Gibraltar birding: Northern Bald Ibis at La Barca de Vejer, Spain

During our day trip into Spain Steve Morgan and I spent much of the morning birding the inland lagoons at Barbate. Northern Bald Ibis (critically endangered) can often be observed feeding in the area, but we had no luck connecting with the species until we had virtually rejoined the main coastal road, when six were spotted feeding in a small grassy field adjacent to the track (image of one in previous Blog entry). 

Although we were guaranteed seeing the species at our next destination, the breeding colony at La Barca de Vejer, I had no appreciation of just how close to the passing traffic of a busy main road the occupied nests actually were. The lower ledge was literally hidden from view when a coach or lorry drove past. During our visit to the observation area, that comprised of a shelter set back from the road opposite the cliff face with an information board, birds regularly came and went. With well over thirty birds observed, and many occupied nests present, the reintroduction programme would appear to be doing well.

Northern Bald Ibis, La Barca de Vejer – 20 Feb 24 [photographed by Steve Morgan]

Northern Bald Ibis, La Barca de Vejer – 20 Feb 24 [photographed by Steve Morgan]

Northern Bald Ibis, La Barca de Vejer – 20 Feb 24 [photographed by Steve Morgan]

Northern Bald Ibis, La Barca de Vejer – 20 Feb 24 [photographed by Steve Morgan]

After lunch we drove on first to La Janda and then to the hills above Bolonia before heading back to Gibraltar. Many thanks to Steve Morgan for a thoroughly enjoyable day and dropping me off at Mamma Mia’s where I met back up with Slasher and Lee L, who had flown in from the UK earlier in the day, for pizza.

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Gibraltar birding: Black Kite and day trip across the border into Spain – Northern Bald Ibis

The first of my three planned trips to Gibraltar this year was at the start of the spring migration from 16-21 Feb 24. Due to Gibraltar being on the east side of the Bay of Gibraltar and to the northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, westerly winds are required for any significant raptor movement to be seen over ‘The Rock’. Easterlies result in raptors being mostly observed as distant specks as they drift towards Spain as they head north across the strait with Tarifa, on the southern tip of Spain, being significantly closer to Africa than Gibraltar. Consequently, the 16^th, being the only day with westerlies, was my best opportunity to connect with Black Kite which was a species already on the move. Despite the light westerlies far more Black Kites were seen heading over Spain than close to / over Gibraltar itself.

Hoopoe, Europa Foreshore, Gibraltar – 16 Feb 24

Apart from a day trip into Spain on the 20^th the daily routine comprised of me accompanying fellow Amigo Slasher on net rounds from dawn until late morning once any birds moving through had moved on. Due to the easterlies the afternoons were spent visiting local birding hotspots such as North Front Cemetery, Western Beach, Europa Foreshore, etc. Consequently, I soon got to add the local resident species not normally found in the UK to the Trip List that included Hoopoe, Mediterranean Shag, Sardinian Warbler, Blue Rock-thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Balearic Shearwater, Black Kite (40+), Yellow-legged Gull, Barbary Partridge, Eurasian Crag Martin and Spotless Starling.

 

Europa Point, Gibraltar – 16 Feb 24

The 20th was an even earlier start to get my lift with local birder and photographer Steve Morgan for a full day of birding across the border. Fortunately, there were no ‘shenanigans’ at the border crossing and we had a thoroughly rewarding day visiting the inland lagoons at Barbate, the Northern Bald Ibis colony (reintroduced and separate Blog entry to follow) at La Barca de Vejer, La Janda wetlands and the Griffon Vulture colony in the hills above Bolonia. Highlights included: Northern Bald Ibis, Audouin’s Gull (10), Black Kite (regular overhead heading north), Black-winged Stilt (scores), Caspian Tern (2 singles), Osprey, Spanish Sparrow, Corn Bunting (regular), Crested Lark, European Serin, Fan-tailed Warbler, Thekla Lark, Greater Flamingo (c150), Stone Curlew, White Stork, Black-winged Kite, Common Crane (c380) and Iberian Green Woodpecker (now split). Great White Egret and Eurasian Spoonbill would previously have also been included but both are now resident in Hampshire and regularly seen. 

