A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MYSELF

My name is Ponç Feliu Latorre. I was born in Girona in June 27th 1975. I’m Biologist (University

of Girona, 1993-1997), Environmentalist (University of Girona 1997-2000) and Master in Public

Environmental Management and Sustainability (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 2000-

2002).

Ponç Feliu at Aiguamolls Natural Park. August 2013. Foto: Miquel Àngel Lucena

I work as a Director of Consorci del Ter (www.consorcidelter.cat), a consortium composed for

63 municipalities along Ter River Basin, in the north-east Catalonia, where we developed

conservation Projects, such as Riparia-Ter Life (www.liferipariater.com) o Potamo-Fauna Life

(www.lifepotamofauna.com). We also created and take of Ruta del Ter (www.rutadelter.cat), a

210 kms cicling and walking route from the river source at the Pyrenees to the river mouth at

Costa Brava.

Cap de Creus N. P. during a windy tramuntana day and wintering birds in Aiguamolls. February 2013

Since 2001, through the technical buffet we created, Serpa Enginyeria i Consultoria Ambiental

(www.serpa.cat) I work as an ornithologist monitoring birds and doing its breeding and

wintering census in Cap de Creus Natural Park (www.gencat.cat/parcs/cap_de_creus), and

since 2010 also in Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park (www.gencat.cat/parcs/aiguamolls).

I’ve also been very involved with NGO, such in the foundation of Ateneu Naturalista de Girona

(www.ateneunaturalista.org) and Amics dels Aiguamolls (www.apnae.org), and also working

with and helping other institutions such as Institut Català d’Ornitologia (www.ornitologia.org) ,

Sociedad Española de Ornitología / Birdlife (www.seo.org), Iaeden (www.iaeden.cat) and

working as a volunteer in many natural parks in United States (California, Hawaii, Oregon,

Nevada). I’m the author of 7 different books, mainly about discovering Nature in NE Catalonia

(Aiguamolls, Gavarres, Cap de Creus, Girona), about urban Nature in the city of Girona and

about Birds in Cap de Creus.

Some of the books about Birds and Nature written by Ponç Feliu (some of them with other authors)

I’m part of Tramuntana Birding Team (www.tbt.cat), that currently holds the European Big Day

record (217 species in 24 hours). With TBT we have participated and have won many birding

competition in Spain and we one of the team participating in both editions of Rally Birding

Challenge in Perú (www.birdingrallychallenge.com).

AN ECO (OR GREEN) BIG YEAR:

As is widely known in the birding world, a Big Year is a challenge that consists in observing the

most numerous bird species as possible in one calendar year in a region. It’s very popular in

North America, and also in some European Countries. It has even been the done for the whole

world (“biggest year”). However, many birders have recently proposed a new challenge: Eco

Big Years or Green Big Years, where you can’t use any means but our own strength, in aim of

avoid contributing to Climate Change while birding. So, you can go birding by foot, by bike, by

kayak, with horse… but you cannot use any other transport (even train or public transport),

and not even Electric vehicles (which may be charged by not clean energy). And, of course, you

have to do it from your own house in both routes, while going birding and also when coming

back. You can make a trip, far away from home, but you are also supposed to use only your

feet or your bike and, obviously, you can’t leave the bike in a good place and go and come back

from your house by car. As you will see, I have done many several-days-trips by bike during the

Big Year: 2 times to Lleida (300 kms from home), 5 times to Pyrennes, many times to

Aiguamolls, Cap de Creus and Palamós, 1 time to Ebre Delta… And always doing a route by bike

and “sleeping” with it.

MY MEANS

Although I’ve walked a lot (while climbing mountains in the Pyrenees and in Aiguamolls

marshes) my main mean of transport have been the bike. I’ve use my cicling bike Scott Foil

(Ultegra, 2012) for moving around, and some days with dirt roads my Mountain Bike (Scott

BTT, 2009). During my daily life, I always use urban bike, to go to work from Girona to Salt

(about 4 kms).

