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.).

 

EDITORIAL

Dr Ernest Garcia

ALL CHANGE FOR BIRD NAMES – AGAIN
 
The bird taxonomists have been at it again, this time trying to agree a final, definitive, classification for bird names and the species sequence of lists. The result, a collaboration between such institutions as Birdlife International, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and a number of others is AVILIST. This new checklist purports to take full account of all the latest knowledge of bird taxonomy, including genetic evidence of relatedness, in order to serve as an agreed List that will be used by most, if not all, relevant bodies worldwide. Avilist has indeed been accepted not only by its creator institutions but by an increasing number of others, including the British Ornithologists’ Union and the British Trust for Ornithology. It supersedes the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) list, which has been in vogue up to now. The List has determined species-boundaries, splitting some species into two or more, and lumping some others into a single species. Our own Society, GONHS, has adopted Avilist and the names used in this Report, and in a revised Gibraltar Bird List published on our website, accord with the new consensus.

Avilist standardises scientific names (i.e. not English names) and also the sequence in which orders, families, genera and species are listed. The sequence changes have meant a major upheaval for all published accounts of bird observations, including those that make up the bulk of Reports such as this one. Fortunately, where Gibraltar is concerned, only two taxonomic definitions are immediately relevant. Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus and Yelkouan (Levantine) Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan are now treated as subspecies P. y. mauretanicus and P. y. yelkouan of a new taxon Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan (Note however that Avilist retains Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis and Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea as separate species). The other change affecting Gibraltar is that Hooded Crow subspecies (there are four) are reabsorbed into Carrion Crow as subspecies of a single species, Corvus corone, still to be called Carrion Crow. Taxonomy is a fluid discipline, however, and some of these and other decisions are bound to change as new evidence of bird relatedness comes to light. 

The first edition of AVILIST was published in June 2025. Full details of these and other developments may be seen on line at AVILIST: The Global Avian Checklist (https://www.avilist.org/), where the new checklist can be downloaded.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF GIBRALTAR BIRD REPORTS

This Report is the 25^th in the annual series that was launched in 2001. Previous Reports are free-to-view on the Society’s website. The first Report was published with the encouragement of our then General Secretary, Dr John Cortes, after I had suggested that such a publication would be useful to place on permanent record the increasing number of ornithological observations being made in Gibraltar. Such an archive would be especially worthwhile at a time when changes in the biosphere are becoming ever more marked, in response to human pressures and climate change. It was also hoped that having such a lasting repository for our sightings would encourage observers to submit their records and might even induce others to take up birding as a hobby. The Reports would also serve to exhibit some of the best work of our local bird photographers. This 25^th Report continues to meet these objectives, with increasing success I would say. It has been my privilege to edit the Gibraltar Bird Report for these 25 years and I hope to be able to do so for some little while yet.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

As ever, this Report exists through the efforts of the many observers and ringers who spend time in the field and submit their records and data. We are most grateful to all of you who have supported GONHS in this way over the last 25 years. Contributors to the Systematic List and to the Ringing campaigns are listed in the respective sections. I thank our Bird recorder, Charles Perez, for maintaining the records and ringing databases, and for publishing the daily updates on current sightings, all of which are the basis of the Report, and for steering the Report through publication. Useful comments on earlier drafts of the 2025 Report by Dr Keith Bensusan, Dr John Cortes, Andrew Fortuna and Charles Perez are also gratefully acknowledged. I also thank most sincerely the photographers who contributed so many impressive photos to the Report: they are M. Barrey, M. Cutts, C. Finlayson, T. Finlayson, A. Fortuna, C. Fortuna, R. Mor, S. Morgan, D. Parody, R. Perez, J. Sanchez, H. Vangils, T. Vinet and J. Yeoman. 

 

 

BIRDS IN GIBRALTAR 2025
Compiled by Ernest Garcia

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

A felicitous combination of weather, ever-increasing effort and expertise by field observers and ringers alike, and simple good luck, resulted in an all-time annual record number of bird species being found in Gibraltar in 2025. They totalled 176, a remarkable eight species more than in the previous record year, 2024. Only one of these was new to the Gibraltar List: a young Great Crested Grebe that was photographed swimming in the harbour on July 17^th. The chances are that this individual had not travelled far and was dispersing from some lagoon or reservoir in nearby Spain, where the population of this grebe is currently enjoying a marked expansion in distribution and numbers.

A diversity of other rare or locally rare species recorded in 2025 included Gibraltar’s second Blyth’s Reed Warbler and second Pied Crow as well as fourth records of Common Gull, Little Swift, Siberian Chiffchaff and Red-billed Chough (two birds); fifth and sixth records of Red-breasted Flycatcher, a seventh record of African Chaffinch, the eighth Great Reed Warbler, and ninth and tenth records of Icterine Warbler. The species tally was boosted by a good selection of the rarer raptors which comprised a Ruppell’s Vulture, a Lesser Spotted Eagle, two Spanish Imperial Eagles, a record five Pallid Harriers, a Hen Harrier, a Red Kite, two Long-legged Buzzards – one of which took up winter residence from November, a Merlin and two Lanner Falcons. Six appearances by a total of 104 Avocets was an exceptional number for Gibraltar. Even a record-diversity year still has its omissions, however: in 2025 there were no records of Oystercatcher, Black Vulture and House Bunting, among other species that have tended to occur regularly of late.

Gibraltar birders do not need to be reminded how powerfully wind and weather affect which species appear locally, and in what numbers. The prevailing easterlies in early March 2025 had the predictable effect of ensuring the major arrivals of Short-toed Eagles and Black Kites, principally the Iberian-nesting populations, bypassed Gibraltar to the west. The poor-showing locally of Honey Buzzards during the first week of May, typically the major arrival period, is harder to explain since winds were mostly favourable westerlies during this period: it may be that the Honey Buzzard movements were delayed by factors that applied further south.

The year saw sizeable falls of sub-Saharan migrants in spring. These were especially evident during periods of easterly winds and rain on April 12th and again at the end of April and into early May. As a result, a large diversity of species appeared in some numbers, particularly on the southern flats and in the Nature Reserve. They included a record catch by ringers of 12 Wood Warblers, a species that only appears in spring and during prolonged easterlies, as is also the case with Icterine Warblers. The Systematic List gives further details of particular species.

A different type of weather event was responsible in November for an influx of Leach’s Storm Petrels and Grey Phalaropes into the western Strait approaches. Such events, commonly termed ‘wrecks’ in the cases of seabirds, typically happen when prolonged stormy weather at sea makes it hard for the birds to feed. They weaken and may starve, or be blown towards coasts. At such times dead and dying birds appear on beaches and other individuals may be seen attempting to feed just offshore. These events were reported from Tarifa westwards but at least four Leach’s appeared as far east as Europa Point, where they could be seen foraging several hundred metres offshore on November 17^th. 

Gibraltar’s breeding species generally seem to have enjoyed a productive season. An exception is the Yellow-legged Gull, whose numbers have noticeably diminished, due in part no doubt to recent culling programmes. Several pairs of Peregrines and Common Kestrels produced good numbers of young. The Spotted Flycatcher was no more than a passage migrant in Gibraltar until a pair first nested in 2009, in the Botanic Gardens. This event led to the establishment of a local breeding population, that numbered up to 18 pairs in 2025.

Finally, it appears that the east side reclamation, between Eastern Beach and Catalan Bay, serves as an obstacle to aquatic life coasting southwards towards the Strait so that, from time to time, local fish concentrations build up in the shallows off Eastern Beach. The visible outcome has been sizeable gatherings of Gannets especially, and sometimes Mediterranean Shearwaters, Cormorants and dolphins, which can be seen fishing intensively very close inshore. Indeed, occupants of the high-rise residential blocks along the northern side of this reclamation have found themselves treated to extraordinary displays. Is there anywhere else on earth where you can see (and hear) Gannets plummeting into the sea just a couple of metres from your balcony or living room?

 

 

THE SYSTEMATIC LIST 2025

Records marked * are pending consideration by the Rarities Panel.

IMPORTANT NOTES.

Status definitions.

Vagrant: Exceptional at any time in southern Iberia (including Gibraltar), e.g. Allen’s Gallinule.

Rare: Seldom recorded in Gibraltar or anywhere in southern Spain, e.g. Yellow-billed Chough, Fieldfare.

Locally rare: Exceptional in Gibraltar but not unusual in southern Spain, e.g. Woodpigeon, Moorhen.

Occasional: Seen infrequently and not annually e.g. Common Cuckoo.

Regular:  Annual in small numbers. e.g. Red-necked Nightjar.

Common: Annual and sometimes numerous, e.g. Black Redstart.

Locations
Sites mentioned are shown on the Map on Page X. The term ‘Western Runway’ refers to the western end of the airfield runway, where a small loafing ground for gulls, cormorants, waders and some passerines is monitored by airfield staff.

Counts of migrant raptors. (See Appendices for daily totals).
Gibraltar only sees a variable fraction of the passage of raptors across the Strait. Most occur during westerly winds, when a higher proportion of the movements occur at the eastern end of the Strait. Harriers, falcons and the Osprey show only a limited tendency to seek short sea crossings and so their totals are invariably low. A daily watch is kept during the spring migration period.

Ringing
Birds ringed have been caught and ringed at Jews’ Gate, at the GONHS bird observatory at the south end of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Names. 
We follow the classification, sequence and nomenclature employed in AviList, the new unified checklist of world birds first published in June 2025 (https://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/). AviList does not standardise English names and offers several alternatives. We use names in popular British usage. Certain qualifiers, such as ‘Eurasian’, are omitted from English names where no ambiguity results but are included in the Gibraltar Bird List on the GONHS website (https://www.gonhs.org/wildlife/birds/bird-list). 

 
Common Shelduck    Tarro blanco            Tadorna tadorna
Occasional migrant and winter.
Two records. A flock of four flying west at Europa Point on November 14^th and a flock of six flying east there on November 22^nd. 

Common Quail        Codorniz común        Coturnix coturnix
Occasional: migrant.
One picked up in the harbour area on May 2^nd was later ringed and released.

Barbary Partridge        Perdiz moruna        Alectoris barbara
Resident.
Birds were widespread all year, notably and as usual in the Nature Reserve, on Windmill Hill and on the Eastern slopes. There were also a few reports of small numbers from Sandy Bay, Little Bay and Europa Flats. Windmill Hill produced the largest counts but these only became apparent from April onwards, previous to which only a few individuals were reported there. On April 5^th these had increased to 16 birds and post-breeding double-figure counts from Windmill Hill included 39 on September 23^rd, 44 on October 6^th and 36 on October 27^th. Other notable concentrations included 20 on the East Side talus on September 7^th and 25 there on November 30^th.

Broods of ten, eight and seven chicks, each accompanied by a single adult, were seen in the Nature Reserve on May 22^nd, June 8^th and June 10^th respectively, and a brood of three was in Little Bay on May 31^st.

Barbary Partridge and chicks.                                        R. Perez.

Greater Flamingo        Flamenco común        Phoenicopterus roseus
Occasional flocks reported annually.
Flocks totalling 184 birds were reported on five dates between March 11^th and April 22^nd. They included 58 birds on April 1^st. A further 38 birds were seen on four dates between August 19^th and September 29^th. As usual the flocks passed at low altitude, mainly across the isthmus but sometimes off the eastern coastline. The flight direction was seldom reported but, in spring at least, such flocks may involve individuals travelling to and from the Guadalquivir estuary and the colony at Fuente de Piedra lake.

Great Crested Grebe    Somormujo lavanco        Podiceps cristatus
Locally rare.
A juvenile was present in the harbour off Westview Promenade on July 17^th. First Gibraltar record (S. & A. Yome).

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe in the harbour.                       J. Sanchez.

Turtle Dove            Tórtola europea        Streptopelia turtur
Scarce migrant.
A total of 38 birds occurred on seven dates between April 12^th and May 9^th. Most were seen on Windmill Hill, where there were 12 among a fall of other migrants on April 30^th. Single birds were ringed on April 22^nd and May 2^nd.

Later in the year there were three on Windmill Hill on September 23^rd and one was there on September 25^th.

Collared Dove        Tórtola turca            Streptopelia decaocto
Common resident.
The winter bird count in January found 49 birds, 28 of them in gardens and 17 on Europa Flats and foreshore. Birds were widely reported from the isthmus, town area, gardens and Europa Point all year but none were found in the Nature Reserve nor on the Eastern side. Most reports were of single figures but there were larger gatherings occasionally in the Botanic Gardens, where there were 25 on September 26^th, and around Europa Point, where there were 19 on October 18^th.

Wood Pigeon        Paloma torcaz        Columba palumbus
Occasional.
One was on Windmill Hill on March 30^th. A flock of about 15 was seen flying north at the same location, hotly pursued by two Peregrine Falcons, on October 23^rd.

Rock Dove            Paloma bravía        Columba livia
Rare. (Feral birds common).
The winter bird count found 156 birds, about half of them within the town area and most of the remainder around cliffs, notably at Rock Gun, and on the Eastern slopes. These same locations, as well as town parks, Camp and Little Bays and Europa Point held birds all year in small numbers.

Stone-curlew        Alcaraván común        Burhinus oedicnemus
Occasional: migrant.
One was on the Europa Point foreshore on February 28^th.

Pied Avocet            Avoceta común              Recurvirostra avosetta
Occasional: migrant.
Small flocks were reported on six occasions, all of them heading westwards. The largest flock, 47 birds, flew south off the eastern coastline on March 11^th, turning west once they reached Europa Point.  The other sightings were of 16 on March 22^nd, 18 on March 24^th, two on July 13^th, six on July 20^th and 15, in two groups, on November 9^th.

Black-winged Stilt        Cigüeñuela común             Himantopus himantopus
Occasional: migrant.
Seven settled on rocks off Sandy Bay on March 29^th. A single bird was at Catalan Bay beach on May 16^th.

Five Black-winged Stilts at off Sandy Bay.                      R. Perez.

Common Ringed Plover    Chorlitejo grande              Charadrius hiaticula
Occasional: migrant and winter.
One was on the western runway on November 26^th and it or another was on the adjacent Western Beach on December 13^th.

Whimbrel            Zarapito trinador        Numenius phaeopus
Regular migrant and winter.
Only two single birds were reported during the first half of the year: at the New Harbours marina on January 20^th and at Rosia Bay on February 16^th.
Returning migrants were first seen on July 19^th, when there were two at Europa Point, with three there the following day, and up to two seen in the area up to August 29^th. There were no further records until October 20^th when one was in Little Bay. What was probably the same bird was then frequented the southwestern bays/Europa Point until the end of the year.
 
Common Sandpiper    Andarríos chico        Actitis hypoleucos
Regular migrant and winter.
One or two individuals were reported on many dates between the start of the year and May 4^th, ranging from Western Beach, Westview Promenade, Rosia Bay, Camp Bay and Little Bay to Europa Point. None were seen on the eastern shoreline during this period.

The same locations attracted one or two birds from July 14^th until the end of the year. There were also records of one on Eastern Beach on August 22^nd and three there on August 24^th. Single birds were in the mid Harbour on August 26^th and October 23^rd. One was apparently attracted by flies on the algae around the desalination plant waterfall in Camp Bay on November 26^th. There were also records of three birds at Europa Point on September 4^th and three on Western Beach on December 14^th. 