Northern Bald Ibis, Barbate, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Audouin’s Gull, Barbate, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Osprey, Barbate, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Greater Flamingo, Barbate, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Barbate, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Black-winged Kite, La Janda, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Griffon Vulture, Bolonia, Spain – 20 Feb 24

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Queen Victoria Birding: Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove and Wandering Tattler at Vailima, Samoa.

 Queen Victoria docked in Apia, Samoa on the morning of the 20th Feb. Shortly after, myself, Jo and John (a birder I had met onboard) soon jumped into a taxi and headed south into the hills bound for the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The former home of the famous author. The museum was going to be interesting in its own right, but the fact that it was situated within a tropical forest and surrounded by gardens boded well for a few birds. Glad to report I was happy with both the museum and the birding. 

Villa Vailima, former home of Robert Louis Stevenson

A rather well known book

Before visiting the house John and I did a loop or two around the edge of the garden picking up Pacific Imperial Pigeon. Pacific Golden Plover, Buff-banded Rail, White-rumped Swiftlet and a superb looking Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove.

Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove, Vailima, 20 Feb 2024

Buff-banded Rail, Vailima, 20 Feb 2024

Pacific Golden Plover, Vailima, 20 Feb 2024

After leaving the museum, we walked the short distance down to the nearby Vailima Botanical Gardens. We firstly looked over a small stream where John picked up a Wandering Tattler, a life bird for me. in the gardens themselves we added Polynesian and Samoan Starlings, along with Flat-billed Kingfisher. Later in a park in Apia itself I added Samoan Myzomela, and Samoan Flying Fox to the trip list. 

Polynesian Starling, Vailima, 20 Feb 2024

Samoan Flying Fox, Apia, 20 Feb 2024

Samoan Starling, Vailima, 20 Feb 2024

Steve C

Metalampra italica micro moth New For Fareham Garden

Last Monday (10th) I had my latest species of moth that was New For Garden – Metalampra italica. It’s quite a smart micro, and was only first recorded in Hampshire in Aug 11 but has since become widespread through the county [Hants Moths website].

Metalampra italica, Fareham garden – 10 Jun 24

Good mothing,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) GeoSci (Open)

Queen Victoria Birding: Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Leach's Storm Petrel onboard

 Each morning, I used to rise early and loop the promenade deck a few times, looking for birds that might have crash landed during the night. On the 16th of February I managed to capture a Leach's Storm Petrel that was hidden behind a bench and also a Wedge-tailed Shearwater, which was more out in the open. The 19th February saw me picking up two Wedge-tailed Shearwaters from the same deck. Glad to report that all the birds were safely returned to the sea after a quick once over inspection. The snaps were taken on my phone, so not the best quality, but it gives you an idea.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1, 19 Feb 2024

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 2, 19 Feb 2024

No 2 again

And Again

Close up on Wedgie 1

Tail of Leach's Storm Petrel, 16 Feb 2024

Leach's Storm Petrel 16 Feb 2024

Steve C

Queen Victoria Birding: Laughing Gull in the central Pacific

 It is fair to say that after the ship sailed south from Hawaii, en route to Samoa that sea birds became rather less common than I expected and certainly would have wanted. I knew from previous passages through tropical waters that it is not uncommon to go a day or two without seeing any action. Although on this leg we did pass relatively close to a few island chains, this proved to be the case. A single Laughing Gull on the 16th of February at Lat/Long of 5.497, -164.116 was an outstanding and unusually strange record. 100s of Kms from the nearest land mass of the Kiribati Islands.

Laughing Gull, location as stated above,16 Feb 2024

Same bird different view.

We did encounter more expected fayre in the form of Red-tailed Tropicbird, Masked and Red-footed Boobies and a number of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Sooty Tern, Leach's Storm Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel all making the list of this phase of the trip.

Bulwer's Petrel, 19 Feb 2024

Masked Booby, 15 Feb 2024

Pomarine Skuas, 19 Feb 2024

Poss Short-tailed Shearwater, 19 Feb 2024

Sooty Tern, 14 Feb 2024

Wedge-tailed Shearwater, 15 Feb 2024

Wedgie again, as above

We also came across a nice sized pod of Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins on the 16th Feb. They did not come overly close, but as ever, always worth a few snaps. Three images below from the sighting.

Steve C