30 Apr:  Overcast skies with high cloud for most of the morning and early afternoon, with sunny spells mid afternoon onwards.  Winds moderate westerly.

Winds too strong for the nets to be opened.

A count from 08:00 until 15:30 resulted in the following raptor totals:-

 Also seen were 36 Swallows, a House Martin, two Yellow Wagtails, three Greenfinches and a Serin.

A morning visit to Europa Point produced two Gannets, a Flamingo flying west, two Common Sandpipers and two Audouin's Gulls.  At Europa foreshore there were single Turtle Dove, Blue Rock Thrush and three Sardinian Warblers.  A Swallow headed north and many raptors were observed and are included in the days total.

 A Gull-billed Tern was observed heading west from Europa point in the afternoon.                       J. Bujega.

29 Apr:  Cloudy skies alto-stratus clouds drifting east but clearing late morning to give a sunny day.  Winds fresh south-westerly with strong gusts in the Strait, becoming westerly after midday, but with a northerly element over the Rock.

Windy conditions prevented ringing and nets had to be closed, not before some migrants were trapped.

  Ringing Totals

 A mid-afternoon visit to Europa Point in the afternoon produced two Gannets, a Turnstone, five Puffins, an Audouin's Gull and two Sandwich Terns.  also seen were many raptors that are included in the days totals.

Hobby (R. Perez)

Sparrowhawk (R. Perez)

Also seen were single Egret sp, Alpine Swift, 30 Common Swifts, 22 Black Storks, a Red-rumped Swallow, 16 Swallows, a House Martin and two Tree Pipits. A flock of Bee-eaters were heard.

 Two Woodchat Shrikes were present at North Front Cemetery.

28 Apr:  Overcast skies with alto stratus and cirrus clouds. Winds light easterly in the morning becoming light and variable with some westerly after midday but returning to a south-easterly mid afternoon.

  Ringing Totals

Two Black-winged Stilts were observed on Catalan Bay beach.                                      W. McLaren

A visit to North Front cemetery produced two Woodchat Shrikes, single Melodious Warbler,  Reed Warbler,  Willow Warbler and Sardinian Warbler, and two Blackbirds.

A short spell of westerlies in the afternoon produced 25 Honey Buzzards; most flying up the Bay.

Windmill Hill

27 Apr:  Cloudy skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in the morning.  Levanter cloud disappearing and mainly clear after midday with some high cloud from the west.  Winds moderate easterly.

 Ringing Totals

Pallas Warbler J. Yeoman

Pallas's Leaf Warbler C. Perez

A very productive ringing session with a variety of species that included the second record of Pallas's Leaf Warbler for Gibraltar, and the first ringing record for the species.

26 Apr:  Clear skies with a light variable to light easterly wind.

 Ringing Totals

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

Windmill Hill

25 Apr:  Clear skies with a light variable to light easterly breeze.

 Ringing Totals

Pallid Swift at Europa Point.                         R. Perez

Woodchat Shrike at North Front Cemetery.                                        T. Finlayson.

Some of the excellent photographs that our members have managed to capture this week.

24 Apr:  Clear skies with a light variable to light south-westerly sea-breeze.

 Ringing Totals

Ortolan Bunting

Isabelline Warbler

A Short-toed Eagle was observed over Middle Hill.

23 Apr:  Clear skies with some high cirrus cloud from the west.  Winds light south-westerly.

Seven Black Kites were seen over the airfield heading north, and a Sparrowhawk was over Vineyards early in the morning.

A Subalpine Warbler was present at the Botanic Gardens.

22 Apr:  Cloudy skies with some sunny spells in the morning clearing in the afternoon.  Winds light westerly.

Black-winged Kite over Europa Point.                                                                          R Perez

A trickle of raptors were seen in light winds with five Honey Buzzards, 90 Black Kites, an Egyptian Vulture, two Sparrowhawks, 14 Booted Eagles, a Black-winged Kite, a Lesser Kestrel and a Hobby.  Other birds seen in the Jews' gate area were 26 Swallows, a Willow Warbler, nine Sardinian Warblers, an Orphean Warbler, 17 Spotless Starlings, four Blackbirds, a Pied Flycatcher and two Blue Rock Thrushes.

