66 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in May 2021. There was a first time record for Alcossebre of a Dutch Blue Lovebird an obvious escape. There were first spring records for Short-toed Eagle, Black-winged Stilt and Whinchat. A list of the species seen with comments follows. Only one Red-legged Partridge was seen this month. Two pairs of Ring -necked Pheasant are holding territory in the rural farmland. A single Greater Flamingo was seen flying south over the sea, on the 7th May. Northern Gannet were scarce this month, one bird seen on the 6th May. Likewise, only three Great Cormorants were seen on the 29th May. A single Grey Heron flew south on the 26th May. Single Little Egrets were seen through out the month, either at Capycorp beach/lagoon or the Torre estate pond. Up to 14 Cattle Egrets were seen in the rural farmland. Single Black-crowned Night Herons were seen at the Torre estate pond on the 1st and 6th of May, the first this spring. Five Glossy Ibis flew east over the sea on the 8th May. The second Osprey of spring was seen on the 9th May. The first Short-toed Eagle of spring was seen on the 9th May. Six Marsh Harriers were seen this month, two on passage and four hunting over the rural farmlands. A male Montagu´s Harrier was seen hunting over the dry river – Rio San Miquel on the 21st May. Resident Common Kestrels were in nesting mode, females on nests and males waiting nearby, three pairs, slightly down on average. The last of the wintering Common Moorhens had left Torre estate pond by the 7th May, leaving one pair to breed. Single Stone Curlews have been heard calling, indicating that they are holding territory and nesting. Three Black-winged Stilts at Capycorp beach on the 3rd of May were the first this spring. The only sighting of Common Sandpiper this month was one bird at Capycorp lagoon on the 17th May. There was also only one sighting of Mediterranean Gull this month on the 5th May. A total of 50 Audouin´s Gulls were seen this month along the coast. The commonest Gull was the Yellow-legged Gull with a total of 123 birds counted. Two Little Terns flew east over the sea on the 24th May. Sandwich Terns were seen daily, a total of 72 birds counted. Common Wood Pigeons were in nesting mode with at least 18 pairs nesting. Up to nine Turtle Doves were seen this month, it remains to be seen how many stay to breed. Collared Dove numbers were good with at least 34 pairs nesting. One or two Little Owls were holding territory. At least two pairs of Red-necked Nightjar were holding territory and calling loudly at dusk. Hundreds of Common and Pallid Swifts were seen daily. It doesn´t look like Bee eaters are nesting locally this year, the last passage bird was seen on the 10th May. On the other hand it looks like there might be two pairs of Roller nesting. A species that doesn´t breed every year here. Hoopoe numbers are lower than usual with only three pairs holding territory. Woodchat Shrike is another species that doesn´t breed every year, the last passage birds were seen on the 15th May. Golden Orioles are in good numbers with up to 7 birds seen daily. At least 12 pairs of Common Magpie are holding territory. Crested Lark numbers are low with a maximum of five birds seen daily. The last passage Barn Swallows were seen on the 10th of May leaving nine pairs nesting. Red-rumped Swallows are not breeding this year, the last passage birds were seen on the 5th May. Common House Martins were in good numbers with 10 pairs nesting at the Capycorp apatments. Up to four pairs of Great Tit were holding territory, the only breeding species. The last passage Willow Warblers were seen on the 3rd May. Two Wood Warblers were seen on passage on the 4th May. Most years Melodious Warblers breed in small numbers i.e in 2009 seven pairs were nesting, but this year there was only one bird seen on the 9th May. Resident Zitting Cisticola´s were also in poor numbers, with only two birds noted this month. Sardinian Warblers numbers are much better, with at least 8 pairs holding territory. The last passage Spotted Flycatchers were seen on the 1st May. Thereafter one or two birds were holding territory. The last passage Pied Flycatchers were seen on the 12th May. Up to five pairs of Rufous Nightingales were holding territory, average numbers. The last passage Common Redstart was seen on the 5th May. The first and only spring record of Whinchat was seen on the 7th May. Only on or two pairs of Common Blackbird were holding territory – poor numbers. Blue-headed Wagtail passage numbers have been very low – only a single bird seen on the 22nd May. Resident White Wagtail numbers are also low – only one pair seen. A single Corn Bunting was seen on the 25th was the only record this month. Resident Greenfinch numbers were average with 8 pairs holding territory. Resident Goldfinch numbers were better with 12 pairs holding territory. There was only one record of Linnet this month, four birds seen on the 10th May – a sporadic breeding bird here. Resident Serin numbers were good with at least 15 pairs holding territory. May Weather 2021.
A drier than average May with plenty of sunshine. The first week in May started off with two days of overcast and dull conditions and some light rain. The rest of the week had mainly fine and sunny days. Winds were mainly light or gentle, with moderate winds on the 2nd and 3rd of May. Temperatures were 2C below the day average and 2C below the night average. The second week in May like the first week, started off with two days of overcast and dull conditions and some light rain. The rest of the week was more normal weather for May, mainly fine sunny and dry. There was a blip on the 12th May with some light rain, but it quickly cleared. On four days we had light/gentle winds, mainly east or south east. On three days we had moderate winds – from the north east. Temperatures were 2C above the day average and 1C below the night average. The third week in May saw settled weather, sunny, dry and warm. The first four days had gentle winds, and the last three days moderate winds. Temperatures 2C above the day average and average for night (15C). We had the hottest day of the year so far on the 16th May – 32C (89F). The fourth week in May was mixed, most days cloudy with sunny spells. The 23rd May was the wettest of the month with rain most of the day. Winds were mainly light or gentle, with the exception of the 22nd May when there was a moderate easterly wind all day. Temperatures were 1C above the day average of 24C, and 1C below the night average of 15C. The last three days in May started off fine, sunny and hot. Then we had two days with high thin cloud cover after overnight rain. Winds were light or gentle. Temperatures were 3C above the day average, and 1C below the night average. The average day temperature was 25C (77F). 1C above the average. The average night temperature was 14C (57F). 1C below the average. The highest day temperature was 32C (89F) on the 16th May. The highest night temperature was 18C (64F) on the 17th and 19th May. Total rainfall was 1.8 inches (45mm). Over nine days. Average rainfall for May is 2.9 inches.
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