Recent Sightings February 2023
28 Feb: Mainly clear skies with some high cloud. Winds light to moderate north-westerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 4 | 4 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 3 | 3 | |
| Blackcap | 13 | 13 | |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 22 | 2 | 24 |
Light winds reflected on poor raptor numbers, with many flying up the Bay. In total there were 85 Black Kites and eight Short-toed Eagles.
Two Whimbrel flew west past Europa Point. A first winter plumage Little Gull was present at Europa Point.
27 Feb: Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud. Winds moderate north-westerly becoming fresh westerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 7 | 7 | |
| Robin | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 8 | 2 | 10 |
A very good raptor day with at least over 6000 Black Kites seen together with 45 Egyptian Vultures, 15 Short-toed Eagles, four Marsh Harriers, three Sparrowhawks and two Lesser Kestrels. Also seen were 104 Black Storks, including a flock of 86 birds. Also seen were
26 Feb: Clear skies in the morning becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Winds fresh westerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 13 | 5 | 18 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 17 | 5 | 22 |
Little Bay rocks held seven Cormorants and two Shags. there was a Great Tit seen by the St. Joseph's area.
Total of raptors seen were 56 Black Kites, an Egyptian Vulture, and seven Short-toed Eagles, most flew up the Bay. Also seen were three Swallows.
A Sparrowhawk was observed by the old Casino site.
25 Feb: Overcast skies with some showers in the morning and some sunny spells in the afternoon. Winds north-westerly.
Very windy at the Observatory and only five Blackcaps were processed.
Some raptors crossed the Strait but no systematic counts were made. nevertheless six Black Storks, 45 Black Kites, an Egyptian Vulture and a Kestrel were seen mainly in the afternoon.
24 Feb: Cloudy in the morning with early rain shower but clearing to give sunny spells. Winds moderate westerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Robin | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 16 | 5 | 21 |
A Sparrowhawk and five Swallows were seen from the Observatory.
23 Feb: Clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Robin | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 22 |
Very few raptors seen with single Black Kite, Marsh Harrier and a Short-toed Eagle in the afternoon. Also seen 14 Swallows, five House Martins and a flock of five Red-rumped Swallows.
22 Feb: Clear skies but very hazy with Saharan dust. Winds light northerly until midday with a moderate westerly in the Strait.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 13 | 4 | 17 |
In the morning there were 17 Black Kites, a Sparrowhawk, two Swallows, a Red-rumped Swallow and nine House Martins.
In the afternoon there was a further Black Kite followed by a flock of 22 birds in the late afternoon.
A Puffin was seen in the Strait and a Little Egret was at the Small Boats Marina.
An afternoon watch at Europa point produced 10 Gannets, a Cormorant, five Shags, 130 Black-headed Gulls, (including E6PT and T39J), 15 Mediterranean Gulls, a 1st/w Kittiwake that landed on the cliff for a while, an Audouin's Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, five Razorbills and two Sandwich Terns.
In the evening there were single Balearic Shearwater, 37 Gannets, a Cormorant, a Shag, eight Black-headed Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Razorbill, and nine Sandwich Terns.
There was an Iberian Chiffchaff calling by Europa Advance Road.
21 Feb: Mainly clear skies with some cloud from the west in the morning, and finally some sun, with levanter cloud over the Rock in the afternoon. Winds moderate easterly becoming light.
Only nine Blackcaps and a Greenfinch ringed at the Observatory.
A mid afternoon watch at Europa point produced 350 Balearic Shearwaters settled on the water 500m offshore, an adult Gannet, two Cormorants, five Shags, 160 Black-headed Gulls, including colour ringed E6PT, 40 Mediterranean Gulls including a French colour ringed bird 361K, 20 Audouin's Gulls heading east, a 1st/w Kittiwake, a 1st/w Little Gull, four Sandwich Terns and 10 Razorbills.
Difference in size between adult Mediterranean Gull (left) and 1st/w Little Gull (right). C. Perez
The Lesser Crested Tern made an appearence at Little Bay for a short spell in the afternoon before returning north. There was a flock of seven Turnstones by Keys Promenade and a Whimbrel.
20 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock and rather gloomy with low visibility due to Saharan dust. Winds moderate easterly.
A flock of 34 Black Kites flew north over the South Mole mid morning. An Iberian Chiffchaff was heard calling around the Observatory.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Hoopoe | 1 | 1 | |
| Chiffchaff | 3 | 3 | |
| Crag Martin | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 20 | 1 | 21 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 4 | 4 | |
| Stonechat | 2 | 2 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 32 | 2 | 34 |
There were seven Cormorants, a Shag and a Grey Heron at Little Bay in the morning.
An afternoon visit to Europa point produced 167 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Gannets, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 34 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gull, three Sandwich Terns and 22 Razorbills.
19 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock and rather gloomy. Winds fresh to moderate easterly.
A Little Ringed Plover was seen in a corner of Western Beach. This is the first Gibraltar record.
Little Ringed Plover at Western Beach. C. Fortuna.
The Lesser Crested Tern was still present at Camp Bay.
A watch from Europa Point produced four Scopoli's Shearwaters, three Balearic Shearwaters, nine Gannets, nine Cormorants, two Shags, six Black-headed Gulls, 24 Mediterranean Gulls, an Audouin's Gull, three Sandwich Terns, and three Razorbills, and in the surrounding area a Stonechat and a Serin.
