Ringers and Observers booked in to the Observatory are advised that Gibraltar is at present suffering the consequences of the Corona Virus Covid-19, and public transport, pubs and restaurants are not operating and have closed their services to the public.  Gibraltar is now in total lock down!.  Therefore we urge all visiting ringers and observers to postpone or cancel their visit until this outbreak is dealt with worldwide.  We wish you all good luck.

30 Apr:  Cloudy skies with a light north-westerly wind, becoming moderate westerly later in the morning.  Clearing in the late afternoon to give sunny spells. A slow start to the raptor migration, but picked up after winds freshened to westerly.  Totals for the day were 342 Honey Buzzards, 780 Black Kites, 147 Griffon Vultures, nine Egyptian Vultures, 33 Short-toed Eagles, five Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, six Sparrowhawks and 25 Booted Eagles.  Also seen were 29 Black Storks, 50 Flamingoes, two Tawny Pipits, a Yellow Wagtail, several flocks of Bee-eaters heard, small passage of Swallows and House Martins, and good passage of Common Swifts.

29 Apr:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly wind, but moderate south-westerly in the Strait, freshening after midday.  Slow raptor passage in the morning, but steady after midday, with some variety.  Totals were 463 Honey Buzzards, 472 Black Kites, 63 Griffon Vultures, eight Egyptian Vultures, 70 Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, 71 Booted Eagles, nine Sparrowhawks, a Long-legged Buzzard,  two Ospreys and a Hobby.  Also seen were three Spoonbills flying north up the Bay, two Alpine Swifts, a Short-toed Lark, Tree Pipit, an Ortolan Bunting, four flocks of Bee-eaters, and small passage of Common Swifts, Swallows, with some Red-rumped Swallows, House Martins and five Sand Martins.

A Subalpine Warbler was present at Commonwealth Park.  The Raven was seen again along the ridge of the Rock.

28 Apr:  Overcast skies with a light variable to light north-westerly, but calm in the Bay.  Winds light in the afternoon, but picked up after 17:00hrs to a moderate westerly, with sunny spells later in the evening. Honey Buzzards were migrating north all morning, low up the Bay, but passage stopped after midday and only a few raptors were seen until the winds picked up by mid afternoon.  Totals for the day were 1551 Honey Buzzards, 98 Black Kites, 17 Griffon Vultures, three Egyptian Vultures, 10 Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, 16 Booted Eagles, eight Sparrowhawks, two Ospreys and a Kestrel.  Also seen were a White Stork, two Black Storks, six Cormorants, 150 Bee-eaters, and a steady passage of Swallows, Red-rumped Swallows, House Martins and Common Swifts.

A visit to Windmill Hill produced some migrants and resident birds that included two Barbary Partridges, 17 Bee-eaters, a Sparrowhawk, 11 Red-rumped Swallows, two Tawny Pipits, single Northern Wheatear and Black-eared Wheatear, three Common Redstarts, two Whinchats, 11 Blackbirds, four Melodious Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler,  two Whitethroats, 19 Sardinian Warblers, three Willow Warblers, three Spotted Flycatchers, 10 Spotless Starlings, six Woodchat Shrikes and a Serin.

Visits to North Front Cemetery in the morning and again in the afternoon produced a flock of eight Cormorants overhead, a Black-eared Wheatear, two Nightingales, two Common Redstarts, a Subalpine Warbler, three Whitethroats, two Orphean Warblers, and eight Woodchat Shrikes.

A Golden Oriole was seen perched on a balustrade on the east side of the Rock.

Orphean Warbler at North Front Cemetery in the Mulberry Tree.                                       Photo: R. Perez

27 Apr:  Cloudy skies in the morning with some sunny intervals, becoming overcast by midday and clearing late afternoon.  Winds light to moderate north to north-west in the morning but winds freshening from the south west by early afternoon.

Raptor migration was off to a slow start with intermittent passage, but improved by the afternoon.  In total there were 101 Honey Buzzards, 188 Black Kites, 13 Griffon Vultures, an Egyptian Vulture, two Short-toed Eagles, four Marsh Harriers, 22 Booted Eagles and eight Sparrowhawks.  Also seen were nine Black Storks, nine Swallows, three Red-rumped Swallows and 30 Common Swifts.  The Raven was seen along the ridge of the Rock.