Bikes I’ve used most frequently during the year (BTT and Road). Aiguamolls - Roses arbour, March 2013

For short movements (<100 kms in one day and with no nights away) I used a backpack or at

most a bike pack ahead. For long distances (such as Lleida, Ebre Delta, etc,) I also used a back

support for holding other complement gear (food, clothes, shoes…). I usually kept my

binoculars around my body, but in some non-productive birding trips I kept them in by back.

When in Aiguamolls I used the Natural Park telescope and only when going to my wife’s house

in the Coast, Palamós, I used the telescope that my family took there by car, for seabirding.

While cycling, I could reach a sustained speed of almost 30 kms/hour for several hours, what

could allow me to be in Aiguamolls or Palamós from home in 1 and a half hours or at the

Pyrenees in less than 5 hours.

The luggage I carried when travelling far away and my urban bike for daily life. Lleida-Girona. May 2013

I also went birding by kayak in the Mediterranean waters and in the Ter River, while in those

places (reached by bike), although they didn’t provide new birds for the year.

Kayaking in the Ter River and in Cap de Creus N.P. with the family. Colomers and Llançà. May-July 2013

CATALONIA, THE GEOGRAPHYCAL CHOSEN LIMITS

I live in Girona, a 100.000 inhabitants city situated at NE Catalonia, not far from the border

with France. It’s about 45 kms south from Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, 60 kms south-west from

Cap de Creus, and 45 kms west from the Mediterranean coast in Palamós. It’s also not far from

the Pyrennes Mountains, about 90 kms. However, the distance to the best birding place in

Catalonia, Ebre Delta, is about 300 kms, a similar distance to Lleida steppes; for that reason, I

just when a couples of time to far, to see 10 or 12 species that can’t be seen in my most closest

region around Girona and Empordà.

During previous years, many birders have make conventional annual lists in Catalonia, some of

them reaching 300 species in one year and even 321 in 2012 (www.reservoirbirds.com). I

personally had never done a serious Big Year before although some years I have counted the

number of birds I’ve seen, never more than 285. Also in Spain and other European countries

there are many birders that keep annual lists, but just a few doing it in the Green or Eco way.

Western Europe Map and Catalonia Map. The red triangle shows where the city of Girona is, at the NE

corner of Iberian Peninsula, not far from the coast and from Several Natural Parks, mainly in Empordà

During the whole year, I kept a blog site, in Catalan, www.ecobigyearcatalunya.blogspot.com

where I have explained everything about this special birding year, every day I have

ecobigyeared. However, during the next pages, I’ll make an English monthly summary about

the most interesting observations and cycling trips I’ve done during the year.

JANUARY:

January the 1st was an important day to start with good sightings, so after New Year’s Eve, I

started cycling towards Aiguamolls. A part from common resident birds and the typical

wintering birds, the most interesting one was Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons),

with two wintering birds in Cortalet Lagoon, where also many Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus

roseus) where feeding. The other important species seen was a Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) near

Torroella de Fluvià and some see birds in Roses Bay, such as Artic Loon (Gavia arctica),

wintering ducks at La Massona, but I missed Spoonbill and Osprey. In the way back to Girona, I

saw one Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), two Redwings (Turdus iliacus) in Congost de Sant Julià,

where I was not lucky with the Eagle Owl.

On January the 2nd I tried to go to Sant Martí de Llèmena, where I missed the Wallcreeper, but

I saw Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Peregrine (Falco

peregrinus) and Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Again to the Llémena Valley, on January the 4th, I

saw a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) at Canet d’Adri, where a Brambling (Fringilla

montifringilla) was seen on January the 5th and I managed to see it in a 40 minutes bike ride

from home.

On January the 11th I rode the bike to Baix Empordà, where I saw Spotless Starling (Sturnus

unicolor) at Platja d’Aro Lagoons, where also some Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

where moving around since last year. I slept in Palamós, where I spent the weekend in my wife

parent’s house. I seawatched there on January the 13th, with Gannet (Morus bassanus), both

Balearic and Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus and Puffinus yelkouan),

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus), Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and great birds

such as Great Skua (Stercorarius skua), 2 Common Scoters (Melanitta nigra) and Razorbill (Alca

torda). On the 45 kms way back, north wind was strong and the temperature was just 6ºC

while I rode my bike to Girona. During January the 15th, a working day in Girona, with my

urban bike I finally managed to see the wintering Mandarine Duck (Aix galericulata) at Onyar

River in Girona, where also a Little Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) and Siskin

(Carduelis spinus) showed around Illa del Ter de Pedret.

