December 1, 2006
November bird news
73 species were seen in the Alcossebre area this month.
Highlights of the month included my first record of Eurasian Wigeon and an exotic Parrot from South America called a Patagonian Conure!
The more normal winter visitors were seen in good numbers.
3 Blue Rock Thrushes, 4 Southern Great Grey Shrikes, 3 Cetti´s Warblers, 2-3 Dartford Warblers and 1-2 Cirl Buntings had settled into their favourite areas.
My daily bird count revealed the following birds:-
On the 2nd November 186 Cormorants and two Kentish Plovers flew South West. The sewage pond had a female Eurasian Wigeon on it my first record here. 18 Stonechats were counted today.
A wintering Common Buzzard and Booted Eagle returned on the 5th November, dispite the rain. Although Cattle Egrets peaked at 86 birds only one Little Egret was seen.
Crag Martins gave the highest total this month with 11 birds seen.
On the 9th November a Little Grebe was on the sewage pond, three Razorbills offshore were the first this winter. The only Wood Pigeons (2) and Coal Tit of the month were seen and Sardinian Warblers peaked at 20 birds.
Peak numbers of Robins(40) and Skylarks(57) were seen on the 10th November.
A late Barn Swallow flew south on the 11th November and peak numbers of Black Redstarts(23) and Fan Tail Warblers(11) were counted.
The only Gannets(3) and Arctic Skua of the month were seen on the 12th November. Black Headed Gulls peaked at 183 birds and a Kingfisher took up residence at Capycorp lagoon for three days.
7 lapwings flew east on the 13th November.
On the 15th November the first Wryneck of the year turned up on the coastal strip. Chiffchaffs peaked at 21 birds and the first Rock Bunting of winter was seen.
Corn Bunting numbers reached 15 birds on the 20th November.
A single female Sparrowhawk was seen chasing Meadow Pipits(21) on the 21st November.
Three Stone Curlews on the 23rd November were the first this winter.
In a gentle easterly breeze on the 24th November Chaffinches were going south at a rate of 135 birds per hour. Moorhens numbers peaked at 24 birds.
40 Balearic Shearwaters flew south west on the 25th November. A late Willow Warbler was seen, and a Dunnock was the first this winter.
Blackcaps peaked at 17 birds.
The 26th November was an overcast day with a gentle southerly breeze which encouraged some bird movements. 4 Lapwings flew North East,123 Mediterranean Gulls flew East and 100 or more Yellow Legged Gulls flew North West.
White Wagtails peaked at 26 birds and a count of 32 Magpies included a gathering of 26 birds!
The Wryneck was seen again on th27th November. Peak numbers of Crested Larks(14) and Reed Buntings(8) were counted.
118 Collared Doves were counted on the 28th November as were 7 Hoopoes,72 Linnets and 40 Serins.
The only Grey Heron of the month flew south west on the 29th November.
32 Cormorants flying south west brought the months total to 524 birds on the 30th November and a female Sparrowhawk scattered a flock of 28 Sandwich Terns preening at Capycorp Lagoon.
Alcossebre Weather for November 2006.
Apart from a spell from the 3rd to the 9th when we had rain and overcast conditions, November 2006 will be remembered as a sunny and mild month.
The average day temperature was 21C (70F) which was 3C warmer than 2005. Warmest day was the 1st November at 26C (79F).
Average night temperature was 11C (52F) with the coolest night on the 17th at 7C (46F).There were six days with rain, the heaviest rain fell on the 4th and the 5th.
Total rainfall for the month was 18.1 inches (462mm).
This was 6 inches less than last November.
Winds were from the North West most mornings and from the South/South West or East most afternoons.
27 days had only light to gentle winds with 3 days of moderate winds.