Rarest of the rare 2019 / El más raro de los raros 2019
This is the 10th in-a-row Rarest of the rare bird in Spain contest!. It includes some of the 2019 birding highlights in the country.
A selection of some of the top rarest sightings obtained in Spain during 2019 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 19 to 20 year-in-a-row online period has published news on 736 rarities (585 in 2017, 722 in 2018). Rarebirdspain.net web has published 461 large (720 pixels wide) original photos in 2018 (454 in 2018, 504 in 2017 with a larger list of rarities and rear-rarities, 608 in 2016, 501 in 2015), 9 videos (11 in 2018, 2 in 2017, 14 in 2016, 8 in 2015) and 152 (173 in 2018, 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 736 records and 622 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) to see which species sighting can be considered the rarest of the rare 2019!. 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. Only ten contestants out of the total number of birds seen with species such as Red-footed Booby out! Such high level around!
Vote in the Rarebirdspain facebook group here or in twitter @rarebirdspain.
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 2019 and a better 2020 birdwatching year!
***
***
Diez años del concurso 'El más raro de los raros'!
En su 10ª edición anual consecutiva, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2019, escogidas por el webmaster de Rarebirdspain.net de acuerdo con la escasez o singularidad de las citas.
Había más citas, pero las que están incluidas más abajo bien pueden representar el conjunto de citas más raras recogidas. Y una de ellas será la más rara de las que se han citado.
Este año, Rare Birds in Spain, en su 19 a 20º año consecutivo online, hecho inaudito por estas latitudes en temas como el que nos ocupa, ha publicado novedades de 736 rarezas (722 en 2018, 585 en 2017). Rarebirdspain.net ha publicado 461 imágenes originales grandes en 2019 (de 720 pixels de ancho, 454 en 2018, 504 en 2017, 608 en 2016 y 501 en 2015), 9 videos (11 en 2018, 2 en 2017, 14 en 2016 y 8 en 2015) y 152 (173 en 2018, 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 736 citas y 622 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 2019 en España. Se puede votar en la página de facebook o en el twitter. 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 2019 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 impresionante 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. Lo hemos dejado en diez especies tan solo. A ver qué tal sale.
Feliz más raro de los raros 2019 y un mejor año ornitológico 2020!
***
A bird was found at lagoa de Cospeito, Lugo, on 23.2 (Ana Rivas, Saúl Román, Lois Santos, David Calleja). 3rd record for Galicia and 4th for Spain. Still present on 24.2 (José Luís Lorenzo ‘Colón’, Fer de Soto, Manolo Carregal, Graciela Fernández, Cris, Toño Salazar; Iker Fernández, José Alberto Fernández @eBird). Seen again on 28.2 (Xurxo Piñeiro @eBird). It remained in the area until 30.3.2019 (David Calleja, Jesús Mari Lekuona @eBird).
On 13.4 a bird was found at Platja de l'Arbre del Gos, Albufera de València, València (Joan Balfagon). The 1st for mainland Spain. More photos in the species photopage here.
A bird was found at Menorca airport, Menorca, on 19.5 (Gala Lligoña, Román Piris). See a photo below. The 1st for the Balearic Islands. Still present on 22.5 and last seen on 24.5 (Roman Piris, Gala Lligoña)
A bird, an ad or a 4cy, was seen at Lea estuary, Lekeitio, Bizkaia (Jon Zubiaur) on 6.6.2019 See a photo enclosed.
