30 Sept:   Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a fresh easterly wind, becoming moderate in the late afternoon.

Ringing Totals

At least 50 Booted Eagles over the Rock at midday.  There were single Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper at Western beach carpark.

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

Ringing Totals

There was a Nightjar sp. and a Yellow Wagtail at Europa foreshore.  A Bee-eater flock was heard over Jews' Gate in the morning.

At Green lane there were three Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Robin and a Pied Flycatcher.

28 Sept:  Clear skies with a light variable wind in the morning becoming light to moderate easterly by midday.

Ringing Totals

An early morning visit to Europa foreshore produced a eight Turnstones, Hoopoe, four Wheatears, a Willow Warbler, two Sardinian Warblers, a Blackbird, 17 Greenfinches and the Sudan Golden Sparrow which is still around.

A Little Egret was observed at Catalan Bay beach, and six Pied Flycatchers were seen from Jews' Gate to the Cable Car top station.

The Osprey was at its usual perch at the western end of the runway.

27 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds fresh north-westerly.

Only three Booted Eagles and a Honey Buzzard were seen in the morning. There were nine Turnstones at Europa foreshore.

26 Sept:  Overcast skies with some sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Winds fresh westerly.

Ringing Totals

Very few raptors were seen in the morning with only single Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Booted Eagle and two adult Egyptian Vultures and two Sparrowhawks.

25 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Light to moderate westerly winds.

Ringing Totals

A Grey Heron over Westside towards the runway where two Grey Herons were later observed.

A flock of 12 Black Storks flew south over the Rock early in the morning.

A sporadic watch during the morning and afternoon produced 60 Honey Buzzards a Griffon Vulture, five Short-toed Eagles, 66 Booted Eagles, 20 Black Kites, nine Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, a Buzzard, 43 Sparrowhawks, two Ospreys, six Kestrels, two Lesser Kestrels and six Swallows.

At North Front Cemetery there were three Blackbirds, and single Kestrel. Sardinian Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher.

A House Bunting was seen at Europa Point in the evening.

House Bunting at Europa Point.                                                   C. Fortuna

House Bunting E. Garcia

House Bunting E. Garcia

House Bunting E. Garcia

24 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds fresh south-westerly in the Strait but westerly at the northern end of the Rock.

Windy conditions affected the ringing campaign.

Ringing Totals

At Europa Point here were 30 Cory's Shearwaters, five Gannets, a Marsh Harrier, four Caspian Terns, a Sandwich Tern and 10 Black-headed Gulls in the morning.  Over the Rock 28 Honey Buzzards, 10 Black Storks, an adult Egyptian Vulture and five Sparrowhawks.  At Princess Caroline's Battery at midday for a 40min watch, there were two Honey Buzzards, three Cormorants, five Sparrowhawks and an Eleonora's Falcon.

Mid afternoon there were 28 Honey Buzzards, three Black Kites, two Marsh Harriers six Sparrowhawks and two Black Storks.

In the late afternoon 12 Cory's Shearwaters, a Black-headed Gull and 81 Mediterranean Gulls offshore heading west.  At Europa foreshore a six Gannets heading west, a Common Sandpiper, Wheatear and two Greenfinches.

23 Sept: A cloudy start at dawn, with high westerly cloud which cleared earlier giving a sunny morning and afternoon, albeit poor visibility and hazy.  Winds moderate south westerly in the Strait but light westerly over the northern end of the Rock.

Ringing Totals

A few raptors were seen mid morning over the Observatory and consisted of five Honey Buzzards, three Black Kites, three Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier and five Sparrowhawks.

A Redstart was observed along Signal Station road.  An Eagle Owl was heard on the east side of the Rock.

A late evening watch produced 36 Honey Buzzards, an Egyptian Vulture, four Black Kites, a Short-toed Eagle, three Marsh Harriers, seven Booted Eagles six Sparrowhawks, an Osprey, two Kestrels, two Black Storks and 10 Swallows.

22 Sept:  Mainly clear skies with some westerly cloud in the afternoon.  Winds moderate westerly with south westerly building up in the Strait, but westerly dying down to light after midday.

Ringing Totals

An hours watch at 11:00hrs from Princess Caroline's Battery revealed some raptors with a flock of 14 Black Storks and 14 unidentified raptors crossing west over the airfield.  Overhead five Booted Eagles, three Marsh Harriers, a Black Kite, three Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel and four Honey Buzzards.

The Sudan Golden Sparrow was determined to be in its second year, given the yellow feathering on the face and head.  It was still there early this morning together with a flock of House Sparrows. Two Yellow Wagtails and a Turnstone were also present at the Europa foreshore.

Offshore there were a few Cory's Shearwaters, four Audouin's Gulls and a Black-headed Gull.  In the afternoon over 100 Cory's Shearwaters were observed, and a flock of five Black-headed Gulls remained below the Point.

