30 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh easterly winds.

29 Sept:  Very heavy levanter cloud over the Rock covering half the Rock down to 200m.  Levanter cloud also over the town and harbour with fresh easterly with strong gusts.

 First two Cormorants of the season were seen by the breakwater at the western end of the runway.

Again another day with hundreds of Booted Eagles, with some Short-toed Eagles and Sparrowhawks over the Rock in the morning.

There were 15 Shags and a Grey Heron at the rocks by Little bay.

28 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a fresh easterly wind, with some sunny intervals mid afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Again another day with hundreds of Booted Eagles, with some Short-toed Eagles and Sparrowhawks over the Rock in the morning.  The first Crag Martins of the season also arrived today.

Two Yellow Wagtails were observed at Europa foreshore.

27 Sept:   Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a moderate easterly wind, with some sunny intervals mid morning and the rest of the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Several hundred Booted Eagles again aborted the Strait crossing and flew towards the Rock in the morning.  They were accompanied by several Sparrowhawks two Black Kites and a Black Stork.

26 Sept:   Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a fresh easterly wind with strong gusts.  Some sunny intervals in the late afternoon.

Hundreds of Booted Eagles flew towards the Rock and remained soaring throughout the morning, returning north later.  Also seen were two White Storks, five Honey Buzzards, three Black Kites,  three Marsh Harriers,  and several Sparrowhawks were also seen.

The Pied Flycatcher remained at North Front Cemetery, with another seen at Governor's Lookout, where two Jackdaws were also seen.

25 Sept: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a fresh easterly wind, with sunny intervals in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

In the morning 33 Honey Buzzards, 41 Black Kites, two Short-toed Eagles, four Marsh Harriers, at least 600+ Booted Eagles, three Ospreys and three Kestrels were seen from the airfield.

A Willow Warbler was observed in the Nature Reserve and a Pied Flycatcher remained at North Front Cemetery.

24 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, in a fresh easterly wind.

A Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher were present at Trafalgar Cemetery, and two Redstarts and a Pied Flycatcher were seen at North Front Cemetery.  

23 Sept:  Clear skies with a light easterly wind becoming moderate in the afternoon.

A Wheatear was observed at Europa Point, and a Sanderling was seen on the beach at Eastern Beach.

A Quail was seen in the Europa Point area.  

22 Sept: Overcast skies with a light rain shower overnight, with low cloud giving way to overcast skies with high cloud.  Winds westerly becoming north-westerly mid morning and then westerly by mid afternoon.

Slow start to raptor passage, but picking up by 11:00 until 14:30 when passage stopped.  Most of the passage occurred along the east side of the Rock, with raptors cresting the Rock and gaining height before heading south-west. Totals were 150 Honey Buzzards, two Black Kites, an adult Egyptian Vulture, three Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, 88 Booted Eagles, 70 Sparrowhawks, two Ospreys and four Lesser Kestrels.  Also seen were single White Stork, five Black Storks, two Pallid Swifts and 30 Swallows.

21 Sept:  Mainly cloudy skies with sunny intervals during the morning, with some high cloud in the afternoon.  Winds moderate westerly.

Windy conditions hampered the ringing operation.

Ringing Totals

Some raptor passage during the morning until 11:30 when passage declined, and only single birds thereafter.  The totals were 197 Honey Buzzards, 21 Black Kites, a juvenile Egyptian Vulture, eight Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, eight Booted Eagles 71 Sparrowhawks and five Lesser Kestrels.  Also seen were a Grey Heron, 30 Bee-eaters, 45 Swallows, two Pallid Swifts and four Yellow Wagtails.

Migrants at North Front Cemetery consisted of a Pied Flycatcher and two Whinchats.  On the Nature Reserve there were single Blue Tit, two Great Tits, a Willow Warbler and four Long-tailed Tits.

An Osprey was located resting at the same spot along the airfield as last year, and may be the same returning bird.

20 Sept:  Clear skies in the morning with some high cloud in the late afternoon.  Winds light north-west at the head of the bay with moderate to fresh south-westerly in the Strait, picking up mid morning, but turning to westerly mid afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Raptor passage was slow in the morning, with most birds coasting along the Spanish side of the bay.  When winds turned westerly mid afternoon passage resumed over the Rock with a watch kept from 16:30-17:30hrs. 

Totals were 242 Honey Buzzards, seven Black Kites, three Short-toed Eagles, 50 Marsh Harriers, two Montagu's Harriers, 17 Booted Eagles, 10 Sparrowhawks, four Ospreys and four Lesser Kestrels.  Also seen were 154 Swallows, two Sand Martins and five Pallid Swifts.

A Tawny Owl was heard in the vicinity of the Mount gardens.

