Articles in ‘Barcelona’
Five days of rain, rough seas, and a lowering dark sky. The strong easterly winds at the peak of spring migration swept many birds off their usual path, and some of the lucky ones made it ashore in Catalunya.
Observations of Wood warblers, which breed mainly north of Iberia, are usually scarce in Catalunya. This year, by the end of April, Ornithocat had recorded more than 200. On one of these dark rainy afternoons, I found several on Montjuic, scouring the trees along with Willow warblers. This photo was taken when the weather improved, the Wood warbler’s lemon yellow throat reflecting light under a freshly grown canopy.
Even in the gloom, the male Pied flycatchers were sharply visible. They are regular transients through Barcelona, but rarely seen in such density as this year.
On the last night of the deluge, the rain stopped just at dawn. On Montjuic, everything was steaming as the sun rose. A tremendous concentration of migrants had built up. In the pine woods, every tree seemed to harbour a flycatcher (mainly Pied, but also Spotted), sallying out at regular intervals, gorging on the thick clouds of flies on this almost tropical morning. You could hear nightingales and Golden orioles singing, and observe many other species you might not expect to find in Barcelona, including Woodchat shrikes, whinchats, whitethroats and Common redstarts.
Even before the bad weather, I’d come across a pair of Woodchat shrikes who’d stopped to replenish forces on Montjuic. While the male sang from the top of a tree, the female tugged at a lizard impaled on an acacia thorn.
On the Cami del Mar, the Black redstarts had moved on to their breeding grounds by the start of April. Briefly in their place appeared a resplendent Common redstart.
Written by Lucy Brzoska
Barcelona, Birds, Montjuic | Tags: Birding in Barcelona, Birds on migration in Barcelona, Common redstarts on migration in Spain, Mediterranean bird migration, Pied flycatchers in Barcelona, spring bird migration in Spain, unusual bird sightings in Barcelona, wood warblers on migration in Spain|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
In Barcelona, a sign that spring isn’t far away is an intensification of twig gathering by Monk parakeets (an activity they tend to do all year round). Away from their raucous nest colonies, built high up in the towering pines of Palau de Pedralbes park, a parakeet couple were snatching some quality time together. Snuggled up close, they were taking it in turns to preen.
Another sign of incipient spring in the city is the sound of serins singing. The jangling, irrepressible song, delivered from a suitably high spot, can be traced to a small yellow-breasted bird – Europe’s smallest finch and close relation to the canary.
In a prelude to copulation, the more discretely coloured female serin leaned over to receive her mate’s gift of food.
On Montjuic, two large fuzzy black carpenter bees flew past in an embrace – the female had been seized by the male, recognisable by its smaller size and orange-tipped antennae. When they settled on a leaf, you could see another distinguishing feature: the male’s silvery grey mesosomal hairs.
It seems that carpenter bees are prone to overheating, as they fly slowly and are black, so the pale colour is thought to be useful in reflecting away sunlight. Males spend more time out in the open – territory patrolling, looking for females, and then feeding in the afternoons, when the females are back in their shelters. (See this study for more interesting info.)
Much of the private life of the Red squirrels in Palau de Pedralbes park goes on out of sight, very high up in the trees. They come down to earth to dig up their stashed autumnal loot or explore the rubbish bins. This one was pulling up dried grass. With a very large mouthful, it ran up an Aleppo pine to furnish its drey, where it would soon be giving birth.
Barcelona, Birds, Insects, Mammals, Palau de Pedralbes park | Tags: Carpenter bees in Spain, how to distinguish male and female carpenter bees, monk parakeet behaviour, monk parakeets in Barcelona, monk parakeets preening each other, red squirrel collecting grass, red squirrel in Barcelona park, serin mating behaviour, serins in Barcelona, wildlife in Barcelona parks, Xylocopa violacea|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
You could hear the sounds of contented chomping from a distance. The fig trees scattered around Montjuic were heavily laden this September, much to the delight of Monk parakeets and other birds.
