30 Apr:  Overcast skies with a rain showers throughout the morning, and levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Winds moderate to light easterly becoming light variable by mid afternoon, with some sunny intervals.

A spectacular fall of migrants on Windmill Hill:-

Jacobs Ladder held the following:-

The vegetation near the Mosque held a Barbary Partridge, two Feral Pigeons, six Collared Doves, 50 Pallid Swifts, a Blue Tit, four Melodious Warblers, eight Willow Warblers,  two Sardinian Warblers, two Spotless Starlings, a Blackbird and 20 House Sparrows.

At North Front cemetery there were four Woodchat Shrike,  four Melodious Warblers, three Reed Warblers, four Willow Warblers, two Whitethroats, three Spotted Flycatcher, four Whinchats and a Tree Pipit.

A trickle of Honey Buzzards headed north over the Rock, as the winds turned light variable.  37 Honey Buzzards and a Montagu's Harrier were involved.

A Red-necked Nightjar was heard calling at 21:50hrs above Jews' Gate.

29 Apr:  Overcast skies with a heavy levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Light drizzle in the afternoon.

Windmill Hill held the following:-

A Roller was observed flying out of Jacob's ladder towards Windmill Hill. A Pied Flycatcher was observed at the Botanic Gardens and a Red-necked Nightjar was seen at North Front cemetery.

28 Apr:  Easterly cloud in the area with levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Winds fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

At Westview Promenade there was a Common Sandpiper on the rocks, a Woodchat Shrike and several unidentified migrants.

At North Front cemetery there was a Collared Dove, a Sardinian Warbler, two Blackbirds abd two Spotted Flycatchers.

Four Audouin's Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, a Blue Rock Thrush and 10 Spotless Starlings were seen from Europa Point.

27 Apr:  Overcast skies in the area with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a fresh to strong north-easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

At Europa foreshore there were three Melodious Warblers a Willow Warbler, two Sardinian Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.  Offshore 10 Balearic Shearwaters.

26 Apr:  Cloudy skies with sunny intervals in the morning in a moderate westerly wind.

Some raptor migration took place in the late afternoon, with an Osprey, six Honey Buzzards, a Griffon Vulture, an Egyptian Vulture, three Short-toed Eagles, 45 Booted Eagles, 10 Sparrowhawks, four Marsh Harriers, 218 Black Kites and a Hobby.  Also seen was a White Stork, four Black Storks and 27 Swallows.

Two Turtle Doves, four Woodchat Shrikes and a Whitethroat were present at North Front cemetery.

A Eurasian Nightjar was spotted near Charles V Wall.  Two Willow Warblers were present at the Gibralflora nursery.

25 Apr: Clear skies with a light easterly to light variable wind.

Ringing Totals

At North Front cemetery there was an Olivaceous Warbler, a Garden Warbler,  four Sardinian Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.

A few raptors crossed the Strait in the evening as westerly winds set in with an Osprey, two Honey Buzzards, a Short-toed Eagle, seven Booted Eagles, 10 Sparrowhawks, a Marsh Harrier and 106 Black Kites.

A Melodious Warbler was present at Europa foreshore, and a flock of 20 Black Terns were sighted in the Strait off Gibraltar.

24 Apr: Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

At North Front cemetery there were two Melodious Warblers, four Sardinian Warblers, a Dartford Warbler, 11 Blackbirds a Nightingale and 28 House Sparrows.

A Spotted Flycatcher was present at the Botanic Gardens.

23 Apr:  Heavy levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

At Europa foreshore there were seven Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, three Melodious Warblers, a Sardinian Warbler, a Blue Rock Thrush and a Yellow Wagtail ssp. thunbergi

22 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with a light north-westerly in the morning becoming moderate west in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Raptor migration consisted of two Ospreys, 13 Honey Buzzards, 12 Griffon Vultures, two Egyptian Vultures, nine Short-toed Eagles, 42 Booted Eagles, six Sparrowhawks, two Marsh Harriers, 314 Black Kites, four Kestrels and two Hobbies.  Also seen were a Black Stork, 40 Flamingoes, a Common Swift and 32 Swallows.

A Tawny Pipit flew north over Jews' Gate and a Spotted Flycatcher, the first of the season, was seen in the area.  Also seen were 22 Swallows and four Sand Martins.

At North Front cemetery there were three Woodchat Shrikes, a Willow Warbler, four Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Spotless Starling. 