On January the 17th, as once a month during wintering time, I went to Aiguamolls to do the

winter wildfowl census. I reached it on the 17th, where I spent the night in Mas Matà, covering

some Cormorant and Egrets roosts at dusk. I missed again the Osprey, but next day was good

for some species, such as Great Norther Diver (Gavia immer), and also black-necked Grebe

(Podiceps nigricollis), a part from Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Crested

Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and Common Porchard (Aythya ferina). During last week of January I

just saw some common birds, like both introduced Parakeets Psittacula krameri and Myipsitta

monachus in the city of Girona, and Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), although I tried several long night

BTT rides along unpaved roads in Gavarres searching unsuccessfully for Woodcock. I finished

January with 124 species and 481 kms.

FEBRUARY:

February started very well, with good wintering species. During February the 1st, I went again

to Aiguamolls from Girona. I stopped in Platja de Sant Pere Pescador, where I saw the two

Velvet scoters (Melanitta fusca) that had been recently seen. I was also lucky with a Merlin

(Falco columbarius) at l’Armentera and with Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) at Aiguamolls,

where a male Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) was actively singing,

although I missed again Osprey at Fluvià River and Bluethroat that had been seen in Estanys

del Matà.

In Llançà, a Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitaries), perched in Quermançó Castle while

crossing Cap de Creus Natural Park. During the next days, wind was so strong (176 kms/hour!),

that I could not come back to Girona by bike since February the 15th. So, during those days, I

kept training hard with many spinning sessions at the gym! On February the 16th I went to Sant

Martí de Llémena, where I slept at a friend’s house and where I heard a Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

for the whole night. Next day we went for a BTT ride around La Barroca and Sant Martí de

Lémena; we missed Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor that had been seen around the same

day, but we saw woodlark (Lullula arborea), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) and Nuthatch

(Sitta europaea), a part from Peregrines, Bullfinches and Hawfinches.

On February the 18th, it was time for next wintering census at Aiguamolls. I left Girona under

pouring rain, and I managed to reach Mas Matà, in Aiguamolls, in less than one hour and a

half. However, it was one of my hardest rides; I arrived absolutely cold and wet and it took me

a long time to heat me up, while Barn Owl and Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) where

screaming at dusk. But it was worthy, because during that day and February the 19th, we saw

Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), up to five Jack Snipes

(Lymnocryptes minimus) at Les Llaunes, and, in Perico’s Marsh (where I had to go on purpose),

there where Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax), Little Ringed Plover

(Charadrius dubius) and finally, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) showed at Caramany.

The end of February was terribly cold (-8ºC at Girona city center) and windy and I just saw

some wintering birds in Girona, such as Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) between flocks of tits.

I also went to Banyoles, where a Ferruginous Duck was seen. I missed it, but I saw some Red-

Crested Pochards (Netta rufina). I finished February with 148 species and 1301 kms.

MARCH:

On March the 3rd, while in Palamós, it was again a good seawatching day, with Kittiwakes

(Rissa tridactyla) and many other seabirds around. In the way back, the first swallows (Hirundo

rustica) showed in La Pera. During the first week of March, strong and wet eastern winds

brought hard rain (called “llevantada”), which also brought many interesting birds, even

inland, such as Little Gull (Larus minutus) in Girona, first record ever. During March the 6th, I

went by BTT to Esclet, where I saw it and, finally, after days and days of deep search, I was

lucky with Cranes (Grus grus), with a flock flying over. The fantastic day end with a Woodcock

(Scolopax rusticola) at dusk, next to Onyar River, a very sought after species for the whole

winter that was almost concluding.

On March the 8th, I went again to Aiguamolls, where I saw Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus),

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), several new

common “summer” birds, a couple of two Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and I missed

a Black stork. We slept at a friend’s house at El Far d’Empordà.

