The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

Good numbers of birds, but Booted Eagles steal the show!

70 species of bird were seen in the Alcossebre area this November.
No new species were added, but there was plently of interest.

The undoubted highlight of the month was a photographic pair of Booted Eagles, one light phase and one dark phase sitting on a pylon together.
Later that day (5th November) six Booted Eagles were seen soaring together, my highest November total here.
I had my first November record of Red-legged Partridge and Common Redstart.
I also had high number counts for the following species:- Moorhen; Lapwing; Sandwich Tern; Kingfisher; Skylark; Crag Martins; Robins; Song Thrush; Cetti´s Warbler; Sardinian Warbler; Chaffinch and Reed Bunting.

The following is a status account for each species.

A Great Crested Grebe offshore on the 30th, was the first this winter.
From the 10th to the 17th a maximum of seven Balearic Shearwaters were seen offshore, were low numbers for November.
One or two Northern Gannets and single Shags seen offshore were low for November.

Although up to nine Cormorants were seen fishing locally, these were easily outnumbered by a months total of 607 birds passing through, heading south west.
A single Grey Heron frequented the local sea lagoon at Capycorp most days, and a total of 8 birds migrated south.
Cattle Egret numbers were well down on previous Novembers at a maximum of 9 birds seen, in the farmland areas.
One or two Little Egrets fed along the shore, again scarcer than previous Novembers.
The first Red-breasted Merganser of the winter, was seen off shore on the 14th November.
Up to two Common Buzzards were wintering in the area, easily seen, either on a favourite pylon or in flight.

As mentioned in the prologue, Booted Eagles were the months highlight. A pair and then six together on the 5th November, were followed by a pair soaring above my house on the 29th.
In some years a single bird winters.

Up to three Common Kestrels were seen following the finch flocks in the farmland areas.
Three Red-legged Partridge seen on the 11th and 12th in an Artichoke field, turned out to be my first November record here.

Considering we only have two small freshwater ponds the numbers of Moorhens seem to increase year on year. A total of 28 birds wer counted at Torre de Capycorp pond and the Sewage works pond.
Two Stone Curlews seen on the 17th, in the farmland area, were the first this winter.
Up to five Golden Plovers fed on newly ploughed fields at Senia de Culla farm, from the 11th to the 19th.

Northern Lapwings were seen in their highest November numbers todate. Up to 26 birds seen either feeding in the farm fields or passing through.
Mediterranean Gulls were seen flying offshore throughout the month, and on the 11th and 12th, 100 plus birds were preening at Capycorp lagoon.
Audouin´s Gulls were seen daily, with a peak of 144 birds seen at Capycorp Lagoon on the 2nd.
A record November number of 80 Sandwich Terns were counted on the 10th with Gulls at Capycorp Lagoon.
Wood Pigeons are usually scarce this month and this year was no exception, only one or two birds seen.
Collared Dove numbers were normal with a peak of 61 birds.
Little Owl numbers were avearge for November, with one or two birds counted most days.
A count of four Kingfishers on the 20th November was the most I´ve seen here. There was one bird at the Capycorp Lagoon, one fishing off rocks at the beach, and two together at Las Fuentas Marina.

Up to five Hoopoes were seen daily, normal numbers for the month.
While a maximum of 11 Crested Larks were slightly below average, 160 Skylarks counted was well above November numbers.
Likewise a maximum daily count of 19 Crag Martins was above average numbers.
Two Barn Swallows on the 1st and a single on the 16th were late passage birds.
Meadow Pipits at 32 maximum, and Grey Wagtails at 2 maximum were normal numbers for November.
A maximum of 34 White Wagtails was well above average.
A Dunnock seen on the 20th November was the first this year!
Robin numbers peaked at 43 birds on the 20th November, well above average.

Black Redstarts peaked at 22 birds, normal numbers for November.
A female Common Redstart in the coastal scrub on the 4th and 5th, was my latest record for the species.
The usual wintering male and female Blue Rock Thrushes were defending their respective buildings from other birds.
The male a disused stone tower, and the female a stone farm building.
A maximum of 15 Stonechats and two Blackbirds were normal numbers.
A peak count of 32 Song Thrush were well above average, considering they are a prize species for shooting here!
Up to four Cetti´s Warblers were heard singing from their winter territory. Normally you only hear one or two singing on the same day.
A peak of 7 Fan-tailed Warblers was below average numbers.
Up to three Dartford Warblers were defending winter territories along the coastal scrubland.
A peak of 25 Sardinian Warblers was well above normal November numbers.
While a peak of 14 Blackcaps was normal numbers, a peak of 14 Chiffchaffs was well down on numbers.

A couple of late Willow Warblers were seen on the 17th and 20th November.
A Goldcrest seen on the 7th November was the first this year!
Only two species of Tit were seen this month, one common the other rare. A peak of 5 Great Tits was above average. While a Penduline Tit seen in the reeds at Capycorp Lagoon on the 20th November was the first this year.

Up to three Southern Great Grey Shrikes were seen, but never all in the one day.
Common Magpies peaked at 17 birds, normal for November.

The Common and Spotless Starlings and the Tree and House Sparrow numbers were very healthy with hundreds of eash species seen amonst the finch flocks in the farmland areas.
A peak daily count of 225 Chaffinch, 28 Greenfinch and 79 Goldfinch were well above average numbers for November.
In contrast only four Siskins were seen.
While Serin peak numbers – 30 birds, were well down, Linnet peak numbers – 58 birds were well up.
The four species of Bunting seen fared differently in regards to numbers. 2 Cirl Buntings and single Rock Buntings were normal for November. While 6 Corn Buntings was well below normal, 16 Reed Buntings was well above average numbers.

Alcossebre Weather in November, 2007.

A month of fine, sunny days and cold nights.
November turned out to be one of the sunniest and one of the driest months this year.
We had an unbroken spell of 19 days of fine sunny days and cold nights, from the 1st to the 19th. Then a few days of cloudy weather with a trace of rain from the 20th to the 23rd.
From the 24th to the 30th, the fine sunny weather returned.
The average day temperature was 18C (65F) with the warmest days being the 2nd through to the 9th at 21C (71F).
The average night temperature was 8C (48F) with the coldest night on the 17th at 1C (35F).
Compared with November 2006 it was colder, but exactly the same as November 2005.
Winds were mainly light or gentle in strength, (22 days), there were five days with moderate to strong winds, and three days of calm conditions.
Wind directions were predominantly Northerly or North Westerly in the mornings, turing to the East or South East in the afternoons.
Most early mornings and late evenings saw the winds ease off.