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Bird Sightings November 2025

17 Nov: Cloudy with some showers and sunny intervals.  Winds moderate westerly.

16 Nov: Overcast skies in the morning with showers.  Some sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Winds fresh westerly.

A flock of 60 White Storks flew north over the Rock.

At least 20 Gannets were diving on a fish shoal off the east side reclamation, and three Audouin's Gulls were observed at Europa Point.

 

15 Nov: Sunny intervals in the morning, but overcast in the afternoon with some haevy rain showers.  Winds fresh south-westerly, becoming strong to gale force in the even

Only four new birds ringed thiss morning due to strong winds. A Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Black Redstart and a Greenfinch, together with a retrap Sardinian Warbler.

 

14 Nov: Overcast skies with rain showers and gale force westerly wind.

A morning visit to Europa Point produced the following:-

Species Total
Shelduck 4
Sandwich Tern 3
Black-headed Gull 6
Audouin’s Gull 3
Scopoli’s Shearwater 40
Gannet 7
Black Redstart 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Linnet 2
Goldfinch 45
Serin 5
Siskin 20

In the afternoon the following were seen:-

Species Total
Black-headed Gull 4
Audouin’s Gull 1
Sandwich Tern 2
Scopoli’s Shearwater 29
Mediterranean Shearwater 9
Gannet 6
Cormorant 4
Shag 3

At Eastern beach there were 12 Mediterranean Shearwaters south, six Gannets and a Cormorant, and off Catalan bay there were 12 Black-headed Gulls.

 

13 Nov:  Overcast skies with a light variable wind, and clouds from the west.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Chiffchaff 1   1
Blackcap 21 2 23
Robin 6 1 7
Black Redstart 3   3
Bullfinch 1   1
Serin 58   58
Siskin 19   19
Totals 109 3 112

Female Bullfinch with one ringed yesterday and another today.               R. Geary

There were around 30 Sandwich Terns off Eastern beach.  The Kingfisher was again present in the Alameda Botanic gardens.

At Europa Point there were 20 Black-headed Gulls feeding, a Grey Heron and 15 Gannets heading east.  The Mid harbours Marina held a Whimbrel, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron.

A walk along the Nature Reserve in the morning produced the following:-

Species Total
Peregrine 1
Blue Tit 3
Chiffchaff 5
Blackcap 25
Sardinian Warbler 10
Wren 3
Song Thrush 1
Blackbird 7
Robin 23
Black Redstart 10
Chaffinch 1

 

 

12 Nov:  Clear skies at dawn but levanter cloud developing mid morning, with some clouds from the west.  Some sunny intervals in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Crag Martin 2   2
Swallow 2   2
Red-rumped Swallow 1   1
Chiffchaff 11 1 12
Blackcap 21 2 23
Song Thrush 1   1
Blackbird 2   2
Robin 14 2 16
Black Redstart 10   10
Chaffinch   1 1
Bullfinch 1   1
Greenfinch 1   1
Goldfinch 3   3
Serin 4   4
Siskin 12   12
Totals 85 6 91

Two Little Owls were heard calling around the Crematorium area.  A flock of 15 Cormorants flew south over the harbour.

A walk along Signal Station road produced the following:-

Species Total
Peregrine 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 31
Sardinian Warbler 12
Wren 3
Song Thrush 5
Blackbird 7
Robin 25
Black Redstart 28
Stonechat 1
Chaffinch 6
Greenfinch 21
Goldfinch 7
Siskin 8

At Europa foreshore there were a Common Sandpiper, two Grey Herons, nine Black Redstarts and a Stonechat. Two Siskins were observed at Commonwealth Park and the Kingfisher was present at the Alameda Botanic gardens.

