Rarest of the rare 2017 / El más raro de los raros 2017

Rarest of the rare contest is back again! This is its 8th year contest, including 2017 year records.

A selection of some of the rarest sightings obtained in the country during 2017 and chosen by the webmaster of Rarebirdspain.net according to scarcity or singularity of the records.

This year, Rare Birds in Spain, in its 17 to 18 year-in-a-row online period has published until 27th December 2017 news on 1283 rarities and near-rarities (585 RC 2017 criteria rarities and 698 up to 2015 rarities, the ‘near rarities’, 1237 rarities in 2016 (532 RC and 705 near rarities; 933 of both in 2015).

In 2018 only 'true' rarities committee rarities will be featured in the website. Near rarities will be discontinued in the website. However, we encourage to submit them and follow all interesting records for Catalunya that are currently covered in the sister website rarebirds.cat.

Rarebirdspain.net web has published 504 large (720 pixels wide) original photos in 2017 (608 in 2016, 501 in 2015), 2 videos (14 in 2016, 8 in 2015) and 344 (362 in 2016, 368 in 2015) small sized (thumbnails) supporting photos all kindly sent by the authors. There have been a drawing too and 2 Gibraltar sightings as well.

It therefore has not been easy to build a selection of the rarest birds recorded amongst those 1283 records and 848 media featured, but once again a choice of may be the rarest of the rare is enclosed below and it's up to you to 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 2017!. 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 2017 and a better 2018 birdwatching year!

***

Number of rarity (R) and near-rarity (NR) records per month @ rarebirdspain.net in 2017 [Número de rarezas  (R) y casi rarezas (NR) por mes en la web rarebirdspain.net en 2017]

Number of photos (dark blue), thumbnails (medium blue),videos (green) and drawings (violet) featured in rarebirdspain.net in 2017 on a monthly basis [Número de fotos (azul oscuro), miniaturas (azul claro), videos (verde) y dibujos (violeta) publicados en la web rarebirdspain.net durante 2017 expresados por mes]

Ya está aquí el concurso 'El más raro de los raros' otra vez! 

En su 8ª edición anual consecutiva, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2017, 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 17 a 18º año consecutivo online, ha publicado hasta el 27 de Diciembre de 2017 novedades de 1283 rarezas y casi rarezas (585 rarezas de acuerdo con los criterios del Comité de Rarezas para 2017 y 698 de especies que eran rarezas hasta el 31.12.2015, las 'casi-rarezas'. En comparación a las 1283 citas, en 2016 fueron 1237 y en 2015 se citaron 933 en la web. 

A partir de 2018 solo aparecerán en la web las rarezas sensu stricto. Las casi rarezas desaparecerán de la sección de noticias aunque para Catalunya se podran seguir en la pàgina web hermana rarebirds.cat. 

Rarebirdspain.net ha publicado 504 imágenes originales grandes en 2017 (de 720 pixels de ancho, 608 en 2016 y 501 en 2015), 2 videos (14 en 2016 y 8 en 2015) y 344 (362 en 2016, 368 en 2015) fotos pequeñas (thumbnails) amablemente enviadas por sus autores. También ha habido un dibujo y 2 citas de Gibraltar. Ha sido, por tanto, difícil escoger una selección de las aves más raras observadas entre estas 1283 citas y 844 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 y un mejor año ornitológico 2018! 

1.  C01. Larus thayeri
2.  C02. Sylvia sarda
3.  C03. Sylvia sarda
4.  C04. Calidris tenuirostris
5.  C05. Oceanodroma monorhis
6.  C06. Larus dominicanus
7.  C07. Vireo olivaceus
8.  C08. Fregetta tropica
9.  C09. Anthus godlewskii
10.  C10. Motacilla alba subpersonata
11.  C11. Alaemon alaudipes
12.  C12. Eremophila alpestris
13.  C13. Alaemon alaudipes 
14.  C14. Numenius hudsonicus
15.  C15. Ixobrychus sturmii

• Candidate C01 Larus thayeri (Lugo, January - April)

LOCALLY NAMED 'CIPRANA' RETURNING INDIVIDUAL. WAS THE 1ST FOR SPAIN
  

© David Calleja, 13.1.2017

First seen in 2017 during January, a special photopage on the sighting include photos of the bird that first reached Lugo in March 2010 and remained around Lago and San Cibrao until 30.3.2017.

