67 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in May 2020. No new species were added to the list which stands at 244. However, a new breeding species was added to the list – Ring-necked Pheasant, with two pairs holding territory. This brings the number of breeding birds to 44 species. There were first of the year records for Common Shelduck, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Cirl Bunting. There were first of spring records for Common Sandpiper, Collared Pratincole, Little Tern, European Roller, Melodious Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whinchat. For the first time there have been no records of Pied Flycatcher this spring. The full list of birds seen with comments follows:- Two Common Shelduck flew south over the sea on the 4th May – the first this year. Only a single Red-legged Partridge was seen this month, in the Rural farmland on 9th May. There are two pairs of Ring-necked Pheasants holding territory in the rural farmlands, the first breeding record for Alcossebre. There was only one sighting of Northern Gannet this month – 2 birds seen offshore on the 23rd May. In contrast a total of 45 Great Cormorants were counted. 43 of them were passage birds, with two seen offshore. There were three sightings of Grey Heron this month. One flew south inland on the 13th May. Single birds were seen at Torre estate pond. Apart from a flock of 15 Little Egrets flying east on the 6th May, there were single birds seen at Torre estate pond and Capycorp beach. Only a total of 8 Cattle Egrets were seen this month, in the rural farmlands. A total of 224 Glossy Ibis passed through, 148 flew east and 76 birds flew south, mainly over the sea. A female Marsh Harrier was seen flying east inland on the 29th May. Two male Montagu´s Harriers were seen over rural farmland on the 11th and 17th May. A passage Common Buzzard was seen on the 11th May, flying east inland. Four pairs of Common Kestrel were busy nesting in the area. A Peregrine Falcon seen on the 27th May, was the first this year. The only pair of breeding Common Moorhen – at Torre estate pond – have three young. A Eurasian Oystercatcher seen at Capycorp beach on the 16th May was the first this year. The first Common Sandpipers of the spring were seen at Capycorp beach on the 3rd May – four birds. The first Collared Pratincoles of spring were seen hunting west of the Rio San Miquel on the 19th May. Thereafter up to 8 birds were seen feeding. A total of 114 Audouin´s Gulls were counted, mainly seen at the juvenile camp rock roost or Capycorp beach. A total of 188 Yellow-legged Gulls were counted, mainly passing through. A Little Tern on the 2nd of May was the first this spring, thereafter up to three birds were seen either offshore or at Capycorp beach. Four Caspian Terns flew east over the sea on 6th May. A total of 55 Sandwich Terns were counted, like the Audouin´s Gulls, mainly seen at the juvenile camp rock roost or Capycorp beach. Common Wood Pigeon were in full breeding mode with about 18 pairs nesting. Turtle Doves are a lot more difficult to assess, breeding wise. Up to 15 birds passed through up to 16th May. Thereafter no sightings. Collared Doves were also in full breeding mode with up to 22 pairs nesting. It was a poor month for Great Spotted Cuckoo with only one sighting on the 8th May. Up to three pairs of Little Owl are holding territory, about average numbers. Up to five pairs of Red-necked Nightjar are nesting. Both Common and Pallid Swifts were seen in good numbers. A total of 30 Bee eaters were seen up to the 19th May. Doesn´t look as though they are nesting locally this year. A European Roller seen on the 5th May was the first this spring. There after up to three birds were seen – there is the possibility of a pair nesting in the rural/coastal farmlands. If so it would be an addition to the breeding list! Up to seven pairs of Eurasian Hoopoe are holding territory – about average numbers here. Woodchat Shrike is a species that doesn´t breed every year here but up to six birds were seen to the 28th May. So promising. Up to five pairs of Golden Oriole are holding territory – like the Hoopoe about average numbers here. There is always a good population on Eurasian Magpies here, and this year is no exception, with about 11 pairs nesting. Crested Lark numbers have declined over the past five years. This is mainly due to the local farmers changing from growing artichokes to planting almond trees instead. So while there used to be 8 to 10 pairs breeding, it´s down to 2 or 3 pairs. There was a late passage of Sand Martins from the 11th to 16th May. Maximum four birds daily. Small numbers of Barn Swallows continued to pass through up to the 29th May. While the local birds were in full breeding mode – up to eight pairs nesting, mainly in the rural farmlands. Red-rumped Swallow is a species that doesn´t breed every year here, and as no birds have been seen since the 6th May, it doesn´t look likely this year. Common House Martins are in full breeding mode. Very much social nesters, there are about 14 pairs nesting. One colony at Capycorp apartments and another at San Antonio apratments. Resident Great Tit numbers are never very high in terms of breeding pairs, with only two or three pairs nesting. The last passage Willow Warblers were seen on the 4th May. The first Melodious Warbler of spring was seen on the 3rd May. How many will stay to breed is unknown at the moment. Resident Zitting Cisticola´s numbers like the Crested Lark are in decline. Again changing farming practices are to blame. This grassland species is losing habitat as farmers plough up grasslands and plant