Five Ravens were seen over Jews' Gate.

Pied Flycatchers were heard from Commonwealth Park and another seen close to the northern end of the Rock.

There were 13 Shags on the rocks at Little Bay, all except one were adults.  A Grey Wagtail was at the outfall beside Nuffield Pool.

21 Sept:  Overcast skies in the morning with clouds from the west breaking up to give a sunny day.  Winds light south-westerly.

A morning watch at Europa Point produced several hundred Cory's Shearwaters heading east, two adult Gannets east, a Grey Heron, a Turnstone, a Marsh Harrier south, a Black-headed Gull, two Yellow Wagtails and a Greenfinch.

Mid morning over 200 Booted Eagles flew in over the Rock together with two Marsh Harriers, a Short-toed Eagle, three Sparrowhawks and two Griffon Vultures.  A Pied Flycatcher was heard from Princess Caroline's Battery as well as an Iberian Chiffchaff.

Three Little Egrets flew into the harbour area and landed by the pools at the GSLA pavilion.

A second summer male Sudan Golden Sparrow, Passer luteus, was observed at Europa foreshore this afternoon.

A second summer male Sudan Golden Sparrow, Passer luteus, at Europa foreshore.          C. Fortuna

20 Sept:  Overcast skies with heavy levanter cloud over the area.  Winds moderate easterly dying down a littleGrey as forecast for tomorrow is for westerlies.

At Europa Point several dozen Cory's Shearwaters heading east and an adult Gannet seen.  Overhead a Yellow Wagtail.

No Booted Eagles seen from Princess Caroline's Battery, but an Iberian Chiffchaff heard in the distant vegetation.

At Western Beach there was a Pied Flycatcher on the fence, and two Booted Eagles flew south towards the town.  On the beach were several Yellow-legged Gulls together with a Common Sandpiper.  Another Common Sandpiper was observed along the revetment of the airfield, where a Grey Heron and a Kingfisher were flushed.  The Osprey was also at its usual perch beside the windsock at the western end of the runway.

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

Ringing Totals

At least 75 Booted Eagles were seen over the town and Rock, before returning north.

Pallid Swifts engaged in their second brood are still around town, with several seen during the last few days.  Osprey still on its perch.

Osprey at the western end of the runway.                       J. Sanchez

North Front Cemetery held a Whitethroat, four Blackbirds, two Pied Flycatchers and a Blue Rock Thrush.

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

Ringing Totals

An Orphean Warbler was present at North Front Cemetery together with the previous days birds.

17 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate  easterly wind, clearing somewhat in the afternoon.

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced a Kestrel, a Garden Warbler, six Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, four Blackbirds and two Iberian Chiffchaffs.

A Tawny Owl was heard calling around St. Joseph School.  A Spotted Flycatcher was present at Commonwealth Park, and the Osprey returned to its perch at the western end of the runway.

16 Sept:  Levanter cloud increasing over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate easterly wind.

At least 60 Booted Eagles flew over the harbour and gained height over town and the Rock, before returning north. 

15 Sept:  Light levanter cloud over the Rock at dawn, increasing mid morning with sunny intervals.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

It has become apparent that trans-Saharan and migrant wintering birds have not arrived and just singles of some species are seen and trapped.  I have been in touch with the Portuguese ringing site at A Rocha in the Algarve, and they state that migrant numbers are also down with few passerines ringed despite having 40-50 nets up.

An Osprey was seen at its perch at the western end of the runway, a Booted Eagle flew towards Princess Caroline's Battery and a Marsh Harrier flew south over the Observatory in the morning.

14 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in near gale easterlies.  Winds dying down mid morning to a fresh easterly with cloud thinning out.

Ringing Totals

There were two Willow Warblers at Europa foreshore and a Little Egret at the pond in Commonwealth Park eyeing the Koi carp.

13 Sept:  Clear skies with a light variable wind in the early morning, but strong easterlies set in mid morning with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.

At Europa foreshore there were 10 Turnstones, two Sardinian Warblers and a juvenile Yellow Wagtail.

12 Sept:  Clear skies with a light south-westerly wind becoming hazy with high cloud.

A Little Owl was heard calling just before dawn on the Talus slope.  A Booted Eagle was hunting over Middle Hill.

Small numbers of Honey Buzzards and a few Black Kites headed south over the Rock in the morning and afternoon, with five Marsh Harriers, five Booted Eagles and six Sparrowhawks.

11 Sept:  Clear skies with a moderate south-westerly wind.

A few hundred Honey Buzzards and some Black Kites flew in a south westerly direction over the Rock and harbour in the early morning, with just a few flocks thereafter.  No passage in the afternoon.  Also seen were three Montagu's Harriers, a Booted Eagle, a flock of  and four Grey Herons that flew over the airfield in a westerly direction.