Ruddy Turnstone        Vuelvepiedras común    Arenaria interpres
Regular, mainly winter.
The small overwintering flock, usually of up to seven birds but numbering 11 on January 7^th and ten on March 7^th, was present on the Europa Point foreshore until at least April 23^rd, with two birds remaining until May 8^th.

One on July 27^th was the first returning bird seen but no more were reported until August 20^th, when four were present. Up to four were reported regularly until the end of the year, with five seen on September 13^th and six on November 19^th. Once again birds frequented the Europa Point foreshore but single birds were seen nearby in Camp and Little Bays on two dates in October.

Sanderling            Correlimos tridáctilo        Calidris alba
Regular, mainly winter.
Up to six were on Western Beach on four dates in January and four were on Eastern Beach on January 13^th. Two were on Eastern Beach on December 1^st and two were on Western Beach on December 7^th. It seems likely that this species is under-recorded locally although disturbance on these small beaches may be dissuading them from lingering there. 

Arctic Skua            Págalo parasito        Stercorarius parasiticus
Scarce: mainly migrant.
Single birds were off Europa Point on September 13^th and October 8^th.

Pomarine Skua        Págalo pomarino        Stercorarius pomarinus
Scarce: migrant.
One was off Europa Point on November 1^st.

Great Skua            Págalo grande        Catharacta skua
Present all year. Common migrant.
Single birds were seen from Europa Point on five dates between January 9^th and March 28^th. There were also single birds there on October 4^th and October 25^th.

Puffin                Frailecillo atlántico        Fratercula arctica
Common migrant.
Spring migrants totalling just 45 birds were seen flying west from Europa Point on four dates between March 27^th and March 31^st. There were also 17 seen two miles off the east coast on March 29^th.

Puffin off the east side of the Rock.                    R. Perez

Razorbill            Alca común            Alca torda
Common: winter and migrant.
Single birds were seen on six dates between January 16^th and February 23^rd, reports coming from Camp Bay, Ocean Village and Europa Point. Two were seen from Europa Point on January 31^st. Later in the spring there were nine off Europa Point on April 12^th and one was there on April 24^th. There were no records later in the year.

Caspian Tern        Pagaza piquirroja        Hydroprogne caspia
Occasional: migrant.
There were three records of birds flying west past Europa Point: three on August 27^th, one on September 13^th and one on October 8^th.

One of three Caspian Terns heading west at Europa Point.            R. Perez.

Gull-billed Tern        Pagaza piconegra        Gelochelidon nilotica
Occasional: migrant.
Single birds were seen from Europa Point flying west on July 13^th and July 19^th. 

Gull-billed Tern heading west off Europa Point.                      R. Perez.

Black Tern            Fumarel común        Chlidonias niger
Scarce migrant.
Migrants were seen off Europa Point on three dates: seven birds on May 8^th, 25 a mile offshore on August 24^th, and one inshore on August 27^th.

Sandwich Tern        Charrán patinegro             Thalasseus sandvicensis
Common: migrant and winter.
 As usual, few individuals were present throughout the first winter period, when all were seen from Europa Point and along the western shoreline. Most observations were of two to four birds, five at Europa Point both on January 12^th and February 16^th being the largest early-year site counts. There was little evidence of spring migration but numbers increased slightly in March: the only double-figure count was of 11 at Europa Point on March 27^th. The last spring record was a single bird on May 13^th.

Birds were much more evident during the second half of the year. The first were two seen on August 27^th. A further 52 reports, that may have included some lingering individuals, were made between August 29^th and September 13^th, these including 28 birds seen from Europa Point on September 4^th. There were no further records until October 11^th, when an influx saw 20 at Western Beach and up to 50 off Camp/Little Bays. Observations between then and the end of November totalled 215 birds, including 22 at Europa Point on November 1^st and 30 at Eastern Beach on November 13^th. This year December counts were significantly larger than usual: they totalled 236 birds, including counts from Europa Point of 58 on December 15^th, 21 on December 17^th and 24 on December 20^th. These December observations also included small groups off Eastern Beach and elsewhere along the eastern coastline, as well as the more regular west coast observations made within the Bay and harbour.

Lesser Crested Tern    Charrán bengalí             Thalasseus bengalensis
Occasional: migrant.
One was off the South Mole on October 20^th.

Common Tern        Charrán común        Sterna hirundo
Scarce migrant.
One flew west past Europa Point on November 21^st.

Little Gull            Gaviota enana        Hydrocoleus minutus
Occasional: migrant and winter.
A second-winter bird was off Europa Point on January 12^th and five birds flew west there, accompanied by a flock of 17 Black-headed Gulls, on April 5^th.

Kittiwake            Gaviota tridáctila        Rissa tridactyla
Occasional: migrant and winter.
Two first-winters flew east past Europa Point on January 7^th and an adult was there on March 26^th.
 
Slender-billed Gull        Gaviota picofina              Larus genei
Occasional: migrant.
The adult bird seen at Western Beach on December 30^th 2024 was still there on January 1^st, in the company of 13 Black-headed Gulls. The same site also attracted an adult on December 14^th and 30^th.

Slender-billed Gull at Western beach.                      C. Fortuna.

Black-headed Gull        Gaviota reidora           Larus ridibundus
Common: migrant and winter.
The effluent outlet at Europa Point was the chief attractant of this species, numbers there varying from single figures to 100 or more according to output and weather conditions. Three-figure counts there during the first winter period included 140 on January 12^th, 200 on January 18^th and 132 on February 16^th. On January 19^th there were 160 at Europa Point and another 74 nearby off Europa Advance Road. Numbers dropped off rapidly from late February and the only double-figure count between then and the last sighting: two on May 13^th was of 17 on April 5^th. Elsewhere small numbers were occasionally present at Western Beach and 87 were around the South Mole on February 2^nd.

The first returning birds seen were two on July 6^th. There were 17 on August 29^th but this was the only double-figure count made until 12 birds were seen on October 30^th. Numbers again fluctuated during November and December but included 180 on November 21^st, 165 on December 3^rd, 150 on December 20^th and 150 again on December 22^nd. All these observations were from Europa Point. In addition, 80 were on the eastern side off Blackstrap Cove on November 17^th, 165 were off Europa Advance Road on December 3^rd and 200 were off Camp and Little Bays on December 14^th. Elsewhere a few were also reported from Western Beach on several dates and there were 12 off Catalan Bay on November 14^th, five in the harbour on December 8^th and ten at Eastern Beach on December 16^th.

Audouin’s Gull        Gaviota de Audouin        Larus audouinii
Common migrant. Some remain in winter.
Birds were recorded in every month, almost all of them from Europa Point. During the first half of the year single birds were seen on three January dates, followed by monthly totals of ten on three February dates, 79 on 11 March dates, 17 on seven April dates and six on three May dates. Six on June 26^th was the only record that month. The modest March peak represented birds returning to the Mediterranean. The largest day count was 23 on March 16^th.

As usual, larger numbers were seen during the return westward movement in late summer and autumn. However, the total seen on 51 observation dates during July–October was 651 birds, many fewer than was the case before the regional core population switched from Mediterranean colonies to the Ria Formosa (de Faro), on the southern Portuguese coast. Nonetheless, this total was the largest since 2014, when 946 were reported over a similar number of watch dates. In 2025 the largest day counts were all in July: 168 on July 20^th, 117 on July 23^rd and 65 on July 24^th. 

During the second winter period a few individuals were seen during most watches at Europa Point in November and up to December 15^th. A count of 15 moving west on November 17^th is noteworthy. 

Mediterranean Gull    Gaviota cabecinegra    Larus melanocephalus
Common: migrant and winter.
Small numbers were seen on 19 dates during January–March. They totalled just 63 birds. Most records were of 1–7 birds but there were 11 on January 29^th and 13 on March 29^th. Just one bird was seen in April and there were two on May 13^th. Nearly all reports were from Europa Point.

The westward summer movement, of uncertain origin, was clearly evident from Europa Point and 224 birds were seen over 17 dates between June 26^th and August 31^st. Most appeared in July and these included 105 birds on July 13^th.

Only 16 birds were seen in September but numbers increased notably thereafter until the end of the year, indicating a significant winter presence. Counts made during October–December totalled 409 birds. They included 37 on October 30^th, 41 on November 3^rd and 80 on November 22^nd. As usual most were seen from Europa Point or nearby but one individual was on Catalan Bay beach on December 16^th, an unusual record since, unlike Black-headed Gulls, remarkably few are ever seen on land in Gibraltar. 
 
Common Gull        Gaviota cana                      Larus canus
Locally rare.
A third calendar-year bird was off Europa Point on February 22^nd. Sixth record (R. Perez).

Common Gull at Europa Point.                                         R. Perez

Yellow-legged Gull        Gaviota patiamarilla        Larus michahellis
Common resident.
The resident breeding population remained sizeable but visibly diminished relative to former numbers, in part no doubt due to culling. No precise census data is available but some former colony sites were reported to be deserted during the breeding season. Some individuals frequented the city where there is a roof-nesting population. One individual was seen scavenging rubbish in the middle of Main Street at 23.00 hrs on November 21^st; a regular habit of opportunistic local birds that are active at night.

Lesser Black-backed Gull  Gaviota sombría        Larus fuscus
Regular: migrant and winter. 
Small numbers were observed on 16 dates between the start of the year and May 9^th. They totalled 40 birds. Most sightings were of 1–3 individuals but there were six at Europa Point on January 26^th. Two were seen at the South Mole on February 2^nd but all other observations were from Europa Point.

Birds were similarly scarce during the second half of the year when there were observations on 17 dates between September 4^th and the end of the year. They totalled 33 birds, with no more than four individuals seen on any date. Again nearly all were seen from Europa Point. 

Leach’s Storm Petrel    Paiño boreal            Hydrobates leucorhous
Rare. Late autumn and winter.
A ‘wreck’ in the western approaches to the Strait brought reports of small numbers inshore, and some beach corpses, at Tarifa and further west. At least four were visible just off Europa Point on November 17^th. Ninth record (A. Fortuna, E. Garcia, J. Yeoman).

Scopoli’s Shearwater     Pardela cenicienta mediterránea                                            Calonectris diomedea
Regular, mainly on passage.
Some 200 were seen entering the Mediterranean on February 28^th. The return passage in autumn was much more evident, even though only a small fraction of the population passes in sight of Gibraltar: most are seen from the southern shore of the Strait. Some 180 birds were clearly identified as this species over five dates between November 14^th and November 22^nd. A disorientated individual that was found on Rodger’s Steps, in the South District, on November 20^th was safely released from the shore shortly afterwards. In addition, a total of 1,032 birds seen on 12 dates between October 18^th and November 1^st, were either this species or Cory’s Shearwaters. All were seen from or near Europa Point, flying west in small flocks. 

Cory’s Shearwater        Pardela cenicienta canaria Calonectris borealis
Common March–October. Most numerous in summer. 
Eight birds in total were seen in April, the first on April 12^th. Small numbers became more frequent during May: 67 birds over 12 dates, including 25 on May 24^th. A report of many off Camp Bay on May 28^th heralded the onset of the offshore feeding gatherings that are an annual sight, largely off Europa Point, in summer and early autumn. Counts from there on numerous dates between June 2^nd and October 21^st totalled 2,384 birds but daily gatherings were on a modest scale, the largest day-counts being 153 on June 6^th, 148 on July 7^th and 163 on September 13^th.

Mediterranean Shearwater Pardela balear        Puffinus yelkouan
P. y. mauretanicus all year, especially summer. Migrant.
Birds were reported year-round chiefly from Europa Point but directions of movement were seldom noted. In any event the post-breeding exodus from the Mediterranean in late spring and early summer, and the return from the Atlantic in autumn and winter, are poorly marked at Gibraltar, in contrast to the large numbers counted regularly from Tarifa Island further west. Monthly totals (with total number of days watched) were as follows. January 20 birds (2 dates), February 14 (1), March 16 (1), April 74 (6), May 776 (12), June 76 (3), July 197 (10), August 38 (3), September 26 (3), October 87 (9), November 1,046 (13), December 1,285 (8).

The largest counts were made in November and December. At Europa Point these included 197 on November 3^rd, 260 on November 6^th, 320 on November 22^nd, 378 on December 15^th and 288 on December 16^th. In addition, 280 were inshore off Eastern Beach on December 1^st.

Black Stork            Cigüeña negra        Ciconia nigra
Common migrant.
Spring migrants were seen on 16 dates between February 25^th and May 3^rd. They totalled 207, including 70 on March 13^th and 65 on March 18^th.

Black Stork.            R. Perez.

Returning birds were seen on three dates between September 21^st and September 28^th. They totalled 163, including 133 on September 22^nd.

White Stork            Cigüeña blanca        Ciconia ciconia
Common migrant, mainly when northbound.
Northbound birds in spring totalled 860, seen on just seven dates between March 13^th and April 26^th. They included 240 on March 18^th and 285 on March 21^st. A flock of 60 northbound birds arrived on November 16^th.

There were three records of southbound birds: 11 over the East Side on August 20^th, two on August 29^th and a notable 268 over the Upper Rock on September 1^st.

Northern Gannet        Alcatraz atlántico        Morus bassanus
All year, especially winter and passage.
There were frequent observations year-round from Europa Point and also from all around the coastline. The shallows at Eastern Beach proved attractive on a number of occasions when some numbers gathered to fish close inshore. The new East Side reclamation may perhaps be having an effect in blocking coasting fish shoals and concentrating them there. Fishing Gannet flocks in the area included 30 on January 6^th and 40 on November 18^th. [more surely -see videos]

Seabird watchers at Europa Point recorded Gannets during most watches. Counts there were typically in single figures or low double figures. More noteworthy observations included 23 on July 20^th: a high count for mid-summer, around 80 birds on December 15^th and 170 on December 21^st.
 
European Shag        Cormorán moñudo          Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Resident.
Present year-round but most counts during the first half of the year involved single figures, the largest being of ten birds at Little Bay on January 19^th and seven there on April 7^th. Post-breeding counts were larger on several occasions, peaking at 24 birds seen from Europa Point on September 4^th, and there were 15 at Little Bay on September 14^th. Only single-figure counts were made after mid-October. Occasional records from Ceuta and from coastal locations both on the nearby Costa del Sol and west of Gibraltar indicate that some birds disperse from the local colony and perhaps that others arrive in the area from elsewhere. [IMPORTANT. Wasn’t there a record of a marked bird from Murcia/Almeria] 
 
Great Cormorant        Cormorán grande        Phalacrocorax carbo
Regular: migrant and winter.
Overwintering birds during the first winter period were relatively scarce although there were frequent reports during January–March of small numbers along the entire western seaboard and at Europa Point. The largest count made during this period was of ten birds on the Seven Sisters rocks, South Mole, on February 2^nd. There were five sightings, mainly from Jews’ Gate, of flocks of northbound migrants: 149 birds on March 14^th, 32 on March 18^th, 30 on March 24^th and 31 on March 29^th and eight on April 1^st. There were still four around Europa Point on April 12^th but the last bird of the season was seen there on April 14^th.

