Itinerari ornitològic – la Mitjana de Lleida

Descripció: Bosc de ribera. 90 ha de bosc de ribera (xops, àlbers, verns, salzes) amb zones d’arbustives (tamarius, esbarzers), depressions inundables i un canyissar força extensiu, tot declarat Àrea d’Interès Natural. És un parc municipal ara ben comunicat i molt freqüentat pel públic als caps de setmana, malgrat això és pot preparar la visita per trobar hores o racons tranquils.

 

Mapa de la Mitjana Lleida

Principals espècies

Tot l’any: cabusset, martinet blanc, esplugabous, cigonya blanca, ànec coll-verd, aligot comú, polla d’aigua, rascló, picot verd, tórtora turca, blauet, cuereta torrentera, cargolet, rossinyol bord, teixidor, mallerenga cuallarga, raspinell comú, pardal xarrec, gratapalles.

Estivals: martinet de nit, agró roig, falcó mostatxut, corriol petit, xot, abellerol, colltort, tórtora, rossinyol, boscarla de canyar, balquer, bosqueta vulgar, tallarol de casquet, papamosques gris, oriol.

Hivernants: corb marí gros, bernat pescaire, picot garser gros, pardal de bardissa, pit-roig, cotxa fumada, tord ala-roig, bruel, lluer, pinsà mec, repicatalons, cruixidell.

De Pas: milà negre, aligot vesper, àguila pescadora, xivitona, oreneta de ribera, piula dels arbres, cotxa cua-roja, mastegatatxes, tallarol gros, tallarol de garriga, tallareta vulgar, mosquiter pàl•lid, mosquiter de passa.

Accés
Des de la ciutat de Lleida pel pont de Pardinyes i el camí de la Granyena.

Itinerari
(1) En les hores menys concorregudes és profitós aturar-se uns moments a les comportes del canal de Serós per observar ocells aquàtics com el blauet, la cuereta torrentera, la xivitona, la polla d’aigua, el martinet blanc i, a l’hivern, el corb marí gros, el bernat pescaire i la gavina vulgar.
(2) Travessa el canal i un petit pont sobre un rierol. Busca un lloc discret per aparcar a prop de l’entrada del parc i seguir a peu. Vigila! No deixes coses de valor en el cotxe, un consell aplicable a molts indrets periurbans sense vigilància.
(3) Entre el canyissar a mà dreta i els joncs i esbarzers a l’esquerra és possible detectar espècies com la boscarla de canyar, el rascló, el trist, el rossinyol bord, el teixidor i la tórtora turca als cables de la llum; a l’hivern el canyissar és un important dormider pel repicatalons i el cruixidell.
(4) Més endavant hi ha un bosquet principalment de verns i xops on podem trobar mallerengues i altres ocells del bosc, i segons l’època el lluer, el bruel i el mastegatatxes.
(5) Just abans d’arribar al pont del canal de Balaguer, trobarem un camí a mà esquerra que passa per una zona dominada per esbarzers i tamarius. A la tardor les mores atrauen molts ocells com el tallarol gros, el tallarol de casquet i la merla.
(6) Torna al pont metàl•lic que travessa el canal de Balaguer. Aquí és un dels millors llocs per veure el blauet, la cuereta torrentera i la mallerenga cuallarga, aquesta última en les salzes a la vora de l’aigua.
(7) Gira a la dreta per seguir el camí del canal de Balaguer. En els arbres i arbustos al llarg d’aquest camí tenim bones oportunitats de realitzar observacions interessants en la forma dels ocells reproductors com l’oriol, el papamosques gris, el pardal xarrec i la gratapalles; ocells migratoris com el tallarol gros, el mosquiter pàl•lid i el mastegatatxes; i a l’hivern el pit-roig, el pardal de bardissa i el pinsà mec, l’últim entre els nombrosos pinsans comuns què venen aquí per passar la nit.
(8) A arribar a la tanca que travessa el camí prendrem un altre camí a l’esquerra què, després de passar entremig d’una línia d’arbres es divideix en petites bifurcacions. A seguir una d’aquestes arribarem a la Bassa Gran; aquí des de dintre dels aguaits hem trobat un bon lloc per veure el martinet de nit, el bernat pescaire i el martinet blanc. Altres espècies freqüentes aquí són el blauet, l’ànec coll-verd i el cabusset.
(9) Continua pel camí i a la primera bifurcació gira a la dreta per on arribaràs a un pontet de color verd. Després, si efectues un altre gir a la dreta passaràs per un bosc de xops i àlbers (molt indicat per observar el raspinell comú i, a l’hivern, el picot garser gros) abans de sortir a la passarel•la que travessa el riu Segre. Aprofita la oportunitat de parar al mig del riu a escoltar o veure ocells com la oreneta de ribera, el blauet, l’oriol, el teixidor, el corriol petit, el martinet de nit i una llarga etcètera. En els arbres riu avall és on es posen multituds de corbs marins, bernats, martinets i esplugabous.
(10) La marge dreta té característiques similars a la de l’esquerra, però amb més zones obertes i més trànsit humà. Millor visitar-la a la primera hora del matí o en un dia laboral.

