Report on rare birds in Spain in 2000

Full article

Published:

Volume 49(1), June 2002. Pages 141-171.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Observaciones de aves raras en España, año 2000

Abstract:

This is the 17th annual report of the Spanish Ornithological Society´s Rarities Committee. It considers 321 new records pertaining to 110 species, with an acceptance rate of 77.7 %. Species new to the Spanish list are Dwarf Bittern Ardeirallus sturmii (first accepted record for the Palearctic, from Gran Canaria island), Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica (two in the Iberian peninsula, year1999) and Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus (Minorca island, Balearics, year 1997). Second accepted records are given for Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens, King Eider Somateria spectabilis, Moussier´s Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri and Desert Warbler Sylvia nana. Here included there are also the first accepted records for Bulwer´s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii in the Spanish part of the Iberian peninsula, for Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus in the Balearic islands, and for the following species in the Canary islands: Great Northern Diver Gavia immer, Western Reef Egretta gularis, Great White Egret E. alba, Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (of unknown origin), Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Common Crane Grus grus, Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra, Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola, Brambling Fringilla montifringilla and Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. Also, old literature here reviewed have brought the acceptance of the only record so far of Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus (year 1855) and the first historical records of White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata (1914) and Radde´s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzii (1968), but also the deletion from the Spanish list of White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (one record, 1985) and Cape Gannet Morus capensis (the only accepted record, from 1985, is now accepted only as Cape / Australian Gannet Morus capensis / serrator). Other highlights include a thorough review of the records of Western Reef Egret (49, from which 22 are now accepted as relating to Western Reef Egret and 7 as presumed hybrids of this species with Little Egret Egretta garzetta); the first ever breeding proofs of Little Swift Apus affinis in Europe; five different records of Rüppell´s ¨Vulture Gyps rueppellii, and 11 individuals of Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti observed in the Canaries. In future reports, the Spanish Ornithological Society´s Rarities Committee will take into consideration the records of Roseate Tern Sterna dougalli, but will cease to consider, from 2003 onwards, those of Mute Swan Cygnus olor and Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea.