December 2019 will be remembered for two things, record rainfall, which caused extensive flooding and mild temperatures. The first week in December gave us well above the average rainfall. With five days of rain, it amounted to over 10 inches. The average rainfall for December is 2.4 inches! Only on the 7th did we see a decent amount of sunshine. Night temperature was above 4C the average . Day temperature was average at 16C. Winds were light or gentle. The second week in December had five days of mainly sunny weather, and two days with overcast and dull conditions. There were two days with moderate north east winds. Night temperature was 3C above the average. Day temperature was 1C above average. The third week in December was mixed, with four days of sunshine, three days had overcast & dull conditions. There was only one day with a moderate wind, the rest had light winds. Night temperature was 3C above the average. Day temperature was 2C above average. The fourth week in December gave us warm sunny days and no rain. Night temperatures were 2 C above average, and day temperatures were 2C above the average. Winds were light and gentle through out. The last three days days started off overcast and dull but cleared to mainly sunny pm. Very little wind – unusual here. Temperatures were 3C above average night, but average for day at 16C. Average day temperature was 17C (62F) Average night temperature was 10C (50F) Highest day temperature was 23C (73F) on the 13th December. 7C above the average. Highest night temperature was 17C (62F) on the 22nd December. 10C above the average. Coldest day was 15C (59F) on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th December. Coldest night was 7C (44F) on 8th, 11th and 27th December. Total rainfall was 10.1 inches (258mm), over five days. Average for December is 2.4 inches.
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58 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in December 2019. This was a poor total for the area as usually December is one of the best months of the year. For e.g. I have seen 54 species in a day in previous years. Ok, given that, every year is different, this year was no exception, we had the first wintering Northern Goshawk, A Fieldfare was only the fourth record here, and a record number of wintering Chaffinches. Ok so here is the list of birds that were seen in Alcossebre in December 2019. There was only one record of Balearic Shearwater, 181 birds flew south on the 28th December. Two single Northern Gannets were seen, one on the 3rd, and one on the 31st December. A total of 203 Great Cormorants passed through, and odd birds were seen on Moors rock and Capycorp lagoon/beach. One or two Grey Herons were seen, mainly on passage, with a regular bird at Capycorp lagoon. Two Great Egrets flew east over the sea on the 15th December. One or two Little Egrets were seen daily along the coast. Up to four Cattle Egrets were seen in the rural farmland. Five species of bird of prey were seen this month. A female Hen Harrier was seen in the rural farmland on the 24th December. Two Northern Sparrowhawks were seen, one on the 9th, and one on the 12th December. A Northern Goshawk continues to winter, giving good views, either on local electric pylons or chasing Collared Doves! Two Common Buzzards are wintering, like the Goshawk, seen on the electric pylons. Three or four resident Common Kestrels were seen almost daily. Up to nine Common Moorhens are wintering at the Torre estate pond. 45 Common Cranes flew south, calling loudly on the 3rd December – always a good sight. Of the five species of Gull seen this month Black-headed Gulls were the scarcest, with only two single birds seen. The similiar sized Mediteranean Gull was seen in good numbers through out the month, with a maximum of 170 birds on the 7th December. On days with light seas numbers could be seen resting on the sea. Audoiun´s Gulls were in low numbers with only a maximum of 9 birds. Most commonly seen at the Juvenile camp rock roost or Capycorp beach. Yellow- legged Gulls were seen daily, maximum of 10 birds The Lesser-black Back Gull like the Black-headed Gull was scarce, only three single birds seen. The only wintering tern – the Sandwich Tern had a maximum of 20 birds, like the Audoiun´s Gull favoured the Juvenile rock roost. Common Wood Pigeon were seen daily and peaked at 130 birds on the 8th December. Like wise Collared Doves were seen daily, with up to 135 birds seen together in the rural farmland. One or two Little Owls were seen or heard daily, with a regular one on a stone building in rural farmland. A Common Kingfisher was seen almost daily at the Capycorp lagoon. Hoopoes were in scarce numbers, with a maximum of three birds seen. Eurasian Magpies were in good numbers with up 22 birds counted going to roost at the Juvenile camp site. Three species of larks were seen this month. Resident Crested Larks, maximum eight birds. Wintering Skylarks peaked at 40 birds in the rural farmland. The first Wood Larks appeared on the 14th December with two birds, and later up to nine birds seen. Wood Lark Wintering Crag Martins were scarce in the rural farmlands, but in Alcossebre centre over 200 birds could be seen going to roost at dusk in their favoured apartment blocks. Up to five resident Great Tits were seen daily. Three Long-tailed Tits passed through the rural farmland on the 30th December. Five species of Warbler were seen this month. Wintering Common Chiffchaff numbers varied from 4 to 24 birds daily. Up to four resident Zitting Cisticolas were seen almost daily. . Wintering Blackcap numbers varied from 3 to 26 birds daily. One or two Dartford Warblers were wintering in the coastal scrubland. Resident Sardinian Warblers were seen in good numbers, with up to 19 birds seen daily. Wintering European Robin numbers were in lower numbers than previous winters – maximum 9 birds. Wintering Black Redstart were in normal numbers, with up to 15 birds seen daily. Unlike the Robin and Black Redstart, Stonechats winter in pairs, with up to 12 pairs noted. Easy birds to pick out due to their habit of sitting atop of bushes or perching on electric wires. Resident Eurasian Blackbird numbers were low, only one or two birds seen. Wintering Song Thrush numbers were also very low with one to six birds seen daily. A Fieldfare seen in dry Rio San Miquel on the 3rd December, was only the fourth record in 20 years! The resident Spotless Starlings were outnumbered by wintering Common Starlings by about a 100 to one. One or two wintering Grey Wagtails were seen, mainly at the Torre estate pond, or in my garden! See photo Resident White Wagtail numbers were augmented by in comers, up to 15 birds seen daily. Wintering Meadow Pipit numbers peaked at 50 birds. A male Cirl Bunting on the 25th December was the first this winter. Wintering Reed Bunting numbers were low, with a maximum of four birds seen. They only frequent one or two fields with ground cover, so easily missed. Six species of Finch were seen were seen. Wintering Common Chaffinch numbers were at a 20 year high, peaking at 739 birds by the month end! Contrast that with the resident Greenfinch numbers – maximum of 10 birds. Resident Goldfinch numbers were augmented by incomers – peaking at 90 birds. Wintering Linnet numbers peaked at 80 birds by the month end. Resident Serin numbers were low at a maximum of 20 birds.
Last winter Hawfinches were seen almost daily, this month only two sightings. |
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