The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

Spring Birds arrive, Winter birds depart plus good passage birds.

I saw a record breaking 90 species this March, including two new species for the Alcossebre area – Garganey and Ring Ouzel.

The first Swallow of the year was seen on the 3rd March and the first House Martin on the 7th March,amonst a flock of 18 Crag Martins. The last winter Siskins seen.

On the 9th March a Red Legged Partridge was calling loudly and there was an overnight arrival of birds. 5 Great Spotted Cuckoos,10 Stonechats,20 Song Thrush and a Kingfisher. Four Grey Herons flew north east.

Three Balearic Shearwaters flew past on the 10th March out numbered by a flock of 190 Cormorants. The last winter Rock Bunting seen.

My reward for some gardening work on the 12th March was a flock of 88 Common Cranes flying north east over the house!

The 13th March saw two Great Crested Grebes off shore and one female Blue Rock Thrush inland.

Sandwich Terns peaked at 62 birds on the 14th March and a rare bird for here, a Dunnock was seen. The last winter Reed Bunting seen.

On the 15th March still more Cormorants flying east with flocks of 340 and 95. Two Mallard flying east were the first of the year here,and a fine male Dartford Warbler showed well at the Sewage works.

19 Grey Herons flew east on the 16th March and 6 Gannets were offshore. There were still 4 Cirl Buntings wintering.

One of the highlights of the month was my first Garganey for Alcossebre – a fine male flying off Capicorp lagoon. Other birds included a male Montagu’s Harrier heading north east,three Common Scoter flying east and the first Common Wheatear of Spring.

A day of rain on the 18th March and half a day of rain on the 19th of March held migrants up, but resumed as soon as the weather cleared.
In an amazing half hour at 12.30 on the 19th the following birds flew over our house. 40 Cormorants,11 Stone Curlews, a male Montagu’s Harrier,4 Common Kestrels,four Alpine Swifts,one Pallid Swift – both the first of spring,32 Sand Martins,80 House Martins and hundreds of Swallows!

The migrants continued to pass through on the 20th March, with 12 Black Kites, 8 Common Buzzards, a Booted Eagle, one male Montagu’s Harrier, 6 Grey Heron and a flock of 640 Cormorants. The last wintering Stonechats were seen.

The 21st March gave me my second new species for Alcossebre – a fine male Ring Ouzel, which flew from a field of artichokes.
A Great White Egret flew east in company with a Little Egret highlighting the difference in size between them.
One Razorbill was off shore, two Pallid Swifts flew east and there was three Hawfinches in the farmland.

The first Woodchat Shrike arrived on the 22nd March and two Black Kites and a Common Buzzard flew north. The last winter Robins seen.

A Common Redstart on the 23rd March was the first for spring and another Montagu’s Harrier flew east. The last wintering Chaffinches were seen.

Overnight arrivals on the 24th March included the first Subalpine Warbler of spring, five Willow Warblers, one Common Wheatear and two Woodchat Shrikes. The last winter Linnets seen.

My morning walk was fairly quiet on the 25th but a shopping trip to town gave me my first Osprey of the spring, fishing off Alcoosebre promanade.

The 26th March saw the last Blue Rock Thrush and Song Thrushes of winter and the first spring Black Eared Wheatear. Three Red Rumped Swallows passed through amonst Barn Swallows. Two Wood Sandpipers were flushed at the sewage works.

One Black Eared Wheatear was the only migrant on the 27th March but there was one Red Breasted Merganser and two Shags off shore. The first of the month.

The second Great White Egret flew east on the 29th March as did one Black Kite and two Grey Herons. Another Black Eared Wheatear and two Woodchat Shrikes arrived and there was still a fine male Black Redstart in my garden.

One Sparrowhawk on the 30th March was the first this spring, and a single Common Crane flew east.

On the last day of March three Black Winged Stilts were flushed from the sewage works,giving me 90 species for the month and a flock of 55 Cormorants flying east gave me a months total of 3,100 birds!
Where on earth do all these birds nest?

The Weather in the Alcossebre area for March,2006.

March gave us a lot of fine sunny weather with light winds.

We had only four overcast dull days with two and half days of rain, mainly light drizzle and one day of heavier showers.
This gave a months rainfall total of 1.5 inches or 40 mm.

The average day temperature was 20C (68F) with the warmest day on the 30th March at 25C (78F). It was on average three degrees warmer than March 2005.

The average night temperature was 10C (50F) with the coldest night on the 1st March at 3C (38F).

Winds were generally light and gentle and mainly from the south or easterly direction. There were four days of strong winds coming from a north or north westerly direction.