The Report sections listed below are largely complete and may be consulted here. They remain subject to further alteration until the final Report, complete with photographs, is published in the usual format later in the year. In the meantime, suggested changes, alterations or submissions for publication will be gratefully received by the Editor, Ernest Garcia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

  Cover Photograph.

Barbary Partridge                   Perdiz moruna                   Alectoris barbara

Resident.

Birds were widespread as usual, chiefly in the Nature Reserve, but there were a few sightings at locations where they would not normally have been expected in the past, such in the Glen Rocky area and, once, on the Europa Point foreshore on October 27^th. These outliers continue a trend for wider dispersion since the population has been reinforced with captive-bred individuals.

Barbary Partridge in the Nature Reserve.                       ( R. Perez)

 

The January winter bird counts found 48 birds, 20 of them on the East Side and the others mainly on the Upper Rock. The largest counts during the year were mainly from Windmill Hill, where there were 17 on February 19^th, 16 on April 18^th, 21 on August 14^th and 23 on November 3^rd. Adults with chicks were noted in the Nature Reserve on June 1^st and on Windmill Hill on July 6^th.

 

Greater Flamingo                   Flamenco común                   Phoenicopterus roseus

Irregular migrant, usually annual.

Six flocks, totalling 148 birds, were reported between February 16^th and May 18^th. The largest group was of 34 on March 29^th.

 

Later in the year one was seen from Europa Point on October 12^th and ten were off the East Side on November 5^th.

 

Rock Dove                   Paloma bravía                   Columba livia

Rare. (Feral birds common).

The January winter bird counts found 326 birds, including 94 in the town area and 79 around Europort. Few counts were made during the year but there were 25 on the lawns in Commonwealth Park on September 19^th. 

 

Woodpigeon                   Paloma torcaz                   Columba palumbus

Locally rare.

Three were seen from Jews’ Gate on April 3^rd.

 

Turtle Dove                     Tórtola europea                 Streptopelia turtur

Regular but scarce migrant.

Single birds were near South Barracks on April 22^nd and at Westview Promenade on April 25^th and May 2^nd. Two were on the Europa Point foreshore on April 28^th. A male was ringed on April 24^th.

 

A juvenile lingered on the Europa Point foreshore between August 25^th and August 31^st.

Juvenile Turtle Dove at Europa Point.                              (R. Perez.)

 

 

Collared Dove                Tórtola turca                       Streptopelia decaocto

Common resident.

The January bird count found 40 birds, 27 of them at Europa Point. This last site would formerly have been an unusual location but during the year ship watchers at the Point made a habit of feeding sparrows and other birds with bread and seed, attracting Collared Doves there. These numbered 30 on September 22^nd. Other favoured locations were mainly in gardens, notably the Botanic Gardens, where there were 23 on April 20^th.

Red-necked Nightjar                  Chotacabras cuellirojo               Caprimulgus ruficollis

Regular migrant.

Two were seen at Jews’ Gate on April 18^th and 14 were ringed there between April 18^th and May 10^th.

 

Only one, an adult, was ringed in autumn, on October 12^th.

 

European Nightjar                          Chotacabras europeo        Caprimulgus europaeus

Regular migrant.

There were 13 ringed between May 7^th and May 10^th. Six nightjar sp. were reported between April 5^th and June 3^rd.

 

One was taken into care from the town on October 2^nd and single birds were seen in the Nature Reserve on November 10^th and 11^th. A further 13, 12 of them juveniles, were ringed between October 11^th and November 6^th. A nightjar sp. was on the Europa Point foreshore on September 28^th.

 

Alpine Swift                                     Vencejo real                         Tachymarptis melba

Regular but scarce migrant. Scarce breeder.

Only three records were submitted. Nine birds were seen from Jews’ Gate on April 3^rd. Two were at the North Face on July 28^th and one was over the South District on October 14^th. Gibraltar is the type locality for this species, which is probably being under-recorded. One was ringed, on March 27^th.

 

Pallid Swift                          Vencejo pálido                Apus pallidus

Common migrant and breeder.

Single birds were reported from Europa Point and over the town on February 26^th. There were 80 over the town on March 11^th and hundreds were over the Rock on March 14^th.

 

Hardly any records were submitted later in the year but they included 15 over the town on September 19^th. Three nestlings were ringed on June 12^th.

 

Common Swift                        Vencejo común               Apus apus

Common migrant and breeder.

Four at Western Beach on March 30^th were the earliest reported. There were hundreds over the Rock on May 13^th but no other significant records were submitted.

 

European Storm-petrel                        Paiño europeo             Hydrobates pelagicus

Regular in the Strait but rare onshore.

One was found near the airfield on December 10^th. It seemed stunned but soon recovered and was released.

European Storm-petrel found in town.                     (V. Robba.)

 

Scopoli’s Shearwater      Pardela cenicienta mediterránea            Calonectris diomedea

Regular, mainly on passage.

A single bird off Europa Point on February 23^rd was probably of this species. Shearwater flocks that may have included this species were reported from Europa Point on five dates in October. In addition, a concentration of about 1,000 birds was present two miles east of the Rock on October 5^th. These latter dates are still prior to the principal (November) exodus of Scopoli’s Shearwaters from the Mediterranean, which was not detected from Gibraltar in 2024. 

Scopoli's Shearwater found in town.                              (M. Cutts.)

 

Cory’s Shearwater                     Pardela cenicienta canaria                   Calonectris borealis

Common March–October. Most numerous in summer. 

All reports came from Europa Point. Two were seen on May 13^th. Thereafter mainly small numbers were reported foraging offshore on most watch dates until at least October 5^th. The largest count estimates made were of 100–250 birds but most observations were of fewer than 40. Gatherings of up to 100 in September were associated with flying fish shoals that were being displaced by predatory dolphins and Blue-finned Tuna Thunnus thynnus, a regular autumn sight in recent years. One was ringed on November 2^nd.

Manx Shearwater                  Pardela pichoneta                  Puffinus puffinus

Locally rare.

One was photographed flying west at Europa Point on March 28^th. First confirmed record (R. Perez). Earlier references to Manx Shearwaters in the literature are of the former Mediterranean subspecies mauretanicus and yelkouan prior to their assignment to full-species status. 

Manx Shearwater at Europa Point.                        (R. Perez.)

 

Balearic Shearwater                  Pardela balear                Puffinus mauretanicus

All year, especially summer. Migrant.

Mainly small numbers were reported from Europa Point on 26 dates between January 9^th and June 26^th. These totalled 393 birds, including 105 flying west on May 24^th. 

 

Thereafter there were 51 birds in total on three dates in July but no further observations were made until 122 were seen over four dates in October. The only subsequent records were in December: 203 birds flying west on December 8th and three on December 14^th.

 

Black Stork                          Cigüeña negra                  Ciconia nigra

Common migrant.

Spring migrants totalled an unexceptional 262 birds, on 16 dates between February 10th and May 13th, although most arrived in March. These last included 89 on March 4^th, 57 on March 10th and 51 on March 20^th. In addition, an unseasonal straggler was seen on June 7^th.

 

Returning migrants totalled just 45, on eight dates between September 9^th and October 8^th.

  

White Stork                       Cigüeña blanca                  Ciconia ciconia

Common migrant, but most bypass Gibraltar to the west.

Early-year northbound birds totalled 693, on seven dates between January 18^th and March 28^th. They included 200 on the first date and 248 on the last date. Later in the year 50 passed north over the town on October 17^th.

 

Eurasian Spoonbill              Espátula común                 Platalea leucorodia

Occasional migrant.

There were two records of small flocks. Six were over the Rock on February 23^rd and a group of seven: two adults and five juveniles, perhaps a family party, was seen from Europa Point on September 10^th.

 

Glossy Ibis                            Morito común                  Plegadis falcinellus

Occasional migrant.

There were four records during the first half of the year, presumably of northbound birds. The first was a flock of 23 flying east at Europa Point on April 15^th. Flocks of 35 and 43 were seen flying east from Jews’ Gate on April 25^th and June 8^th respectively. A single bird was seen flying along the eastern shoreline on May 15^th.

 

Black-crowned Night Heron                         Martinete común          Nycticorax nycticorax

Occasional migrant.

A nocturnal migrant was heard, and later seen through a thermal-imaging device, from Jews’ Gate on April 8^th. One was at Europa Point on April 16^th.

 

Cattle Egret                             Garcilla bueyera                      Bubulcus ibis

Occasional: migrant and in winter.

A flock of 52 flew east past Europa Point on February 7^th. A single bird frequented the Harding’s Battery mound at Europa Point on February 9^th.

Cattle Egret at the Europa mound.                          (R. Azopardi.)

 

Grey Heron                          Garza real                     Ardea cinerea

Regular: migrant and in winter.

Frequently observed during much of the year but there were no flocks of obvious migrants reported in 2024. One or two overwintering birds were present around the coastline until at least February 21^st. There were no observations in March and just two records of single birds in April, followed by one bird on May 14^th.

 

The first returning bird was seen over the town on July 25^th. One or two were present from early August until the end of the year, chiefly frequenting the harbour area, where pontoons provided useful fish-hunting posts, especially at night. Rosia, Camp and Little Bays also often held a resting or fishing individual but the eastern shoreline was apparently avoided. The largest count was of just four birds, on the Western Runway on September 11^th.

 

Purple Heron                    Garza imperial                Ardea purpurea

Occasional migrant.

One flew north on March 2^nd.

 

Little Egret                         Garceta común               Egretta garzetta

Occasional: migrant and in winter.

At least two overwintering individuals were present until early March and one was reported on April 3^rd. Birds chiefly frequented the pontoons available in the harbour area marinas and did not apparently use the eastern coastline.

 

Seven flew north along the east coast from Europa Point on August 14^th. Thereafter up to four birds were present again in the harbour area, including the detached mole, up to the end of the year. One individual was seen raiding the fish ponds in Commonwealth Park on several occasions.

 

Northern Gannet                    Alcatraz atlántico                    Morus bassanus

Present all year, especially winter and passage.

Birds were relatively numerous during the first half of the year, when some feeding concentrations occurred as well as some migratory and weather-linked movements. January–June sightings totalled 1,574 birds. The largest numbers were reported from Europa Point but there were records from around the entire coastline. An inshore feeding gathering of 30 birds was at Eastern Beach on January 6^th. Larger counts from Europa Point included 50 birds on January 26^th, 102 west in one hour on February 9^th, 213 west in 3.5 hours on February 12^th, 65 on March 10th, 50 on March 17^th and 40 on April 1^st. There were no double-figure counts after April 7^th until October.

 

Reports were much scarcer during the second half of the year, although the two sets of figures are not entirely comparable since watch durations were not standardised. Those seen during July–December totalled just 243 birds. There were no records at all in August and the largest double-figure counts during the period were 20 birds on November 10^th and 22 on November 17^th. 