On March the 10th, an early morning SMS advised me of interesting birds at Platja d’Aro, where

I fast reached the new lagoons and I see a Common Gull (Larus canus), a rare bird in Catalunya,

after a 78 kms ride. Again to Esclet on February the 12th, where I miss the Spotted Crake, but I

see the Iberian Shrike (Lanius meridionalis), seen during the morning, and also on March the

15th, where just produced Sand Martin (Riparia riparia), a part from more cranes, kites and

hundreds of swallows. Spring is already around, during the third week of March, with Black

Swift (Apus apus), Alpine Swift (Apus melba), and many other common migrating birds around

Girona green patches, the most interesting one was a confident Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus

schonobaenus) seen in Hortes de Santa Eugènia on March the 21th that remained there for

several days.

Again to Empordà on March the 23th, first to Aiguamolls de Pals and Estany de Boada, then to

Palamós, where I saw some Parasitic Skuas (Stercorarius parasiticus) and dozens of Cory’s

Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), during several days while in Palamós. On March the 27th, I

go to Aiguamolls from Palamós, and then to Llançà, during that long-ride day of more than 130

kms.

While in Aiguamolls, many spring migrants, with interesting new species such as Audouin Gull

(Larus audouinni) in Pals ricefields (after a flat tire), a female Little Crake (Porzana parva) in

Estany Europa during a family bike ride, and also a beautiful Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo

daurica) in Llançà feeding very close to our house. I missed Great Spotted Cuckoo and Black

Stork again.

Last days of March, while Easter Holidays, we spent nice days in Llançà, with frequent rides to

Aiguamolls, where Garganeys (Anas querquedula), Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava), Night

Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) have just arrived from Africa.

Finally an Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) show in Matà Marshes while ringing in Aiguamolls.

Some rides and family walks around Cap de Creus and Sant Pere de Rodes provided nice views

of Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia

cantillans), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

and Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).

Pallid Harrier by Alex Ollé and Little crake by Dani Valverde

However, the most important sighting was a male Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), a new bird

in Catalonia for me, seen in Delfià by many birders during March the 27th. I finished March with

2316 kms and 186 species .

APRIL:

During the first days of April, I went to Hortes de Santa Eugènia and Esclet several times,

where I miss the Red-Throated and Pipit and the Short-Eared Owl, both seen for just one day.

On April the 5th, again under cold rain, I rode my bike to Palamós, where I seawatch during the

weekend, with a nice puffin (Fratercula arctica) seen close to the coast at dusk, and hundreds

of Shearwaters, Little Gulls, skuas and and even Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), while several

dolphin where passing next to Cap Gros. During the second week of April, many common new

birds increased my list around Girona, Els Àngels and Salt, with Northern Whethear (Oenanthe

oenanthe), Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus),

Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) and even a Wood Warbler

(Phylloscopus sibilatrix) found in Fontajau, next to Ter River.

On April the 12th, a nice ride, finally with good weather to Aiguamolls again, provided many

new common birds, such as Nightingale (Luscinia megarrhynchos), Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), both Reed and Great Reed Warblers

(Acrocephalus scirpaceus and A. arundinaceus), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Whiskered Tern

(Chlidonias hybrida), and an valuous Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) at Estany d’en Túries.

I slept at Mas Matà, where we ringed for a couple of days in company of my family, with Scop’s

Owl (Otus scops), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Grasshoper Warbler (Locustella naevia), and

in Estany de Palau, a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius), finally delighted

me while screaming and flying around. However not any single Bittern had been heard there

for the whole month. A Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temmincki) was a very apreciated species to

end a really good weekend. During Mid April, I tried unsuccesfully a couple of times to look for

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), at Fornells and Riudellots, but I finally heard it at Cartellà, not far

from Girona. Some family rides and walks to Banyoles, Santa Eugènia and Esclet during

weekends produced new birds, such as Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

and even 4 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) -a rare bird so far from the Pirineu Mountains- and

the first Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) showed around at Hortes de Santa Eugènia on

April the 21th. Absolutely wonderful spring family days where very welcommed after a hard

winter time. During those days, althought I missed a Great Snipe at Esclet, I heard a Quail

(Coturnix coturnix) while a male Montagu´s Harrier (Circus pygargus) flew over the green

cultivated fields.