A Melodious Warbler was seen feeding on the nectar of a Grevillea tree, and three Wheatears were present at Europa Point.

21 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud.  Winds moderate northerly with westerly in the Strait.

The nets were not opened as winds were too strong.

Two Swallows and 10 Common Swifts were observed heading north from the Observatory. Very few raptors crossed the Strait in the morning.

Totals were four Honey Buzzards,  432 Black Kites, two Egyptian Vultures,  two Short-toed Eagles, a Marsh Harrier, 62 Booted Eagles, 17 Sparrowhawks, two Ospreys.  Also seen were a Black Stork,  seven Swallows, four Greenfinches and 19 Common Swifts. 

A Melodious Warbler was found dead by St. Joseph's Estate, and a Garden Warbler was observed at the Botanic Gardens.  A Common Sandpiper was seen at the GSLA Pavilion.

20 Apr:  Clear skies at dawn but levanter cloud developing over the Rock and town during the morning, dissipating by midday.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A trickle of raptors were seen till about 15:00hrs.  Totals were 240 Black Kites, 10 Sparrowhawks and 16 Booted Eagles.  A Black Stork was also seen.  A flock of eight Swallows and 10 Common Swifts flew north past the Observatory. A Pied Flycatcher was present at St. Paul's School.

Orphean Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Wood Warbler

Melodious Warbler

A selection of Migrants trapped and ringed at the Observatory.

19 Apr:  Overcast skies with alto stratus and cirrus clouds, bringing some spots of rain, and with a levanter cloud over the centre of the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh to moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A flock of eight Swallows made it across the Strait and were seen from the Observatory. A dead Nightingale was found outside Peninsular Heights, having possibly crashed into the windows.

A flock of 48 Black Kites headed north at midday.

18 Apr:  Cloudy with some sunny spells away from the Rock, and with a levanter cloud over most of the Rock, town and harbour.  Cloudy with sunny spells over the Strait in a fresh easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A French ringed Pied Flycatcher was trapped at the Observatory.  A Marsh Harrier flew from the east side and was blown over the Bay in the morning. 

A Scops Owl was found inside a house in the town area.

There were two Woodchat Shrikes and five Redstarts at North Front Cemetery.  Two Wheatears, a male and a female, were observed at Europa foreshore.

17 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour but generally clear over the Observatory.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

The Booted Eagle was again present around the Observatory, and six Swallows foraging over Jews' Gate.  Also two Song Thrushes along Transport Lane.

16 Apr:  Clear skies early in the morning, with a fresh and gusty easterly wind setting in.  Some levanter cloud over the Rock late morning and afternoon but clearing by evening.

A light phase Booted Eagle was seen around the Observatory

Ringing Totals

 A Spotted Flycatcher was present at Montagu Gardens residential complex.  Single Melodious Warbler, Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher were observed at the Botanic Gardens.

15 Apr:  Clear skies with good visibility.  Winds fresh northerlies becoming light mid morning, and turning to a light westerly in the afternoon with southerly sea breeze.

Very few raptors today with 25 Black Kites, two Short-toed Eagle, two Sparrowhawks and six Hobbies observed.

Two early morning Marsh Harriers flew north, and two Black Kites were seen earlier over the Rock.

Also seen were a Jackdaw, two Woodchat Shrikes, 26 Swallows, a House Martin and 500 Common Swifts, and a Whinchat.  A Cuckoo was observed at  North Front Cemetery together with three Woodchat Shrike, a Reed Warbler, a Nightingale and a Redstart.   Another Reed Warbler was present at Vineyards.

Only one Pied Flycatcher was ringed at the Observatory due to strong northerly winds.

14 Apr:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly becoming light in the afternoon

Ringing Totals

Raptor Totals

Also seen were 23 Black Storks, 26 Swallows, nine House Martins and three Bee-eaters.

13 Apr:  Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly to westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

Raptor Totals

 Also seen were 35 Flamingoes, 13 Swallows, and three Greenfinches.

