14/12/2013: inner 'ría'

On Saturday 14th December, around 9 h in the morning, we left O Grove harbour towards A Lanzada bay. The weather was good but strong swell was present. Not far away from the harbour, we sighted a small group of Common Bottlenose Dolphins in an area where sightings are very usual, close to the eastern side of Meloxo´s mussel rafts polygon.
When we got close to Noro islet, the rough sea prevented us from going around Sálvora island and even go further towards A Lanzada bay.
One mile east from Sálvora island we threw oil and chum overboard, but just around 40 gulls out of the hundred which were overflying Vionta or on the rocky small islands of the archipelago came to us.
About 10:30 h we went towards the small island of Rúa, following the alternative plan to go on a trip around the Ria. After going around Rúa, we headed the sea inlet of Rianxo.
On our way we could see two flocks of Grey Plovers along with one Bar-tailed Godwit. There were great numbers of waders around the shore of Abanqueiro, which actually shows that that area is perfect for spoting this species from shore, although there was no chance of having a closer view by boat.
However, we were not lucky this time with our targets... only José Luis Fernández Carnero managed to take a picture of a Great Northern Loon in flight, which we could not see again. After reaching the area of Os Lombos do Ulla we came back. We went further down to Cortegada island bordering its northern side. Near the small island of  As Briñas, we sighted a flock of Eurasian Spoonbills and Curlews which let us photograph them.
After going down the Arousa island bridge we found a big flock of Common Scoters near another one of European Shags.
On the rocks of the southwest side of Carreirón point we sighted a flock of Eurasian Oystercatchers.
Going back towards the harbour, we sighted again a group of  Common Bottlenose Dolphins which were fishing, close to the area where we had already seen them in the morning.
We came back in the afternoon. It was not the best trip, according to the number of species sighted, but it was a lovely trip, in which we could enjoy the coast and this beautiful 'ria' from a different point of view.

Table of sightings, with highlight in bold:

Latin name	English name	N	Notes
Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	2
Melanitta nigra	Common Scoter	109
Gavia immer	Great Northern Loon	1
Podiceps cristatus	Great Crested Greve	1
Ardea cinerea	Grey Heron	31
Egretta garzetta	Little Egret	24
Platalea leucorodia	Eurasian Spoonbill	17	Good number
Phalacrocorax carbo	Great Cormorant	302
Phalacrocorax aristotelis	European Shag	409
Morus bassanus	Northern Gannet	9
Haematopus ostralegus	Eurasian Oystercatcher	121
Pluvialis squatarola	Grey Plover	167
Actitis hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper	3
Arenaria interpres	Ruddy Turnstone	18
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	1
Numenius arquata	Eurasian Curlew	46
Stercorarius skua	Great Skua	2
Chroicephalus ridibundus	Black-headed Gull	195
Larus michahellis	Yellow-legged Gull	560
Larus fuscus	Lesser Black-backed Gull	82
Larus marinus	Great Black-backed Gull	29
Sterna sandvicensis	Sandwich Tern	42
Motacilla alba	White Wagtail	2
Corvus corone	Carrion Crow	8
Stercorarius sp	Unidentified skua	1
Tursiops truncatus	Common Bottlenose Dolphin	15

Some pictures of the journey (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez and Juan Gómez Escariz.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), 14/12/2013, Malveiras, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz 

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) (right), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia)  (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) (center), 14/12/2013, Carreirón point, Arousa island (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) (top), 14/12/2013, Carreirón point, Arousa island (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW de Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), 14/12/2013, O Grove harbour (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz 

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), 14/12/2013, O Grove harbour (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), 14/12/2013, 'ría' of Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

12/10/2013 - the day of the 6 Minke whales

Saturday 12th October 2013 will be remembered by a really exceptional sighting: no less than 6 Minke Whales seen at close range during 20 intense minutes at 12 miles W of Sálvora island. But there were more interesting things in this pelagic trip, which started at 8:45 at O Grove harbour, with cloudy sky and masses of birds in the mussel rafts in the 'ría', besides a small group of Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Balearic Shearwaters, Northern Gannets and European Shags popped up in the external area of the 'ría' as we approached Pombeiro islet. After surpassing the southern tip of Sálvora island of Sálvora, we faced the first "chum" at 12 miles WSW of this island, observing Great and Sooty Shearwaters, Common Scoters, Great and Arctic Skuas and an unusually high number of Northern Gannets and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Only one indeterminate storm-petrel crossed the path of the boat at the same time as small pods of Common Dolphins delighted the passage and crew when approaching the 'Chasula'.