In October Magnolia trees in the Jardins de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer produce large pods of shiny red berries, which are particularly appreciated by Great tits and Ring-necked parakeets. Far less common than Monks in Barcelona – and far shyer – Ring-necks are distinguished by their long thin tails, and higher-pitched screech.
November sees the climax of the acorn crop in Palau Reial Park. Along with Wood pigeons, red squirrels and jays, Monk parakeets are to be found either foraging on the ground under the oaks, or up in the tree tops. No stashing away for the winter though, the acorns are gobbled up on the spot.
Barcelona, Birds, Montjuic, Palau de Pedralbes park | Tags: Birding in Barcelona, birds in Barcelona, common birds you can see in Barcelona, monk parakeets in Barcelona, Myiopsitta monachus in Barcelona, parakeets in Barcelona, Parakeets in Barcelona parks, Psittacula krameri in Barcelona, the diet of urban parakeets in Spain|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
I half-glanced at the orange butterfly, expecting to see a Wall (Lasiommata megera), an abundant species on Montjuic. After a double-take, I realised it was something else altogether. Having looked wistfully at so many photographs of this species, recognition was instant. I was moving carefully forward with the camera, when a jogger pounded past, and the Plain Tiger was gone.
But a quick scramble up the slope, behind a bush of broom, revealed large clusters of Coronilla de Fraile (“Friar’s pate” – Globularia alypum), and there, feeding calmly, were three Plain Tigers.
D. chrysippus is an extremely common butterfly species in Africa and Asia, but a recent arrival in Iberia. A strong migrator, after emerging, each generation moves on. Well-established in Andalucia, they have been recorded all along the Mediterranean coast as far north as Roses on the Costa Brava. JM Sesma of Biodiversidad Virtual suggests the ones I saw were the progeny of Tigers recorded in the Delta del Ebro two months previously.
The Plain Tiger is a cooperative butterfly to photograph. Rather than erratic flight, or camouflage, it protects itself by toxicity, so readily displays its colours to potential predators. The Tiger’s wings, with a range of tones – from orange to russet and brown – sharply outlined in black, are beautiful, but best of all, in my opinion, is the body and head, covered in striking white polka dots. The males are distinguished by a prominent white spot on the hind underwing, edged in black, which is a concentration of scent scales used for mating.
Interestingly, the spread of D. Chrysippus in Iberia has been abetted by the widespread invasion of a garden escapee, Gomphocarpus fruticosus, a member of the Milkweed family. Danaid caterpillars feed on Milkweed plants, storing up the toxic alkaloids from their milky sap, enough to make an unwary predator vomit.
Barcelona, butterflies, Montjuic | Tags: a new butterfly species in Spain, African butterflies in Spain, Danaus chrysippus in Europe, Gomphocarpus fruticosus and the spread of Danaus chrysippus, Mediterranean butterflies, migratory butterfly species in Spain, Plain Tiger butterfly increases its range|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
For 2 or 3 weeks a year, when the Montjuic peregrine falcons fledge, you can watch incredible displays as they practice their flight skills. Often you get very close views as they pass close to the hillside.
But it’s not often you find one sitting on the ground in the middle of the Cami del Mar. I could see its heavily stippled breast – these markings turn into lightly spotted horizontal bars in the adults.
On my approach, the falcon flew up to the wooden fence, scanned the sky for its siblings and went back up to join them.
All three were out flying, constantly tilting at each other, raising their talons. You could see one was smaller – the only male. Sometimes they chase each other low down, skimming the slopes, negotiating the pine trees. They practice stoops, wings held stiffly at the sides, transformed into missiles. They sometimes break off to go after a seagull or unwary magpie.
The week before, I’d watched a gull lunge at one of the young falcons, briefly grasping it on the back. The juvenile raptor screamed and feathers floated down. Yellow-legged gulls are large, with wingspans of up to 140 cm. The Peregrines seem much smaller alongside them, more compact, a female wingspan reaching 113 cm. The gulls are aggressive, and saturate the air space over the Montjuic cliffs.
