A juvenile Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) was located from one of the hides in Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park in the 13th December, 2014. This Natural Park (1 hour Norh of Barcelona by car) holds a large number of waterfowls all year round and many rarities and megas have been located there.
The bird was seen the whole day from one of the many hides in the Natural Park, fishing in one of the lakes and resting along with Great Cormorants. The bird have been seen for many birdwatchers as it is still present when writing. It is already over 15 days since the bird was first recorded and it has been seen almost daily, always from only two hides controlling the same fresh water lagoon.
Pygmy Cormorant’s closest populations are to be found in Central Croatia (about 1300 miles East from Barcelona) and it is a common view within its range, embracing most Balkan countries and Turkey.
This record was the second of Pygmy Cormorant for Catalonia, after a bird was seeing in 2008 near Barcelona. Other birds of interest recorded in the Natural Park included Snow Bunting and Ring-necked Duck!