 

European Shag                      Cormorán moñudo           Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Resident.

As usual, birds were frequently seen rounding Europa Point as well as fishing in the Bay. The cormorant loafing ground on the Little Bay cliff was a favoured resting place, where the largest counts were of ten (two juveniles) on September 8^th and 14 (one juvenile) on September 22^nd. Observations from Europa Point included 13 on February 17^th, 18 on July 6^th, 14 on July 20^th, 18 on July 21^st and 18 again on August 3^rd.

 

Great Cormorant                       Cormorán grande          Phalacrocorax carbo

Regular: migrant and winter.

Wintering birds were present around the coastline in the usual locations, these including the loafing ground on the Little Bay sea cliff, the Seven Sisters rocks off the South Mole, the harbour and airfield. Most winter sightings were single-figure counts, the largest gatherings comprising 11 at Little Bay on January 11^th, 14 at Seven Sisters on January 14^th, ten at Harbour Views marina on January 19^th and 15 at Europa Point on February 17^th. One visited the Commonwealth Park ponds on March 17^th. The last apparently wintering bird was one in the harbour on April 20th. A number of northbound migrant flocks were reported: three flocks, of 32, 45 and nine birds, on March 10^th; 20 on March 11^th, 17 on March 19^th, 100 on March 25^th, 30 on April 3^rd, 45 on April 15^th, five on April 17^th and four on May 3^rd.

 

The earliest returning birds were three seen from Princess Caroline’s Battery on September 24^th. Only small numbers were seen subsequently around the coastline, the only double-figure counts during the second half of the year being 11 at the Detached Mole on November 12^th and 13 east at Europa Point on November 20^th. In general, the wintering population was smaller in 2024 than in some recent years.

 

Stone-curlew                  Alcaraván común           Burhinus oedicnemus

Occasional: migrant.

Single birds were on the Europa Point foreshore on February 10^th and over the harbour on March 4^th.

 

Oystercatcher                 Ostrero euroasiático              Haematopus ostralegus

Regular: migrant.

Five were seen from Europa Point on July 20^th.

 

Pied Avocet                    Avoceta común           Recurvirostra avosetta

Occasional: migrant.

One record: 22 flew west at Europa Point on October 4^th.

 

Northern Lapwing               Avefría común           Vanellus vanellus

Irregular: In winter.

Three were by a pool of rainwater just north of the air terminal, beyond the frontier fence.  This was the first local record since January 2005.

 

European Golden Plover               Chorlito dorado europeo       Pluvialis apricaria

Locally rare.

One was on the strand line at Sandy Bay beach on December 3^rd.

 

Common Ringed Plover                Chorlitejo grande           Charadrius hiaticula

Occasional: migrant and winter.

Two were on Western Beach on March 7^th.

 

Whimbrel                      Zarapito trinador              Numenius phaeopus

Regular migrant and winter.

One was seen on the Europa Point foreshore on four dates between February 13^th and April 2^nd. Later in the year there were reports of one or two birds on 12 dates between July 16^th and December 20^th, these again chiefly from the foreshore rocks and probably involving overwinterers.

Whimbrel at Europa foreshore.                        (C. Fortuna.)

 

Turnstone                   Vuelvepiedras común            Arenaria interpres

Regular, mainly winter.

Seven were on the South Mole on January 13^th. A flock of eight birds was seen frequently on the Europa Point foreshore rocks until April 7^th, a ninth bird joining them on February 18^th. A straggler was still present on April 24^th.

 

The first returning birds seen were four at the foreshore on August 3^rd and up to ten were present there until the end of the year. 

 

Sanderling                  Correlimos tridáctilo            Calidris alba

Regular, mainly winter.

Two were on Western Beach on January 1^st and a single bird was there on January 8^th and 25^th. A flock of nine was at the same site on March 9^th.

Sanderling at Western beach.                         (C. Fortuna.)

 

Later in the year one was at Waterport on September 1st and two were at the Europa Point foreshore on October 6th. Single birds were at Western Beach on November 13^th and 30^th and there were two there on December 7^th. A flock of five was on Eastern Beach on December 2^nd.

 

Purple Sandpiper                   Correlimos oscuro           Calidris maritima

Locally rare.

One was on the Europa Point foreshore on January 16^th. Third record (F. Solano González).

 

Woodcock             Chocha perdiz           Scolopax rusticola

Occasional: winter

One was seen near Jews’ Gate on November 12^th.

 

Common Sandpiper              Andarríos chico              Actitis hypoleucos

Regular migrant. Occasional in winter.

One or two overwintering individuals were reported at intervals during January and February, frequenting and presumably moving between Europa Point; Little, Camp and Rosia Bays, Western and Eastern beaches and Sandy Bay. Three were at Western Beach on March 16^th and 17^th and there were four there on March 30^th. Single birds were reported on six days in April and one was on the Seven Sisters rocks on May 11^th.

Common Sandpiper at Western beach.                                    (C. Fortuna.)

 

The first returning birds were all seen from Europa Point where one on July 20^th was followed by four on August 1^st, two on August 2^nd and ten on August 3^rd. One or two were seen on several later dates in August and in September after which there were frequent reports of single birds until the end of the year, these chiefly from the Europa Point foreshore and Camp Bay. 

 

Kittiwake                  Gaviota tridáctila              Rissa tridactyla

Occasional: migrant and winter.

A first-winter bird flew west past Europa Point on November 27^th. 

 

Slender-billed Gull                 Gaviota picofina           Larus genei

Locally rare.

An adult was with Black-headed Gulls on Western Beach and the adjacent runway on December 30^th, where it was seen again on January 1^st 2025.

Black-headed Gull                    Gaviota reidora     Larus ridibundus

Common migrant and common in winter.

Some were present at Europa Point throughout the first winter period but the flock size fluctuated markedly from day to day, none being seen on some days, only a small group on other occasions and 50 or more on other days. Three-figure counts at the Point included 140 on January 1^st, 150 on January 7^th, 130 on January 11^th and 14^th and 120 on January 21^st. In February 100+ birds were present on eight dates, including a high count of 247 on February 21^st. There were 134 at the Point on March 3^rd but numbers declined rapidly thereafter until the last observation, on April 7^th. 

Black-headed Gull at Europa Point.                     (R. Perez.)

 

Virtually all records during the second winter period were again from Europa Point. The first returning bird seen was on July 5^th but very few were seen until the second half of November, when the largest count was 40 on November 16^th. Numbers fluctuated throughout December but there were 120 on December 5^th and 200 on December 9^th.

 

None were seen at any other locations all year except for a few observations from Western Beach. There were nine there on January 21^st, followed by single birds on January 25^th and February 3^rd. Late in the year there was a small group around Western Beach on December 30^th. The total absence of records from the harbour is noteworthy.

 

Mediterranean Gull                   Gaviota cabecinegra             Larus melanocephalus

Common: migrant and winter.

All observations were from Europa Point. These totalled 103 birds, on 24 days between January 21^st and April 7^th. Most of these records involved 1–3 individuals but there were 25 on April 1^st and 20 on April 4^th.

 

There were no further observations until June 9^th, when one bird was present. A further 235 birds were recorded, on 18 days between June 15^th and October 5^th. Most of these were far offshore, flying west. They included 30 on June 16^th, 26 on June 16^th, 22 on July 7^th and 81 in two hours on September 24^th. Thereafter just 12 birds in total were observed, on seven dates between November 16^th and December 17^th.

 

Audouin’s Gull                Gaviota de Audouin              Larus audouinii

Common migrant. Some remain in winter.

All reports were from Europa Point. There were 202 individuals in total, on 24 dates between January 21^st and April 8^th. Until recently most early-year observations have been of birds returning to the Mediterranean from coastal Atlantic winter quarters. However, although the flight direction was not always reported, birds were flying west on at least seven occasions, these including 76 on February 12^th and 48 on April 1^st. The recent population shift towards the Ria de Faro, Algarve, Portugal, where over 7,000 pairs nested in 2024 (https://www.lifeilhasbarreira.pt/), may partly explain the apparent partial change of migration direction.

 

One was at Europa Point on May 30^th but all later records fell between June 9^th and November 17^th. They totalled 280 birds on 30 dates, with observations concentrated between June 30^th and July 21^st, when 235 (84%) were counted. 

 

Common Gull                     Gaviota cana           Larus canus

Locally rare.

A second-winter bird was below Europa Point on January 7^th. Fifth record (R. Perez).

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull                Gaviota sombría              Larus fuscus

Regular: migrant and winter. 

All observations were from Europa Point. Two were there on January 7^th and a further 113 were seen in total on 19 dates between February 3^rd and April 7^th. Up to six were seen on most occasions but there were 21 on February 12^th and 41 on March 10^th, these larger counts involving westbound migrants.

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Europa Point.                         (C. Fortuna.)

 

Only nine individuals were seen later in the year, on five dates between September 11^th and December 17^th.

 

Yellow-legged Gull             Gaviota patiamarilla         Larus michahellis

Common resident.

Abundantly in evidence as usual but seldom receiving positive attention. Counts were submitted of 122 in the Seven Sisters area of the South Mole on January 14^th and 180 around Europa Point on July 21^st. 

 

Gull-billed Tern                  Pagaza piconegra            Gelochelidon nilotica

Occasional: migrant.

All four observations were from Europa Point. Two birds were offshore on March 22^nd and two flew east on March 26^th. One on April 7^th and two on June 21^st were flying west.

 

Caspian Tern                  Pagaza piquirroja              Hydroprogne caspia

Occasional: migrant.

There were three observations from Europa Point: four birds on September 11^th, four again on September 24^th and one on October 16^th.

 

Common Tern            Charrán común         Sterna hirundo

Irregular migrant.

One was seen from Europa Point on October 14^th.

 

Sandwich Tern                    Charrán patinegro     Thalasseus sandvicensis

Common: migrant and winter.

A few were reported frequently from Europa Point and along the western coastline, including the harbour, throughout the first winter period and until April 7^th. Most observations involved up to four individuals but there were nine at Europa Point on February 12^th. A count of 19 on April 1^st, also from Europa Point, involved westward migrants.

 

Two were seen from Europa Point on June 10^th, followed by one there on September 24^th and 14 seen two miles off the east coast on October 5^th. A further 43 were seen from Europa Point on five dates between October 14^th and October 19^th, including 17 on the first date: these probably involved migrants. Thereafter the usual wintering birds were present until the end of the year, again only on the western shoreline. Observations during the second winter period were again chiefly on 1–4 birds but there were 12 at Europa Point on November 17^th and seven there on December 6^th.

 

Great Skua                     Págalo grande             Catharacta skua

Present all year. Common migrant.

There were only four observations of single birds, off Europa Point: on February 12^th (two separate birds), March 8^th and March 10^th. These were the only skuas reported all year.

 

Puffin                        Frailecillo atlántico            Fratercula arctica

Common migrant in the Strait but rare inshore.

