Recent Sightings August 2024
31 Aug: Overcast skies with a light variable to light easterly. Skies clearing by the afternoon with a light south-westerly wind.
An afternoon visit to North Front Cemetery produced a Hoopoe, three Sardinian Warblers, five Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Blue Rock Thrush.
Several Honey Buzzards, Black Kites and Booted Eagles over the Rock, including 10 Egyptian Vultures at 13:00hrs, but no counts were made.
At Europa Point rather quiet with over 100 Cory's Shearwaters to the east of the Rock, and a juvenile Turtle Dove at Europa foreshore.
Juvenile Turtle Dove at Europa foreshore. R. Perez
30 Aug: Cloudy with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour clearing in the afternoon. Winds moderate easterly.
A quiet day at the Observatory with some resident birds about and one migrant.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 3 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Subalpine Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 6 | 1 | 7 |
29 Aug: Overcast skies with a rain shower overnight. Skies continuing cloudy, but some sunny intervals by midday and clearing by early afternoon. Winds light variable to southerly, becoming south-westerly and turning to easterly by the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Woodchat Shrike | 1 | 1 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Willow Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 2 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 5 | 5 | |
| Subalpine Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Nightingale | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals | 17 | 1 | 18 |
Bee-eaters heard at dawn from the Jews' Gate Observatory.
A Grey Heron was observed at Little Bay, and two Common Sandpipers at the Camp Bay waterfall, and a Whimbrel on the rocky shoreline.
A Tawny Owl was also heard around the South District gardens.
28 Aug: Mainly clear skies in the morning but soon covered by levanter cloud over the Rock and town. Levanter cloud dissipating in the early afternoon. Winds light to moderate easterly.
A Little Egret was observed by the Mid Harbours Marina, and four Ravens flew south over the airfield.
A Tawny Owl was heard from a Eucalyptus tree at Buena Vista Estate.
26 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 5 | 5 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Grasshopper Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Nightingale | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 14 | 1 | 15 |
Two Little Owls were heard after midnight with one from the reclamation area and the other on the talus slope. A Short-toed Eagle flew over the Rock in the afternoon.
25 Aug: Clear skies with a light westerly becoming light variable in the late afternoon.
A juvenile Turtle Dove was observed at Europa Point, and a walk up Signal Station road produced two Iberian Chiffchaffs and four Spotted Flycatchers.
24 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour for most of the morning and mid afternoon. Winds moderate easterly becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Nightingale | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals | 7 | 1 | 8 |
23 Aug: Clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind becoming moderate westerly in the afternoon.
Three Honey Buzzards and a few Black Kites were seen over the town in the morning.
22 Aug: Some low levanter cloud over the Rock before dawn but clear skies at sunrise. Winds light variable to light westerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Great Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Bonelli’s Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Greenfinch | 2 | ||
| Totals | 9 | 6 | 15 |
21 Aug: Mainly clear skies with some cloud over the Strait area in the morning. Levanter cloud forming late in the morning, becoming heavier in the afternoon. Winds light variable to light easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 4 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 13 | 1 | 14 |
Common Sandpipers heard from the Europort area at night and around Jews' Gate at dawn.
20 Aug: Clear skies with a light north-westerly wind becoming light westerly in the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Great Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Iberian Chiffcahff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 3 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Whitethroat | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |
| Nightingale | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 17 | 4 | 21 |
Along Signal Station Road there were three Hoopoes and two Spotted Flycatchers.
19 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock for most of the morning but dissipated just before midday. Winds moderate to light easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Iberian Chiffcahff | 1 | 1 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Orphean Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 14 | 5 | 19 |
18 Aug: Clear skies with a light to moderate westerly wind becoming fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.
A Tawny Owl was heard calling from the Mount area at dawn.
At least 800 Black Kites headed south over the Rock as from 16:00 until 18:00hrs.
North Front Cemetery was quiet with only a Melodious Warbler and three Blackbirds.
A Great Tit was present near Spur Battery, with a Hoopoe below Middle Hill. Governor's Lookout held a Melodious Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers. Overhead there were three Booted Eagles.
17 Aug: Mainly clear skies but with some levanter cloud over the Rock during the morning and early afternoon.
At Windmill Hill there were seven Barbary Partridges, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, two juvenile Woodchat Shrikes an Iberian Chiffchaff, 16 Sardinian Warblers, seven Blackbirds and three House Sparrows.
At North Front Cemetery there was a Hoopoe, eight Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and a Spotted Flycatcher.
16 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a fresh easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 2 | 2 | |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 8 | 3 | 11 |
A Little Owl was heard calling from the Talus slopes and two Blue Rock Thrushes were present there too. A House Bunting was observed at Europa Point feeding with House Sparrows.
House Bunting at Europa Point. R. Mor
15 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Blackcap | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Garden Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Blackbird | 2 | 2 | |
| Wren | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals | 15 | 3 | 18 |
A Grey Heron was observed at Rosia Bay, and a Booted Eagle was seen hunting over the northern end of the Rock.
14 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate to fresh westerly.
Close to 1187 Black Kites were observed heading south at Europa Point, with many struggling in the strong winds and turning back. Also seen were an adult Egyptian Vulture and a Montagu's Harrier.