A bird was found at Tarifa, Cádiz, on 7.9 (Juan Miguel González Perea). Later seen by more authors (Javier Elorriaga, Yeray Seminario/ Birding the Strait; 7.9 (Juan Miguel González Perea, Chris Mills, Juan Miguel González Perea, Catalina Castillo, Alexandre Justo @eBird). On 8.9 it was seen again (Ricky Owen; José Mª Lubián R. de Agredano @observado.es; David Ratcliffe @eBird; José Mª de la Peña @eBird; Carlos A. Torralvo, Julio Ortega, AJ Sepúlveda, Diegui Herrera, Carlos Alberto Ramírez @eBird).Seen again the following days: 9.9 (Eduardo José Rodríguez Rodríguez, José Márquez, Rafa Garcia @observado.es; José Maria de la Peña @eBird); 10.9 (Victor Manuel Porras @eBird; Alexis Bukowski @eBird, Javi Elorriaga, Fernando Alonso @eBird).Sadly (for him and this putative early mainland Europe colonizer), the bird ended hunted and eaten by a Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus on 22.9 (Alejandro Onrubia).
A juvenile was found dead on 17.10 at Botanical Garden, Parque Grande, Zaragoza (Luis Palacio). 1st for mainland Spain. See a photo below (Luis Palacio) and an entry in Spanish at Anuario Ornitológico de Aragón AODA here. Results of the necropsy showed the death being caused by a crash against an obstacle producing irreversible damage in the head of the bird. It was a male, the accident ocurred near Zaragoza according to the corpse degree of conservation and the bird had recently eaten some grasshoppers. The physiological condition of the bird was acceptable and all bare parts were in perfect condition, including average eroded nails. All these features are those of a wild origin individual, not having experienced any stress caused by human bound transport or captivity keeping. All this granting for a proper A category acceptance.
A bird was seen from 10-30.11 at Vilasenín reservoir, Cerceda, A Coruña. 2nd for Spain (Juan Pita-Romero Caamaño; Manolo Carregal et al). It was initially misidentified but Daniel López Velasco saw photos and properly identified it. On 30.11 it was widely twitched by Galician birders (Cosme Damián Romay et al). It remained into December 2019.
On 5.11 a 1w Phylloscopus was trapped and ringed at Canal Vell biological station, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona (Helen Williams & Roger Short), photos below and thumbnails here. The bird was initially misidentified by a Yellow-browed Warbler but later, when photos available, its shape called the attention of local observers (Gerard Dalmau). Discussed within this website group of observers it was properly identified as an Arctic Warbler despite some discussion held elsewhere about other species options (David Bigas). The first for Catalunya.
On 9.12 a bird was found at Las Cabezas de San Juan, Sevilla (Cotoară Andrei @observado.es). The bird was seen again on 14.12 (Albert Savijn, F.Javier Salcedo @observado.es; Pim Edelaar) and on 15.12 (Stephen Shields @observado.es). On 16.12 it remained at Complejo endorreico de Lebrija - Las Cabezas, Sevilla (Rafael García @eBird). 1st for mainland Spain.
A selection of some of the top rarest sightings obtained in Spain during 2019 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 19 to 20 year-in-a-row online period has published news on 736 rarities (585 in 2017, 722 in 2018). Rarebirdspain.net web has published 461 large (720 pixels wide) original photos in 2018 (454 in 2018, 504 in 2017 with a larger list of rarities and rear-rarities, 608 in 2016, 501 in 2015), 9 videos (11 in 2018, 2 in 2017, 14 in 2016, 8 in 2015) and 152 (173 in 2018, 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 736 records and 622 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) to see which species sighting can be considered the rarest of the rare 2019!. 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. Only ten contestants out of the total number of birds seen with species such as Red-footed Booby out! Such high level around!
Vote in the Rarebirdspain facebook group here or in twitter @rarebirdspain.
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 2019 and a better 2020 birdwatching year!
***
 |
| Number of records per month of rarities included in rarebirdspain.net in 2019 [Número de citas de rarezas incluidas en rarebirdspain.net por mes en 2019] |
 |
| Number of media included in the website during 2019. Colours are related to media type. [Número de media incluidos por mes en rarebirdspain.net en 2019. Verde: thumbnails, rojo, videos y azul: fotos de 720 píxeles de lado]. |
***
Diez años del concurso 'El más raro de los raros'!
