31 Oct:  Overcast skies with rain showers throughout the morning.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

White Wagtail in Campion park.  The Osprey was back at Little Bay.

Four Cormorants, a Kingfisher and a Grey Heron by the western end of the runway.

A Kingfisher at Little Bay.

A Cormorant also at Ocean Village Marina.

30 Oct: Overcast skies with rain showers throughout the day in a light south-westerly wind. 

Conditions too wet for any ringing.

A Sparrowhawk flew north over Windmill Hill, and the Grey Heron was back at Ocean Village Marina.

North Front Cemetery held a Chiffchaff, two Song Thrushes, six Black Redstarts and 21 Goldfinches.

Song Thrush at Europa foreshore                 C. Fortuna

29 Oct:  Overcast skies but some clear periods in the afternoon.  Rain mostly throughout the day.  Winds light easterly turning to light southerly.

Ringing Totals

An afternoon visit to Europa foreshore produced six Gannets, a Common Sandpiper, a Song Thrush, a Robin, four Black Redstarts and two Stonechats.

North Front Cemetery held four Chiffchaffs, two Robins, two Stonechats and eight Goldfinches.

28 Oct:  Overcast skies with rain showers and strong easterlies.

Only three nets plus the pond nets were in operation due to rain showers.

Ringing Totals

The Osprey was holding tight in the strong winds at the runway perch.

The two Mynas were observed at the Morissons carpark.

Another Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed at the Observatory in-between squalls.

Yellow-browed Warbler, the third this week.

27 Oct:  Clear skies with a moderate northerly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Little Egret was observed at Camp Bay, and good passage of finches south.

A visit to Europa Point, Europa foreshore and the aloes behind the Mosque produced A Barbary Partridge, four Balearic Shearwaters, six Gannets, two Cormorants, 16 Crag Martins, two Chiffchaffs, four Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a Robin, seven Black Redstarts, a Stonechat, three White Wagtails, two Chaffinches, three Goldfinches and two Serins.

26 Oct: Clear skies in the morning and afternoon with increasing cloud as a frontal system approached from the west giving some rain showers at dusk.  Winds fresh northerlies.

An Osprey flew over town in the morning, and this or another flew onto its perch at the runway.  Around midday there were 120 Griffon Vultures and a Short-toed Eagle over the Rock.  The vultures eventually gained height and flew south-west across the Bay.

A Little Egret flew out of Ocean Village and headed west.

25 Oct:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock.  Westerly cloud approaching as a cold front pass through during the afternoon.  Some sunny intervals in the afternoon.Winds light and variable with some light easterly at the top of the Rock, and light southerly breeze from the west.

Ringing Totals

Three Booted Eagles flew over town at midday, and a Grey Heron flew north over Alameda estate, with another seen by pontoons at Watergardens. An Osprey was observed on the cliffs by Little bay.

Osprey at Little Bay cliffs.                M. Jobes.

An afternoon visit up Signal Station road produced a Sparrowhawk, six Blackcaps,  two Wrens, a Song Thrush and six Robins.

Sparrowhawk bathing at Signal Station road reservoir.        C Fortuna.

There was a Common Sandpiper at Camp Bay.

There were three White Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail at Commonwealth park.

Most interesting species at Windmill Hill with over 45 Black Redstarts, two Dartford Warblers, 17 Song Thrushes, six Stonechats, three Common Starlings and two Corn Buntings among other resident and wintering species.

At Europa foreshore there were a Common Sandpiper, four Chiffchaffs, five Sardinian Warblers, five Black Redstarts and six Goldfinches.

24 Oct:   Overcast skies in the area with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds fresh becoming moderate easterly in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Nine Cormorants flew west over Windmill Hill.

23 Oct: Overcast skies in the morning with heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Sunny intervals away from the Rock.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

Two Ospreys were observed heading south over Windmill Hill, and the resident Osprey was at its usual perch at the airfield.

Another Yellow-browed Warbler was ringed at the Observatory.

22 Oct:  Overcast with a heavy levanter cloud over much of the district.  Winds moderate easterly with some gusts.

Ringing Totals

A Grasshopper Warbler was observed near the Observatory. A Long-legged Buzzard was observed over the Rock.

Long-legged Buzzard                     T. Vinent.

