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Sunday, December 22, 2013

14/12/2013: inner 'ría'

On Saturday 14th December, around 9 h in the morning, we left O Grove harbour towards A Lanzada bay. The weather was good but strong swell was present. Not far away from the harbour, we sighted a small group of Common Bottlenose Dolphins in an area where sightings are very usual, close to the eastern side of Meloxo´s mussel rafts polygon.
When we got close to Noro islet, the rough sea prevented us from going around Sálvora island and even go further towards A Lanzada bay.
One mile east from Sálvora island we threw oil and chum overboard, but just around 40 gulls out of the hundred which were overflying Vionta or on the rocky small islands of the archipelago came to us.
About 10:30 h we went towards the small island of Rúa, following the alternative plan to go on a trip around the Ria. After going around Rúa, we headed the sea inlet of Rianxo.
On our way we could see two flocks of Grey Plovers along with one Bar-tailed Godwit. There were great numbers of waders around the shore of Abanqueiro, which actually shows that that area is perfect for spoting this species from shore, although there was no chance of having a closer view by boat.
However, we were not lucky this time with our targets... only José Luis Fernández Carnero managed to take a picture of a Great Northern Loon in flight, which we could not see again. After reaching the area of Os Lombos do Ulla we came back. We went further down to Cortegada island bordering its northern side. Near the small island of  As Briñas, we sighted a flock of Eurasian Spoonbills and Curlews which let us photograph them.
After going down the Arousa island bridge we found a big flock of Common Scoters near another one of European Shags.
On the rocks of the southwest side of Carreirón point we sighted a flock of Eurasian Oystercatchers.
Going back towards the harbour, we sighted again a group of  Common Bottlenose Dolphins which were fishing, close to the area where we had already seen them in the morning.
We came back in the afternoon. It was not the best trip, according to the number of species sighted, but it was a lovely trip, in which we could enjoy the coast and this beautiful 'ria' from a different point of view.

Table of sightings, with highlight in bold:

Latin name
English name
N
Notes
Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard
2

Melanitta nigra
Common Scoter
109

Gavia immer
Great Northern Loon
1

Podiceps cristatus
Great Crested Greve
1

Ardea cinerea
Grey Heron
31

Egretta garzetta
Little Egret
24

Platalea leucorodia
Eurasian Spoonbill
17
Good number
Phalacrocorax carbo
Great Cormorant
302

Phalacrocorax aristotelis
European Shag
409

Morus bassanus
Northern Gannet
9

Haematopus ostralegus
Eurasian Oystercatcher
121

Pluvialis squatarola
Grey Plover
167

Actitis hypoleucos
Common Sandpiper
3

Arenaria interpres
Ruddy Turnstone
18

Limosa lapponica
Bar-tailed Godwit
1

Numenius arquata
Eurasian Curlew
46

Stercorarius skua
Great Skua
2

Chroicephalus ridibundus
Black-headed Gull
195

Larus michahellis
Yellow-legged Gull
560

Larus fuscus
Lesser Black-backed Gull
82

Larus marinus
Great Black-backed Gull
29

Sterna sandvicensis
Sandwich Tern
42

Motacilla alba
White Wagtail
2

Corvus corone
Carrion Crow
8

Stercorarius sp
Unidentified skua
1

Tursiops truncatus
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
15




Some pictures of the journey (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez and Juan Gómez Escariz.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz 
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) (right), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) (center), 14/12/2013, Carreirón point, Arousa island (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) (top), 14/12/2013, Carreirón point, Arousa island (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.


Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.


Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.


Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), 14/12/2013, O Grove harbour (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz 
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), 14/12/2013, O Grove harbour (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Monday, October 14, 2013

12/10/2013 - the day of the 6 Minke whales

Saturday 12th October 2013 will be remembered by a really exceptional sighting: no less than 6 Minke Whales seen at close range during 20 intense minutes at 12 miles W of Sálvora island. But there were more interesting things in this pelagic trip, which started at 8:45 at O Grove harbour, with cloudy sky and masses of birds in the mussel rafts in the 'ría', besides a small group of Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Balearic Shearwaters, Northern Gannets and European Shags popped up in the external area of the 'ría' as we approached Pombeiro islet. After surpassing the southern tip of Sálvora island of Sálvora, we faced the first "chum" at 12 miles WSW of this island, observing Great and Sooty Shearwaters, Common Scoters, Great and Arctic Skuas and an unusually high number of Northern Gannets and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Only one indeterminate storm-petrel crossed the path of the boat at the same time as small pods of Common Dolphins delighted the passage and crew when approaching the 'Chasula'.

