30 Apr:  Mainly clear skies but with cloud building up from the west in the afternoon.  Winds fresh north-west becoming fresh westerly.  Strong south-westerly in the Strait.

Only three birds were trapped in the morning due to windy conditions, with a new Wren and retrap Blackcap and Blackbird.

Raptor passage was slow until midday when it picked up.

Totals were 46 Honey Buzzards, 72 Griffon Vultures, seven Short-toed Eagles, a Marsh Harrier, 35 Booted Eagles, five Sparrowhawks 105 Black Kites and an Osprey.  Also seen were two Black Storks.

Two Egret sp. flew north over the Hospital.

29 Apr:  Clear skies in a fresh northerly but fresh south-westerly in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

Raptor migration picked up after midday when winds freshened from the west.  Totals were 89 Honey Buzzards, 182 Griffon Vultures, a Black Vulture, two Egyptian Vultures, 14 Short-toed Eagles, four Marsh Harriers, nine Sparrowhawks, 36 Booted Eagles, two Ospreys and 250 Black Kites.

Black Vulture over the Observatory at Jews' Gate.                            R. Geary

28 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud in the afternoon.  Winds northerly becoming north-westerly in the afternoon.

There were two Turtle Doves, a Serin and a Common Sandpiper at Europa foreshore.

A trickle of raptors in the morning with steady passage in the afternoon for a total of 728 Honey Buzzards, six Griffon Vultures, an Egyptian Vulture, 17 Short-toed Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, eight Sparrowhawks, 45 Booted Eagles, and 380 Black Kites.  Also seen were two Black Storks, two Bee-eaters, 10 Common Swifts, 10 Swallows, four House Martins and two Linnets.

27 Apr:  Overcast skies with showers during the morning in a moderate westerly wind, clearing somewhat to give sunny intervals in the afternoon.

Some raptors flew north from after midday onwards for a total of a 53 Honey Buzzards, a Short-toed Eagle, 15 Booted Eagles, six Sparrowhawks, and 14 Black Kites.

26 Apr:  Clear skies with a moderate northerly wind becoming north-westerly by midday, and westerly in the afternoon with increasing cloud.

Ringing Totals

Some raptors crossed the Strait in the afternoon with a total of 10 Honey Buzzards, five Griffon Vultures, eight Short-toed Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, 20 Booted Eagles, seven Sparrowhawks, and 98 Black Kites.  Also seen were 20 Swallows and three House Martins.

At North Front Cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart and five Sardinian Warblers.

25 Apr:  High cloud in the morning in a light variable to light westerly wind, increasing and turning to a fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

As soon as winds turned south-westerly in the afternoon, raptor passage commenced with small numbers of birds until dusk.

Totals were 57 Honey Buzzards, a first year Egyptian Vulture, 17 Short-toed Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, two Montagu's Harriers, a male Pallid Harrier, 34 Booted Eagles, 16 Sparrowhawks , 216 Black Kites and three Kestrels. Also seen were a Bee-eater, 21 Swallows, two Sand Martins and 35 Glossy Ibises flying east.

There was a Turtle Dove at Westview Promenade.

24 Apr: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour. Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

At the Europa foreshore there were single Cormorant, Turnstone and Wheatear.

23 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour dissipating mid morning to give clear skies.  Winds moderate easterly.

A good fall of migrants this morning with many Garden Warblers and Pied Flycatchers, but catching rate dropped mid morning when clouds disappeared.

Ringing Totals

Willow Warbler (T. Finlayson)

A Garden Warbler was in the Mount Gardens, with a Robin in the Alameda Botanic Gardens where many Greenfinches were seen.

A Northern Wheatear was observed along Engineer Road, and a Robin in Commonwealth Park.

The North Front Cemetery held single Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and a Corn Bunting.

22 Apr:  Clear skies with a light southerly breeze increasing by mid afternoon to give a moderate south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

A few raptors were observed in the evening with an Osprey, three Montagu's Harriers , two Booted Eagles, a two Sparrowhawks and 58 Black Kites.

At Western Beach there was a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. Another Common Sandpiper was seen at Sandy Bay, and a Turtle Dove was observed near South Barracks.

North Front Cemetery held a Woodchat Shrike, a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart, and the Alameda Botanic Gardens held two Blackcaps, two Pied Flycatchers and a Greenfinch.