En su 10ª edición anual consecutiva, se presenta una selección de tal vez las citas más raras que se han obtenido en España durante 2019, escogidas por el webmaster de Rarebirdspain.net de acuerdo con la escasez o singularidad de las citas.
Había más citas, pero las que están incluidas más abajo bien pueden representar el conjunto de citas más raras recogidas. Y una de ellas será la más rara de las que se han citado.
Este año, Rare Birds in Spain, en su 19 a 20º año consecutivo online, hecho inaudito por estas latitudes en temas como el que nos ocupa, ha publicado novedades de 736 rarezas (722 en 2018, 585 en 2017). Rarebirdspain.net ha publicado 461 imágenes originales grandes en 2019 (de 720 pixels de ancho, 454 en 2018, 504 en 2017, 608 en 2016 y 501 en 2015), 9 videos (11 en 2018, 2 en 2017, 14 en 2016 y 8 en 2015) y 152 (173 en 2018, 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 736 citas y 622 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 2019 en España. Se puede votar en la página de facebook o en el twitter. 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 2019 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 impresionante 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. Lo hemos dejado en diez especies tan solo. A ver qué tal sale.
Feliz más raro de los raros 2019 y un mejor año ornitológico 2020!
***
- C01. Fulica americana
- C02. Sylvia deserticola
- C03. Alaemon alaudipes
- C04. Larus dominicanus
- C05. Emberiza sahari
- C06. Ixobrychus sturmii
- C07. Lanius cristatus
- C08. Phylloscopus borealis
- C09. Motacilla [flava] tschutschensis
- C10. Lanius excubitor algeriensis
C01 Fulica americana, Cospeito, Lugo
A bird was found at lagoa de Cospeito, Lugo, on 23.2 (Ana Rivas, Saúl Román, Lois Santos, David Calleja). 3rd record for Galicia and 4th for Spain. Still present on 24.2 (José Luís Lorenzo ‘Colón’, Fer de Soto, Manolo Carregal, Graciela Fernández, Cris, Toño Salazar; Iker Fernández, José Alberto Fernández @eBird). Seen again on 28.2 (Xurxo Piñeiro @eBird). It remained in the area until 30.3.2019 (David Calleja, Jesús Mari Lekuona @eBird).
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| © Ana Rivas 23.2.2019 |
C02 Sylvia deserticola, Albufera de València, València
On 13.4 a bird was found at Platja de l'Arbre del Gos, Albufera de València, València (Joan Balfagon). The 1st for mainland Spain. More photos in the species photopage here.
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© Joan Balfagón
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C03 Alaemon alaudipes, Menorca, Illes Balears
A bird was found at Menorca airport, Menorca, on 19.5 (Gala Lligoña, Román Piris). See a photo below. The 1st for the Balearic Islands. Still present on 22.5 and last seen on 24.5 (Roman Piris, Gala Lligoña)
 |
© Gala
Lligoña
|
C04 Larus dominicanus, Lekeitio, Bizkaia
A bird, an ad or a 4cy, was seen at Lea estuary, Lekeitio, Bizkaia (Jon Zubiaur) on 6.6.2019 See a photo enclosed.
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| © Jon Zubiaur |
C05 Emberiza sahari, Tarifa, Cádiz
A bird was found at Tarifa, Cádiz, on 7.9 (Juan Miguel González Perea). Later seen by more authors (Javier Elorriaga, Yeray Seminario/ Birding the Strait; 7.9 (Juan Miguel González Perea, Chris Mills, Juan Miguel González Perea, Catalina Castillo, Alexandre Justo @eBird). On 8.9 it was seen again (Ricky Owen; José Mª Lubián R. de Agredano @observado.es; David Ratcliffe @eBird; José Mª de la Peña @eBird; Carlos A. Torralvo, Julio Ortega, AJ Sepúlveda, Diegui Herrera, Carlos Alberto Ramírez @eBird).Seen again the following days: 9.9 (Eduardo José Rodríguez Rodríguez, José Márquez, Rafa Garcia @observado.es; José Maria de la Peña @eBird); 10.9 (Victor Manuel Porras @eBird; Alexis Bukowski @eBird, Javi Elorriaga, Fernando Alonso @eBird).Sadly (for him and this putative early mainland Europe colonizer), the bird ended hunted and eaten by a Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus on 22.9 (Alejandro Onrubia).
