sábado, 22 fevereiro 2025, 11:38
Unnamed Road, Beja, Mértola, Beja, Portugal
Jarmo Jalava
8
1
40 mins
1,3 km
3Perdiz-comumAlectoris rufa
1Cuco-rabilongoClamator glandarius
audio
1PoupaUpupa epops
audio and photos
6CharnecoCyanopica cooki
8Andorinha-das-chaminésHirundo rustica
1Felosa-do-matoCurruca undata
1Estorninho-pretoSturnus unicolor
9Pardal-do-telhado/Pardal-espanholPasser domesticus/hispaniolensis
3TrigueirãoEmberiza calandra
1escrevedeira (Emberiza) sp.Emberiza sp.
If I weren't a visiting birder with no past experience with southern Iberian Peninsula avifauna, in it wasn't such an exceptional observation, I would be 95% sure I saw an alternate-plumaged male Yellowhammer (which I have seen in the past in northern Europe) here. The bird appeared to be a relatively long-tailed bunting (thrush-like GISS in flight) with distinctive yellow head/face with limited bold black markings on the sides of the head (possibly malar), and much yellow overall (e.g., on the belly). I noted white markings on the tail, and dark streaking on the flanks and back. I saw it from a distance of about 50 m. It was visible to me for perhaps 10 seconds total, first in flight from the north (during which I got the best views) when it flew into a deciduous tree, then briefly as it flew from the tree to ground where it remained hidden by graminoid vegetation for a few minutes, and again when it flushed and flew south out of view. I tried, but was unable, to get photos.