933 en la web.

La web ha publicado 608 imágenes originales grandes (720 pixels de ancho, 501 en 2015), 14 videos (8 en 2015) y 362 (368 en 2015) fotos pequeñas (thumbnails) amablemente enviadas por sus autores. También han habido seis mapas y 8 citas de Gibraltar. Ha sido, por tanto, difícil escoger una selección de las aves más raras observadas entre estas 1237 citas y 984 archivos multimedia recibidos, pero una vez más, el más raro de los raros está más abajo y queda a vuestro criterio decidir cual de estas especies será. 

Votad por favor la encuesta (en la columna derecha del blog) para ver cual será la especie más rara de 2016 en España. Como en ediciones previas, el ganador será incluido en el banner de la web en cuanto sea posible. Se pueden escoger diversas opciones, no solo una, y suponemos tres como número más adecuado. Si estáis interesados en las diferentes citas, seguid los enlaces a las citas originales en sus respectivos meses de 2016 o páginas especiales en la web Rare Birds in Spain. 

Cada año la selección de especies es impresioante y este año no es ninguna excepción. Estas especies reflejan el interés de nuestra área para las aves y el birdwatching así como el trabajo de los observadores, o solo encontrando las especies, sino también obteniendo evidencias sobre su presencia para futura referencia. 

Feliz más raro de los raros 2016 y un mejor año 2017! 

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1.  C01. Porzana marginalis
2.  C02. Turdus obscurus
3.  C03. Tringa solitaria
4.  C04. Larus thayeri
5.  C05. Gyps africanus
6.  C06. Charadrius leschenaultii
7.  C07. Sula sula
8.  C08. Stercorarius maccormickii 
9.  C09. Fregetta tropica
10.  C10. Pelecanus crispus
11.  C11. Aquila nipalensis
12.  C12. Lanius (meridionalis) pallidirostris 
13.  C13. Alaemon alaudipes 
14.  C14. Anthus godlewskii 
15.  C15. Melanitta (deglandi) stejnegeri  

• Candidate C01 Porzana marginalis (Córdoba, January)

2ND FOR SPAIN, 5TH FOR EUROPE, 6TH FOR THE WP

Photo: © Diego Peinazo 13.1.2016

A single day record at Lago Azul, Córdoba, on 13.1 (Diego Peinazo), not relocated despite search, which was the 2nd for Spain after a record in 2010. See a video too in the January 2016 page. A 2nd for Spain, as briefly seen as the first, but certainly granting a place in this list.

• Candidate C02 Turdus obscurus (Castelló, January; Gipuzkoa, November)

1ST-2ND FOR SPAIN, both shot by hunters

Photo: © Alfonso González 17.1.2016

The 1st for Spain was a bird shot at Rossell, Castelló, on 17.1  (see January 2016 page for more images) while the 2nd for Spain was found also shot by a hunter at PN Pagoeta, Gipuzkoa on 12.11 (see November 2016 page for more information). A first and second, sadly hunted but granting a mention in this list.

•  Candidate C03 Tringa solitaria (Almería, February-March)

4TH FOR SPAIN

 

Photo: © Andrew M.Allport 4.2.2016

The bird found on 4.2 at Cuevas de Almanzora, Almería (Andrew Allport) and widely twitched and photographed along the month and present at least until late March. See many photos and two videos in the February 2016 page and another shot in the March 2016 page. Best ever seen Solitary Sandpiper in Spain granting for a nomination in this list.

• Candidate C04 Larus thayeri (Lugo, March-April)

1ST FOR SPAIN, returning individual

Photo: © Toño Salazar 19.3.2016

From 19.3-1.4.2016, at least, the returning adult locally named ‘Ciprana’ was seen again at Lago, Xove, Lugo (Toño Salazar and many other authors). See more photos in the March 2016 page. A 1st for Spain returning bird granting for a nomination in this list.

• Candidate C05 Gyps africanus (Huesca, June)

5TH FOR SPAIN

Photo: © Juan Carlos Albero 17.6.2016

On 17.6 a bird was seen and photographed at Pre-Pyrenees at El Pont de Montanyana, Huesca (Juan Carlos Albero Perez). See more photos in the June 2016 page. It was seen alongside all the rest of European vultures, excluding Ruppells (!) and it is the northernmost record to date of the species in Spain and Europe a fact granting an entrey in this list.

• Candidate C06 Charadrius leschenaultii (Cantabria, July-August)

4TH FOR SPAIN

 

Photo: © Jesús Menéndez 31.7.2016 

A bird was found on 31.7 at Santoña, Cantabria and stayed into the 1st of August (Iván Sarabia; Jesús Menéndez et al). First image is in July 2016 page and there are more in the August page here. It appeared to be the same individual seen some days before in Ireland. Find the links to the story in the August page. A stunning bird and fascinating story also worth being included in the rarest of the rare 2016 selection.

