Mild winters in Alicante draw Alpine accentors, thrushes, finches and buntings to the mountains, raptors and waterfowl to wetlands and provide some good seawatching along the shores, plus some winter oddities.

Exceptional days in Santa Pola — four different Caspian gulls hit the regional record of the species. Kittiwake, razorbill, eider, dolphins and hundreds of shearwaters have also been noted in the area lately.

While birding in Norwegian Lapland with friends, a recent oil spill has affecting numerous seabirds. We notice its impact on common and thick-billed murres, Atlantic puffins, and black-legged kittiwakes.