This can be a time of yr once we see, within the northern hemisphere, nearly each day modifications in birds as they put together for the breeding season. Down right here, within the southernmost excessive of Europe, a few of these modifications begin prior to additional north. Taking a look at our wetlands this week gave me good examples of what’s occurring.
On the one hand birds are arriving from the south, typically in spectacular flocks. In my earlier articles I’ve highlighted hirundines and Nice Noticed Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius). Others are arriving too and its not simply the White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) that arrive in giant flocks.
Though some stay right here all through the winter, numbers of Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) are augmented by birds coming in from the south, some in spectacular breeding plumage. Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) are additionally displaying up in locations the place they haven’t been all winter, nearly actually arrivals from North Africa.
Others are merely gathering in very giant numbers, socializing and getting into the rituals that birds have previous to breeding. Due to the tight flocks that they kind, Shiny Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) stand out. Extra discreet, however lovely are the geese which at the moment are pairing up, amongst them Northern Shovelers (Spatula clypeata).
I’ve a delicate spot for gulls. Mediterranean Gulls (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) at the moment are moulting into breeding plumage, some adults now having nearly full black hoods which distinction superbly with their purple payments.
Grownup Audouin’s Gulls (Icthyaetus audouinii) at the moment are in pristine plumage as they begin returning to their breeding colonies. February is their month. Nice Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), too, are moving into breeding plumage.
Different gulls will depart us quickly and they’re barely behind of their plumage transitions. Lesser black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) are nonetheless largely in winter plumage, some starting to lose the streaking on their heads. Others are rarer down right here, on the fringe of the winter vary, and we are going to quickly see them depart for the north.
A Frequent Gull (Larus canus) was amongst my sightings this week.
So all is altering as some birds arrive from the south, others depart northwards, but others are already beginning the nuptial preliminaries for one more yr.