October is a good month to see birds in Alcossebre. There is an overlap with the last of the summer birds and the arrival of the winter birds. 74 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in October 2016. A new species was added to the Alcossebre list - Woodcock. Two birds were seen on the 18th October. This record brings the list up an impressive 229 species. There were first of the year records for four species. Red-crested Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Firecrest and Dunnock. There were first of the autumn records for 13 species. Eurasian Buzzard, Skylark, Crag Martin, Cetti´s Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting and Common Chaffinch. This is how the month panned out. On the 5th October a Marsh Harrier flew east . Overnight arrivals included two Turtle Doves, a Willow Warbler, Common Redstart and the first Robins of winter. On the 7th October 14 Greater Flamingo´s flew south - a first this year. Overnight arrivals included a Booted Eagle, two Common Kingfishers, a Turtle Dove - last this year, first Song Thrush of winter, and one Northern Wheatear. Passage birds on the 8th October included 30 Great Cormorants and 200 Barn Swallows per hour. Overnight arrivals were the first Common Buzzard and Blackcap of the winter. The first Cetti´s Warbler of winter was seen on the 9th October. On the 10th October 12 Grey Herons and four Greater Flamingo´s flew east, no doubt heading for the Ebro delta. A Stonechat was a first for winter. On the 11th October a Grey Wagtail and two Meadow Pipits were a first this winter, there were also some other arrivals, two Stonechats, three Blackcaps and a Subalpine Warbler. A Grey Heron, five Great Egrets and eight Little Egrets all flew east on the 13th October. The last Red-rumped Swallows flew south. A Black Redstart was the first of winter. The last Pallid Swifts and House Martins flew south on the 14th October. An impressive flock of 120 Glossy Ibis flew south on the 15th October. Overnight arrivals included two Common Chaffinch - the first of winter. A Purple Heron flying south over the sea was the highlight of the 16th October. The 18th October was one of the best of the month for birds. Two Woodcock flushed from the rural farmlands was a first record for Alcossebre! 15 Red-crested Pochard flying south over the sea was a first record this year. 23 Crag Martins, four Skylarks and five Common Chiffchaff´s were the first this winter. A fine male Cirl Bunting was a first since the 8th May. The 19th October was busy for passage birds, 70 Great Cormorants, four Glossy Ibis and 50 Barn Swallows flew south. A Firecrest was the first since the 21st December, 2013. 45 Song Thushes were the highest number since 2007. The 21st October saw the first Reed Bunting of the winter. There were increases in Robins (16), Stonechats (10) and Blackcaps (12). Seven Purple Herons and nine White Wagtails flew south on the 23rd October, and a Southern Grey Shrike was the first this month. Three Northern Lapwings were a first this winter on the 24th October. The last Barn Swallows flew south on the 30th October. A late Short-toed Eagle soared above my house on the 31st October. The most notable thing about this bird was the bullit hole on it´s wing! The Weather in Alcossebre for October 2016.
This October will be remembered for the lack of sunshine - only seven fine sunny days recorded, and the amount of rain, 5.4 inches over nine days. Temperatures were just below the October average. Winds were mainly light and gentle. Most mornings we had a light north east wind, changing by mid morning and afternoon to gentle east or south east. Average day temperature was 23C (73F). Highest day temperature was 27C (80F) on the 3rd. Lowest day temperature was 19C (66F) on the 12th, 20th and 21st. Average night temperature was 15C (59F). Highest night temperature was 19C (66F) on the 2nd and 5th. Lowest night temperature was 10C (50F) on the 30th. Total rainfall for the month was 5.4 inches (138mm) over 9 days. Heaviest rain fell on the 12th October with 2 inches (51mm).
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