Reports of single birds, perhaps the same individual, came from Europa Point on June 6^th, July 12^th and August 18^th. Winterers began to appear from mid October, when one was on the Western Runway. Birds were more numerous during this second winter period, when reports came from the eastern coastline as well as from the regular locations in the Bay and Europa Point. Numbers built up slowly during October but there were counts of 14 from Europa Point on November 19^th and of up to 18 there in December, as well as 13 at Camp/Little Bays on December 14^th, 15 at Western Beach on December 15^th and a noteworthy 30 at Governor’s Beach on December 29^th. In addition, migrating flocks included 28 seen from Catalan Bay on November 1^st, 31 on November 3^rd, 16 on November 5^th and 15 November 12^th. 
  
Glossy Ibis            Morito común        Plegadis falcinellus
Occasional: migrant.
Two were seen from Jews’ Gate flying north on May 5^th.

Eurasian Spoonbill    Espátula común        Platalea leucorodia
Occasional: migrant.
There were three records of northbound birds: one seen from Rosia Bay on March 6^th, eight from Jews’ Gate on March 24^th and four, again from Jews’ Gate, on March 25^th.

A flock of 56 southbound birds seen from the top Cable Car station on August 28^th was noteworthy.

Little Egret            Garceta común        Egretta garzetta
Regular: migrant and in winter.
All reports during the first half of the year were of single birds, probably all involving just one or two wintering individuals. They were mainly seen from Western Beach, Europa Point and Rosia Bay. None were seen after February 2^nd until a single bird was observed in the harbour marinas on May 8^th and June 19^th.

Little Egret at New Harbours marina.                              H. Vangils.

The same locations, but especially the harbour area, held birds later in the year, from August 25^th onwards.  Most observations were of one or two birds but there were five at the Detached Mole on October 25^th and eight within the harbour on October 31^st.

Cattle Egret            Garcilla bueyera        Bubulcus ibis
Occasional: migrant and in winter.
One was at Europa Point on September 29^th. Another frequented Little Bay on December 6^th and 7^th.

Cattle Egrets heading west at Europa Point.                         R. Perez

Grey Heron            Garza real            Ardea cinerea
Regular: migrant and in winter.
There were regular sightings of single birds during January and until February 16^th, frequenting the harbour; Rosia, Camp and Little Bays and Europa Point. Two birds were seen together occasionally and there were three on the Seven Sisters rocks on February 2^nd. Subsequent records were of single birds in the harbour on May 19^th and June 4^th.

Two were at Europa Point on July 18^th and there were two records of single birds in the harbour in August. Observations on four dates in September included seven on the Detached Mole on September 23^rd. Frequent observations of overwintering birds were made during October–December, from habitual west coast localities and Europa Point but occasionally also from East Side locations including Eastern Beach, Sandy Bay and Blackstrap Cove. Most records involved one or two individuals but there were eight within the harbour on October 31^st and up to five there in early December.

Red-necked Nightjar    Chotacabras cuellirojo    Caprimulgus ruficollis
Regular migrant.
Single birds were in the Botanic Gardens on April 8^th, in the North Front Cemetery on April 29^th and at Jews’ Gate on April 30^th. Five were ringed between April 8^th and May 2^nd.

Three were in the Nature Reserve on September 24^th, one was at Europa on October 3^rd, two were in the Nature Reserve on October 6^th and one was at the Mid Harbours marina on October 17^th. Single birds were ringed on September 21^st and September 24^th.

European Nightjar        Chotacabras europeo        Caprimulgus europaeus
Regular migrant.
Single birds were in the Nature Reserve on April 26^th, on Windmill Hill on May 1^st and above Little Bay on May 2^nd. Thirteen were ringed, between April 25^th and May 8^th.

Single birds were reported on five dates between September 17^th and October 31^st, most of them in the Nature Reserve. A further 21 were ringed, between September 24^th and November 11^th.

Alpine Swift            Vencejo real            Tachymarptis melba
Regular but scarce migrant. Scarce breeder.
Six over Jews’ Gate on March 5^th, four over the Rock on March 9^th and 65 over Jews’ Gate on March 18^th were probably northbound migrants. Six seen from Europa Advance road on March 23^rd and one there on May 29^th may have been from the small colony on the nearby seacliffs. Birds were present at the North Face, the second known colony site, on April 6^th and August 24^th, but no counts were submitted. Three were over the top Cable Car station on August 27^th. One found in town, was ringed on March 30^th.

Little Swift            Vencejo moro        Apus affinis
Locally rare.
One was seen from Europa Advance road on March 23^rd.  Fourth record (P. Rocca).

Common Swift        Vencejo común        Apus apus
Common migrant and summer resident.
Few records were submitted but 200 over Windmill Hill on April 5^th were probably mainly of this species. There were 137 counted from Jews’ Gate on April 19^th. The latest observation was of 60 over the top Cable Car station on August 28^th.

Pallid Swift            Vencejo pálido        Apus pallidus
Common migrant and summer resident.
Few records were submitted. One at New Mole House on March 5^th was the earliest reported and at least 30 were over the town by March 18^th. There were 50 over Europa Flats on April 30^th. Two pulli were ringed on June 23^rd. The latest observation was of 12 in the town area on September 19^th. As usual both this species and the previous are always under-recorded, both being especially numerous in the city during the breeding season.

Barn Owl            Lechuza común        Tyto alba
Occasional. 
One was in an alcove on a residential building in Montagu Gardens, within the harbour reclamation, on December 22^nd. It showed all the characteristics of the dark subspecies T. a. guttata, a winter visitor to Iberia, but some nominate form Barn Owls are known to be dark. Nonetheless, this is the first dark-type bird known to have occurred in Gibraltar.

Barn Owl at Montagu Gardens estate.                L. Agius.

Little Owl            Mochuelo europeo        Athene noctua
Scarce resident.
Single birds were heard calling from the East Side reclamation on January 9^th and May 14^th. There were more records than has been the case in recent years, and from more locations, during the second half of the year. One was reported from the Charles V Wall in the Nature Reserve on July 17^th. Most records, chiefly of single birds heard calling, were from September onwards, when Little Owls were present on occasion in the Jacob’s Ladder area west of Windmill Hill, at Witham’s cemetery, behind the Rock Hotel, at the North Face, Europa Point, Europa Advance Road, Catalan Bay, Sandy Bay and the East Side talus. Two birds together were reported on the East side and at Europa Advance Road. 

Four breeding pairs were located: at the North Face, Catalan Bay, Windmill Hill and Sandy Bay, but only the nests of the first two pairs were found. The North Face pair hatched three young and a young bird was seen in the company of its parents at Catalan Bay.

Scops Owl            Autillo europeo        Otus scops
Common migrant. Has bred.
Single birds were ringed on April 2^nd and April 12^th. One was reported in the Nature Reserve on September 24^th and a further 14 birds were ringed between September 18^th and October 12^th.

Eagle Owl            Búho reál            Bubo bubo
Scarce resident.
At least one individual was present and heard calling from Signal Station Road on January 1^st and from the eastern slopes on May 14^th, August 9^th and on frequent occasions in December. What may have been a second bird was heard calling briefly on one occasion in mid December 17^th.

Tawny Owl            Cárabo común        Strix aluco
Regular: mainly winter. May breed.
Calling birds were heard on August 6^th and more frequently from September 7^th onwards, records coming from The Mount gardens, the Botanic Gardens, Europa Point and the Nature Reserve. Two were around Jews’ Gate on September 17^th.

Counts of migrant raptors. (See Appendices for daily totals).
Gibraltar only sees a variable fraction of the passage of raptors across the Strait. Most occur during westerly winds, when a higher proportion of the movements occur at the eastern end of the Strait. Harriers, falcons and the Osprey show only a limited tendency to seek short sea crossings and so their totals are invariably low. A daily watch is kept during the spring migration period.

Osprey            Águila pescadora        Pandion haliaetus
Regular migrant. Frequent in winter. 
Single birds, perhaps from the regional wintering population, were seen from Windmill Hill on January 3^rd and January 28^th. Northbound migrants totalled 50, between February 21^st and May 22^nd. They included six on April 6^th and 11 on April 20^th.

Later in the year 14 southbound migrants were seen between August 28^th and October 5^th. In addition, a single bird frequented the Western Runway on at least seven dates between September 27^th and October 26^th, but did not apparently overwinter locally. What may have been the same bird was seen off the East Side on October 19^th.
 
Egyptian Vulture        Alimoche común        Neophron percnopterus
Regular migrant.
Spring migrants totalled 42, on 13 dates between February 25^th and May 3^rd. They included 16 on April 19^th.

Returning birds seen totalled 30, on eight dates between August 21^st and September 22^nd.

Honey Buzzard        Abejero europeo        Pernis apivorus 
Common migrant.
Spring migrants totalled 9,638 birds, between April 1^st and July 7^th. The great majority passed in early May (Appendix 1) as usual. Inclement wet weather, and strong easterlies in late April, may account for the largest numbers appearing a week later than usual. The largest counts were 1,726 birds on May 3^rd, 2,948 on May 9^th and 2,965 on May 10^th.

Southbound migrants totalled 6,429 birds, between August 19^th and October 14^th. Day counts locally were mainly modest but a sizeable movement of 2,941 birds was seen on September 10^th.

Griffon Vulture        Buitre leonado        Gyps fulvus
Common migrant.
Seven birds that visited the Rock in February, seem likely to have been wanderers from the hinterland. Passage proper, of birds seen arriving from the Strait, was noted between March 22^nd and June 25^th. These migrants totalled 200, a below-average number. The largest day counts were of 39 on April 13^th and 54 on April 15^th, followed by 27 on May 8^th and 21 on May 12^th.

Few visited the Rock during their late autumn southward migration. Only 68 were seen, 55 of them in a single flock on November 6^th. All returned to Spain to continue their journeys.

Rüppell’s Vulture        Buitre moteado        Gyps rueppelli
Occasional: migrant.
On May 11^th word was received from Morocco that a bird bearing a geolocator had crossed the Strait but had ceased transmitting in the Bay of Gibraltar. It was searched for both from Spain and Gibraltar but could not be found. Unfortunately its body was washed up at Camp Bay on May 12^th. Twelfth record (S. Morgan).

Rüppell’s Vulture with gps tracker recovered at Camp bay.  S. Morgan.

Short-toed Snake-eagle    Culebrera europea        Circaetus gallicus
Common migrant. Occasional in winter.
The peak arrival period of adult birds, in early March, coincided with easterly winds and wet weather. The seasonal total was just 454 birds, suggesting that an even larger proportion than usual of the passage occurred further west. Arrivals began with 70 birds on February 25^th but only 19 more birds were seen between then and March 14^th. There were no three-figure day counts, the largest arrivals being of 68 birds on March 15^th, 51 on March 16^th and 82 on March 18^th. Small scale passage continued through April until mid May, with a total of just ten stragglers arriving between then and July 19^th. 

Hardly any birds were seen during the southward passage period: just 13 in total, on nine dates between August 27^th and October 31^st.

Lesser Spotted Eagle    Águila pomerana        Clanga pomarina
Vagrant.
One arrived at Jews’ Gate with other northbound raptors on April 1^st. Fourteenth record (age? Photo? Description?) (A. Fortuna, R. Perez, M. Cutts)

Booted Eagle        Águila calzada        Hieraaetus pennatus
Common migrant. Occasional in winter.
Spring migrants counted totalled 1,863 birds, seen between March 11^th and July 18^th. Notable day counts were of 345 on March 25^th and 410 on April 1^st. Only a few stragglers arrived after May 22^nd, when there were 42 birds. 

It became difficult to distinguish between tardy arrivals and one or two Booted Eagles that took up partial residence and could be seen hunting in Gibraltar throughout July and August. Such summer records have become increasingly frequent in recent years and may involve non-breeders or members of a close-by nesting pair from the hinterland.

Autumn counts, chiefly of birds gathering at Gibraltar during inclement crossing conditions in easterly winds, totalled 819 birds, between August 29^th and October 19^th. They included 280 birds on September 21^st. A later bird was seen from Catalan Bay on November 6^th.

Spanish Imperial Eagle    Águila imperial ibérica    Aquila adalberti
Occasional.
Single juveniles were over the Rock on September 22^nd and October 14^th.

Sparrowhawk        Gavilán común        Accipiter nisus
Common migrant. Occasional in winter.
At least one overwintering bird was present throughout January and early February. There were 359 birds seen arriving in spring, between February 16^th and May 12^th. These included 49 on March 18^th and 42 on April 1^st. 

Sparrowhawk bathing at Signal Station road.                 R. Perez.

There were again repeated observations of overwintering birds, perhaps just a single individual, between October 11^th and until at least December 5^th. These records were concentrated in the south district, a hunting perch at Rosia Bay being especially favoured. Southbound migrants totalled 91, between August 9^th and October 9^th, including 27 on September 22^nd and 20 on October 4^th.

Pallid Harrier                    Aguilucho papialbo     Circus macrourus
Occasional: migrant.
Five birds were seen flying north at Jews’ Gate, a record annual total. A male on March 15^th, two males on April 1^st and two males on April 19^th. Twelfth to fourteenth records (M. Cutts, J. Mesilio, C. Twitchen, T. Vinet and others).

Male Pallid Harrier over Jews' Gate.                            T. Vinet.

Hen Harrier            Aguilucho pálido        Circus cyaneus
Scarce migrant.
One was over the Rock on February 25^th.

Montagu’s Harrier    Aguilucho cenizo    Circus pygargus
Increasingly scarce migrant.
Spring arrivals observed totalled 32 birds, between March 15^th and May 8^th. These included 12 birds on April 13^th.

Male Montagu's Harrier.           R. Perez

Observations of southbound migrants were similarly few: 28 birds between August 19^th and September 21^st.

Marsh Harrier        Aguilucho lagunero        Circus aeruginosus
Common migrant.
An unseasonal individual was over the Rock on January 16^th. Spring arrivals totalled 160, between February 19^th and May 15^th. These included 29 on March 18^th and 21 on April 1^st.

There were 116 southbound migrants recorded, between August 27^th and October 18^th, including 36 on September 10^th and 32 on September 22^nd.

Red Kite            Milano real            Milvus milvus
Occasional: migrant. 
One was over Windmill Hill on October 4^th.

Black Kite            Milano negro            Milvus migrans
Common migrant.
Spring migrants totalled 16,516, seen between January 28^th and June 2^nd, with a late bird arriving on June 25^th. Early March migrants, often numerous, were clearly affected by the same inclement weather that inhibited the Short-toed Snake-eagle crossings. The largest counts were 3,254 birds on March 15^th, 2,686 on March 18^th and 1,639 on March 22^nd. A later count, of 639 on May 3^rd, is noteworthy.

There were 8,971 seen on southward passage, chiefly between July 18^th and September 10^th, with 70 stragglers passing later up to October 5^th. The largest movement counted was 3,200 birds on August 19^th.

Common Buzzard        Busardo ratonero        Buteo buteo
Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter. 
There were only two records of single birds, both seen from Jews’ Gate: on March 24^th and May 15^th. It seems remarkable that records of this once common migrant have been outnumbered by those of the next species. A former vagrant.

Long-legged Buzzard    Busardo moro        Buteo rufinus
Occasional. Has wintered. 
Single birds were reported over the Rock on May 12^th, August 27^th and August 29^th. An adult showing the characteristics of the Atlas subspecies, B. r. cirtensis, took up residence above Catalan Bay from at least October 16^th and remained there, often roosting on a favourite perch, until the end of the year and into 2026. This bird sometimes hunted locally but was not always present and seems likely to have hunted in Spain on some dates, returning to roost in Gibraltar.