An afternoon visit to Western Beach did not locate the Little Ringed Plover, but there were 37 Black-headed Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, three Sandwich Terns and possibly another Lesser Crested Tern on the runway. Also three White Wagtails.
A Common Sandpiper was present on the rocks by Europlaza.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 5 | 5 | |
| Blackcap | 28 | 7 | 35 |
| Song Thrush | 2 | 2 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Robin | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Black Redstart | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 49 | 13 | 62 |
18 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud and some Saharan dust in the air. Winds fresh easterly with strong gusts.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 26 | 2 | 28 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Robin | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Black Redstart | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Greenfinch | 3 | 3 | |
| Total | 35 | 7 | 42 |
A Lesser Crested Tern was seen at Camp Bay.
17 Feb: Overcast skies with some light drizzle in the afternoon. Winds gale force easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Blackbird | 2 | 2 | |
| Robin | 1 | 1 | |
| Black Redstart | 2 | 2 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 13 | 5 | 18 |
The Whimbrel and a Razorbill were seen at Little Bay.
16 Feb: Overcast skies with a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Black Redstart | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 17 | 5 | 22 |
A flock of 20 Scopoli's Shearwaters flew east past Europa Point early this morning. The Little Egret was present at the Small Boats Marina.
A watch from Little Bay produced Three Gannets, nine Cormorants, a Shag, a Grey Heron and a Sandwich Tern.
A visit to North Front Cemetery produced a Chiffchaff, a Sardinian Warbler, a Blackbird, six Black Redstarts, a White Wagtail and 53 House Sparrows.
Five Turnstones were observed on the South Mole.
A morning watch from Europa Point four Gannets, four Cormorants, 36 Black-headed Gulls, 77 Mediterranean Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, an Audouin's Gull and three Black Redstarts.
Evening watch from Europa Point produced 85 Balearic Shearwaters, five Cormorants, two Shags, five Black-headed Gulls, 28 Mediterranean Gulls, a Kittiwake, two Audouin's Gulls, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Good candidate for Baltic Gull Larus fuscus fuscus. R. Perez
15 Feb: Overcast skies with a fresh and at times strong easterly winds.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 22 | 4 | 26 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Robin | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Black Redstart | 3 | 3 | |
| Total | 32 | 8 | 40 |
An evening watch at Europa Point produced five Gannets , five Cormorants, two Shags, eight Black-headed Gulls, 20 Mediterranean Gulls, two adult Sabine's Gulls*, two Audouin's Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Sandwich Tern.
Another Hoopoe was observed on the Upper Rock.
14 Feb: Overcast skies with light drizzle at times in the morning in a fresh easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 3 | 3 | |
| Blackcap | 34 | 3 | 37 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Robin | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Black Redstart | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 41 | 10 | 51 |
A Hoopoe was seen on the Upper Rock this morning.
13 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock. Winds strong easterly.
There were six Cormorants by the pontoons at the RGYC and two Sandwich Terns by the slipway of the rowing clubs.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Hoopoe | 1 | 1 | |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 20 | 3 | 23 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 3 | 3 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Black Redstart | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 28 | 11 | 39 |
12 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock. Some sunny spells away from the Rock in the afternoon. Winds strong easterly with strong gusts continuing in the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 31 | 2 | 33 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Robin | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Serin | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 37 | 4 | 41 |
An evening watch from Europa Point produced eight Gannets, 10 Cormorants, two Shags, seven Black-headed Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls, a 1st/w Kittiwake, and a Stonechat.
First winter Kittiwake at Europa Point. R. Perez.
A flock of five House Martins were seen over Rosia bay.
11 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock. Winds strong to gale force easterly in the morning with strong gusts continuing in the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 17 | 1 | 18 |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 2 | |
| Robin | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Black Redstart | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Greenfinch | 4 | 4 | |
| Total | 29 | 5 | 34 |
There were four Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Kittiwake at Rosia Bay.
10 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, and rain showers. Winds strong easterly.
Only two Black Redstarts and a Crag Martin were ringed due to strong winds and bad weather.
08 Feb: Overcast skies with some rain showers and levanter cloud. Winds fresh easterly.
A two hour watch from Europa point produced 30 Balearic Shearwaters, six Gannets, a Great Skua, an Audouin's Gull, a Puffin and a flock of nine Razorbills.
A Common Sandpiper was present at Rosia Bay. Only five Blackcaps ringed today.
07 Feb: Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock in strong easterly winds.
A total of 10 Blackcaps and three Black Redstarts were processed.
06 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with sunny spells away from the Rock. Winds moderate easterly.
A Dartford Warbler was seen along Europa Advance Road. Two Common Sandpipers were seen along the westside revetment, and a Grey Heron was observed at Camp Bay.
The four Jackdaws continue to reside around the Moorish Castle.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 19 | 1 | 20 |
| Chaffinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 22 | 2 | 24 |
05 Feb: Levanter cloud over the Rock in the morning, clearing by midday to give sunny spells. Winds moderate to fresh easterly.
There were two Razorbills and five Sandwich Terns at Rosia Bay.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 12 | 12 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Robin | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 16 | 16 |
03 Feb: Levanter cloud continuing over the Rock, town and harbour with sunny spells away from the Rock. Winds moderate easterly
The Little Egret was back at the GSLA Pavilion.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blackcap | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 10 | 3 | 13 |