January 1, 2010
A good month for variety and numbers of birds.
73 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in December 2009.
Two new species were added to the ever growing list – Gray-lag Goose and Water Rail.
Bringing the total of species seen here over eight years to 212.
Including the two new species there were a further eight species with first December records – Little Grebe; Common Teal; Red-legged Partridge; Common Snipe; Arctic Skua; Common Swift; Woodlark and Snow Bunting.The ups and downs of most species follows:-
A Little Grebe continues to winter at the Sewage pond, and is now in breeding plumage.
One or two Great Crested Grebes were seen on the sea through out the month. This year has been the poorest for sightings over 8 years.
Balearic Shearwaters were in good numbers with up to 170 birds seen.
Northern Gannets were also seen in better numbers (for here) with a maximum of 6 birds seen.
With only a single Shag seen this month, it added up to the poorest in eight years.
Cormorants in contrast were at their highest numbers in eight years.
A total of 1042 birds passed along the coast in December.
A Gray-lag Goose flying south on the 20th December was unbelievably my first record here. The only Goose species seen to date.
Unusually, no Grey Herons were seen this month.
Up to six Cattle Egrets and one or two Little Egrets were seen, normal December numbers here.
A female Common Teal seen at Capycorp lagoon on the 20th was a first record for December, as well as the first this year.
Single Red-breasted Mergansers seen from the 8th to the 11th December were the first seen this year.
Two wintering Common Buzzards were normal numbers in the past four years, prior to that there was just a single bird.
Up to three Common Kestrels were holding individual winter territories – one male and two females.
Two then three Red-legged Partridge were seen in the dry river bed of Rio San Miquel, providing the first December records.
A Water Rail seen first on the 4th and then on the 31st December was my first record here. The Sewage pond provides another first!
A flock of 26 Golden Plover on the 17th December was the first seen this winter, and also the largest December flock to date.
Likewise 30 Lapwings on the 25th was also the largest seen in December.
One to two Common Snipe were seen through out the month in some wet patches in the mainly dry river bed at the side of the Sewage pond. They provided the first December records for this species.
Single Common Sandpipers seen on the 5th and 17th were only the third December records in eight years.
An Arctic Skua seen chasing Sandwich Terns on the 29th was my first December record.
Flocks of up to 45 Mediterranean Gulls were average December numbers.
Black-headed Gull numbers were well down on the eight year average with only a max of nine birds counted.
Audouin´s Gulls numbers continue to rise with up to 98 birds counted.
Yellow-legged Gulls provided me with a puzzle on the 31st December when I counted a total of 749 birds flying North West in flocks of 15 to 40 birds at a time? I would expect that sort of movement in such numbers in the breeding season, but not in the winter.
Answers on an E Mail please!
A maximum of 28 Sandwich Terns offshore were normal December numbers.
A Razorbill flying east on the 6th December was the first seen this winter, and so far the only one.
Wood Pigeon numbers continue to rise – this month up to 28 birds were counted in one flock. Up to 2006 they did not occur here in winter.
Collared Doves in contrast were about half the normal December numbers at 28 max.
Little Owl numbers continue to decrease, with only single birds seen.
An eight year low.
A very late Common Swift was seen flying south on the 4th December.
My only December record.
Hoopoe numbers were holding up with up to nine birds seen, the best over eight years.
Resident Crested Lark numbers were low – max. eight birds – in some year’s numbers are boosted by some wintering birds, i.e.2003 when 24 birds were counted.
Wintering Skylark numbers were average – max. 68 birds – down from the peak of two years ago of 130 birds.
It was nice to get my first December record of Woodlark. A single bird on the coastal shingle from the 18th to the 22nd December.
Crag Martins were another species that was well down in December numbers – average 30 birds over eight years, this year 16 birds.
Meadow Pipits were well above average numbers with a max. of 70 birds counted, compared to an average 24 birds.
Single Grey Wagtails were seen average December numbers.
Although White Wagtail numbers for December matched the average at a max.of 17 birds, the yearly totals were the poorest in eight years.
A single Wren in my garden on the 22nd was only the second December record here.
This was the best year for December sightings of Dunnock. Single birds wintering in the coastal scrub and at the Sewage pond.
After five years of rising winter numbers of Robin, they returned to 2004 numbers of a max.of 13 birds.
Black Redstarts were above average numbers at 17 birds max.
With only two female Blue Rock Thrushes wintering, they were at their lowest numbers since 2005.
Having said that, when I first came here in 2002 there were none wintering in the area.
A maximum of 13 Stonechats was average numbers for December.
Single Blackbird sightings were below average numbers.
With a maximum of 24 Song Thrushes counted it was the second best December count over eight years.