First autumn records for these two birds.  An Osprey was seen on the cliff at Little Bay, feeding on a fish that it had just caught.  The other Osprey was seen at the runway, and another was observed at Gorham's Cave Complex.

Osprey at Gorham's Cave Complex                            C. Finlayson.

Grey Heron seen at Ocean Village marina.

Dartford Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

21 Oct:  Clear skies with a light becomin moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Marsh Harrier flew south at dawn over the Observatory.  A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen and heard in trees outside of the Eliott's Hotel, and a Subalpine Warbler was observed in the Botanic Gardens.

20 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds light and variable to light easterly.

Ringing Totals

Scops Owl ringed at the Observatory.

At North Front Cemetery there were three Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, four Sardinian Warblers, six Blackbirds, two Song Thrushes, a Robin, a Pied Flycatcher and two Stonechats.

There was a Wheatear below the top station of the Cable Car, and four Song Thrushes over Willis's raod.

19 Oct:  Overcast skies at dawn clearing mid morning to give a bright and sunny day.  Winds light north-westerly becoming moderate in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

At Europa Point in the morning, there was a steady passage of Gannets heading west, with some entering the Mediterranean.  Also seen were 12 Sandwich Terns and a Black-headed Gull, a Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear at Europa foreshore.

In the morning along Signal Station road there were three Blue Tits, a Great Tit, five Chiffchaffs, four Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a Wren, four Robins, a Pied Flycatcher, and three Chaffinches.

A Tawny Owl was heard behind the old Casino. Small numbers of Crag Martins over Jews' gate.

At the upper end of Windmill Hill there were three Chiffchaffs, four Black Redstarts, three Stonechats, 10 Meadow Pipits, three Common Starlings, and six White Wagtails.

A Griffon Vulture was found on rooftops near the North face of the Rock.  It had been there several days and was very weak.  It was finally trapped and taken to the Raptor Rehabilitation centre where it readily fed.

Griffon Vulture rescued.   S. Olivero

18 Oct:  Clear skies with a moderate to fresh northerly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Northern Wheatear was observed on Europa foreshore in the morning, and a Firecrest was present along Signal Station road.

In the late afternoon at Europa point there were 12 Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters, five Gannets, an Audouin's Gull, a Black-headed Gull. and six Sandwich Terns.

At upper Witham's and top entrance to the Botanic Gardens there were 11 Collared Doves, five Blue Tits, two Great Tits,two Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, two Robins,a Pied Flycatcher, a Common Starling, 16 House Sparrows, and a Chaffinch.

17 Oct:  Cloudy skies with increasing sunny intervals.  Winds moderate westerly to north-westerly.

Windy conditions at the Observatory affected the catching rate.

Ringing Totals

A visit to North Front Cemetery produced three Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, nine Sardinian Warblers, eight Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatchers, three Common Redstarts, two Pied Flycatchers, eight Stonechats, a Northern Wheatear, seven House Sparrows and a Greenfinch.  A Tawny Owl heard at dusk around the Jews' Gate area.

A morning watch at Europa Point and foreshore produced nine Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters, six Gannets, 14 Sandwich Terns, a Chiffchaff, a Blue Rock Thrush, 12 House Sparrows, four Greenfinches, 18 Goldfinches and six Serins.

A Honey Buzzard and a Black Kite were observed in the morning from the Observatory, followed by Five Griffon Vultures that flew over the Rock around midday.

Two Firecrests and three Chaffinches were observed along Signal Station road.

A flock of 50 White Storks flew north over the harbour.

16 Oct:  Strong south westerlies and rain showers at dawn continuing until mid morning when rain ceased.  Remaining cloudy with some sunny spells later and winds moderate south-westerly.

Four Sandwich Terns and a Little Egret at mid harbours, and a Caspian Tern at Europa Point.  Two Tawny Owls on Mount road.

One of two Tawny Owls at Mount road.    J. Chincotta

15 Oct:  Overcast skies with a light variable to light south-easterly in the morning.  Cloudy skies building up in the afternoon to give some spots of drizzle mid afternoon followed by rain showers.  Winds becoming light to moderate south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

There was a small fall of phylloscopus warblers at North Front Cemetery with at least eight birds of which three were Willow Warblers, the rest Chiffchaffs.  Also seen a few Sardinian Warblers two Pied Flycatchers and a Common Redstart.

