Rarest of the rare 2018 / El más raro de los raros 2018
This is the 9th in-a-row Rarest of the rare bird in Spain contest. It includes some of the 2018 birding highlights.
A selection of some of the top rarest sightings obtained in the country during 2018 and chosen by the webmaster of Rarebirdspain.net according to scarcity or singularity of the records are presented below.
This year, Rare Birds in Spain, in its 18 to 19 year-in-a-row online period has published news on 722 rarities (585 in 2017). Rarebirdspain.net web has published 454 large (720 pixels wide) original photos in 2018 (504 in 2017 with a larger list of rarities and rear-rarities, 608 in 2016, 501 in 2015), 11 videos (2 in 2017, 14 in 2016, 8 in 2015) and 173 (344 in 2017, 362 in 2016, 368 in 2015) small sized (thumbnails) supporting photos all kindly sent by the authors. It therefore has not been easy to build a selection of the rarest birds recorded amongst those 722 records and 638 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 (not in this blog: blogger has removed the poll widget, shame on them) to see which species sighting can be considered the rarest of the rare 2018!. 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. We are not looking for the best photo, those featured are examples, more in the website, but the best sighting.
Vote in the Rarebirdspain facebook group here.
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 2018 and a better 2019 birdwatching year!
Ya está aquí el concurso 'El más raro de los raros' otra vez!
En su 9ª edición anual consecutiva, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2018, escogidas por el webmaster de Rarebirdspain.net de acuerdo con la escasez o singularidad de las citas.
Había más citas, y dejar en el tintero especies como Phylloscopus proregulus o Emberiza rustica ya habla del nivel y rareza de las que quedan, pero las que están incluidas más abajo bien pueden representar el conjunto de citas más raras recogidas.
Este año, Rare Birds in Spain, en su 18 a 19º año consecutivo online, hecho inaudito por estas latitudes en temas como el que nos ocupa, ha publicado novedades de 722 rarezas (585 en 2017). Rarebirdspain.net ha publicado 454 imágenes originales grandes en 2018 (de 720 pixels de ancho, 504 en 2017, 608 en 2016 y 501 en 2015), 11 videos (2 en 2017, 14 en 2016 y 8 en 2015) y 173 (344 en 2017, 362 en 2016, 368 en 2015) fotos pequeñas (thumbnails) amablemente enviadas por sus autores.
Como cada año ha sido difícil escoger una selección de las aves más raras observadas entre estas 722 citas y 638 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 (no en el blog: blogger ha retirado incomprensiblemente el widget de encuestas) para ver cual será la especie más rara de 2018 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 2018 o páginas especiales en la web Rare Birds in Spain. No se busca la mejor foto, sino la cita más interesante. Las fotos que acompañan los candidatos son ejemplos de las que se han publicado en la web.
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 2018 y un mejor año ornitológico 2019!
On 10.1 a bird was seen at Civan reservoir, Caspe, Zaragoza (Esther Yera). Identified from photos as pacifica later (Daniel López-Velasco, Ricardo Hevia) the bird was the 2nd for Spain, and it remained into February allowing to be twitched by many birdwatchers from outside Aragón. A must-see in an unexpected place! More photos in January 2018 page.
On 15.1.2018 Harry Hussey found a bird at Barranco de la Torre, Fuerteventura, what was thought to be the 2nd for Spain. This bird was seen along the month and at least another one shared grounds with it. A major sighting that brought visitors from abroad until March, when last seen. More photos in January 2018 and February 2018 pages. 2nd-3rd for Spain at least.
The 3rd Steppe Grey Shrike for Spain and 1st for Catalunya was found on 28.2 at Serra de Daró, Girona (Albert Burgas). On 1.3 its id was confirmed and was widely twitched during its staying. See more images in March 2018 page here and a gallery at rarebirds.cat here. It remained until mid April 2018.
One of the rarest gulls in this part of the world returned one year more. The now adult 'Ciprana', still the 1st and only for Spain, returned to San Cibrao, Lugo on 9.3 (Xan Vizoso) where it was seen during March 2018 and April 2018, when last seen 20 nautic miles off Ribadeo, Lugo.
On 29.3.2018 a 2cy was seen and photographed at Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Islands by a visiting birdwatcher (Simon Rowlands), the 2nd for Spain. Unfortunately it was never relocated but there are more photos in March 2018 page.
There was a bird on 11.3.2018 at Palmones, Cádiz (José Luís Peinado) and it was present until 26.3 at least. How many African forms go undetected in the Mediterranean coast of Spain? More photos in the March 2018 page here.
The 5th for Spain, was a subadult found on 6.6.2018 from Punta de la Vaca, Gozón, Asturies (Jorge Valella), demonstrating that patient seawatching can always bring the unexpected. Three previous records come from the Canaries and one from the Mediterranean. Seen the same day by more authors. More at June 2018 page.
The 5th and 6th for Spain but also the 6th and 7th for the WP (!) were seen on 7.9 and 10.9 at Banco de la Concepción, N of Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Lanzarote Pelagics and others). This is the so far key area for the species in the WP! More, including a video, in September 2018 page.
