30 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.  Some sunny intervals in the afternoon.

A Yellow Wagtail flew south over the harbour.

29 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable to light easterly.

A Yellow Wagtail flew north over the Observatory and a Willow Warbler was seen in the area.

Ringing Totals

A juvenile Montagu's Harrier flew south over the Observatory.

28 Aug:  Clear skies with a light and variable wind turning to light easterly and becoming moderate in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

 Two Nightingales were heard calling below the Observatory.  At North Front Cemetery there were five Sardinian Warblers, two Whitethroats, three Blackbirds,  two Spotted Flycatchers and two Pied Flycatchers. 

A morning visit to Windmill Hill resulted in 19 Barbary Partridges, two Kestrels, two juvenile Woodchat Shrikes, a Hoopoe, two Iberian Chiffchaffs, 17 Sardinian Warblers, eight Blackbirds, three Spotless Starlings, a Blue Rock Thrush, a Wheatear, six House Sparrows,  and three Greenfinches.

A Grey Heron was resting on the airfield runway.

27 Aug:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds moderate to fresh north-westerly.

An early morning visit to Europa Point produced a Whimbrel, a Redstart and a Grey Wagtail.

A morning watch from Princess Caroline's battery produced a good number of raptors and other migrants heading south with 100 White Storks, 667 Honey Buzzards, 1485 Black Kites, a Griffon Vulture, two Egyptian Vultures, a Short-toed Eagle, a Marsh Harrier, five Sparrowhawks, an Eleonora's Falcon, 180 Bee-eaters, 12 Swallows, 10 Common Swifts.

Raptor passage diminished by midday with only a few Black Kites, Honey Buzzards and an Egyptian Vulture seen.  A flock of 16 Glossy Ibises flew south along the east side of the Rock.

Honey Buzzard start to increase in numbers now.                                  R. Perez

A Hoopoe was seen in the evening at the Nature Reserve.  Also seen were four Blue Tits, a Great Tit, three Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds, four Chaffinches and four Greenfinches.

26 Aug:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light easterly in the morning turning to light variable to light westerly.

A morning watch at Europa Point in calm and hot conditions turned up 15 Cory's Shearwaters offshore, with a Common Sandpiper, two Turnstones and Whimbrel at Europa foreshore.  Overhead two Yellow Wagtails were flying around.

The afternoon produced 134 Cory's Shearwaters, three Balearic Shearwaters, a Gannet, two Audouin's Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Booted Eagle, a Hen Harrier and eight Swallows.

Over the Rock there were four Honey Buzzards and two Booted Eagles, and a Black Kite was seen over Windmill Hill.

25 Aug:  Mainly clear skies with some mist patches surrounding the Rock.  Winds light easterly to light variable.

A visit to North Front cemetery turned up a three Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatcher and a female Redstart.

24 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, clearing somewhat mid morning.  Winds moderate easterly.

At least 20 Booted Eagles were seen over Westside in the morning.  the five Ravens were observed around Mediterranean Steps.

23 Aug:  Heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with some sunny intervals late afternoon.  Winds fresh easterly, becoming moderate.

Several Booted Eagles flew east over the harbour, and soared over the town and the Rock in the early afternoon as winds dropped.

22 Aug:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, with heavy fog over the north of Gibraltar and into the Bay, clearing mid morning.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Kingfisher was seen around the Calpe Rowing Club.  A mixed flock of about 60 Black Kites and Booted Eagles were observed soaring over the southern end of the Rock.

21 Aug:  Heavy fog all night and throughout the morning only clearing over town mid morning but remaining along the airfield and the Strait all day.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A walk in the morning along the northern end of the Nature Reserve revealed a Hoopoe, a Blue Tit,  three Long-tailed Tits,  a Melodious Warbler, seven Sardinian Warblers, two Spotted Flycatchers, three Jackdaws and five Greenfinches.

A Booted Eagle was seen around the South District.

20 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable to light easterly in the morning, but thick fog on the east side of the Rock creeping over the northern end of town in the afternoon in light easterly winds.

A morning watch at North Front Cemetery produced five Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, a male Common Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher.

The ringing campaign commenced this morning only using the lower net rides.  It was a clear night with light winds so much was not expected, but a few migrants were around.

Ringing Totals

 A single Black Kite and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen from the Observatory.

19 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate south-westerly wind, fresh in the Strait.

A morning visit to Europa found two Common Sandpipers, a Melodious Warbler and a Blue Rock Thrush at Europa foreshore, with seven Audouin's Gulls, (two juveniles) heading west.

A Booted Eagle was observed soaring over the South District.

A two hour watch at Europa point in the afternoon produced 31 Cory's Shearwaters and 12 Balearic Shearwaters feeding on flying fish, a Little Egret that was chased off by a Cory's Shearwater, 10 Avocets, two Shags east, four Kestrels, two Black-headed Gulls and 56 Audouin's Gulls, (25 juveniles).

18 Aug:  Clear skies with a light to moderate south-westerly.

 Approximately 150 Black Kites passed over the harbour and cut across the Bay in the morning in light south-westerly winds.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Hoopoes, and single Kestrel, Sardinian Warbler, Blackbird and Spotted Flycatcher.

A flock of 50 Black Kites flew over the harbour and headed across the Bay.  In the afternoon five Honey Buzzards were seen over the Rock.

17 Aug:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind.

 A small flock of about 20 Black Kites and a light morph Booted Eagle was seen soaring over the Rock in the morning.  An Osprey was observed over the top station of the Cable Car in the afternoon.  Hundreds of Swift sp. were observed heading south over the Rock.

16 Aug:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind, becoming moderate in the afternoon.

Late morning about 300 Black Kites flew south over town with many crossing the Bay.  Large passage of Common and Pallid Swifts throughout the afternoon.