Similar comment for Cetti´s Warbler, with up to three birds wintering.
Zitting Cisticola´s were also above the average December numbers with a max. of 7 birds.
Single Dartford Warbler’s were well below average wintering numbers.
24 Sardinian Warblers and 22 Blackcaps counted this month were the highest December count yet.
A max.of 29 Chiffchaffs was well above average December numbers.
Another success was Great Tit with a record eight year high of 14 birds.
Southern Great Grey Shrikes did not continue this trend with only the odd bird seen – the usual is up to four birds wintering.
18 birds max. meant Common Magpie numbers were above average.
Wintering Finch numbers vary from year to year, and this year was no exception.
Chaffinch at 162 max.; Greenfinch at 46 max.; and Serin at 71 max. were all above average December numbers.
While Goldfinch at 72 max. and Linnet at 61 max. were average numbers for the month.
The first Hawfinches (2) of the winter appeared on the 4th December.
Buntings provided a nice variety of species this December, but never in any great numbers with one exception - the Reed Bunting.
A Snow Bunting on the 16th December was only my second record here – a rare bird in North east Spain.
Cirl Buntings were in average numbers with two birds seen.
Rock Buntings were in higher than average December numbers with up to three birds seen.
Reed Buntings were wintering in eight year numbers at 25 birds.
Corn Bunting numbers were average for December at 8 birds.
Finally a review of the year 2009.
2009 turned out to be one of the most successful years since I came here.
A total of 172 species were seen this year with 12 new species added to the Alcossebre list.
Starting off in January there were two first records for the month – Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit.
A Jackdaw flying east on the 26th February was the 203rd species for Alcossebre and there were three first February records for Purple Heron, Mallard and Wryneck.
90 species were seen in March equaling the highest monthly total over eight years.
Included in that total was a Short-eared Owl a first for Alcossebre.
It was a very good passage month with good numbers of Common Cranes – 70 birds, and White Storks – 520 birds.
April brought us the star bird of the year, a Desert Wheatear, a rare bird in Spain never mind Alcossebre!
That record pushed the list up to 205 species.
There were also April firsts for Common Shelduck; Quail; Gull-billed Terns; Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler.
There were no new species added in May, but a number of species provided first May records. Mallard; Short-toed Eagle; Little Ringed Plover; Common Redshank, Common Greenshank; Gull-billed Terns and Short-eared Owl.
June provided two new species, Tawny Owl and an escaped Cockatiel.
Bringing the list of species seen to 207.
There was also a first June record for Kentish Plover.
July normally a quiet month added another new species to our list – a Rosy-faced Lovebird, number 208.
The run of first species for Alcossebre continued in August with Red-crested Pochard, number 209.
There were also first August records for Sparrowhawk, Roller and Red-rumped Swallow.There were no new species seen in September, but there were first records for Little Grebe; Lapwing; Meadow Pipit and Robin.
An Olivaceous Warbler at the sewage pond in October increased the Alcossebre list to 206. It stayed for three days there.
There were first October sightings for Little Grebe; Ring Ouzel; Garden Warbler; Woodchat Shrike and Rock Bunting.
A Saker Falcon seen in November further added to the Alcossebre list. Species number 210.
There were some more November firsts, including Hen Harrier; Osprey; Common Snipe; Green Sandpiper; Sand Martin; Red-rumped Swallow; Mistle Thrush and Red-backed Shrike.
Alcossebre Weather in December, 2009.
The first week in December was mixed, mainly sunny days with the exception of the 3rd when it was overcast and dull with rain. A strong to gale force NW wind dominated the 1st day of the month. Temperatures were on the mild side.
The second week in December had a mainly fine and sunny start for four days, but winter arrived on the 13th and 14th, overcast and dull with a big drop in temperature – down from 18C to 4C!
The third week in December was another mixed week of weather, three days fine and sunny, the rest overcast and dull with light rain. Most mornings had a light NW wind changing to SW by mid am.
The fourth week in December was a week to stay indoors, most days overcast and dull with rain. Winds were generally light and from the SW, giving milder temperatures.
The last three days of December were much milder with the 30th giving us the warmest day of the month at 22C.
The average daytime temperature was 15C (59F)
The highest temperature was on the 30th at 22C (72F).
The coolest day was on the 14th at 4C (39F).
The average night temperature was 8C (46F).
The coldest night were on the 17th at 2C (35F).
The warmest night was on the 30th at 16C (60F).
Total rainfall for the month was 3.9 inches (100 mm) over 9 days.
The heaviest rain fell on the 26th with 1.1 inches (28mm).
Compared to 2008 it was 1c warmer in day and night temperatures and just slightly drier.