Overall February was a quite month for birds, only 52 species seen. However, there were some surprises. A dead Eagle Owl was found at the Bowls club. It had been dead for a while. It seems to have flown into a small pylon and got stuck. Thanks to James for that information. Only the second record for Alcossebre in 15 years. Two species were new for February Green Sandpiper and Carrion Crow. Their were first of spring records for Great Spotted Cuckoo, Barn Swallow and House Martin. The full list of species follows with comments. Single Red-legged Partridge were seen - they can rest easy now that the shooting season is over. Two Great Created Grebes were seen off shore on one of the calmer days. Not seen every winter. One or two Northern Gannets seen off shore, were normal February numbers. Great Cormorants were seen daily, either on Moors Rock, or flying past. Biggest flock seen this month 36 birds on the 26th February. A single Grey Heron was seen on the 22nd February, flying south over the sea. Not a common February bird here. One or two Little Egrets seen along the coast was normal February numbers. Cattle Egret numbers in the Rural farmlands were below average numbers, with only a maximum of three birds seen. Single Northern Sparrowhawks were normal February numbers. Mostly seen in the rural farmlands, after the finch flocks. Two wintering Common Buzzards was normal for February. Like the Sparrowhawk mostly seen in the rural farmlands. Up to four Common Kestrels were holding winter territories. occasionally seen chasingone another off their patch. There were no sightings of Booted Eagle or Merlin this month. Common Moorhen numbers were good - maximum of 12 birds - considering they were all at Torre estate pond. For the third February in a row no Stone Curlews were seen. Six Northern Lapwing flew east inland on the 6th February - not seen every February. A Green Sandpiper at Torre estate pond on the 11th, was the first February record here. For the first February in 15 years no Black-headed Gulls were seen. In contrast, Mediterranean Gulls were seen daily, with a maximum of 26 birds. For the past three Februarys Audouin Gulls numbers have been low - maximum of 12 birds. Compared with February 2015 with 94 birds. 20 or so Yellow-legged Gulls were normal February numbers here. Lesser Black-back Gull numbers are usually low in February, so 10 birds maximum was good numbers for here. With only a maximum of 30 Sandwich Terns seen, this was well below February numbers, i.e. 120 birds in February 2015/2014. Dispite hunting Wood Pigeon numbers continue to rise - maximum of 118 birds, being the highest February total in 15 years. Collared Dove numbers are even higher, with a record 132 birds maximum. I have had 30 birds come to my garden feeding station lately. It is always a delight to hear the first Great Spotted Cuckoo arrive and announce it´s prescence. This year was the earliest arrival yet, on the 3rd February. There are now three pairs searching for the Common Magpies nest to lay their eggs in. As I said earlier a dead Eagle Owl was found at the Bowls club on the 9th February. This is only the second record in Alcossebre in 15 years! One or two Little Owls were normal February numbers. Up to seven Hoopoes maximum, was above average February numbers. Their hoop - hoop call carrying a good distance, as they set up their territories. With only eight Crested Larks maximum, this was below the average for February. I.E. in February 2015 there were up to 17 birds. A maximum of 80 Common Skylarks was an average February number. Wintering Crag Martins were seen through out, 20 birds maximum. this was well below the normal February average. I.E. 104 birds in 2016. The first Barn Swallows passed through on the 25th February. A bit later than normal, last year 24th February - earliest 8th February. The first House Martins arrived on the 28th February. Last year on the 3rd March, earliest record on the 10th February. Resident Great Tits were calling out and declaring their territories with at least four pairs. Common Chiffchaff wintering numbers are coming down year by year, for example in 2014 10 birds were normal, this year it was five birds maximum. Zitting Cisticolas numbers were average with a maximum of six birds seen. Blackcap numbers were average with a maximum of eight birds seen. There was only one Dartford Warbler wintering in the coastal scrub land. Lower than average numbers for February. In contrast resident Sardinian Warblers were in healthy numbers, with up to 16 birds counted. Wintering Robin numbers were slightly up at seven birds maximum. Wintering Black Redstart numbers were well down at 16 birds maximum, i.e. in 2016 28 birds were maximum. Wintering Common Stonechat numbers were average with a maximum of eight birds. One or two resident Common Blackbirds are normal for February. Song Thrush numbers were about average for February with eight birds maximum. Like wise, Grey Wagtails were in average numbers with one or two birds seen daily. White Wagtails were well below average numbers at 12 birds maximum, i.e. in February 2015 there were 38 birds maximum. In contrast Meadow Pipit numbers were well above wintering numbers at 45 birds maximum. Single Reed Bunting were well down on usual wintering numbers. Wintering Corn Bunting numbers were well down, with only a maximum of three birds maximum. Contrast that with February 2014 with 70 birds max. Wintering Common Chaffinch were under average at 40 birds maximum. Resident Greenfinch Max. 20 birds and Goldfinch max. 52 birds numbers were average numbers for February. There were still up to 50 wintering Linnets wintering. Resident Serin were singing and displaying to declare their territories. Alcossebre Weather in February 2017.
The first week in February was mixed, with above average temperatures. There were moderate to strong winds from the 4th to the 6th. There was light rain on the 2nd and the 5th. Westerly winds on the 2nd and 3rd were unusual foe here. The second week in February was more cloudy than sunny. It started off with two days of moderate to strong north east winds. The 11th to the 13th were overcast and dull. Heavy rain fell on the 13th - 1.2 inches. Night temperatures were above average, but day temperatures were below average. The third week in February was mainly fine and sunny. Three mornings started off cloudy with mist, but soon cleared to fine and sunny. Winds were mainly light to gentle, north easterly in the mornings, changing to east in the afternoons. Temperatures were average for night, and above average for day. The fourth week in February was mixed, three days fine and sunny, four days overcast and dull in the morning, sunny/cloudy in the afternoons. Winds were mainly light and gentle. Overnight rain continued to 10.30 on the 24th. Temperatures were below average for both day and night. Average day temperature was 15C (59F). Average night temperature was 7C (44F). Both average for February. Highest day temperature was 22C (72F) on the 7th February. Highest night temperature was 14C (57F) on the 4th and 5th. Lowest day temperature was 13C (55F) on the 1st and 2nd. Lowest night temperature was 3C (37F) on the 25th February. Total rainfall was 2.1 inches (53mm) over four days. February average is 2.7.
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