 

11 Nov:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour but clearing in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Nightjar 1   1
Swallow 1   1
Blue Tit   1 1
Chiffchaff 11 1 12
Blackcap 43 3 46
Sardinian Warbler   1 1
Blackbird   1 1
Robin 26 1 27
Black Redstart 7   7
Greenfinch 3   3
Serin 14   14
Totals 106 8 114

 

10 Nov:  Some high cloud but sunny.  Winds light variable to light south-west.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Nightjar 1   1
Chiffchaff 6   6
Blackcap 22 1 23
Sardinian Warbler 2 2 4
Song Thrush 1   1
Robin 17 5 22
Black Redstart 8   8
Chaffinch 3   3
Greenfinch 4   4
Goldfinch 2   2
Serin 2   2
Totals 68 8 76

 

 

09 Nov:  High cloud with levanter cloud over the Rock, and town.  Winds miderate to light easterly.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Nightjar 1   1
Chiffchaff 11   11
Blackcap 19 1 20
Sardinian Warbler 9   9
Song Thrush 1   1
Blackbird 1   1
Robin 15 2 17
Black Redstart 15   15
Goldfinch 1   1
Serin 4   4
Totals 77 3 80

At North Front cemetery there were five Chiffchaffs, eight Black Redstarts, a Stonechat and a Pied Wagtail.

A two hour watch at Europa Point in the morning produced the following:-

Species Total
Avocet 15
Sandwich Tern 8
Black-headed Gull 47
Audouin’s Gull 3
Mediterranean Gull 32
Mediterranean Shearwater 34
Gannet 31
Shag 7
Cormorant 7
Grey Heron 1

At Europa foreshore in the afternoon there were a Common Sandpiper, seven Turnstones, a Whimbrel, a Shag, four Black Redstarts and two Stonechats.

 

 

08 Nov:  Some high cloud and levanter cloud forming over the Rock.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

No ringing due to windy conditions.

Small flocks of Mediterranean Shearwaters numbering 25 birds west past Europa Point.  There were two Grey Herons; one below Brewery crusher and another by Vanguard Cave.

 

07 Nov:  Clear skies with a fresh to strong northerly wind.

No ringing due to windy conditions.

A Sparrowhawk was observed hunting by the Cable Car top station.

A visit to Europa Point in the afternoon saw four Sandwich Terns, two Black-headed Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Mediterranean Shearwaters and two Meadow Pipits.

There were many finches on the east side sand slopes taking shelter from the strong northerly winds.

06 Nov:  Some cloud at dawn but clear skies thereafter.  Winds moderate westerly.

No ringing due to windy conditions.

A morning watch at Europa Point and foreshore included a total of 170 Mediterranean Shearwaters in 30 minutes flying west plus the following totals:-

Species Total
Sandwich Tern 4
Black-headed Gull 6
Audouin’s Gull 3
Mediterranean Gull 3
Mediterranean Shearwater 260
Cormorant 3
Crag Martin 7
Chiffchaff 3
Sardinian Warbler 2
Common Starling 1
Robin 2
Black Redstart 11
Stonechat 2
Corn Bunting 1
Meadow Pipit Many overhead
Greenfinch Many overhead
Linnet Many overhead
Goldfinch Many overhead
Serin Many overhead

At least 55 Griffon Vultures flew over the Rock at around midday.

Along the east side of the Rock, there were four Sandwich Terns, two Audouin's Gulls, five Crag Martins and a Stonechat.

 

 

05 Nov:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh to moderate easterly.  A thunderstorm in the late afternoon with heavy rain.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Chiffchaff 17   17
Blackcap 33   33
Sardinian Warbler 1   1
Ring Ouzel 1   1
Robin 14 1 15
Black Redstart 17   17
Chaffinch 1   1
Greenfinch 1   1
Goldfinch 1   1
Serin 1   1
Siskin 2   2
Totals 89 1 90

 

Juvenile Ring Ouzel ringed this morning at the Observatory.        

 

A Yellow-browed Warbler was observed in the Alameda Botanic gardens.

Yellow-browed Warbler in the Alameda Botanic gardens.         K. Bensusan.

At North Front cemetery there was a Blue Tit, two Sardinian Warblers and two Stonechats.

A flock of 16 Cormorants flew west over the Jews' Gate Observatory.