The Europa foreshore held a Common Redstart, a Melodious Warbler and two Willow Warblers, and the North Front Cemetery produced a Northern Wheatear, a Common Redstart, two Whinchats, two Spotted Flycatchers and five Woodchat Shrikes.

Outside Vinyards there was a selection of migrants that consisted of 18 Bee-eaters, a Nightingale, a Robin, two Subalpine Warblers, a Sardinian Warbler, two Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler.

A Grey Heron was seen flying south over Westview Park, and one was present on the western end of the runway.  Also two Robins and a Pied Flycatcher were present at Commonwealth Park.

Ringing Totals

26 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with patchy cloud.  Winds north-westerly in the morning with a south-westerly sea breeze in the Strait that picked up after midday to a moderate to fresh south-westerly.  Slow passage of raptors but a good day for vultures.  The total count was 28 Honey Buzzards, 81 Black Kites, 240 Griffon Vultures, a Black Vulture, four Egyptian Vultures, eight Short-toed Eagles, 7 Marsh Harriers, 25 Booted Eagles, 14 Sparrowhawks, an Osprey, a Lesser Kestrel and a Common Kestrel.  Also seen were five Black Storks, a White Stork, seven Cormorants, two Alpine Swifts, 18 Swallows, a Red-rumped Swallow, 24 House Martins, 12 Bee-eaters, and single Tawny Pipit, Linnet and Greenfinch.

Ringing Totals

25 Apr:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, and low cloud and mist mid morning until it lifted at midday.  Light rain and drizzle all morning with some intervals.  Winds light north-westerly early in the morning turning to a light variable and then a light to moderate westerly in the afternoon.  A visit to Windmill Hill proved productive with a good fall of migrants and residents that consisted of a Sparrowhawk, four Barbary Partridges, four Swallows, a Red-rumped Swallow, 45 Bee-eaters, three Short-toed Larks, two Yellow Wagtails, six Tawny Pipits, three Tree Pipits, four Whinchats, six Northern Wheatears, a Black-eared Wheatear, 12 Blackbirds, five Common Redstarts, nine Melodious Warblers, 14 Sardinian Warblers, eight Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Golden Oriole, 45 Spotless Starlings, nine Woodchat Shrikes, 4 Serins, 12 Greenfinches, 25 Goldfinches, 8 Siskins, 20 Linnets, four Ortolan Buntings and two Corn Buntings.  Also seen were two Purple Herons flying high along the east side of the Rock.

Four Golden Orioles flew out of a tree near the Observatory, and landed in a Eucalyptus tree.  One was a female the others were males.  At least 130 Bee-eaters flew north into the mist in the morning.  Lost, some of them flew down into town and sheltered from the rain.

Ringing Totals

 There was a Turtle Dove at the North Front Cemetery.

24 Apr:  Overcast skies with a fresh to strong easterly wind.  Some slight drizzle in the afternoon as rain moves in from the south.  At North Front Cemetery there was single Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and Woodchat Shrike.

Ringing Totals

23 Apr:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock town and harbour.  Winds fresh easterly. A few Swallows managed to cross the Strait and head north over Jews' Gate.  Also in the area a few Bonelli's and Willow Warblers, Nightingales calling and a Spotted Flycatcher observed close to the Observatory. 

A visit to the North Front Cemetery produced two White Wagtails, three Whinchats, three Common Redstart, a Melodious Warbler, five Woodchat Shrikes and the first Ortolan Bunting of the spring.

Ortolan Bunting R. Perez

Ortolan Bunting R. Perez

A Red-necked Nightjar was seen on the road in the Nature Reserve, and a Scops Owl was heard calling from North Gorge.

Ringing Totals

22 Apr:  Patchy cloud from the west in a moderate north-westerly wind, with moderate westerly in the Strait.  Cloudy over the Moroccan mountains.  Slow raptor passage on the eve of an easterly day tomorrow, which usually happens, when these conditions prevail.  Total for the day was 12 Honey Buzzards, 242 Black Kites, four Griffon Vulture, a Black Vulture (possibly the one that was lingering on Jebel Moussa on the Moroccan side of the Strait for a few days now), eight Short-toed Eagles, nine Marsh Harriers, three Montagu's Harriers, 16 Sparrowhawks, 13 Booted Eagles, an Osprey and two Hobbies.  Also seen were 30 Black Storks, eight Swallows, two Red-rumped Swallows, a Short-toed Lark, a Yellow Wagtail, and 95 Common Swifts.