At Princess Caroline's Battery area there were two Iberian Chiffchaffs, two Pied Flycatchers and a Wheatear.  There were three Long-tailed Tits, a Melodious Warbler and a Redstart in the Nature Reserve.

19 Sept:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly breeze and a moderate south-westerly in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

Only one Sparrowhawk was observed heading south in the morning.

18 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some persistent high cloud.  Winds light north-westerly to light variable to light west in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Some raptors flew south during the morning and early afternoon, with 11 Honey Buzzards, 10 Black Kites, six Booted Eagles and 11 Sparrowhawks seen.  At least 80 Swallows were also observed heading north following the coast.

17 Sept:  Mainly cloudy skies with some sunny intervals and a slight drizzle late morning.  Winds light south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

At North Front Cemetery there were single Whitethroat and two Pied Flycatchers.  Several Sparrowhawks flew south during the day.  No other raptors were noted.

16 Sept:  Clear skies becoming overcast with alto-stratus, but clearing by midday to give a sunny day with some high cloud.  Winds light variable to light westerly.

Ringing Totals

In the morning at Europa Point foreshore, only 16 Cory's Shearwaters remained.  Also seen were a Common Sandpiper, two Turnstones, a Little Egret, an Audouin's Gull, two Sardinian Warblers and two Blue Rock Thrushes.

 Another Common Sandpiper was observed at Catalan Bay.  Two Sparrowhawks and a Willow Warbler were seen in the Nature reserve among other resident species.  There were two Yellow Wagtails and a Common Starling at the Seven Sisters beach.

Little Egret at Europa foreshore.                    R. Perez

15 Sept:  Overcast skies with heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Beginning to clear mid morning with some sunny intervals as winds lightened.  By late morning, a southerly breeze set in as levanter cloud disappeared.  Winds moderate easterly, becoming light and variable mid morning and turning to light southerly by the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Approximately 300+ Booted Eagles flew in over the town and Rock, with some attempting a crossing, but many returning north.  With them were single Honey Buzzard, Red Kite, Black Kite, a juvenile Egyptian Vulture and three Sparrowhawks.  Also seen were two flocks numbering 65 Bee-eaters, and 45 Swallows.  In the afternoon six Honey Buzzards, three Black Kites and three Marsh Harriers flew south over Europa point at 16:30hrs.

Short-toed Eagle P. Rocca

Short-toed Eagle P. Rocca

Several hundred Cory's Shearwaters were following Tuna that were  feeding on flying fish, and catching them as they took off.  Also seen was an adult Gannet and five Common Terns.

14 Sept: Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, with a light shower early afternoon, after which sunny intervals persisted.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

Four Honey Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, a Montagu's Harrier, four Booted Eagles and two Sparrowhawks were seen from the Observatory in the morning.  22 Swallows and some Yellow Wagtails were heard from this site.

A visit to Windmill Hill produced eight Barbary Partridges, 21 Sardinian Warblers, seven Blackbirds, a Nightingale, two Yellow Wagtails and a Greenfinch.

North Front Cemetery held two Redstarts , Pied Flycatcher and a Wheatear.  Approximately 12 Yellow Wagtails were observed looking to roost in Palm trees at Europa Walks.

Male Northern Wheatear at North Front Cemetery.                                       R. Perez

13 Sept:  Clear skies with a light westerly becoming light variable mid morning and then turning to light southerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

 North Front Cemetery held a Blackbird, three Pied Flycatchers and three Wheatears.

12 Sept:  Clear skies with a light to moderate westerly, with fresh south-westerly in the Strait.  Easterly haze approaching along the eastern horizon.

Ringing Totals

A raptor count until 15:30hrs when passage ceased produced 876 Honey Buzzards, with most along the east side of the Rock, 42 Black Kites, two Egyptian Vultures, five Marsh Harriers, six Montagu's Harriers, six Booted Eagles, a Long-legged Buzzard that was hunting along Signal Station Road, 15 Sparrowhawks, an Osprey and three Lesser Kestrels.  Also seen were 22 Black Storks, four Grey Herons, 95 Swallows, 150 Bee-eaters, four Short-toed Larks and 12 Yellow Wagtails.

 An afternoon visit to North Front Cemetery revealed a Hoopoe, a Melodious Warbler,  two Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatcher and three Whinchats.

11 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud and cumulus from the west.  Winds fresh north-westerly in the morning becoming moderate around mid morning and becoming south-westerly after midday.

Ringing Totals

Raptor migration began mid morning and up till 13:00 there were a total of 825 Honey Buzzards, 30 Black Kites, a Short-toed Eagle, two male Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, an immature Imperial Eagle, eight Booted Eagles, nine Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.  Also seen were three Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail.  Two Redstarts were also seen around Princess Caroline's battery area.

