25 Mar:  Clear skies in the morning with increasing cloud and storm clouds by mid afternoon with thunder and some rain later.  Winds moderate westerly.

There were two Hoopoes at the Botanic Gardens, and the first Black-eared Wheatear of the season at North Front cemetery.

Black-eared Wheatear at North Front cemetery.                        M. Figueras.

A trickle of raptors involving mainly many Booted Eagles, with few Black Kites.  Totals for the day until mid afternoon when storms appeared were two Ospreys, a Griffon Vulture, eight Short-toed Eagles, 345 Booted Eagles, 25 Sparrowhawks, five Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, 23 Black Kites and a migrant Peregrine. 

Also seen were four Spoonbills, eight Bee-eaters, 28 Swallows, 26 House Martins, a Greenfinch, three Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and a Serin.

24 Mar:  Clear skies in a moderate to light north-westerly wind in the Bay and south-westerly in the Strait.

A Woodchat Shrike was present at Westview promenade.  A Hoopoe and a Subalpine Warbler at North Front cemetery.

A trickle of raptors throughout the day with most soaring over the sea and gaining height before crossing over the Bay and Jews' Gate.  Total for the morning and afternoon an Osprey, two Griffons Vulture, eight Short-toed Eagles, 18 Booted Eagles, 10 Sparrowhawks, five Marsh Harriers and 670 Black Kites, and a Buzzard.

Also seen were a flock of 30 Cormorants, eight Spoonbills, five Bee-eaters, 12 Swallows and a Linnet.

A flock of 18 Avocets were observed from Europa Point.

23 Mar:  Cloudy in the morning with some light showers, and increasing sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Winds fresh westerly.

Ringing Totals

At North Front cemetery there was a Hoopoe, nine Woodchat Shrikes, a Chiffchaff, three Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, four Blackbirds, 13 Spotless Starlings, a Black Redstart, two Common Redstarts,  two Blue Rock Thrushes and 19 House Sparrows.

There were 13 Greenfinches at the top entrance to the Botanic Gardens, and two Hoopoes there as well.  A Great Tit and a Black Redstart seen at Witham's cemetery.

A Little Swift was seen in the afternoon around Europa Advance road.

A steady passage of Black Kites in the afternoon as the weather improved, together with a Montagu's Harrier and an Osprey.  Also seen was a flock of 60 White Storks., six Alpine Swifts and 10 Bee-eaters.

There were two Cormorants and four Shags at Little Bay, and the possibility a pair of Shags have found a nesting hole on the cliff.

22 Mar:  Clear skies in the morning with increasing cloud and sunny intervals and a few light showers.  Winds fresh north-westerly becoming westerly in the late afternoon.

Ringing Totals

At North Front cemetery there were two Hoopoes, 11 Woodchat Shrikes, two Chiffchaffs, three Sardinian Warblers, two Subalpine Warblers, seven Blackbirds and three Black Redstarts.

The Botanic Gardens held six Collared Doves, a Hoopoe, two Woodchat Shrikes, six Blue Tits, two Great Tits, six Chiffchaffs, 19 Blackcaps, three Sardinian Warblers, three Wrens, 33 Blackbirds, a Black Redstart, a Chaffinch, 36 Greenfinches and a Goldfinch.

A flock of 30 Sand Martins were seen along Europa Advance road.

Two Red-billed Choughs were observed flying south over Coaling Island.

In the morning at Europa Point there were three Audouin's Gulls, a Cormorant, two Shags, and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls. In the afternoon a flock of 16 Avocets flew south-west, and a Woodchat Shrike was observed at Europa foreshore.

Totals of raptors an Osprey, seven Egyptian Vultures, a Griffon Vulture, 22 Short-toed Eagles, 78 Booted Eagles, 34 Sparrowhawks, seven Marsh Harriers, 12 Montagu's Harriers, 1639 Black Kites, four Lesser Kestrels and two Kestrels.  Also seen were 27 Bee-eaters, 32 Swallows, 71 House Martins, two Meadow Pipits, a Yellow Wagtail, two Greenfinches, eight Linnets and a Siskin.

