57 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in November 2021. There were first winter records for Balearic Shearwater, Hen Harrier, Arctic Skua, Southern Grey Shrike, Wood Lark, Crag Martin and Siskin. A full list of species seen with comments follows. Up to six Ring-necked Pheasants were seen or heard in the Rural farmlands. 23 Balearic Shearwaters on the 21st November were the first this winter. Northern Gannets were very scarce with only one seen on the 21st November. Great Cormorants were seen daily, some roosting on the Moors rock or at the coast. A total of 75 birds passed through. Two Grey Herons were seen this month. One or two Little Egrets were seen either at Capycorp lagoon or the Torre estate pond. Up to seven Cattle Egrets were seen in the rural farmlands. The first Hen Harrier of the winter was seen on the 6th November hunting over the Rio San Miquel, and another on the 18th November. Eurasian Sparrowhawks were seen four times this month. One or two wintering Common Buzzards were seen throughout the month. Resident Common Kestrels were in good numbers, with up to six birds seen daily. The only place Common Moorhens were seen was the Torre estate pond, with up to six birds seen daily. 14 Stone Curlews seen on the 22nd November was the only record this month. Four species of Gull were seen this month. Black-headed Gulls are mainly passage birds here, 23 birds flew south on 13th November and 7 birds flew south on the 30th November. Mediterranean Gulls are seen all the year round, but are much more common in winter, 120 birds were seen on the 19th November. Audouin´s Gulls were seen daily – maximum 12 birds. Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen daily – maximum 5 birds. Sandwich Terns are seen in all months, like the Mediterranean Gulls are more common in winter – maximum 30 birds. An Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns on the 19th November was the first this winter. Common Wood Pigeon numbers continue to rise, with a maximum of 148 birds counted. Eurasian Collared Dove numbers soared to 137 birds in the first week in November, but as the month progressed numbers dropped to 8 birds! Resident Little Owls were seen or heard daily – one to three birds. Common Kingfisher was seen twice at the Torre estate pond. One to three Hoopoes were seen daily throughout the area. A Southern Grey Shrike in the rural farmlands on the 12th November was the first this winter. Eurasian Magpie numbers were augmented by winter birds, with up to 31 birds seen daily. I saw one flock of 22 birds in the rural farmland. Three species of lark were seen this month. Resident Crested Larks were seen daily with two to six birds. Wintering Common Skylarks numbers are quite low, maximum 12 birds. One of the ways to tell wintering Wood Larks from the other two species, is that they are normally silent in flight. The other two species are very vocal. They also winter in smaller numbers, maximum five birds. Wintering Crag Martins have been very scarce so far, with only three birds seen on the 25th November. Normally by this time up to a hundred birds or more are seen roosting in Alcossebre town centre. One to three resident Great Tits were seen daily. Wintering Cetti´s Warbler have been very scarce, with only one bird seen so far. Likewise, wintering Common Chiffchaff numbers are well below average, one to three birds seen daily. Only one or two resident Zitting Cisticolas were seen this month. Wintering Blackcap numbers were good, with up to 25 birds seen daily. Resident Sardinian Warblers were seen throughout the area – maximum 15 birds seen daily. Wintering European Robin numbers were below average, with a maximum of 10 birds seen daily. In past years 30 to 40 birds were counted! Wintering Black Redstart numbers were average, with a maximum of 15 birds seen daily. Females out numbered males by 10 to 1. In contrast wintering Stonechats tend to be seen in pairs, with a maximum of six pairs noted. The female Blue Rock Thrush continues to winter on the local stone tower at Cami Manyetes. Only one resident Eurasian Blackbird was seen this month. In contrast wintering Song Thrushes were seen daily, albeit in below average numbers – maximum six birds. One or two wintering Grey Wagtails were seen through out the month. The resident White Wagtail numbers were augmented by winter birds, with a maximum of 16 birds. Wintering Meadow Pipit numbers increased daily, and by the month end up to 30 birds were counted. Numbers of wintering Reed Bunting numbers were well below average, with only one or two birds noted. Usually by this time a small number of Rock Buntings are wintering, but none so far. Of the six species of Finch seen this month Linnets were in the biggest numbers, with up to 80 birds. There was a maximum of 60 Goldfinches, 40 Common Chaffinches, 30 European Serins, 10 Greenfinch and only two wintering Siskins. The two species of escaped Lovebirds were seen again.
Dutch Blue Lovebirds and Rose-faced Lovebirds. However, one of the Rose-faced Lovebirds has disappeared. Possibly killed by the hunters?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
February 2022
Categories |