The full list of birds seen with comments follow. Single Red-legged Partridge were seen in the rural farmlands. One to three Ring-necked Pheasants were also seen or heard in the rural farmlands. An impressive 800 Balearic Shearwaters were seen offshore this month. Great Cormorant numbers were low, one to eight birds, usually on the Moors rock or roosting at Capycorp beach. Unusually no Northern Gannets were seen this month. Single Grey Herons were seen at Capycorp beach on four occasions. One or two Little Egrets were seen along the coast or at the Torre estate pond. Up to six Cattle Egrets were seen in newly ploughed fields in the rural farmlands. An impressive six species of bird of prey were seen this month. Single male Hen Harriers were seen hunting over the rural farmlands and dry river beds. A single Eurasian Sparrowhawk was seen mobbing a Common Buzzard on the 29th January. There were still at least two Common Buzzards wintering. Up to three resident Common Kestrels seen daily. A Peregrine Falcon flew south over rural farmland on the 17th January. A Merlin was seen stooping on a male Hen Harrier on the 13th January. Up to six Common Moorhens were still wintering at the Torre estate pond. The numbers of Mediterranean Gulls had dropped from last months record totals, to a maximum of 122 birds, still the most numerous gull. Audoiun´s Gulls and Yellow-legged Gulls numbers were low, not more than one or two seen daily. Up to 70 Sandwich Terns were counted roosting with the Mediterranean Gulls at Capycorp beach. While Common Wood Pigeons numbers were high at a maximum of 175 birds, Eurasian Collared Dove numbers were well done at a maximum of 33 birds. Only single resident Little Owls were seen or heard this month. Only a single Common Kingfisher seen this month at Capycorp beach on the 17th January. Only one or two Eurasian Hoopoes seen this month, again low numbers. Eurasian Magpie numbers were high, with up to 28 birds counted daily. Resident Crested Lark numbers were average at six birds maximum. Unusually no Skylarks or Woodlarks seen this month. Resident Great Tits were getting ready to nest, with three pairs seen daily. Wintering Common Chiffchaff numbers were low, one to five birds seen daily. Only one or two resident Zitting Cisticolas seen were very low numbers. Wintering Blackcap numbers were well above average at a maximum of 27 birds counted. Resident Sardinian Warblers numbers were average with up to 11 birds counted daily. Wintering European Robin numbers were at their lowest for years, only single birds seen. E.G. In 2005 I was counting 35 to 40 birds a day! Wintering Black Redstart numbers were average at up to 14 birds counted daily.Females out numbering males. Wintering Stonechat numbers were also average with 7 birds seen daily. The female wintering Blue Rock Thrush was still on the local stone tower at the end of the month. Single resident Common Blackbirds were seen daily. Males started singing from mid January. Wintering Song Thrushes continue to be below average, with a maximum of seven birds seen daily. Single wintering Grey Wagtails were seen either at the Torre estate pond or in my garden/pond. Resident White Wagtails, like the Cattle Egrets were seen in the newly ploughed fields in rural farmland – up to 10 birds counted daily. Wintering Meadow Pipits were in average numbers with up to 10 birds seen daily, mainly along the coastal scrubland. Wintering Reed Bunting numbers were very low, only one or two birds seen daily. Five species of Finch were seen this month. Three species have been missing this month, Eurasian Siskin, Brambling and Hawfinch. Wintering Common Chaffinch numbers were low, maximum of 41 birds counted. Resident Greenfinches were displaying and singing from mid January. Resident European Goldfinch numbers were still swelled with wintering birds – up to 70 birds seen daily. Wintering Eurasian Linnets were also in good numbers, up to 50 birds counted.
Resident Serins were like the Greenfinches in nesting mode, displaying and singing.
1 Comment
Natali
2/17/2022 06:27:05 am
Good Morning!
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