31 Aug:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind, becoming fresh south-westerly in the Strait and bay by midday.

A few flocks of Bee-eaters were heard from the top station of the Cable Car.  Also seen from there were a Hoopoe and an Eleonora's Falcon.

A mid morning watch at Europa point produced a Black-headed Gull, three Audouin's Gulls a Mediterranean Gull and 10 Cory's Shearwaters.  Also seen were three Yellow Wagtails and a White Wagtail.

In the afternoon eight Honey Buzzards, a Griffon Vulture, an Egyptian Vulture and 72 Black Kites were observed.

30 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable westerly breeze, but moderate south-westerly picking up in the Strait and Bay.

No raptor passage due to light winds but a few crossed over the Rock in the morning.  These were two Montagu's Harriers and two Black Kites.

Around the top station of the Cable Car there were single fly-by Tawny Pipit, a Wheatear and a Bonelli's Warbler.  A Redstart was seen along Signal station road.  An Iberian Chiffchaff was heard calling at Princess Caroline's battery area.

Windmill Hill held two Hoopoes, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, three Zitting Cisticolas, two Nightingales, two  Wheatears, a Sparrowhawk hunting and a Marsh Harrier overhead.

A Hoopoe was present at North Front cemetery.

 29 Aug:  Cloudy with high cloud until midday, then clearing.  Winds moderate north-westerly at the head of the bay, but fresh south-westerly in the Strait and entrance of the Bay.

Good passage or raptors until mid morning, but resuming sporadically during the afternoon until dusk.

Totals:- An Osprey, 800 Honey Buzzards, but many missed off the east side of the Rock, five Egyptian Vultures, five Booted Eagles, a Sparrowhawk, four Montagu's Harriers, two Marsh Harriers, 1360 Black Kites and a Long-legged Buzzard.  Also seen were two White Storks, and a lone Bee-eater.

A Redstart was observed around Princess Carolines battery area, and a Willow Warbler along Signal Station road.

An evening watch at Europa Point produced two Whimbrels, nine Sandwich Terns, 65 Cory's Shearwaters, 17 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Audouin's Gulls, four Shags, a Montagu's Harrier and a Black Kite.

28 Aug:  Clear skies with a fresh north-westerly becoming south-westerly by mid morning. 

Good passage of raptors until mid morning when south-westerlies settled in.

Totals for the morning were an Osprey,  five adult Egyptian Vultures, 310 Honey Buzzards, six Montagu's Harriers, two Marsh Harriers and 1160 Black Kites.  Also seen were 56 Spoonbills heading north off the Harbour, and then turned west towards Palmones estuary, 60 Common Swifts and 95 Bee-eaters.

Montagu's Harrier.                                        R. Perez.

27 Aug:  Clear skies with a fresh northerly wind in the early morning, dropping to a moderate to light westerly at the head of the bay, but fresh south-westerly in the Strait.

A good passage of raptors at dawn, with 350 Honey Buzzards, two Marsh Harriers  a Montagu's Harrier and 80 Black Kites, until 09:30 when winds died down, and passage continued along the Bay torwards Palmones estuary.

Later on by mid morning there was a flock of 52 Honey Buzzards, an Egyptian Vulture, a Long-legged Buzzard and 24 Black Kites.

A few Common Swifts, three Alpine Swifts, a Swallow , 850 Bee-eaters in 12 flocks and a Bonelli's Warbler were seen from the Cable Car top station.

 There were two Turnstones, 37 Cory's Shearwaters, a Hoopoe, two Sardinian Warblers, and 35 House Sparrows  at Europa Point.

 A seawatch at Europa Point from 15:30-16:50 produced two Common Sandpipers, a Turnstone, a Black-headed Gull, three Audouin's Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, three Caspian Terns west, two Sandwich Terns, a Black Tern, a Honey Buzzard, a Short-toed Eagle and three Swallows.

One of three Caspian Terns at Europa Point.                                        R. Perez.

