56 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in January 2018. A Green Sandpiper was a first January record. The continuing mild winter weather meant that most species were in much lower numbers than normal for this time of the year. A detailed list of species follows. Seabirds. Up to 400 Balearic Shearwaters were seen offshore following shoals of fish. One to three Northern Gannets followed the fishing boats most days. Up to 20 Great Cormorants were seen daily, either on the Moors rock or offshore. Herons and Egrets. Single Grey Herons were seen either on passage or at Capycorp lagoon and Torre estate pond. Single Little Egrets were seen along the coast or at Capycorp lagoon and Torre estate pond. Up to four Cattle Egrets were seen in the rural farmlands. Birds of Prey. Four species were seen this month. Single Eurasian Sparrowhawks, up to three Eurasian Buzzards, a single Booted Eagle was seen soaring over the sewage pond on the 31st, and up to three Eurasian Kestrels. The only place to see Common Moorhen was at Torre estate pond where up to 12 birds were wintering. Wading Birds. The only species of wading bird seen this month was a Green Sandpiper, wintering at the Torre estate pond. A first January record here. Gulls and Terns. Meditteranean Gulls were the commonest this month with up to 70 birds seen, a maximum of 12 Audouins Gulls, a maximum of 15 Yellow-legged Gulls and only single Lesser black-back Gulls were seen. Up to 40 wintering Sandwich Terns were seen offshore. Pigeons and Doves. Both Common Wood Pigeon (max. 118 birds) and Eurasian Doves (113 birds) were in very good numbers. Owls. One or two resident Little Owls were seen or heard daily. One bird was usually seen on the roof of the Capycorp apartments, catching the early morning sunshine. Kingfisher. Single Common Kingfishers were seen either along the coast or at the Torre estate pond. Hoopoe. Up to four Hoopoes were seen daily, mainly in the rural farmlands, but also in gardens. Magpie. Common Magpies continue to thrive with up to 28 birds seen daily. Larks. Resident Crested Larks were in good numbers with a maximum of 11 birds noted. Wintering Skylarks were well down in numbers with only a maximum of 30 birds seen. Compare that with 150 birds wintering in 2016. Swallows and Martins. The only member of this family seen this month was the resident Crag Martin with up to 300 birds seen going to roost in apartment blocks in Alcossebre town centre. This is the highest number seen in 17 years of study. Warblers. This group illustrates the effect of the mild winter weather on birds more than any other. Six species were seen this month. Only one Cetti´s Warbler was seen, normally up to four birds winter. Again wintering Common Chiffchaff numbers were well down with only four seen, compare that with 56 birds in 2008! Resident Zitting Cistolas numbers were also well down, with only single birds seen. Normally up to 18 birds are seen. Up to 22 wintering Blackcaps noted were average number for this species. A single wintering Dartford Warbler was well down in the normal of up to four birds. Up to 15 resident Sardinian Warblers was just slightly below the average of 19 birds. Robin. Wintering Eurasian Robins at seven birds maximum were well below the average of 26 birds. Redstarts. Up to 16 Black Redstarts were below average the winter average of 24 birds. Stonechat. Up to 10 Common Stonechats were below the winter average of 16 birds. Blackbirds and Thrushes. Single resident Eurasian Blackbirds were normal numbers for here, but a maximum of only seven wintering Song Thrush were well below average numbers of 32 birds. Single Wren and Dunnock were the average winter number for each of these species. Wagtails and Pipits. Single Grey Wagtails were average winter numbers, usually seen at Torre estate pond or in gardens with water features. A maximum of 15 resident White Wagtails were seen, average numbers. Wintering Meadow Pipits were well down in numbers with only a maximum of 11 birds seen, compare that with the average of 53 birds. Buntings, Four species of Bunting were seen this month. Up to four resident Cirl Buntings were seen in the rural farmland, average numbers. Single wintering Rock Buntings seen were below the average of three birds. Wintering Reed Buntings only reached a maximum of four birds, the average is 11 birds. Resident Corn Buntings were the only species in good numbers with up to 40 birds seen in the rural farmland. Just below the winter average of 43 birds. Finches. Six species of finch were seen this month. Wintering Common Chaffinches reached a maximum of 50 birds, well below the the average of 120 birds. Resident Greenfinches numbers reached 24 birds, the average winter numbers are 44 birds. Resident Goldfinch numbers reached 50 birds, the average number is 125 birds. 55 Linnets was the maximum seen, average winter numbers are 90 birds. Resident Serin numbers reached 56 birds, usual winter numbers are 95 birds. Wintering Hawfinches were one of the few species in above average numbers, with up to three birds seen daily. Out of the 17 years studied the Hawfinch did not occur in seven years. Alcossbre Weather in January 2018.
A record breaking January for temperature. The first week in January was mixed , two fine sunny days and the rest with sunny/cloudy spells. A strong to gale force north east wind on the 3rd January continued through the 4th. No rain. Day temperatures were 2C above the average at 17C, night temperatures were average at 7C. The second week in January was mainly fine and sunny, but with cold nights. Winds were mainly light and gentle through. Day temperatures were average at 15C, but 3C below the average night. Again no rain. The third week in January had five fine and sunny days, with a record temperature of 26C on the 21st. The other two days were sunny, but with high thin cloud. Winds were mainly light or gentle, with the exception of the 21st, when we had a warm moderate to strong north east wind. Day temperatures were 4C above the average, night temperatures were average at 7C. The fourth week in January gave us the first rain since the 1st November! That was on the 26th. The week was more like the January weather we normally get. Starting off with three fine and sunny days, the rest of the week overcast and dull. The first five days had light or gentle winds, increasing to moderate/strong north easteries on the 27th and 28th. Day temperatures were 2C above the average at 17C and night temperatures 2C above average at 9C. The last three days in January were fine and sunny, albeit with cold nights. Average day temperature was 16C (60F) 1C above the average. Average night temperature was 6C (42F) 1C below the average. Highest day temperature was 26C (78F) on the 21st January. Highest night temperature was 13C (55F) on the 19th and 28th January. Coldest day was 12C (53F) on the 12th January. Coldest night was 2C (35F) on the 9th, 14th and 15th January. Total rainfall was 0.8 inches (20mm) on the 26th January. Average rainfall for January is 3.5 inches.
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