August 1, 2006
A hot month weatherwise with a trickle of Autumn migrants.
It’s always hard work in July here birdwatching in the heat, but then somebodys got to do it.
I saw a total of 57 species this month and added one bird to the Alcossebre list – Little Ringed Plover.
The following are the months highlights.
On the 1st July a male Woodchat Shrike was beetle catching at the Sewage Works.
Three Little Egrets flew east on the 2nd July.
On the 3rd July 8 Greater Flamingos flew east, 2 female Mallard were seen and the only Pheasant of the month was raiding a hen coup.
Three immature Gannets were seen off shore on the 4th July.
Five Balearic Shearwaters flew east on the 7th July were the first of autumn and a flock of 12 Cattle Egrets contained the first juveniles of the year seen. Hundreds of local Common and Pallid Swifts were seen today catching flying ants.
A touch of autumn movement on the 8th July with one Grey Heron, one Common Sandpiper and 27 Black Headed Gulls heading west. Four Flamingos heading east were probably going to the Ebro Delta to moult.
Three immature White Wagtails appeared at the sewage pond on the 9th July, the first for the autumn.
No passage birds seen on the 11th July, but a pair of Melodious Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher were anxiety calling. So some success with local breeding birds.
A pair of Linnets seen on the 13th were unusual for July with no sign of young.
The 15th July provided me with my 178th species for Alcossebre – a Little Ringed Plover. Unfortunatley I couldn’t get a photo of it as it was running past semi naked people on the beach at the time!
The first Common Terns for the month were fishing off shore with the regular Sandwich Terns.
On the 16th July 2 Balearic Shearwaters flew east, an adult Squacco Heron was at the sewage pond and the only local pair of Turtle Doves were seen.
Passage birds on the 17th July were 14 Flamingos heading east, and one Meditteranean Gull. The first juvenile Woodchat Shike was seen with and adult and a late juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo was nagging it’s parent Magpies for food.
Two passage birds on the 19th July, a Little Egret and a Common Sandpiper. One of the local pairs of Bee eaters showed off their five young today – the Rio San Miquel pair.
Two Little Egrets and five Great White Egrets passed through on the 22nd July and 109 Audoiun’s Gulls.
The first Sand Martin of autumn passed westwards on the 24th July.
An adult Squacco Heron was seen on the Torre de Capycorp pond on the 25th July, and the juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo was having to find it’s own food on the ground.
Four Common Terns fishing offshore on the 26th July were only the second sighting this month.
My daily bird count walk was a struggle on the 28th July with the heat, but I did get a reward – my second record of Garganey (a female) and my second record of Great Reed Warbler, both at the sewage pond.
Some passage and overnight arrivals on the 30th July – 4 Grey Heron flying west, an adult Squacco Heron at the sewage pond, 2 additional Spotted Flycatchers as well as the local birds.
One of the local Cirl Buntings was still singing, the first juvenile Golden Oriole of the year seen.
Red Necked Nightjars were still hunting over our garden at dusk on the 31st July, but can I get a photo, no.
July weather in the Alcossebre Area.
July was a very settled month with fine ,sunny and hot days being the norm.
Thunderstorms threatened on the 12th, 16th and 27th, with only a trace of rain on the 27th.
We have had no heavy rain since the 10th of June.
The average daytime temperature was 32C (90F) with highs of 34C (94F) on the 22nd,25th and 29th.
Average night temperature was 22c (72F) with the coolest nights on 6th and 7th at 20C (68F).
Winds were light and gentle most days and from the east or south east direction.
Posted by Flamingo at August 1, 2006 2:09 AM