'Chumming' was very productive, with a group of 15 Sabine's Gulls, and a mass of gulls, including Mediterranean Gulls and a single Great Black-backed Gull. The second "chum", further north, was unforgettable, with the appearance of four Minke Whales very close todo the boar, plus two a little more distant. They were found feeding in that point, swimming in the surface and blowing, performing synchronized immersions and sudden appearances at barely 10 m from the "Chasula". One of them was enormous, reaching (if not surpassing)10 m of length. Eventual sightings were 'eclipsed' by the adrenaline rush due Minke Whale observations but were also appreciated by the participants: more Sabine's Gulls (61 different individuals), a Black Tern, one Razorbill, three Manx Shearwaters, groups of Common Dolphins and a Sunfish. One of us photographed also a Little Gull. When entering the ria through the islets north of Sálvora islands, two raptors were spotted: a female Marsh Harrier, soaring at Noro isled, and a female Merlin perched in the top of this islet. Way back to harbour was highlighted by groups of Balearic Shearwater, a Common Gull and a playful group of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, that, with their jumps, celebrated this trip, named 'Do Marisco' after the shellfish fair, but could be appropriated called the 'Of the Minke Whales'.

Table of sightings soon.

And some photos, (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez and Juan Gómez Escariz. Also a video (c) Cosme D. Romay, avaliable in the Youtube channel of the Grupo Naturalista Hábitat:

Rorcual aliblanco (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Rorcuales aliblancos (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.


 Balea alibranca (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas ao W da illa de Sálvora (SW Galiza) (c) Cosme D. Romay Cousido.

Delfín común (Delphinus delphis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Delfín común (Delphinus delphis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela capirotada (Puffinus gravis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela balear (Puffinus mauretanicus), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela balear (Puffinus mauretanicus), 12/10/2013, ría de Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Alcatraz atlántico (Morus bassanus), juvenil, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Esmerejón (Falco columbarius), 12/10/2013, islote de Noro, junto a Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota cabecinegra (Larus melanocephalus), adulto, 12/10/2013, puerto de O Grove (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Gaviota cabecinegra (Larus melanocephalus), inmaturo de segundo invierno, 12/10/2013, puerto de O Grove (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Monday, October 7, 2013

04/10/2013: trip with the Biologists' College

English version soon

A media mañana del día 4 de octubre de 2013 salimos un grupo de observadores en una salida promovida por el Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas y el Colegio Oficial de Biólogos de Galicia, en coordinación con Intramar, S. L. El mar, con ligero mar de fondo, y el cielo despejado justo en O Grove (no así en los montes próximos) anunciaban una salida cómoda. Fuimos navegando hacia la zona de bateas al norte de O Grove, observando especies como garza real, cormorán moñudo, correlimos tridáctilo, gavión atlántico y charrán patinegro, entre otros. Ya en la boca de la ría aparecerían las primeras pardelas baleares y alcatraces atlánticas. Alrededor de las 12:00 llegamos al embarcadero de la isla de Sálvora, siendo recibidos por Roberto, el guía y vigilante de esta isla del Parque Nacional. En su compañía fuimos recorriendo la cara este de Sálvora, hasta llegar a la aldea abandonada. Hubo observaciones de aves como curruca cabecinegra, rabilarga y capirotada, verderón común, mirlo común, acentor común e incluso dos azores comunes, dos busardos ratoneros y nada menos que un aguilucho lagunero. También se anotaron reptiles y varias especies de mariposas.
Alrededor de las 14:30 partimos hacia el canal norte de Sálvora y nos dirigimos hacia el punto de chum de las 6 millas al W de la punta Couso, donde el aceite atrajo cinco paíños europeos, celebrados por todo el pasaje. Al chum congelado entró un págalo grande, pardela sombría e incluso charranes patinegros.
En el regreso se verían más pardelas y multitud de gaviotas, además de dos delfines comunes.
Ya en la ría, navegamos hacia la isla de Rúa disfrutando de grupos de pardelas baleares y cormoranes moñudos, con algunas gaviotas cabecinegras posadas en el agua, terminando la jornada con los saltos de delfines mulares cerca del puerto de O Grove.