Adult Willow Warbler at North Front Cemetery.                    J. Sanchez.

The Osprey was at its usual perch at the airfield,  and five Cormorants flew south over Camp Bay.

14 Oct: Overcast skies with some showers overnight.  Remaining overcast with heavy showers at 11:00hrs, then brighter with  sunny intervals in the afternoon, but rain at dusk prevented Nightjar trapping.  Winds light easterly becoming light southerly mid morning.

Ringing Totals

An afternoon visit to Europa foreshore produced 50 Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters, six Gannets, three Cormorants, 17 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern, a Blue Rock Thrush and 28 Swallows.

Many Swallows and House Martins and an Alpine Swift catching flying ants around the southern end of the Rock.  Some Crag Martins over the Rock as well.

13 Oct:  Very heavy levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour with cloud dropping below the Moorish Castle.  Beginning to clear and lift by late morning to give sunny spells.  Winds moderate easterly, becoming light and variable.

Ringing Totals

There were 15 Barbary Partridges on the reclamation area on the east side, and a Little Owl calling, two Blackcaps, five Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and two Blue Rock Thrushes on the talus slope.

A Zitting Cisticola was seen on Windmill Hill.  An afternoon visit to this site produced 12 Barbary Partridges, two Kestrels, two Blue Tits, 15 Crag Martins, a Chiffchaff, 33 Blackcaps. a Garden Warbler, 41 Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, two Wrens, five Common Starlings, six Spotless Starlings, six Song Thrushes, 20 Blackbirds, 18 Robins, three Black Redstarts, six Common Redstarts, three Blue Rock Thrushes, seven Stonechats, seven Northern Wheatears, two Meadow Pipits, a Greenfinch, two Linnets, a Serin and an Ortolan Bunting.

12 Oct:  Overcast skies with some high cloud and sunny intervals, but becoming cloudier by mid afternoon with some thunderstorms in the vicinity.  Winds light and variable.

Ringing Totals

At Europa Point early in the morning there were 95 Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters, three Balearic Shearwaters, six Gannets, five Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, a Flamingo, seven Collared Doves, a Blackbird, two Blue Rock Thrushes, 50 House Sparrows and a Greenfinch.

At North Front cemetery there were 10 Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds, a Pied Flycatcher, two Redstarts and a Goldfinch.

There were three Ring Ouzels at Windmill Hill.

11 Oct:  Overcast skies with increasing cloud by mid morning, followed by a torrential downpour which lasted until after 13:00hrs.  Sunny intervals after, with warm sunshine.  Winds light westerly becoming light southerly and then light easterly mid afternoon.

Ringing Totals

There were two Gannets, a Whimbrel, two Wheatears, three Sardinian Warblers, a Yellow Wagtail and a Greenfinch, at Europa foreshore, and a Tawny Owl was heard around Jews' Gate.  There was a Short-eared Owl in poor condition by the reclamation on the east side of the Rock.

At North Front cemetery there were five Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a Spotted Flycatcher, four Redstarts and a Whinchat.

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

10 Oct:  Cloudy morning with an initial shower, followed by sunny intervals.  Winds light to moderate westerly.

Ringing Totals

Grasshopper Warbler.                                  R. Geary

A Honey Buzzard flew south over the Rock.

At North Front Cemetery there were five Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, three Redstarts, a Whinchat and two Stonechats.

There were two Grey Wagtails at New harbours, a Kingfisher at Eastern beach and 

09 Oct:  Cloudy skies with sunny intervals with light drizzle at the end of the afternoon.  Winds fresh becoming strong south-westerly in the afternoon.

Two Whimbrels at Europa foreshore.  A Black Kite, a Sparrowhawk and a Kingfisher were also seen at Europa Point in the morning, with another Kingfisher present at the Yacht Club.

Whimbrels at Europa foreshore.    R. Geary

08 Oct:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud throughout the day.  Winds light westerly becoming moderate in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Two Cormorants, a Grey Heron and a Kingfisher on rocks at the western end of the runway, and a Little Egret by westview Promenade and two Common Starlings at the mid harbours Marina.  

Another Cormorant flew south over the harbour. A Black Stork headed south over the Rock in the evening.

