Recent Sightings March 2023

24 Mar: Clear skies with westerly wind that began light and became moderate. Two Willow Warblers, an Iberian Chiffchaff and a Robin were at Commonwealth Park. A count from Europa Point in the afternoon produced five Black-headed Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, six Gannets, three Black Storks, a White Stork, five Ospreys, 25 Short-toed Snake-eagles, 113 Booted Eagles, 13 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier, a Montagu's Harrier, 16 Sparrowhawks, 1045 Black Kites, two Common Buzzards, a Lesser Kestrel, a Common Kestrel, seven Barn Swallows and two Serins.

23 Mar: Very light easterly with clear skies. At Windmill Hill Flats there was a Hoopoe, a Black-eared Wheatear, a Robin, a Black Redstart, five Song Thrush, a Woodchat Shrike, three Willow Warblers, two Bonelli's Warblers, an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Subalpine Warbler, two Blackcaps, five Meadow Pipits, a Yellow Wagtail, three Greenfinch, a Goldfinch, two Linnets and a Corn Bunting. A Willow Warbler was at Commonwealth Park. Ringing at Jews' Gate included ten Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, two Common Chiffchaffs and Iberian Chiffchaff.

22 Mar: Light easterly with clear skies. Windmill Hill Flats held two Hoopoes, seven Song Thrush, two Nightingales, three Black-eared Wheatears, four Common Redstarts, five Black Redstarts, three Robins, two Blackcaps, eight Willow Warblers, ten Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, seven Greenfinch, five Goldfinch, two Linnets and a Corn Bunting.  Ringing at Jews' Gate included 12 Blackcaps, three Subalpine Warblers, three Willow Warblers and two Iberian Chiffchaffs.  About a mile and a half offshore in the evening, there was passage of some 40 Puffins during an hour.

21 Mar: Light easterly with some cloud. Windmill Hill Flats held two Hoopoes, a Black Redstart, seventeen Meadow Pipits, two Robins, two Song Thrush, one Goldfinch, three Linnets, five Greenfinch and a Serin.  A Hoopoe was ringed at Jews' Gate, along with nine Blackcaps, four Common Chiffchaffs, an Iberian Chiffchaff and three Willow Warblers.

20 Mar: Moderate to fresh levanter with some cloud. Windmill Hill Flats held two Black Redstarts, seven Meadow Pipits, a Robin, two Song Thrush, two Goldfinch and two Linnets.  Ringing at Jews' Gate included seven Blackcaps, a Chaffinch, a Serin, a Greenfinch and a Barn Swallow.

19 Mar: Calm and sunny.  North Front Cemetery held two Woodchat Shrikes, an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Robin and three Black Redstarts, with a Pallid Swift overhead.  About 80 Pallid Swifts were over the Westside area.

18 Mar: Moderate westerly with a trickle of raptors - 2 Short-toed Snake-eagles, nine Booted Eagles, 2 Marsh Harriers, 13 Sparrowhawks, 424 Black Kites, a Lesser Kestrel and two Common Kestrels - as well as 11 Barn Swallows.  Six Turnstones were at Europa Foreshore.

17 Mar: A Common Redstart was at North Front Cemetery.

16 Mar:  Cloudy skies with some sunny periods in the morning.  Winds moderate to fresh westerly.

15 Mar:  A cloudy start to the morning with low levanter cloud over the Rock town and harbour, but completly cleared by mid morning to clear skies and a very sunny day.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

 A Whimbrel was present at Europa foreshore. Several fledged Blackbirds were observed running about planters at the Westview Promenade.

A flock of 19 Flamingoes flew around the northern end og the Rock before proceeding towards Palmones estuary.

14 Mar:  Clear skies with a moderate northerly in the morning turning to fresh westerly by midday.

Ringing Totals

Another good raptor day, although the passage did not take off until the winds veered to westerly.  Then by the late afternoon passage trickled off as the winds are expected to veer to north-easterly tomorrow.

Also seen were three Red-rumped Swallows and an Alpine Swift.  A flock of 30 Cormorants crossed the Strait and headed north. A Kingfisher was present at the GSLA Pavilion.

One of thousands of Black Kites seen in the past few days.                                        C. Finlayson.

The House Bunting was seen again at Europa Point.                                                   P Rocca

13 Mar:  High cloud for most of the day with sunny spells.  Winds moderate south=westerly becoming fresh in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

A spectacular afternoon of raptor migration but mainly in the afternoon when winds freshened and raptors flew mainly along the east side of the Rock, and then crested the ridge by Rock Gun.

Soaring Bird Totals

Also seen were two Cormorants over town heading north, 10 Swallows and at least over 100 Pallid Swifts over the town area in the evening.