Aquí se detalla la tabla de resultados. En negrita, observaciones destacadas. En cursiva, cifras
aproximadas:


Nombre científico
Nombre castellano
TOTAL
Notas
Melanitta nigra
Negrón común
2
Macho y hembra
Hydrobates pelagicus
Paíño europeo
6

Puffinus griseus
Pardela sombría
7

Puffinus puffinus
Pardela pichoneta
1
Desgastado
Puffinus mauretanicus
Pardela balear
88
1 muerta, enmallada
Morus bassanus
Alcatraz atlántico
26
1 muerto, flotando
Phalacrocorax carbo
Cormorán grande
3

Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Cormorán moñudo
425

Egretta garzetta
Garceta común
1

Ardea cinerea
Garza real
5

Circus aeruginosus
Aguilucho lagunero
1
Juvenil/hembra en Sálvora
Accipiter gentilis
Azor
2
Macho y hembra (Sálvora)
Buteo buteo
Busardo ratonero
2
En Sálvora
Haematopus ostralegus
Ostrero euroasiático
1

Charadrius hiaticula
Chorlitejo grande
23
En Sálvora
Calidris canutus
Correlimos gordo
1
En Sálvora
Calidris alba
Correlimos tridáctilo
50
En Sálvora y en la ría
Calidris alpina
Correlimos común
1

Actitis hypoleucos
Andarríos chico
1

Arenaria interpres
Vuelvepiedras común
7

Stercorarius skua
Págalo grande
1

Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Gaviota reidora
101

Larus melanocephalus
Gaviota cabecinegra
22

Larus fuscus
Gaviota sombría
32

Larus michahellis
Gaviota patiamarilla
1491
1 tipo L. m. atlantis
Larus marinus
Gavión atlántico
8
Todos adultos
Sterna sandvicensis
Charrán patinegro
24

Motacilla flava
Lavandera boyera
4
En Sálvora
Motacilla alba
Lavandera blanca
4
En Sálvora
Troglodytes troglodytes
Chochín común
2
En Sálvora
Prunella modularis
Acentor común
2
En Sálvora
Erithacus rubecula
Petirrojo europeo
20
En Sálvora
Phoenicurus ochruros
Colirrojo tizón
2
En Sálvora
Oenanthe oenanthe
Collalba gris
1
En Sálvora
Saxicola torquatus
Tarabilla común
4
En Sálvora
Turdus merula
Mirlo común
6
En Sálvora
Sylvia undata
Curruca rabilarga
1
En Sálvora
Sylvia melanocephala
Curruca cabecinegra
2
En Sálvora
Sylvia communis
Curruca zarcera
1
En Sálvora
Sylvia atricapilla
Curruca capirotada
10
En Sálvora
Carduelis chloris
Verderón común
10
En Sálvora
Carduelis cannabina
Pardillo común
25
En Sálvora
Scolopacidae
Limícola no identificada
2

Delphinus delphis
Delfín común
3

Tursiops truncatus
Delfín mular
5

Podarcis bocagei
Lagartija de Bocage
4
En Sálvora
Timon lepidus
Lagarto ocelado
2
En Sálvora
Pieris rapae
Blanquita de la col
2
En Sálvora
Pontia daplidice
Blanquiverdosa
1
En Sálvora
Coenonympha pamphilus
Níspola
1
En Sálvora
Pararge aegeria
Maculada
3
En Sálvora
Vanessa atalanta
Numerada
1
En Sálvora
  Y también algunas fotografías (PRONTO)