Gratapalles Emberiza cirlus

Moltes gràcies a Michele Mendi pel seu permís per reproduïr la seva foto d’aquest Gratapalles

Duració aproximada: entre 2 i 3 hores.

Paisajes ibéricos: Iberian landscapes

No birders or birds in sight here, just some peaceful scenes from places around Lleida, our little corner of northeast Spain.

Canal d’Urgell between the drylands and Lleida

Evening light, autumn day.

Another view from the Montroig mountain

 Mist rolling in over the hills of Mont-roig.

Montroig mist

Morning.

 FInestres hermitage in Montsec

Spirituality – and the hermit came in search of solitude.

Creaking bones inside, breaking bones outside

Our Lammergeier hides get excellent results, but admittedly are not over spacious.

Bird photographers unloading at the Lammergeier hide 

Photographers getting ready to occupy the Lammergeier hides

Photographers patiently await the arrival of Lammergeiers, Griffon Vultures or Black Vultures. Or perhaps fidget nervously in anticipation of that special shot… the Lammergeier in flight, on the ground, landing, taking off…Either way, there isn’t anywhere for them to go until the designated pick-up time. No wonder they rub and massage their creaking bones when they get out of the hides for a welcome stretch.   

But a few stiff joints are worth it to get that close to the famed bone-breaking Lammergeier.

Adult Lammergeier with bone

Lammergeier with bone

Michele Mendi came to us in mid-November and was very pleased with some of the photos he took. He has very generously offered to share some of them with BirdingInSpain.com and our readers, as a preview of some of his work. 

Adult and immature Lammergeiers in flight

An aerial dispute

Black Vulture by Michele Mendi

Black Vulture, or Black Sheep?

Griffon Vulture

The Griffon Vulture – a handsome bird? 

Many thanks, Michele! Marvellous!

Michele was not alone. Present too was Frenchman Sebastien Beghelli from Naturapics. Sebastien gained a lot of useful experience here, as well as some very good shots which we hope to see in the near future. Come on Sebastien, show us some more!

November visitors also included two of Scandinavia’s top photographers:

Tom Schandy. See some of Tom’s photos and his article  here (someone translate from Norwegian please!)

Brutus Östling from Sweden. See Brutus Östling’s blog article here (English translation available).

And below a couple of the landscapes I enjoy while watching the proceedings from a distance.

Griffon Vulture on the rocks

Mountain view in Spain

Flying birds quiz

Can you identify the flying birds in these photographs?

Flying birds in Spain

Photo flying birds number 1: tricky.

Flying birds in Spain

Photo flying birds number 2: not so tricky, but not easy.

Flying birds in Spain

Photo flying birds number 3: should be easy enough.

BirdingInSpain.com will give a prize to the first 3 correct answers received (all 5 species) which are accompanied with the contestant’s own mystery flight photo.