• Candidate C07 Sula sula

 4TH FOR SPAIN
 

Photo: © Chloé Yzoard 4.8.2016

Chloe Yzoard sawn this nearly adult, the 4th for Spain, on 4.8 2 nautic miles off Puerto Colón, Tenerife. The record was included in the August 2016 page and granted a special photopage in the website too. Three out of four Spanish records of the species have been in the Canaries, the other in the Mediterranean. Nice finding, also one of the rarest of 2016.

• Candidate C08 Stercorarius maccormickii 

3RD-5TH FOR SPAIN?
 

Photo: © Víctor París 8.9.2016

This candidature gathers the three observations of the species in 2016:

1. A Coruña. One was seen from Estaca de Bares, Mañón, A Coruña on 28.8 (A.Sandoval, A.Martínez Pernas and others).
2. A Coruña. One bird was seen from a kayac and fortunately photographed on 8.9 off Estaca de Bares, A Coruña (Víctor Paris).  
3. La Palma. One was on 1.10 off Tazacorte, La Palma, Canary Islands (David Castro @ Birds of the Canary Islands Facebook), photo in the October 2016 page.  

With only one accepted record (2013) for mainland Spain off Lugo and another from the Canaries, the better understanding of the migration of the species and its key ID features will perhaps bring more data. These stunning photos taken off A Coruña and the overall three records in 2016 grant for their inclusion, as a whole, in this rarest of the rare 2016 list.

• Candidate C09 Fregetta tropica

 3RD FOR SPAIN, 4TH FOR THE WP

 

Photo: © Juan Sagardía 4.9.2016

Again the work of Lanzarote Pelagics and their seawatches off the Canary islands produce impressive sightings such as this 3rd for Spain, this time in September 2016, the two previous also obtained by the same team, in this case Marcel Gil, Juan Sagardia, M.Gerber, M.M.Schuck, U.Senft/ Lanzarote Pelagics. A blocker and much desired species for any WP seawatcher, a definitely rarest of the rare in 2016.

• Candidate C10 Pelecanus crispus

1ST FOR SPAIN

Photo: © José Ramón Otamendi 6.10.2016

On 6.10 a bird reached Txingudi, Irún, Gipuzkoa (José Ramón Otamendi). Interestingly, presumably the same bird was relocated at Alcañiz, Teruel on 5.11 (Sine and Clive Balch, Esther Yera & Juan Muñoz) where it stayed only up to 6.11 to dissappear again. An unknown origin species that may turn into the 1st of its kind in the Spanish list. Anyway one of the rarest of the rare 2016.
 

• Candidate C11 Aquila nipalensis

 2ND FOR SPAIN

 

Photo: © Javi Elorriaga / Birding the Strait 17.10.2016

After having seen an escaped bird in October, the above bird was found at La Janda on 17.10 by the Birding the Strait team (Javi Elorriaga, Mike Bowser). The indidivual was seen intermitently at least until mid November. A rarest of the rare in 2016.

• Candidate C12 Lanius (meridionalis) pallidirostris 

 1ST FOR SPAIN

 

Photo: © Jesús Nieto 30.11.2016

This pale shrike was found on 30.11 and remained into December at Andarax river mouth, Almería (Jesús Nieto Latorre). Many authors had the opportunity of watching it. A form probably becoming a full species in the near future and, in any case, an addition to the Spanish list. See photos in this special id page.

• Candidate C13 Alaemon alaudipes 

6TH FOR SPAIN

Photo: © Francisco Javier García Vargas 6.11.2016

The four previous records of Hoopoe Lark come from the Canary Islands (3) and Chafarinas (1), last being in 2007 but none so well documented as this one. A long waited twitchtable bird that lasted in Lanzarote from 5-12.11 (Julio Rodríguez et al). See a photopage here.
 

• Candidate C14 Anthus godlewskii 

 2ND - 3RD FOR SPAIN

Photo: © D. González, 11.11.2016

Two records were obtained in A Coruña in November 2016:
1) A Coruña. A bird, the 2nd for Spain, was found on 4.11 at Touriñán cape, A Coruña (Daniel López Velasco, Fernando Pereiras, Roberto Menéndez). Not relocated.
2) A Coruña. Another bird was found at A Coruña, this time at Torre de Hércules, downtown A Coruña. On 11.11 one lasrge pipit first told by a Richard's was photographed (D.González). Once photos were published, the bird was identified as a Blyth's, the 3rd for Spain (Joachim Pintens, Joachim Bertrands and Daniel López-Velasco).

Will be these records the path for future findings. So far, another rarest of the rare candidate.

• Candidate C15 Melanitta (deglandi) stejnegeri 

2ND FOR SPAIN
 

Photo: Jana Marco © 14.12.2016

This stunning male was presumably expected to be in Japan in December. Instead it spent some days in the Alicante coast, attracting many twitchers even from abroad. A special photopage was built to celebrate this 2nd for Spain, another rarest of the rare 2016.


VOTE IN THE POLL >>>> FOR YOUR CHOICE OF THE RAREST OF THE RARE 2016