 

 

04 Nov:  Overcast skies also with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Chiffchaff 71   71
Garden Warbler 1   1
Blackcap 41   41
Sardinian Warbler 1   1
Robin 16   16
Greenfinch 1   1
Goldfinch 2   2
Serin 7   7
Siskin 1   1
Totals 141 0 141

 

At North Front cemetery there were three Chiffchaffs, a Song Thrush, a Robin and four Black Redstarts.

 

 

03 Nov:  Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Crag Martin 3   3
Swallow 3   3
Reed Warbler 1   1
Chiffchaff 92   92
Blackcap 51   51
Sardinian Warbler 3   3
Blackbird   1 1
Robin 14   14
Black Redstart 3   3
Goldfinch 2   2
Serin 8   8
Siskin 8   8
Totals 188 1 189

A flock of 31 Cormorants flew south over the top pf the Rock.

A Grey Wagtail was observed at Camp Bay.

A morning visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

Species Total
Zitting Cisticola 4
Chiffchaff 10
Blackcap 4
Sardinian Warbler 8
Song Thrush 9
Blackbird 3
Robin 12
Black Redstart 10
Stonechat 4
Meadow Pipit 13
Greenfinch 2
Linnet 2
Goldfinch 5
Serin 19
Siskin 1

 

02 Nov:  Clear skies with a light to moderate north-westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Chiffchaff 16   16
Blackcap 6   6
Sardinian Warbler 1   1
Robin 11   11
Black Redstart 2   2
Chaffinch 3   3
Greenfinch 1   1
Serin 14   14
Totals 54 0 54

A walk along Signal Station road produced the following:-

Species Total
Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 1
Blue Tit 1
Crag Martin 5
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 5
Sardinian Warbler 5
Wren 2
Song Thrush 1
Blackbird 4
Robin 10
Siskin 5

 

Sparrowhawk at the Signal Station road reservoir.                                                  R. Perez.

At North Front cemetery there were three Chiffchaffs, two Robins, six Black Redstarts and two Stonechats.

 

01 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light to moderate westerly.

Ringing Totals

Species New Retrap Total
Blue Tit 1   1
Chiffchaff 29   29
Blackcap 59 60
Sardinian Warbler 2   2
Wren 1   1
Blackbird    
Robin 17   17
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1   1
Black Redstart 6   6
Chaffinch 4   4
Greenfinch 1   1
Goldfinch 1   1
Serin 5   5
Siskin 1   1
Totals 128 2 130

The Long-legged Buzzard was hunting in the area of Middle Hill. At Blackstrap Cove there were two Sandwich Terns, two Gannets, a Grey Heron, a Kestrel, a Blackbird, a Robin and a Blue Rock Thrush.

A morning walk along Signal Station road produced the following:-

Species Total
Barbary Partridge 11
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Blue Tit 3
Great Tit 1
Chiffchaff 14
Blackcap 25
Sardinian Warbler 13
Wren 4
Song Thrush 9
Blackbird 10
Ring Ouzel 2
Robin 16
Black Redstart 21
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 10
Linnet 5
Goldfinch 4

The second Red-breasted Flycatcher of the autumn was trapped and ringed at the Jews' Gate Observatory.

A watch at Europa Point in the morning and mid afternoon produced the following:-

Species Total
Little Owl 1
Pomarine Skua 1
Sandwich Tern 22
Audouin’s Gull 4
Mediterranean Gull 16
Cory’s/Scopoli’s Shearwater 22
Cormorant 2
Gannet 2
Zitting Cisticola 1
Chiffchaff 1
Sardinian Warbler 4
Spotless Starling 2
Black Redstart 3
Stonechat 1
Wheatear 2
House Sparrow 11
Goldfinch 1

Two Wheatears were at Europa foreshore.  A flock of 28 Cormorants flew south past Catalan bay.  A Kingfisher was observed at the Mid harbours marina.

Two Skylarks on nocturnal migration over the airfield at 23:00hrs.

Zitting Cisticola at Europa foreshore.                                                            C. Fortuna