On April the 23th, Sant Jordi’s Day, I got up really early, rode to Aiguamolls and enjoy a

fantastic day, with really important birds in Estanys del Matà such as Curlew Sandpiper

(Calidris ferruginea), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), a flock of Collared Pratincoles

(Glareola pratincola) and two very sought after birds: Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) in

Prats de Can Comas and finally an adult Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) flying over El Matà Tower.

Last weekend of April were probably the best birding spring days in years. Easterly strong (and

wet!) winds, brought dozens of scarce birds in Girona, such as Wood Warblers and Montagu’s

Harriers everywhere. In Empordà, more than 10 Collared Flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis),

where seen, one of them, a male, found by me close to Romanyà; that was my lucky moment

of the year! (The same day at dusk, I also saw a female, found in Girona).

I also saw many migrating birds in Palamós, such as Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Pied Flycatcher

(Muscicapa striata) and hundreds of seabirds very close to the coast, with some interesting

new species like Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) and even Montagu¡s Harrier on migration. The month concluded

with another new bird in Catalonia for me, a Baillon’s Crake (Porzana pusilla), found in Platja

d’Aro on April the 30th. April ended with 3125 kms and 227 bird species seen.

MAY:

May is a “key month” for migrating birds, and I don’t want to miss many spring migrants.

Although on May the 1st first I missed an Icterine Warbler and Storm Petrel in Cap de Creus,

where I had to go for job by car, May the 4th is The Day. It’s when our Big Day (we call it Bird

Marathon) is, and our team, Tramuntanada Birding Team is ready to bird for 24 hours non-stop

and, again, with Green (or “Eco”) category. So, on May the 3rd, I had to go by bike, up to the

Pyrenees from Girona, a 6 hour ride, up to 2130 meters high at Vallter, where the Ter River

starts. A cyclist friend joined me for half way (72 kms) and, during the day I saw new mountain

birds such as Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Black woodpecker

(Dryocopus martius), Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), Citril Finch (Serinus citronella) and even a

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) after a snow shower.

On May the 4th, the Big Day didn’t start very well; no Tengmalm’s Owl singing. Later on, we did

see Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) and also Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), Yellowhammer (Emberiza

citronella) and, while in Garrotxa, many raptors were migrating north, such as Honey Buzzard

(Pernis apivorus), Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), Vultures, Goshawks and Sparrowhawks.

During that Big Day, we also managed to see many new birds that winter in Africa, mainly in

Empordà and Aiguamolls, some of them new for my EcoBigYear List, such as Melodious

Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta), Roller (Coracias garrulus), Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis),

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) and also

Montagu’s Harrier, Red-Footed Falcon and lots of interesting species in Delfià and Mollet.

Our itinerary during the Big Day, Grasshopper Warbler and Red-footed Falcon by Aleix Comas

We also saw and White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)

and Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), scarce migratory birds. On May the 5th, the day after

our Green Big Day, I missed the Great Snipe seen at Estanys del Matà. I came back to Girona,

with a short stop at Ter River, where we paddled for a couple of hours with the family.

After some days around Girona, May the 10th was an important day. I got up very early, and

again 50 kms to Aiguamolls, plus 25 more up to Pla de les Gates, in Cap de Creus, where the

first Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) for Catalonia was. I also found Thekla’s Lark (Galerida

theklae) and Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata), although no Rock Thrush, no Ortolan

Bunting and no Black-eared Wheatear showed off. In Aiguamolls, two excellent new birds:

Great Snipe (Gallinago media) and Knott (Calidris canutus), both very seldom seen in Empordà.

The first Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) for Catalunya was in Cap de Creus on May (Albert Burgas)

Mig May didn’t provide much birds; I missed a Pectoral Sandpiper in Pals, but I saw Turtle Dove

(Streptopelia turtur) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) during a night ride in Salt, where I

missed the Red-necked Nightjar twice. On May the 20th, we make the “Two Parks Marathon”,

walking 42 kms from Aiguamolls to Montgrí (on the way up, I cicled). It provided Oystercatcher

(Haematopus ostralegus) and Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinoides), but the weather

conditions where poor, and I had to ride back to Girona under the rain.