21 Apr:  Overcast skies with showers in the Strait in the morning and with levanter cloud increasing in the morning but dissipating in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.  Winds moderate increasing to fresh by midday.

Ringing Totals

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

A Common Myna was seen in the Port area.  The unringed bird was probably ship-assisted.

Common Myna at the Port. (T. Finlayson)

Seven Swallows were observed at Little Bay, and a Pied Flycatcher was at Montagu Gardens.  The Alameda Botanic Gardens held a Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.

A Booted Eagle was seen over the Rock.

20 Apr:  Clear skies with some levanter cloud in the morning, with cloud increasing from the west, bringing showers in the afternoon.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

A noisy start to the morning with over 200 individuals participating in the five times Mediterranean Steps Challenge, running alongside the upper net rides. A worthy cause for Cancer Research but the ringing was impacted.  Nevertheless a number of birds were trapped and ringed.

Ringing Totals

Spotted Flycatcher. (T. Finlayson)

A morning visit to the Alameda Botanic Gardens produced the following:-

A Cormorant was still present at the GSLA Pavilion, and a Pied Flycatcher was seen at Vineyards.

At North Front Cemetery there were a Garden Warbler, three Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, two Subalpine Warblers, three Blackbirds, a Redstart and a Whinchat.

A Hoopoe and a Nightingale were seen along Signal Station Road, and a Firecrest was observed in the Nature Reserve.

Raven With Egg (R. Perez)

Raven With Egg (R. Perez)

What look like Barbary Partridge eggs taken by the Raven on the 14^th and 20^th of April.  Only one bird seen currently with the other possibly incubating.

19 Apr:  Some stratus cloud in the morning with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Swallow flew north past the Observatory.

18 Apr:  Overcast skies with high cloud in the morning and with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate to light easterly wind.

Cloudy skies accounted for a large fall of passerine migrants around Gibraltar, and a very good number of them ringed at the Observatory.  Two Red-necked Nightjars were flushed from the net rides at dawn.  This included an Italian controlled Willow Warbler. 

Ringing Totals

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

A few migrants were around Western beach with a Willow Warbler, two Whitethroats and a Whinchat feeding in the area.  Two Jackdaws were observed around Moorish Castle.

There were single Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler and Pied Flycatcher around Eliott's Battery.  A Male and a female Pied Flycatcher and a Robin were present at the Alameda Botanic Gardens.

At north Front cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler, two Sardinian Warblers, and a Subalpine Warbler.

17 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud until after midday when levanter cloud formed over the Rock.  Winds light variable in the Bay but moderate south-westerly in the Strait, until just after midday when fresh easterly winds set in suddenly with strong gusts.

Ringing Totals

Three Whinchats were observed in the Lathbury area, and 11 Bee-eaters and a Golden Oriole flew past Jews' Gate.

There were single Common Sandpiper at the breakwater by Europort, a Cormorant at the western end of the runway and a Grey Heron by the airport windsock.

A Woodchat Shrike and a Spotted Flycatcher were observed at Westview Promenade.

A number of raptors were observed heading north over the Bay in the morning before the winds turned easterly.  In total there were three Short-toed Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, eight Sparrowhawks, four Booted Eagles, 245 Black Kites , a Lesser Kestrel, two Kestrels, and a Hobby.  Also seen were two Sand Martins, 12 Swallows, and a House Martin.

A flock of five Cormorants flew north over the harbour.

A visit to Windmill Hill in the morning produced the following:-

16 Apr:  Clear skies with a light variable breeze with practically no wind in the Strait in the morning, but by mid afternoon winds became a moderate south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

A Nightingale and two Bonelli's Warblers were observed at Prince Phillip's Arch.

A Black-crowned Night Heron was observed at Europa Point.

At North Front Cemetery there were single Kestrel, Woodchat Shrike, a Hoopoe, a Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, a Whinchat and Pied Flycatcher.

The south-westerly winds in the afternoon picked up at around 16:30hrs when some raptor passage was noted.  In total there were five Ospreys, 19 Marsh Harriers, two Montagu's Harriers, a female Hen Harrier, seven Booted Eagles, 21 Sparrowhawks, 292 Black Kites, five Hobbies and three Kestrels.  