Male Montagu's Harrier over the Rock.                   R. Perez.

21 Mar:  Cloudy first thing in the morning but with increasing sunny intervals.  Winds fresh to strong westerly.

Ringing Totals

A Nightingale was observed in the Arengo's area. 

Obesrvations from Europa Point consisted of a Common Sandpiper, two Black-headed Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, three Audouin's Gull west, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls west, four Sandwich Tern, 285 White Storks, (250 in one flock), four Black Storks, 19 Gannets, eight Cormorants, three Shags, an Osprey, 11 Booted Eagles, 13 Sparrowhawk, seven Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, 767 Black Kites, 22 Swallows, a House Martin, a Red-rumped Swallow, a Willow Warbler, seven Chiffchaffs, two Black Redstarts, a Yellow Wagtail, two Goldfinches,and a Serin.

At North Front cemetery there were two Hoopoes, three Woodchat Shrikes, a Sardinian Warbler, three Blackbirds, a Black Redstart and three Spotless Starlings.

20 Mar: Overcast skies and heavy levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Some showers in the morning.  Winds moderate south-easterly, becoming moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A visit to North Front cemetery produced five Woodchat Shrikes, three Bonelli's Warblers, a Blackcap, seven Sardinian Warblers, two Subalpine Warblers, five Blackbirds, three Black Redstarts, 11 Spotless Starlings and 19 House Sparrows.

At Windmill Hill there were six Barbary Partridges, 10 Pallid Swifts, a Collared Dove, two Kestrels, seven Woodchat Shrikes, two Blue Tits, 13 Swallows, four Bonelli's Warblers, two Willow Warblers, 11 Chiffchaffs, two Iberian Chiffchaffs, 18 Sardinian Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Wren, two Song Thrushes, 11 Blackbirds, four Robins, a Nightingale, nine Black Redstarts, a Blue Rock Thrush,  Wheatear, two Yellow Wagtails, two Chaffinches, five Greenfinches, a Linnet and a Serin.

There were three Hoopoes at the Botanic Gardens, and 11 Chiffchaffs, an Iberian Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat at Europa foreshore.

19 Mar:  Overcast skies with heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Small numbers of Swallows heading north over Jews' Gate.  Also seen were two Greenfinches and two Goldfinches.

At Europa foreshore there were eight Chiffchaffs among the Tree Mallow Malva arborea in flower, four Sardinian Warblers and a Black Redstart.

A Wheatear was seen at North Front cemetery.

18 Mar:  Cloudy with sunny intervals throughout the day.  Some light drizzle in places.  Winds fresh north-westerly becoming moderate west in the afternoon.

As rain showers eased off along the Strait, hundreds of raptors and storks made a dash northward.  Most passage occurred during the morning, tailing off in the early afternoon, when passage was observed in the distance west of the Rock.

Totals for the day, an Osprey, four Egyptian Vultures, 82 Short-toed Eagles, 75 Booted Eagles, 49 Sparrowhawks, 29 Marsh Harriers, (16 males, 13 females), 2686 Black Kites and a Kestrel. 

Also seen were a Pallid Swift, a flock of 65 Alpine Swifts, 65 Black Storks, 240 White Storks, 32 Cormorants, two Ravens, 81 Swallows, five Red-rumped Swallows, 33 House Martins, two Yellow Wagtails, seven Meadow Pipits, 50 Chaffinches, five Linnets and three Goldfinches.

A visit to North Front cemetery produced 11 Woodchat Shrikes, a Crested Lark, six Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler,  three Blackbird, six Black Redstarts, a Common Redstart, two Spotless Starlings and four Goldfinch.

Common Redstart male, at North Front cemetery.                          C. Fortuna.

Three Hoopoes were present in the Botanic Gardens, and a Subalpine Warbler was seen in vegetation around Ocean Village.  Numbers of Pallid Swifts in town have increased, with many seen in the morning.