Black Vulture DM Parody www.dotcom.gi/photos

Black Vulture DM Parody www.dotcom.gi/photos

 Two Little Egrets were at Western Beach and a White Wagtail was seen on the Sundial roundabout.  A Spoonbill was observed from Europa Advance Road.

21 Apr:  Overcast skies with a fresh west-north west wind in the early morning,but with the passing of a frontal system, becoming strong to gale force westerly with heavy showers and squall conditions until mid afternoon,when winds dropped slightly and some sunny spells ensued.  Some raptors crossed the Strait early, ahead of the front, with 13 Black Kites, 5 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk.  Also seen were 11 House Martins and a Cattle Egret heading north.

Single Northern Wheatears were present at Europa Point and the North Front Cemetery.

20 Apr:  Overcast skies with some light showers from the west.  Winds fresh north-westerly. Black Kites started to cross early in the morning before the oncoming showers and 234 birds were counted.  Also seen were a single Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk and 5 Booted Eagles.  Small passage of Swallows and House Martins and a single Yellow Wagtail.  The afternoon cleared with westerly winds and more intense raptor passage for a total of four Honey Buzzards, 986 Black Kites, 138 Griffon Vultures, three Short-toed Eagles, 12 Marsh Harriers, 10 Sparrowhawks, 26 Booted Eagles, three Ospreys and two Hobbies.  Also seen were 15 Black Storks, small passage of Swallows,House Martins, Bee-eaters and Common Swifts.

19 Apr:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly wind and a south-westerly in mid Strait.  Becoming fresh northerly in the afternoon, but turning to westerly by late afternoon.  A trickle of raptors in the morning and midday but improved after winds turned westerly with a total of 11 Honey Buzzards, 2450 Black Kites, 30 Griffon Vultures, five Egyptian Vultures, three Short-toed Eagles, seven Marsh Harriers, 11 Sparrowhawks, 11 Booted Eagles, five Ospreys and a Hobby.  Also seen were 83 Black Storks, 9 Alpine Swifts, good passage of Common Swifts, 110 Swallows, two Red-rumped Swallows, 13 House Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, a Serin, two Greenfinches, two Goldfinches and two Linnets.

18 Apr:  Clear at dawn but levanter cloud forming by mid morning and covering much of the Rock, with high cloud from the west.  Clearing in the afternoon to give sunny periods.  Winds variable to light to moderate easterly becoming light in the afternoon. The Europa foreshore held a Blue Rock Thrush, two Common Redstarts, a Willow Warbler and a Woodchat Shrike, and at the North Front Cemetery there was a Blue Rock Thrush, three Common Redstarts, and 10 Woodchat Shrikes.

A Red-necked Nightjar was found inside the Europort car park, and released outside.

There were lower numbers of migrants at Windmill Hill, and together with resident birds there were five Barbary Partridges, a Bee-eater, a Wren, a Short-toed Lark, a Northern Wheatear, two Black-eared Wheatear, three Whinchats, 17 Common Redstarts, four Nightingales, five Blackbirds, two Blue Rock Thrushes, seven Melodious Warblers, 16 Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, 16 Whitethroats, an Orphean Warbler, five Willow Warblers, a Bonelli's Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, 40 Spotless Starlings, two House Sparrows,  nine Woodchat Shrikes, a Greenfinch, two Goldfinches and four Corn Buntings.

Ringing Totals

At least one Jackdaw remains around the rubbish tip at Europa Advance Road.

17 Apr:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the town and harbour, clearing in the afternoon to give sunny spells. Winds light easterly.  A Golden Oriole was heard singing near the Mount and a Tree Pipit was seen overhead at Jews' Gate.

A visit to the Europa foreshore in the morning and again at midday produced single Blue Rock Thrush, Common Redstart, Subalpine Warbler, 15 Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Woodchat Shrike.