26 Aug:  Hazy sunshine due to Saharan dust.  Winds light variable to light westerly in the evening.

North Front cemetery held six Sardinian Warblers, two Whitethroats, five Blackbirds, two Spotted Flycatchers and 27 House Sparrows.

There were two Spotted Flycatchers and a Pied Flycatcher at Vineyards estate.

A Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were present at the revetment by mid harbour's estate.

25 Aug:  High cloud from the west, with showers overnight.  Winds light variable.

Expected a fall of migrants after the first rains since late April, but there was obviously no migration movement.

Ringing Totals

Three Black Kites were seen in the early morning over the Rock, and a lone Honey Buzzard flew south along the east side..  A Tree Pipit flew south over Europa Point, and a Nightingale was seen at Vineyards estate, with two more heard above Jews' Gate.

A Little Egret was present at the small boats marina.

24 Aug:  Light levanter cloud at dawn dissipating.  Westerly cloud increasing with some spots of rain.  Winds light variable to light westerly.

Ringing Totals

A flock of 25 Black Terns observed a mile off Europa Point.  Three Common Sandpipers seen on the groyne at Eastern beach.  A Black Kite and the Booted Eagle were observed over the Cable car top station.

Alpine Swifts still present at the colony on the North Face.

23 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

North Front cemetery held two Blue Tits, a Hoopoe and a Whitethroat.  A Sedge Warbler and a Kingfisher were present at the Europa foreshore.

A Pied Flycatcher was seen at Middle Hill, and a Hoopoe along Queen's road.

22 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable breeze becoming light easterly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

There was a Hoopoe in the Europa area, and Commonwealth park held an Iberian Chiffchaff and four Spotted Flycatchers.

Two Blue Tits, and a Pied and a Spotted Flycatcher were present at North Front cemetery.  A Common Sandpiper was seen at the southern revetment of Eastern beach.

21 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate south-westerly wind.

Several Black Kites were observed heading south over town, and a male Montagu's Harrier flew low, south along the east side of the Rock.

A flock of 10 Flamingoes flew over the airfield heading west towards Palmones estuary.  The Booted Eagle was seen again hunting over the Rock.  In the evening a juvenile Egyptian Vulture was observed  in the Nature reserve.

20 Aug:  Clear skies with a fresh south-westerly becoming fresh westerly.

Several hundred Black Kites flew south over the Rock in the morning.  A flock of 11 White Storks flew along the east side of the Rock.

At Europa foreshore there were a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and four Turnstones.

19 Aug:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds moderate north-westerly becoming fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Finally a change in wind direction and cooler weather, that brought raptor migration over the Rock.  Passage from 09:00 until 14:00 when south-westerlies set in.

Totals for the day were five Honey Buzzards, three Booted Eagles, a Sparrowhawk, a Montagu's Harrier and 3200 Black Kites.  Also seen in the area of Princess Caroline's battery were single Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart.

A juvenile Flamingo flew west over the airfield towards the Palmones estuary.  An Iberian Chiffchaff and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Vineyards estate.

At North Front cemetery there were single Hoopoe, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, a Blue Tit and a Spotted Flycatcher.  A Grey Wagtail  was observed at Europa walks.

18 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable breeze.  Very hot weather.

Ringing Totals

Iberian Chiffchaff.                                                        T. Finlayson

A flock of Bee-eaters were heard over Jews' Gate mid morning.  The first Cormorant of the season was observed from Europa Point.  A pair of Booted Eagles were hunting over Camp Bay.

17 Aug:  Some high cloud at dawn, but disappearing to give a clear sky.  Winds light variable to light southerly.

Ringing Totals

Two Nightingales were heard around the Jews' Gate area.  A Common Redstart was observed near the top station of the Cable Car, and a Bonelli's Warbler was present by the Great Siege tunnels.

A Grey Wagtail was seen flying over Little Bay.  Two Mynas flew in from Spain and landed in Palm trees at Four Corners.

