February 28, 2005
Almond Blossum and Great Spotted Cuckoos
Weather
February is normally the poorest month of the year here and this year was no exception.
Maximum daily temperature worked out at 14 C or 58 F. Although we did have two warm days on the when the temperature reached 22c or72 F
We had five days of light rain and a Thunderstorm with torrential rain on the 8th.
The strong North Westerly winds blew in for seven days, making bird watching almost impossible.
Farming Scene
The most noticeable thing this month was the fields of Almond blossum which scented the air and brought colour to the landscape.
The most frequent activity this month was ploughing which suited the birds.
Birds flocked to the ploughed fields – Cattle Egrets, White Wagtails, Black Redstarts, Stonechats, Skylarks, Crested Larks and mixed flocks of Finches and Buntings. That is where I got my largest count of most of the above species.
Birds. 55 species seen this month, with the first Spring migrant arriving – Great Spotted Cuckoo.
Seawatching/Seabirds
A quiet month for this group of birds with no Atlantic storms to bring birds into the Mediterranean basin,
A maximum of 5 Great Crested grebes seen but only 3 Mediterranean Shearwaters. Single Gannets, Razorbills and Red Breasted Mergansers.
On five days there was an easterly passage of Cormorants – maximum of 65 birds in one flock. Probably making their way to the Ebro Delta.
Herons and Egrets
A quiet month for this group to. Two regular Little Egrets seen along the shoreline and up to 7 Cattle Egrets following the plough.
Still no Herons migrating through.
Birds of Prey.
Single Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard seen, but the wintering Kestrels have dropped down to 2 birds.
Waders.
Only one Lapwing seen.
Gulls and Terns
Wintering gulls and Terns are still present in good numbers.
Maximum numbers were – 96 Mediterranean Gulls; 52 Black Headed Gulls; 88 Audouin´s Gulls: 450 Yellow Legged Gulls: 400 Lesser Black Back Gulls and 35 Sandwich Terns.
Pigeons and Doves
Still no Wood Pigeons seen but plenty Collared Doves around – 23 noted.
The first of the Great Spotted Cuckoos arrived on the 25th February.
Up to 3 Little Owls were seen and Hoopoes were more vocal and visible this month with up to 7 noted.
Swallows and Martins
Swallows still not arrived and only a maximum of 8 Crag Martins seen.
Larks, Pipits and Wagtails
Good numbers of this group seen, especially in the ploughed fields.
Maximum numbers were – 25 Crested Larks; 80 Skylarks; 6 Meadow Pipits; single Water Pipits and Grey Wagtails and up to 27 White Wagtails.
Robins and Chats
Still good numbers of these wintering birds.
14 Robins, including 3 in my garden! 21 Black Redstarts; and 11 Stonechats.
Thrushes
To my delight the Blue Rock Thrush is still here, seen almost daily.
Up to 3 Blackbirds and 6 Song Thrushes seen.
Warblers.Still a nice variety around.
2 each of Cetti´s and Fan Tail Warbler; single Dartford Warblers; 11 Sardinian Warblers; 5 Blackcaps and up to 19 Chiffchaffs seen.
One of the Great Grey Shrikes has disappeared leaving 2 birds.
Magpie numbers peaked at 13.
Finches and BuntingsApart from the Gulls and Terns this is the most numerous group of birds.
Maximum numbers were – 48 Chaffinches; 67 Greenfinches; 27 Goldfinches; 18 Linnets: 62 Serins; single Cirl and Rock Buntings; 19 Reed Buntings and 46 Corn Buntings.
