Things have Ornithological Marathon 2010
to see if I updated a little this, that lately I have it too abandoned. If I just write whenever you see something exceptional as a fly Siberian or things like that I apañao, because that happens once in a thousand field trips.
So today I come to speak of Ornithology, 2010 Marathon I participated within the team of Hydrobates chocolate. Were part of it: Julio Meraz, William Major, Toni Mulet, Jana Marco and me. For all the first time we participated except for July, so we went with all the intrigue of seeing how things were going. With that in mind and we were a rookie team do not expect spectacular results. Yes, we had a great time, we laugh, we just cansadísimos and disfrutanmos lot with birds. From here I recommend everyone to try to form a team and participate in the next edition.
As there are no photos (we could not entertain), I do not entertain much RELT species by species and location by location, so I will tell you briefly what sites visited and to see what species. We start at 00:00 by Villena (Alicante) to try to get all the night birds. The thing went fairly well and only failed us (of which we see), the eagle owl (Bubo bubo , Eagle owl) and the Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus , Nightjar), species that eventually we would accomplish detect for the marathon.
Thus, the 4:00 we were way gaps Petrol (Albacete), where we expected to see some steppe species and waterfowl. We got there at 5:00 and nap in the car until 06:30 am, time to have breakfast and we set off.
For various gaps the thing went very well. I did not know the place and I'm pleasantly surprised. Many birds from all sites and many different species, a wonderful place. We got to see the steppe we wanted: the Iberian bargain ( Pterocles alchata , Pin-tailed sandgrouse) and Great Bustard (Otis tarda , Great bustard), although the latter we forgot to pass it to the list and has not counted for the aggregate. The other steppe, Bustard (Tetrax tetrax , Little bustard) and Ortega ( Pterocles orientalis, Black-bellied sandgrouse) we hoped to get them out later in Alicante.
For water, an awesome site, all I had: Stern, ducks, herons, marsh passerines, raptors, waders ... a marvel. I hope to return soon and more quiet to enjoy the site. Would
Approximately 10.30 am when we started back towards Alicante . There were still plenty to see, but we had 84 species seen, so I painted very well.
The next step was to move to the mountains to detect some forest species and raptors. Tits, finches, some warblers ... paraded before us to be targeted in a list that did not stop growing. Raptors also behaved as we managed to locate both the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos , Golden Eagle) as some short-toed eagles ( Circaetus gallicus, Short-toed Eagle). Although we missed one that did not expect: the booted eagle (Aquila pennata , Booted Eagle).
Going down the mountain, we moved to and fro by the various villages near Villena to tease out the species that we had left out and eat. Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus , Peregrine falcon), Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta , Melodius warbler), Swallow daúrica ( Cecropis daurica , Red-rumped swallow) ... were suméndose to the list. It was especially agonizing the failing to detect even one common Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris , Greenfinch).
Back to the surroundings of the steppe Villena got out that we were missing, leading also some extra bird more like short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla , Short-toed lark) and Chough ( Phyrrocorax phyrrocorax , Chough)
at this time would be 16:00 or so, we move toward the coast. Played exploit wetlands Hondo, Salinas de Santa Pola and Galvany Clot.
When we were getting Elche (to visit the first of these places) we saw a bunting perched on a wire. I think that neither I nor any of my bandmates, had ever held both the observation of this species.
The Hondo the list continued to grow as the tern species ( Sternula albifrons, Little Tern), great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus , Great reed warbler), bittern ( Ixobrychus minutus, Little bittern), Pratincole ( Glareola pratincola , Collared Pratincole) ... Although the star was, without doubt, a beautiful fine redshank (Tringa stagnatillis , Marsh sandpiper), which represented a new species for me.
Del Hondo spent at Salinas del Pinet . I must say, at this point, we were a little tired and somewhat discouraged because this last part was not as good as the beginning of the day. Yet he wants to continue and try to get as far as possible.
Here we add the two Mediterranean Gulls, Audouin (Larus audouinii , Audouin's gull) and picofina ( Chroicocephalus genei, Slender-billed gull) and some shorebirds, although much of the species were already seen. Each time was harder to see something new.
We moved from salt mines and went to the Santa Pola . They detected few new species and, after so long, and just remember the gull (Larus fuscus , Lesser black-backed gull)
Our passage through the end of Santa Pola prefer ignore. A thick fog on a calm sea completely prevented could see not a single marine species we hoped to locate. A total disappointment.
The Clot Galvany brought us only joy in the form of Marbled Teal ( Marmaronetta angustirostris, Marbled Duck) and a lot of mosquito bites.
to 22:00 time was used to draw any more among species that include the mute swan (Cygnus olor , mute swan). At this time we end the marathon, with 149 (actually 150) species under our belt.
Exhausted but thrilled. Next year we hope to repeat and learn this first attempt, to see how it turns the thing. Look
I said I was going to do soon ... my mother, I do not want to see the day when you type something in detail, lol. 
The chocolate Hydrobates just before the light disappeared. (From left to right: Guille, Jana, Toni, Me and Julio)