A bird was found on 21.9 12 nautic miles off Sálvora islands, A Coruña (Marcel Gil). A worthy proven record demonstrating again that, there are interesting birds offshore and that skilled birders can find them. More photos in September 2018 page here.
On 25.9.2018 a bird was incidentally photographed during a research on protected specis in a confidential area kept off-limits for conservation purposes. How many African (and American) birds reach regularly less frequented areas in the Canary islands?
A bird from eastern origin (blythi/halimodendri) was photographed on 20.10.2018 at Cala Jóncols, PN Cap de Creus, Girona (Gerard Dalmau, Miguel Angel Fuentes, Jordi Bermejo). Last seen on 26.10, there is a discussion of the sighting and its ID in this special page.
For some a duck suspicious of being a 'gallina' (local name given by Spanish birders to escapes). For others a very nice true unringed and full flying capable American duck. This male was found at Lagoa de Muro, Porto do Son, A Coruña, on 1.11 (Ana Pérez, José Ramón Gómez) and stayed there some days. More photos in November 2018 page.
For the surprise of many of us another Steppe Grey Shrike appeared in Catalunya. A 1w, hence different bird from the earlier one, was found on 22.11.2018 at Tancada marshes, Delta de l'Ebre (Vicente Francisco Tamarit). it stayed there until the last days of the year and presumably into 2019. More photos in November 2018 and December 2018 pages.
The 1st record for Spain of this Eastern form of Yellow Wagtail was that of a bird at Cal Tet, Llobregat Delta, Barcelona on 19.11 (Ferran López). On 20.11 it was seen again for the last time. More information in November 2018 page.
A selection of some of the top rarest sightings obtained in the country during 2018 and chosen by the webmaster of Rarebirdspain.net according to scarcity or singularity of the records are presented below.
This year, Rare Birds in Spain, in its 18 to 19 year-in-a-row online period has published news on 722 rarities (585 in 2017). Rarebirdspain.net web has published 454 large (720 pixels wide) original photos in 2018 (504 in 2017 with a larger list of rarities and rear-rarities, 608 in 2016, 501 in 2015), 11 videos (2 in 2017, 14 in 2016, 8 in 2015) and 173 (344 in 2017, 362 in 2016, 368 in 2015) small sized (thumbnails) supporting photos all kindly sent by the authors. It therefore has not been easy to build a selection of the rarest birds recorded amongst those 722 records and 638 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 (not in this blog: blogger has removed the poll widget, shame on them) to see which species sighting can be considered the rarest of the rare 2018!. 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. We are not looking for the best photo, those featured are examples, more in the website, but the best sighting.
Vote in the Rarebirdspain facebook group here.
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 2018 and a better 2019 birdwatching year!
***
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| Number of rarity records (columns) and number of taxa (line) featured per month @ rarebirdspain.net in 2018 [Número de rarezas (columnas) y de taxones citados por mes (linea) en la web rarebirdspain.net en 2018] |
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| Number of photos (dark blue), thumbnails (medium blue) and videos (green) featured in rarebirdspain.net in 2018 on a monthly basis [Número de fotos (azul oscuro), miniaturas (azul claro) y videos (verde) publicados en la web rarebirdspain.net durante 2018 expresados por mes] |
Ya está aquí el concurso 'El más raro de los raros' otra vez!
En su 9ª edición anual consecutiva, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2018, escogidas por el webmaster de Rarebirdspain.net de acuerdo con la escasez o singularidad de las citas.
Había más citas, y dejar en el tintero especies como Phylloscopus proregulus o Emberiza rustica ya habla del nivel y rareza de las que quedan, pero las que están incluidas más abajo bien pueden representar el conjunto de citas más raras recogidas.
Este año, Rare Birds in Spain, en su 18 a 19º año consecutivo online, hecho inaudito por estas latitudes en temas como el que nos ocupa, ha publicado novedades de 722 rarezas (585 en 2017). Rarebirdspain.net ha publicado 454 imágenes originales grandes en 2018 (de 720 pixels de ancho, 504 en 2017, 608 en 2016 y 501 en 2015), 11 videos (2 en 2017, 14 en 2016 y 8 en 2015) y 173 (344 en 2017, 362 en 2016, 368 en 2015) fotos pequeñas (thumbnails) amablemente enviadas por sus autores.
Como cada año ha sido difícil escoger una selección de las aves más raras observadas entre estas 722 citas y 638 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 (no en el blog: blogger ha retirado incomprensiblemente el widget de encuestas) para ver cual será la especie más rara de 2018 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 2018 o páginas especiales en la web Rare Birds in Spain. No se busca la mejor foto, sino la cita más interesante. Las fotos que acompañan los candidatos son ejemplos de las que se han publicado en la web.
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 2018 y un mejor año ornitológico 2019!