Windmill Hill also had a fair share of migrants and residents, with four Barbary Partridges, a Bee-eater, two Swallows, a Northern Wheatear, a Black-eared Wheatear, six Whinchats, a Wren, 20 Common Redstarts, six Nightingales, a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 10 Blackbirds, four Blue Rock Thrushes, 13 Melodious Warblers, three Subalpine Warblers, 18 Sardinian Warblers, 23 Whitethroats, an Orphean Warbler, five Willow Warblers, 40 Spotless Starlings , 18 Woodchat Shrikes, five House Sparrows, four Greenfinches, five Goldfinches, two Linnets and five Corn Buntings.

Ringing Totals

Bee-eater flocks continue their migration overhead with many seen both morning and afternoon.  Some were seen resting in the Botanic Gardens and one presumably hit a window pane, was dazed but did not survive.

 Three Sparrowhawks were seen in the evening over the south District.

Technicians from Gibtelecom were called by neighbours in the Mount area, to find the cause of a consistent sound like an alarm, sounding for several nights in a row.  It turned to be the monotonous call of a Scops Owl!

16 Apr:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, clearing to give sunny spells by midday and the afternoon.  Winds moderate easterly.  Two Tree Pipits and many flocks of Bee-eaters were seen from Jews' Gate.  The Jackdaw was seen again around Windmill Hill.  At the North Front Cemetery there were two Hoopoes, five Common Redstarts, a Black-eared Wheatear, a Spotted Flycatcher and eight Woodchat Shrikes.  Two Pied Flycatchers were seen in the Botanic gardens.

Ringing Totals

A Wood Warbler was trapped and ringed at the Observatory.

Wood Warbler, an eastern migrant occasionally seen on the Rock after prolonged easterlies.

 15 Apr:  Overcast with heavy cloud and thunderstorms overnight, but clearing slightly mid morning, with some rain showers.  Winds a moderate southerly.  An early morning visit to Europa foreshore produced a Spectacled Warbler,  two Whitethroats, two Sardinian Warblers and two Woodchat Shrikes, and at North Front Cemetery there was a Hoopoe, six Northern Wheatears, two Nightingales, three Common Redstarts, three Melodious Warblers, a Whitethroat and over 10 Woodchat Shrikes.  The Cemetery, in the evening, had several more birds that consisted of two Northern Wheatears, four Common Redstarts, a Black Redstart, a magnificent male Rock Thrush, a Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, and 13 Woodchat Shrikes.   

A male Spectacled Warbler found at Europa foreshore.                                            R. Perez.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush P. Rocca

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush P. Rocca

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush P. Rocca

Four Woodchat Shrikes and a Willow Warbler were present at Jacobs Ladder, and a Nightingale, four Bonelli's Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher were seen at North Gorge. 

Bee-eater flocks continue to pass overhead, and some flocks low over town.

An afternoon visit to Windmill Hill produced four Barbary Partridges, five Turtle Doves, three Blackbirds, a Blue Rock Thrush, a Wren, a Song Thrush, three Northern Wheatears, a Black-eared Wheatear, seven Nightingales, six Common Redstarts, a Whinchat, a Melodious Warbler, 12 Whitethroats, six Sardinian Warbler, an Orphean Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher,  30 Woodchat Shrikes, five Goldfinches and three Corn Buntings.

A lone Osprey was the only raptor of the day, flying high over town.

14 Apr:  Winds light southerly bringing some cloud and sunny spells, becoming south-easterly at midday and and some levanter cloud developing as winds become moderate, but turned light again with clear skies..  Flocks of Bee-eaters continued to pass in the morning, with Bonelli's and Willow Warblers and Nightingale heard around Jews' Gate.

The clearer and calmer weather must have encouraged grounded migrants to continue their journey northwards, but a few stayed on, and a visit to North Front Cemetery in the morning produced two Nightingales, a Subalpine Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Woodchat Shrike.  Windmill Hill was quieter than yesterday but a few migrants were about with a two Swallows, Short-toed Lark, two Blackbirds, four Blue Rock Thrushes, two Wrens, four Nightingales, a Common Redstart, two Melodious Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Subalpine Warbler, 14 Sardinian Warblers, four Woodchat Shrikes and 45 Spotless Starlings and a Corn Bunting.