A week of experience later, and the falcons are outmanoeuvring the gulls with ease. A flicker and they’re out of reach. They go after the gulls and make them squeal. The play is still very gentle.
One of the falcons comes to rest in a nearby pine tree, wings outstretched. It looks straight at me, with enormous dark eyes, and moves to a branch a little further away. They haven’t learnt to be fully afraid of us yet.
Peregrine falcons have become urban birds, encouraged to nest on buildings with specially installed boxes. Barcelona has several pairs, most famously in the Sagrada Familia. You could describe those on Montjuic as semi-urban, as they nest in a scrap of inaccessible wilderness, but when they take to the air, they are soaring over cranes, heavy traffic, and ship containers.
Barcelona, Birds, Montjuic | Tags: Birding in Barcelona, Halcon peregrino en Barcelona, juvenile peregrine falcons at play, Peregrine falcons in Barcelona, peregrine falcons on Montjuic, seagull attacks peregrine falcon, urban peregrine falcons, urban peregrine falcons in Spain, where to watch peregrine falcons in Barcelona|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
Wild weather of recent years has opened up Collserola’s woods, and one of the most rapid colonisers of the new clearings has been the rock rose, especially Sage-leaf Cistus. This May everywhere you look, hundreds and hundreds of white flowers are shining in the sunlight.
The yellow base of each petal emphasizes the thick clump of stamen, creating a densely yellow heart.
Insects are drawn to the rich, easily accessible supplies of pollen. As well as bumblebees and white-spotted rose beetles I found this male Anthaxia hungarica, with enormous black eyes and green metallic sheen, dining in radiant surroundings.
Another member of the Rock rose family was in flower, Tuberaria guttata, with a strongly marked red-brown ring to guide pollinators to their target.
While holm oaks and pines predominate, in the north of Collserola there are many deciduous oaks. Here, under the shade of the new canopy, Granny’s Nightcaps (Aquilegia vulgaris) are blooming. The elaborately structured flowers hang down, and the nectar is stowed deep within, at the end of narrow, neatly coiled spurs. Bumble bees were out foraging, but instead of disappearing inside the flower in search of their booty, and emerging dusted in pollen, they were settling on top. Each spur had a small hole bitten out: the flowers were being cleaned out by backdoor thieves!
Barcelona, Collserola, Insects, Plants | Tags: anthaxia hungaris beetles, bumble bees stealing nectar, Mediterranean wild flowers, pollination in Aquilegia vulgaris, sage-leafed cistus colonising Mediterranean woods, Tuberaria guttata petals marked to attract pollinators, wild flowers in Collserola|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
The three Honey buzzards soaring over Montjuic Castle run into a swarm of Alpine swifts, and start circling to gain height. When they are specks they continue southwards. They are the most notable of the raptors who take the Catalan coastal route.
Montjuic overflows with birds during autumn migration. Swallows are swooping low over freshly cut grass. The robin population has multiplied. One feisty individual is jostling other birds out of a stand of trees. The woods and parks become incredibly crowded with them: too many robins in the broth, so inevitably some have to keep moving further south or inland.
Another redbreast is in evidence, the Common redstart, far from common in Barcelona, and only glimpsed on spring and autumn passage. Unlike its not particularly close relative, the Black redstart, who arrives to spend the winter, its destination is tropical Africa.
Flycatchers – spotted and pied – make protracted stopovers in the city’s parks, breaking up the long haul south. The warm weather ensures plenty of insects so they can fatten up for the tough journey ahead: the sea followed by a desert that’s expanding year by year. Slim, sprightly birds, you notice them as they repeatedly launch themselves to scoop up prey and return to the same perch.
In the woods, firecrests are back, travelling with the tit flocks, always in the lowest branches, and last to move on. There was lots to eat in this holm oak infested with gall midge larvae.