Subalpine Warbler at North Front cemetery.                              C. Fortuna.

17 Mar:  Overcast skies with showers in the morning.  Winds moderate westerly, becoming light by midday and turning easterly until the evening when winds returned to westerly.

A ringing session during the afternoon when winds turned easterly produced the following:-

Ringing Totals

Two Chiffchaffs and a Nightingale were observed on the rooftop of No 6 Convent Place.

Passage of Meadow Pipits in the morning, and a grounded Tree Pipit seen, with seven Meadow Pipits seen from Jews' Gate Observatory together with seven Linnets.

A Hoopoe was present in the Botanic Gardens.  There were single Woodchat Shrike and Black Redstart at North Front cemetery.

16 Mar:  Overcast skies with showers in the morning, but dry with sunny intervals in the afternoon..  Winds moderate south-westerly.

Only one Chiffchaff ringed together with two retrap Sardinian Warblers and a retrap Blackcap

An hours watch between 16:45-17:48 at Europa Point produced six Gannets, 16 Balearic Shearwaters west, three Shags, 23 Audouin's Gulls west, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a Sandwich Tern. 

Also seen were 50 Short-toed Eagle, 19 Booted Eagles, 6 Sparrowhawk, 7 Marsh Harrier and 227 Black Kites. 

Also seen in the area were 11 Collared Doves, two Blue Tits, three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, four Sardinian Warblers, five Blackbirds, two Blue Rock Thrushes, 41 House Sparrows and four Greenfinches.

Little Bay rocks held two Cormorants and an immature Gannet.

Total numbers of raptors counted were 10 Short-toed Eagles, seven Booted Eagles, four Sparrowhawks, four Marsh Harriers, and 110 Black Kites with more raptors up the Bay.  Also seen were eight Swallows.

15 Mar:  Mainly clear skies with a few westerly clouds increasing in the late afternoon.  Winds fresh south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

Good raptor passage throughout the day from 09:00-19:25, with 3254 Black Kites, an Egyptian Vulture, 68 Short-toed Eagles, 16 Marsh Harriers, (10m, 6f), a male Montagu's Harrier, a male Pallid Harrier, seven Booted Eagles, seven Sparrowhawks an Osprey, two Lesser Kestrels and an early Hobby. Also seen a flock of 116 White Storks.

Several Gannets, two Audouin's Gulls and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls plus a Hoopoe were seen at Europa Point.

14 Mar:  Finally some sunny intervals with a few cloudy patches and the odd showers in the afteroon.  WInds mainly north-easterly.

Ringing Totals

A trickle of raptors in the morning and afternoon but by late afternoon there was a flurry of Black Kites.  Totals were 639 Black Kites, six Short-toed Eagles, and three Booted Eagles.  Also seen were 149 Cormorants in three flocks.

13 Mar:  Cloudy with rain showers with a fresh westerly.

Some Raptors and Storks ventured to cross the Strait during the day in-between heavy showers. Over 156 White Storks and 70 Black Storks were observed.  Also seen were several Black Kites and three Ospreys.

Black Stork over Jews' Gate.                                          M. Barrey.

Two Hoopoes were still present at the Botanic Gardens.

12 Mar: Cloudy with some sunny intervals and some light drizzle in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Black Kites  continued to head north with 16 birds seen together with a Sparrowhawks. A flock of 23 Black Storks flew north over the Bay in the morning.

Some Meadow Pipits, Linnets and a flock of eight Corn Buntings heading north over the Jews' Gate Observatory.

A Bonelli's Warbler and Iberian Chiffchaff were seen in the Nature Reserve, and at North Front Cemetery another two Iberian Chiffchaffs, a Woodchat Shrike, two Blackcaps, three Sardinian Warblers and a Stonechat.

Two Hoopoes were present in the Botanic Gardens.

11 Mar:  Occasional rain in the morning with some sunny intervals in the afternoon, in a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

Pallid Swifts present at North Pavilion. A flock of 16 Flamingoes flew west over the runway.