There were five observations during the spring migration period, when birds leave the Mediterranean. On March 19^th 47 were seen one mile east of the Rock. The other sightings, all made from Europa Point, comprised three birds on April 1^st, 38 on April 4^th, 20 on April 5^th and five on April 7^th.

 

Razorbill                   Alca común               Alca torda

Common: winter and migrant.

There were several reports of up to three birds on ten dates spanning January to mid-March. Most of these were seen off Europa Point but there were also sightings off Camp Bay and one was inshore at Eastern Beach on April 2^nd. There were also several counts of presumed migrants passing the Point: 21 on February 18^th, 37 on March 18^th, 28 on April 4^th and 16 on April 5^th. In addition, 42 were observed two miles off the east coast on March 19^th. Three at Europa Point on April 7^th were the latest recorded. None were seen during the remainder of the year.

 

Barn Owl                    Lechuza común            Tyto alba

Occasional.

One was reported at intervals in the South District but there was no evidence of a pair being present.

 

Little Owl                   Mochuelo europeo           Athene noctua

Scarce resident.

One or two were seen or heard occasionally on the eastern side, chiefly on the Adetected, two on the East Side, one at Windmill Hill and one at the North Face. Of these no nesting data was available except for the pair above Catalan Bay, that produced two young. Two were ringed: a juvenile on September 22^nd and an adult on December 12^th.

 

Scops Owl                 Autillo europeo           Otus scops

Common migrant. Has bred.

One was found in cover on the Europa Point foreshore on February 16^th. One ringed in spring on April 5^th was recaptured at the same site on April 10^th.

Scops Owl found at Europa foreshore.                 (R. Azopardi.)

 

Three were ringed in autumn, on September 30^th, October 12^th and October 20^th.

 

Short-eared Owl                     Búho campestre             Asio flammeus

Locally rare. 

There were two observations of single birds. One was resting on a boulder below the east side of Windmill Hill on February 24^th. The second was on the east side reclamation on October 11^th.

Short-eared Owl resting on the east side of the Rock.               (R. Harris.)

 

Tawny Owl                   Cárabo común               Strix aluco

Probable recently established resident.

One, and sometimes two, were reported on at least 15 dates between April 3^rd and December 4^th, suggesting a resident presence, although local breeding has yet to be confirmed. All were seen or heard in the southwestern area, between Jews’ Gate and The Mount gardens in the south and the St Joseph’s area in the north.

 

Eagle Owl                     Búho reál              Bubo bubo

Recently re-established resident.

One was very vocal on the Catalan Bay cliffs throughout January and one was heard there again on October 7^th and in November. One was seen and heard along Signal Station Road on November 11^th and 12^th and December 16^th and 24^th.

 

Osprey                    Águila pescadora             Pandion haliaetus

Regular migrant and frequent in winter.

The Scottish bird that was present intermittently in late 2023 was not seen in 2024, although an Osprey was over the top Cable Car station on January 20^th. Spring migrants totalled 64, between February 29^th and May 13^th, with a marked concentration on two March dates: 11 birds on March 15^th and 30 on March 20^th.

 

About 17 birds were identified on active southward passage, on scattered dates between September 9^th and October 23^rd. They included eight on the first date. The picture was confused by the presence of individuals that remained in the area for extended periods. One favoured the Western Runway and was often to be seen there, and fishing nearby, from September 10^th to October 2^nd. A second bird then arrived and displaced the first individual and then remained at the same location until at least October 31^st. Another bird then took up temporary residence at Little Bay from October 25^th, where it found a perch on the sea cliff: it remained until at least November 17^th. The Little Bay Osprey was seen chasing off another interloping individual on November 5^th. There were no further sightings until December 3^rd, when two were seen at Sandy Bay, followed by one seen flying south at Catalan Bay on December 13^th. 

 

Honey-buzzard                Abejero europeo            Pernis apivorus 

Common migrant.

The spring passage was unexceptional: 6,203 birds were counted. The earliest observation was one bird on April 7^th. Passage proper was seen between April 25^th and June 30^th. There was only one four-figure count: 2,515 birds on May 13^th, a little later than the usual peak arrival period. It is clear that much passage occurred away from Gibraltar. On previous evidence, three birds that were over the Rock on July 12^th are much more likely to have been northbound stragglers than southbound migrants.

 

Three on August 23^rd were the first returning birds seen. There was a spate of movement in early September, with notable counts made of 7,870 birds on September 9^th followed by 4,760 on September 10^th. Thereafter there was modest passage on several dates later in September (See Appendix 2). One on October 17^th was the last observation of the season. The total autumn count was 13,051 birds, although only a partial watch was maintained.

 

Egyptian Vulture                 Alimoche común            Neophron percnopterus

Regular migrant.

Spring migrants totalled 52 birds, most between February 10^th and June 22^nd, followed by one individual on July 1^st and three on July 12^th. The largest day-count was 14 birds, on May 5^th. 

Egyptian Vulture flying past Princess Caroline's battery.                          (A. Barras.)

 

Just 30 returning birds were seen, between August 14^th and September 26^th, including ten on August 31^st. It has long been clear that only an insignificant fraction of the source population (over 1,500 pairs), which is largely Iberian, is ever seen at Gibraltar itself, even though the great majority cross the Strait.

 

Short-toed Snake-eagle                Culebrera europea            Circaetus gallicus

Common migrant. Occasional in winter.

Spring migrants totalled 1,067 birds, an unexceptional tally. As usual the passage period was extended, with a long trail of immature non-breeders arriving late in the season. The earliest arrivals seen were on February 22^nd and the last bird was on July 16^th. Peak passage was in March, the largest day counts being 373 on March 1^st, 120 on March 2^nd and 140 on March 10^th.

 

Only 15 birds were seen to visit the Rock during the southward migration period, between August 12^th and October 26^th.

 

Griffon Vulture                     Buitre leonado             Gyps fulvus

Common migrant.

Single birds were over the Rock on January 10th and February 25^th. Spring migrants totalled 1,387 birds, a new local record, these arriving between April 8^th and June 30^th. The previous record was in 2020, when 1,147 birds were counted. There were several noteworthy day-counts, including 182 birds on April 29^th, 304 on May 14^th,152 on May 18^th and 167 on June 9^th. Arrivals occurred during often fresh westerly or south-westerly winds and, as usual, a number of individuals failed to make landfall and crash-landed in the sea. Several of these were rescued but others drowned. However, a bird that fell just short of Europa Point on June 9^th managed to struggle ashore, where it was picked up and taken for recovery at the GONHS Raptor Rehabilitation Unit.

Griffon Vulture heading north past Jews' Gate.                               (C. Perez.)

 

In contrast, very few southbound migrants visited the Rock, the only significant count being 120 on October 26^th. Nine others were seen in total, on four dates between September 21^st and October 19^th. Later in the year two were over the East Side on November 22^nd and there were three records of single birds in December, including a dead bird that was washed up on Eastern Beach on December 16^th.

 

Cinereous (Black) Vulture               Buitre negro           Aegypius monachus

Occasional: migrant.

One arrived from the south at Jews’ Gate on April 29^th. Another was rescued from the sea on May 20^th and taken into rehabilitation.

Cinereous (Black) Vulture over Jews' Gate Observatory.                         (R. Geary.)

 

 

Lesser Spotted Eagle               Águila pomerana          Clanga pomarina

Vagrant.

A very worn-looking individual arrived with other migrating raptors on March 20^th. Thirteenth record (C. Perez).

 

Bonelli’s Eagle               Águila perdicera              Aquila fasciata

Occasional.

A first-summer bird arrived from the south on May 16^th. 

 

Booted Eagle                     Águila calzada             Hieraaetus pennatus

Common migrant. Occasional in summer and winter.

Spring migrants totalled 1,249 birds, between February 23^rd and June 22^nd. The majority were seen in March and April as usual, and these included 142 birds on March 20^th, 125 on April 1^st and 250 on April 8^th. A count of 115 on May 13^th was noteworthy for a relatively late date. A single light morph bird frequented the Rock at least occasionally in summer and could be seen hunting locally: it was noted between July 10^th and August 15^th.

 

Southbound migrants that visited the Rock, generally without continuing south from Gibraltar itself, totalled some 500 birds, between August 18^th and November 17^th (see Appendix 2). These included a gathering of 200 on September 21^st. 

 

Marsh Harrier                  Aguilucho lagunero           Circus aeruginosus

Common migrant.

An unseasonal individual was over Windmill Hill on January 7^th. Spring migrants totalled 307 birds, a new local record, considerably exceeding the previous highest count of 249 in 2004. Passage was seen between February 22^nd and May 13^th, with a late bird arriving on June 8^th. The main arrivals were from mid-March to mid-April and included an exceptional day-count of 150 on March 20^th.

 

Birds seen on southward passage totalled 80, between September 4^th and October 21^st. Nearly all were seen in September, including 22 on September 10^th.

 

Hen Harrier                Aguilucho pálido            Circus cyaneus

Regular but scarce migrant.

There were four records of single birds, all of them in spring: on March 10^th, March 11^th, March 20^th and April 16^th.

 

Pallid Harrier                    Aguilucho papialbo               Circus macrourus

Occasional: migrant.

Two males were seen on northward passage, on March 20^th and March 25^th. Tenth and eleventh records (C. Perez, M. Figueras, C. Twitchen).

Male Pallid Harrier over the Rock.                      (C. Perez).

 

Montagu’s Harrier                Aguilucho cenizo                Circus pygargus

Common migrant.

Observations of this species were again infrequent. Only 21 were seen on northward passage, between March 15^th and May 13^th. The highest day count was five birds, on April 8^th.

 

Southbound birds totalled 19, between August 14^th and September 25^th. Fourteen were seen on September 10^th and the other records were of single birds on five dates.

 

Goshawk                    Azor común                    Accipiter gentilis

A juvenile male was picked up in the harbour area on July 13^th after colliding with a glass window. As well as concussed, it was found to be starving and dehydrated. It was admitted to the Raptor Rehabilitation Unit and released in October, by when it was in good condition. 

 

Sparrowhawk                Gavilán común                Accipiter nisus

Common migrant. Sometimes winters.

Four sightings in January and another on February 19^th probably involved the overwintering individual that frequented the southern parts of the Rock in late 2023. Spring migrants totalled 400, a below-average count, seen between February 22^nd and May 16^th. The largest day counts were in early April, 47 birds on April 7^th and 68 on April 8^th. One was ringed on April 26^th.

 

Southbound birds counted totalled 113, between September 4^th and November 12^th, including 43 on September 25^th. Once again an individual was present in the South District throughout the second winter period from around November 15^th until the end of the year. 

 

Red Kite                   Milano real             Milvus milvus

Occasional: migrant. Formerly annual.

Only one was reported, on September 10^th.

 

Black Kite                      Milano negro              Milvus migrans

Common migrant.

