Spain; Petrola steppes, Castilla-La Mancha
December 2012, list with updates
Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Species recorded on brief visits from Murcia province or when passing through, mainly in winter
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 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
BIRDS - 80 species
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - 3 Corral Rubio 24/12/12. 2 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) - 500+ 24/12/12 throughout. Laguna de Petrola; 9 10/12/17, 4 8/10/26
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17
Gadwall (Anas strepera) - 50+ throughout 24/12/12
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) - 250+ throughout 24/12/12, 4 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - 500+ throughout 24/12/12
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) - 1000+ throughout 24/12/12. 5 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) - 50+ throughout 24/12/12. 1m La Higuera 7/2/19
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) - 60+ throughout 24/12/12
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) - 3 throughout 24/12/12. 20+ Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Small numbers on freshwater lagoons
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) - 20+ on freshwater lagoons 24/12/12
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - 3+ throughout 24/12/12, 1 20/12/17
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Small numbers throughout
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 juv near Higueruela 7/2/19. Apparently now breeding near Albacete. 1 juv Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 5+ 20/12/17. 8 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19. 2 juvs Petrola 8/10/26
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) - 3m throughout 24/12/12. 1m 10/12/17
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Frequent throughout
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - Frequent throughout
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)/Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) - 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) - Occasional on lagoons
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - Occasional on lagoons
Purple Swamp-Hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) - 3 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) - Large numbers on freshwater lagoons
Common Crane (Grus grus) - 9 throughout 10/12/17, 29 Laguna de Petrola 12/12/17. 110 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19
Great Bustard (Otis tarda) - 21 throughout 24/12/12. 15 Coral Rubio 10/12/17, 31 there 20/12/17. 43 throughout 7/2/19. 37 throughout 8/10/26
Stone Curlew (Burhinus œdicnemus) - 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - Laguna de Petrola 4 2/10/24, 30+ 8/10/26. 12 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) 1 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - 500+ throughout 24/12/12; 21 throughout 7/2/19; 30+ Petrola 2/10/24. 8 Corral Rubio 8/10/26, 1 Petrola 8/10/26
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 throughout 24/12/12; 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 3+ Petrola 2/10/24. 6 Petrola 8/10/26
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 20/12/17
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - 18 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) - 1 Petrola 2/10/24. 6 Petrola 8/10/26
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - 1 24/12/12. c20 Petrola 7/2/19. 4 Petrola 8/10/26
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 2 20/12/17. c10 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19. 3 ads Petrola 8/10/26
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - 2 ads 10/12/17, c20 throughout 20/12/17. 2 ads petrola 8/10/26
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) - 20+ on fields 10/12/17
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Little Owl (Athene noctua) - 1 Petrola 20/12/17
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) - 4+ throughout 24/12/12
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis sharpei) - 1 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 throughout 7/2/19
Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) - 1 Petrola 10/12/17, 2 there 20/12/17
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava) - Corral Rubio 21 7/10/26, 25+ 8/10/26
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
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) - 1 Petrola 8/10/26
Great Tit (Parus major) - 3 Higueruela woods 7/2/19. 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) - 1 Higueruela woods 7/2/19
Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) - 10+ 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. 6+ throughout 8/10/26
Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - Coral Rubio; 1 24/12/12, 5+ 7/2/19, 2 8/10/26
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) - Coral Rubio; 200+ 24/12/12, 8 7/2/19, 1 8/10/26
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 brief visits from Murcia province or when passing through, mainly in winter
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 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
BIRDS - 80 species
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - 3 Corral Rubio 24/12/12. 2 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) - 500+ 24/12/12 throughout. Laguna de Petrola; 9 10/12/17, 4 8/10/26
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17
Gadwall (Anas strepera) - 50+ throughout 24/12/12
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) - 250+ throughout 24/12/12, 4 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - 500+ throughout 24/12/12
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) - 1000+ throughout 24/12/12. 5 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) - 50+ throughout 24/12/12. 1m La Higuera 7/2/19
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) - 60+ throughout 24/12/12
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) - 3 throughout 24/12/12. 20+ Laguna del Salobrejo 10/12/17
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Small numbers on freshwater lagoons
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) - 20+ on freshwater lagoons 24/12/12
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - 3+ throughout 24/12/12, 1 20/12/17
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Small numbers throughout
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 juv near Higueruela 7/2/19. Apparently now breeding near Albacete. 1 juv Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 5+ 20/12/17. 8 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19. 2 juvs Petrola 8/10/26
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) - 3m throughout 24/12/12. 1m 10/12/17
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Frequent throughout
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - Frequent throughout
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)/Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) - 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) - Occasional on lagoons
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - Occasional on lagoons
Purple Swamp-Hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) - 3 Laguna del Salobrejo 7/2/19
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) - Large numbers on freshwater lagoons
Common Crane (Grus grus) - 9 throughout 10/12/17, 29 Laguna de Petrola 12/12/17. 110 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19
Great Bustard (Otis tarda) - 21 throughout 24/12/12. 15 Coral Rubio 10/12/17, 31 there 20/12/17. 43 throughout 7/2/19. 37 throughout 8/10/26
Stone Curlew (Burhinus œdicnemus) - 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - Laguna de Petrola 4 2/10/24, 30+ 8/10/26. 12 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) 1 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - 500+ throughout 24/12/12; 21 throughout 7/2/19; 30+ Petrola 2/10/24. 8 Corral Rubio 8/10/26, 1 Petrola 8/10/26
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 throughout 24/12/12; 2 Petrola 10/12/17; 3+ Petrola 2/10/24. 6 Petrola 8/10/26
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) - 1 Laguna del Salobrejo 20/12/17
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - 18 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) - 1 Petrola 2/10/24. 6 Petrola 8/10/26
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - 1 24/12/12. c20 Petrola 7/2/19. 4 Petrola 8/10/26
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) - 1 24/12/12. 6+ 10/12/17, 2 20/12/17. c10 Laguna de Petrola 7/2/19. 3 ads Petrola 8/10/26
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - 2 ads 10/12/17, c20 throughout 20/12/17. 2 ads petrola 8/10/26
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) - 20+ on fields 10/12/17
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Little Owl (Athene noctua) - 1 Petrola 20/12/17
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) - 4+ throughout 24/12/12
European (Iberian) Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis sharpei) - 1 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 throughout 7/2/19
Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) - 1 Petrola 10/12/17, 2 there 20/12/17
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava) - Corral Rubio 21 7/10/26, 25+ 8/10/26
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
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) - 1 Petrola 8/10/26
Great Tit (Parus major) - 3 Higueruela woods 7/2/19. 1 Corral Rubio 8/10/26
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) - 1 Higueruela woods 7/2/19
Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) - 10+ 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. 6+ throughout 8/10/26
Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - Coral Rubio; 1 24/12/12, 5+ 7/2/19, 2 8/10/26
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) - Coral Rubio; 200+ 24/12/12, 8 7/2/19, 1 8/10/26
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)