Long-legged Buzzard.                                      P. Rocca.

Hoopoe            Abubilla            Upupa epops
Common migrant.
One at Princess Caroline’s Battery on February 14^th was the earliest reported. In total there were a further 53 reports, on 39 dates between February 15^th and April 19^th. Most were of one or two birds but there were five in the North Front Cemetery on March 9^th. As well as the cemetery, the Botanic Gardens were especially favoured, with birds reported there on 22 dates. Some individuals probably lingered in the gardens for several days. Six were ringed between February 16^th and April 5^th.

Returning birds seen numbered 23, on 21 dates between July 25^th and September 25^th. They were seen in the North Front cemetery, the Nature Reserve and at scattered locations elsewhere but only one was found in the Botanic Gardens. Single birds were ringed on August 23^rd and August 24^th.

European Roller        Carraca europea        Coracias garrulus
Occasional: migrant.
One was in the Windmill Hill area on April 29^th.

European Bee-eater    Abejaruco europeo        Merops apiaster
Common migrant.
Four at Europa Point on March 21^st were followed by 27 at Jews’ Gate on March 22^nd. Migrating flocks were seen or just heard on 17 subsequent dates up to May 8^th. These included 70 at Jews’ Gate on March 28^th and 83 there on April 21^st, as well as 106 at Windmill Hill on May 1^st. Seventeen were ringed between March 28^th and May 1^st.

Southward passage was reported on dates between August 18^th and September 21^st, chiefly from the top Cable Car station. Most reports were of small flocks but these totalled 850 birds in 12 flocks on August 27^th.
 
Common Kingfisher    Martín pescador común    Alcedo atthis
Regular but scarce migrant and in winter.
At least one overwintering bird was reported from the harbour area, Western Beach and Rosia Bay until February 27^th.

There were frequent reports later in the year, the earliest on August 23^rd at Europa Point. Nearly all observations were of single birds but there were three at Sandy Bay on September 8^th. Single birds on September 28^th and September 30^th were the only other east coast observations. One or two individuals were present along the entire western shoreline, chiefly at Western Beach, the harbour and Rosia Bay until the end of the year. One was seen visiting ponds in the Botanic Gardens on at least ten occasions between September 15^th and November 13^th.
 
Wryneck            Torcecuello             Jynx torquilla
Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.
Single birds were in the North Front cemetery on April 5^th and April 8^th. Single birds were ringed on February 3^rd and April 18^th. Four more individuals were ringed between September 16^th and October 17^th.

Lesser Kestrel        Cernícalo primilla        Falco naumanni
Regular migrant. Recently extinct breeder.
Just 15 migrants were identified in spring, on five dates between February 12^th and April 19^th. 

There were 12 over the Upper Rock on September 10^th followed by a total of 29 there on three dates between September 21^st and October 4^th.

Common Kestrel        Cernícalo vulgar        Falco tinnunculus
Resident and common migrant.
Resident birds were widespread and much in evidence hunting over the Nature Reserve, the eastern slopes, Windmill Hill and Europa Flats. At least 12 birds seen arriving from the south at Europa Point on five dates between July 18^th and July 21^st are likely to have been dispersing northwards from Morocco, as reported during July in other recent years.

At least seven pairs are known to have nested, hatching 23 young between them. Nests were found at Catalan Bay, Sandy Bay, Camp Bay, Windmill Hill south and Windmill Hill east, Fosseway and the Moorish Castle. 
 
Merlin                Esmerejón            Falco columbarius
Occasional: migrant.
A female arrived over Europa Point on April 6^th. One at Windmill Hill on October 25^th was seen to chase and catch a Crag Martin; it was still present the following day.

Female Merlin at Europa Point.                               R. Mor.

Eleonora’s Falcon        Halcón de Eleonora        Falco eleonorae
Regular but scarce migrant, especially in late summer and autumn.
Three records. One was at Europa Point on June 11^th and single birds were over the Nature Reserve on July 8^th and August 31^st.

Eleonora's Falcon in the Nature Reserve.          C. Fortuna.

Hobby            Alcotán            Falco subbuteo
Regular but scarce migrant.
Birds were reported on only eight dates, between April 5^th and May 3^rd. They totalled 24, ten of them on April 19^th. Most were seen flying north at Jews’ Gate.

Lanner Falcon*        Halcón borní            Falco biarmicus
Regular but scarce migrant.
A juvenile arrived at Europa Point on July 18^th. Another first-year individual was seen chased by a pair of Peregrines above Jews’ Gate on the 20^th and possibly the same bird flying south at Princess Caroline’s Battery on September 21^st.

Juvenile Lanner at Princess Caroline's battery.                      D. parody.

Peregrine Falcon        Halcón peregrino        Falco peregrinus
Resident. Some migrants occur.
At least five nests were located and four of these hatched 14 young between them. A further two pairs that were identified did not breed. Identified prey included a full-grown Barbary Partridge taken at Camp Bay.

Peregrine at Europa Point.                                     R. Perez.

Golden Oriole        Oropéndola            Oriolus oriolus
Regular but scarce migrant.
A fall of migrants brought two to Windmill Hill on April 30^th and there were an exceptional eight there on May 1^st. One was in the North Front cemetery on August 5^th.

Juvenile Golden Oriole at the North Front cemetery.                                 C. Fortuna.

Woodchat Shrike        Alcaudón común        Lanius senator
Common migrant. Has bred.
Spring migrants were much in evidence, several falls of trans-Saharan migrants resulting in numerous observations at the North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill especially. They totalled 141, on 46 dates between March 8^th and May 1^st.

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike with a centipede at North Front cemetery.         C. Fortuna

The largest site-counts comprised 11 at the North Front cemetery both on March 18^th and March 22^nd and 16 at Windmill Hill on April 12^th. Only three were ringed in spring: on March 14^th, March 27^th and April 3^rd.

Only seven southbound birds were seen: on seven dates between August 2^nd and September 23^rd. Single birds were ringed on August 13^th and September 7^th.
 
Alpine Chough        Chova piquigualda        Pyrrhocorax graculus
Rare: migrant
One was over the Rock on January 29^th. Ninth record (M. Figueras) and the first since 2012.

Red-billed Chough        Chova piquirroja          Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Locally rare
Two were seen flying south over the harbour on March 22^nd. Fourth record (N. Ramos).

Jackdaw            Grajilla            Coleus monedula
Occasional. Has bred.
Up to four birds were present in January and until at least mid-February, mainly frequenting the vicinity of the Moorish Castle. There were no further records until June 6^th, when a pair was found nesting in the Tower of Homage of the castle. These fledged two young. Once again up to four birds were present until at least the end of November, chiefly in the Moorish Castle estate.

Breeding Jackdaws at the Tower of Homage.            C. Finlayson.

Pied Crow            Cuervo pio            Corvus albus
Vagrant.
An individual of unknown origin was found at Europa Walks, on the west side of Europa Point on December 10^th. It was still present in the same general area into 2026. Second record (K. Bensusan). The very heavy bill and the duller head plumage suggested a first-year male. The crow was keeping close company with a Raven on several occasions. The earlier record was a bird that also frequented Europa Point, from April 6^th to April 14^th 2014.

Raven            Cuervo            Corvus corax
Resident.
The resident pair was present intermittently all year. They nested on the Eastern Cliffs but fledged only one young. Three birds first seen on April 19^th and present until at least mid June may have been this family group.

Four seen at Jews’ Gate on February 17^th may or may not have included the resident pair. Three birds were present in December, one of these seen keeping company with the Pied Crow at Europa Point (see above).

Blue Tit            Herrerillo común        Cyanistes caeruleus
Common resident.
The January censuses found 67 birds, most of them in the Nature Reserve. Blue Tits are present year-round but no sight records were reported between the end of April and mid-July. Observations came from all vegetated areas with the notable exception of the east side: a record of three on the talus slope there on November 30^th was therefore noteworthy. The Botanic Gardens saw the largest numbers, especially post-breeding when there were 11 there on September 7^th, 15 on September 26^th and ten on October 1^st. Other observations came from the Nature Reserve, Windmill Hill and Europa flats, Camp and Little Bays, Commonwealth Park, Campion Park, city trees and the North Front cemetery.  Birds ringed totalled 42.

Great Tit            Carbonero común        Parus major
Scarce resident.
January censuses found 11 birds: seven in the Nature Reserve and the remainder in southern gardens. This population is clearly very small and localised within Gibraltar, unlike that of the Blue Tit. There were frequent records of single birds or pairs from the Botanic Gardens, other nearby southern gardens and the southern end of the Nature Reserve. The largest site count was of five in the Botanic Gardens on April 7^th. Only two were ringed.

Skylark            Alondra común        Alauda arvensis
Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.
Only 14 birds were recorded, most of them from Windmill Hill. They were seen on five dates between October 17^th and November 11^th, including six on Windmill Hill on October 27^th.

Thekla’s Lark        Cogujada montesina    Galerida theklae
Regular but scarce in winter.
Two were on Windmill Hill on October 17^th.

Crested Lark        Cogujada común        Galerida cristata
Regular but scarce.
Four were in the Frontier area on January 6^th and there was one there on May 10^th. One was in the North Front cemetery on March 18^th.

Greater Short-toed Lark    Terrera común    Calandrella brachydactyla
Occasional: migrant. 
Three were on Windmill Hill on April 12^th. One was seen from the top Cable Car station on September 22^nd.

Zitting Cisticola        Cistícola buitrón        Cisticola juncidis
Regular: migrant and winter. Has bred.
One was on Windmill Hill on January 12^th. Later in the year there were 31 reported, on 17 dates between July 6^th and November 23^rd. Nearly all were seen on Windmill Hill, where there were three on August 30^th and four on September 23^rd,  or nearby at Europa Point. One at Blackstrap Cove on November 23^rd was at a more unusual location.

Zitting Cisticola.                                    C. Fortuna.

Icterine Warbler        Zarcero icterino        Hippolais icterina
Locally rare.
Single birds ringed on May 1^st and May 2^nd were the first local records since May 2017. Ninth and tenth records (R. Geary).

Melodious Warbler        Zarcero políglota        Hippolais polyglotta
Common migrant.
Sight records in spring totalled 187 birds, reported on 23 dates between April 4^th and May 25^th. They were prominent in falls of sub-Saharan migrants on and near Windmill Hill,  where there were 33 birds on April 12^th, 71 on April 30^th and 18 on May 1^st. Elsewhere migrants appeared at the North Front cemetery, in the Botanic Gardens and in the Nature Reserve. Birds ringed in spring totalled 46, between April 11^th and May 8^th.

In contrast, the only sight records in autumn were of two birds on the East Side talus slope on September 7^th and one on Europa Flats on September 13^th. Seven were ringed between August 7^th and September 8^th.

Western Olivaceous Warbler Zarcero pálido        Iduna opaca
Occasional: migrant.
Single birds were reported at the North Front cemetery on April 25^th and on Windmill Hill on April 29^th. Another was seen in the Botanic Gardens on August 6^th. One was ringed on August 4^th.

Sedge Warbler        Carricerín común     Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Locally rare. Migrant.
Two were on Windmill Hill on April 30^th and one was on the Europa Foreshore on May 2^nd. The latter site also held one on August 23^rd. Sixteenth to eighteenth records (M. Figueras & K. Bensusan, C. Fortuna & A. Fortuna respectively).

Blyth’s Reed Warbler    Carricero de Blyth            Acrocephalus dumetorum
Vagrant.
One was seen and photographed in the Botanic Gardens on September 17^th. Second record (M. Figueras). An account of occurrences of this species in Iberia is on pages x–x of this Report. 

Common Reed Warbler    Carricero común            Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Common migrant.
There were 16 observed in spring, including six in the Windmill Hill area on April 30^th and three in the North Front cemetery the same day. Fourteen were ringed between April 28^th and May 6^th.

Seven were seen in autumn between September 19^th and October 19^th, two of them in the Botanic Gardens and the others at Europa Point. A further 25 were ringed between August 11^th and October 12^th, as well as a late bird ringed on November 3^rd.
 
Great Reed Warbler    Carricero tordál            Acrocephalus stentoreus
Locally rare.
One was on Windmill Hill on April 30^th. Eighth record (M. Figueras, K. Bensusan).

Grasshopper Warbler    Buscarla pintoja        Locustella naevia
Occasional: migrant.
One was on Windmill Hill on April 29^th and one was ringed on April 24^th.

Sand Martin            Avión zapador        Riparia riparia
Regular but very scarce migrant.
A report of 30 seen from Europa Advance Road on March 22^nd was noteworthy. More typical records were of four seen from Jews’ Gate on April 22^nd and two over the Rock on September 9^th.

Crag Martin            Avión roquero        Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Common: migrant and in winter.
Residents during the first winter period still included 200 roosting at the Harbour Views estate on February 3^rd.

The first returning bird was over Queen’s Road on September 26^th. Numbers built up through October with approximately 1000 birds at the Governor’s Beach roost. Ten were ringed.

Barn Swallow        Golondrina común        Hirundo rustica
Common migrant. Formerly bred.
Northward migrants were frequently noticed but, as with other hirundines, no attempt to monitor the passage systematically was attempted. Nevertheless, 984 birds were counted in total, the earliest on January 27^th at Europa Point and the last obvious migrants being 15 on May 15^th. Three were ringed in April.

A few were seen in June and July and these included six observations of up to four birds flying around Europa Point, suggesting the possibility of local breeding although no nest was located. Small numbers of southbound migrants were seen on scattered dates in August and September, the last being on October 28^th. Eighteen were ringed between October 16^th and November 12^th.

House Martin        Avión común            Delichon urbicum
Common migrant. Scarce summer resident.
Very small numbers of migrants were seen flying north on 13 scattered dates between February 12^th and May 3^rd. The largest count was of 71 past Jews’ Gate on March 22^nd. There were 15 seen in the vicinity of the small nesting colony on buildings at Four Corners on March 28^th and there were 30 there on June 19^th.

There were only three reports, each of just five birds, flying south, the last of these on October 27^th.

Red-rumped Swallow    Golondrina dáurica        Cecropis daurica
Common migrant. Has bred.
Northward migrants reported totalled 67, on 11 dates between February 20^th and June 5^th. One was ringed on April 2^nd.

There were only three observations later in the year: 12 seen from Europa Point on September 28^th, five over the Nature Reserve on October 4^th and two over Europa Advance road on the late date of November 25^th. A further four were ringed on October 16^th and a single bird was ringed on November 12^th.

Wood Warbler        Mosquitero silbador        Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Occasional: migrant.
There were no sight records but a record 12 were ringed in spring between April 9^th and May 3^rd, seven of them during the fall of migrants on May 1^st.

One of twelve Wood Warblers ringed at Jews' Gate.          M. Cutts.

Western Bonelli’s Warbler Mosquitero papialbo    Phylloscopus bonelli
Common migrant.
Very few sight records were made, despite the spring falls of migrants, probably since this species seeks taller cover. Just 21 were seen in total, between March 7^th and May 1^st, chiefly in the North Front cemetery, the Botanic Gardens and on Windmill Hill. Spring migrants ringed totalled 124, between March 6^th and May 3^rd.