A visit to Windmill Hill mid afternoon produced the following:-

15 Apr:  Clear skies with a light westerly breeze in the morning becoming light and variable in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Two flocks of Cormorants flew north over the harbour in the morning.  These numbered 28 and 17 birds.  A flock of 23 Glossy Ibises flew east over Europa Point in the morning.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced two Black-eared Wheatears, a Northern Wheatear, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher.

14 Apr: Clear skies with a fresh easterly becoming moderate to light.

Ringing Totals

Passage of Swallows resumed as winds became lighter than on previous days. A Red-rumped Swallow was also seen.

A Chiffchaff was singing along Europa Advance road.

A walk along Signal station Road produced three Barbary Partridges, a Bee-eater, a Raven, two Blue Tits, nine Blackcaps, five Sardinian Warblers, five Wrens, nine Blackbirds, a Nightingale, a Chaffinch and four Greenfinches.

13 Apr: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in the morning clearing in the afternoon.  Winds fresh easterly with strong gusts.

Only a Sardinian Warbler and a Nightingale ringed at the Observatory.

A few Common Swifts on migration over the top of the Rock, with two Bee-eaters seen over the Observatory.

12 Apr:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, and town in the morning clearing in the afternoon.  Winds fresh easterly with strong gusts.

Ringing Totals

Two Cormorants were seen on rocks by Harbour Views Marina.

A Wood Warbler was observed at the Alameda Botanic Gardens.

11 Apr:  Slight levanter cloud over the Rock, in a strong easterly wind. Elsewhere sunny.

Only three new birds ringed this morning with Orphean Warbler, Redstart and a Tree Pipit.

Tawny Owl heard in the vicinity of Naval Hospital Road.  Single Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Pied Flycatcher observed in the Alameda Botanic Gardens.

10 Apr:  Clear skies in the morning but becoming increasing cloudy with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Cloud dissipating in the afternoon.  Winds fresh easterly strong in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

A Common Sandpiper was observed by Eastern Beach, and a Yellow Wagtail was observed at the Europa foreshore

09 Apr:  Clear skies with a moderate northerly wind becoming light and veering to north-easterly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Some light south-westerly breeze in the Strait brought a Booted Eagle, a Marsh Harrier, five Sparrowhawks, a Black Kite, 14 Swallows, five House Martins, 16 Bee-eaters, a Serin, a Goldfinch and a Siskin.

 A Woodchat Shrike and a Hoopoe were seen in the Europa Point area, and a Yellow Wagtail by Transport Lane.

08 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud, but the afternoon progressively cloudy with sunny intervals.  Winds fresh northerlies, becoming north-westerly in the afternoon and westerly in the late afternoon. Visibility much improved as Saharan dust clouds dissipated overnight.

Ringing Totals

A forty minute watch from Europa Point produced two Gannets, two Shags and two Audouin's Gulls and a number of raptors that are included in the days total.

Raptor totals were four Ospreys, five Egyptian Vultures, 12 Griffon Vultures, 27 Short-toed Eagles, 250 Booted Eagles, 68 Sparrowhawks, eight Marsh Harriers, five Montagu's Harriers, three Lesser Kestrels, two Kestrels and nine Hobbies.  Also seen were three Black Storks, 50 Bee-eaters, 50 Swallows, two House Martins and a Siskin.

A Night Heron was heard and seen in the evening from the Observatory.  A Little Owl was heard on the east side and another seen at Forbes Quarry.

 07 Apr:  Hazy skies with heavy Saharan dust in the air.  Winds light variable becoming light to moderate south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

An hours watch at Europa Point in the morning produced 11 Gannets, eight Turnstones, five Puffins, a Black-headed Gull, a Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern.  Also in the area were three Collared Doves, eight Pallid Swifts, a Sardinian Warbler, three Spotless Starlings, a Blue Rock Thrush and a Serin.

At North Front Cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike, Garden Warbler, two Subalpine Warblers,  and two Common Redstarts.

A House Bunting* was reported from the Europa foreshore in the morning.

This afternoon from Europa Point in 20 minutes there where 10 Gannets, three Razorbills, a Mediterranean Gull west, two Audouin's Gulls west, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls also west, a Gull-billed Tern west and five Sandwich Terns.  A number of raptors were also seen from there and added to the days total.