• Candidate C02 Sylvia sarda (Cabrera, May)

 c.10th for SPAIN
 

© Miguel Rouco, 6.5.2017

A male was seen and heard singing on 6.5 at Cabrera island,Balearics (M.Rebassa, A.Villaverde, J.Portillo, P.Manchado, N.Castelao,J.Sagardia, M. Rouco). A sighting in a place where the similar Sylvia balearica is sedentary.

• Candidate C03 Sylvia sarda (Barcelona, May -June)

 c.11th for SPAIN
 

© Guillem Arrufat, 6.6.2017

On 7.5 an adult was found at Pla d'en Bessa, Viladrau, Barcelona (Pere Vila @ornitho.cat). It was still there on 8.5 (Martí Franch, Pere Baucells, Jordi Faus, Gabri de Jesús @ornitho.cat), when taped too. Last seen on 9.5 (Aleix Comas, Dani Roca, Sergi Sales, Josep Bel, Enric Fontcuberta; Pau G.Campderròs). On 6.6 a bird was trapped and ringed at Pla d'en Xixa, El Brull, Barcelona. ICO monitoring station (Guillem Arrufat. Carles Tobella. Roger Sanmartí). See two photos below (Guillem Arrufat). On 8.6 it was seen again (Carles Oliver, Derek Campbell et al). A bird in the Montseny mountain range, quite away from usual birding hotspots. How many come and remain unseen?

• Candidate C04 Calidris tenuirostris (Cádiz, June-July)

 1ST FOR SPAIN

 

© Paco Chiclana, 1.7.2017

On 30.6 an adult was seen and photographed at Doñana National Park beach, Huelva (Jorge García Cuevas). See three photos in the June 2017 page. The first record for Spain if attending the fact that SEO RC decided to withdraw the 1979 record from Ebre delta, up to now the sole sighting of the species in the country. On 1.7 an adult was seen and photographed at close range at Montijo beach, Chipiona, Cádiz (Paco Chiclana). The day before it had been seen at Doñana National Park beach, Huelva (Jorge García Cuevas). Both sites are not distant. The bird was seen again on 2.7 (José Portillo, Yeray Seminario, José Mª Fernández Zapata; Manuel Bárcena).

•  Candidate C05 Oceanodroma monorhis (Gran Canaria, July)

c. 7th for SPAIN
  

© Geoff Morgan, 14.7.2017

A dark-rumped Petrel matching the characteristics of a Swinhoe's was seen from a touristic boat off Mogán, Gran Canaria, on 14.7 (Geoff Morgan). On the basis of the evidence, and asked about the possibility of the bird being an odd Leach's, Bob Flood, from @Scillypelagics, commented to this website: There has never been a truly dark-dumped Leach's in the N Atlantic. Worn / moulting Leach's might appear dark-rumped. In this case, there is absolutely no hint of pale in the rump area. Further, the bird is brownish with buffy ulnar bars, like Swinhoe's and unlike Leach's. Shape etc looks OK as far as can be told. I cannot say from the photos it was definitely a Swinhoe's, and I don't have the observer's notes, but from the photos alone it looks very promising. Touristic trips can produce rarities too.

• Candidate C06 Larus dominicanus  (Huelva, August) 

 3rd for SPAIN

© Jeffrey Huizenga

On 8.8 an adult was seen and photographed at Playa Punta del Carmen, Isla Cristina, Huelva (Jeffrey Huizenga @observado.org).The same bird was seen in Portugal too.

• Candidate C07 Vireo olivaceus (Pontevedra, September)

4th for SPAIN
 

© Grupo Ibérico de Anillamiento, 29.9.2017

On 29.9 a bird was trapped and ringed at Ons islands, Atlantic Islands National Park, Pontevedra (Grupo Ibérico de Anillamiento). A long-awaited American passerine in the NW.

• Candidate C08 Fregetta tropica (Lanzarote, September)

 4th for SPAIN, 5th for WP
 

BOC photo © Gorka Ocio, 9.9.2017

On 9.9 a bird was seen at Banco de la Concepción, N Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Robert Flood, Arne Torkler, Juan Sagardia, Gorka Ocio, José Portillo, Begoña Sainz, Estela Gil, Jesús Notario/ Lanzarote Pelagics). Read an account from Bob Flood at Rare Bird Alert website here. Another hit from pelagics off Canary islands.

• Candidate C09 Anthus godlewskii (Asturias, October)

 4th for SPAIN

© Roberto Menéndez, 27.10.2017

On 27.10 27.10 a bird was found, seen, taped and photographed at Tapia de Casariego, Asturias (Pablo Fernández; Daniel López Velasco, Roberto Menéndez). All records come from the NW.