Nine were seen between August 6^th and September 2^nd, most of them in the Nature Reserve. Only two southbound birds were ringed: on August 3^rd and August 7^th.
 
Yellow-browed Warbler    Mosquitero bilistado        Phylloscopus inornatus
Rare migrant. Has wintered.
One was in the Botanic Gardens on November 5^th. (K. Bensusan)

Willow Warbler        Mosquitero musical        Phylloscopus trochilus
Common migrant.
Migrants were frequently observed in spring, between March 20^th and May 3^rd, and some notable concentrations occurred during falls. These included 99 birds on Windmill Hill/Europa Flats on April 12^th and 153 in the same areas on April 30^th. Smaller numbers were reported in other vegetated areas, notably in the Botanic Gardens and North Front cemetery. Birds ringed in spring totalled 276, between March 6^th and May 10^th.

Very few returning birds were reported: just 16 in total, on ten dates between August 29^th and October 19^th. Nevertheless, a further 66 birds were ringed between August 22^nd and mid October, the last being a late individual on October 29^th. 

Iberian Chiffchaff        Mosquitero ibérico        Phylloscopus ibericus
Common migrant.
The spring passage of this early migrant was poorly marked. Just nine were identified in the field, on five dates between March 1^st and March 20^th. Fourteen were ringed between February 19^th and March 22^nd. 

Iberian Chiffchaff in the Nature Reserve.                                T. Finlayson.

Returning birds were more in evidence and 64 were ringed between August 9^th and October 15^th. Sight records numbered 19 birds in total, on eight dates between August 6^th and October 4^th, including five in the Botanic Gardens on September 26^th.

Common Chiffchaff    Mosquitero común        Phylloscopus collybita
Common migrant and common in winter.
Wintering birds were prominent in all open vegetated areas and in gardens, notably around clumps of aloes. January censuses found 175 birds, including 70 in the Nature Reserve and 25 in The Convent garden. In January, February and early March Chiffchaffs commonly occurred in loose groups of up to six birds. Twenty-two on Windmill Hill/Europa Flats on March 20^th may have been migrants. Very few remained in April, the last seen on April 12^th. A tardy bird was found on May 2^nd and one heard in the Nature Reserve on June 1^st was very unseasonal. Birds ringed totalled 162, the last of them on May 4^th.

An early bird was ringed on August 6^th but the next was on September 8^th. Returning birds, most of them ringed from early October onwards, totalled an exceptional 640. The earliest sight record was on September 19^th and birds became widespread from mid October. Some notable local concentrations were reported, including 25 on the Europa Point foreshore on October 28^th, 23 on Windmill Hill on November 12^th, 28 in the Botanic Gardens on November 23^rd and 37, again in the Botanic Gardens, on December 2^nd.

A Siberian Chiffchaff P.c.tristis was on the Europa foreshore on November 20^th. Fourth record (A. Fortuna).

Garden Warbler        Curruca mosquitera        Sylvia borin
Common migrant.
Only nine were seen in total, on six dates between April 12^th and April 30^th, all of them either in the North Front cemetery or on Windmill Hill. There were 67 ringed between April 3^rd and May 8^th, caught in the taller and denser cover around Jews’ Gate that this species selects and where seeing birds is often difficult.

Seven were seen in autumn, on four dates between September 17^th and October 17^th, six of them in the Botanic Gardens. Many more were caught by ringers, 129 in total, between August 23^rd and November 4^th.

Blackcap            Curruca capirotada        Sylvia atricapilla
Common: resident, migrant and winter.
Reported all year from the Nature Reserve and the Botanic Gardens especially. January censuses found 269 birds. Small numbers seen in less vegetated areas, such as Europa Point foreshore, Windmill Hill and the North Front cemetery will usually have been migrants in transit. As ever, this was the most numerous species ringed: they totalled 572 during the spring campaign and 2,269 during the autumn campaign.

Orphean Warbler        Curruca mirlona        Curruca hortensis
Common migrant.
There were 16 records of single birds, on 12 dates between April 3^rd and April 30^th. Nine were found in the North Front cemetery, six in the Windmill Hill/Europa Flats area and one in the Botanic Gardens. Four were ringed between April 8^th and May 7^th.

One on Windmill Hill on September 23^rd was the only sight record in autumn. A further 13 were ringed between August 17^th and September 26^th.

Common Whitethroat    Curruca zarcera        Curruca communis
Common migrant.
Observations totalling 99 individuals were made on dates between March 20^th and May 5^th. They were prominent on Windmill Hill, where there were 30 on April 12^th, 26 on April 30^th and 15 on May 1^st, during falls of migrants. Seventeen were ringed between March 30^th and May 2^nd.

Very few southbound birds were reported: just two in the North Front cemetery on August 23^rd and one there on August 26^th. Only eight were ringed, between August 14^th and October 14^th.

Spectacled Warbler    Curruca tomillera        Curruca conspicillata
Occasional migrant. Has bred.
Ten were seen in total, on seven dates between April 9^th and April 30^th. One was in the Botanic Gardens but the others were all on the southern flats, including four on Windmill Hill on April 12^th. Single birds were ringed on April 12^th and May 8^th.

Male Spectacled Warbler ringed at Jews Gate.           M. Cutts

Dartford Warbler        Curruca rabilarga        Curruca undata
Common migrant. Occasional in winter. 
One was at Little Bay on January 25^th. In spring single birds were on Windmill Hill on April 12^th and in the North Front cemetery on April 24^th.

Eight were seen in autumn between October 16^th and October 26^th, including three on Windmill Hill on October 17^th. Seven were ringed between October 3^rd and October 28^th.

Sardinian Warbler        Curruca cabecinegra          Curruca melanocephala
Common resident.
Widespread in suitable vegetated areas, notably in more open habitats but also in gardens. January censuses recorded 258 birds. Windmill Hill held around 30 birds on several scattered dates, including 37 on January 12^th. Birds were much less apparent in the dense scrub of the Nature Reserve but their presence there was confirmed by ringing captures: these totalled 42 in spring and 305 in autumn.

Western Subalpine Warbler Curruca carrasqueña    Curruca iberiae
Common migrant.
Sight records in spring totalled 46, on 26 dates between February 17^th and April 18^th. Most were found on the southern flats or in the North Front cemetery. Nearly all records were of one or two birds but there were six on Windmill Hill on April 12^th. Nineteen were ringed, between March 22^nd and May 3^rd.

Subalpine Warbler.                                              T. Vinet

Two were on Windmill Hill on September 23^rd and a single bird was on the Europa Point foreshore on October 1^st and October 2^nd. Five were ringed between September 7^th and September 29^th.

Firecrest            Reyezuelo listado        Regulus ignicapilla
Regular but scarce: migrant and winter.
Two were in the northern sector of the Nature Reserve on January 18^th.

Goldcrest            Reyezuelo sencillo        Regulus regulus
Rare: migrant and winter.
A small influx was seen in the hinterland of the Strait in November with some reported there in December and into 2026. Two were in the Botanic Gardens on November 23^rd, one of them unfortunately being found dead. One was ringed on November 18^th.

Wren                Chochín            Troglodytes troglodytes
Common resident.
The January censuses found 79 birds, 61 of them in the Nature Reserve. Eleven were found on the East Side slopes on January 18^th. During the year birds were widely reported from the Nature Reserve as well as from Windmill Hill, the Botanic Gardens, Camp and Little Bays, and in the North Front cemetery. Just 12 were ringed during the year.

Spotless Starling        Estornino negro        Sturnus unicolor
Common resident.
There were 25 around Four Corners on January 14^th. Other reports during the year were almost entirely from the North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill as well as from Europa Point foreshore, where there is a garden feeding station. Flock sizes varied but the largest numbers were seen at Windmill Hill, where there were 51 on April 4^th and 33 on May 1^st. Up to 13 were in the cemetery chiefly during March. There were no reports from the city or from the East Side but this species seldom receives much attention. 

Common Starling        Estornino pinto        Sturnus vulgaris
Common in some winters.
Few were present in 2025. One was in the North Front cemetery on March 2^nd. Five were reported from the Nature Reserve on October 4^th and up to nine were with Spotless Starlings in the Windmill Hill area during October. Seven were at Four Corners on December 30^th.

 

Mistle Thrush        Zorzal charlo            Turdus viscivorus
Occasional.
A dead juvenile was found at Laguna Estate on July 9^th.

Song Thrush        Zorzal común        Turdus philomelos
Common: migrant and winter.
Censuses in January located 21 birds, including eight on Windmill Hill. Very few were reported subsequently during the first half of the year: just eight birds on five dates between January 18^th and April 12^th, as well as a late individual on Windmill Hill on April 29^th. Nine birds were ringed, between January 2^nd and February 18^th.

More frequent observations were made during autumn and in the second winter period. The earliest birds were six at Jews’ Gate on October 15^th, when there were also three in the Botanic Gardens. At least 183 birds were reported, including 47 at Windmill Hill on October 28^th and 34 there on November 12^th. Most other records came from the Nature Reserve and the Botanic Gardens. There were 35 ringed between October 13^th and November 19^th. 

Redwing            Zorzal alirrojo        Turdus iliacus
Occasional: migrant.
One was ringed on January 20^th.

Blackbird            Mirlo común            Turdus merula
Common resident.
The January censuses found 110 birds. They were reported throughout the year from all the well-watched areas, including the Botanic Gardens, North Front cemetery, the Nature Reserve and Windmill Hill, but were present in most if not all vegetated areas. They were largely absent only from the East Side, where the accessible habitat is largely unsuitable and from where the only report was of a single bird at Blackstrap Cove on November 1^st. Some sizeable counts were made in the Botanic Gardens, where 20 or more were often found. Peak counts on Windmill Hill included 20 on April 5^th, 21 on April 29^th and 31 on September 23^rd: some of these may have been grounded migrants. Birds ringed totalled 56.

Ring Ouzel            Mirlo capiblanco        Turdus torquatus
Occasional: migrant.
One was on Windmill Hill on October 27^th and two were seen in the Nature Reserve on November 1^st. One was ringed on November 5^th.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Alzacola rojizo        Cercotrichas galactotes
Occasional: migrant.
One was on Windmill Hill on April 30^th.

Spotted Flycatcher    Papamoscas gris        Muscicapa striata
Common migrant. Some breed.
The earliest reported was seen at Jews’ Gate on April 22^nd. Small numbers of migrants were widely reported during May as others settled to breed. A fall of migrants on April 30^th included 33 on Windmill Hill. As usual, birds nested in the Botanic Gardens and some observations during June, July and August from Commonwealth Park, Arengo’s Garden, The Mount garden, Trafalgar cemetery, the Nature Reserve and the North Front cemetery, Four Corners will also have involved nesting pairs. The breeding population was assessed at 19 pairs on July 30^th. Nine were ringed between April 27^th and May 11^th.

Fewer birds were reported after mid-September, these mainly from the Botanic Gardens, where the last bird was seen on October 22^nd. Six were ringed between August 3^rd and September 26^th. 

Robin                Petirrojo            Erithacus rubecula
Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.
The January censuses found 124 wintering birds. These were present in most vegetated areas, notably in the Nature Reserve, parks and gardens. Most sight records during January–March were of single birds and 13 on Windmill Hill on January 12^th was noteworthy. Few remained by April but two were still present in the Botanic Gardens on April 21^st and two were at Jacob’s Ladder on May 8^th. Birds ringed during the first half of the year totalled 47, including the final two, caught on May 11^th.

There were nine reports of single birds on eight dates between May 14^th and July 16^th, most of them apparently over-summering birds seen in June. These were reported from Commonwealth Park, the Botanic Gardens, upper Windmill Hill and Camp Bay. None were seen in August.

Returning birds were first noted on September 7^th, when one was in the Botanic Gardens. Birds appeared in numbers from mid October and through November, notable site counts including 51 on Windmill Hill on October 28^th and 34 there on November 12^th. Birds ringed in autumn totalled an exceptional 701, the first of these on September 4^th.  

Nightingale            Ruiseñor común        Luscinia megarhynchos
Common migrant. Has bred.
Observations in spring totalled 116 birds, seen on 33 dates between March 17^th and May 3^rd. They were widely reported, including from vegetation in urban areas such as at the Vineyards, in the City and at Transport Lane. Most were seen on Windmill Hill and in the North Front cemetery, where birds are more readily observable. They were prominent in falls of migrants, when there were 33 on Windmill Hill on April 12^th and 12 there both on April 30^th and May 3^rd. Birds ringed in spring totalled 40, between March 12^th and May 2^nd.

Only 16 were seen later in the year, on 11 dates between August 2^nd and October 6^th. A further 33 were ringed between August 14^th and September 29^th.

Red-breasted Flycatcher    Papamoscas papirrojo    Ficedula parva
Vagrant.
Two juveniles were ringed, on October 16^th and November 1^st. Fifth and sixth records (A. Rees, M. Cutts). 

Pied Flycatcher        Papamoscas cerrojillo    Ficedula hypoleuca
Common migrant.
Sight records in spring were sparse, totalling 32 birds seen on eight dates between March 29^th and May 2^nd. They included three seen on the East Side talus slope as well as in the Botanic Gardens, North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill. There were 18 in the migrant fall on Windmill Hill on April 30^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 34, between April 6^th and May 2^nd.

Most of 29 southbound birds reported were in the Botanic Gardens or the North Front cemetery. They were present, mainly singly, on 19 dates between August 19^th and October 9^th. Additional birds ringed totalled 65, between August 15^th and October 10^th, with a late bird ringed on October 27^th.

Black Redstart        Colirrojo tizón        Phoenicurus ochruros
Common: migrant and winter.
Birds were characteristic of all open areas throughout Gibraltar at both ends of the year. The January censuses found 75 birds. They were thinly scattered, probably as a result of winter territoriality, but larger sites such as the North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill sometimes held five or more individuals. No concentrations of spring migrants were reported. The last spring observation was on March 25^th. Just 12 were ringed during the first winter period and into spring, the last of these on March 30^th.

The earliest returning birds were three seen on Windmill Hill and three in the North Front cemetery on October 6^th. Unlike in spring, there were several concentrations of apparent migrants reported, including 38 on Windmill Hill on October 28^th and 72 in total at various locations on November 12^th. Many were ringed during this period: a total of 362, the earliest of these on October 10^th.

Common Redstart        Colirrojo real                    Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Common migrant.
Spring migrants observed totalled 62, 22 of these during a fall of migrants on Windmill Hill on April 12^th. There were reports on 16 dates between March 23^rd and May 3^rd, chiefly from the North Front cemetery and Windmill Hill/Europa Flats. Ten were ringed between March 20^th and May 1^st.

Male Common Redstart in the North Front cemetery.        C. Fortuna

Just 15 were seen later in the year, on 13 dates between August 17^th and October 19^th. Records came mainly from the Nature Reserve and the North Front cemetery. A further 61 were ringed between August 22^nd and October 28^th.

Common Rock Thrush    Roquero rojo            Monticola saxatilis 
Occasional: migrant.
One was on Windmill Hill on April 12^th.