There were 28,754 birds recorded during the spring passage, the third-highest spring count on record although still well below the 44,132 recorded in 2020. They were observed between February 6th and June 19^th, with peak passage as usual between late February and March. Four-figure counts were made on eight dates between February 22^nd and March 25^th (see Appendix 1), including 6,357 on March 8^th and 3,607 March 10^th.

 

The return movement was apparent between July 12^th and October 17^th, when 12,844 birds were counted in total. These included 3,896 on August 2^nd and 3,000 on August 13^th. As usual, significant passage was over by mid-September, after which just a few stragglers were seen.

 

Common Buzzard                 Busardo ratonero              Buteo buteo

Occasional: migrant and winter. Formerly annual migrant. 

Eight were seen in spring, on seven dates between February 23^rd and March 20^th.

 

Single birds were over the Rock on August 12^th, September 25^th and October 4^th.

 

Long-legged Buzzard                    Busardo moro           Buteo rufinus

Vagrant. Has wintered. 

What was probably the same individual was around the Catalan Bay cliffs on January 13^th, January 21^st and February 21^st.

 

Hoopoe                  Abubilla                 Upupa epops

Common migrant.

An early bird was seen in the Nature Reserve on January 23^rd. There were a further 54 reports on 27 dates between February 2^nd and April 20^th, usually of one or two birds but there were six in the North Front cemetery on March 11^th and 12^th. Other favoured localities included the Europa Point foreshore, Windmill Hill and the Nature Reserve but none were reported from the Botanic Gardens, usually a regular location for lingering spring migrants. Nine were ringed between February 16^th and April 4^th.

 

Returning birds totalled 21, on 15 dates between July 18^th and September 28^th. Two were ringed in autumn, on September 1^st and September 5^th.

 

European Bee-eater                Abejaruco europeo            Merops apiaster

Common migrant.

Spring migrants were reported on 11 dates between April 3^rd and May 2^nd. Flocks were often only heard passing high overhead, but 248 were counted from Jews’ Gate on April 7^th. Six were ringed between April 6^th and May 8^th.

 

Returning birds were evident, mainly heard, on just five dates between August 1^st and September 29^th. They included 60 seen at Jews’ Gate on August 1^st and a succession of flocks heard passing over on September 7^th and 9^th.

 

Common Kingfisher                Martín pescador común             Alcedo atthis

Regular but scarce migrant and in winter.

Five reports of single birds within the harbour between January 6th and March 19^th seem likely to have involved the overwintering bird from 2023.

 

Later in the year there were 16 reports between July 27^th and November 13^th, all of single birds except for two seen in the harbour on October 2^nd and 3^rd. Birds were at locations right around the coastline. There were no December records and only two in November so an overwintering presence remained uncertain.

 

Wryneck                  Torcecuello                Jynx torquilla

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

Four were ringed in spring, between April 5^th and April 24^th. 

Wryneck in the Nature Reserve.                                 (T. Finlayson.)

 

One was seen in the Nature Reserve on October 2^nd.

 

Lesser Kestrel                Cernícalo primilla              Falco naumanni

Regular migrant. Recently extinct breeder.

There were reports totalling 33 birds on 13 dates between February 9^th and April 17^th. They included ten on March 11^th.

 

Later in the year there were eight over the Rock on September 25^th and three there on October 5^th.

 

Common Kestrel              Cernícalo vulgar            Falco tinnunculus

Resident. Common migrant.

At least five pairs nested, hatching a total of 15 young. Resident birds were much in evidence all year. Their presence always masks the possible occurrence of migrants although several individuals that were seen arriving at Europa Point in July may have been post-breeding dispersers from Morocco. 

 

Eleonora’s Falcon                      Halcón de Eleonora              Falco eleonorae

Regular but scarce migrant, especially in late summer and autumn.

Two were over the top Cable Car Station on July 20^th and one was seen from Europa Point on September 24^th.

 

Hobby                 Alcotán                     Falco subbuteo

Regular but scarce migrant.

Spring migrants totalled 27, on eight dates between April 7^th and June 9^th. They included eight on the first date and nine on April 8^th. None were seen in autumn.

Hobby heading north over Jews' Gate.                                    (R. Perez.)

 

 

Lanner Falcon*                 Halcón borní                 Falco biarmicus

Regular but scarce migrant.

An adult was present on September 10^th.

Lanner Falcon heading north at Europa Point.                                   (P. Rocca.)

 

 

Peregrine Falcon                 Halcón peregrino            Falco peregrinus

Resident. Some migrants occur.

Four pairs fledged a total of ten young.

 

Golden Oriole                    Oropéndola                Oriolus oriolus

Regular migrant.

One was seen from Jews’ Gate on April 17^th and two males were ringed there the following day.

 

Single birds were in the North Front cemetery on August 12^th and September 1^st, and one was seen in the lower Nature Reserve on September 5^th.

 

Woodchat Shrike                    Alcaudón común              Lanius senator

Common migrant. Has bred.

The earliest sight record was of one in the North Front cemetery on March 10^th. A further 78 sightings were reported on 30 dates between then and May 19^th. The cemetery and Windmill Hill held most birds, these sites offering suitable open terrain. Most observations were of single birds but there were 26 on Windmill Hill during a fall of migrants on April 18^th. Five were ringed, between April 2^nd and May 9^th.

 

Only six were observed during the southbound passage period, on five dates between August 14^th and September 11^th. One was ringed on August 29^th.

 

Eurasian Magpie                    Urraca común                      Pica pica

Rare.

One was seen near South Barracks on February 8^th. Fifth record (S. Olivero).

 

Jackdaw                   Grajilla                    Coleus monedula

Occasional. Has bred.

There were six scattered records. Single birds were in the harbour area on January 14^th and February 21^st, at Parson’s Lodge on March 2^nd and at Tank Ramp in the city on March 14^th. Two then appeared on the Market Place bus shelter on November 11^th and there were four over the Moorish Castle on December 30^th.

 

Hooded Crow                  Corneja cenicienta            Corvus cornix

Vagrant.

Two frequented Europa Point between May 31^st and June 4^th. Second record (C. Fortuna, C. Perez, T. Finlayson).

Hooded Crow at Europa Point.                     (R. Perez.)

 

Raven                      Cuervo               Corvus corax

Regular. One resident pair.

Local birds wandered widely throughout Gibraltar and also visited the hinterland. The local pair nested successfully on the eastern cliffs and fledged four young, which were first observed in flight with their parents on June 4^th. Up to six birds were present together until at least July 31^st and seven were seen on August 8^th. Only five seemed present in September and only two, presumably the adult pair, towards the end of the year.

Raven with a Yellow-legged Gull egg.                                          (R. Perez.)

 

Blue Tit                  Herrerillo común               Cyanistes caeruleus

Common resident.

The January winter bird count found 80 birds, half of them in the Nature Reserve and others mainly in gardens, including one in Commonwealth Park on January 11^th. There were 12 in the Botanic Gardens on April 20^th. Birds ringed totalled 59.

 

Great Tit                   Carbonero común            Parus major

Scarce resident.

There were 21 reports spread throughout the year, all of one or two individuals. They were mainly from the Nature Reserve and southern gardens. One was in Commonwealth Park on May 12^th. Three were ringed during the year.

 

Wood Lark               Alondra totovía                Lululla arborea

Occasional: migrant. 

One was observed from Mediterranean Road, in the southern Nature Reserve, on November 2^nd.

 

Skylark                  Alondra común            Alauda arvensis

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

At least two were heard from Mediterranean Road, in the southern Nature Reserve, on November 2^nd. This, and the Wood Lark, occurred during a strong southward passage of finches and thrushes.

 

Thekla’s Lark                Cogujada montesina               Galerida theklae

Occasional in winter.

One was in the Frontier area on January 25^th.

 

Crested Lark                  Cogujada común               Galerida cristata

Occasional, mainly in winter.

Two were in the Frontier area on July 28^th.

 

Zitting Cisticola                   Cistícola buitrón            Cisticola juncidis

Regular: migrant and in winter. Has bred.

This species was notable by its absence, as has been the case in recent years. One was on Windmill Hill on October 13^th. 

 

Melodious Warbler               Zarcero políglota             Hippolais polyglotta

Common migrant.

There were sight records on eight dates between April 6^th and May 17^th. They totalled 21 birds, 12 of them found during a migrant fall on Windmill Hill on April 18^th. The others were seen in the North Front cemetery. Birds ringed in spring totalled 68, between April 5^th and May 10^th. 

 

Just three were seen later in the year: on Windmill Hill on August 14^th and in the cemetery and the Nature Reserve on August 18^th. Nine were ringed between August 4^th and September 26^th.

 

Sedge Warbler              Carricerín común                 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Locally rare. Migrant.

Two were ringed: on March 15^th and April 24^th.

 

Common Reed Warbler                Carricero común         Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Common migrant.

There were no sight records in spring, which is not unusual, but 11 were ringed between April 18^th and May 8^th.

 

One was seen resting on a boat in the harbour on September 4^th. There were 14 ringed between August 11^th and October 21^st. 

 

Grasshopper Warbler              Buscarla pintoja              Locustella naevia

Occasional: migrant.

One was on Windmill Hill on April 21^st.

 

One was seen at Jews’ Gate on October 22^nd. Five were ringed between August 26^th and October 13^th.

 

House Martin                 Avión común            Delichon urbicum

Common migrant. Scarce summer resident.

Five were seen from Jews’ Gate on January 20^th. There were no further reports of migrants until March 11^th, when 27 were over the Rock, after which birds were noted on 13 dates until May 16^th. Steady passage northwards was evident on March 23^rd but other reports were of small numbers. The small colony at the frontier was reported as occupied on May 11^th but no further details were recorded.

 

Many were reported over the South District on October 14^th and one was with Crag Martins on a cliff above Europa Advance Road on November 10^th, but no other observations were made during the second half of the year. An exceptional 32 were ringed on October 14^th, after responding to a tape lure.

 

Red-rumped Swallow               Golondrina dáurica             Cecropis daurica

Common migrant. Has bred.

Only a few migrants were reported, all in spring and chiefly from Jews’ Gate. They totalled just 23 birds, on eight dates between March 11^th and April 14^th, including 11 on April 3^rd. One was ringed on February 24^th.

 

Five were ringed in autumn: four of them on October 14^th and one on November 7^th.

 

Barn Swallow                 Golondrina común              Hirundo rustica

Common migrant. Formerly bred.

Mainly small numbers were noted on passage but hirundine migration is not monitored at all closely. The earliest was one at Jews’ Gate on January 20^th, followed by three over the town on February 6^th. Some passage was then seen on frequent dates until May 16^th. A steady movement was particularly evident on March 23^rd.

 

Single birds that were at Europa Point on June 15^th and June 26^th, and four there on July 21^st, followed by three over the South District on August 5^th, could have involved birds from the near hinterland or even from an undetected local nest.