In the afternoon passage took place very high and to the east of the Rock with many flocks of Honey Buzzards arriving high off Europa Point and heading south.  The total of Honey Buzzards for the day stood at 2100 birds, with an extra 30 Black Kites, four Sparrowhawks, three Booted Eagles and two Ospreys in the afternoon.

A watch from Europa Point produced over 100 Cory's Shearwaters heading west, a Shag, a Black-headed Gull, an Audouins Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and four Swallows.

A watch at North Front Cemetery produced a Melodious Warbler, four Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, four Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher.

10 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with sunny intervals later away from the Rock.

Ringing Totals

A Hoopoe was observed around Bruce's farm, two Garden Warblers were seen around Princess Caroline's battery area, and Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts were observed along Signal Station road. At North Front Cemetery there was a Whinchat, a Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher.  Along the border fence two Thekla Larks were observed.

09 Sept:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town , harbour and Strait, with sunny intervals after midday and clearing in the afternoon.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Yellow Wagtail flew south over the Observatory.  By mid morning 10 Booted Eagles, a Short-toed Eagle, a Montagu's Harrier and five Sparrowhawks were seen over the Rock.

A Common Sandpiper was observed at Camp Bay.  Two Grey Herons flew south over the North Mole in the morning.  Two Golden Orioles were seen around the St. Michael's cave area.

08 Sept:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud and few sunny intervals mid morning to the south of the Rock.  Winds moderate easterly.

Yellow Wagtails were heard from the Observatory early in the morning.  By mid morning approximately 15 Booted Eagles flew towards the Rock, and later headed across the Bay to Spain.  A Mistle Thrush was seen along Old Naval Hospital.

A Nightingale was seen along the upper part of Signal Station Road, and 5 Iberian Chiffchaffs, two Long-tailed Tits, a Blue Tit, four Sardinian Warblers and four Booted Eagles were seen in the Nature Reserve this morning.

Ringing Totals

07 Sept:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, persisting throughout the afternoon with sunny intervals away from the Rock.  Winds moderate easterly.

A flock of six Black Kites and a Booted Eagle were observed in the levanter cloud above the Observatory.  Yellow Wagtails were also heard calling in the mist over Windmill Hill.  A Wheatear was seen in the vicinity of Sacred Heart Church.

A Common Sandpiper was observed along the revetment by the Hospital, and a Crested Lark was seen close by the airfield.  Two Jackdaws were observed flying south over the South District, and later returned north

Ringing Totals

Common Redstart juvenile male.                                                                           J. Yeoman

06 Sept:  Clear skies with a light variable breeze during the morning, becoming light easterly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

05 Sept:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light north-westerly becoming light variable.

An early morning watch from the top station of the Cable Car produced two Lesser Kestrels, six Swallows, a Tawny Pipit,  a Nightingale and a Yellow Wagtail.  Watch resumed from Princess Caroline's Battery were from 10:00 till 11:30, a total of 665 Honey Buzzards, 8 Black Kites, an adult Egyptian Vulture, three Booted Eagles were seen together with a flock of 30 Flamingoes that flew west over the airfield.  Raptor passage dispersed later towards the west over the Spanish hills.

04 Sept:  Mainly  clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light variable to light south-westerly.

A walk around Governor's Lookout area produced four Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Bonelli's Warbler, five Iberian Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, 7 Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, five Wrens, three Nightingales and two Pied Flycatchers.

Five Honey Buzzards were observed coasting along the Bay, and a Marsh Harrier came overhead.

03 Sept:  A rain shower before dawn followed by cloudy skies in a strong easterly wind.  Thunderstorms to the west  missing the Rock.

A Booted Eagle was observed around the southern end of the Nature Reserve.  A Hoopoe was seen around Princess Caroline's Battery area.

A morning watch from Europa Point revealed a feeding frenzy of Cory's Shearwaters around Tuna just offshore with around 300 Cory's and a few Balearic Shearwaters.  Also seen were five Audouin's Gulls, a Swallow and a House Martin.

A group of 14 Shags, including three immature birds were observed sitting on the rocks by Little Bay. A Grey Heron was also in the area.

The Europa foreshore held a Whimbrel, two Willow Warblers and an Iberian Chiffchaff.  Offshore an adult Gannet was observed.

02 Sept:  The morning began with some westerly clouds in a strong south-westerly wind, becoming fresh later on in the morning with cloud increasing by midday but clearing in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.

Five Grey Herons flew west past Europa Point.  Two Woodlarks and a Firecrest were observed from Princess Caroline's Battery area.

01 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, with high cloud over the whole area.  Winds moderate easterly.

A Nightingale was heard calling above the Observatory.  Six Grey Herons flew south along the east side of the Rock.

A Buzzard was seen hunting over the Rock.

Ringing Totals