almonds and olives. So one up to 10 pairs nested, now only two or three pairs. A passage Garden Warbler was seen and heard singing on the 4th May – the first this spring. There were three sightings of passage Greater Whitethroat this month. Resident Sardinian Warblers were in good numbers with up to 12 pairs nesting. One or two pairs of Spotted Flycatcher are nesting – normal numbers. This is the first spring I have not seen any Pied Flycatchers? Common Nightingale numbers are low with only three pairs nesting. A very late female Black Redstart was seen on the 19th May. One or two passage Northern Wheatears were seen up to the 7th May. he first and only Whinchat of spring was seen on the 4th May. Resident Common Blackbird numbers are low with only three pairs nesting. The first young Spotless Starlings were seen on the 21st May. Eight passage Blue-headed Wagtails were seen on the 3rd may. Single resident White Wagtails were seen through out the month. A male Cirl Bunting at the Torre estate on the 20th May was the first this year. Resident Greenfinch numbers were low with only five pairs nesting. Goldfinch numbers were slightly higher with eight pairs nesting. Resident Serin numbers were good with 12 pairs nesting. Both House and Tree Sparrows continue to thrive with good numbers of each nesting.
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Because off the restrictions due to the Corona virus this was the first time in twenty years I could not go out for my daily bird walk. So I decided that as I was confined to my house and garden, I would look back and see what birds I had seen over that time (20 years) in my garden. There were many surprises. To encourage the birds into the garden I made a bird bath out of an old shower tray and filled it with pebbles – it has been a great attraction, the birds drinking and bathing daily – see the many photos. I also encourage birds in with food. Every morning I boil up a panful of rice and scatered that on the grass lawn – the Sparrows in particular love the rice. I also put out a loaf of bread, the Magpies are fond of that. I have several nest boxes in the garden, so far only used by Great Tits. Another thing that attracts birds in is the swimming pool -I don´t really know why? Anyway birds as different as Common Kingfisher and Cattle Egret have been photographed beside the pool. Last but not least is some of the plants that grow in the garden. Date, Palm, Apple and Olive trees provide food at different times of the year. Ok, so here is a list of birds seen in the garden, with photos all taken in the garden :- Ring-necked Pheasant , Little Egret, Cattle Egret. Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Domestic Pigeon Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove Great Spotted Cuckoo Little Owl. Red-necked Nightjar, Common Kingfisher. Hoopoe, Golden Oriole. Common Magpie Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff Melodious Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Blackcap Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler Sardinian Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher. Eurasian Robin, Rufous Nightingale. Black Redstart, Common Redstart Whinchat, Common Stonechat Common Blackbird, Song Thrush Common Starling, Spotless Starling Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit Cirl Bunting Common Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Serin Hawfinch, House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow. So a total of 51 species of bird have visited the garden. Alcossebre Weather in April 2020.
A miserable month for weather with 12 days with rain and more cloud than sunshine. The first week in April got off to the worst possible start, with more than the months rainfall in one day! On the 1st April there was torrential rain through the night and all day, giving us a total of 5.4 inches - the months average is 3.5 inches. The rain was accompanied by a strong north east wind. The rest of the week was mixed, with more rain on the 5th and the 7th, but just light showers. Winds in the rest of the week were light or gentle. Temperatures were above average due to the amount of cloud cover. 1C above day and night average. The second week in April had more cloud than sunshine, with another three days of rain. Winds were light or gentle, NE in the morning and east or south east in the afternoon. Temperatures were average for day and 2C above the night average. The third week in April was very poor, with only one day of sunshine. The other six days were overcast and dull, four days with rain. Winds were again light or gentle. Temperatures 1C below the day, but 4C above the night average. The fourth week in April was the best of the month, with more sunshine than cloud. There were some showers of rain on the 27th April. Winds were mainly light or gentle, with the exception of the 22nd April, when we had a moderate easterly wind for most of the day. Temperatures were 3C above the day, and 2C above the night average. The last two days of April were sunny and warm with above average temperatures, and little wind. The average day temperature was 22C. (72F). The highest day temperature was 27C (80F)on the 29th and 30th. The coldest day was 18C (64F) on the 15th. The average night temperature was 13C.(55F). The highest night temperature was 17C (62F) on the 19th and 20th. The coldest night temperature was 8C (46F) on the 4th. Total rainfall for the month was 11.7 inches (297mm) over 12 days, the highest rainfall 5.4 inches on the 1st April. The average rainfall for April is 3.5 inches. |
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