The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

December Bird News

Birds I saw 68 species of birds in December.

One new species was added to the list – Black Throated Diver. This brings the total species seen here up to 170 in three years of observations.
Four species were seen for the first time this winter – Whimbrel on the 21st; Wren on the 6th; Dunnock (Hedge Accentor) on the 30th and Hawfinch on the 23rd.

A comparison with the numbers of each species with last December makes interesting reading – see individual species accounts below.
Seabirds and other birds passing along the coast.
The Black Throated Diver was seen flying close in on the 6th December heading south west.
One to three Great Crested Grebes were regular offshore which was the same as last December.
In marked contrast Mediterranean Shearwaters were down from 190 max. last year to only 6 this year.
Both Gannets and Shags were seen in similar numbers to last year – one or two birds.
Cormorant numbers were up from a daily average of 21 birds last year to 39 this year.
Two single Grey Herons flew past compared to none last year.
Always a delight to see were two flocks of Greater Flamingos, a flock of 28 birds on the 12th and a flock of 40 birds flying east on the 23th. No doubt going to swell the thousands of Flamingos at the Ebro Delta.

The small flock of ten Common Scoters first seen last month offshore had incresed to 22 birds by the 24th.
Herons and Egrets.Grey Heron already mentioned.
Little and Cattle Egrets were slightly down on last year with a max. of one and 15.

Birds of Prey.
Single Common Buzzard and two Kestrels were the same as last December.

A nice Booted Eagle was seen on the 12th December compared to none last year.

Wading Birds and Moorhens.
A single Golden Plover was seen at the coast on the 6th.

A small flock of three Lapwings were wintering in the local farmland.
A single Whimbrel was along the coast on the 21st.
Moorhens have certainly increased since last December from a max. of 5 birds to 26 birds.

Gulls and Terns.
Mediterranean Gulls were in similar numbers to last year with a max. of 53 birds.
Black Headed Gulls had increased to 60 birds compared to 22 max. last year.
Audouin’s Gulls were down from 43 to 19.
Yellow Legged and Lesser Black back Gulls were in similar numbers both years 400 to 500 each.
There was a big increase in Sandwich Terns numbers –106 this year compared to 28 last December.

Pigeons and Doves.
No Wood Pigeons were noted, same as last year.
Collared Dove numbers were down from 47 birds last year to 22 this year.
The two Rose Ringed Parakeets were still dodging the Hunters bullets!

Little Owls numbers were slightly up on last year with a max of two birds compared to single birds last year.

A single Kingfisher seen on the20th was one more than last year.
Hoopoe numbers were exactly the same with a max. of 5 birds both years.
Crag Martin numbers were well down from a max. of 49 birds last December to only 10 birds this year.

Larks, Pipits and Wagtails.
Crested Larks were exactly the same numbers both years with a max.of 9 birds counted.
Skylark numbers were down from 56 to 36 birds.
Meadow Pipits numbers were slightly up with a max. of 14 birds.
Both Grey and White Wagtail numbers were the same both years, with one and 18 birds max.

The first Wren of the winter appeared on the 6th December. With none seen last year.
The same comment applied to Dunnock(Hedge Accentor)with the first of winter seen on the 30th December.

Robins,Chats and Thrushes.
Robin numbers were double that of last December with a max of 24 birds counted.

Black Redstart numbers were exactly the same both years – max.15 birds.
Single Blue Rock Thrushes were seen this year but not last.
Stonechat numbers were the same both years with a max. of 12 birds.
Blackbird numbers were slightly up albeit only a max. of 2 birds seen.
Song Thrush numbers were also slightly up with a max. of 4 birds.

Warblers.
Six species seen this month with contrasting numbers.
Cetti’s Warbler numbers were low both years with only singles seen.
Fan Tail Warbler numbers were down from 6 max.last year to 4 this year.
Dartford Warbler numbers were also down from 4 max. to singles this year.

Sardinian Warblers were down from a max. of 18 to 14.
Blackcap numbers were up from 5 last year to 8 birds this year.
Chiffchaff numbers were well up from a max. of 12 last year to 31 this year.

Great Tit numbers were up from one to four max.

Southren Great Grey Shrikes numbers were exactly the same with 2 birds max. both years.

Magpie numbers were also the same both years with a max. of 15 birds.

Both Spotless and Common Starlings showed big increases as did House and Tree Sparrows with mixed flocks of hundreds seen regularly.

Finches and Buntings.
Interesting year variations in both of these groups.
Chaffinch numbers were substantially up from a max.of 43 to 195 birds.
Greenfinch numbers were down from 34 to 21 max.
Goldfinch numbers were also down from 65 to 42 max.
In complete contrast, no Siskins were seen last year but a max. of 50 were counted this December.
Linnet numbers were down from 68 to 52 birds.
Serin numbers were also well down from 80 max. last year to 42 this year.
Another gain was Hawfinch, with none last December and 2 max. this year.
Cirl Buntings numbers were the most I’ve seen here with a max. of 9 birds, none seen last December.
Single Rock Buntings were seen with none last year.
Reed Bunting numbere were exactly the same both years with a max. of 13 birds.
Finally,a max. of 16 Corn Buntings were seen this December with none last.

Weather in Alcossebre for December 2005.
Most days in December were fine and sunny.
The average daily temperature was 13C (50F) with a high of 21C (70F) on five days. This was actually 5C (15F) cooler than last December here.
The average night temperature was 3C (31F) with lows of 1C (35F) on four nights.
There were only three days with rain, with light rain on the 18th and 19th and heavy prolonged rain on the 27th.
Total rainfall for the month was only 2 inches compared to 24.7 inches for November!
Winds were mainly light to gentle throughout with only three days of strong winds.
Wind directions were mainly North Westerly and Northerly, with occasional South West to West winds bringing in overcast and rain conditions.