By the afternoon the Cemetery held two Whinchats, two Common Redstarts, three Whitethroats and two Subalpine Warblers.

At Jacobs Ladder there were single Nightingale, Willow Warbler, Woodchat Shrike and two Sardinian Warblers.

Bee-eater flocks continued overhead during the early afternoon as weather cleared

A Great Reed Warbler, only the second ringed at the Observatory.      K. Bensusan

13 Apr:  Overcast skies with low cloud and fog coming in from the east.  Light drizzle mid morning, but low cloud lifted in light easterly to light variable breeze.  Steady rain after midday from the west, clearing to give a moderate south-westerly becoming westerly and sunny by late afternoon. 

A Nightjar sp.  was seen at dawn around Jews, Gate, and a Golden Oriole was heard singing below the road at this location.

By mid morning , as cloud lifted and fog dissipated, hundreds of Black Kites arrived low to the east of Europa Point together with flocks of Common Swifts and continued north along the east side of the Rock.  Eventually passage turned in towards the west of the Rock, and by midday some 2000 Black Kites had been observed, together with a flock of 27 Egyptian Vultures followed by two more, some 10 Sparrowhawks low over Windmill Hill and a Booted Eagle.  Also seen a single Spoonbill over Europa Point.

As winds picked up in the afternoon passage slowed down to a trickle for a total in the afternoon of  41 Black Storks, a Black Kite, a Short-toed Eagle, 25 Sparrowhawks and 20 Booted Eagles.

A visit to North Front Cemetery in the morning produced six Nightingales, a Common Redstart, two Whitethroats, seven Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher, five Woodchat Shrikes and a Corn Bunting.

Windmill Hill never disappoints during fall conditions and quite a few birds had been grounded by the fog for a total of nine Barbary Partridges, a Turtle Dove, three Hoopoes, four Bee-eaters, two Golden Orioles, four Swallows, eight Tree Pipits a Meadow Pipit, a Tawny Pipit, four Black-eared Wheatear, two Northern Wheatears, two Common Redstarts, 28 Nightingales, a Whinchat, 10 Blackbirds, a Blue Rock Thrush, a Song Thrush, 10 Melodious Warblers, three Subalpine Warblers, 15 Whitethroats, 15 Sardinian Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 13 Willow Warblers, a Blue Tit, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, 42 Spotless Starlings, eight Woodchat Shrikes,  five Chaffinches, 14 Serins  , 150 Greenfinches, 70 Goldfinches, 25 Linnets and three Corn Buntings.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron was observed by the western end of the runway.

Black-eared Wheatear at the Cemetery.                                       R. Perez

12 Apr. Overcast skies with a light to moderate easterly wind.  Some light drizzle throughout the afternoon and evening.  A small fall of migrants occurred on the Rock with migrants seen in a range of sites and including the town, where a Woodchat Shrike was seen at the residential area of Montagu Gardens.  Three Whitethroats were seen above Little Bay, a Willow Warbler at North Gorge and a Bee-eater at Naval Hospital Hill.  A Pied Flycatcher was skulking around Vinyards.

At North Front Cemetery Black-eared Wheatears and the first Melodious Warblers of the spring were present.

This  Melodious Warbler at Jacobs Ladder.         R. Perez

Scops Owl heard early in the morning down by Ocean Views.  One flew into a house by Harbour Views, and found its way to the toilet, but was released unharmed.

Ringing Totals

11 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the Rock with high westerly cloud.  Winds fresh easterly with occasional strong gusts.

10 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the town and harbour with a light to moderate easterly winds, picking up to fresh and gusty in the afternoon.  Sunny spells in the late morning and afternoon.  Raptors held up on the Moroccan side of the Strait ventured a crossing with 250 Black Kites, an Egyptian Vulture, a  Short-toed Eagle, two Montagu's Harriers, 12 Booted Eagles, a Buzzard and 12 Sparrowhawks.  No more raptors were seen in the afternoon as winds got stronger.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced 2 Black-eared Wheatears, a Black Redstart, a Blackcap, four Woodchat Shrikes and a Corn Bunting.  Another Corn Bunting was seen at Rosia Bay.  The two Jackdaws were seen again at Windmill Hill.

A Tawny Owl was heard at the northern end of Commonwealth Park.

