Bird Sightings February 2025
22 Feb: Overcast skies with low levanter cloud over the Rock and steady drizzle. Winds light easterly.
21 Feb: Overcast skies also with levanter cloud over the Rock and town. Winds fresh easterly.
North Front cemetery held six Chiffchaffs, four Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds, a Robin, a Stonechat and two White Wagtails.
20 Feb: Clear skies with a light and variable wind, turning to a light easterly in the afternoon.
A Marsh Harrier was seen from Jews' Gate early in the morning.
A visit to Europa foreshore produced five Cormorants, four Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, four Chiffchaffs, three Sardinian Warblers, two Black Redstarts, a Blue Rock Thrush, four Greenfinches and three Goldfinches.
19 Feb: Mainly clear skies but some high cloud during the day. Winds moderate westerly.
A Griffon Vulture flew north over the Rock in the early afternoon. A Common Sandpiper was present at Camp Bay, and two Sandwich Terns were observed at Little Bay.
18 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.
17 Feb: Clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.
Westerly winds hampered the ringing campaign with only seven new birds ringed with five Blackcaps, a Sardinian Warbler and a Robin ringed.
A walk along Signal Station road held a Barbary Partridge, two Peregrines, a Raven, three Blue Tits, six Chiffchaffs, six Blackcaps, six Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, five Wrens, a Song Thrush, three Blackbirds, four Robins, three Greenfinches and a Serin.
There were two Ospreys, a Black Kite and two sparrowhawks observed heading north. Eight Swallows headed north and four Ravens were seen over the Rock.
16 Feb: Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud. Winds moderate south-westerly.
Only three new birds were processed with Two Blackcaps and a Hoopoe.
An afternoon visit to Europa point and foreshore produced a Common Sandpiper, four Turnstones, 132 Black-headed Gulls, seven Mediterranean Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls west, five sandwich terns, 24 Gannets, a Grey Heron, three Chiffchaffs, two Sardinian Warblers, a Blackbird, a White Wagtail and two Serins.
A Whimbrel and a Grey Heron was observed at Rosia Bay. Two Black kites flew north over the Rock. A Sparrowhawk was observed hunting over Windmill Hill. Two Swallows were seen from the Observatory and a Grey Wagtail was present at the Botanic Gardens.
15 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock and town also with a covering of high cloud, in a moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Chiffchaff | 4 | 4 | |
Blackcap | 11 | 11 | |
Totals | 15 | 15 |
A Hoopoe was seen below Jews' Gate.
Europa foreshore and surrounds held four Collared Doves, 103 Black-headed Gulls, two Sandwich Terns, nine Gannets, six Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, four Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, three Black Redstarts, a Blue Rock Thrush, two Stonechats, a White Wagtail, four Greenfinches and four Serins.
14 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Chiffchaff | 2 | 2 | |
Blackcap | 15 | 15 | |
Totals | 17 | 17 |
A Hoopoe was observed in the Princess Caroline's battery area.
13 Feb: Clear skies with a fresh westerly.
A Swallow flew north over the Observatory. Four Griffon Vultures were seen over Middle Hill at 13:00hrs, and a Black Kite was seen over town heading north.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
Blackcap | 15 | 2 | 17 |
Robin | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Totals | 17 | 4 | 21 |
12 Feb: Mainly clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.
Two Lesser Kestrels and three House Martins heading north.
11 Feb: Cloudy skies with levanter cloud and some sunny intervals. Winds moderate easterly.
Only eight new birds were ringed with seven Blackcaps and a Sardinian Warbler, and a retrap Sardinian Warbler processed.
A Sparrowhawk was observed over Vineyards Estate. Two Jackdaws present at Moorish Castle estate.
An hours watch at Europa Point produced four Cormorants, three Shags, 70 Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, eight Audouin's Gulls, four Sandwich Terns, eight Gannets, six Chiffchaffs, four Sardinian Warblers, two Blackcaps, and three Stonechats.
10 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock and town in a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Chiffchaff | 2 | 2 | |
Blackcap | 18 | 1 | 19 |
Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
Totals | 22 | 2 | 24 |
09 Feb: Clear skies with light variable winds, becoming moderate easterly mid morning with levanter cloud, and clouds from the east.
Ringing Totals consisted of just 12 Blackcaps.
08 Feb: Mainly clear skies with some high cloud. Winds moderate to light westerly.
At North Front cemetery there was a Cormorant flying west over the Airport, and present were three Chiffchaffs, five Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, six Black Redstarts, three Stonechats, 21 House Sparrows and two White Wagtails.
A two hour watch at Europa Point produced 95 Black-headed Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Sandwich Terns and 12 Gannets.
A Stone Curlew was heard calling at night over the Observatory.
07 Feb: Ringing Totals consisted of 16 Blackcaps. Retraps consisted of a Blue Tit, and a Robin.
06 Feb: Ringing Totals consisted of seven Blackcaps, and a Song Thrush, with a retrap Blackcap and a Robin.
An injured Peregrine was found at Glacis estate.
Peregrine. J. Mesilio.
05 Feb: Ringing Totals consisted of eight Blackcaps, two retrap Blackcaps and two retrap Sardinian Warblers.
04 Feb: Clear skies with a moderate north-easterly wind becoming easterly in the afternoon. Levanter cloud forming with other cloud from the east giving some sunny intervals.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Blackcap | 13 | 13 | |
Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
Black Redstart | 1 | 1 | |
Totals | 16 | 2 | 18 |
A Razorbill was seen at Ocean Village, and a Grey Heron at the Detached Mole, with two more at the small boats marina which also held three Cormorants and two Sandwich Terns.
03 Feb: Overcast skies with a moderate to fresh easterly wind. Some heavy showers in the early morning and evening.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Wryneck | 1 | 1 | |
Chiffchaff | 2 | 2 | |
Blackcap | 20 | 1 | 21 |
Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
Robin | 3 | 3 | |
Chaffinch | 2 | 2 | |
Totals | 26 | 5 | 31 |
Wryneck. M. Cutts.
Fourteen Balearic Shearwaters were observed off Europa Point.
Hundreds of Crag Martins gathered around Harbour Views Estate in the evening.
02 Feb: Cloudy with sunny intervals, winds moderate westerly.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
Blackcap | 21 | 4 | 25 |
Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
Robin | 1 | 1 | |
Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
Totals | 26 | 5 | 31 |
Along the South Mole, there were six Collared Doves, 75 Black-headed Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, nine Gannets, three Chiffchaffs, three Sardinian Warblers, a Blue Rock Thrush, two Stonechats and two Goldfinches.
The Seven Sisters rocks and area held 12 Black-headed Gulls, a Sandwich Tern, three Gannets, 10 Cormorants, two Shags, a Little Egret, three Grey Herons, 13 Crag Martins, five Spotless Starlings, two Black Redstarts, and a White Wagtail.
Little Bay held three Cormorants, four Shags, two Gannets and a Sandwich Tern.
At Sandy Bay there were two Barbary Partridges, four Shags, three Gannets, a Robin and a Black Redstart.
01 Feb: Some high cloud, increasing in the afternoon. Winds light variable to light westerly.
Ringing Totals
Species | New | Retrap | Total |
Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
Blackcap | 18 | 1 | 19 |
Robin | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
Totals | 21 | 3 | 24 |