 

Southbound migrants were reported on six dates between September 4^th and October 14^th, mainly in small numbers although many were feeding on flying ants over the South District on the latter date. One was with roosting Crag Martins at the Gorham’s Caves roost on December 29^th. Thirteen were ringed on October 14^th, after responding to a tape lure.

 

Crag Martin              Avión roquero                Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Common: migrant and winter resident. Has bred.

The winter roost at the Gorham’s Caves complex was occupied as usual during both winter periods. Three were ringed on October 25^th.

 

The first returning birds seen were two over Europa Point on October 4^th. Numbers soon built up and there were an estimated 5,000 birds at the roost by November 10^th. A minor roost of some 250 birds was found on apartment block ledges in the New Harbours estate on November 12^th and was still occupied on November 29^th.

 

Collared Sand Martin                 Avión zapador               Riparia riparia

Regular but very scarce migrant.

A few were seen on spring passage. They totalled 24 birds, on five dates between March 3^rd and April 25^th, including eight on March 20^th.

 

Western Bonelli’s Warbler             Mosquitero papialbo            Phylloscopus bonelli

Common migrant.

Very few were observed, just 19 birds, on nine dates between March 17^th and May 9^th. They included five on Windmill Hill on March 17^th and four there the following day. Birds ringed totalled 65, between March 18^th and May 10^th.

 

Single birds were seen in the Nature Reserve on July 7^th, 11^th and 20^th. Four were ringed between August 10^th and September 15^th.

 

Wood Warbler                 Mosquitero silbador             Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Occasional: migrant.

Single birds were in the Botanic Gardens on April 12^th and April 20^th. Two were ringed: on April 18^th and April 20^th.

 

Yellow-browed Warbler                 Mosquitero Bilistado              Phylloscopus inornatus

Rare migrant. Has wintered.

One was seen in the town centre, in Governor’s Parade, on October 21^st. One was in the Botanic Gardens on November 17^th and it or another was there on December 3^rd. Four were ringed: On October 22^nd, October 23^rd, October 28^th and November 4^th.

 

Willow Warbler           Mosquitero musical              Phylloscopus trochilus

Common migrant.

Spring migrants observed totalled 71 birds, on 13 dates between March 10^th and April 21^st. They included 13 on Windmill Hill on April 17^th and 23 there the following day, during migrant falls. Observations were widespread but especially included the Botanic Gardens and Europa Point area. Birds ringed in spring totalled 453, between March 6^th and May 11^th.

Willow Warbler in the Nature Reserve.                                          (T. Finlayson.)

 

The few autumn observations were mainly from the Europa Point foreshore and the North Front cemetery. There were just 12 birds reported, between September 14^th to October 20^th, followed by a late bird on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. A further 48 were ringed between August 29^th and October 25^th.

 

Iberian Chiffchaff               Mosquitero ibérico               Phylloscopus ibericus

Common migrant.

One at Governor’s Lookout on March 10th was the only spring sight record. However, 23 were ringed between March 2^nd and March 22^nd, followed by a late capture on April 8^th. 

 

A further nine birds were seen on seven dates from August 4^th to September 21^st, from the Nature Reserve, North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill. There were 17 ringed between August 16^th and October 2^nd.

 

Common Chiffchaff               Mosquitero común               Phylloscopus collybita

Common migrant and common in winter.

The January bird counts found 152 birds dispersed between most vegetated areas. However, only four were on the East Side and only seven around Europa Point and Europa Advance Road, these last observations probably reflecting the poor condition of the flowering aloes that usually attract them. Birds continued to be widely reported until March and there were four records of single birds in April, the last on April 18^th. Birds ringed during the first half of the year totalled 78, the last of these on May 2^nd.

 

One on Windmill Hill on October 13^th was the first autumn sight record. Birds were again widespread in small numbers until the end of the year. Site counts were usually in low single figures but there were eight in the North Front cemetery on October 13^th and 11 on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. Birds ringed during the second half of the year totalled a remarkable 650, the earliest of these on September 28^th: 

 

Long-tailed Tit                Mito común            Aegithalos caudatus

Locally rare.

Only one bird was seen, on January 8^th in the Nature Reserve. This contrasts with the relative frequency of sightings reported in 2023.

 

Blackcap               Curruca capirotada              Sylvia atricapilla

Common: resident, migrant and winter.

The January bird counts found 150 birds, distributed between most vegetated areas, in particular the Nature Reserve and Botanic Gardens. Birds ringed during the first half of the year totalled 182.

 

A count of 33 on Windmill Hill on October 13^th will have involved migrants. There were two on the East Side reclamation, an unusual location, the same day. Birds ringed during the second half of the year, most of them southbound migrants, totalled 2,456.

 

Garden Warbler            Curruca mosquitera            Sylvia borin

Common migrant.

There were only seven observed in spring, on five dates between April 7^th and May 6^th. Three birds were in the North Front cemetery and four were in southern gardens. Nevertheless, 194 were ringed, between April 2^nd and May 10^th.

 

Single birds were in the North Front cemetery on September 17^th and on Windmill Hill on October 13^th. A further 44 were ringed, between August 15^th and November 2^nd. 

 

Orphean Warbler           Curruca mirlona             Sylvia hortensis

Common migrant.

There were no spring sight records but 12 were ringed, between April 4^th and May 10^th. 

 

Single birds were on Windmill Hill on August 14^th and in the North Front cemetery on October 13^th. Single birds were ringed on August 19^th,  September 6^th and September 29^th.

 

Sardinian Warbler                Curruca cabecinegra           Sylvia melanocephala

Common resident.

The January winter bird counts found 209 birds. These were widely distributed but the majority were in the Nature Reserve and 26 were on Windmill Hill. Ten were on the east side.

 

Several autumn concentrations may have involved passage migrants. These included 41 on Windmill Hill on October 13^th and 38 there on November 3^rd. Birds ringed during the year totalled 287.

 

Subalpine Warbler             Curruca carrasqueña            Sylvia cantillans

Common migrant.

Twenty were seen between February 18^th and April 21^st, including six on Windmill Hill on April 18^th. They were observed in this and other open areas, notably the North Front cemetery. There were 33 ringed, between February 25^th and May 9^th. 

 

One was in the Botanic Gardens on October 21^st. A further 11 were ringed between August 29^th and October 21^st.

 

Common Whitethroat             Curruca zarcera            Sylvia communis

Common migrant.

There were eight on Windmill Hill among the migrant fall on April 18^th and two were at Western Beach on the same day. One in the North Front cemetery on April 20^th was the only other sight record. There were 43 ringed between March 21^st and May 9^th.

 

Single birds were recorded on four dates between September 3^rd and October 13^th, three of them in the North Front cemetery. Nine were ringed between August 20^th and October 12^th.

 

Spectacled Warbler                    Curruca tomillera           Sylvia conspicillata

Regular migrant. Has bred.

Three were on Windmill Hill among a fall of migrants on April 18^th.

 

Dartford Warbler             Curruca rabilarga              Sylvia undata

Regular migrant. Occasional in winter. 

One on Windmill Hill on January 10^th was the only observation during the first half of the year.

Dartford Warbler along Signal Station road.                          (C. Fortuna.)

 

Two on Windmill Hill on October 25^th, two in the Nature Reserve on November 1^st and three on the Europa Point foreshore on November 8^th may have been passage migrants. In November there were two records of single birds from Europa Point, one from Little Bay and one that was found dead in the harbour area on November 11^th. Two were ringed: on October 22^nd and November 8^th.

 

Wren                 Chochín               Troglodytes troglodytes

Common resident.

The January winter bird counts found 62 birds, nearly all of them in the Nature Reserve. Nine were ringed during the year.

 

Common Starling                   Estornino pinto           Sturnus vulgaris

Common in some winters.

A small number were present during the second winter period. Observations totalled 27 birds, on nine dates between October 8^th and December 9^th. They included five on Windmill Hill on October 13^th and seven on the Europa Point foreshore on November 9^th, in the company of Spotless Starlings in both cases.

 

Spotless Starling                Estornino negro              Sturnus unicolor

Common resident.

There were 31 around the Europa Point foreshore on January 13^th and 16 were at Western Beach on January 17^th. The largest counts were chiefly from southern locations and included 27 on Windmill Hill on February 19^th and 53 there on April 18^th. Up to three were in the North Front cemetery in early May. The Europa Point foreshore attracted 15 birds in November.

 

Song Thrush               Zorzal común              Turdus philomelos

Common: migrant and winter.

Four were in the Nature Reserve on January 13^th. One was ringed on March 1^st.

 

There were frequent observations in autumn, especially on November 2^nd, when there were many in the Nature Reserve. Observations were made from October 13^th until November 27^th. They included 17 on Windmill Hill on October 25^th and 36 there on November 3^rd. There were 52 ringed between October 12^th and the end of the year.

 

Redwing                    Zorzal alirrojo           Turdus iliacus

Occasional: migrant.

There were 24 around Mediterranean Road in the southern Nature Reserve on November 2^nd and three over Jacob’s Ladder the same day. Three were seen in the Nature Reserve on November 10th. One was ringed on November 18^th.

The only Redwing of the year ringed at the Observatory.                   (J. Yeoman.)

 

 

Blackbird                    Mirlo común               Turdus merula

Common resident.

The January counts found 126 birds. Most were in the Nature Reserve and in parks and gardens but others were widespread and included five on the East Side, six on the harbour reclamation and five at Four Corners/Western Beach. There were eight in Commonwealth Park on January 1^st. Windmill Hill held some small concentrations during the year, including 23 on February 19^th, 19 on April 18^th, 20 on October 13^th and 21 on November 3^rd. There were 65 ringed during the year.

 

Ring Ouzel                 Mirlo capiblanco               Turdus torquatus

Occasional migrant.

Three were on Windmill Hill on October 12^th and three were ringed at Jews’ Gate the same day.

 

Spotted Flycatcher               Papamoscas gris           Muscicapa striata

Common migrant. Some breed.

The earliest noted was one in the North Front cemetery on April 15^th. Up to two were present in the cemetery until May 19^th and there were four there on May 6^th. The earliest report from the Botanic Gardens, a favoured nesting location, was on April 20^th. Two were in Commonwealth Park on May 16^th and single birds were there on May 19^th and 26^th. Five were ringed between April 20^th and May 9^th.

Spotted Flycatcher in the Botanic Gardens.                                         (T. Finlayson.)

 

Breeding birds were poorly monitored but there were observations from a wide range of sites in July and August, indicating that a number of pairs were present. These locations comprised Royal Anglian Way, Signal Station Road, Governor’s Lookout and Bruce’s Farm in the Nature Reserve; the Trafalgar Cemetery, Rosia promenade, the Botanic Gardens, Witham’s cemetery, the St Joseph’s estate, Knights’ Court, Market Place, Commonwealth Park and the North Front cemetery.