Total for the day three Ospreys, the first Honey Buzzard of the season, 12 Marsh Harriers, four Montagu's Harriers, 27 Booted Eagles, 47 Sparrowhawks, 624 Black Kites and eight Hobbies.  Also seen were five Swallows, two Red-rumped Swallows, 248 Bee-eaters with many flocks all morning heard high up, two Linnets and a Siskin.

Hobbies arrived today with eight birds seen. (R. Perez)

06 Apr:  Hazy skies with heavy Saharan dust in the air.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

At North Front Cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, and Common Redstart, and at Western Beach a Common Sandpiper, two Woodchat Shrikes and a Willow Warbler.

 At 16:00hrs a flock of 426 Black Kites flew in from the bay and over the Rock.  Visibility was very poor due to Saharan dust and the Black Kites may have been disorientated.

05 Apr:  Clear skies with just a faint wisp of levanter cloud in the morning.  Winds light easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Nightjar sp. was flushed from the net rides in the early morning, and two Red-rumped Swallows flew north past the Observatory. A Black Kite flew along the east side of the Rock, and a Booted Eagle was observed over town in the afternoon.

A two hours watch in the morning at Europa Point produced 41 Gannets west, a flock of six Cormorants east, two Shags, 20 Puffins, 16 Razorbills, four Mediterranean Gulls, an Audouin's Gull and two Sandwich Terns.  Also seen were a Swallow and a Sparrowhawk.

04 Apr:  Heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, with fog over the airfield and Europa point mid morning.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Woodchat Shrike was present at North Front Cemetery, and some Bee-eaters were heard in the morning.

At Europa foreshore there were six Turnstones, two Sandwich Terns, two Willow Warblers, two Sardinian Warblers, a Nightingale and a Blue Rock Thrush.

An 80 minute watch at Europa Point in the afternoon produced 12 Gannets, 38 Puffins, 28 Razorbills, three Shags and 20 Mediterranean Gulls.

At Western beach there were single Grey Heron and Common Sandpiper.

03 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with a westerly breeze in the Strait, but variable in the Bay.

Ringing Totals

The Nightingale was heard singing at Vineyards.

Observations from Jews' Gate in the morning resulted in nine Alpine Swifts, three Woodpigeons*, a flock of Bee-eaters heard, a flock of 30 Cormorants flying west in the Strait, 11 Red-rumped Swallows, 127 Swallows, 54 House Martins, an Egyptian Vulture, four Black Kites, four Sparrowhawks, four Serins, four Greenfinches, 15 Goldfinches, two Linnets and four Siskins.

There was a Little Egret at the Mid Harbours Marina, a Woodchat Shrike on the North Mole with another at North Front Cemetery, and four Wheatears at Windmill Hill.

Tawny Owl heard calling from the Mount Gardens.

At Europa foreshore there were eight Turnstones, three Wheatears a Shag and two Audouin's Gulls.

An afternoon watch from Europa Point for 1 1/2 hours produced 18 Gannets, three Shags, 32 Puffins, 24 Razorbills,  10 Mediterranean Gulls, six Sandwich Terns and a Short-toed Eagle.

02 Apr:  Mainly overcast with high cloud and sunny intervals.  Winds light south-westerly at dawn but turning to a light easterly.

Ringing Totals

There was a Nightingale singing at Vineyards, and a Woodchat Shrike near Middle Hill.

A Whimbrel was feeding at the Europa foreshore, and a Razorbill off camp bay.

01 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud.  Winds light westerly with a moderate south-westerly in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

At upper Windmill Hill there were a Kestrel,  two Woodchat Shrikes, three Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, four Spotless Starlings, two Nightingales, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch.

By the Nun's Well there were two Nightingales and a Common Redstart, and a Woodchat Shrike was present at Commonwealth Park.

A watch from 15:00-18:50 at Europa point produced 40 Gannets, seven Balearic Shearwaters, four Cormorants, seven Shags, two Razorbills, three Puffins, 25 Mediterranean Gulls, 48 Audouin's Gulls all west, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 19 Sandwich Terns west, 55 Booted Eagles, a Short-toed Eagle, a Sparrowhawk, 93 Black Kites, two Kestrels, five Swallows, a Bonelli's Warbler, 10 Willow Warblers, and five Serins.

In total there were single Osprey, two Short-toed Eagles, 125 Booted Eagles, eight Marsh Harriers, 22 Sparrowhawks, 156 Black Kites, and three Kestrels.  Also seen were 20 Swallows.