21 Apr:  Clear skies with a light north-westerly wind.

Windy conditions again hampered the ringing effort with only a Bee-eater, a Bonelli's Warbler, three Willow Warblers and a Garden Warbler ringed.  Two Sardinian Warblers and a Blackbird were retraps.

Raptor migration consisted of two Ospreys, two Honey Buzzards, 15 Booted Eagles, four Short-toed Eagles, 8 Sparrowhawks, a Marsh Harrier, 22 Black Kites, and two Hobbys.  Also seen were eight Black Storks, 18 Common Swifts, 83 Bee-eaters, 13 Swallows and 5 House Martins.

At the Botanic Gardens there was a Bee-eater landed on a tree, 12 Collared Doves, six Blue Tits, two Great Tits, a Bonelli's Warbler, 14 Blackcaps, five Sardinian Warblers, 22 Blackbirds, two Robins, a Nightingale, 10 House Sparrows and 13 Greenfinches.

A Pied Flycatcher was observed around the Poca Roca area, and several flocks of Bee-eaters were heard heading north.

20 Apr:  Cloudy with some sunny intervals in the morning.  Winds moderate westerly.

At Europa Point there was a Whimbrel and an Oystercatcher heading west.

Raptor migration consisted of 11 Ospreys, 151 Booted Eagles, four Short-toed Eagles, 14 Sparrowhawks, a Marsh Harrier, 437 Black Kites and two Hobbys.  Also seen were eight Black Storks, 18 Common Swifts, 20 Bee-eaters, 167 Swallows, a Red-rumped Swallow, and 48 House Martins.

19 Apr:  Mainly clear skies becoming cloudy with some showers.  Winds fresh to strong north-westerly.

At Windmill hill there were  6 Barbary Partridges,10 Feral Pigeons, two Collared Doves, a Hoopoe, 47 Bee-eaters, two Lesser Kestrels, a Kestrel, 106 Swallows, 51 House Martins, a Garden Warbler, nine Sardinian Warblers, a Wren, 31 Spotless Starlings, three Blackbirds, a Blue Rock Thrush and a Tree Pipit.

North Front cemetery held two Woodchat Shrikes, two Sardinian Warblers and three Goldfinches.

Raptor migration consisted of three Ospreys, a Honey Buzzard, a Griffon Vulture, 16 Egyptian Vultures, three Short-toed Eagles, 38 Booted Eagles, six Sparrowhawks, two Marsh Harriers, five Montagu's Harriers,  two Pallid Harriers, 338 Black Kites, three Kestrels, two Lesser Kestrels and 10 Hobbys.  Also seen were a Black Stork, 137 Common Swifts, 149 Swallows, 47 House Martins, five Bee-eaters, three Ravens and a Serin.

18 Apr:  Mainly clear skies becoming cloudy with some showers.  Winds moderate north-westerly.

North Front cemetery held a Woodchat Shrike, a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, two Sardinian Warblers, two Subalpine Warblers, an Orphean Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Nightingale, a Pied Flycatcher and a Common Redstart.

At Windmill Hill there were 18 Barbary Partridges, a Hoopoe, three Kestrels, a Woodchat Shrike, a Melodious Warbler, five Swallows, a Willow Warbler, 26 Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, a Spectacled Warbler, two Wrens, 23 Spotless Starlings, 16 Blackbirds, four Nightingales, a Blue Rock Thrush, three House Sparrows, a Tree Pipit and a Goldfinch.

Four Balearic Shearwaters west, an Audouin's Gull and a Serin observed at Europa Point.

17 Apr:  Cloudy in the morning with some sunny intervals, but becoming overcast with showers and heavy drizzle.  Clearing in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.Winds fresh north-westerly.

At North Front cemetery there were two Melodious Warblers, two Blackcaps, two Sardinian Warblers, an Orphean Warbler, and a Common Redstart.

16 Apr:  Mainly clear skies in the morning with increasing cloud in the afternoon.  Winds moderate north-westerly.

Winds continue to disrupt the ringing effort.

Ringing Totals

Raptor count from the Observatory resulted in two Ospreys, two Griffon Vultures, and Egyptian Vulture,  19 Short-toed Eagles, 42 Booted Eagles, 29 Sparrowhawks, three Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier,   347 Black Kites. six Kestrels and three Hobbies.  Also seen were ,  10 Swallows, 11 House Martins, six Common Swifts, and 13 Greenfinches.

15 Apr:  Sunny in the morning, with increasing cloud in the afternoon with light showers.  Winds moderate to fresh north-westerly.

