July 1, 2006
Mid Summer lull for migrants, so time to catch up with the breeding birds.
The Birdman of Alcossebre – June 2005 Bird News.
Only 54 species of birds seen this month as passage birds tend to be non-breeeding birds or on post breeding dispersal.
So a brief summary of these birds first then a detailed account of the breeding birds.
On the 2nd June one of the local Hotspots –the Sewage Pond – turned up the first Reed Warbler of the year and also a Squacco Heron.
A lone Arctic Skua flew east on the 3rd June.
While on the 4th June two Juvenile Gannets and a Grey Heron flew east.
Two Cattle Egrets flew east on the 6th June and a pair of Linnets gave hope of a first breeding record.
60 non-breeding Audouin’s Gulls and 3 Yellow Legged Gulls were on Capycorp beach, early morning of the 11th June.
Another two juvenile Gannets flew east on the 13th as did two Little Egrets on the 17th June.
Two flocks of Mallard (5 & 11 birds) flew east along the coast on the 18th June. My biggest number this year.
A little and large flypast on the 19th June, with 3 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons.
Three Black Winged Stilts flew west on the 21st June.
Another 5 Mallard flying east on the 23rd June were joined by a Little Egret and a Purple Heron, and a male Montagu’s Harrier hunted over the local farmland.
Three Grey Herons were outpaced by 17 Flamingos on the 24th June – heading for the Ebro Delta no doubt.
A Grey Heron heading east on the 25th and a Mallard on the 26th June were the last of the passage birds for the month.
The Breeding Birds of Alcossebre.
There are not hugh numbers of breeding birds here but they are an interesting variety – some 35 species breed.
The breeding census is restricted to the area of my daily walk which covers some 157 hectares or 388 acres ( if you are in my age group!)
There is a nice cross section of habitat from coastal scrubland, mixed farmland, a small amount of woodland – mainly conifirs and two small ponds.
Little Grebe – one pair raised three young at the sewage pond, my first breeding record here.
Common Kestrel – one pair holding territory.
Red Legged Partridge – one or two pairs nesting, but very elusive due to hunting.
Common Pheasant – one pair holding territory.
Common Moorhen – 6 to 10 pairs nesting in or near the two small ponds. The sewage pond and Torre de Capycorp pond. Both private.
Feral Pigeon – good numbers breeding at most farms.
Wood Pigeon – 2 to 3 pairs holding territory.
Collared Dove – 18 pairs holding territory.
Turtle Dove – one pair holding territory.
Great Spotted Cuckoo – up to three pairs made use of the local Magie population as hosts for their eggs, with the result at least 5 juvenies were seen.
Little Owl – 7 to 8 pairs were holding territory.
Red Necked Nightjar – at least 3 pairs holding territory.
Bee eater – 3 pairs holding territory.
Hoopoe – 6 to 8 pairs holding territory.
Crested Lark – at least 9 pairs holding territory.
Barn Swallow – some 16 to 20 pairs nesting, some on second broods.
House Martin – 6 pairs nesting.
Blackbird – 4 pairs holding territory.
Nightingale – 5 pairs holding territory.
Fan Tailed Warbler – 12 pairs holding territory.
Melodious Warbler - 6 pairs holding territory.
Sardinian Warbler -16 pairs holding territory.
Spotted Flycatcher – one pair holding territory.
Great Tit - 6 pairs nesting.
Golden Oriole –3 to 4 pairs holding territory.
Woodchat Shrike – one pair holding territory.
Magpie - 12 to 14 pairs holding territory.
Spotless Starling – upwards of 40 pairs nesting. I have 4 pair nesting around my house alone!
House Sparrow – upwards of 80 pairs nesting – no decline here.
Tree Sparrow – 4 small colonies of with a total of 30 pairs.
Greenfinch – 12 to 14 pairs holding territory.
Goldfinch - 15 to 20 pairs holding territory.
Serin – 30 plus pairs holding territory.
Cirl Bunting - 3 pairs holding territory.
Corn Bunting - 3 pairs holding territory.
The Weather in the Alcossebre Area for June 2006.
In the first 18 days of June the weather was unsettled with more cloudy days than normal – 9 days. Gentle to moderate Easterly winds kept temperatures down.
The lowest night temperatures were on the 1st and the 3rd at 13C (55F).
We also had two days with rain, on the 3rd there was 3.9 inches (105mm) and on the 10th 0.7 inches (17mm).
From the 19th June the weather became more settled with Fine, suuny and hot days the norm. We had the hottest day on the 24th at 32C (88F).
The average daytime temperature for the month was 26C (80F) which was 3C lower than June 2005.