'Chumming' was very productive, with a group of 15 Sabine's Gulls, and a mass of gulls, including Mediterranean Gulls and a single Great Black-backed Gull. The second "chum", further north, was unforgettable, with the appearance of four Minke Whales very close todo the boar, plus two a little more distant. They were found feeding in that point, swimming in the surface and blowing, performing synchronized immersions and sudden appearances at barely 10 m from the "Chasula". One of them was enormous, reaching (if not surpassing)10 m of length. Eventual sightings were 'eclipsed' by the adrenaline rush due Minke Whale observations but were also appreciated by the participants: more Sabine's Gulls (61 different individuals), a Black Tern, one Razorbill, three Manx Shearwaters, groups of Common Dolphins and a Sunfish. One of us photographed also a Little Gull. When entering the ria through the islets north of Sálvora islands, two raptors were spotted: a female Marsh Harrier, soaring at Noro isled, and a female Merlin perched in the top of this islet. Way back to harbour was highlighted by groups of Balearic Shearwater, a Common Gull and a playful group of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, that, with their jumps, celebrated this trip, named 'Do Marisco' after the shellfish fair, but could be appropriated called the 'Of the Minke Whales'.

Table of sightings soon.

And some photos, (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez and Juan Gómez Escariz. Also a video (c) Cosme D. Romay, avaliable in the Youtube channel of the Grupo Naturalista Hábitat:

Rorcual aliblanco (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Rorcuales aliblancos (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

 Balea alibranca (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas ao W da illa de Sálvora (SW Galiza) (c) Cosme D. Romay Cousido.

Delfín común (Delphinus delphis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Delfín común (Delphinus delphis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela capirotada (Puffinus gravis), 12/10/2013, 8 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela balear (Puffinus mauretanicus), 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Pardela balear (Puffinus mauretanicus), 12/10/2013, ría de Arousa (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Alcatraz atlántico (Morus bassanus), juvenil, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Esmerejón (Falco columbarius), 12/10/2013, islote de Noro, junto a Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota cabecinegra (Larus melanocephalus), adulto, 12/10/2013, puerto de O Grove (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Gaviota cabecinegra (Larus melanocephalus), inmaturo de segundo invierno, 12/10/2013, puerto de O Grove (SW Galicia) (c) Juan Gómez Escariz.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

Gaviota de Sabine (Xema sabini), adulto, 12/10/2013, 12 millas náuticas al W de la isla de Sálvora (SW Galicia) (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez.

04/10/2013: trip with the Biologists' College

English version soon

A media mañana del día 4 de octubre de 2013 salimos un grupo de observadores en una salida promovida por el Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas y el Colegio Oficial de Biólogos de Galicia, en coordinación con Intramar, S. L. El mar, con ligero mar de fondo, y el cielo despejado justo en O Grove (no así en los montes próximos) anunciaban una salida cómoda. Fuimos navegando hacia la zona de bateas al norte de O Grove, observando especies como garza real, cormorán moñudo, correlimos tridáctilo, gavión atlántico y charrán patinegro, entre otros. Ya en la boca de la ría aparecerían las primeras pardelas baleares y alcatraces atlánticas. Alrededor de las 12:00 llegamos al embarcadero de la isla de Sálvora, siendo recibidos por Roberto, el guía y vigilante de esta isla del Parque Nacional. En su compañía fuimos recorriendo la cara este de Sálvora, hasta llegar a la aldea abandonada. Hubo observaciones de aves como curruca cabecinegra, rabilarga y capirotada, verderón común, mirlo común, acentor común e incluso dos azores comunes, dos busardos ratoneros y nada menos que un aguilucho lagunero. También se anotaron reptiles y varias especies de mariposas.
Alrededor de las 14:30 partimos hacia el canal norte de Sálvora y nos dirigimos hacia el punto de chum de las 6 millas al W de la punta Couso, donde el aceite atrajo cinco paíños europeos, celebrados por todo el pasaje. Al chum congelado entró un págalo grande, pardela sombría e incluso charranes patinegros.
En el regreso se verían más pardelas y multitud de gaviotas, además de dos delfines comunes.
Ya en la ría, navegamos hacia la isla de Rúa disfrutando de grupos de pardelas baleares y cormoranes moñudos, con algunas gaviotas cabecinegras posadas en el agua, terminando la jornada con los saltos de delfines mulares cerca del puerto de O Grove.