May was almost over when I did, with Oriol Pallarés, a cyclist friend, the big sping bike trip: We

went from Girona to Lleida and come back, in a 3 day tour. We did more than 600 kms, but it

was worthy. The steppe areas in Alfés provided Black Wheather (Oenanthe leucura), Red-

necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis), many Little Bustards (Tetrix tetrix), Greater Short-toed

Lark (Calandrella rufescens), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), Calandra Lark

(Melanocorypha calandra) and, a little bit south and very close to the Catalan and Aragonese

border, we found Black-eared Wheather (Oenanthe hispanica) and Black-bellied Sandgrouse

(Pterocles orientalis). Finally, in Utxesa Marshes we managed to see Bearded Reedling

(Panurus biarmicus), Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) at Estany d’Ivars, and the only

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) seen this spring in Catalonia showed very well in an

open area close to Lleida City. 624 kms really good birds!

The sought after Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Lleida Steppes photographed by Jose Guerra

May finished with the amazing number of 4483 kms and 268 species.

JUNE:

June was the “break”. After the hard Lleida bicycle trip, I had lots of works. And, after that, we

spent 15 days in Perú, invited by the Birding Rally Challenge for second time, with ou

Tramuntana Birding Team. Great experience and hundreds of new birds. You can find more

information at .(http://www.birdingrallychallenge.com/2013)

However, at the end of June I trained hard by bike, preparing for a summer that would bring

me far from Girona, up to the Western Catalan Pyrenees at Vall d’Aran, and many other places

around. June finished with almost May’s number of 4489 kms and 268 species.

JULY:

The first week of July was around Girona, where I finally saw the Little Bittern (Ixorbychus

minutus) at Hortes de Santa Eugènia. Then, mid-june rides to Aiguamolls provided Slender-

billed Gull (Larus genei) at Estany d’en Túries, where many Kentish Plovers breed.

Bee-eaters, Hoopoe, Lesser Kestrels, Great-Spotted Cuckoos and many other birds were seen

during the Roller census at Aiguamolls, while in Cap de Creus no Storm Petrels were seen on

the seabird count. However, Eleonora’s Falcons (Falco eleonorae) showed very well at their

roost on Ter River at Verges and, in Palamós on July the 14th 2 Storm Petrels (Hydrobates

pelagicus) finally flew around, not far from the coast, next to hundreds of Shearwaters.

The end of July, just about the beginning of our holydays and during Tour de France awesome

competition, it was already time for the mountain birds I still was missing. So, I climbed again

with Oriol Pallarés to Ripollès, where my family joined me and we spent 5 days birding and

walking up to really beautiful Pyrenees landscapes.

However, it was not easy, and birds like Grey Partridge, Ptarmigan, Alpine Accentor and

Wallcreeper hided from us. But we did see Capercallie (Tetrao urogallus), and also more

common mountain birds, such as Rock Trush (Monticola saxatilis), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza

hortulana), Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). We also enjoyed nice views of an Egyptian

Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Coll de la Creueta.

So, after such nice family days at the end of july, with extraordinary nice weather at the

Pyreenes in Ripollès and Cerdanya, July ended with 5531 kms and 278 species.

AUGUST:

The first week of August, during our annual holidays, we stayed at our apartment in Llança,

north of Cap de Creus Natural Park. Although no new birds around (just Storm Petrels,

Eleonora’s Falcon) we enjoyed kids, kayaking, beach, fishing, relaxing and hard cycle climbs to

Cap de Creus, Mare de Déu del Mont or almost daily to Sant Pere de Rodes twice (go up from

one side, Port de la Selva and again from Vilajuïga).

On august the 11th, my really big Catalan Tour started. While I was going everywhere by bike,

Mercè and my kids Ponç and Quim moved around by car, although we spent many days

together climbing mountains, walking in forests or birding around Pyrenees valleys. I went

from Girona to Cerdanya, crossing Coll de Canes (1004m), Collada de Toses (1810), the long

Cerdanya Valley up to the steep Port del Cantó (1720) and all the way up to Port de la

Bonaigua (2072m.), where we climbed high mountains at its north face to see Alpine Choughs,

Lammergeier and two new birds, Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) and Snowfinch (Montifringilla

nivalis).