12 Apr:  Mainly clear skies but some cloud over the Spanish hills.  Winds fresh northerlies.

Ringing Totals

 Raptor Totals

11 Apr:  Clear skies with a moderate to fresh south-westerly wind becoming light mid afternoon, but freshening in the evening.

Ringing Totals

A good raptor day with plenty of Booted Eagles:-

Also seen were three Ravens that crossed the Bay, six Swallows, a House Martin, a Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail.

10 Apr:  Clear skies but very poor visibility due to Saharan dust.  Winds light variable to a light to moderate south-westerly sea breeze.

Ringing Totals

Winds picked up just after midday providing a good passage of raptors:-

A count at Windmill Hill produced the following:-

There was a Wheatear at Europa Point and a Yellow Wagtail at Europa foreshore.  A Woodchat Shrike was present at Eliott's Battery.

A Nightingale was singing at Westview Promenade.

09 Apr:  Clear skies at dawn, but levanter cloud forming soon after just over the Rock.  Winds light easterly.

 Ringing Totals

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:- 

Four Gannets, a three Cormorants, Black-headed Gull and a Wheatear present at Europa Point.

At the North Front Cemetery there were a Woodchat Shrike, a Song Thrush, a Black-eared Wheatear, a Whinchat and a Redstart.

08 Apr:  Clear skies with light levanter cloud in the morning dissipating by mid morning.  Winds fresh decreasing to moderate easterly.

 Ringing Totals

Two Bonelli's Warbler and a Willow Warbler were present at Vineyards in the morning.  Two Sandwich Terns present around mid harbours area.

 A Subalpine Warbler was present at North Front Cemetery.

07 Apr:  Clear skies with some wisps of levanter cloud over the Rock.  Winds strong easterly becoming fresh.

Ringing Totals

 Two Chaffinches were observed along Signal Station Road.

06 Apr: Clear skies with a gale force easterly wind, becoming strong easterly in the late afternoon.

 Ringing Totals

 A visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Black Redstarts, two Whinchats and a Wheatear.  A Nightingale was singing at Vineyards and a Robin was present at Commonwealth Park.  A Wryneck was seen in the Botanic Gardens.

05 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the centre of the Rock, town and harbour clearing by midday.  Winds strong gale force easterly.

Strong winds prevented most night migrants from crossing the Strait.

Ringing Totals

04 Apr:  Overcast skies also with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Easterlies and the levanter cloud  grounded several migrants including these two:-

Grasshopper Warbler M. Cutts

Orphean Warbler M. Cutts

A flock of five Cattle Egrets flew south past Rosia Bay.  A Song Thrush was present in the Botanic Gardens.

03 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, with sunny spells.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

 A Wheatear was observed at North Front Cemetery.

02 Apr: Clear skies with a light westerly to light variable turning to light easterly in the evening.

Another slow morning ringing which produced the following:-

Ringing Totals

An afternoon visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

Also seen were 67 Black Kites,  a Short-toed Eagle, seven Marsh Harriers, 18 Sparrowhawks, 74 Booted Eagles, five Ospreys, two Peregrines, two Kestrels, two Black Storks eight Swallows, three House Martins, Bee-eater and a Linnet.

A Whimbrel was present at Sandy Bay, and a Little Owl was heard in the Rosia area.

A 45 min watch at Europa Point produced 8 Gannets, nine Puffins, 24 first winter Mediterranean Gulls, an Audouin's Gull and two Sandwich Terns.

Puffins heading out of the Med.                                                            R. Perez

01 Apr:  Clear skies with a fresh south-westerly westerly wind.

A slow morning ringing at the Observatory due to westerly winds impacting the netting site.

Ringing Totals

A morning watch at Europa Point produced six Gannets, three Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and three Sandwich Terns.  Also seen from that site were 46 Black Kites, two Short-toed Eagles, four Sparrowhawks and 54 Booted Eagles.

An hours watch in the afternoon produced 78 Black Kites, 36 Booted Eagles and a Sparrowhawk.

Total raptor count for the day 203 Black Kites, 17 Short-toed Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, 380 Booted Eagles, 18 Sparrowhawks, an Osprey and two Kestrels.

A Long-tailed Tit was seen in the Botanic Gardens.