Ringing in Besòs mouth

Yesterday morning I went to Sant Adrià de Besòs, between Barcelona and Badalona, with Xavi Larruy, Quique Carballal, Albert Petit, Santiago Bateman, Javi Oliver and another birders. Xavi organized a public ringing session in the Besòs river. This is a very important stopover for migrating birds, and lots them are 'obliged' to pass for the Besòs river, because it is the only 'non urban place' in kilometers around.

We caught 142 birds, a good number. We basically caught Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) and Robins (Erithacus rubecula). Also some House and Tree Sparrows (Passer domesticus and P.montanus) and Cetti's Warblers (Cettia cetti), 3 Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos), 5 Grey wagtails (Motacilla cinerea), 2 hite Wagtails (Motacilla alba), 5 Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis), 2 Reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), a Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)...

Besòs river is an special place for migrating birds. Is the only place in kilometers around where they can stop and eat something. It's a fantastic stopover place for lots of birds. Between the Giant Canes (Arundo donax), the French Tamariscs (Tamarix gallica) and other vegetation in the river, there are lots of birds of birds in almost every bush. Xavi had found a Yellow-browed warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) the day before, but we didn't see it.

You can see some photos and a short video in the great Quique Carballal's blog, here. (text in Catalan)