One of the pleasures of our location and our work is being surrounded by the wildlife of the Rioja Valley. We hope that our project will contribute to a secure future for the natural wealth around us. What follows is a record of our more interesting sightings, although I must admit to being easily interested, written in the form:
Riojan or Castillian name/British common name/Latin name – (conservation status if known)
Picture. If not the sighting in question will be marked as example.
Short Description of circumstances and frequency of sightings. Link to relevant wikipedia page in Spanish. You can link to the English article using the left hand menu in wikipedia.
Conservation status is taken from “Fauna De La Rioja” (1996), which although a bit out of date provides good local data, or the species-wide conservation status given by the UN that is listed on Wikipedia.
Not being a wildlife photographer you’ll appreciate that most of our bird watching in Spain occurs at distances that are impossible for us to photograph, hence all the birds are illustrated by examples from the web.
Amphibians/Anfibios:
Sapo Común / Common Toad / Bufo bufo (Least Concern)
07/04/11 Two spotted in calm area at edge of river. Easy to observe. Wikipedia
Tritón Palmeado / Palemate Newt / Lissotriton helveticus (Vunerable)
26/03/11 Found within 30 meters of irrigation canal under stones whilst planting hedge. Wikipedia
Reptiles:
Lagartija Colilarga / Large Psammodromus / Psammodromus algirus (Least Concern)
Seen on barn roof and walls on several occasions. According to wikipedia although as a species it is classified under Least Concern it is commonly threatened by habitat loss. Wikipedia
Lagarto Verde / European Green Lizard / Lacerta viridis (Least Concern)
An adult and juvenile seen within the fenced area of the project. Spotted head poking from roadside scrub high on hillside near Tondeluna. Wikipedia
Lución / Slow Worm / Anguis fragilis (Unknown)
Discovered baby under discarded black plastic amid long grass in allotment. Wikipedia
Víbora áspid / European Asp / Vipera aspis (Least Concern)
20/04/11 Spotted in the orchard area during wet weather. Since have seen a further three. A pleasure to see this unjustly persecuted snake, important both as predator and prey. Although the venom is the most active of the Iberian vipers it will strike at people rarely and only in self defence. Furthermore, although painful, asp bite symptoms subside without the need for anti-venom in 90% of cases. When used anti-venom is highly effective and deaths are rare. If bitten by a snake it is important not to attempt to suck the venom, apply a tourniquet or any other first aid measures you may have seen in films. Simply remain calm and hold the bitten area below heart level while seeking medical advice. Wikipedia
Mammals/Mamiferos:
Raton de campo / Fieldmouse / Apodemus sylvaticus (Least Concern)
Believed to inhabit the project in large numbers. We have disturbed individuals on two occasions whilst working and several have been caught by dogs. Wikipedia
Corzo / Roe Deer / Capreolus capreolus (Least Concern)
Although primarily crepuscular is occasionally seen in ones or twos crossing between the river and hillsides during the day. Wikipedia
Birds/Aves:
Aguila Culebrera Europea/ Short-toed Eagle / Circaetus gallicus (Locally Rare, Least Concern)
Apparently locally common though sighted only once at distance and unsure of identification. One of the few eagles to hover. Wikipedia
Aguililla Calzada / Booted Eagle / Aquila pennata (Locally Rare, Least Concern)
26/04/11 Seen being chased off by a crow around poplar plantations between La Ilera and the river. Wikipedia
Aguilucho Pálido / Hen Harrier / Circus cyaneus (Locally Rare, Least Concern)
15/04/11 Male seen hunting down the valley through the middle of young wheat fields at about shoulder height. Pretty distinctive though at first resembling a seagull. Wikipedia NB the English article is much more detailed than the Spainish.
04/05/11 Male seen hunting over wheat field adjacent to La Ilera in morning.
Alcotán Europeo/ Hobby / Falco subbuteo (Locally Rare, Least Concern)
27/04/11 Spotted in small feeding flock high above the river catching and eating insects mid air. A summer migrant.
28/04/11 Two sighted whilst cutting willow by the river. Flying lower this time and easier to verify identification with binoculars. Wikipedia
Avión Común / House Martin / Delichon urbicum (Least Concern)
A common Summer migrant, very visible in the village. Wikipedia
Buitre Leonado / Griffon Vulture / Gyps fulvus (Least Concern)
Have seen 50 in the air at once near their larger colonies in the west of the region but locally up to 14. Wikipedia
Chochín / Wren / Troglodytes troglodytes (Least Concern)
Seen feeding on ground just inside the chicken enclosure at the house and singing from the eves of the barn. Wikipedia
Cigüeña Blanca / White Stork / Ciconia ciconia (Least Concern)
Frequently seen from early spring, more common in lower valley. Nest on high buildings and disused industrial chimneys. Wikipedia
Colirrojo Tizón / Black Redstart / Phoenicurus ochruros (Least Concern)
Seen around the house, presumably nesting nearby. Watched a courting pair chase each other round and round the barn for some time. Wikipedia
Curruca Capirotada / Black Cap / Sylvia atricapilla (Least Concern)
A regular in the land and the village. The female is similar but with a red brown cap instead. Wikipedia
Escribano Soteño / Cirl Bunting / Emberiza cirlus (Least Concern)
Have been a constant presence in the land. Wikipedia
Golondrina Común / Barn Swallow / Hirundo rustica (Least Concern)
Common Summer visitor in the village and above the fields. Wikipedia
Jilguero / European Gold Finch / Carduelis carduelis (Least Concern)
Distinctive and frequently seen both around the village and farmland. Wikipedia
Milano Negro / Black Kite / Milvus migrans (Least Concern)
An easily spotted summer migrant. Most impressive sitting was watching 2 (out of a group of 4 or 5) grapple together mid-air and enter a flat spin all the way to the stream below. Wikipedia
Milano Real / Red Kite / Milvus milvus (Near Threatened, locally common)
Beautiful and distinctive. Commonly seen hunting low in the valley. Wikipedia
Tarabilla Norteña / Whinchat / Saxicola rubetra (Least Concern)
Spotted using one of our young plums as a perch to spot insect prey. A lover if open country with occasional low perches, its presence gives some idea of the current habitat that La Ilera presents to birds. Wikipedia
Vencejo Común / Common Swift / Apus apus (Least Concern)
Forms screaming parties in the village evening. Wikipedia
Verdecillo / Serin / Serinus serinus (Least Concern)
Fairly conspicuous at the project. Wikipedia
Invertebrates/Invertebrados:
Diverse, somewhat difficult to identify for the layperson but a few things deserve special mention here.
Mantis Palo / Cone-headed Mantis / Empusa pennata
Updated 14/04/11, a second green and pink adult poses for photographs on our terrace while we are hanging clothes and then proceeds to carefully clean its foot. This tiny and perfectly camouflaged little beastie was disturbed by our scything and raking in March. Wikipedia
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