At Europa Point in the afternoon there were 15 Black-headed Gulls, three Audouin's Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and four Caspian Terns, and a Common Sandpiper on the rocks by the foreshore.

At North Front cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, and four Sardinian Warblers and three Blackbirds, and three Pied Flycatchers were observed along Mediterranean Steps.

In the late afternoon the two resident Ravens flew from Middle Hill towards the harbour where they encountered another three Ravens.

10 Sept:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly becoming fresh south-westerly in the Strait by midday, but moderate westerly by mid afternoon.

Heavy raptor passage of Honey Buzzards and Black Kites over the harbour and heading south-west.  Some flocks over the Rock, but by midday the south-westerlies set in and passage shifted over the Bay and the hinterland.  In the afternoon there was sporadic flocks of Honey Buzzards just visible to the east of the Rock, were most of the action took place, with few flocks over the Rock.  At least 4000 Honey Buzzards and 800 Black Kites in the morning, with smaller numbers seen in the afternoon.

Totals 4760 Honey Buzzards, 865 Black Kites, a Red Kite, seven Egyptian Vultures,  a Short-toed Eagle, 22 Marsh Harriers, 14 Montagu's Harriers, seven Booted Eagles, six Sparrowhawks and 11 Kestrels.  The returning Osprey was once again on its perch at the western end of the runway.

A Little Egret was flying around the Waterfront. An adult Lanner was observed and photographed and a flock of seven Spoonbills with two adults and five juveniles were also seen.

Adult Lanner                             P Rocca

09 Sept:  Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly in the morning but with a fresh south-westerly in the Strait.

A poor session at Jews' Gate Observatory. 

Ringing Totals

But a spectacular passage of raptors in the afternoon, with 7850 Honey Buzzards, 678 Black Kites, six Egyptian Vultures, 14 Marsh Harriers, 13 Booted Eagles, eight Ospreys and six Sparrowhawks.  Also seen a single Black Stork, several flocks of Bee-eaters and a few Swallows.

Most of the Honey Buzzards flew along the east side of the Rock, and by mid afternoon they were far to the east.  Passage continued until dusk.

An adult Black Kite.                           P. Rocca

08 Sept:  Clear skies with a light westerly becoming moderate south-westerly in the afternoon.

Hoopoes were seen along Charles V road and in the Botanic Gardens.  There were nine Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds, a Woodchat Shrike and a Spotted Flycatcher at North Front Cemetery.

Two Common Sandpipers were present at Europa foreshore in the morning, and the tally of Shags at Little Bay rocks were 10 birds with nine adults and two juveniles.

07 Sept:  Overcast skies in the morning in a light westerly wind.  Rain showers from mid afternoon onwards.

Some Bee-eater flocks over the Rock.

06 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock in the morning clearing mid morning in a light easterly becoming light variable at midday and then turning to light westerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

05 Sept:  Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate north-easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

Two Yellow Wagtails were heard from the Observatory. A Golden Oriole was seen in the vegetation above Arengo's area.

04 Sept:  Clear skies with a light to moderate westerly wind becoming south-westerly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

A Pied Flycatcher was seen in the area of Jews Gate.

A few raptors were seen over the Rock in the morning composed mainly of Honey Buzzards and Black Kites.  In the mid afternoon more Black Kites were seen heading south.  No counts were made.

A watch from 17:00-18:00hrs produced 50 Honey Buzzards, 60 Black Kites, two Egyptian Vultures, a Short-toed Eagle, 10 Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier, six Booted Eagles a Sparrowhawk and three Kestrels.  Also seen were five Swallows.

03 Sept:  Clear skies with a light westerly becoming moderate south-westerly in the Strait.

Three Little Egrets flew to the harbour and landed on mooring ropes at the extension jetty, and a Grey Heron flew south over the rowing clubs.

North Front Cemetery held a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, five Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, four Blackbirds and a Redstart.

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike at North Front Cemetery                 C. Fortuna.

02 Sept:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly but south-westerly in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

A Tawny Pipit was observed in the Jews Gate area. 

01 Sept:  Overcast skies in the morning with low mist across the Strait,  Winds light variable to light easterly but veering to moderate to fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.

Trans-Saharan migrants are beginning to pick up albeit in single figures, but good variety.

Ringing Totals

A Pied Flycatcher was observed in the area of Jews' Gate, and a Sanderling was seen at Waterport.

Six Shags were present at Little bay, and the Robin is still in residence at Commonwealth Park.

 At North Front Cemetery there was a Golden Oriole, a Kestrel, five Sardinian Warblers, and a Spotted Flycatcher.