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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