Barcelona, Birds | Tags: autumn bird migration spain, Birding in Barcelona, birds in Barcelona park, Birds on migration in Barcelona, Common redstarts on migration in Spain, Honey buzzards on migration, Mediterranean bird migration, Pied flycatchers on autumn migration in Spain, robin migration in Mediterranean|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
Large flocks of Blue-tailed damselflies (Ischnura graellsii) emerge from the ponds in Montjuic’s Jardins de Verdaguer. They’re so tiny that in flight often all you can make out is a quivering blue blob. When they settle, the spot of blue turns out to be the tail end of an endless abdomen (segment 8, to be precise).
Throughout the month of June the Blue-tails are harvested by House sparrows. Bills bristling with wings, the sparrows somehow manage to keep on collecting without dropping any of the existing catch. You can imagine their nestlings getting fat on plentiful damselfly protein.
By the end of July, the pond vegetation is full of Tree frogs (Hyla meridionalis), perching motionless alongside the Blue-tails. I found one very slowly ingesting its meal, till it seemed to be champing on a blue-tipped cigar. One tremendous gulp and the rest was engulfed.
Food chains are long and complex. Damselflies hunt small flies . . .
. . . and each other. As the sunlight broke free of the early morning clouds, it stirred the damsels from their resting places. A newly emerged Blue-tail on its maiden flight was immediately snatched, hoisted up and devoured by a mature female.
amphibians, Barcelona, Insects, Montjuic, Odonata - dragonflies and damselflies | Tags: cannibalism in damselflies, common damselflies in Spain, damselfl, frog eating damselfly, Ischnura graellsii in Spain, Jardins de Mossen Cinto Verdaguer, pond life in Barcelona, unexpected sights on montjuic, walks on Montjuic, what do damselflies eat, what eats damselflies, wildlife in Barcelona parks|
Written by Lucy Brzoska
The two agentes rurales had the difficult job of abseiling down Montjuic’s inaccessible cliff face and retrieving the three Falcon chicks from their nest, while one of the adult Peregrines repeatedly dived towards them, calling in alarm. The fiddly work was then in the hands of Eduard Durany, general overseer of Barcelona’s Peregrine population, with help from Josep García, an expert on herons among other things.
First out of the bag was a male, identified by its smaller size. At just over three weeks old, it was still covered in sparse white down.
Leer
Barcelona, Birds, Montjuic | Tags: Peregrine falcon chicks in Barcelona, Peregrine falcons in Barcelona, Ringing peregrine falcons, urban peregrine falcons|
Shortly after being born, this year’s brood of Peregrine falcon chicks were stolen from their nest in one of the Sagrada Familia towers. The robbery took place out of range of the web cam installed. Visitors have no access to this tower, but there are always plenty of workers milling around, since the Sagrada Familia is still under construction. Eduard Durany, responsible for monitoring Barcelona’s Peregrine falcons, emphasises the need for better security. Last year suspicious individuals were spotted trying to take food up to the falcons, who fetch a high price on the black market. After the theft, two chicks born in a wildlife recuperation centre were placed in the nest, but sadly the intended foster parents rejected them. See also the report on the ringing of
Montjuic’s young falcons.
Barcelona, Birds | Tags: Barcelona peregrine falcons in Sagrada Familia, Halcon peregrino en Barcelona, robbery of peregrine falcon chicks in Barcelona, urban peregrine falcons|
The autumnal migration of cranes (Grus grus) into Spain usually takes place inland, over the Pyrenees. On the last weekend of October there was an abrupt change in the weather, with temperatures plummeting and an extremely strong north wind. On 
It’s the time of year for unusual sightings in unexpected places. Recent observations recorded on 
After considerable procrastination, 
The areas of Barcelona nearest to the Collserola hills are now quite used to visits from the natural park’s thriving boar population, particularly at the end of summer when the ground is rock-hard and food supplies scarce. But on Saturday night a family of boars was seen trotting through Gràcia, a central barrio of the city, accessible only after crossing an extremely busy ring road. The same family has been observed this August exploring Gaudí’s Güell Park. There’s a 