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A House Bunting flew in off the sea at Europa Point.                                           R. Perez

12 Mar:  Clear skies with a light variable to light westerly breeze.

Very few raptors as winds had dropped to a light breeze.  There were 12 Black Kites a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk seen. A flock of 32 Cormorants were seen over the harbour at midday.

A flock of 16 Greylag Geese were seen over the North Mole and a flock of 23 Cranes in V formation flew over the airfield.

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

11 Mar:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds moderate westerly.

Steady Raptor passage throughout the day.  Totals were 1250 Black Kites, three Egyptian Vultures, 105 Short-toed Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, 22 Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard, 17 Booted Eagles an Osprey and a Lesser Kestrel.  Also seen six Swallows, three Red-rumped Swallows, three Crag Martins, a Meadow Pipit, a Pallid Swift and a Goldfinch.

At Europa Point there were 86 Gannets, 46 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a Whimbrel at Europa foreshore

10 Mar:  Clear skies with a light variable to light westerly wind.  Rather warm for the time of the year.

Good raptor passage from 12:00 but as winds turned northerly by 16:00 all passage had mostly ceased.

Totals for the day were 875 Black Kites, 38 Short-toed Eagles, a Montagu's Harrier, four Sparrowhawks and a Booted Eagle.

  Ringing Totals

09 Mar: Overcast skies with a fresh to strong westerly wind.  Frequent light showers throughout the day.

There were Hoopoes at Europa Point and the North Front Cemetery where a Subalpine Warbler was also seen.  A Woodchat Shrike was present in the Botanic Gardens.

Some raptors ventured across the Strait with approximately 40 Black Kites, 80 Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, two Booted Eagles and 12 Sparrowhawks.  Also seen was a White Stork.

 Ringing Totals

08 Mar: Overcast skies clearing by mid morning to give sunny spells. Becoming overcast again mid afternoon. Winds fresh south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

A very good raptor day.  Raptors begun to cross the Strait once the cloud had cleared and the sun was up by mid morning, when a great arrival of Short-toed Eagles was observed over the Rock.  In total there were 180 Black Kites, over 600 Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, three Booted Eagles, 14 Sparrowhawks and a steady passage of Swallows and House Martins.

 A Hoopoe and a Wheatear were present at North Front Cemetery. A Scops Owl was picked up injured inside the Dockyard.

A late afternoon watch at Europa Point produced two Gannets, 47 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, and three Swallows and a Crag Martin.  A number of raptors were also seen and added to the days total.

07 Mar:  Overcast skies with rain showers most of the morning but easing off in the afternoon.  Winds light to moderate westerly.

No ringing due to bad weather today.

Over 1000 Black Kites heading north in the early afternoon.  Also single Marsh Harrier, Osprey, 22 Pallid Swifts, two Swallows and a Sand Martin observed.

06 Mar:  Cloudy with some light showers in the afternoon.  Winds mainly moderate to fresh to strong westerly.

Ringing Totals

A total of 184 Black Kites were seen over the Rock heading north. Large gathering of Black-headed Gulls and two Sandwich Terns on the western end of the runway.

A Lesser Crested Tern was observed on the east side of the Rock.

05 Mar:  Mainly clear skies with some levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Chiffchaffs, an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Robin, seven Black Redstarts, a Blue Rock Thrush, a White Wagtail and 14 House Sparrows.

At Western Beach there were single Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper, 15 Cormorants, a Chiffchaff and a Kestrel.

Two Hoopoes were seen along the road to Governor's Cottage. A Razorbill was present at Camp Bay.

04 Mar:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud in the afternoon.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

 Three Jackdaws were seen around the Moorish Castle area with one carrying nesting material.

Two Common Sandpipers were seen at the Waterfall.

03 Mar:  Clear skies with a light variable to light north-easterly breeze.

A morning visit to Europa Point produced single Gannet, Shag and Cormorant and 140 Black-headed Gulls and 20 Mediterranean Gulls.

 Two Lesser Crested Terns were seen heading west at Europa Point.

Two Common Sandpipers were observed along Westview Promenade rocks and a Little Egret was seen on the pontoons by the rowing clubs.

 Ringing Totals

02 Mar:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light north-westerly.

Single Woodchat Shrikes were observed in the Nature Reserve and the North Front Cemetery.

A male Marsh Harrier was seen over the South Mole.  Two Jackdaws were observed over Casemates.

The Ravens were seen nest building above Catalan Bay.  This will be the first time Ravens will nest on the Rock after a prolonged period.

 Ringing Totals

01 Mar:  Clear skies with a moderate to light westerly.

Ringing Totals

 Only 57 Black Kites and 15 Short-toed Eagles were observed.