Clients: Brian and Lucy, England
Highlights: Honey Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Olivaceous Warbler
A host of passing waders such as Black Winged Stilt, Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit were the target of our first stop at a flooded rice field in the Isla de Buda area but they were gratefully upstaged by a surprising visit from a small group of over flying Honey Buzzard heading south.
Having moved on, we did likewise in the hope of adding to the excitement with some sought after Glossy Ibis. The ocean side platform overlooking La Gola de Migjorn is a good place to start and we were immediately rewarded with several flocks, both feeding in nearby fields and circling past the tower when they were startled into the air by the occasional gunshot. This sent the Purple Gallinules back into deep cover although a Bluethroat pottered about below us blissfully unaware. A Great Reed Warbler scuttled across a gap in the reeds somewhat more nervously and began what was to turn out to be a rather impressive list of warblers for the day.
Raptors also proved to be extremely accommodating with a light-phase Booted Eagle topping the morning off and a group of at least a dozen Marsh Harriers, including males, circling over an invisible spot in the mid-distance. Elsewhere Greylag Geese and Lapwing signalled the end of the summer and heron species included Squacco and several juvenile Night Heron.
The drive through the delta towards the reserve at Riet Vell revealed a lone Common Gull amongst a resting flock of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a field full of Yellow Wagtails, all juveniles save a single adult flavissima, possibly from the UK.
Other migrant passerines included Redstart, Northern Wheatear and Spotted and Pied Flycatchers but a dispersing Southern Grey Shrike found amongst some old crates provided an unexpected bonus. Hoopoe and Kingfisher showed up to represent the exotics.
Yet another warbler, after we’d added Reed, Sardinian, Willow, Cetti’s and Fan-tailed, was a skulking Olivaceous Warbler in a line of tamarisk bushes near the Baladres water pump. And, on the open ground opposite, we even trailed a pair of Spectacled Warbler before we headed off to scan the lagoons at La Tancada.
Fishing Caspian Terns were immediately apparent diving between the throngs of Coot and ducks (inc. Red-crested and Common Pochard) but we also picked out the odd passing Slender-billed Gull. More of these materialised in the beach area along with Mediterranean and Little Gulls. Here also we added to the shorebirds with Grey and Kentish Plovers and Avocet, Sanderling, Curlew, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper were all present in another section of La Tancada.
This area played host to many juvenile terns including Sandwich, Whiskered and Black but its parting gift was an absolutely wonderful Osprey, which lazed its way back and forth over the shallows in search of a snack before moving off itself.
Comments:
[CENTER]“Thanks again for the excellent two days we birded together and the information you provided for the rest of my holiday. It was very useful to travel with a knowledgeable birder who understands the natural history of the birds and their distribution when visiting new areas and looking for specific species.
Both Lucy and I found both days nicely paced with plenty of variety and many opportunities to not just simply tick off the birds but to observe them as well.”[/CENTER]
[RIGHT]Brian and Lucy, England[/RIGHT]
Thanks to you both for the feedback.
Sounds like you had a great day, Stephen, with three local rarities 
(including two that I've never seen in the delta after almost two years of birding here)! In case you are not aware of this, the Olivaceous Warbler is considered a rarity in Catalonia, and it would be great if you could send a brief report to the rarity committee - you can write to José Luis Copete at cac(AT)ornitologia.org. That way the bird list of the Ebro Delta is kept up to date.
Good birding,
Iben.