Spain; Petrola steppes, Castilla-La Mancha
December 2012, list with updates
Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Species recorded on one-day visits from the coast, mainly in winter
This is an upland plain/steppe area in Castilla-La Mancha, just south-east of Albacete, mentioned in WWBNES (page 157, 2008 edn). From Los Alcazares on the Murcian coast, where we sometimes stay in winter, travelling time to Petrola is about 1 hour 50 mins. Not in the same league as parts of Extremadura scenically or in sheer numbers of species, but compact, not without charm, and generally easy to do. The wetlands, both permanent and ephemeral, can be good
Spain; Petrola steppes in winter GALLERY
INFO
WWBNES - Where to Watch Birds in Northern & Eastern Spain. Michael Rebane & Ernest Garcia. Helm, 2008
BirdLife factsheet Pétrola-Almansa-Yecla BirdLife
The Plains Of Petrola Costa Blanca Bird Club
ambientea
BIRDS - 76 species
Greylag Goose - Anser anser - 3 Coral Rubio 24/12/12. 2 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna - 500+ 24/12/12. 9 Laguna de Petrola 10/12/17.
Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17.
Gadwall - Anas strepera - 50+ 24/12/12.
Eurasian Teal - Anas crecca - 250+ 24/12/12.
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos - 500+ 24/12/12.
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata - 1000+ 24/12/12.
Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina - 50+ 24/12/12. 1 male La Higuera 7/2/19.
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina - 60+ 24/12/12.
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala - 3 24/12/12. 20+ Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17.
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis - 20+ 24/12/12.
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo - 3+ 24/12/12, 1 20/12/17.
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus - 80+ Laguna de Petrola 24/12/12. 10 Petrola 10/12/17. c10 Petrola 7/2/19.
Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus - 2 24/12/12.
Spanish Imperial Eagle - Aquila adalberti - 1 juvenile near Higueruela 7/2/19. Apparently now breeding near Albacete.
Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 5+ 20/12/17. 8 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus - 3 males 24/12/12. 1 male 10/12/17.
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo - 3 24/12/12. 3+ 10/12/17, 3 20/12/17. Several 7/2/19.
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Purple Swamp-Hen - Porphyrio porphyrio - 3 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Common Crane - Grus grus - 9 10/12/17, 29 Laguna de Petrola 12/12/17. 110 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Great Bustard - Otis tarda - 21 at three sites 24/12/12. 15 Coral Rubio 10/12/17, 31 there 20/12/17. Total 43 throughout 7/2/19.
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - 4 juvs Laguna de Petrola 2/10/24
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus - Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus - 500+ 24/12/12; 21 7/2/19; 30+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Red Knot - Calidris canutus - 1 juv Petrola 2/10/24.
Sanderling - Calidris alba - 2 Petrola 2/10/24.
Little Stint - Calidris minuta - 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 6+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Dunlin - Calidris alpina - 10 24/12/12; 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 3+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus - 1 20/12/17.
Ruff - Philomachus pugnax - 1 Petrola 2/10/24.
Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus - 1 24/12/12. c20 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 2 20/12/17. c10 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - 2 adults 10/12/17, c20 20/12/17.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Pterocles alchata - 20+ 10/12/17.
Feral Pigeon - Columba livia domestica
Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
Little Owl - Athene noctua - 1 20/12/17.
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops - 4+ 24/12/12.
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis sharpei - 1 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Calandra Lark - Melanocorypha calandra
Lesser Short-toed Lark - Calandrella rufescens
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae
Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - c40 7/2/19.
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta - 1 Laguna de Petrola 10/12/17, 2 there 20/12/17.
White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
European Stonechat - Saxicola torquatus
Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 2+ Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus - 2 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Great Tit - Parus major - 3 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla - 1 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus - 10+ Laguna de Petrola 24/12/12.
Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis
Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius - 2 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Common Magpie - Pica pica
Western Jackdaw - Corvus monedula - 2 Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
Carrion Crow - Corvus corone - 10+ 24/12/12.