Ringing Totals

09 Apr:  Again a very cloudy day with overcast skies wand levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour,.  Winds fresh easterly with some strong gusts.  Common Swifts were bearing the brunt of the strong winds and cloudy conditions and looking for shelter in buildings around town.

08 Apr: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, remaining cloudy all day.  Winds fresh easterly with strong gusts.  Many  Pallid and Common Swift, were wheeling overhead and screaming their characteristic calls over the town in the morning.  Some looking for shelter while others were recently arrived across the Strait and heading north.   Two Turnstones were seen at the Europa foreshore.

Ringing Totals

07 Apr:  Overcast skies in the morning with some bright patches to the south of the Rock.  Very cloudy over the mainland and to the south of the Strait and Morocco.  Clearing somewhat in the afternoon to give some sunny spells and high cloud.  Winds moderate easterly.  House Martins and flocks of Bee-eaters continued to pass overhead at Jews' Gate where a Cuckoo was seen, and a Jackdaw was heard calling in the Lathbury area, possibly one of the ones seen on 03/04.

A visit to the North Front Cemetery proved fruitful with a Hoopoe, four Northern Wheatears, two Black-eared Wheatears, three Nightingales and a single Woodchat Shrike, after the good numbers yesterday.

Ringing Totals

06 Apr:  Overcast throughout most of the morning clearing with some sunshine in the afternoon, when skies cleared.  Winds moderate easterly. Raptors held up due to poor weather and visibility took to crossing the Strait in the morning and 500 Black Kites, a Short-toed Eagle and three Sparrowhawks were seen flying low in unusual wind conditions.

Several flocks of Swallows and House Martins flew north in the morning with many flocks of Bee-eaters seen and heard over the Rock and town all day.  Some finch flocks also were seen including a flock of Siskins.

A fall of migrants was apparent during a visit to North Front Cemetery where two Northern Wheatears, eight Nightingales, three Common Redstarts, a Whitethroat, three Blackcaps and 10 Woodchat Shrikes were seen.  Overhead a low flock of 15 Bee-eaters.

 In the evening separate Scops Owls were heard uttering their monosyllabic call from Lathbury area and the other from Sunset Close.  A Tawny Owl was also heard at the Botanic Gardens.

Ringing Totals

05 Apr: Overcast skies also with levanter cloud over the town and harbour.  Winds fresh easterly with some strong gusts.  Flocks of Bee-eaters continue to fly overhead with their fluty distinct calls.  A Nightingale was rescued after presumably being involved in a collision around Europa Mews, and a Woodchat Shrike was seen around Jews' Gate.

Ringing Totals

04 Apr: Very cloudy skies with heavy levanter cloud over the town and harbour.  Some rain showers around midday.  Winds strong to gale force easterly with strong gusts.  Flocks of Bee-eaters continue to fly over the Rock throughout the day.

A Cormorant was seen resting on the rocks by Westview Promenade.  

03 Apr:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind in the morning becoming light variable in the early afternoon and turning to light to moderate easterly by evening.  Some raptors arrived in the morning over the Rock in light winds and consisted of 64 Black Kites, a Short-toed Eagle, 20 Booted Eagles and 13 Sparrowhawks.  Also seen were six Black Storks and two Jackdaws.

02 Apr:  Cloudy skies in the morning with some sunny periods in the afternoon.  Winds moderate north-westerly becoming light.  No consistent watch was kept but a dark phase Booted Eagle and a Griffon Vulture were seen heading north over town in the afternoon.  Some Swallows were also seen heading north over town.

01 Apr:  Overcast skies with some showers in the morning, but clearing by midday to reveal some sunny periods.  Winds light variable becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly at sea level, with a north-westerly dominating the higher altitude.

Some raptors begun to cross as clouds lifted over the Moroccan mountains, but it was a trickle of birds negotiating the northerlies.  In total there were four Black Kites, a Short-toed Eagle, three Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, 12 Sparrowhawks, 14 Booted Eagles and an Osprey.  Also seen were nine Swallows, nine House Martins, a Meadow Pipit, 12 Greenfinches and 8 Goldfinches.  An injured Nightingale was picked up at the entrance of Peninsular Heights, having collided with the window pane.  It recovered and flew away.