Common Starling at Mid harbours Marina.                        J. Sanchez

07 Oct:  Overcast skies in the morning with sunny intervals later, but becoming overcast in the evening with some light rain.  Winds moderate to fresh westerly.

Ringing Totals

A Tawny Owl was heard calling in gardens by Transport Lane, a Little Owl heard calling from the talus slopes and an Eagle Owl by the Palm trees near the top of Catalan Bay.

06 Oct:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

An arrival of Robins noted, with five birds along Commonwealth Park.

An early morning walk along Europa foreshore produced many Cory's Shearwaters heading west, five Shags west, three Gannets, two Sanderlings, eight Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, and two Blackbirds, and a Yellow Wagtail.

Two Great Tits by old KGV hospital, and three Shags at Little Bay.  The Osprey was at its perch at the western end of the runway.

A Whinchat was present at North Front Cemetery.

Whinchat at North Front Cemetery.                C. Fortuna.

05 Oct:  Cloudy with some sunny intervals increasing into the afternoon.  Winds moderate northerly.

Ringing Totals

Two Marsh Harriers, 15 Sparrowhawks, two Booted Eagles and a Short-toed Eagle were seen in the morning.  In the afternoon a further 5 Honey Buzzards, a Black Kite, two Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels, a Lesser Kestrel and three Black Storks flew over Europa Point.

A watch at Europa Point from 15:00 - 17:15hrs produced over 40 Cory's Shearwaters, 15 Balearic Shearwaters, 18 Gannets, a Cormorant, a Shag, a Common Sandpiper, 12 Black-headed Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls,  18 Audouin's Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, six Crag Martins, and a Yellow Wagtail.

At Europa foreshore eight Turnstones, two Sardinian Warblers, a Redstart, a Wheatear, and two Greenfinches.

An outing two miles off the east side revealed at least 1000 Cory's/Scopoli's with 75% Scopoli's Shearwaters, also seen were 50 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Gannets, 14 Sandwich Terns and single Audouin's and Black-headed Gulls.

Scopoli's Shearwater at sunset.        R. Perez

04 Oct:  Cloudy skies clearing during the morning to give a sunny day.  Winds moderate westerly.

Ringing Totals

Small numbers of raptors south with a Honey Buzzard, a Short-toed Eagle, three Booted Eagles a Common Buzzard, and two Sparrowhawks.

In the afternoon at Europa Point there were 18 Balearic Shearwaters,  22 Avocets that flew west and a Marsh Harrier.  At Europa foreshore a Stonechat, eight Greenfinches and two Crag Martins overhead.

At North Front Cemetery there were four Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds, three Redstarts and a Pied Flycatcher.

At the entrance to the Botanic Gardens there were two Great Tits and two Pied Flycatchers.

03 Oct:  Overcast skies with some spots of drizzle during the morning, clearing in the afternoon with some high cloud and sunny intervals.

Nine White Storks flew past the marine Observatory at Europa Point and headed north, and 17 Black-headed Gulls were feeding below the Point.  A Willow Warbler,  a Blue Rock Thrush, a Yellow Wagtail and five Greenfinches were present at Europa foreshore.

The two Mynas were in the vicinity of the GSLA Pavilion.  Two Kingfishers were observed by the Small boats Marina.

At North Front Cemetery there was a Kestrel, two Sardinian Warblers, a Blackbird, and a Redstart.

02 Oct:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Nightjar was found in the town area and taken in to care.  Two Ospreys were fighting for the rights to the perch at the western end of the runway.

There were two Kingfishers and two Little Egrets  by the GSLA Pavilion. A Wryneck was observed in the Nature Reserve.

Wryneck in the Nature Reserve.                                               T. Finlayson.

01 Oct:  Light levanter cloud over the Rock until midday, with some high cloud from the west.  Winds moderate easterly becoming light at midday and variable in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Three Redstarts were present at North Front Cemetery.

An early morning visit to Europa foreshore produced three Shags heading west, a Willow Warbler, five Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, a Blue Rock Thrush, two Stonechats the Sudan Golden Sparrow and eight Greenfinches.

The Sudan Golden Sparrow is still at Europa foreshore.                   C. Fortuna.

Over the Rock there were a number of Booted and Short-toed Eagles.