Seven Little Egrets flew over the lighthouse and headed north along the east side of the Rock. Another was seen over the airfield.
At North Front Cemetery there were three Hoopoes, a Woodchat Shrike and two Spotted Flycatchers.
A visit to Windmill Hill produced 21 Barbary Partridges, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Melodious Warbler, 15 Sardinian Warblers, an Orphean Warbler, two Blackbirds, two Blue Rock Thrushes and four Greenfinches.
13 Aug: Clear skies with a fresh and at times strong westerly.
Over 3000 Black Kites were observed over the Rock heading south. In the evening several flocks aborted the crossing and turned back north.
A late afternoon visit to North Front Cemetery produced three Hoopoes, five Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds and three Spotted Flycatchers. Three Ravens were seen heading south-west over this site.
12 Aug: Clear skies at dawn with a moderate south-westerly wind, but cloud cover from the east obscured the sun until midday when clouds dissipated. Clear skies and a moderate westerly wind later.
A flock of around 300 Black Kites, with two Short-toed Eagles and a Buzzard were observed in the morning.
A visit to North Front Cemetery proved fruitful with a Hoopoe, a Golden Oriole, three Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds and three Spotted Flycatchers.
Golden Oriole at North Front Cemetery. C. Fortuna
11 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour clearing in the early afternoon. Winds moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 3 | 3 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 2 | 2 | |
| Wren | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 5 | 5 | |
| Totals | 14 | 14 |
A Nightingale was heard calling around Middle Hill, and a light morph Booted Eagle was seen over Camp bay in the late afternoon. A Hoopoe was seen around the Great Siege tunnels together with four Blue Tits, and four Greenfinches at Princess Caroline's Battery area.
10 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, clearing to give some sunny intervals. Winds moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Bonelli’s Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 2 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| House Sparrow | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals | 7 | 7 |
A visit to Europa foreshore produced three Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.
A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were present on the wooded area on the walls above the Market.
A Hoopoe was observed around Governor's Lookout, and a Great Tit was seen at Princess Caroline's Battery.
08 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate to light south-westerly wind.
A Black Kite was seen over Rock Gun in the afternoon, and three Spotted Flycatchers were present at North Front Cemetery.
A total of seven Ravens were observed heading south over town.
A monitoring effort around upper Witham's road Knight's Court and St. Joseph Estate revealed that Spotted Flycatchers were present with two adults since June and an adult with a juvenile in July. There were also two adults seen by Anglo Hispano and another adult around Knight's Court, which could possibly have been the upper Witham's bird.
Also two adult Great Tits around St. Joseph Estate and upper Witham's road, but no juvenile birds were observed. In early July there were three adults present but in the past few weeks only two birds.
05 Aug: Overcast skies in the morning with levanter cloud clearing before midday. Winds light easterly becoming light variable.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 5 | 5 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 3 | 3 | |
| Blackcap | 4 | 4 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Blackbird | 2 | 2 | |
| House Sparrow | 3 | 3 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 20 | 1 | 21 |
A Grey Heron flew away from the GSLA Bathing pavilion. Two Spotted Flycatchers were observed at the entrance to the Botanic gardens, and three Swallows flew south over Vineyards.
At Europa Point in the late afternoon there were five Shags and two Common Sandpipers, one east and one west.
04 Aug: Overcast skies in the morning with sunny intervals by midday increasing. Winds light to moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blue Tit | 4 | 4 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Blackcap | 8 | 8 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 5 | 5 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 34 | 3 | 37 |
A total of 215 Black Kites were observed over the Rock, and an Iberian Chifchaff was heard around Signal Station road.
A Grey Heron was seen over Europa Advance road.
03 Aug: Clear skies but by midday some levanter cloud began to appear over the Rock. Winds north-westerly in the morning turning to easterly by midday.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Totals |
| Blackcap | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 3 | 3 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 3 | 3 | |
| Totals | 12 | 2 | 14 |
An early morning watch at Europa foreshore produced eight Cory's Shearwaters, 18 Shags, a flock of seven Common Sandpipers west plus three on the Rocks for a total for 10 and four Turnstones.
A total of 40 Black Kites flew south in the morning, before the easterlies set in.
02 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate to fresh west turning to south-westerly in the afternoon.
In the morning several 1000 Black Kites flew south, with many more mid afternoon and evening for a total of 3896 Black Kites.
At Europa Point there was a Cory's Shearwater, two Shags east, two Common Sandpipers east, two Black-headed Gulls and an Audouin's Gull. Some Black Kites were also seen aborting a crossing.
01 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly wind.
A flock of Bee-eaters flew south over Jews' Gate in the morning, and the Nightingale , first seen on July 28th, was heard again at Jews' Gate.
At about 16:30hrs Black Kites began to soar over town and the Rock and then headed south. This continued until early evening with a total of about 1200 birds.
Four Common Sandpipers were seen on the rocks at Europa foreshore at midday and then flew west. In the evening 12 Shags flew east and two Kestrels were seen heading north.
Spotted Flycatchers were seen at the entrance to the Botanic gardens and around Bruce's Farm.