- C01. Gavia pacifica
- C02. Sylvia deserticola
- C03. Lanius pallidirostris
- C04. Turdus obscurus
- C05. Larus thayeri
- C06. Oenanthe leucopyga
- C07. Motacilla alba subpersonata
- C08. Sula sula
- C09. Fregetta tropica
- C10. Stercorarius maccormickii
- C11. Ammomanes cinctura
- C12. Sylvia curruca blythi/halimodendri
- C13. Bucephala albeola
- C14. Lanius pallidirostris
- C15. Motacilla flava tschutschensis
C01 Gavia pacifica, Caspe, Zaragoza
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| Photo: © Ricardo Rodríguez 12.1.2018 |
On 10.1 a bird was seen at Civan reservoir, Caspe, Zaragoza (Esther Yera). Identified from photos as pacifica later (Daniel López-Velasco, Ricardo Hevia) the bird was the 2nd for Spain, and it remained into February allowing to be twitched by many birdwatchers from outside Aragón. A must-see in an unexpected place! More photos in January 2018 page.
C02 Sylvia deserticola , Fuerteventura
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| Photo: © Craig Reed 26.1.2018 |
C03 Lanius pallidirostris, Serra de Daró, Girona
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| Photo: © Joan Goy 1.3.2018 |
The 3rd Steppe Grey Shrike for Spain and 1st for Catalunya was found on 28.2 at Serra de Daró, Girona (Albert Burgas). On 1.3 its id was confirmed and was widely twitched during its staying. See more images in March 2018 page here and a gallery at rarebirds.cat here. It remained until mid April 2018.
C04 Turdus obscurus, Cádiz
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| Photo: © Álex Colorado 24.2.2018 |
- C05. Larus thayeri, San Cibrao, Lugo
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| Photo: © Jesús Menéndez 18.3.2018 |
One of the rarest gulls in this part of the world returned one year more. The now adult 'Ciprana', still the 1st and only for Spain, returned to San Cibrao, Lugo on 9.3 (Xan Vizoso) where it was seen during March 2018 and April 2018, when last seen 20 nautic miles off Ribadeo, Lugo.
- C06. Oenanthe leucopyga, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
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| Photo: © Simon Rowlands 29.3.2018 |
- C07. Motacilla alba subpersonata, Palmones, Cádiz
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| Photo: © Kevin Wade 26.3.2018 |
There was a bird on 11.3.2018 at Palmones, Cádiz (José Luís Peinado) and it was present until 26.3 at least. How many African forms go undetected in the Mediterranean coast of Spain? More photos in the March 2018 page here.
- C07. Sula sula, Punta de la Vaca, Asturias
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| Photo: © Manuel F Pajuelo 6.6.2018 |
The 5th for Spain, was a subadult found on 6.6.2018 from Punta de la Vaca, Gozón, Asturies (Jorge Valella), demonstrating that patient seawatching can always bring the unexpected. Three previous records come from the Canaries and one from the Mediterranean. Seen the same day by more authors. More at June 2018 page.
- C08. Fregetta tropica, Banco de la Concepción, N Lanzarote, Canary Islands
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| Photo: © Juan Sagardia 10.9.2018 |
- C10. Stercorarius maccormickii, Off Sálvora islands, A Coruña
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| Photo: © Marcel Gil 21.9.2018 |
A bird was found on 21.9 12 nautic miles off Sálvora islands, A Coruña (Marcel Gil). A worthy proven record demonstrating again that, there are interesting birds offshore and that skilled birders can find them. More photos in September 2018 page here.
- C11. Ammomanes cinctura, Undisclosed islet, Eastern Canary Is.
On 25.9.2018 a bird was incidentally photographed during a research on protected specis in a confidential area kept off-limits for conservation purposes. How many African (and American) birds reach regularly less frequented areas in the Canary islands?
- C12. Sylvia curruca blythi/halimodendri, Cap de Creus, Girona
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| Photo: © Miguel Angel Fuentes 20.10.2018 |
A bird from eastern origin (blythi/halimodendri) was photographed on 20.10.2018 at Cala Jóncols, PN Cap de Creus, Girona (Gerard Dalmau, Miguel Angel Fuentes, Jordi Bermejo). Last seen on 26.10, there is a discussion of the sighting and its ID in this special page.
- C13. Bucephala albeola, Lagoa de Muro, A Coruña
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| Photo: © José Luís Lorenzo 'Colón' 2.11.2018 |
For some a duck suspicious of being a 'gallina' (local name given by Spanish birders to escapes). For others a very nice true unringed and full flying capable American duck. This male was found at Lagoa de Muro, Porto do Son, A Coruña, on 1.11 (Ana Pérez, José Ramón Gómez) and stayed there some days. More photos in November 2018 page.
- C14. Lanius pallidirostris, Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona
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| Photo above: © Vicente Francisco Tamarit 22.11.2018 |
For the surprise of many of us another Steppe Grey Shrike appeared in Catalunya. A 1w, hence different bird from the earlier one, was found on 22.11.2018 at Tancada marshes, Delta de l'Ebre (Vicente Francisco Tamarit). it stayed there until the last days of the year and presumably into 2019. More photos in November 2018 and December 2018 pages.
- C14. Motacilla flava tschutschensis, Delta del Llobregat, Barcelona
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| Photo above: © Ferran López 19.11.2018 |
