December is a good month for seeing birds in the Alcossebre area, with a good variety of birds wintering and in good numbers too. 60 species were seen this month. Some impressive counts this month included 240 Balearic Shearwaters, 40 Stone Curlews, 24 Eurasian Golden Plovers, 300 Mediterranean Gulls, 120 Sandwich Terns, 225 Wood Pigeons, 106 Collared Doves, 26 Blackcaps, 15 Black Redstarts and over 3,000 Common Starlings. The full list of birds with comments follows. Balearic Shearwaters were seen throughout the month-max. 240 birds offshore. Northern Gannets were scarce this month, one or two birds seen on two days. Grey Herons were seen seven times, most sightings at Capycorp beach, one of my hot spots. Little Egrets were scarce this month , a single bird seen from the 27th to 30th December at the Capycorp beach/lagoon. One to three Cattle Egrets were seen in the Rural farmlands throughout the month. Five species of bird of prey were seen this month. Single Marsh Harriers were seen, on the 23rd December a female hunting over the dry river -Rio San Miquel, and a female hunting over Rural farmland on the 27th December. A fine male Hen Harrier flew over my house on the 1st December. They normally winter in the El Prat Cabanes reserve at Torrenostra. Single wintering Northern Sparrowhawks were seen chasing the flocks of finches in the Rural farmlands. Only one Common Buzzard seen wintering this year, in some years up to three birds winter. Up to three resident Common Kestrels seen daily. On windy days seen hovering over the Rural farmlands. A maximum of 10 Common Moorhens were wintering at the Torre estate pond. A big surprise this month was Common Cranes. On two nights, the 22nd and 31st December, a flock was heard calling loudly as they flew south in the darkness! Stone Curlews are wintering in above average numbers, with up to 40 birds counted in the Rural farmlands and dry river bed. Keeping the Stone Curlews company was up to 25 Eurasian Golden Plovers – good to see this species, as they don´t winter every year. Only four species of Gull were seen this month in varying numbers. Two favourite roosting places are the Juvenile Camp Rock Roost, and Capycorp beach. They also rest on the sea in calm conditions, as did 300 Mediterranean Gulls on the 9th December! In contrast only one or two Black-headed Gulls were seen. A maximum of 20 Audoiun´s Gulls and 42 Yellow -legged Gulls were seen along the coast, or at the two roosting sites. Sandwich Terns were seen daily, with a maximum of 120 birds seen offshore on the 29th December. Resident Wood Pigeon numbers were swelled by wintering birds – a maximum of 225 birds counted on the 23rd December. Likewise, resident Collared Dove numbers also increased with winter birds – 106 birds counted on the 11th December. One or two resident Little Owls were seen (or heard) daily. This most confiding species posed for photos on a few occasions this month! Wintering Common Kingfishers were seen regularly at the Capycorp beach. Resident Hoopoe´s were seen daily – one to four birds noted. Another species easy to photograph. Resident Common Magpies were in good numbers – max. 30 birds. Their favourite roosting place is in the pine trees at the Juvenile Camp Site. Good numbers can be seen flying in at dusk, and flying out at dawn. It´s not every year we have three species of Lark wintering, but this month three species could be seen. Sometimes in the same field together. Resident Crested Larks numbers were low -max. 5 birds. Wintering Common Skylarks were more numerous, with up to 30 birds counted. Wood Larks don´t winter every year with us, so it was nice to see up to five birds from the 18th December. Crag Martins spent most of their time feeding over the marshlands at El Prat Cabanes, Torrenostra. Then for whatever reason? They come to roost in the apartment blocks in the centre of Alcossebre? So birds are seen daily passing back and forth. The only resident Tit – the Great Tit, was seen throughout the area – 4 birds maximum. Six species of Warbler were seen this month. Cetti´s Warbler was very scarce, only one bird heard calling on the 12th December. Wintering Common Chiffchaff numbers were low, max. 9 birds noted. Resident Zitting Cisticolas numbers were average – max. 4 birds. Wintering Blackcap numbers were good, with up to 26 birds seen, or heard daily. Like the wintering Song Thrush, Blackcaps will sing a sub-song, as if practicing for the full song in their breeding grounds! Only single Dartford Warblers were seen in their usual winter habitat – the coastal scrubland. Resident Sardinian Warblers were in good numbers, with up to 15 birds noted daily. Wintering Eurasian Robin numbers were low, max. 6 birds noted. They are as likely to turn up in your garden as anywhere. Wintering Black Redstart numbers were good , with up to 15 birds seen daily. Like the Robin as likely to turn up in your garden as elsewhere. The next species Common Stonechat is unlikely to turn up in your garden, instead favours the coastal scrublands. Another species easily seen and easily photographed. Max. Wintering numbers 12 birds. Resident Common Blackbird numbers were very low – only single birds seen. Wintering Song Thrush numbers were also very low – max. 4 birds seen daily. In contrast European Starling numbers were excessive! Flocks of 3,000 birds seen decending on the Olive Groves to devour the berries. Leaving the Song Thrushes to search the ground for their favourite food. Wintering Grey Wagtail numbers were above average, with three birds seen most days. Another species commonly seen in gardens and by pool sides. Resident White Wagtail numbers were augmented by winter birds. In newly ploughed fields up tp 30 birds could be counted. Wintering Meadow Pipit numbers were good, with up to 27 birds seen daily. The first winter Rock Bunting was seen on the 11th December, but not since. In contrast wintering Reed Buntings were seen daily in the Rural farmlands. Up to 11 birds noted. Five species of Finch were seen this month. Most species augmented by winter birds. Common Chaffinch – max. 68 birds, below average. Common Greenfinch – max. 40 birds, average. European Goldfinch – max. 60 birds, average. European Linnet – max. 120 birds, above average. European Serin – max. 120 birds, average. Alcossebre Weather for December 2020.
December 2020 was a dry month with fine, sunny weather throughout. Albeit with some cold nights especially towards the end of the month. The first week in December saw plenty of sunshine. Winds were light or gentle. Temperatures were 1C below average day, but 1C above average night. The second week in December was mixed, with three days of fine, sunny weather, and four days cloudy and overcast. The only rain of the month fell on the 11th December. There were moderate/strong north-east winds on the 9th and 12th December. Temperatures were 1C below day average, but 2C above the night average. The third week in December had lots of sunshine. Some days started off with high thin cloud, but soon cleared. Winds were light or gentle throughout. Temperatures were 1C above average day, and 2C above average night. The fourth week in December continued with fine and sunny weather. A moderate to strong north east wind on the 25th and 26th December dropped temperatures down. Day temperature was 1C below average, but still 1C above night average. The last three days in December were fine and sunny, but the night temperatures dropped to 3C below the average. Average day temperature was 15C (59F). Average night temperature was 7C (44F). Warmest day was 20C (68F) on the 21st December. Warmest night was 12C (53F) on the 2nd and 12th. Coldest day was 14C (57F) on five days. Coldest night was 3C (37F) on the 31st December. Total rainfall for the month was 0.3 inches (8mm) – the average rainfall for December here is 2.4 inches (61mm).
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