15 Aug:  Clear skies with a light easterly becoming light and variable to light south-westerly.

Princess Caroline's battery area held a Hoopoe, a Blue Tit and three Greenfinches.

An afternoon visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Hoopoes, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, two Blackbirds and two Spotted Flycatchers.

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike at North Front Cemetery.                       C. Fortuna.

 A flock of 12 Black Kites, four Short-toed Eagles and six Booted Eagles flew over town.

14 Aug:  Low levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.

A Melodious Warbler was seen on the east side of the Rock.

Melodious Warbler in the east side of the Rock.               C. Fortuna.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker*.  This is only the second record for Gibraltar, as the habitat, composed of dense maquis with predominantly Olive scrub, is unsuited to the species which prefers evergreen and deciduous Oak trees in the nearby hills in Spain.  Recent fires in the Sierra Carbonera may have relocated this individual south towards Gibraltar.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. P. Rocca.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. P. Rocca.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. P. Rocca.

Great Spotted Woodpecker. P. Rocca.

 A visit to Windmill hill produced 26 Barbary Partridges, two Collared Doves, a Hoopoe, a Pallid Swift, three Kestrels, a Melodious Warbler, 12 Sardinian Warblers, 12 Blackbirds, three Blue Rock Thrushes, 32 Spotless Starlings and three House Sparrows.

13 Aug:  Low levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour only lifting by midday.  Winds moderate easterly.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Hoopoes, three Sardinian Warblers, six Blackbirds and 20 House Sparrows.

A Booted Eagle was seen over town.

12 Aug:  Heavy fog over the town and harbour in the early morning with levanter cloud over the Rock.  Sunny spells later in the afternoon.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Two Hoopoes, two Sardinian Warblers and two Blackbirds were observed at North Front Cemetery.

A Booted Eagle was hanging around the Jews' Gate Observatory, and an Iberian Chiffchaff was heard calling in the vicinity.

11 Aug:  Clear skies in the morning with a light to moderate westerly wind, but wind changed late morning to a fresh north-easterly, with some levanter cloud developing.  Winds became moderate easterly mid afternoon.

Black Kites headed north over town in westerly winds for a total of 602 birds, before winds turned easterly.  A Hoopoe was present at Governor's Lookout.

10 Aug:  Clear skies with hazy Saharan dust.  Winds light variable to a light sea breeze.

Four Hoopoes and four Spotted Flycatchers were seen at the North Front Cemetery

09 Aug:  Heavy levanter cloud over much of the Rock, town and harbour, with hazy Saharan dust.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Five Hoopoes and a kestrel were seen at the North Front Cemetery

08 Aug:  Levanter cloud over much of the Rock, town and harbour, with hazy Saharan dust.   Winds moderate easterly with strong gusts.

Six Barbary Partridges were observed on the slope above Nuffield Pool.  Two Swallows were observed by Lathbury Barracks.  

A visit to Windmill Hill produced seven Barbary Partridges, two Kestrels, two Woodchat Shrikes, three Swallows,   a Hoopoe, seven Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a House Sparrow and a Goldfinch.

Just after midday a flock of 15 Black Kites were observed over town. An Oystercatcher was seen at Europa Point.

07 Aug:  Clear skies at dawn but heavy levanter cloud developing soon after with fresh and gusty easterly winds, at times strong.

There were five Hoopoes and a juvenile Woodchat Shrike at North Front Cemetery.

06 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate north-easterly wind.

The five Ravens were seen together over Middle Hill where there was also a Booted Eagle flying around.  The two Hoopoes was still present at North Front Cemetery. A juvenile Woodchat Shrike was present on Windmill Hill.

05 Aug:  Clear skies early in the morning with heavy levanter cloud developing in the afternoon, but clearing torwards evening.  Winds light south-west mid morning, but fresh easterly blowing from midday onwards.

Two Hoopoes were observed at North Front Cemetery.  A visit to Windmill Hill produced 28 Barbary Partridges, Seven Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds and four Greenfinches.  Overhead five Pallid Swifts and two Peregrines, one juvenile bird.

04 Aug:  Clear skies with a light westerly turning to light variable and then light easterly in the afternoon.

A few Black Kites flew over the Rock, but as winds became light by mid morning, passage drifted over the hinterland and along the hills behind the Refinery, heading towards the mountains behind Algeciras.

In the last few weeks at least 30000 Black Kites have flown south over the Rock and headed south across the Strait.  This year the numbers of Black Kites were unprecedented, having a bearing on a successful breeding season and how the population has expanded.  It also became apparent that the migration begun earlier and in bigger numbers than in previous years.

03 Aug:  Clear skies with a fresh westerly wind. 

Hundreds more Black Kites flew south in the morning with many more in the afternoon, numbering at least 4500 birds. An juvenile Egyptian Vulture was observed over the Rock.  A light morph Eleonora's Falcon was seen over Middle Hill in the afternoon, and a juvenile Montagu's Harrier was also observed.

The three Ravens were observed over Middle Hill.

02 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.

Steady passage of Black Kites throughout the morning with several thousand mid afternoon. At least 5000 were estimated to have crossed.

01 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly becoming fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.

Peregrine in primary moult past Europa Point.                                     R. Perez

Another morning with hundreds of Black Kites heading south over the Rock, and thousands in the afternoon.

A Hoopoe was seen at North Front Cemetery and another was perched on a balcony at King's Wharf.  An Oystercatcher was present at Europa foreshore.

Hoopoe at North Front Cemetery.                                               C. Fortuna.

Hoopoe at King's Wharf.                               M. Stoner