The best birding hotels in northeast Spain

Part of the autumn maintenance of the BirdingInSpain.com website is the renovation of links to our many recommended hotels. This is the time when the professional establishments that collaborate with BirdingInSpain.com decide if they want to extend their relationship with us for another year, or to say farewell to the birding community.

 

                              Birding group relaxing at Roca Blanca hotel

It should be said that we at BirdingInSpain.com don’t just recommend any old hotel, because if we did we’d be putting our reputation on the line for a very poor return. We either select hotels that we know personally, or hotels which our clients or friends recommend to us. We also apply desirable criteria like an attractive rural setting (with good birding on the doorstep if possible), personal treatment, quality service at a reasonable price and an inclination to understanding a birder’s needs.  

These following hotels have decided to continue their relationship with BirdingInSpain.com and to welcome birders from all over the world:

Delta Hotel, Ebro Delta

Rincón Del Cierzo, Belchite

Allucant, Gallocanta

Castellsdelleida, Montsec

Monestir de les Avellanes, Montsec

Hotel Usón, Hecho Valley

Hospedería Loarre, Sierra de Guara West

Hostería Sierra de Guara, Sierra de Guara East

Hotel Roca Blanca, Aigüestortes East

Hospital de Benasque, Benasque

Hotel Mediodía, Aínsa to Gistaín

Hotel la Garbinada, Drylands of Lleida

Can Navata, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà

Mas del Joncar, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà

La Farinera, Els Ports

Hotel Santa Cruz de la Serós, Hecho Valley

Xalet de Prades, Montsant and Prades

Some others have only just joined us, and are keen to receive birders. Let’s not disappoint them: 

Les Eres, Serra del Cadí

Metsola, Irati and Roncal Valley

Hotel Secaiza, Gallocanta

Casagran, Cardó Massif

Font del Pas, Els Ports

“Photographier les Oiseaux Sauvage” by Franck Renard

Words from the author himself, Franck Renard:

The title of my new book is Photographier les oiseaux sauvage (Photographing wild birds)

Photographier les Oiseaux Sauvage by Franck Renard

It is a guide for beginners in which I give some information and advice to improve the quality of its images of birds in the nature.

Naturally there are some pictures of lammergeiers and Birdinginspain.com is quoted in the practical information !

The book is available on the site of the publisher in France, at this address : www.image-nature.com/objet_126.html

Franck was with us in the Lammergeier hides in February.

I hope your book sells out, Franck. I’ll be ordering mine very soon (and with it the opportunity to practice my secondary school French reading comprehension).

Paddle your canoe

Birding by canoe on the River Ebro 

On a hot summer’s day going canoeing with friends is not a bad idea. Get some exercise, enjoy the landscape, tranquillity and wildlife, have a laugh and be left with the perfect excuse for enjoying a good meal in a local restaurant. If the sun beats down hard there is the shade of the gallery woodland, and you can always splash a bit more as you paddle along. Oh, and wear your swimming costume in case you overturn – as I did.

Miravet and the River Ebro by canoe

11 of us, ranging in age from 11 to a little over 50 paddled the 12 km between Miravet and Benifallet. The nature and adventure sports company Beniemocions based in Benifallet provided the canoes, the tuition, the guidance and also transported us to the river’s edge. Thanks Beniemocions! We had a great time.
 
Here’s the list of the birds I remember seeing along the river:
6 or more Squacco Herons
1 Purple Heron
2 Little Egrets
2 Kingfishers
3 Grey Wagtails
1 Short-toed Eagle
Several Golden Orioles (calling mostly)
Several Bee-eaters
1 Sardinian Warbler

Combine all that activity with a visit to the village and castle of Miravet, the caves of Benifallet, a walk in the sierras of Cardó or Pàndols, an afternoon on the beach, or else somewhere nice and quiet to enjoy a well-deserved siesta.

Birding by canoe on the River Ebro
 

Thanks to Ramon for the use of his photos!

New BirdingInSpain Lammergeier and vulture video

At last Gerd Herren’s super Lammergeier and vulture video is up on the BirdingInSpain.com website! And it’s a film that anyone remotely interested in photographing or filming raptors should not miss.

