29 Nov:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind.  The Yellow-browed Warbler was located again at Commonwealth Park.

28 Nov:  Clear skies with a light to moderate west to south-westerly wind.  A Yellow-browed Warbler was observed at Commonwealth Park in the morning.  In the evening a flock of 9 Cormorants were seen high over the Rock heading south, and 3 Red-rumped Swallows were seen with Crag Martins as they came to roost.

A Woodcock was photographed in the Nature Reserve.

Woodcock in the Nature Reserve               P. Rocca

25 Nov:  An injured Barn Owl was picked up close to Europa Point, by the staff of the Environment Department.  It was taken to the Raptor Rehabilitation Unit who took it down to the Veterinary Clinic.  It was found to have a badly dislocated humerus and other injuries, and succumbed that evening.

Injured Barn Owl.                                                                

24 Nov:  Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly wind.  A Griffon Vulture came down near the Northern Defences.   Another two were seen over Moorish Castle.

23 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.  A light phase Booted Eagle was over the Rock in the morning.  A Common Sandpiper was seen at Camp Bay.

22 Nov:  Overcast with heavy rain showers.  Winds strong to gale force at midday.  The western end of the runway held 10 Cormorants 9 Sandwich Terns 2 Grey Herons, 46 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and a Ringed Plover.

19 Nov:  Cloudy skies with a fresh north-westerly wind.  A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in the Botanic Gardens.  At least 7 Robins several Chiffchaffs and a White Wagtail were observed in Commonwealth Park.  The female Peregrine that frequents the town area was seen perched on King's Wharf building.

18 Nov:  Clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind.  A first-winter Merlin flew low over Windmill Hill and headed north.

17 Nov:  Cloudy skies becoming overcast in the afternoon with some rain showers.  Winds fresh and at times strong west.  A flock of approximately 92 Flamingoes were observed off the east side of the Rock, and later were seen arriving at the Palmones Easuary on the other side of the Bay.

16 Nov:  Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly wind.  Some birds were recorded during the Lichens outings around Princess Caroline's Battery and the Upper Galleries road.  These consisted of several flocks of finches, with 6 Chaffinches, 6 Serins, 28 Goldfinches, and 12 Siskins heading south.  Also seen were single Firecrest, Song Thrush, a couple of Crag Martins and 2 Cattle Egrets flying south over town, and a female Hen Harrier overhead soaring over the ridge of the Rock.  Six Cormorants and 6 Black-headed Gulls were present on the western end of the runway.

13 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud.  Winds fresh westerly.  Small numbers of Scopoli's Shearwaters, and 28 Black-headed Gulls heading south along the east side of the Rock.

11 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with some cloud in the afternoon.  Winds moderate north-westerly.  Five Cormorants were resting on the rocks by Seven Sisters.

10 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind.  An evening count of Grey Herons coming to roost at the small boats Marina, produced a very significant 10 birds with some dropping in on the small rocky island beside the small boats Marina.

09 Nov:  Clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind.  A flock of 6 Cormorants flew west over the airfield.

Cormorants flying over the Airfield.                                                                  D. Ferro.

08 Nov:  Clear skies with a moderate becoming fresh north-westerly wind.  The western end of the runway held 3 Grey Herons, 5 Cormorants, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Black-headed Gulls.

A dark phase Booted Eagle was seen hunting over the Rock in the afternoon.

07 Nov:  Mainly clear skies in the morning with northerly winds, turning to south-westerly with showers in the early afternoon, clearing shortly after.  A visit to Windmill Produced 32 Barbary Partridges, a Short-eared Owl, 14 Meadow Pipits, 6 Black Redstarts, 12 Stonechats, 20 Robins, 12 Blackbirds, a Blue Rock Thrush, 15 Song Thrushes, 17 Sardinian Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, a Yellow-browed Warbler*, 15 Spotless Starlings, 8 Starlings, 7 Serins, 4 Goldfinches, 2 Siskins and a Corn Bunting. 

A Wheatear was present at Europa Point.

At least 6 wintering Grey Herons are commuting between the small boats Marina and the western end of the runway, with singles at Governor's beach and the east side reclamation.

06 Nov:  Mainly clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind. A flock of 27 Cormorants flew over town and headed towards the Bay.

05 Nov:  Clear skies with some westerly cloud. Winds fresh north-westerly.  A Griffon Vulture was seen high over the Rock heading north.  Only nine birds were processed at the Observatory due to strong winds.

Several flocks of Scopoli's Shearwaters were seen off Eastern Beach heading south.  Also there feeding on the beach was an Oystercatcher.  A Turnstone was present at Europa foreshore, and Scopoli's Shearwaters were observed moving out of the Mediteranean.

Oystercatcher at eastern beach.                                                                                               A. Yome.

04 Nov:  Cloudy with a fresh north-westerly wind.  A flock of about 80 Griffon Vultures approached the Rock but turned back north.  A flock of approximately 60 Scopoli's Shearwaters were seen heading west off Europa Point.  Six Turnstones and a Kingfisher were present at Europa foreshore.

03 Nov:  Clear skies with some westerly cloud in the afternoon, increasing towards evening.  Winds a fresh to strong north-westerly.  Again no ringing due to strong winds.  The Nature Reserve held a Firecrest and 2 female Bullfinches which were seen drinking from a gutter.  Also 20 Griffon Vultures drifted out to sea off eastern beach, but later returned inland, and a Short-toed Eagle was observed over the top station of the Cable Car.

Light passage of finches heading south over the Rock, with many Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Siskins.

02 Nov:  Heavy rain showers in the morning, persisting in the afternoon, with some sunny spells towards evening.  Winds fresh westerly.  Too wet for ringing at the Observatory.

01 Nov:  Mainly clear skies but some cloudy periods in the late afternoon and evening.  Winds moderate to fresh westerly.  A flock of 49 Flamingoes were sighted off the eastern end of the Rock heading west by the Environmental Protection and Research Unit of the Department of the Environment.

Flamingoes flying off the east side of the Rock. Photo:- EPRU

Flamingoes, some of the 49 counted. Photo:- EPRU

Only 8 birds were processed at the Observatory.
 

Three flocks numbering some 1000 Scopoli's Shearwaters were observed flying out of the Mediterranean from Europa Point.  Also seen were single Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cory's Shearwater and Sandwich Tern.  A number of Gannets were fishing off the east side of the Rock, and 2 Grey Herons and 7 Cormorants were present on rocks along the Gorham's cave complex.

The western end of the runway held 3 Grey Herons, a Ringed Plover, 3 Black Redstarts, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Crested Larks and 7 Cormorants.