• Candidate C10 Motacilla alba subpersonata (Málaga, October)

c.4th for SPAIN
 

© José Ángel Campos, 7.10.2017

A 1w bird was seen on 7.10 at Sacaba beach, Málaga (José Angel Campos, Gonzalo Rodríguez).

• Candidate C11 Alaemon alaudipes (Gran Canaria, October)

  c.7th for SPAIN

© Antonio Díaz, 29.10.2017

On 29.10 a bird was found at Fagajesto. Galdar, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Antonio Díaz).

• Candidate C12 Eremophila alpestris (Tarragona, November)

 c. 8th for SPAIN

© Daniele Delvart, 14.11.2017

The third for Catalunya was found on 14.11 at El Trabucador sandbar, near the kite-surfing facilities, Delta de l'Ebre, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona (Patricia Hoedts, Daniele Delvart). See more photos in the November page (Daniele Delvart). The same morning the bird was not seen neither the following days. The first for the Ebre delta and 3rd for Catalunya. First for Catalunya was seen at Cap de Creus in May 2013 and the 2nd at Llobregat Delta in June 2016.   

• Candidate C13 Alaemon alaudipes (Fuerteventura, December)

 c.8-11th for SPAIN
 

© Francisco Javier García Vargas, 16.12.2017

December influx in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. On 2.12 a bird was seen and photographed at Jable de Famara, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Juan José Ramos Melo, Desert Watch Lanzarote). On 17.12 this bird was seen again (Nacho Castelao, Juan Sagardía, José Portillo). On 14.12 two birds were found near Punta Pesebre lighthouse, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (Nigel Jones). On 16.12 2-3 birds were seen in the morning (F,Javier García Vargas, Nacho Castelao, José Portillo, Juan Sagardía). On 16.12 afternoon three different birds were confirmed (Uca Díaz, Nansa Díaz).new On 18.12 the three birds were still at Punta Pesebre (David Walsh, Eduardo García del Rey).

• Candidate C14 Numenius hudsonicus (Cantabria, all year)

 2nd for SPAIN

© Haritz Sarasa, 29.1.2017

A vagrant that remained all year long at Santoña marshes, Cantabria.

• Candidate C15 Ixobrychus sturmii (Fuerteventura, December)

4th-5th for Canaries & Spain, 5th-6th for the WP

© David Pérez, 3.12.2017

Two birds in Fuerteventura almost simultaneously. On 1.12 the German birwatcher Daniel Kratzer found a bird at Rio Cabras gorge, SE of of Tesjuate, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (28°28'32.7"N 13°54'11.0"W). News were immediately released by the author who had previously contacted, as in other years' visits, with this page to see if there were any news in the island. Little did we expect to find such a MEGA not only for the Canaries or Spain but the WP. The author published the record in the Tarsiger portal and provided an additional photo for this website, see below (Daniel Kratzer). Later during the day other local birdwatchers (there appear to be only three active in the island) visited the area and at least Marcelo Cabrera did see the bird according to internet sources. On 2.12 the bird was seen again (Uca Díaz, Arne Torkler; Eduardo García del Rey and others) and on 3.12 too, this time involving foreing birders specifically aimed to twitch the bird and birdwatchers from other Canary islands (Xabier Remírez, David Pérez, Mike Hunter et al). The previous record is from 2002 at Tenerife and it is featured in an special page in the rarebirdspain.net website here: Dwarf Bittern at Tenerife, Canary Islands, August 2002: 4th for the Western Palearctic. Seen again on 4.12 (Robin Mawer) and 6.12 (Klaus Drissner).On 8-9.12 it was still at Barranco del Rio Cabras, Fuerteventura (Josh Jones; Daphne Flierman, Remco Versluijs @ observado.es). On 16.12 it was seen again (F.Javier García Vargas, Nacho Castelao, José Portillo, Juan Sagardía).Still there on 17.12 (David Walsh, Samuel Levy) nand on 19.12 too (David Walsh, Samuel Levy). Another bird had  been seen on 25.11.2017: a 1w was seen and photographed at Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (Vernon Lundy). Cronologically, the 4th for Canary Islands, 5th for WP. Eduardo Garcia del Rey (SOC) provided the following information from the author: “The bird was observed for about 5 mins until I took this, the only image before it flew away. It was seen outside Apartment B522, Oasis Dunas, Coralejo at 15.57hr, 25 Nov,2017. I did not see the bird again and left for the UK the following day".