Blue Rock Thrush        Roquero solitario        Monticola solitarius 
Resident.
Present throughout. Observations came from Europa Point, Windmill Hill, the South Mole, the Mediterranean Steps, Camp and Little Bays, Governor’s Beach, the Eastern Side talus, Blackstrap Cove and the North Front cemetery. Most sightings were of one or two birds, occasionally three or four post-breeding. Five on Windmill Hill in late September was the largest site-count. Two were ringed.

Whinchat            Tarabilla norteña        Saxicola rubetra
Common migrant.
There were sight records on only five dates, between April 11^th and May 3^rd. They nonetheless totalled 68 birds, largely a result of falls of migrants. These included 21 birds on Windmill Hill on April 30^th and 14 there both on May 1^st and May 3^rd. Elsewhere a few individuals were found on the Europa Point foreshore, the North Front cemetery and the Eastern Side talus. One was found in the Botanic Gardens, an unusual location, on May 1^st. One was ringed on April 11^th.

Whinchat ringed on April 11^th.                            M. Cutts.

A further 18 in total were seen on five dates between September 23^rd and October 9^th, most of them on Windmill Hill or in the North Front cemetery.
  
Stonechat            Tarabilla común        Saxicola rubicola
Common: migrant and winter.
The January censuses found 16 wintering birds, comprised by six on Windmill Hill, four on Europa Point foreshore, five on the East Side sand slopes and one in the North Front cemetery. Two were at the South Mole on February 2^nd. Only 11 were reported between February 14^th and the last bird, on March 12^th, chiefly from the North Front cemetery.

There were much more frequent reports during the second half of the year, including evidence of through-migrants. The first report was of two on Windmill Hill on September 23^rd.  A further 133 birds were observed between then and the end of October, these including 26 on Windmill Hill on October 6^th and 27 there on October 17^th. Small numbers were seen in the North Front cemetery and at Europa Point during this period. The same locations held up to five individuals until the end of the year, although 13 were present on Windmill Hill on November 12^th. Ten were ringed, between October 2^nd and October 28^th. 

Black-eared Wheatear    Collalba rubia        Oenanthe hispanica
Regular migrant.
Seven birds were reported, all of them in spring. They comprised one in the North Front cemetery on March 25^th, one on the Europa Point foreshore on April 4^th, two on Windmill Hill on April 12^th and three on Windmill Hill on April 30^th.

Male Black-eared Wheatear at North Front cemetery.           M. Figueras

Northern Wheatear    Collalba gris            Oenanthe oenanthe
Common migrant.
Spring observations totalled 24 birds, on 13 dates between March 7^th and April 30^th. Birds were found on the Europa Point foreshore, the North Front cemetery and on Windmill Hill: where there were seven with other migrants on April 12^th.

Northern Wheatear at Europa foreshore.                        M. Barrey

A further 28 in total were seen at the same locations, as well as at the top Cable-car station, on dates between August 30^th and November 1^st. These included four on Windmill Hill on September 23^rd and five there on October 6^th.

Spanish Sparrow         Gorrión moruno        Passer hispaniolensis
Occasional: migrant.
Three were reported from Europa Point on April 10^th. A further three birds were at the Europa Point foreshore on October 20^th and 30 flew south there on the same date, during a marked southward movement of sparrows. Single birds were on Windmill Hill on October 26^th and at Europa Point on November 18^th. Three were again at the Europa Point foreshore on October 20^th.

Male Spanish Sparrow at Europa Point.                            C. Finlayson.

House Sparrow         Gorrión común        Passer domesticus
Common resident.
Widespread but largely absent from the East Side and the densely vegetated Nature Reserve. The January censuses found 320 birds, including 117 in South District gardens and 50 at Europa Advance road. Certain locations were especially favoured, notably Europa Point, where sparrows were a feature of the café and surrounding vegetation: here there were 93 on April 7^th with 30 or more regularly present. Other locations that particularly attracted sparrows included the North Front cemetery and the Botanic Gardens. Birds ringed during the year totalled 78.

There was some evidence of trans-Strait passage. This was obvious in autumn, especially on October 20^th, when there was a strong southward movement over Europa Point that also included Spanish Sparrows. A smaller southward passage was seen there on October 25^th. There were no unequivocal observations of a northward passage in spring but some sites held somewhat higher numbers than usual in early April, including 93 at Europa Point on April 7^th and 47 at the North Front cemetery on April 8^th. 

Grey Wagtail        Lavandera cascadeña    Motacilla cinerea
Regular but scarce: migrant and winter. Has bred.
There were two observations during the early year: single birds at Little Bay on January 14^th and in the Botanic Gardens on February 16^th. There were many more reports during the second half of the year, from August 17^th onwards but these certainly involved just a few individuals that remained to winter. Nearly all observations were of single birds except for two on the Europa Point foreshore on September 30^th and October 1^st, and two in the Botanic Gardens on October 7^th. Other sites that saw birds included Camp and Little Bays, where the insect-attracting algae around the desalination plant outlet waterfall regularly attracted one bird, Rosia Bay, Commonwealth Park ponds and, more unusually, the East Side talus slope.

Yellow Wagtail        Lavandera boyera        Motacilla flava
Regular but scarce migrant.
Very small numbers were seen on northward passage: 50 birds in total, on 15 dates between March 18^th and May 2^nd. Most were seen on or from Windmill Hill, the Europa Point foreshore and Jews’ Gate. They included ten on Windmill Hill on April 11^th, when there were also five reported at Europa Point.

Southbound birds seen totalled 24, on 11 dates between August 2^nd and October 20^th: most were seen in September but four at Europa Point on October 20^th were the only ones observed that month.

White Wagtail        Lavandera blanca        Motacilla alba
Regular but scarce migrant. Regular in winter. Has bred.
Very few individuals were present during the first winter period and there was no indication of winter roosting or spring migration. Most records were of single birds, occasionally two together, three at Western Beach on January 18^th being the largest group seen. Observations came from there as well as from the border area, Eastern Beach, the North Front cemetery, Windmill Hill, the Europa Point foreshore, the South Mole and Commonwealth Park. Sightings totalled just 27 birds but undoubtedly fewer individuals were involved. Two at Western Beach and one on Windmill Hill on April 12^th were the last noted in spring. Two at Western Beach on January 21^st were reported as Pied Wagtails M.a.yarrellii.

Two at Europa Point on June 17^th were noteworthy but the next record was one there on August 31^st followed long afterwards by two on Windmill Hill on October 17^th. These last were the forerunners of a strong southward passage over Europa Point on October 20^th and ‘many’ were also reported from there on October 25^th. Small numbers, 27 birds in total, were seen at Windmill Hill/Europa Point on eight dates between October 26^th and November 23^rd. Three were in the North Front cemetery on December 1^st but only a few records of single birds were submitted thereafter. A Pied Wagtail was in the cemetery on November 9^th and 23^rd.  
 
Tawny Pipit            Bisbita campestre        Anthus campestris
Regular but scarce migrant.
A few appeared at Windmill Hill during falls of migrants. There were five there on April 12^th, two on April 29^th and one on April 30^th. One was at Jews’ Gate on April 22^nd.

Southbound birds were observed on three occasions. One was seen from the top Cable Car station on August 30^th and three were there on October 5^th. One was at the Europa Point foreshore on October 1^st.

Tree Pipit            Bisbita arbóreo        Anthus trivialis
Scarce migrant.
One at Europa Point on March 17^th was followed by a series of sightings in April, most of them from Windmill Hill. These totalled 26 birds, 17 of them found during a fall of migrants on April 12^th. Two were ringed on April 11^th.

One at Europa Point on August 25^th was the only subsequent sight record although one was ringed on September 17^th.

Meadow Pipit        Bisbita pratense        Anthus pratensis
Common: migrant and winter.
The overwintering flock on Windmill Hill numbered 14 birds on January 12^th.
All spring records came from Jews’ Gate, Windmill Hill and Europa Point. They totalled 53 birds on eight dates between March 12^th and April 12^th, including 20 seen from Jews’ Gate on March 12^th.

There were many more records during the second half of the year, the earliest of these a single bird at Europa Point on October 10^th. A heavy southward passage was evident over Europa Point on October 16^th, October 20^th, October 25^th and November 6^th although no counts were attempted. Windmill Hill held 113 on October 27^th and 47 on November 12^th, at least some of which probably remained to winter there. One was ringed on October 29^th.

African Chaffinch        Pinzón africano        Fringilla spodiogenys
Vagrant.
A first-year female was ringed at Jew’s Gate on March 24^th. A ringed female was subsequently observed on the Europa Point foreshore on May 5^th, 22^nd and 27^th. It is possible that all these records relate to the same individual, although the species is ringed regularly in Ceuta, opposite Europa Point. For tally purposes the observations are treated as a single record, the seventh for Gibraltar (R. Dickey).

Female African Chaffinch at Europa Point.                             T. Vinet.

Eurasian Chaffinch    Pinzón vulgar        Fringilla coelebs
Common: migrant and winter.
Some 30 birds were present on January 18^th, most of them in the Nature reserve and the remainder in southern gardens. Birds were otherwise seldom reported during the first half of the year, when there were only ten records, totalling 11 birds, up to April 11^th. Just nine were ringed, the last on April 6^th.

There were numerous observations in autumn, the earliest being one at Europa Point on October 13^th. Marked southward passage was evident from Jews’ Gate on October 27^th when 58 were also seen at Windmill Hill. Signal Station road attracted up to 15 birds in November and early December and a similar number occurred in the Botanic Gardens during the same period. Birds ringed in autumn totalled 23, between October 11^th and November 19^th.

Bullfinch            Camachuelo común        Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Occasional: migrant.
A male was seen in the unlikely setting of Morrisons Supermarket car park on October 29^th. Two juvenile females were ringed: on October 12^th and October 13^th.

Greenfinch            Verderón común        Chloris chloris
Common: migrant and winter. Some resident.
Winter censuses found 48 birds on January 18th, chiefly within the Botanic Gardens and other South District gardens and in the Nature Reserve. There were no obvious large spring movements and the highest spring counts came from the Botanic Gardens, their principal nesting location: these included 36 on March 22^nd, 16 on April 7^th and 13 on April 21^st. No sight records were submitted between May 3^rd and September 7^th. Birds ringed totalled 15, the last on May 8^th.

Greenfinch flocks were a feature of southward finch passage and ‘many’ were reported on October 25^th and November 6^th. Small numbers again frequented the Botanic Gardens, Windmill Hill and the Nature Reserve. A further 101 were ringed from August 3^rd onwards. All but six of the 36 birds caught between August 3^rd and September 19^th were juveniles, adults predominating in October. 

Linnet                Pardillo común        Linaria cannabina
Common migrant.
One was on Windmill Hill on January 12^th. Very small numbers were seen on northward passage, chiefly from Jews’ Gate and Windmill Hill. They totalled 35 birds, on nine dates between March 17^th and April 30^th. One was ringed on March 22^nd.

Mainly small numbers were reported between October 18^th and November 14^th but sizeable southward passage was noted from Europa Point on October 25^th and November 6^th. Two were ringed on October 29^th.

Goldfinch            Jilguero común        Carduelis carduelis
Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.
A few individuals were observed during the first winter period, when up to four were present at Europa Point foreshore and three were on Windmill Hill. Only 39 in total were reported between March 18^th and May 11^th, chiefly from Jews’ Gate and Windmill Hill. Just one was ringed, on April 6^th. In all, a very meagre showing by what is usually a common species.

Three were at Europa Point on July 13^th. Many were seen during the southward finch passages there on October 25^th and November 6^th, with smaller numbers occurring on dates between October 16^th and November 18^th: including 53 at Windmill Hill on October 26^th, 72 at Mediterranean Road in the Nature Reserve on November 3^rd and 55 at Europa Point on November 11^th. There were single-figure records on eight subsequent dates. Birds ringed totalled 29: between October 15^th and November 19^th.
 
Serin                Serín verdecillo        Serinus serinus
Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.
There were just 30 birds reported, on 17 dates between January 8^th and May 24^th. The largest count was four birds, on the Europa Point foreshore on February 15^th, nearly all other observations coming from here and Windmill Hill. Birds ringed totalled 15: between February 19^th and May 11^th. Several appeared to be present around Europa Point during June and July, including six together on June 26^th, raising the possibility of successful nesting in the area.

Migrants became evident from October 16^th. Serins too figured in good numbers in the sizeable southward finch passage observed from Europa Point on October 25^th and November 6^th. There were 11 on Windmill Hill on November 10^th but later records were all in single figures and largely from Europa Point. Autumn catches by ringers were exceptional. They totalled 253 birds, between October 12^th and November 19^th, a figure that is 17% of all the Serins ringed in Gibraltar since 1991.

Siskin                Jilguero lúgano        Spinus spinus
Regular in variable numbers: migrant and winter.
One in The Convent garden on January 27^th and one at Jews’ Gate on March 22^nd were the sole spring records. A small influx in autumn led to observations totalling 78 birds, on 15 dates between October 24^th and December 4^th. They included 20 flying south at Europa Point on November 14^th. Other records came from the Nature Reserve, Commonwealth Park, the North Front cemetery, Windmill Hill and, especially, the Botanic Gardens. Birds ringed totalled 51, between October 28^th and November 19^th.

Corn Bunting        Escribano triguero        Emberiza calandra
Occasional: migrant and winter.
There was a scattering of observations in spring. The first was of eight seen from Jews’ Gate on March 12^th. A further 14 individuals were recorded, on dates between March 27^th and May 2^nd. They were found on Europa Point, Windmill Hill and in the North Front cemetery.

One was at Europa Point on November 6^th.

Ortolan Bunting        Escribano hortelano        Emberiza hortulana
Occasional: migrant.
Two were on Windmill Hill on October 12^th.

Rock Bunting        Escribano montesino    Emberiza cia
Occasional: mainly in winter. Has bred.
A juvenile female was ringed on October 24^th.

 

EXOTICS PENDING

 

Observers

J. Acolina, L. Agius, R. Azopardi, M. Barrey, K. Bensusan, S. Carter, J. Cortes, M. Cutts, C. Dienemann, C. Durante, M. Figueras, C. Finlayson, T. Finlayson, A. Fortuna, C. Fortuna, E. Garcia, M. Garcia, R. Geary, A. Gonzalez, T. Hammond, J. Henwood, Y. Henwood, A. Hobson, B. Maxwell, J. Mesilio, L. Moore, S. Morgan, F. Navarro, S. Olivero, D. Parody, J. Perera, C. Perez, J. Perez, R. Perez, N. Ramos, V. Robba, P. Rocca, C. Rugeroni, D. Sanchez, J. Sanchez, J. Santos, A. Smethurst, C. Twitchen, H. Vangils, S. Villa, T. Vinet, S. Warr, J. Yeoman, A. Yome, S. Yome.