Aquí se detalla la tabla de resultados. En negrita, observaciones destacadas. En cursiva, cifras aproximadas:

Nombre científico	Nombre castellano	TOTAL	Notas
Melanitta nigra	Negrón común	2	Macho y hembra
Hydrobates pelagicus	Paíño europeo	6
Puffinus griseus	Pardela sombría	7
Puffinus puffinus	Pardela pichoneta	1	Desgastado
Puffinus mauretanicus	Pardela balear	88	1 muerta, enmallada
Morus bassanus	Alcatraz atlántico	26	1 muerto, flotando
Phalacrocorax carbo	Cormorán grande	3
Phalacrocorax aristotelis	Cormorán moñudo	425
Egretta garzetta	Garceta común	1
Ardea cinerea	Garza real	5
Circus aeruginosus	Aguilucho lagunero	1	Juvenil/hembra en Sálvora
Accipiter gentilis	Azor	2	Macho y hembra (Sálvora)
Buteo buteo	Busardo ratonero	2	En Sálvora
Haematopus ostralegus	Ostrero euroasiático	1
Charadrius hiaticula	Chorlitejo grande	23	En Sálvora
Calidris canutus	Correlimos gordo	1	En Sálvora
Calidris alba	Correlimos tridáctilo	50	En Sálvora y en la ría
Calidris alpina	Correlimos común	1
Actitis hypoleucos	Andarríos chico	1
Arenaria interpres	Vuelvepiedras común	7
Stercorarius skua	Págalo grande	1
Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Gaviota reidora	101
Larus melanocephalus	Gaviota cabecinegra	22
Larus fuscus	Gaviota sombría	32
Larus michahellis	Gaviota patiamarilla	1491	1 tipo L. m. atlantis
Larus marinus	Gavión atlántico	8	Todos adultos
Sterna sandvicensis	Charrán patinegro	24
Motacilla flava	Lavandera boyera	4	En Sálvora
Motacilla alba	Lavandera blanca	4	En Sálvora
Troglodytes troglodytes	Chochín común	2	En Sálvora
Prunella modularis	Acentor común	2	En Sálvora
Erithacus rubecula	Petirrojo europeo	20	En Sálvora
Phoenicurus ochruros	Colirrojo tizón	2	En Sálvora
Oenanthe oenanthe	Collalba gris	1	En Sálvora
Saxicola torquatus	Tarabilla común	4	En Sálvora
Turdus merula	Mirlo común	6	En Sálvora
Sylvia undata	Curruca rabilarga	1	En Sálvora
Sylvia melanocephala	Curruca cabecinegra	2	En Sálvora
Sylvia communis	Curruca zarcera	1	En Sálvora
Sylvia atricapilla	Curruca capirotada	10	En Sálvora
Carduelis chloris	Verderón común	10	En Sálvora
Carduelis cannabina	Pardillo común	25	En Sálvora
Scolopacidae	Limícola no identificada	2
Delphinus delphis	Delfín común	3
Tursiops truncatus	Delfín mular	5
Podarcis bocagei	Lagartija de Bocage	4	En Sálvora
Timon lepidus	Lagarto ocelado	2	En Sálvora
Pieris rapae	Blanquita de la col	2	En Sálvora
Pontia daplidice	Blanquiverdosa	1	En Sálvora
Coenonympha pamphilus	Níspola	1	En Sálvora
Pararge aegeria	Maculada	3	En Sálvora
Vanessa atalanta	Numerada	1	En Sálvora

  Y también algunas fotografías (PRONTO)