December 1, 2004
Wee Bird Big News
Weather
November was another mild month in Alcossebre.
The average daily temperature was 19c (67f).
We only had light rain on the 1st and the 29th.
Winds were light and variable from the 1st to the 8th.
A strong North Easterly wind blew up on the 9th and continued through to the 15th, abating temporary on the 12th. Thereafter it was light and variable again.
Farming Scene.
If last month was filled with the sound of shaking trees, this month was filled with the noise of chain saws! Let me explain
November is the month the farmers cut off the old growth on the Almond Trees. Now they used to do this with hand saws, not now, hence the chain saws.
They use the bigger branches for firewood and burn the remains on site.
There are more fields being ploughed up, providing food for Larks and White Wagtails.
The remaining fields of rotting tomatoes are a source of food for the increasing numbers of Finches. They also provide shelter from the wind for Warblers and Chats.
Birds.
A good month with 68 species of bird seen.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the month was the female Snow Bunting seen, why? Unlike where I come from (Scotland) this bird is a rarity in North East Spain
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Seawatching/Seabirds
The first Great Crested Grebe of the winter was seen on 21st.
Mediterranean Shearwaters were scarcer with the mild weather, a maximum of 14 seen.
1 to 4 Gannets were seen throughout.
Although only a max of 2 Shags were seen there were up to 25 Cormorants.
The first Red Breasted Merganser of the winter was seen on the 21st.
1 or 2 Arctic Skuas were seen .
Herons, Egrets and Storks.
1 to 4 Grey Herons were seen throughout the month.
The first Black Stork of the year flew over heading South on the 9th!
Although a maximum of 14 Cattle Egrets were seen there were only single Little Egrets.
Birds of Prey.
Single Buzzards seen throughout.
One Booted Eagle passed through on the 8th.
A male and female Kestrel hunted over different areas.
Waterhen – a maximum of 25 birds were seen at the local sewage works this month.
Waders.
The first Lapwings of the winter arrived on the 7th, only 2 birds.
In contrast, I got my first record of Golden Plover on the 25th with 14 birds. By the end of the month they had increased to 35 birds.
Gulls and Terns.
On the days they were not following the fishing boats I got maximum roost numbers of 30 Mediterranean Gulls, 52 Black headed Gulls, 80 Audouin´s Gulls,49 Yellow Legged Gulls, 36 Lesser Black Back Gull 1 Great Black Back Gull.
Maximum Sandwich Tern numbers were 60.
Pigeons and Doves.
A surprise this month was no Wood Pigeon seen.
Collared Doves peaked at 48.
Little Owls were still vocal with 5 being the most seen on one walk. This was the same as Hoopoe numbers.
Swallows and Martins.
1 to 3 Barn Swallows were seen up to the 21st.
As they decreased Crag Martins numbers increased, to a maximum of 21 birds.
Larks, Pipits and Wagtails.
Resident Crested Larks peaked at 16 birds, while increasing numbers of wintering Skylarks reached 84 birds.
Although only single Water Pipits were seen, 15 Meadow Pipits were usual.
Single Grey Wagtails were noted with a peak of 30 White Wagtails seen.
Robin and Chats.
Peak numbers for Robin were 30, Black Redstart 25 and Stonechat 17.
Thrushes.
The first Mistle Thrush of the winter was seen on the 4th.
Although only single Blackbirds were seen, up to 9 Song Thrush were noted.
Warblers.
Seven species seen this month.
Up to 2 Cetti´s Warblers were heard singing at a time
10 Fan Tailed Warblers were normally seen.
Wintering Dartford Warblers peaked at 8 birds.
Resident Sardinian Warblers reached 14 birds.
Wintering Blackcaps peaked at 14 birds.
A big passage of Chiffchaffs from the 2nd to 6th gave max. numbers of 46 birds. Therafter a more normal wintering average of 12 birds were seen.
A late Willow Warbler was seen on the 1st November.
Tits.The first record of a Penduline Tit here on the 3rd was a highlight, as was the first of the year Coal Tit on the 5th.
A maximum of 4 of the resident Great Tits were normal.
Still 1 to 2 Great Grey Shrikes wintering.
Magpie roost numbers peaked at 42 birds.
Finches and Buntings.
Increasing numbers and variety this month.
Finch maximum numbers were Chaffinch 92, Greenfinch 13, Goldfinch 67, Linnet 15, Serin 115.
My first record of the Snow Bunting was an obvious highlight.
The resident Cirl Bunting – a singing male – was out numbered by other wintering buntings. 9 Reed Buntings, 6 Corn Buntings and single Rock Buntings.