 

 

TABLE 1.  SPECIES THAT HAVE CHANGED MARKEDLY IN ABUNDANCE BETWEEN THE TWO SAMPLED PERIODS  

TABLE 1A. SPECIES THAT HAVE INCREASED (N = 23)

SPECIES	1960 – 1979		2006 – 2025	Principal cause of change
Great Cormorant	Rare. Only three records		Regular & common. Winter & migrant	Source population increase
Shag	Resident. 5 pairs		Resident. Increased	Immigration from east ? Local environmental improvements
Little Egret	Scarce migrant		Regular in winter	New habitat available
Grey Heron	Scarce migrant		Regular. Winter & migrant	New habitat available
Black Stork	Scarce migrant		Common migrant	Source population increase
Glossy Ibis	One record		Regular migrant	Source population increase
Black Kite	Abundant migrant		Greatly increased	Source population increase
Cinereous Vulture	Rare. Only three records		Nearly annual, especially in spring	Source population increase
Griffon Vulture	Common migrant		Greatly increased	Source population increase
Booted Eagle	Common migrant		Greatly increased	Source population increase
Osprey	Scarce migrant		Migrant. Also in winter	Source population increase
Common Kestrel	Regular migrant		Resident. Also migrant	Unknown.
Barbary Partridge	Scarce resident		Common resident	Re-population
Turnstone	Four records		Regular except summer	Unknown.
Mediterranean Gull	Regular but scarce		Increased	Range expansion
Audouin's Gull	Scarce migrant		Common migrant.	Range expansion and population increase
Collared Dove	Unknown		Common resident since 1990s	Range expansion
Eagle Owl	Extinct		Present since 2005	Range expansion
Tawny Owl	Unknown		Present. Probably resident	Range expansion
Robin	Common migrant and winter		Also summers	Range expansion?
Iberian Chiffchaff	No confirmed records. Overlooked		Regular migrant	Overlooked previously when had subspecies (of Common Chiffchaff) status
Spotted Flycatcher	Common migrant only		Small breeding population established since 2009	Recent colonist
Jackdaw	Small colony in 1960s		Several pairs recolonised recently	Unknown

 

TABLE 1B. SPECIES THAT HAVE DECREASED (N = 17) 
Short-stopping refers to species that latterly winter further north than before and no longer enter the Iberian Peninsula in their former numbers.

SPECIES	1960 – 1979		2006 – 2025	Principal cause of change
Mediterranean Shearwater	P. m. yelkouan (Levantine Shearwater) Thousands in late summer		Very scarce	Eastward range withdrawal
Red Kite	Scarce migrant		Occasional migrant	Short-stopping
Hen Harrier	Scarce migrant		Occasional migrant	Short-stopping
Common Buzzzard	Common migrant. Several hundred annually		Very scarce migrant	Short-stopping
Lesser Kestrel	Breeding colony on North Face.		Extinct as breeder	Foraging habitat loss
Northern Lapwing	Cold weather migrant		Seldom occurs	Winter warming ?
Arctic Skua	Regular offshore		Occasional	Source population decline
Great Skua	Common offshore		Greatly declined	Recent source population decline. Avian influenza
Little Gull	Regular, esp. in winter		Very scarce	Unknown
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Numerous migrant and hundreds in winter		Scarce	Increased inland wintering
Black Tern	Numerous in autumn		Scarce and irregular	Source population decline
Little Owl	Scarce resident		Declined	Unknown
Sky Lark	Common migrant and in winter		Scarce. Migrant only	Short-stopping ?
Barn Swallow	Several breeding pairs. Also migrant		Extinct as breeder by late 1970s. Migrant only	Foraging habitat loss
White Wagtail	Roost of up to several hundred in winter		Present. Has bred. No large roosts	Unknown
Zitting Cisticola	Common migrant and in winter		Occasional	Recovering from cold spell
Rock Bunting	Scarce but regular in winter. Bred		Rarely reported	Reduced altitudinal movements

 

 

BLYTH’S REED WARBLER ACROCEPHALUS DUMETORUM IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

ERNEST GARCIA

 

Blyth’s is a small reed warbler that breeds across central Asia, chiefly in a region extending between southern Finland in the west and northwestern Mongolia in the east (Dyrcz 2020). It is a summer visitor to this region, wintering in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. European populations have shown a marked recent increase in abundance (Piha 2020). At the same time, the breeding range has shown some recent westward expansion resulting in nesting in Norway and Sweden, in The Netherlands in 2021 and, in 2024, in Scotland (Hine & Malin 2024). Otherwise migrants are reported on rare but increasingly frequent occasions in western Europe, notably in Britain (437 records to 2023:  White & Kehoe 2025) and the Netherlands (60 in 2020 alone: Gelling et al. 2021).

Undoubtedly this species is easily overlooked away from its known breeding and winter quarters. The plumage is nondescript and quite similar to other unstreaked reed warblers, in particular the Marsh Warbler A. palustris. Although its song is distinctive migrants are unlikely to sing. Hence, most extralimital accepted records have involved birds captured by ringers or those for which clear photographs, showing the diagnostic wing structure, are available.

There are nine accepted Iberian records (Table 1), all in the second half of the year and mainly in September and October. An additional Spanish record is of uncertain status, despite the bird having been examined in the hand. Five birds have been found in Spain, two in Portugal and two in Gibraltar. 

The first Gibraltar record was of an individual caught and ringed by Brian Etheridge in September 1973. The second record is accepted on the basis of a long series of photographs of an obliging individual, taken by Morris Figueras in the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Two of these are included here (Figs 1 and 2). They show the diagnostic, if subtle, plumage and structural characteristics of the species (cf. Kennerley & Pearson 2010, van Duivendijk 2024). These photographs have been examined by Dr Daniel López-Velasco, a long-standing member of the Spanish rarities panel (CR-SEO) who is much experienced in passerine identification. He has commented as follows (translated from Spanish):

‘For me the bird in the photographs is undoubtedly a dumetorum, as you have suggested. Leg colour, head and bill pattern, primary projection length, coppery wing colour contrasting with other plumage, alula and tertials showing poor contrast with rest of wing, and very obvious emargination on primaries 3 and 4…...allow other options to be discarded’.

 

 

Table 1. Iberian Records Of Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
A  Ardeola. AO  Anuario Ornitológico. BOG Birds of Gibraltar. GBR Gibraltar Bird Report 

Country	Date	Location	Source	Ringed?	Notes
Spain	24/09/72	Cubas, Cantabria	A 19:33	Ringed	listed as possible only
Gibraltar	24/09/73	Jews' Gate	BOG	Ringed
Spain	02/09/01	Brazo de la Torre, Doñana	A 51:534	Ringed	Recaptured 28 August 2002
Spain	06/10/07	Cabrera, Baleares	A 56:333	Ringed
Spain	09/11/14	Llobregat delta, Barceolona	A 64:214	Ringed	Photo published
Portugal	18/10/16	Sagres, Faro	AO13: 32	No	To 20 Oct. Photos/sound recordings
Portugal	28/10/16	Forninos, Beja	AO12: 39	Ringed	Photo published
Spain	14/07/20	Fluvia estuary, Girona	A 69:358	Ringed	Adult
Spain	15/10/20	Cabo Peñas, Asturias	A 70:135	No	1w Photo published
Gibraltar	17/09/25	Botanic Gardens	GBR 25	No	Identified from numerous photos

 

Figure 1. Showing diagnostic emarginations on P3 and P4; short primary projection; coppery flight feathers contrasting with other plumage; weak head pattern with short supercilium, overall greyish appearance very distinct from brighter brownish plumage tones of Eurasian Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus, Marsh Warbler and Paddyfield Warbler A. agricola  (Photo Morris Figueras).

 

Figure 2. Pale grey, not dark, legs and feet are characteristic of Blyth’s Reed Warbler, as are the pale greyish white belly and flanks, lacking cinnamon tones typical of Paddyfield Warbler (Photo Morris Figueras).

 

Figure 3. Showing long, thin bill, with dark upper mandible and dull yellow lower mandible darkening towards the tip; characteristic of Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Photo Morris Figueras).

Acknowledgments
I am most grateful to Danny Velasco for his prompt and helpful comments on the photographs of this individual. Mark Cutts, and ringing colleagues with experience of this species in Britain, also saw the photographs and opined that the identification is correct. I especially thank, Morris Figueras, for his skill and patience in obtaining those photographs, without which this identification would not have been possible.
 
References

Dyrcz, A. 2020. Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blrwar1.01

Gelling, G.J., van der Spek, V., Lidster, J. & CDNA. 2021. Rare birds in the Netherlands in 2020. Dutch Birding 43(6): 433–435.

Hine, M. & Malin, R. (Eds). 2024. Blyth’s Reed Warbler breeds in Britain. British Birds 117: 589.

Kennerley, P. & Pearson, D. 2010. Reed and Bush Warblers. Helm, London.

Piha, M. 2020. Blyth’s Reed-warbler. Pp. 620–621. In Keller, V., Herrando, S. et al. European breeding bird atlas 2: Distribution, Abundance and Change. European Bird Census Council and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Van Duivendijk, N. 2024. ID Handbook of European Birds. Volume 2: Passerines. Princeton University Press. 

White, S. & Kehoe, C. 2025. Report on scarce migrant birds in Britain in 2023. Part 2:  passerines. British Birds 118: 392.

 

RINGING REPORT 2025

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 Jews’ Gate field centre, on the Upper Rock. The 2025 pre-nuptial ringing campaign began at Jews' Gate on January 15^th and ended on May 10^th. The 1,655 new birds ringed and 226 retraps totalled 1,881 individuals of 52 species, a similar total to 2024 but far fewer than in 2023, when 2,580 birds of 45 species were processed.

Eight species ringed last year were absent: Alpine Swift, Collared Dove, Golden Oriole, Sedge Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, Brambling, Siskin and Ortolan Bunting, but ten species were recorded that were not encountered in spring 2024: Quail, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Kestrel, Great Tit, Barn Swallow, Icterine Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Redwing and Goldfinch.

The season began better than in 2024, with recoveries of wintering birds encountered during the post-nuptial campaign in October and November. The 584 new birds ringed during January and February mainly comprised 61 Common Chiffchaffs, 439 Blackcaps and 27 Robins.  A Redwing was ringed on January 20^th, and a Wryneck on February 3^rd.  Trans-Saharan migrants began appearing in mid- to late February, with a Hoopoe on the 16^th and an Iberian Chiffchaff on the 19^th.

The only Redwing of the year.               J. Yeoman

March began with a period of westerly winds and incessant rain showers, amounting to one of the wettest months on record. This hampered the ringing effort and explains the low number of birds ringed during this period: only 324 were ringed plus 48 retrapped. Species totals included good numbers of Phylloscopus warblers: 94 Common Chiffchaffs, 46 Willow Warblers, 35 Bonelli’s Warblers and 12 Iberian Chiffchaffs.  Other trans-Saharan migrants were few, with the first Nightingale on the 12^th, Woodchat Shrike on the 14^th, Common Redstart on the 20^th, Subalpine Warbler on the 22^nd and Common Whitethroat on the 30^th.

April was dominated by westerly winds which hampered the catching rate but there were some days with easterly winds and levanter cloud that produced good daily totals. There were 553 birds were ringed plus 53 retraps. Phylloscopus warblers again dominated with 86 Bonelli’s Warblers and 162 Willow Warblers caught. Blackcaps and Garden Warblers accounted for 61 and 46 birds respectively, with Melodious Warblers and Nightingales accounting for 32 birds each.  A fall of migrants on the 12th produced 80 new birds ringed, including the first individuals of Scops Owl, Wood Warbler and Spectacled Warbler. 

Only ten days in May were covered, giving 193 new birds and 21 retraps processed. May 1^st, with overcast skies and levanter cloud, produced a good fall, with 109 birds ringed.  They included 47 Willow Warblers, seven Eurasian Nightjars, three Red-necked Nightjars, nine Common Reed Warblers, seven each of Wood Warblers, Melodious Warblers and Pied Flycatchers, six Bee-eaters and several other species. The rest of the period was dominated by westerly winds, with low catches of migrants.

Among interesting species ringed were a female African Chaffinch on March 24^th, a Quail that struck a window in the town area on May 2^nd, a Short-toed Eagle that was recovered from the sea on May 5^th, a Booted Eagle on April 2^nd, a Red-rumped Swallow on April 2^nd, a record 12 Wood Warblers, two Spectacled Warblers and two Icterine Warblers on May 1^st and 2^nd.

Female Spectacled Warbler ringed on May 8^th.          R. Geary

The post-nuptial ringing campaign began at Jews’ Gate on August 3^rd and officially ended on November 20^th, although a few nets were opened on three days in December. A total of 5,526 new birds and 290 retraps brought the total processed to 5,816 birds of 53 species. This was 915 birds more than in the same period in 2024, when only 4,611 birds of 53 species were processed, mainly wintering birds.  
Captures during August, during which only 16 ringing days were favourable, mainly comprised dispersing juvenile resident birds, with healthy numbers reflecting a good breeding season. This contrasted with the previous two years when the then-large population of Black Rats Rattus rattus alexandrinus (less apparent in 2025) may have had a negative impact on local nesting birds. Early trans-Saharan migrants were few, but resident species increased the total to 321 new birds. 

Western Olivaceous Warbler ringed on August 4^th.                     J. Yeoman.

September saw 25 ringing days and a total of 739 new birds ringed, 304 more than in September 2024 and chiefly comprising trans-Saharan migrants. There were also 110 retraps, mainly of resident species. In late September, numbers increased with the arrival of migrant Blackcaps, boosting the catching rate. Scarcer birds included a Woodchat Shrike on the 7^th, a Melodious Warbler on the 8^th, a Wryneck on the 16^th and a Tree Pipit on the 17^th.  

Late trans-Saharan migrants were still encountered in the first few weeks of October but captures that month were dominated by arrivals of wintering species, giving a total of 3,072 new birds; 832 more than last year. Blackcaps, Robins, Common Chiffchaffs and Black Redstarts predominated, with 1,588, 480, 305 and 257 captures respectively.  Among the scarcer species were a Blue Rock Thrush on the 3^rd, single Wrynecks on the 2^nd and 4^th, a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the 16^th and a Rock Bunting on the 24^th.

One of two Red-breasted Flycatchers ringed.          M. Cutts.

 

A further 1,268 birds were ringed throughout November, with late trans-Saharan species comprising a Common Reed Warbler and three Barn Swallows on the 3^rd, a Garden Warbler on the 4^th and a Red-rumped Swallow on the 12^th. The second Red-breasted Flycatcher of the autumn, the fourth ringing record for Gibraltar, was processed on the 1^st. 

Five controls in autumn comprised two Blackcaps from Belgium: on October 7^th and November 13^th , a German (Heligoland) Blackcap on October 14^th, a French Blackcap on October 16^th and a Spanish Greenfinch on October 24^th.

 

Ringers 2025

D. Ash, M. Ashman, M. Bacon, P. Baker, M. Barrey, R. Bell, K. Bradley, C. Buckle, A. Commins, J. Conway, J. Cortes, K. Cramer, S. Crease, I. Dammery, R. Dann, T. Dawson, K. Dean, R. Dickey, A. Dixon, R. Duncan, E. Evetts, J. Gittins, R. Hickman, A. Hocking, B. Hopkins, L. Lappin, S. Lloyd, N. Lynch, A. Mayne, C. McLelland, O. Middleton, S. Murphy, C. Perez, A. Rees, M. Rosser, A, Sharman, E. Sherwell, A. Smethurst, J. Smith, H. Stone, B. Taylor, K. Thorpe, B. Tridgett, K. Venus, B. Williams, M. Winsloe, J. Withnail, K. Wright and J. Yeoman.

Also a special thanks to the ringers in charge, M. Cutts, R. Geary, C. Twitchen, I. Lees and D. Wilkinson.