A Subalpine Warbler was present at Europa foreshore, and an Iberian Chiffchaff was still present above Arengos Estate.

54 Black Kites, 4 Short-toed Eagles and at least three Booted Eagles seen.

A flock of 47 Avocets Flew south off the east side of the Rock and past Europa Point, where a ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen. 

10 Mar:  Overcast skies with intermittant sunny intervals and heavy showers.  Winds fresh south-westerly.

 A Woodchat Shrike was seen around Tovey Cottage, and two Hoopoes were present at the Botanic Gardens. 

Black Kites continued to arrive throughout the day, together with three Black Storks and some Short-toed Eagles.

A Subalpine Warbler was observed at the Little Bay tunnel entrance, and a Great Skua was seen at Europa Point.

09Mar:  Overcast skies with heavy showers in the morning and afternoon in a southerly to south-westerly wind.

218 Black Kites flew north between showers in the early morning.  Some more were observed throughout the day.

Two Shags, a Cormorant and a Sandwich Tern were seen at Little Bay.  Four Alpine Swifts were observed heading north in the afternoon. 

In the morning at North Front cemetery there were five Hoopoes, a Woodchat Shrike, two Chiffchaffs, two Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, a Robin, five Black Redstarts a Spotless Starling and a Stonechat.  By the afternoon there were only four Hoopoes, two Woodchat Shrikes, a Subalpine Warbler, eight Black Redstarts and two Spotless Starlings.

An Iberian Chiffchaff was present above Arengos estate.

08 Mar:  Overcast skies with heavy showers in the morning and afternoon in a southerly to south-westerly wind.

At least 500 Black Kites and a couple of Short-toed Eagles seen mainly in the afternoon when winds freshened.

At Europa Point there were 15 Audouin's Gulls heading west, three Gannets, and at the Europa foreshore there were  a Hoopoe, a Bonelli's Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, a Subalpine Warbler, a Robin, a Wheatear and nine Greenfinches. in the area.

There was a Woodchat Shrike at North Front cemetery and four Pallid Swifts at Varyl Begg Estate.

07 Mar:  Overcast skies with isolated showers in a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

At Europa foreshore there were 10 Turnstones, two Black-headed Gulls,  two Chiffchaffs, a Bonelli's Warbler,  two Blackcaps, two Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, two Black Redstarts, and a male Northern Wheatear.

06 Mar: Overcast skies and levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with isolated showers throughout the day.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

 A Spoonbill was observed at Rosia Bay.  Several hundred Black Kites over the harbour area.

05 Mar:  Overcast skies with isolated showers in a moderate easterly wind.

A Hoopoe was present at the Botanic Gardens. There was a big flock of hirundines over Jews' Gate Observatory, including six Alpine Swifts. Lots of phylloscopus warblers seen at Westview promenade.

A Pallid Swift was seen flying out of New Mole House, and others seen at Europa Business Centre, including 10 over Mid Harbours Marina.

04 Mar:  Overcast skies and levanter cloud over the Rock and town, with isolated heavy showers.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Over 350 Black Kites over the harbour area in the early morning.  Also seen were a Short-toed Eagle and an Egyptian Vulture.  

03 Mar:  Overcast skies with some showers and  levanter cloud over the Rock and town in a fresh easterly wind.

02 Mar:  Overcast skies with some showers and  levanter cloud over the Rock and town in a fresh easterly wind.

Little Bay rocks held four Cormorants, two Shags and a Grey Heron.

At North Front cemetery there were eight Chiffchaffs, a Hoopoe,  three Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds, four Black Redstarts, a White Wagtail and a Common Starling.

Common Starling in the North Front cemetery.                                           C. Fortuna.

01 Mar:  Overcast skies with a light to moderate westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

An Iberian Chiffchaff was heard in the Governor's Lookout area. Two Marsh Harriers were seen over the Nature Reserve, and a Black Kite over the Bay.