 

There were reports of single birds in the North Front cemetery on seven dates from August 31^st to October 17^th and there was a very late record of two along Signal Station Road on November 2^nd. Seven were ringed between August 20^th and October 12^th.

 

Robin                  Petirrojo                    Erithacus rubecula

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

The January bird counts found 90 birds, most of them in the Nature Reserve and southern gardens. Two were in Commonwealth Park on January 13^th. Wintering individuals were observed until at least April 23^rd when there was one in the Botanic Gardens. There were 22 ringed during the first half of the year, the last on May 8^th.

 

At least one bird spent the summer in Commonwealth Park, and there were two there on May 14^th and June 18^th, but no breeding activity was detected. One was in the Trafalgar cemetery on May 5^th and another at Eliott’s Battery on Europa Flats on June 25^th. 

 

Later observations began with one bird at Green Lane on September 29^th and five in Commonwealth Park on October 6^th. There were 18 on Windmill Hill both on October 13^th and November 3^rd. Birds were at habitual wintering locations from mid October onwards. Birds ringed during the second half of the year totalled 499, the earliest on September 6^th and the remainder from September 22^nd onwards.

 

Nightingale                  Ruiseñor común             Luscinia megarhynchos

Common migrant. Has bred.

There were 26 observations, on eleven dates between March 23^rd and April 21^st. They included seven on Windmill Hill on April 18^th, when there was a migrant fall. Other observations came from the Nature Reserve, Vineyards estate, the North Front cemetery and Europa Point foreshore. There were 39 ringed between March 22^nd and May 9^th.

 

Single birds were seen at Jews’ Gate on July 28^th and August 1^st, and at Middle Hill on August 11^th. A further 18 were ringed, between August 20^th and October 7^th.  

 

Pied Flycatcher                   Papamoscas cerrojillo               Ficedula hypoleuca

Common migrant.

The earliest observation was of one in the Botanic Gardens on April 11^th. There were 76 further observations on nine further dates until April 26^th, notably during the migrant falls on Windmill Hill, where there were 51 on April 18^th. Ten were in the Botanic Gardens on April 20^th and several other records came from the North Front cemetery. An unseasonal individual was by the Air Terminal on June 20^th. There were 114 ringed in spring, between April 6^th and May 9^th.

 

Southbound migrants totalled 31, on 17 dates between September 1^st and October 20^th. Most were seen in the Nature Reserve and North Front cemetery but there were single birds at Western Beach on September 20th and at Commonwealth Park on September 22^nd. A further 64 were ringed, between August 4^th and October 18^th.

 

Black Redstart               Colirrojo tizón              Phoenicurus ochruros

Common: migrant and winter.

Overwintering birds in mid January totalled 69, including 25 in the Nature Reserve and 18 on Windmill Hill. Individuals were widespread in open areas throughout January and February, the last observation being of one on Windmill Hill on March 23^rd. Most locations supported 1–3 individuals but counts of 31 on Windmill Hill on February 19^th and nine at Europa Point on February 21^st probably indicated spring migrants. There were 35 ringed between the start of the year and March 13^th.

Male Black Redstart at Europa Point.           (C. Fortuna.)

 

The first of the autumn were three on Windmill Hill on October 13^th. There were some notable concentrations of migrants thereafter, including 45 on Windmill Hill on October 25^th, 40 in the southern Nature Reserve on November 2^nd and 91 again on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. Overwinterers included up to four on the Europa Point foreshore and up to eight in the North Front cemetery. There were 127 ringed from October 13^th until the end of the year.

 

Common Redstart                  Colirrojo real             Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Common migrant.

There were 45 seen between March 18^th and May 17^th, chiefly in late March and during April. Most were seen in the North Front cemetery but there were nine on Windmill Hill on April 18^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 20, Between March 18^th and May 16^th.

Male Common Redstart at North Front cemetery.                                                     (R. Perez.)

 

Autumn migrants seen totalled 29, between September 3^rd and October 17^th. These again especially favoured the North Front cemetery but four were seen on the Europa Point foreshore and there were six on Windmill Hill on October 13^th. There were 25 ringed between September 1^st and October 15^th. 

 

Blue Rock-thrush                Roquero solitario               Monticola solitarius 

Resident.

One or two birds were observed at or near rocky locations throughout the year, notably along the East side, at Europa Point, Windmill Hill and Camp and Little Bays. There were several observations from the North Front cemetery. The largest site-counts were all from Windmill Hill, where there were five on February 19^th and April 18^th. Three were ringed: on April 12^th, October 5^th and October 7^th.

 

Whinchat                 Tarabilla norteña                Saxicola rubetra

Common migrant.

There were sight records on just five dates between April 16^th and May 5^th. They totalled 31 birds, including an exceptional 21 on Windmill Hill among other passerine migrants on April 18^th. These were preceded by six in the same area the previous day. The remainder were single birds, most of them in the North Front cemetery. One was ringed on May 6^th.

 

Single birds were present in the North Front cemetery on October 6^th, 10^th and 11^th. 

 

Stonechat                   Tarabilla común             Saxicola torquatus

Common: migrant and winter.

Overwintering birds were sparse during the first winter period. There were up to eight on Windmill Hill, up to three on the Europa Point foreshore, one on the East Side and one in the North Front cemetery. The last report was from the cemetery on March 13^th.

 

The first returning birds seen were two on the Europa Point foreshore on October 1^st. This location, Windmill Hill and the North Front cemetery all hosted overwintering birds. There was also one in Little Bay on November 22^nd. Most observations were of 1–3 birds but there were eight in the cemetery on October 17^th and 18 on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. Five were ringed between October 14^th and October 19^th.

 

Northern Wheatear                 Collalba gris             Oenanthe oenanthe

Common migrant.

There were 14 individuals seen between March 14^th and April 24^th, seven of them on Windmill Hill, four on the Europa Point foreshore, two in the North Front cemetery and one on Engineer Road.

 

Observations of returning birds totalled 19 individuals, between September 24^th and October 20^th. Ten were seen on the foreshore and seven on Windmill Hill. One was ringed on October 4^th.

 

Black-eared Wheatear                  Collalba rubia               Oenanthe hispanica

Common migrant.

One was at Spur Battery on March 16^th. Seven more individuals were observed in total between March 25^th and April 21^st, four of them in the North Front cemetery and three on Windmill Hill. One was ringed on April 15^th.

 

Firecrest                   Reyezuelo listado            Regulus ignicapilla

Regular but scarce: migrant and winter.

One was in the Nature Reserve on April 20^th. 

 

There were five reports of one or two birds in the southern Nature Reserve on five dates between October 17^th and December 30^th. One was ringed on October 15^th.

 

Dunnock                  Acentor común               Prunella modularis

Occasional: winter. 

A first-year bird was ringed on November 4^th.

 

House Sparrow               Gorrión común            Passer domesticus

Common resident.

The January bird counts found 339 widespread birds: only the densely vegetated Nature Reserve was avoided. Local gatherings included 63 in the Western Beach area, 31 on the East Side, 32 in the harbour reclamation and 41 at Europa Advance road. 

Female House Sparrows at Europa foreshore.                             (J. Downing.)

 

Birds were clearly mobile and attracted to places where food was provided for them, so that 25 were at Europa Point on September 19^th and 50 were counted at gardens on the Europa Point foreshore on October 12^th. There were 67 ringed during the year.

 

Sudan Golden Sparrow              Gorrión dorado            Passer luteus

Possible vagrant. Currently retained in Status Category D.

A first-summer male frequented the Europa Point foreshore area between at least September 21^st and October 1^st. It was to be seen accompanying House Sparrows attracted to food provided in gardens there. Third record (C. Fortuna, R. Perez) See note on pages XX-XX.

First summer male Sudan Golden Sparrow at Europa foreshore.                                    (C. Fortuna.)

 

 

Tree Pipit                 Bisbita arbóreo             Anthus trivialis

Regular migrant.

Only one was seen, on April 21^st on Windmill Hill. Seven were ringed between March 22^nd and May 7^th.

 

Meadow Pipit               Bisbita pratense              Anthus pratensis

Common: migrant and winter.

An overwintering presence on Windmill Hill was evident during January and February and until at least March 23^rd. There were 21 at this site on January 10^th and 18 there on February 19^th. Elsewhere one was in Camp Bay on January 11th and single birds, perhaps the same individual, were on the Europa Point foreshore from at least January 28^th until March 24^th.

 

There were autumn observations on only four dates between October 13^th and November 3^rd but these included a steady passage of flocks over the Nature Reserve on November 2^nd and there were 36 on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. One was on the foreshore on November 8^th. One was ringed on November 11^th.

 

Tawny Pipit              Bisbita campestre            Anthus campestris

Regular migrant.

Single birds were seen on Windmill Hill on April 21^st and from Jews’ Gate on September 2^nd.

 

Yellow Wagtail             Lavandera boyera             Motacilla flava

Regular but scarce migrant.

Very few were seen. There were just seven in spring, between March 20^th and May 2^nd, five seen in the southern part of the Rock and two on Western Beach.

 

A juvenile that appeared at Europa Point on July 3^rd was probably responsible for some of eight further sightings of single birds in that area until October 19^th. Two were seen from Jews’ Gate on September 5^th and there were two at Europa Point on September 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd.

 

Grey Wagtail                Lavandera cascadeña                Motacilla cinerea

Regular but scarce: migrant and winter. Has bred.

One was in Commonwealth Park on January 13^th and three were in the Seven Sisters area of the South Mole the following day. Two of the latter were still there on January 27^th.

 

There were six reports later in the year: single birds at Little Bay on September 22^nd and November 19^th, at Commonwealth Park on October 25^th and at Western Beach on December 8^th, as well as two in the harbour area on October 10^th and three on the Europa Point foreshore on November 8^th.

 

White Wagtail            Lavandera blanca              Motacilla alba

Regular but scarce migrant. Regular in winter. Has bred.

Ten were found during the January bird counts, six at Western Beach, two in the North Front cemetery and two on Windmill Hill. One or two were seen at the same sites until March 7^th.

 

Six were on Windmill Hill on October 19^th and three were in Commonwealth Park on October 25^th. Three were on the Europa Point foreshore on October 27^th. A steady southward passage of flocks, accompanying those of pipits, finches and thrushes, took place on November 2^nd. Six were again on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd and up to three frequented the North Front cemetery until the end of the year.

 

A male Moroccan Wagtail Motacilla (alba) subpersonata was on the Europa point foreshore on February 21^st and 22^nd and it or another was there on March 1^st. (R. Perez, R. Azopardi)

Moroccan White Wagtail at Europa Point.                              (R. Perez.)

 

Common Chaffinch             Pinzón vulgar           Fringilla coelebs

Common: migrant and winter.

