71 species were seen in the Alcossebre area in October. Five Mallard escaped the hunter´s guns by feeding in the private Torre de Capycorp pond, as did up to six Common Moorhen. Single Northern Gannets were seen off shore through out the month. A total of 186 Great Cormorants flew south, with one or two roosting on the Moors Rock or opposite the Juvenile campsite. Single Grey Herons flew south, with one bird pitching down in farmland - see photo. Single Purple Heron and Little Egret flew south this month. Their was a big influx of Cattle Egrets into the Rural farmland with up to 140 birds counted. Single Marsh Harrier and Eurasian Sparrowhawk passed through this month. A Northern Goshawk continues to winter and is frequently seen on the local electric pylons. Up to four Common Kestrels were seen daily. Gulls were quite scarce this month with only nine Black-headed Gulls, 14 Audouin´s Gulls and 22 Yellow-legged Gulls seen. Unlike the Gull´s there was good numbers of Collared Doves (max.214 birds) and Wood Pigeons (max. 136 birds). One to two Little Owls were seen or heard daily. The 12th of October gave me my latest date for Red-necked Nightjar, unfortunately it was a road kill, the only part of it intact was it´s wings - see photo. One or two Common Kingfisher´s were seen, either at the Capycorp lagoon or Torre de Capycorp pond. Up to nine Hoopoe´s were seen this month. A passage Wryneck was seen in the coastal scrubland on the 1st October. The first wintering Southern Grey Shrike appeared on the 25th October. Magpies were in good numbers with up to 28 counted going to roost in the Juvenile camp woodlands. Up to 10 resident Crested Larks were seen daily, the first wintering Common Skylarks were seen from the 19th October. The first wintering Eurasian Crag Martins arrived from the 14th October, by the end of the month over a hundred birds could be seen roosting in Alcossebre. The last of the summer Barn Swallows were seen on the 27th October,the last of the summer Red-rumped Swallows on the 7th October. and the last of the summer House Martins had gone by the 1st of October. One or two Cetti´s Warblers were wintering, one west of the Capycorp apartments, and one at the Torre de Capycorp estate. The first of winter Wren appeared at the sewage pond on the 25th October. The last passage Willow Warblers was seen on the 18th October. The first of winter Common Chiffchaffs arrived on the 16th October. Resident Zitting Cisticolas ( I still prefer the old name (Fan-tailed Warbler) are still at an all time low, with only one or two birds seen. Wintering Blackcaps arrived on the 2nd of October, and built up to 20 birds by the end of the month, females outnumbering males. The first wintering Dartford Warbler arrived in coastal scrubland from the 30th October. The last passage Subalpine Warbler was seen on the 8th October. The last passage Pied Flycatcher was seen on the 8th October. The first winter Robin arrived on the 1st October, and by the end of the month a minimum of 22 birds were counted. The first wintering Black Redstart arrived on the 8th October, females outnumbering males by about 10 to one. The last passage Northern Wheatear was seen on the 24th October. The last passage Whinchat was seen on the 9th October. The first wintering Stonechat was seen on the 8th October. Unlike the other small wintering birds they usually winter in pairs. By the end of the month four pairs were wintering, mainly along the coastal scrubland. Resident Blackbirds are always outnumbered by wintering Song Thrushes. This month only single Blackbirds were seen, whereas up 12 Song Thrush were seen daily from the 14th October. Like the Blackbird resident Spotless Starlings are well outnumbered by wintering Common Starlings. The first wintering Grey Wagtail arrived on the 13th October, normally only one or two birds winter. The resident White Wagtails numbers are augmented by some winter birds arriving, with numbers in double figures. The first wintering Meadow Pipits arrived from the 12th October, by the end of the month numbers had got to 30 birds. Buntings were very scarce so far this winter, with only one Corn Bunting seen in rural farmland on the 29th October. The first wintering Chaffinch arrived on the 13th October, numbers built up to 45 birds by the month end. Resident Greenfinch (4 birds) and Goldfinch (13 birds) numbers were much lower than the wintering Linnets - 30 birds. Unlike the UK House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow numbers are very good here flocks of 30 to 40 birds of each species are not uncommon. Unfortunately my nesting Tree Sparrows have moved elsewhere because I have now 12 cats!
0 Comments
|
Archives
February 2022
Categories |