Table 1 Controls

Ring	Species	Ringing Date	Co-ordinates	Site	Region	Country	Control Date	Duration	Distance
91264425	Blackcap	07/09/24	52 00N 07 37E	Munster	Munster	Germany	01/02/25	147 days	2040km
BX43657	Blackcap	20/08/22	55 25N 10 01E	Harndrup	Middelfart, Fyn	Denmark	06/04/25	960 days	2444km
18304852	Blackcap	Pending				Belgium	07/10/25
91414226	Blackcap	21/09/25	52 01N 07 37E	Munster-Wostebach	Munster	Germany	14/10/25	23 days	2043km
10284729	Blackcap	Pending				France	16/10/25
E043392	Greenfinch	Pending				Spain	24/10/25
18759436	Blackcap	Pending				Belgium	13/11/25
BCD3245	Blackcap	13/09/24	52 25N 01 06W	Stanford Reservoir	Northamptonshire	United Kingdom	10/02/25	150 days	1841 km

 

Table 2 Recoveries

Ring	Species	Recovery Date	Co-ordinates	Site	Region	Country	Ringing Date	Duration	Distance
BFA3920	Blackcap	30/08/25	53 23N 02 31W	Woolston Eyes	Warrington	United Kingdom	06/11/24	296 days	1931 km
BDA9788	Black Redstart	19/05/25	48 15N 07 47E	Ettenheim	Sudbaden	Germany	17/11/23	548 days	1725 km
PRP131	Serin	12/03/25	35 52N 05 19W	Punta Blanca	Ceuta	Ceuta	18/10/24	145 days	28 km

 

Table 3 Species Totals

	Spring	Autumn	Total	Total	Total	Totals
SPECIES	2025	2025	2025	2023	2024	91-2025
Quail	1	-	1	-	-	14
Great Spotted Cuckoo	-	-	-	-	-	3
Common Cuckoo	-	-	-	-	-	1
Turtle Dove	2	-	2	2	1	26
Collared Dove	-	-	-	-	1	15
Moorhen	-	-	-	-	-	1
Purple Swamphen	-	-	-	-	-	1
Woodcock	-	-	-	-	-	1
Puffin	-	-	-	-	-	1
Yellow-legged Gull	-	-	-	-	-	249
European Storm-petrel	-	-	-	-	-	3
Leach's Storm-petrel	-	-	-	-	-	2
Scopoli’s Shearwater	-	-	-	-	1	1
Cory's Shearwater	-	-	-	-	1	4
Gannet	-	-	-	1	-	3
Little Bittern	-	-	-	-	-	1
Night Heron	-	-	-	-	-	1
Red-necked Nightjar	5	2	7	12	15	159
European Nightjar	13	21	34	16	26	237
Alpine Swift	1	-	-	-	1	1
Common Swift	-	-	-	-	-	12
Pallid Swift	2	-	2	2	3	64
Barn Owl	-	-	-	-	-	1
Little Owl	-	-	-	1	1	19
Scops Owl	2	14	16	15	4	234
Long-eared Owl	-	-	-	-	-	2
Eagle Owl	-	-	-	-	-	1
Honey Buzzard	-	-	-	-	-	7
Griffon Vulture	-	-		-	-	10
Short-toed Eagle	1	-	1	-	-	15
Booted Eagle	1	-	1	-	-	11
Bonelli's Eagle	-	-	-	-	-	1
Sparrowhawk	1	-	1	4	1	87
Black Kite	-	-	-	-	-	5
Hoopoe	6	3	9	8	11	135
European Bee-eater	17	-	17	8	6	66
Common Kingfisher	-	-	-	-	-	9
Wryneck	2	3	5	-	4	64
Lesser Kestrel	-	-	-	-	-	1
Common Kestrel	1	1	2	-	-	38
Merlin	-	-	-	-	-	2
Hobby	-	-	-	-	-	4
Peregrine	-	-	-	-	-	9
Golden Oriole	-	-	-	1	2	23
Woodchat Shrike	3	2	5	11	6	235
Blue Tit	8	34	42	34	59	1391
Great Tit	-	2	2	3	3	112
Coal Tit	-	-	-	-	-	2
Wood Lark	-	-	-	-	-	3
Thekla’s Lark	-	-	-	-	-	1
Zitting Cisticola	-	-	-	-	-	22
Icterine Warbler	2	-	2	-	-	8
Melodious Warbler	46	7	53	89	77	920
Booted Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	1
Western Olivaceous Warbler	-	1	1	3	-	12
Sedge Warbler	-	-	-	-	2	11
Common Reed-warbler	14	26	40	44	25	559
Great Reed-warbler	-	-	-	-	-	2
Grasshopper Warbler	1	-	1	1	5	63
Sand Martin	-	-	-	1	-	1
Crag Martin		10	10	15	3	2612
Barn Swallow	3	18	21	16	13	333
House Martin	-	-	-	-	32	183
Red-rumped Swallow	1	5	6	30	6	103
Long-tailed Tit	-	-	-	-	-	12
Cetti's Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	4
Wood Warbler	12	-	12	5	2	93
Bonelli's Warbler	124	2	126	119	69	1960
Yellow-browed Warbler	-	-	-	1	4	16
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	1
Willow Warbler	276	66	342	372	501	7568
Mountain Chiffchaff	-	-	-	-	-	1
Iberian Chiffchaff	14	64	78	44	41	756
Common Chiffchaff	162	640	802	448	728	8332
Garden Warbler	67	129	196	176	238	3822
Blackcap	572	2269	2841	1943	2466	50140
Lesser Whitethroat	-	-	-	-	-	2
Western Orphean Warbler	4	13	17	34	15	530
Common Whitethroat	17	8	25	57	52	940
Spectacled Warbler	2	-	2	-	-	23
Dartford Warbler	-	7	7	1	2	118
Sardinian Warbler	42	305	347	162	288	7951
Western Subalpine Warbler	19	5	24	25	44	677
Firecrest	-	-	-	-	1	41
Goldcrest	-	1	1	-	-	7
Short-toed Treecreeper	-	-	-	-	-	23
Wren	3	9	12	2	9	392
Spotless Starling	-	-	-	-	-	21
Common Starling	-	-	-	-	-	4
Mistle Thrush	-	-	-	-	-	3
Song Thrush	9	35	44	40	53	1923
Redwing	1		1	-	1	17
Blackbird	11	45	56	65	67	2882
Ring Ouzel	-	1	1	-	3	28
Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin	-	-	-	-	-
Spotted Flycatcher	9	6	15	19	12	295
Robin	47	701	748	340	521	18043
Nightingale	40	33	73	72	57	1459
Bluethroat	-	-	-	1	-	15
Red-breasted Flycatcher	-	2	2	-	-	4
Pied Flycatcher	34	66	100	145	178	2885
Black Redstart	12	362	374	195	164	10058
Common Redstart	10	61	71	84	45	333
Common Rock Thrush	-	-	-	-	-	4
Blue Rock Thrush	-	2	2	3	3	87
Whinchat	1		1	1	1	50
Stonechat	-	10	10	6	5	251
Black-eared Wheatear	-	-	-	-	1	29
Northern Wheatear	-	-	-	-	1	43
Dunnock	-	-	-	-	1	28
Spanish Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	7
House Sparrow	7	71	78	24	67	1076
House/Spanish Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	1
Grey Wagtail	-	-	-	-	-	24
Western Yellow Wagtail	-	-	-	-	-	6
Tawny Pipit	-	-	-	-	-	15
Richard's Pipit	-	-	-	-	-	1
Tree Pipit	2	1	3	2	7	125
Meadow Pipit		1	1	1	1	51
Brambling	-	-	-	1	3	14
African Chaffinch	1		1	-	2	5
Common Chaffinch	9	23	32	29	24	904
Hawfinch	-	-	-	-	-	4
Common Rosefinch	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bullfinch	-	2	2	2	2	31
Trumpeter Finch	-	-	-	-	-	1
Greenfinch	15	101	116	126	160	4782
Linnet	1	2	3	2	2	120
Red Crossbill	-	-	-	-	-	1
Goldfinch	1	29	30	28	18	1151
Serin	15	253	268	99	130	1849
Siskin	-	51	51	174	13	512
House Bunting	-	-	-	-	-	2
Little Bunting	-	-	-	-	-	2
Corn Bunting	-	-	-	-	-	11
Rock Bunting	-	1	1	-	-	8
Ortolan Bunting	-	-	-	1	2	35
Cirl Bunting	-	-	-	-	-	2
TOTAL	1672	5526	7197	5168	6313	140730

 

APPENDIX 1 DAILY MINIMUM COUNTS OF MIGRANT SOARING RAPTORS SPRING 2025
See Systematic List for records of falcons and species represented by fewer than ten individuals
Date	Osprey	Egyptian Vulture	Honey Buzzard	Griffon Vulture	Short-toed Eagle	Booted Eagle	Sparrowhawk	Marsh Harrier	Montagu's Harrier	Black Kite	Day Totals
28-Jan										1	1
29-Jan										2	2
06-Feb											0
07-Feb											0
10-Feb											0
12-Feb											0
13-Feb				4						1	5
15-Feb											0
16-Feb							1			2	3
17-Feb							2			1	3
19-Feb				1							1
20-Feb								1			1
21-Feb	2										2
22-Feb										3	3
23-Feb				3							3
24-Feb											0
25-Feb		1			70			2		60	133
26-Feb											0
28-Feb											0
29-Feb											0
01-Mar								2		1	3
02-Mar											0
03-Mar											0
04-Mar		1			1					350	352
06-Mar										200	200
08-Mar					2					500	502
09-Mar										218	218
10-Mar					5					60	65
11-Mar					5	3				54	62
12-Mar							3			20	23
13-Mar	3									6	9
14-Mar					6	3				639	648
15-Mar	1	1			68	7	7	16	1	3254	3355
16-Mar					51	26	11	12		319	419
18-Mar	1	4			82	75	49	29		2686	2926
19-Mar											0
20-Mar											0
21-Mar	2				1	17	15	12	1	767	815
22-Mar	2	7		1	22	83	34	7	12	1639	1807
23-Mar	1								1		2
24-Mar	1			2	8	18	10	5		670	714
25-Mar	2			1	8	345	25	5	1	23	410
26-Mar											0
27-Mar						140	12			22	174
28-Mar	1				1	17	3	1		42	65
29-Mar											0
01-Apr	2	1	1		2	410	42	21	6	568	1053
03-Apr											0
04-Apr						1	3	1		89	94
05-Apr					2	22	3	3		13	43
06-Apr	6			1		3		2	1	2	15
07-Apr											0
08-Apr											0
09-Apr											0
13-Apr	2	3		39	26	58	23	12	1	120	284
14-Apr						12	10	4		130	156
15-Apr				54	5	18	9			354	440
16-Apr	2	1		2	19	42	29	3	1	347	446
17-Apr											0
19-Apr	3	16	1	1	3	38	6	2	5	338	413
20-Apr	11				4	151	14	1		437	618
21-Apr	2		2		4	15	8	1		22	54
22-Apr	2	2	13	12	9	42	6	2		314	402
25-Apr	1		2		1	7	10	1		106	128
26-Apr	1	1	6	1	3	45	10	4		218	289
27-Apr											0
28-Apr											0
29-Apr											0
30-Apr			37						1		38
01-May			5				2				7
02-May		1	151	5	6	18	1	1		110	293
03-May	1	3	1726	2	3	12	3			639	2389
04-May			531	3	8	12				363	917
05-May			20			1				20	41
06-May			107		4	2	1			93	207
07-May											0
08-May			315	27		19	2	2	1	180	546
09-May			2948		3	11	3	1		33	2999
10-May			2965	3	2	86	1	5		263	3325
12-May			36	21	4	33	1	1		30	126
13-May			3			1				16	20
14-May			12			1					13
15-May			100	6	6	13		1		15	141
16-May											0
18-May			15			1					16
20-May			30			1				1	32
21-May											0
22-May	1		587	1	2	42				145	778
26-May											0
27-May											0
29-May											0
02-Jun										9	9
04-Jun			16		3	3					22
07-Jun						1					1
08-Jun											0
09-Jun											0
10-Jun						1					1
11-Jun			4		2						6
12-Jun			1	7							8
14-Jun						1					1
15-Jun											0
16-Jun											0
17-Jun											0
18-Jun											0
19-Jun											0
21-Jun						1					1
22-Jun											0
24-Jun			1		1						2
25-Jun			1	9		1				1	12
30-Jun											0
01-Jul											0
07-Jul			2			1					3
12-Jul											0
16-Jul						1					1
18-Jul				1		2					3
19-Jul					2						2
TOTALS	50	42	9638	207	454	1863	359	160	32	16516	29321
	Osprey	Egyptian Vulture	Honey Buzzard	Griffon Vulture	Short-toed Eagle	Booted Eagle	Sparrowhawk	Marsh Harrier	Montagu's Harrier	Black Kite	Day Totals

 

 

APPENDIX 2 DAILY MINIMUM COUNTS OF MIGRANT SOARING RAPTORS AUTUMN 2024
See Systematic List for records of falcons and species represented by fewer than ten individuals
Date	Osprey	Egyptian Vulture	Honey Buzzard	Griffon Vulture	Short-toed Eagle	Booted Eagle	Sparrowhawk	Marsh Harrier	Montagu's Harrier	Black Kite	Day Totals
18-Jul										47	47
19-Jul										408	408
20-Jul										528	528
21-Jul										61	61
25-Jul										35	35
29-Jul										2	2
09-Aug							1				1
19-Aug			5				1		1	3200	3207
20-Aug										200	200
21-Aug		1							1	40	42
24-Aug										1	1
25-Aug			2							3	5
27-Aug		1	403		1			2	1	104	512
28-Aug	1	5	310					2	6	1160	1483
29-Aug	1	5	800			5	1	2	5	1361	2179
30-Aug							1	1	2	2	6
31-Aug		1	8	1						72	82
01-Sep		4	850			8	2	1	1	1250	2116
02-Sep			47					3		109	159
07-Sep			19								19
09-Sep			300			1			1	50	352
10-Sep	4	1	2941			8	9	36	8	268	3271
11-Sep			125					10			135
17-Sep						101					101
18-Sep						80					80
19-Sep			1								1
20-Sep						80					80
21-Sep	5		190		1	280	19	12	2	12	516
22-Sep	2	4	364		5	96	27	32		4	532
23-Sep			54				2	6		42	104
25-Sep						50					50
26-Sep						31					31
28-Sep								1			1
30-Sep							2	2			4
01-Oct						24					24
03-Oct						30					30
04-Oct			5	1	1	5	20	3		5	40
05-Oct	1		4				4	2		7	17
08-Oct						5					5
09-Oct							2				2
13-Oct						12					12
14-Oct			1		1	1					3
18-Oct								1			1
19-Oct						2					2
20-Oct					1						1
25-Oct					1						1
29-Oct					1						1
30-Oct				11							11
31-Oct					1						1
06-Nov				55							55
TOTALS	14	22	6429	68	13	819	91	116	28	8971	16557
Date	Osprey	Egyptian Vulture	Honey Buzzard	Griffon Vulture	Short-toed Eagle	Booted Eagle	Sparrowhawk	Marsh Harrier	Montagu's Harrier	Black Kite	Day Totals