Records during the first winter period were exceptionally sparse. Only three individuals were found in the January counts. The largest count was eight flying north on March 15^th. Only four individuals were seen subsequently, the last on April 14^th. Single birds were ringed, on February 24^th and April 16^th.

 

One was in the Nature Reserve on July 3^rd. There were no further sightings until October 17th–19^th when up to three were along Signal Station Road. Two were on the Europa Point foreshore on October 27^th. Chaffinches formed a significant part of steady southward visible migration seen from Mediterranean Road in the Nature Reserve on November 2^nd. The following day there were 118 on Windmill Hill. There were 22 ringed between October 17^th and the end of the year.

 

African Chaffinch              Pinzón africano           Fringilla spodiogenys

Vagrant.

Two were ringed in spring, an adult male on March 22^nd and an adult female on April 6^th. Fifth and sixth records (M. Cutts, R. Jones).

 

Brambling                Pinzón real              Fringilla montifringilla

Occasional: migrant.

Three were ringed: a first-year male on March 23^rd, an adult female on April 7^th and a juvenile male on November 5^th.

 

Hawfinch              Picogordo común    Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Locally rare.

At least one was along Mediterranean Road in the southern Nature Reserve on November 2^nd.

 

Bullfinch                     Camachuelo común            Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Occasional: migrant.

Two females were ringed: an adult on November 9^th and a juvenile on November 17^th.

 

Trumpeter Finch                Camachuelo trompetero            Bucanetes githagineus

Locally rare.

One was on the Europa Point foreshore on March 17^th and 18^th. Eleventh record (K. Sivers, J. Downing).

Trumpeter Finch at Europa foreshore.                    (J. Downing.)

 

Greenfinch              Verderón común            Chloris chloris

Common: migrant and winter. Some resident.

Site counts on January 13^th found 25 birds, including 14 around Camp Bay, one on Windmill Hill and the remainder in South District gardens: there were none in the Botanic Gardens, however. Hardly any northbound migrants were seen: there were 1-4 birds on ten dates from February 19^th until May 2^nd, chiefly on Windmill Hill. The Botanic Gardens, the prime local breeding location, held at least 25 on April 20^th. There were 12 ringed during the first half of the year.

 

Passage migrants were again sparse later in the year and, in particular, did not figure in the large diurnal passage of finches and others over the Nature Reserve on November 1^st. Up to five were present in the Nature Reserve in July and August and there were four on Windmill Hill on August 14^th. The next reports were from Europa Point and the foreshore from September 21^st until October 17^th, including 20 on September 22^nd and 17 on September 28^th. There were 85 on Windmill Hill on November 3^rd but only a few individuals were reported thereafter, in the Nature Reserve. There were 145 ringed during the second half of the year.

 

Linnet               Pardillo común             Linaria cannabina

Common migrant.

Very few were seen on northward passage. They totalled 14 birds, on six dates between February 19^th and April 28^th, chiefly seen flying past Jews’ Gate. One was ringed on March 15^th.

 

Two were on Windmill Hill on October 13^th but there were 34 there, as well as three in the North Front cemetery, on November 3^rd, One was on the Europa Point foreshore on November 8^th. A small passage south was seen from Jews’ Gate on November 11^th. One was ringed on October 23^rd.

 

Goldfinch           Jilguero común            Carduelis carduelis

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

Only very small numbers were reported during the first half of the year. The January counts found only four birds, three on Windmill Hill and one at Europa Point. Thereafter birds were only reported on ten dates, up to April 16^th, chiefly from Windmill Hill and Europa Point and flying north at Jews’ Gate. Most records were of 1–4 birds, 15 on April 3^rd being the largest count.

Goldfinch at Nun's Well, Europa Point.                                         (R. Perez.)

The first observation during the second half of the year was of one in the North Front cemetery on October 12^th followed by 18 at Europa Point on October 17^th. Large numbers were seen flying south over the Nature Reserve on November 1^st and again on November 17^th. Site counts during this period included 70 in the cemetery and 253 at Windmill Hill on November 3^rd, and 100 around the Europa Point foreshore on November 8^th. Two remained on the foreshore on at least December 6^th and 20^th. Only 18 were ringed, between October 15^th and November 17^th.

 

 

Serin               Serín verdecillo               Serinus serinus

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

Birds were only reported on nine dates between January 11^th and April 9^th and in very small numbers. They totalled 34 and were chiefly seen from Jews’ Gate or Europa Point. Nine at Sandy Bay on February 21^st was the largest count. Two were at Europa Point on June 15^th. There were 15 ringed between March 5^th and April 12^th, plus a late bird on May 8^th. 

 

Mainly small numbers were again reported on six dates between July 11^th and November 17^th, but there were reportedly many around Jews’ Gate on the latter date. Previously 21 were at Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. Birds ringed totalled 114, between October 14^th and November 18^th.

 

Siskin               Jilguero lúgano          Spinus spinus

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

Two were at the frontier on March 1^st and three were over the Rock on March 15^th. A further seven in total were reported from Jews’ Gate on four dates between April 3^rd and April 9^th. One was ringed on April 3^rd.

 

Two were in the Nature Reserve in November 2^nd and 64 were seen from Windmill Hill on November 3^rd. Small-scale southward passage was seen from Jews’ Gate on November 10^th and 11^th, followed by a larger movement on November 17^th. There were 12 ringed between November 1^st and November 18^th.

 

Corn Bunting               Escribano triguero            Emberiza calandra

Occasional: migrant and winter.

One was on the Europa Point foreshore on February 17^th. One was on Windmill Hill on April 17^th and there were 14 there on April 18^th.  One was in the North Front cemetery on April 23^rd.

 

Two were on Windmill Hill on October 25^th.

 

Ortolan Bunting            Escribano hortelano               Emberiza hortulana

Occasional: migrant.

One was on Windmill Hill on April 18^th. Two were ringed: on April 23^rd and May 8^th.

 

One was on Windmill Hill on October 13^th.

 

House Bunting              Escribano sahariano             Emberiza sahari

Vagrant.

One was on the Europa Point foreshore on April 7^th. Another was at Europa Point on August 16^th, feeding alongside sparrows and pigeons on seed provided by ship-watching enthusiasts. A different individual was present in the same place on September 25^th. Sixth to eighth records (R. Perez, J. Ferrary, J. Bugeja, E. Garcia).

 

House Bunting at Europa Point.                              (E. Garcia.)

………………………………………………………..

 

Common Myna                 Miná común                   Acridotheres tristis

Escaped alien species

A pair of this notoriously invasive species was present in the harbour area during the second half of the year. The birds were seen with a nestling on July 22^nd. The species is native to southern Asia.

Common Myna at Morrison's carpark.                                   (T. Vinent.)

R. Azopardi, I. Beggs, K. Bensusan, J. Bujega, I. Catania, J. Chincotta, S. Copsey, J. Cortes, M. Cutts. R. Dickey, J. Downing, C. Durante, N. Ferrary, P. Ferrary, M. Figueras, C. Finlayson, T. Finlayson, A. Fortuna, C. Fortuna, E. Garcia, J. Garcia, R. Geary, F. Solano Gonzalez, A. Gould, T. Hammond, H. Hanmer, R. Harris, L. Hawkins, J. Henwood, Y. Henwood, V. Hill, M. Jobes, J. Mesilio, L. Moore, R. Mor, S. Morgan, S. Olivera, K. Palmer, D. Parody, C. Perez, R. Perez, T. Tinsdale, C. Twitchen, N. Ramos, M. Richter, V. Robba, P. Rocca, C. Rugeroni, J. Sanchez, J. Santos, M. Sardena, S. Shacaluga, K. Sivers, T. Vinent, M. Wahnon, S. Warr, J. Yeoman, A. Yome, and the Environmental Protection and Research Unit (EPRU).

African Chaffinches in Gibraltar. Occurrences and identification notes

Mark Cutts

I arrived in Gibraltar on January 15^th 2024 to start my second spring season as ringer-in-charge at the Jews’ Gate Field Centre. During this period we trapped and ringed two African Chaffinches, a male and a female.

The African Chaffinch Fringilla spodiogenys had occurred previously on at least five occasions on Gibraltar. The first was on March 7^th 1989, when a group of four males were in company with nine (presumed) Common Chaffinches F. coelebs and a single Brambling F. montifringilla on Windmill Hill Flats. Single birds, perhaps part of the original arrival, were at the same site on March 8^th and March 12^th. Subsequently single males were ringed on March 28^th 1996 and April 9th 2004, both at Jews’ Gate Field Centre. Another male was photographed by local birder Jonathan Perera in the Poca Roca area of the Upper Nature Reserve on March 30^th 2018. The final bird to be ringed prior to 2024 was another male on 7^th March 7^th 2019.

I was aware of the possibility of this species occurring and had taken note of a Dutch Birding article ‘Identification of African Chaffinch’ (Corso et al. 2015) that addressed all known diagnostic differences between this species and the Common Chaffinch (CC below), in particular the unique tail pattern of both male and female African Chaffinches. This feature had earlier been reported by Van den Berg & The Sound Approach (2005)

The 2024 Male
On March 22^nd 2024, Gibraltar woke up to a "Calima", a Saharan dust storm that brought fine particles of orange sand over Gibraltar and southern Iberia. At about 9:30 that morning, one of visiting ringers, Mark Winsloe, brought in a male African Chaffinch.   

Male identification features

Figure 1.  
Male African Chaffinch. Highly distinctive. The blue on the head extends throughout the cheek rather than just on the crown and the nape, as in CC. The black forehead is much broader in the African Chaffinch and extends across the lores to meet the front of the eye. It also has a light olive-green mantle rather than the reddish brown of CC. The rusty red chest of CC is replaced by a subtle pink hue. Finally, the tail pattern is very distinctive, T4 to T6 showing extensively more white than in CC.

Figure 2. Male African Chaffinch wing showing dark centres to the primaries. The secondaries have pale grey edging. Greenish mantle in view.

Figure 3. Wing of male Common Chaffinch. Shows a lighter base colour to the primaries with yellow edging to the secondaries. Rusty-brown mantle visible.

Figure 4. Male tails compared. Male African Chaffinch (left) showing the extensive white areas on T4, T5 and T6.  Male Common Chaffinch (right) showing less white on T5 and T6 and no white on T4.

The 2024 Female

Female identification features

On April 6^th we woke up to a "Calima" once again. During the morning one of the visiting ringers brought in a "female chaffinch". Unlike male African Chaffinches, which are unmistakable, females are less obviously distinct from female CCs. However, after studying the Dutch Birding paper I was aware of the female features and in particular the tail pattern, so this was the first feature I looked for. Sure enough T4 had a large white patch. In general, the bird seemed larger than a CC, particularly the bill which was broader and longer. The mantle was again olive-green in colour, and we all noticed the distinctive blue-grey ‘shoulder’, the lesser coverts.