Next days we enjoyed Vall d’Aran, Vielha and Portilhon, where we also saw Middle Spotted

Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) at its only Catalan distribution site, and Eurasian

Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). After crossing again the Port de la Bonaigua (this time from

north side), we went down to Pallars, where we looked unsuccessfully for Ptarmigan during

two nice mountain days.

On August the 13th we left Vall d’Aran south, to some remote Pallars valleys, where we looked

unsuccessfully for Ptarmigan during two nice mountain days. I spent many hours by bike, first

climbing and then going downhill for many fantastic mountain passes. Once in the Pre-

Pyrenees, we climb to a small town with a trash heap, an amazing vulture’s feeder, where we

saw up to 12 Lammergeiers and 11 Black Vultures, two of them “wild” ones, than means,

“countable” for my Eco Big Year List. From Pallars, a made a long ride south to Lleida Steppes

(again!), where a male Lesser Shrike (Lanius minor), the only wild one left in the whole Iberian

distribution range, was still waiting for me to leave to Africa.

A part from that, I saw again Calandra Larks, Pin-tailed Sandgrouses and, another valuable bird,

a group of 16 Dotterels (Charadrius morinellus), that regularly stop at Alfés during their fall

migration route, photographed and founded by José Guerra and Marc Gálvez.

My Catalan Tour was about to end, but I still went a little bit further, to spent some nice days

at some friend’s house at Mora d’Ebre, close to Ebre’s Delta. So, on August the 20th, me a my

Mora’s friend went down to the Delta, where I could still add two more birds, Caspian Tern

(Sterna caspia) and Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). We also saw many birds I has just seen

once during the year, such as Greater Short-toed Lark, Oystercatcher, Slender-billed Gull,

Common, Black, Gull-billed and Little Terns, Purple Gallinule, etc. I just had to come back to

Girona, what meant more than 300 kms from where I was in that moment. And that just

happened on August the 21th, when I went from there to La Selva (close to Girona), with 241

kms in one single day, following the Catalan coast and crossing Tarragona and Barcelona from

south to north.

That day was really hard, not really because of the hot weather, the exhaustion or the strong

August sun for the whole day, but mainly for the danger that means crossing such big routes

and cities. I finally managed to reach Girona landscapes, after still adding to more birds at my

list, not really exiting ones, actually; Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) and Red-billed Leiothrix

(Leiothrix lutea).

After some relaxing days in Girona, Palamós and Llançà, August ended with two rarities at

Aiguamolls, a juvenil Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) and two young Citrine Wagtails

(Motacilla citreola) at Estanys del Matà, found by Alex Ollé and photographed by Pau Garcia.

August ended with some nice days at Cap de Creus, where me and my family saw Bonelli’s and

Short-toed Eagles, Scop’s Owls, Nightjars, Eagle Owls, we ringed Red-backed Shrikes, Orphean

Warblers, we dived, we kayaked at the beach and we unsuccessfully looked for the missing

Icterine Warbler.

We So, this exhausting August cycle tour around Catalonia brought me to finish that month

with an amazing number of kilometers and birds, that I could had never imagined some

months ago. I finished August with 6844 kms and 291 species.

SEPTEMBER:

During the first September days, I still wanted to look for the few mountain species that I had

not seen in Vall d’Aran and Cerdanya. So, on September the 2nd, I cycled up to Vallter again,

where we slept with friends and my father and, after having searched it for more than 5 nights,

a Tengmalm’s (Aegolius funereus) Owl finally answered us back.

September the 3rd was an spectacular day, with a group of Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus), some

Dotterels, Lammergeier, Rock Thrush, lots of Griffon Vultures, Choughs, Alpine Accentors

(Prunella collaris) and even a Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), in company of marmotes,

Chamois and deers. It has been worthy to cycle all the way again to the Pyrenees, and to walk

up to almost 3000 meters high peaks.

After some more days in Empordà and Cap de Creus (lots of Shearwaters, Storm Petrels,

waders in Aiguamolls), with no new birds, we made so ending-summer mountain excursions,

just before we worked again. Then, Mid-September became a hard break, with no new birds,

no much cycling, and most of all, waiting for new rarities to arrive.