Belgian Gerd Herren is a professional film-maker who spent several days with his friend Franck Renard in our Lammergeier hides in February. In this short film, approximately 8 minutes long, he magnificently portrays some of their unforgettable experiences, let alone the unique images of Lammergeiers and other vultures they obtained! 

Driving to the lammergeier hide in the snow

Driving along a mountain track in a snowstorm?

How many Lammergeiers?

That’s Steve and Belgian bird photographer Franck Renard. What are they talking about?

Black Vulture at the Lammergeier hide

Black Vultures? In the Pre-Pyrenees of Lleida, Spain?

Adult Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus, with food

A Lammergeier, or Bearded Vulture, with a meaty bone. What’s going to happen next?

The Pre-pyrenees after the snow

The mountains look lovely in the snow, but what about the vultures?

Lammergeiers, Gypaetus barbatus, in the snow in Spain

Well, the snow certainly hasn’t kept the Lammergeiers away!

Lammergeiers, Gypaetus barbatus, at the Lammergeier feeding station

Admiration or rivalry

Click on this link in the photography section of the BirdingInSpain.com website to see the full video.

Steve West i Llucià Ferrer fan el sisó

El sisó de Montsonís 

 Spplllppp!

Aquest dilluns 17 d’agost en TV3 va emetre el programa “Quin país!” presentat per en Llucià Ferrer. El programa va presentar el poble de Montsonís, a prop d’Artesa de Segre. Els televidents vam tindre la oportunitat de veure el castell, alguna de les coves i alguns personatges interessants del poble, a més de sentir explicacions sobre regals inútils, visites al castell, un itinerari de tir amb arc i sortides per observar ocells portades a terme en anglés

Per aquest últim em van demanar que vingués a una entrevista amb en Llucià Ferrer, antic presentador de ràdio de RAC 105.

Vam passar una estona força distesa,  i a en Llucià no li va costar massa demanar coses que en una entrevista formal no s’acostuma a demanar: imitacions de les veus d’alguns ocells. Vam acabar fent l’oriol i el puput (fàcils), i al final, la piece de resistance, el sisó Tetrax tetrax.

Voleu veure com vam plasmar la parada nupcial del sisó? Cliqueu en el següent enllaç per veure el programa:

El sisó segons en Steve i en Llucià Ferrer

TV3 a Montsonís

Darrere de les escenes

Red-rumped Swallow: new species for hotspot list

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica silhouette

Early on Saturday morning (15th August) while out picking Blackberries with the family (they ripen earlier here than in the UK) a familiar call made me look up and spot 2 Red-rumped Swallows near Alòs de Balaguer. A pretty unusual sighting and a new one for my rather neglected Hotspot list, now standing at 196 species since the beginning of the year.

Hotspot zone

The BirdingInSpain.com hotspot 

But that’s not all: we had a pleasant paddle and then strolled in search of a picnic site – somewhere cool and shady, as temperatures were raging close to 40ºC. Well, I was more than a little surprised to see a Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus fluttering around a roadside verge. Only the second time I’ve seen the species, and less than a month after my first observation in the Ebro delta! 

It just goes to show that you should never leave your binoculars at home, even if you’re only going blackberry picking with the family. 

 The Red-rumped Swallow in northeast Spain

 Red-rumped Swallow   Hirundo daurica

The Red-rumped Swallow is a summer visitor to northeast Spain from mid-March to October. Scarce and localised as a breeding bird, it is a regular but uncommon migrant at coastal locations. In recent years it has undergone a range expansion in the region, with breeding proven or suspected in Montsec, Sierra de Guara and the Lleida drylands.

Birding itineraries where you can observe the Red-rumped Swallow:

Cap de Creus, Aiguamölls of Empordà, Montgrí massif, Prades and Montsant ranges, River Ebro, Drylands of Lleida.

Red-rumped Swallow distribution map

Distribution map of Red-rumped Swallow in northeast Spain. We’ll have to fill in a few more green blobs.

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