Figure 5. Common Chaffinch on the left with our bird on the right. The female African Chaffinch shows a longer, wider bill. It also shows more of a white eye-ring, similar to the male.

Figure 6. The female shows a similar olive-green back colour to the male. Note blue-grey lesser covert bar.

Figure 7. Another feature that stood out for us and noted by Corso et. al. (2015) is the amount of blue-grey on the ‘shoulder’ of the female, never present on CC.

For the time being, the Gibraltar records are the only ones reported from the Iberian Peninsula (Garcia 2024), although there are two records from southern France and others (of unknown origin) in The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden (Oreel 2004). Further records from Gibraltar seem likely, especially now that local and visiting ringers are informed of the identification criteria, particularly those of the less distinctive females. 

References

Corso A. Vigano M. & Stamini L. 2015. Identification of African Chaffinch. Dutch Birding 37: 392–402.

Garcia E. 2024. African birds in Iberia: Recent colonists, potential colonists and vagrants. Ardeola 71(2): 195–228.

Navarrete, J. & Cuenca, D. 2021. Diferencias biométricas y morfológicas en las hembras de Fringilla coelebs coelebs y Fringilla coelebs africana. Revista Alcudón 18: 9–24. (Free to view on www.seoceuta.es).

Oreel, G. 2004. Origin of presumed African Chaffinch on Maasvlakte in April 2003. Dutch Birding 26: 46–47.

Van den Berg, A.B. & The Sound Approach. 2005. Field Identification of Maghreb Chaffinches. Dutch Birding 27: 295–301.

Editor’s Note. The distinguishing features of female African Chaffinches have previously been noted in the literature. In particular, Navarrete and Cuenca (2021) conducted an extensive study of female African Chaffinch biometrics and plumage characteristics based on 138 individuals handled by ringers in Ceuta. Comparisons were made with 256 female Common Chaffinches handled on the European side of the Strait and a further 166 females from central Spain, all caught during the breeding season. Standard biometric measurements (weight, wing length, tail length, tarsus length, bill length and depth) were made and these were found to be significantly greater in African Chaffinches than in Common Chaffinches, in all respects other than tarsus lengths. With respect to colouration, female African Chaffinches are paler, lacking ochre tones on the cap, ear coverts and breast, and show more extensive white in the tail than Common Chaffinches. The last difference is especially useful: nearly 90% of the female African Chaffinches showed white on the three outermost rectrices, T4, T5 and T6, the remainder showing white on T5 and T6 only. In Common Chaffinches, the opposite applies, 90% showing white on the outer two rectrices only. In African Chaffinches the extensive white on the outer rectrices is especially marked in males. These features are apparent in the two individuals described in this account. 

THE SUDAN GOLDEN SPARROW PASSER LUTEUS – FUGITIVE OR VAGRANT ?

ERNEST GARCIA

The Sudan Golden Sparrow inhabits the entire Sahel zone of sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Mauritania and North Senegal in the west to the Red Sea coast of Sudan and Eritrea in the east. It is locally abundant within this vast band of territory, not least because it tends to be nomadic, seeking areas where the rains have produced a flush of grasses and then the seeds that make up its main diet (Summers-Smith 2020). Here it breeds sporadically, in colonies that have been known to number as many as 65,000 nests but typically much fewer (Summers-Smith 2020). The species is popular with dedicated aviculturalists and escapes from captivity are by far the most likely explanation for the occasional individuals that have turned up in the wild in northern Europe, in Britain, France and Germany for example (eBird).

Sudan Golden Sparrow at North Front cemetery.                                                       T. Finlayson.

In the southwestern Palearctic this sparrow was first reported from the Moroccan/Mauritanian border areas in 2009 and there were 25+ sightings there by 2018 (Bergier et al. 2022). At first only a few individuals were involved but they had increased to about 100 by 2018. Towards the end of this period, the species was first reported in the Canary Islands, the earliest accepted record being on Fuerteventura in December 2016. By 2024 there were eight records of single birds from the Canaries, from Gran Canaria and Tenerife (CR-SEO 2025). Several birds remained for long periods, including a male and a female that were present together in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2024. 

The wild status of the Moroccan birds was never in doubt but the Canarian records were all initially assigned to status Category D, which comprises birds of uncertain origin, including escapes from captivity. Indeed the species is advertised online for sale in Tenerife (180€ a pair). However, in southernmost Morocco, a colony of 95 nests was found in late October 2024, on young acacias in Oued Ad Deheb, 125km from Assouerd on the Dakla road (Bergier et al. 2024). This is the first known instance of nesting by Sudan Golden Sparrows in Morocco and indeed in the Palearctic region. The presence of the species in Morocco at similar latitudes to the Canary Islands has led to the sparrow being admitted retrospectively to Category A by the Spanish Rarities Committee, but for Canarian records only.

There are a few unvetted observations from mainland Spain as well as a single confirmed record from Ceuta, of a juvenile caught by ringers on October 3rd 2021. In addition, there are now three records of single birds from Gibraltar: an adult male in the Botanic Gardens from November 25^th to December 1^st 2003, another adult male in the North Front cemetery from July 10^th to July 16^th 2023 and, latterly, a first-summer male that was around Europa point from September 21^st to October 1^st 2024. It may be relevant to note that at least the 2023 and 2024 Gibraltar birds appeared after an episode of ‘calima’, a northward displacement of air laden with Saharan dust into the region. At present all these records are retained in status Category D since their captive origin, although far from certain, cannot really be excluded. It will be interesting to see whether the above developments, all of them quite recent, will lead to further records in Gibraltar and elsewhere. At least, the habit of Sudan Golden Sparrows of associating with House Sparrows P. domesticus, and the brilliance of the males’ plumage, makes them relatively easy to detect.

References:

Bergier, P., Thévenot, M., Qninba, A. & Houllier, J-R. 2022. Oiseaux du Maroc/Birds of Morocco. Société d’Études Ornitologiques de France, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturel. Paris.

Bergier, P., Bousadik, H., Alifal, M. & Qninba, A. 2024. Reproduction du Moineau doré Passer luteus dans le Sahara Atlantique Marocain. Eléments d’Ornithologie Marocaine : eom24101.

CR/SEO (Comité de Rarezas de SEO/Birdlife). 2025. Observaciones de aves raras en España (Septiembre 2023 – Agosto 2024). Ardeola 72(1): 141–148.

Summers-Smith, D. 2020. Sudan Golden Sparrow (Passer luteus). In Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sugspa1.01

RINGING REPORT 2024

Charles Perez

Gibraltar Ringing Group, GONHS, P.O. Box 843, Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Ringing Group, working under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology, is based at the Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory at Jews’ Gate, on the Upper Rock. The ringing campaign started late with only a few sessions during February and March. The pre-nuptial ringing campaign begun at Jews' Gate at the Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory on January 15^th and ended on May 10^th.

A total of 1,567 new birds and 191 retraps, brought the total of birds processed during January–May to 1,786 birds of 51 species. There were far fewer birds this year, in comparison to the same period in 2023 when 2,580 birds of 45 species were processed, 1,023 birds fewer and mainly involving wintering birds. The start of this season was poor, reflecting the low numbers of wintering birds encountered during the preceding autumn campaign during October and November. Trans-Saharan migrants began appearing in late February, with numbers increasing towards the end of March and April. Days with westerly winds hampered the catching rate as winds affected the netting site, and days with easterly winds and heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, which ringers expect to provide fall conditions, were few and far between. Nevertheless there were four days with over 100 birds processed, the period April 15^th to April 19^th producing 473 birds. A late fall of migrants on May 8^th saw 97 birds trapped, among which were nine European Nightjars and nine Red-necked Nightjars. Ringing took place from sunrise until early afternoon, occasionally continuing throughout the day when many migrants were present and weather conditions were appropriate.

The post-nuptial ringing campaign began at the Jews’ Gate Bird Observatory on July 29^th and officially ended on November 25^th, followed by three December days where only a few nets were used. A total of 4,611 new birds and 243 retraps brought the total of birds processed during this period to 4,840 of 53 species. There were considerably more birds this year, in comparison to the same period in 2023 when only 3,154 birds of 51 species were processed, with 1,457 birds more, again mainly involving wintering birds. 

Late July and August brought the realisation that breeding success was poor, with few resident birds processed during this period. This was again attributed to the large population of the Black Rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus, which has proliferated in the last few years in the Nature Reserve and the suburban environment. This rat was mainly frugivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds and bulbs, but has in recent years adopted some carnivory, preying on nestlings and recently fledged birds. The rats have also attacked birds in the nets, prevention of which has included raising the bottom shelf.

This period also included early trans-Saharan migrant species, mainly Melodious and Reed Warblers, Iberian Chiffchaffs and, in late August, Nightingales and the first Willow Warblers. Of note was a very early Pied Flycatcher on August 4^th, a Grasshopper Warbler on August 26^th, and a Woodchat Shrike and Subalpine Warbler on August 29^th. Nevertheless numbers were low, mainly due to fair weather and unfavourable winds that prevented any ringing activity.

September, a month when considerable trans-Saharan passage is expected, was again poor, with catches low. Light westerly winds and the absence of levanter cloud with easterly winds during the first weeks, was thought to be the main cause. In late September, numbers increased with the arrival of migrant Blackcaps, boosting the catching rate. 

Ringing fortunes improved slightly in October, with a total of 2,333 birds processed, including some trans-Saharan migrants during in the early weeks. By mid month, a spate of wet weather resulted in a total of 230 birds processed on the 12^th, with Blackcaps accounting for 164 birds. Over 100 birds were processed daily during the next few days, until north-westerly winds set in reducing the numbers trapped. Easterlies set in at the end of the month, improving the catching rate. Yellow-browed Warblers turned up again this year with single birds ringed on October 22^nd, 23^rd and the 28^th. Among scarcer species were a Wheatear on the 4^th, a Firecrest on the 15^th, a Dartford Warbler on the 22^nd and a Linnet on the 23^rd.

A further 1,647 birds were processed in November, 689 Blackcaps and 382 Chiffchaffs being the main species. Late trans-Saharan migrants included European Nightjars on the 1^st and 6^th, a Garden Warbler on the 2^nd and a Red-rumped Swallow on the 7^th. Another Yellow-browed Warbler on November 4^th, brought the total to four birds ringed this autumn. Scarcer birds included a Dunnock on the 4^th, a Brambling on the 5^th, Bullfinches on the 9^th and 17^th, a Redwing on the 18^th and another Dartford Warbler on the 8th. 

Blackcap controls in October comprised a Dutch bird on the 1^st, a Spanish bird on the 13^th, a British bird on the 21^st, and a German bird (Helgoland) on the 23^rd. November Blackcap controls comprised a French bird on the 5^th, the October British bird retrapped on the 6^th, a Belgian bird on the 6^th and a German bird (Radofzell) on the 12^th. Another British Blackcap was processed on December 26^th.

Table 1:  Ringing Totals 2024