Spain rare bird news January-February 2025
From this post on the news on rare birds in Spain will focus on truly scarce species of interest to global audience or showing for some reasons interesting numbers which modify former knowledge on the species. Since most of the data comes from eBird platform, observers' names will be hidden since they can be found in online records and eBird lists and reports these days. Photos from submitted lists will be featured though, showing all references and credits to authors.
January – February 2025
Ducks & Geese
Surf Scoters in the Mediterranean. Sole American Wigeon this winter found at Cuenca.
27-28.2.2025 Mareca americana 1 male at Manjavacas lagoon, Cuenca, the sole bird this winter
The bird coming from 17.11.2024 Anas rubripes 1 ind ♂ at Sada, Ría de Betanzos, A Coruña. remained into 25.2.2025.
The duck present from 4.11.2024 Aythya affinis 1 ♀ 1w at Cecebre reservoir, A Coruña remained there until 28.2.2025.
The duck found on 20.12.2024 Aythya affinis 1 ind ♀ at Sada, Ría de Betanzos, A Coruña remained there on 9.2.2025.
18.1-28.2.2025 Aythya affinis 1 ♀ Barranco de la Barca, Granadilla, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
14.2.2025 Aythya affinis 1 1w Noia, A Coruña
The ♀ found on 30.12.2024 Melanitta perspicillata 1 ind at San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia was seen again at Mar Menor, Murcia from 3-18.1.2025 3rd for Mediterranean Spain.
25.1.2025 Melanitta perspicillata 1 1w ♀ off Mitjorn beach, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona. Seen again on 8.2. On 15.2 a 2nd bird, a male, joined the 1st and were photographed together . 1st and 2nd for Catalonia. Accidental in Mediterranean Spain (the 1st the Murcia bird very probably, the 2nd a new bird therefore, 3rd and 4th for Mediterranean Spain, c.44-45 record for the whole country). Both remained on 18.2 and from that date only the male continued until 28.2.2025 and into March 2025.
Waders
Overwintering birds
Bird coming from 2024 seen on 7-9.1.2025 (wintering again) Pluvialis fulva 1 ind Migjorn, Sant Jaume d’Enveja, Delta de l’Ebre, Tarragona.
The bird found on 2.12.2024 Charadrius semipalmatus 1 ind at El
Puertillo, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands remained until 27.2 2025 at least.
The bird found on 26.11.2024 Tringa melanoleuca 1 ind at Sueca, Albufera de Valencia was relocated at Estany de Pujol, Albufera de Valencia on 6.1 until 28.2.2025
Herons
No mega rarities reported
Raptors
No mega rarities reported
Rallidae
The 4th Allen’s Gallinule for Catalonia reached Barcelona and was successfully recovered and released into the wild with considerable media attention.
Porphyrio alleni A 1w bird crashed into Building at Barcelona harbour on 23.1, it was recovered and released on 14.2 at Llobregat Delta, Barcelona. 4th for Catalonia.
Porphyrio alleni 1 ind found dead on 20.1.2025 at San Sebastian de la Gomera, Canary Islands
Porphyrio alleni 1 ind found dead on 23.1.2025 at Sevilla
Seabirds
3rd Pacific Diver for Spain, 9th Kelp Gull for Spain (4th for mainland)
9.1.2025 Gavia pacifica 1 ind Playa de la Concha, Algeciras, Cádiz. 3rd for Spain. Still there on 27.2
The Larus dominicanus vetula gull found on 9.12.2024, an individual at Marismas de Santoña, Cantabria was relocated on 3.1 https://ebird.org/checklist/S207871733 and seen until 28.2 It was ringed on 10.1.2025 with PVC code white [N:XML.]
The returning adult American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus present from 13.11.2024 nicknamed ‘Barrilete’ present at Lires, A Coruña was still there from 2.1 – 27.2.
A 1w Kumlien’s Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni 1 ind on 17-21.2 at Carnota, A Coruña
Passerines and others
1st Amur Stonechat for Spain & 3rd Black-faced Buntings for Spain plus interesting overwintering major rarities.
8-27.2.2025 Lanius isabellinus 1 ind Caño de la Vera, Sevilla
3.12.2024 - 20.2.2025 Saxicola stejnegeri 1 ind Beo, Malpica, A Coruña. Identified through genetic analysis on 21.1.2025. 1st for Spain.
23.12.2024 and into 24.2.2025 Phylloscopus proregulus 1 ind Parc del Mirador del Migdia, Montjuïc, Barcelona
3-23.1.2025 Phylloscopus humei a bird was found at Cartagena, Murcia, a wintering bird.
The bird found on 4.11.2024 Motacilla tschutschensis 1 ind at Barranco de la Florida, Tuineje, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands remained there on 28.2.2025
6.2.2025 Anthus hodgsoni 2 ind Cabo Roche, Cádiz
The bird present at least from 23.11.2024 Passer luteus 1 ind at Parque romántico, Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands was seen again on 7.1-26.2.2025.
The House Buntings present at Algeciras last year Emberiza sahari were at Algeciras, Cádiz, 2 birds, on 8.1.2025, 3 on 18.2, 2 on 19.2, 3 on 21.1 , 4 on 22.1, 1 on 26.1. 2 on 29-30.1, 1 on 30.1, 1-2 on 23.2
A Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala was seen on 16.2-2.3.2025 at Tarifa, Cádiz 3rd for Spain
