February 28, 2006
Magpies beware, Great Spotted Cuckoos,coming to a tree near you soon!
February Bird News 2006.
Birds. I saw a total of 65 species in the Alcossebre area in February 2006. Like January this was the highest total of species seen in four years observations.
Most of the wintering birds were surviving in good numbers.
The first Great Spotted Cuckoo arrived about a fortnight earlier than normal on the 13th February.
The wintering flock of Stone Curlews stayed throught-out the month in the dry riverbed. I fully expected them to have gone on the 26th February when we had over 8 inches of rain (see photo under weather)
But no, they were still there right up to the 28th February.
Two Red Legged Partridge survived the hunters bullets.
Seabirds and other birds passing along the coast.
Up to six Great Crested Grebes wintered off the coast.
A maximum of 21 Balearic Shearwaters were seen.
One or two Northren Gannets are normal, but 7 birds were seen on the 18th.
Likewise up to 10 Cormorants are normally seen off shore fishing,but a total of 109 birds flew east on four days. Probably Ebro Delta bound.
Two Little Egrets flew south on the 17th.
A maximum of 20 Razorbills followed the fish shoals.
Herons and Egrets.
No Herons were seen this month.
Single Little Egrets were seen feeding along the coast and up to 7 Cattle Egrets were seen foraging on newly ploughed fields.
Birds of Prey.
Like January it was a very quiet month for this group.
The single wintering Common Buzzard was last seen on the 21st February.
One or two Common Kestrels continued chasing the flocks of finches.
Wading Birds and Moorhens.
As already mentioned up to 20 Stone Curlews continued to winter in the area. No other wading birds were seen.
A good number of Moorhens were surviving at the two small ponds.
A maximum of 22 birds counted.
Gulls and Terns.
The usual variety of wintering Gulls and Tern were seen, with the following maximum numbers. 68 Mediterranean Gulls; 18 Black Headed Gulls; 80 Audouin’s Gulls; 480 Yellow Legged Gulls and 320 Lesser Black Back Gulls.
Sandwich Tern numbers peaked at 24 birds.
Pigeons and Doves.
Although only single Wood Pigeon were seen, up to 26 Collared Doves were counted.
The two Rose Ringed Parakeets were still flying around the area.
After the first Great Spotted Cuckoo arrived on the 13th up to 3 birds were seen daily after that.
Up to four Little Owls were seen daily, the same number as Hoopoes.
Crag Martin numbers came back up to normal, with a maximum of 40 birds seen.
Larks, Pipits and Wagtails.
Wintering Skylarks, at 40 max. continued to outnumber the resident Crested Larks at a maximum of 13 birds.
Meadow Pipits maximum was 15 birds.
One or two Grey Wagtails were noted, well outnumbered by White Wagtails at 22 maximum.
Single Dunnocks and Wrens were all that were counted. Both scarce winter vistors here.
Robins, Chats and Thrushes.
Robins continued to be seen in above average numbers – 15 birds,max. Although they don’t nest here the odd bird was heard singing on mild days.
16 Black Redstarts were down on average numbers.
A solitary Blue Rock Thrush was seen up to the 17th February.
10 Stonechats max. were about average.
Single Blackbirds were outnumbered by up to 9 Song Thrushes.
Warblers.
Still six species to be seen.
A single Cetti’s Warbler was heard at the sewage works.
Only three resident Fan Tail Warblers were counted.
A single Dartford Warbler continued wintering amonst the coastal scrub, usually being chased by the resident Sardinian Warblers, which reached a max. of 12 birds.
Wintering Blackcaps reached 16 birds and Chiffchaffs 26 max. Both good numbers.
The single Coal Tits seen were still being outnumbered by Great Tit with 6 birds max.
There were still 2 wintering Southern Great Grey Shrikes in the area.
Up to 18 Common Magpies were counted, trying to avoid the attentions of the Great Spotted Cuckoos.
Finches and Buntings.
Both groups are still to be found in good numbers.
Maximum numbers for the Finches were 85 Chaffinch; single Bramblings; 27 Greenfinches; 55 Goldfinches; 40 Siskins; 42 Linnets; 56 Serins and one to two Hawfinches.
Maximum numbers for the Buntings were 9 Cirl Buntings; 5 Rock Buntings; 28 Reed Buntings and 8 Corn Buntings.
Weather in the Alcossebre area for February 2006.
February is normally our poorest month for weather, when we expect cool temperatures, strong winds and plenty of rain. However, this year we had the first 22 days with milder than average temperatures and no rain! There was a sting in the tail as we got over 8 inches of rain (200mm) in one day – the 26th.
So to sum up. We had 24 days with plenty of sunshine and dry conditions. The winds were light and gentle and mainly from a southerly direction.
The other 4 days were overcast, with three days of rain, giving a total rainfall for the month of 9.2 inches or 232mm.
The average day temperature was 15C or 60F with a high of 20C or 68F on the 16th February. This was 2 C warmer than normal.
The average night temperature was 6C or 42F with a low of 01C or 35F on the 27th February.