 |
| © Yeray Seminario / Birding the Strait |
C06 Ixobrychus sturmii, Parque grande, Zaragoza
A juvenile was found dead on 17.10 at Botanical Garden, Parque Grande, Zaragoza (Luis Palacio). 1st for mainland Spain. See a photo below (Luis Palacio) and an entry in Spanish at Anuario Ornitológico de Aragón AODA here. Results of the necropsy showed the death being caused by a crash against an obstacle producing irreversible damage in the head of the bird. It was a male, the accident ocurred near Zaragoza according to the corpse degree of conservation and the bird had recently eaten some grasshoppers. The physiological condition of the bird was acceptable and all bare parts were in perfect condition, including average eroded nails. All these features are those of a wild origin individual, not having experienced any stress caused by human bound transport or captivity keeping. All this granting for a proper A category acceptance.
 |
| © Luis Palacio |
C07 Lanius cristatus, Cerceda, A Coruña
A bird was seen from 10-30.11 at Vilasenín reservoir, Cerceda, A Coruña. 2nd for Spain (Juan Pita-Romero Caamaño; Manolo Carregal et al). It was initially misidentified but Daniel López Velasco saw photos and properly identified it. On 30.11 it was widely twitched by Galician birders (Cosme Damián Romay et al). It remained into December 2019.
 |
© Juan
Pita-Romero
|
C08 Phylloscopus borealis, Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona
On 5.11 a 1w Phylloscopus was trapped and ringed at Canal Vell biological station, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona (Helen Williams & Roger Short), photos below and thumbnails here. The bird was initially misidentified by a Yellow-browed Warbler but later, when photos available, its shape called the attention of local observers (Gerard Dalmau). Discussed within this website group of observers it was properly identified as an Arctic Warbler despite some discussion held elsewhere about other species options (David Bigas). The first for Catalunya.
 |
©
Helen Williams & Roger Short
|
C09 Motacilla [flava] tschutschensis, Jandía, Fuerteventura
A bird was seen and heard at Jandia Golf Course, Fuerteventura on 26.11 (Daniel López Velasco, Miguel Rodríguez Esteban, Delfín González). Relocated on 30.11 (Eliseo Reyes & Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey/SOC). See photos below. Daniel López-Velasco commented as follows: Plumage wise, classic “grey-and-white” bird that really stood out when I first picked it out in the distance. Good views although poor photos, as it was already quite late in the day when we found it, and it soon flew off together with a Western Yellow Wagtail. Thankfully, Miguel managed to obtain a decent sound recording of the rasping flight calls, absolutely essential for clinching the ID. The ID of EYWs in the Western Palearctic is still subject of debate, and there´s definitely a lot to learn on the issue, but given I am no expert on it I cannot say much, other than the fact that both plumage and calls seem as good as other EYWs previously accepted elsewhere in Europe. Most important, Magnus Robb kindly improved the recording (there was some wind noise in the background) and commented, in detail, that everything visible on the sonograms points towards the bird being Eastern. So there you go! Recording in Xenocanto here.
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© Eduardo García del Rey / SOC
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C10 Lanius excubitor algeriensis, Las Cabezas de San Juan, Sevilla
On 9.12 a bird was found at Las Cabezas de San Juan, Sevilla (Cotoară Andrei @observado.es). The bird was seen again on 14.12 (Albert Savijn, F.Javier Salcedo @observado.es; Pim Edelaar) and on 15.12 (Stephen Shields @observado.es). On 16.12 it remained at Complejo endorreico de Lebrija - Las Cabezas, Sevilla (Rafael García @eBird). 1st for mainland Spain.
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© Pim
Edelaar
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