The Birdman of Alcossebre (Spain)

The Birdman of Alcossebre – November and December 2008 Bird News

I saw 68 species in November over 18 days, and 57 species in December over 6 days. My bird recording was unavoidably cut down due to my wife being in Hospital for 26 days.
No new species were added to the Alcossebre list in either month.
There were first November records for Great Egret, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Crane, Long-tailed Tits and Hawfinch, and late records for Barn Swallow, House Martin and Pied Flycatcher.
Wren, Dunnock and Merlin were the first seen this winter.

A Short-toed Eagle was a first for December.
A late Common Sandpiper and the first this winter Great Crested Grebe was seen.
The full list of birds seen with comments follows:-
Seabirds and other birds seen along the Coast.
The first Great Crested Grebe of the winter was seen off the coast on the 30th December.
Up to 75 Balearic Shearwaters were seen offshore in November, and up to 20 in December.
Up to five Northern Gannets were seen offshore in November, but only one in December.
One to two Shags were seen in both months.
A total of 458 Cormorants passed through in November but only 42 birds counted in December.
Herons and Egrets.
Pride of place goes to my first Great Egret seen in November, flying South on the 10th.
One to two Grey Herons were seen flying south in November, but none in December.
A maximum of 32 Cattle Egrets were counted in November, but only 9 in December.
One or two Little Egrets were seen fishing the rock pools in both months.
Ducks.
A female Eurasian Wigeon at the Sewage Pond was my first November record here, and the only duck seen over the two months!
Birds of Prey.
Six birds of prey were seen over the two months.
A Short-toed Eagle on the 27th December was my first December record.
A female Marsh Harrier flew east over the sea on the 25th December, and was mobbed by Yellow-legged Gulls for over twenty minutes.
Single Sparrowhawks were seen through out November, but none in December.
Up to three Common Buzzards were holding winter territories, as were four Common Kestrels.
A single Merlin was seen on the 8th November.
Wading Birds, Moorhens and Cranes.
Two to three Northern Lapwings were seen in November, none in December.
A late Common Sandpiper was seen on the 14th December, only my second December record.
Up to 37 Moorhens were counted during November and December.
A high number for the two small areas of water. (Torre Pond and Sewage Pond)
There was first November records for Common Cranes, 17 birds flying south on the 5th November, and 2 birds flying east on the 20th.
Skuas, Gulls and Terns.
One or two Arctic Skuas were seen harassing Sandwich Terns through out most of November. None were seen in December.´
Up to 14 Mediterranean Gulls were seen through out November and December. Below normal numbers here.
The same comment applies to Black-headed Gulls, with a maximum of only 15 birds seen.
Audouins Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and Lesser-black back Gulls on the other hand were seen in their hundreds roosting on the beaches.
Sandwich Terns were below normal numbers, with only a maximum of 50 birds counted.
Pigeons and Doves.
A maximum count of 18 Wood Pigeons during November and December was exceptional here as they are not normally recorded during these months.
Collared Dove numbers were below average numbers peaking at 77 birds in November and 38 birds in December.
Owls, Kingfishers and Hoopoes.
One to two Little Owls were seen in November and December, being normal numbers for this time of year.
Unusually, no Kingfishers were seen in November and December.
Wintering numbers of Hoopoes continue to rise with a maximum of eight birds seen daily.
Swallows and Martins.
A late Barn Swallow was seen on the 23rd November and a late House Martin seen on the 12th.
Wintering Crag Martins reached a peak of 26 birds in December.
Larks, Pipits and Wagtails.
The residents Crested Larks only reached a maximum of seven birds during November and December, easily out numbered by the wintering Skylarks at 95 birds.
Meadow Pipits numbers peaked at 18 birds, well below average numbers.
While only single Grey Wagtails were seen, up to 26 White Wagtails were counted.
Robins, Chats and Thrushes.
While Robin numbers were down with a maximum of 36 birds, Black Redstart numbers at 20 birds were about average.

The usual male and female Blue Rock Thrushes were holding a winter territory each.

Stonechat numbers were slightly down at a maximum of 12 birds.
Song Thrush numbers were about a half down on normal with a peak of only 12 birds.
Wren and Dunnock.
Both these species are very scarce winter visitors here.
The first Wren appeared on the 8th November, and the first Dunnock on the 24th.
Warblers.
One or two Cettis Warblers frequently declared their territory through out November and December.
Six or seven Fan-tailed Warblers held winter territories about normal.
Dartford Warblers were scarcer during November and December, with only single birds being seen.
Sardinian Warblers peaked at 22 birds well above normal numbers.
Blackcap numbers were down about a third at a maximum of 10 birds.
Chiffchaff numbers were down about half their normal numbers at a maximum of 23 birds.
Flycatchers.
A female Pied Flycatcher on the 18th to 20th November was my latest record here.
Shrikes.
There were
three Southern Great Grey Shrikes holding winter territories. Usual winter numbers.

Finches and Buntings.
Finch numbers usually increase during November and December and this year was no exception. Peak numbers were Chaffinch 102 birds, Goldfinch 102 birds, Greenfinch 16 birds, Linnets 34 birds, Serin 129 birds.
I got my first November record for Hawfinch, a single male which was present through out November and December.

Bunting numbers were down on average. A maximum of two Cirl Buntings, single Rock Buntings, eight Reed Buntings and 20 Corn Buntings.

Alcossebre Weather for November, 2008.
The first week in November started off with torrential rain, giving us the usual months total of rain in just two days – 2.5 inches (64mm). The next five days were in direct contrast with fine, clear sunny weather.
The second week started off like the first week with rain, albeit only a trace – 0.1 inch (4mm). The next six days were mainly fine, clear and sunny again, although the last two days were dominated by strong Northerly winds.
The third week in November continued with the fine, clear settled weather, some days had a moderate wind making it cooler in the shade.
The fourth week started with strong North to North West winds but continued with the fine, clear and sunny weather.
The average daytime temperature was 19C (66F).
The highest temperature was on the 6th at 22C (72F).
The coldest day was on the 30th at 12C (53F).
The average nighttime temperature was 10C (50F).
The coldest night was on the 28th and 29th at 5C (41).
The warmest night was the 22nd at 17C (62F).
Total rainfall for the month was 2.6 inches (66mm).
The heaviest rain fell on the 1st and the 2nd.
As expected in November there were a number of days when the wind strength was moderate to strong - 10 days.
Winds were mainly from the North or North West in the early part of the morning, and South or South Easterly in the afternoons. Most often the winds died out by early evening.

Alcossebre Weather for December, 2008.
The first week in December was dry with fine sunny weather. Winds were light and gentle.
The second week in December started with two days of rain and overcast dull conditions. The rest of the week was fine and sunny until the afternoon of the 13th, when rain returned.
The third week in December was settled with plenty of sunshine.
There were fours days with moderate Northerly winds, keeping the temperature down.
The fourth week in December was mainly fine, dry and sunny, with the exception of the 26th and 28th when rain spread in.
The last three days of December were unsettled with dull and cloudy conditions.
The average daytime temperature for the month was 14C (57F).
It was 3c cooler than 2007.
The highest day temperature was on the 6th at 19C (66F).
The coolest day was on the 26th at 9C (48F).
The average night temperature was 7C (44F).
The coldest nights were on the 23rd and 25th at 3C (37F).
The warmest nights were on the 7th, 8th and 28th at 11C (51F).
Total rainfall for the month was 4.1 inches (104mm).
The heaviest rainfall was on the 8th, 9th and 23rd.
Overall the winds were mainly light and gentle.
There was a spell of moderate Northerly winds from the 16th to the 19th.