2 April 2018

Barcelona and Scotland Trip Reports

Date: 1st April 2018
Location: Barcelona, Scotland and Back in the UK
Weather: Barcelona - Blue Skies, Light Winds and 20+ Degrees
Scotland - Cloudy, Rain and Windy
Cheddar Reservoir

Species Highlights: 
Barcelona
House Martin, Red-Rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Kestrel, Serin, Yellow-Legged Gull, Monk Parakeet, Spotless Starling, Peregrine Falcon, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Rose-Ringed Parakeet, Alpine Accentor
Scotland 
Hooded Crow,Ringed Plover, Curlew, Razorbill, Guillemot

Barcelona Trip Reports here:

I visited Barcelona from 25th March to 29th March for a City Trip so didn't have my birding lenses or binoculars, I also didn't do any birding, so anything I seen was a unexpected bonus. We stayed in the Hilton at the Diagonal Mar area.


On the first morning, we walked through Parc De La Ciutadella on our way to the Centre and within minutes I spotted a single Spotless Starling feeding alongside some Starlings. With that a Monk Parakeet starting feeding alongside them also! 



Inside the park, there was Yellow-Legged Gull, and normal UK birds, but plenty more Monk Parakeet and a single pair of Rose-Ringed Parakeet (Ring-Necked Parakeet)





We spent most the day in Parc De Montjuic which had views of the City and Port.

Plenty of singing Serin about, Chiffchaff, a single Sardinian Warbler singing from the cliff and some butterflies - Swallowtails and Spanish Wall Brown.



The second day we went to Park Guell, and once again plenty of singing Serin and Parakeets.



Our last full day we went to Monserrat via the Train and spent the morning there.

A few surprises here! Blue Rock Thrush displaying and singing away from the cliff edge.



Also a Alpine Accentor was a very unexpected find, it posed nicely before continuing to feed.


Overall a very successful trip and will have to return to do some birding!



Scotland trip Dunoon

 A coach trip mainly but took my camera and binoculars just in case! After the 11 hour coach journey up....11 hours i know! I arrived in Dunoon and after checking in headed down to the Firth of Clyde estuary shore, soon had hooded Crow, Oystercatchers and Redshank in view.
Hooded crow seemed very jumpy but great to watch collecting shellfish.





Curlew stayed distant but again nice to watch it feed along shore.


Went on a few day trips Oban, Loch Lomond and was surprised how little bird life was about, Oban 1 Black Guillemot, 2 Red Breasted Mergansers a few Turnstone on beach was about it. Hooded Crow was the most abundant species.


Went every morning and evening down to Clyde but again little about, a couple of Ringed Plover blending into the pebbles.


A few Razorbill around 40 Eider and a few more Red Breasted Merganser. I walked around 5 miles either side of the hotel.


Some stunning landscapes this one from Inveraray looking across to Inveraray castle.
Next trip to Scotland will be for the Chequered Skipper in June,
 let's not hope it'll take 11 hours !!


Cheddar Reservoir

Headed down to Cheddar for a couple of year ticks Common Scoter and the Slavonian Grebe which had been showing, on arriving not showing so almost walked halfway round before seeing the Scoter very distant but a few shots. 


Carried on around 3/4 way round got on to the Slavonian Grebe, showing much closer.


Such a smart little bird.



Saw a few House Martin i think but i'll wait to tick those, a few Chiffchaff heard calling on the 3 miles walk around. My uk year list now stands at 139 world year list at 173.

Thanks For Looking! 
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