Spotless Starling - Sturnus unicolor
Common Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus - 1 24/12/12. 5+ Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia - 200+ 24/12/12. 8 Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
European Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
Common Linnet - Carduelis cannabina
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra
Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Species recorded on one-day visits from the coast, mainly in winter
This is an upland plain/steppe area in Castilla-La Mancha, just south-east of Albacete, mentioned in WWBNES (page 157, 2008 edn). From Los Alcazares on the Murcian coast, where we sometimes stay in winter, travelling time to Petrola is about 1 hour 50 mins. Not in the same league as parts of Extremadura scenically or in sheer numbers of species, but compact, not without charm, and generally easy to do. The wetlands, both permanent and ephemeral, can be good
Spain; Petrola steppes in winter GALLERY
INFO
WWBNES - Where to Watch Birds in Northern & Eastern Spain. Michael Rebane & Ernest Garcia. Helm, 2008
BirdLife factsheet Pétrola-Almansa-Yecla BirdLife
The Plains Of Petrola Costa Blanca Bird Club
ambientea
BIRDS - 76 species
Greylag Goose - Anser anser - 3 Coral Rubio 24/12/12. 2 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna - 500+ 24/12/12. 9 Laguna de Petrola 10/12/17.
Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17.
Gadwall - Anas strepera - 50+ 24/12/12.
Eurasian Teal - Anas crecca - 250+ 24/12/12.
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos - 500+ 24/12/12.
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata - 1000+ 24/12/12.
Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina - 50+ 24/12/12. 1 male La Higuera 7/2/19.
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina - 60+ 24/12/12.
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala - 3 24/12/12. 20+ Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17.
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis - 20+ 24/12/12.
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo - 3+ 24/12/12, 1 20/12/17.
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus - 80+ Laguna de Petrola 24/12/12. 10 Petrola 10/12/17. c10 Petrola 7/2/19.
Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus - 2 24/12/12.
Spanish Imperial Eagle - Aquila adalberti - 1 juvenile near Higueruela 7/2/19. Apparently now breeding near Albacete.
Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 5+ 20/12/17. 8 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus - 3 males 24/12/12. 1 male 10/12/17.
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo - 3 24/12/12. 3+ 10/12/17, 3 20/12/17. Several 7/2/19.
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Purple Swamp-Hen - Porphyrio porphyrio - 3 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19.
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Common Crane - Grus grus - 9 10/12/17, 29 Laguna de Petrola 12/12/17. 110 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Great Bustard - Otis tarda - 21 at three sites 24/12/12. 15 Coral Rubio 10/12/17, 31 there 20/12/17. Total 43 throughout 7/2/19.
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - 4 juvs Laguna de Petrola 2/10/24
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus - Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus - 500+ 24/12/12; 21 7/2/19; 30+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Red Knot - Calidris canutus - 1 juv Petrola 2/10/24.
Sanderling - Calidris alba - 2 Petrola 2/10/24.
Little Stint - Calidris minuta - 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 6+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Dunlin - Calidris alpina - 10 24/12/12; 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 3+ Petrola 2/10/24.
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus - 1 20/12/17.
Ruff - Philomachus pugnax - 1 Petrola 2/10/24.
Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus - 1 24/12/12. c20 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 2 20/12/17. c10 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - 2 adults 10/12/17, c20 20/12/17.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Pterocles alchata - 20+ 10/12/17.
Feral Pigeon - Columba livia domestica
Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
Little Owl - Athene noctua - 1 20/12/17.
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops - 4+ 24/12/12.
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis sharpei - 1 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19.
Calandra Lark - Melanocorypha calandra
Lesser Short-toed Lark - Calandrella rufescens
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae
Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - c40 7/2/19.
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta - 1 Laguna de Petrola 10/12/17, 2 there 20/12/17.
White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
European Stonechat - Saxicola torquatus
Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 2+ Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus - 2 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Great Tit - Parus major - 3 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla - 1 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus - 10+ Laguna de Petrola 24/12/12.
Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis
Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius - 2 Higueruela woods 7/2/19.
Common Magpie - Pica pica
Western Jackdaw - Corvus monedula - 2 Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
Carrion Crow - Corvus corone - 10+ 24/12/12.
Spotless Starling - Sturnus unicolor
Common Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus - 1 24/12/12. 5+ Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia - 200+ 24/12/12. 8 Coral Rubio 7/2/19.
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
European Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
Common Linnet - Carduelis cannabina
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra