31 Oct:  Heavy levanter cloud in the morning with overcast skies and cloud from the west.  levanter cloud diminishing but high cloud increasing with low visibility due to Saharan dust.  Winds moderate easterly becoming light.

 Ringing Totals

Early in the morning there was finch passage, with flocks of Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Linnets and some Chaffinches, Serins and Siskins.  Also heard was a Skylark.  There were many Song Thrushes in the area together with a good fall of Blackcaps and some Robins and Black Redstarts. 

There were over one hundred Yellow-legged Gulls resting on Catalan Bay beach and the roofs of the village in the afternoon.

Third year Lesser Black-backed Gull with Yellow-legged Gulls.

Part of the Yellow Legged Gull flock on Catalan Bay

A Common Nightjar was seen perched on a roof in the town.

Among 340 birds ringed at the Observatory this morning.

Adult Blue Rock Thrush

Dunnock

Finally it looks like the autumn is here with good arrivals of Song Thrushes, Black Redstarts and Chiffchaffs.

Windmill Hill

The Osprey was observed again at the western end of the runway, the Little Egret was seen again at the GSLA pool, and a Common Sandpiper was at Westview promenade shoreline.

An evening watch at Europa Point in a spectacular feeding frenzy of Dolphins and Tuna feeding on flying fish produced seven Gannets, eight Shags, a Cormorant west, a Grey Heron, 30 Scopoli's Shearwaters offshore feeding on flying fish, nine Balearic Shearwaters, a Black-headed Gull, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, three Turnstones at the foreshore and a White Wagtail overhead.

30 Oct:  Overcast skies with very heavy levanter cloud in the morning, beginning to clear away from the Rock around midday, and levanter cloud dissipating completely by mid afternoon to give hazy sunshine..  Winds fresh to moderate easterly, becoming light mid afternoon to light variable in the evening.

Only the nets below the Observatory and the pond nets were used.  Session closed at 13:00

Ringing Totals

Two Black Redstarts and a White Wagtail were present at Montagu Gardens residential complex.  Three Siskins flew south past Lathbury.

At Western Beach there was a Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper, and at the western end of the runway the Osprey was still there, together with four Cormorants, two Black-headed Gulls and four Sandwich Terns.  Overhead four Siskins flew by.

At Jews' Gate Observatory, flocks of Serins, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Linnets headed south low overhead.  A Sparrowhawk was seen hunting, and two Red-rumped Swallows were observed.  The top of the Rock held 20 Song Thrushes and a Redwing.

Off Europa Point there was a raft of 45 Scopoli's Shearwaters, with a few more flying close by and a tight flock of about 20 in the distance, 19 Balearic Shearwaters flew west, 10 adult, a sub-adult and a juvenile flew past, and single Shag and Cormorant were also seen.  Several finches flew by together with two White Wagtails.  Around the Mosque area and Aloes there were three Barbary Partridges, 14 Chiffchaffs, three Sardinian Warblers, a Dartford Warbler, two Common Starlings, two Black Redstarts, a Stonechat, a Blue Rock Thrush and seven Goldfinches.

In the afternoon, Catalan Bay beach held over 100 Yellow-legged Gulls, with many more on rooftops heralding the return of most of the breeding colony.  There was one Yellow-legged Gull with a white colour ring, and a third year Lesser Black-backed Gull there as well.

A Pied Flycatcher was present at the Dell area of the Botanic Gardens.

29 Oct:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud, remaining all day.  Winds fresh easterly becoming moderate in the afternoon.  Some sunny spells in the afternoon away from the Rock.

 Only the nets above the Observatory, (six nets),  and two at the pond were used.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron, a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were present at Rosia Bay.  At Western Beach there was a Kingfisher and two White Wagtails, and the Osprey and a Grey Heron were observed at the western end of the runway.

At Europa Point there were 21 Scopoli's Shearwaters, four Balearic Shearwaters, four Gannets, a few Cormorants and finches heading south across the Strait.  Another White Wagtail was present at Commonwealth Park.

28 Oct:  Misty start at dawn with heavy levanter cloud.  Levanter cloud slowly lifting to bring sunny periods mid morning.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

27 Oct:  Clear skies with some levanter cloud mid morning but clearing by midday.  Winds light easterly.

Ringing Totals

The Osprey roosted overnight at the western end of the runway and was seen there this morning together with Grey Herons and Cormorants.  A Common Starling was present at the Montagu Gardens residential area.

Small numbers of Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Linnets flew south over Jews' Gate with a flock of Siskins heard as well.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher was trapped and ringed at the Observatory at Jews' Gate early this morning.  This is the fourth record and the second ringed in Gibraltar.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Red-breasted Flycatcher

26 Oct:  Cloud from the west with some sunny intervals and hazy sunshine.  Winds light variable to light westerly becoming light variable in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Adult White-spotted Bluethroat.

The Osprey, found with a colour ring bearing the number N50, continued to stay at the western end of the runway.

Osprey J. Mesilio

Osprey J. Mesilio

25 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with high cloud and Saharan dust giving hazy sunshine.  Winds moderate easterly.

Only the nets above the Observatory, (six nets),  and two at the pond were used.

Ringing Totals

A wintering Osprey was perched on a pole at the western end of the runway.

24 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light variable to light westerly.

One of the Sardinian Warbler *, a female, had been ringed on the 28/02/2015 as a bird hatched the previous year so was seven years, seven months and 27 days old from the time it was ringed, but had been hatched in 2014 making this close to eight years old;  the oldest Sardinian Warbler to date.  It had been recaptured on four previous occasions, on the 05/10/2017, 17/04/2019, 03/05/2021 and a few weeks previous, on October 2nd this year. 

Ringing Totals

Small passage of finches in the early morning, with Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Serins and a few Chaffinches.  Whimbrel seen on the south groyne at Sandy Bay.

23 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light variable to light westerly.

Ringing Totals

Five Cormorants and a Grey Heron were seen over Rosia bay heading south in the early morning.  Later another four Cormorants flew south over town, and an Osprey was seen over the airfield.

A morning visit to Europa Point produced 70 Cory's Shearwaters, 5 Gannets, two Turnstones, two Common Sandpipers, a Common Starling, seven Spotless Starlings, two Black Redstarts, two Blue Rock Thrushes and two Ravens.

At North Front Cemetery there were single Osprey, a Kestrel, two Sardinian Warblers, a Song Thrush, a Robin, seven Black Redstarts, a White Wagtail and a Serin. A Blue Rock Thrush was also present on the Sand Slopes.

22 Oct:  Hazy skies with high cloud.  Winds light easterly.

Two Serins with Spanish rings were controlled at the Observatory.

Ringing Totals

Europa Point

21 Oct:  High cloud from the west with hazy sunshine.  Winds light variable to a light westerly breeze, becoming moderate north-westerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Windmill Hill

A Little Egret was present at the GSLA pools.

20 Oct:  Overcast skies with light cloud cover and hazy sunshine and Saharan dust.  Winds light variable to light southerly breeze. 

 A good fall of Blackcaps including one with a French ring.

Ringing Totals

Dartford Warbler ringed at the Observatory.

Two Grey Herons were present on the western end of the runway. 

19 Oct:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, clearing after midday to give sunny spells.  High cloud overhead from the west becoming overcast.  Winds moderate easterly becoming light in the afternoon.

 Ringing Totals

A Marsh Harrier was seen in the morning from the Observatory.

Windmill Hill

Kingfishers were present at Rosia Bay and two more by the rocks at Europort.  Two Ospreys were seen low over the harbour in the afternoon.  An owl species, heard screeching was undoubtedly a Barn Owl.

House Bunting found at harbour Views, fourth record..                      F. Torrilla.

18 Oct:  Overcast skies over the Strait and the hinterland and with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with Saharan dust blocking the sunlight.  Winds strong easterlies throughout the night and morning with strong gusts, easing to fresh in the afternoon and remaining overcast.

A good fall of Blackcaps including another one with a Belgian ring.

 Ringing Totals

Small passage of finches with Greenfinches, Linnets, Goldfinches and Serins.  Also two Meadow Pipits seen from the Observatory.  Crag Martins heading north from the roost to feed in Spain and other flocks arriving from the north and heading south.

Some of the migrants ringed at the Jews' Gate Observatory

17 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud bring a light shower mid morning.  Later as winds picked up, producing levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds light south-easterly becoming fresh easterly.

A Belgian ringed Blackcap was trapped at the Observatory. 

 Ringing Totals

A Sparrowhawk was seen in the morning heading south.  The Little Egret was still present at the GSLA Pools, and a Grey Heron was observed on the pontoon at Watergardens.  In the evening at least 150 Swallows were observed wheeling over Jews' Gate.

16 Oct:  Overcast skies with cloud from the west bringing some light showers in the morning to the area with thunder over Morocco.  Clearing in the afternoon with sunny spells. Winds light easterly, but gusty in showers.

Ringing Totals

A Scops Owl was trapped and ringed in the evening.

Scops Owl ringed in the evening.

Movement south of finches early in the morning with flocks of Greenfinches, Serins, and some Chaffinches and Goldfinches.  Some Meadow Pipits were also heard overhead.

At Europa Point there were five Dartford Warblers with another at Little Bay and another at the North Front Cemetery where there were also four Black Redstarts.  Two Little Egrets were seen at Europa Point.  Stonechats were present at Europa Point and the east side Sand Slopes and Song Thrushes were heard around the Observatory, and seen at Europa Point and North pavilion Road.

A count of over 1800 Crag Martins were seen heading to the roost at Gorham's Cave Complex.  Many were feeding on flying ants emerging after the light showers of the morning.

15 Oct:  Clear skies with a light variable to light easterly breeze.

Only the top net rides were used this morning.

Ringing Totals

There were four Booted Eagles and a Short-toed Eagle over the Rock at midday, and two Ospreys flew low over town mid morning.

A Grey Heron was seen heading north over Rosia Bay, and another was resting on the pontoon at Watergardens.

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

14 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some wisps of levanter cloud.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Three Booted Eagles were seen over O'Hara's Battery at 13:00hrs, and an Osprey flew south in the morning.

13 Oct:  Some levanter cloud in the morning clearing by mid morning to give a bright sunny day.  Winds moderate to light easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Little Egret was perched on the GSLA premises.  At least five Booted Eagles were observed soaring over the Rock in the morning.

A count of 800 Crag Martins was made from Europa Advance Road in the evening when they flew down to Gorham's Cave Complex to roost.  Several hundred congregated low over Vineyards before going to roost in the evening.  A Little Owl was seen on the east side Sand Slopes.

12 Oct:  Overcast skies with a levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

Again good numbers of Blackcaps again this morning, including another control from Belgium.

Ringing Totals

A Whimbrel was seen on the rocks at Seven Sisters.

11 Oct:  Overcast skies in the morning, but heavy levanter cloud after midday.  Light easterlies in the early morning becoming moderate after midday.

Good numbers of Blackcaps again this morning, including a control from Belgium, and another from France.

Ringing Totals

At least 800 Cory's Shearwaters were present offshore at Europa Point, in a feeding frenzy.  An Oystercatcher was seen foraging at low tide at Europa foreshore.

10 Oct:  Mainly clear skies but with high westerly cloud.  Winds light variable to light westerly.

Ringing Totals

At least 12 Booted Eagles, three Sparrowhawks, and an Osprey  were seen from Jews' Gate Observatory.  Also seen were two Black Storks.

A Chaffinch was present at Trafalgar Cemetery, and three Common Starlings were seen at Europa Mews.

One of three Starlings observed at Europa Mews.                                                  D. Parody.

09 Oct:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh easterly.  Skies cleared in the early afternoon as winds also decreased.

Ringing Totals

At least 100 Crag Martins flew north past Jews' gate Observatory, where they had been roosting at Gorham's Cave Complex.  A Honey Buzzard, three Black Kites, at least 70 Booted Eagles and two Short-toed Eagles.  In the afternoon many Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles and a few Sparrowhawks were also observed.  Two Glossy Ibises were seen flying  over Windmill Hill, and five Grey Herons were present at Rosia Bay.

At the North Front Cemetery there were single Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher and Stonechat, while two Booted Eagles and a Sparrowhawk flew overhead.  Another Stonechat was present on the sand slopes.

There was a Barn Owl observed in the Europa Point area.

08 Oct:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, with some westerly cloud as well.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

A possible Eastern Black Redstart P. ochrurus ssp. phoenicuroides or a hybrid Black Redstart x Common Redstart  was trapped and ringed this morning.  The main characteristic is the red-orange breast feathers that are grey in Black Redstart.  Notwithstanding this, the red-orange breast and belly feathering is not uniform, and interspersed with white feathering leading to the opinion that it may well be a hybrid.

A possible Eastern Black Redstart P. ochrurus ssp. phoenicuroides or a hybrid Black Redstart x Common Redstart

Ringing Totals

A Hawfinch was seen at the Observatory and flew out of the net.  There was a Pied Flycatcher at Commonwealth Park.

At least 20 Booted Eagles flew in towards the Rock in the morning. 

07 Oct: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a moderate easterly wind.  Sunny spells in the late afternoon.

Ringing Totals

06 Oct:  Cloudy start to the day with overcast skies.  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with sunny spells in the to the south and north of the Rock and Strait in the afternoon.

At least 20 Booted Eagles were seen around the Rock.  Several Swallows were seen from the Observatory as well as a flock of 10 Crag Martins around Vineyards and a flock of 15 around Levant Battery in the evening.

Ringing Totals

 The Pied Flycatcher remained in the Botanic Gardens.

05 Oct:  Heavy levanter cloud in the morning below Moorish Castle level, lifting mid morning and sunny spells in the afternoon to the south and north of the Rock.  Winds light easterly becoming moderate with strong gusts.

Ringing Totals

A Sparrowhawk, two Robins and a Pied Flycatcher were observed in the Botanic Gardens. A Cormorant and a Common Tern were seen on a Dolphin Trip in the Bay.

04 Oct:  Heavy fog in the morning with Saharan dust in the skies.  Winds light variable becoming light easterly.

Ringing Totals

There were single Great Tit, and Pied Flycatcher and three Robins in the Botanic Gardens.

An Egyptian Vulture, three Booted Eagles and four Sparrowhawks were observed over the Rock from the Cable car Station.

03 Oct:  Skies laden with Saharan dust giving a gloomy day.  Winds light variable to light westerly and back to light variable.

As winds turned light variable, a Honey Buzzard, a Short-toed Eagle, 30 Booted Eagles and  eight Sparrowhawks were observed over the Rock. 

A large fall of Blackcaps this morning, including a control from the Channel Islands,  possibly due to the gloomy conditions due to Saharan dust.  The first Song Thrush and Dartford Warbler of the season was also ringed.

Ringing Totals

Single Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Robin was seen at Vineyards, and many Blackcaps were present in the Botanic gardens together with two Iberian Chiffchaffs and three Pied Flycatchers.

02 Oct: Levanter cloud over the Rock and town in a moderate to fresh easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron and a Little Egret were seen from Rosia Bay.  A Sparrowhawk and two Ravens were also seen.

01 Oct: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Some sunny spells later in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

An Osprey was observed fishing at Rosia Bay.