The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

December Bird News

I saw 61 species of birds in the Alcossebre area this month, with no new additions.
This is seven species less than last December, but I put that down to the very mild weather. (see weather report at the end).
On the plus side is the fact that most wintering birds have increased in numbers compared to last December.

Seabirds and other birds passing along the coast.
The first Great Crested Grebes of the winter arrived on the 17th, thereafter 1-2 birds were seen offshore.
Up to 80 Balearic Shearwaters were seen fishing or flying past.
One to three Gannets were seen through out the month.
Only single Shags were noted, while normal Cormorants numbers were ten birds, with up to 56 birds seen flying south.
One or two Razorbills were seen either fishing or flying past most days.
Herons and Egrets.
Four single Grey Herons flew past,during the month.
Cattle Egret numbers dipped down from last months maximum of 86 birds to 8. With no Little Egrets seen.
Birds of Prey.
There are now two wintering Common Buzzards and two Common Kestrels in the area.
There was only one sighting of the Booted Eagle this month,on the 4th December.

Wading Birds and Moorhens.
Moorhens peaked at 21 birds on the 13th.
The wintering Stone Curlews had increased from 3 to 12 birds by the 12th December. Dispite the hunters they were still frequenting the dry river bed at Rio San Miquel.
The first Golden Plover of the winter were seen on the 28th – 4 birds.
One Lapwing flew North East on the 24th and 4 birds flew East on the 31st December.

Gulls and Terns.
Mediterranean Gulls peaked at 108 birds on 30th December, in contrast only a maximum of 36 Black Headed Gulls were counted.
Audoiun´s Gulls peak numbers were 25 birds on the 17th December.
Yellow Legged Gulls and Lesser Black Back Gulls were roosting in their 00s on most of the bigger beaches overnight.
Up to 48 Sandwich Terns were counted at Capycorp beach,roosting and preening in company with Mediterranean and Black Headed Gulls.

Pigeons and Doves.
Collared Doves numbers were still above average with a maximum of 83 birds counted on the 3rd December.
No Wood Pigeons were seen which is normal for December.

Exotics.
The pair of Rose Ringed Parakeets are down to one bird now.
The pair of Patagonion Conures are still calling loudly about the Capycorp farmland.
Owls,Kingfisher and Hoopoes.
Only single Little Owls were seen by day,however up to four birds can be seen at dusk,from any of our roads.
No Kingfishers were seen this month.
Hoopoe numbers were up on the December average with up 7 birds seen.
Swallows and Martins.
Our only winter bird of this group – the Crag Martin, was seen in normal numbers,maximum of 40 birds. Common around Alcossebre town aswell as the countryside.
Larks, Pipits and Wagtails.
Both Larks, Crested Lark and Skylark, were in above average numbers with a maximum of 12 and 66 birds seen.
Meadow Pipits were also up, with a maximum of 24 birds counted.
Grey Wagtail(1)and White Wagtail(17) were in normal numbers for this time of the year.
Robins,Chats and Thrushes.
Robin numbers continue to increase,this months max.numbers (27birds) compared with 12 birds last December.
Black Redstart numbers were up to with 18 birds maximum.
A male and female Rock Thrush continue to winter.The female in the rural farmland,and the male on a tower with apartments in the background.
Stonechat numbers have also increased with up to 14 birds counted.
Blackbirds are scarcer in the farmlnd than in the town, only 2 birds seen.
Song Thrushes on the other hand have increased – dispite the hunters bullets! – 4 max. last year to 10 birds max.this December.

Warblers.
A couple of Cetti´s Warblers continue to announce their presence with their loud explosive call – just aswell,because they are very elusive!
One bird holds territory at Capycorp lagoon,and one bird at the sewage pond.
The much smaller Fan Tail Warbler is much easier to see, with up to 7 birds maximum.
The next warbler,the Dartford Warbler is also very elusive,and it is a bonus to get a good view of the one or two birds here.
Much easier to see,and also hear is the Sardinian Warbler with up to 20 birds counted.
Blackcap numbers have almost doubled compared to last December – up to 17 birds counted.
Chiffchaffs are the only warbler down in numbers, with only a maximum of 16 birds counted,compared to 31 birds last year.

Great Tits are thinking it´s Spring with up to 5 males calling loudly.

Southern Great Grey Shrikes – isn´t that a mouthful – have increased from a normal two birds to four. Two of them are actually sharing a stretch of scrubland, which is unusual.

Magpie numbers are about normal with up to 18 birds counted.

Finches and Buntings.
Chaffinch numbers are slightly down,with a maximum of 162 counted.
Greenfinch(34),Goldfinch(62) and Linnet(72) numbers are about normal.
Siskins have not returned to winter yet.
Serin numbers continue to fall,two years ago there was a maximum of 80 birds, this year only 37?
Only single Cirl Buntings seen, compared to 9 last year.
Single Rock Buntings were normal numbers.
Reed Bunting numbers were slightly down from 13 last year to 11 this.
Four Corn Buntings seen were low numbers for December.

Alcossebre Weather for December 2006

A very settled month for weather with most days being fine and sunny.

The average daily temperature was 18C (67F) which was 5C (15F) warmer than December 2005.
The warmest day was on the 4th with 23C (75F)
The average night temperature was 7C (48F)
The coldest nights were from the 27th to 29th at 3C (42F)

On four days we had light rain (mainly overnight). On the 8th o.3 inches (6mm); on the 13th,just a trace; on the 20th 0.5 inches(13 mm) and on the 23rd0.3 inches (6mm).
Giving the total rainfall for the month as just over an inch of rain or 25mm. This was very similar to last December.

Winds were mainly light and gentle, with only three days of strong winds.
The wind direction was predominantly North west or North in the mornings and Easterly, Southerly or South Westerly in the afternoons.