16 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.

A Hoopoe, a Blue Tit, four Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds and two Spotted Flycatchers were present at North Front cemetery.

15 Aug: Clear skies but light levanter cloud over the Rock developing just before midday.  Winds moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Bonelli's Warbler was heard above Jews' Gate.

14 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Nightingale was heard calling in the Jews' Gate area. A Common Sandpiper was observed at Little Bay.

13 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind, with some strong gusts in town.

Ringing Totals

Two Iberian Chiffchaffs were present in the Botanic Gardens, and another was heard calling in the Jews' Gate area.

12 Aug:  Heavy fog over the airport, Rock and Strait with a light variable breeze, until 11am when  a moderate easterly set in clearing the fog and leaving clear skies behind.

An afternoon watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, three Audouin's Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, 84 Cory's Shearwaters, 14 Mediterranean Shearwaters and three Shags.  Also seen in the area a Sardinian Warbler, two Blue Rock Thrushes and 71 House Sparrows.

11 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in the morning, but clearing in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron was seen early in the morning flying north over the Harbour.  A Sparrowhawk was observed flying south over the top Cable car Station.

The Eagle Owl was on the east side of the Rock.

09 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour and cloudy in the Strait, clearing away from the Rock mid morning.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

08 Aug:  Thunder storm in the area at 1pm, but clear skies at dawn with a moderate south-westerly wind, becoming light and variable in the late morning and turning to light easterly.

An hours watch at Europa Point produced nine Audouin's Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-headed Gull and nine Cory's Shearwaters; all west.

The North Front cemetery held two Blue Tits, three Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and a Spotted Flycatcher.

07 Aug:  Clear skies overnight, with slight levanter developing by dawn, but soon dissipated in the afternoon.  Winds light easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Bonelli's Warbler was heard and seen at the Botanic Gardens, with another observed at O' Hara's Battery area.

At least four Spotted Flycatchers were present at North Front cemetery.

An afternoon watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, five Audouin's Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, 23 Balearic Shearwaters, over 100 Cory's Shearwaters, a Gannet, and 12 Shags .

06 Aug:  Clear skies with a light levanter cloud over the Rock, dissipating by mid morning.  Winds light easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron was present at the Detached Mole.

An Iberian Chiffchaff was seen at Vineyards estate.  A Hoopoe, three more Iberian Chiffchaffs, a Bonelli's Warbler and a Western Olivaceous Warbler were observed at the Botanic Gardens.

A Tawny Owl was heard calling in the Mount gardens area.

05 Aug:  Clear skies with a light easterly wind.

A juvenile Golden Oriole was present at North Front cemetery, feeding on the fruit of the rubber tree.

Juvenile Golden Oriole.                            C. Fortuna

An hours watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, two Audouin's Gulls west and two Swallows.

04 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour increasly cloudy and overcast over Spain and the Strait.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Western Olivaceous Warbler.                                                                  J. Yeoman.

At Windmill Hill there were two Kestrels, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, a Blue Tit, 13 Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and five Blue Rock Thrushes.

The North Front cemetery held two Blue Tits, two Sardinian Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.

03 Aug: Slight levanter cloud  at dawn, but increasing mid morning over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

A Hoopoe was observed in the Jews' Gate area.

The first ringing day of the season resulted in good numbers of resident birds, in contrast to last year when poor reproductivity was due to predation by rats.

Ringing Totals

At Europa Point there were three Audouin's Gulls, two Shags, two Common Sandpipers and 13 Cory's Shearwaters.  Also in the area 62 House Sparrows.

02 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate to fresh easterly wind.

An adult Woodchat Shrike and a Nightingale heard calling in the area of Jews' Gate. A Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail observed at Europa foreshore.

A morning watch at Europa Point produced four Audouin's Gulls, nine Cory's Shearwaters, a Mediterranean Shearwater and a Shag.