Very windy conditions curtailed the ringing effort.

Raptor count from the Observatory resulted in 54 Griffon Vultures, five Short-toed Eagles, 18 Booted Eagles, nine Sparrowhawks, three Kestrels, and 420 Black Kites.  Also seen were two Black Storks, 20 Swallows and a House Martin.

A Turnstone, a Willow Warbler, an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Sardinian Warbler, two Spotless Starlings, two Blackbirds, two Blue Rock Thrushes, 15 House Sparrows, a Wheatear and two Yellow Wagtails were present at Europa foreshore.  Also seen were five Cory's Shearwaters, six Gannets, two Shags and five Swallows.

14 Apr:  Cloudy with some sunny intervals.  Winds moderate northerly, becoming fresh north-west in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Small numbers of raptors struggling against the wind.  At least 12 Booted Eagles, 10 Sparrowhawks, four Marsh Harriers and 130 Black Kites.  Also seen were 11 Bee-eaters.

The tamarix bushes at Nun's Well, Europa Point held two Melodious Warblers and an Orphean Warbler.

13 Apr:  Overcast skies with some sunny intervals later in the morning.  Winds light to moderate northerly, becoming westerly with sunny intervals in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

Very windy at the netting site 

A Hoopoe was observed in the Botanic Gardens.

A flurry of raptors in the late morning and afternoon, with two Ospreys, 39 Griffon Vultures, three Egyptian Vultures, 26 Short-toed Eagles, 58 Booted Eagles, 12 Marsh Harriers, 23 Sparrowhawks, a Montagu's Harrier, 120 Black Kites and four Kestrels.  Also seen 11 Black Storks, 20 Swallows, a Red-rumped Swallow and 35 Bee-eaters.

12 Apr:  Overcast skies with thunder storms overnight and early in the morning, with constant rain.  Clearing somewhat to give some sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Winds moderate easterly.

Early morning showers prevented ringing until late morning when rain stopped.  Migrants were flying about proving a good fall of birds.  Phylloscopus warblers were present in the tamarix bushes at Europa Point, while at least five Nightingales were heard above the Observatory.  A Redstart was dazzled at dawn on Engineer road, and a Turtle Dove was flushed from bushes near Jews Gate.

Ringing Totals

Adult male Spectacled Warbler.                               J Yeoman.

Migrants observed at the Botanic Gardens included a Hoopoe, a Bonelli's Warbler, a Willow Warbler, two Whitethroats, a Spectacled Warbler, a Robin and a Goldfinch.

At Western beach there was a Common Sandpiper, six Yellow Wagtails and two White Wagtails.

North Front cemetery held three Woodchat Shrikes, two Melodious Warblers, a Garden Warbler, a Subalpine Warbler, two Whitethroats, two Nightingales, three Redstarts and two Tree Pipit.

Europa Point and foreshore held the following:-

Windmill Hill had spectacular numbers of some migrants:-

At Jacob's Ladder there were two Woodchat Shrikes, a Willow Warbler, four Sardinian Warblers, a Wren, four Blackbirds, two Nightingales and two Pied Flycatchers.

11 Apr:  Overcast skies together with levanter cloud over the Rock and town.  Light showers throughout the day.  Winds gale force easterly.

Despite strong winds and showers, ringing activities were mantained as the netting site is in the lee of the Rock, and completely calm.  Light drizzle did not deter the catching rate, as many migrants were trapped.

Ringing Totals

Ringing Totals

Melodious Warbler. M Cutts.

Whinchat. M. Cutts.

Overhead at the Observatory, four Swallows, four Yellow Wagtails , a Tree Pipit and two Goldfinches managed to fly into the lee of the Rock to find shelter.

At the Botanic Gardens there was a Hoopoe, nine Blue Tits, three Great Tits, a Melodious Warbler, a Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaffs and 19 Blackcaps.

At Jacob's Ladder there were two Bee-eaters, a Kestrel, a Woodchat Shrike, a Melodious Warbler, four Swallows, a Willow Warbler, seven Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, two Wrens, three Blackbirds, four Nightingales, a House Sparrow, two Greenfinches and a Goldfinch.

At North Front cemetery there were single Woodchat Shrike,  Melodious Warbler,  Blackcap,  Whitethroat, and two Spotless Starlings, two Nightingales and a Corn Bunting.

Windmill Hill held the following:-

 An evening walk along Europa foreshore revealed a Sandwich Tern, three Gannets, two Cormorants, four Melodious Warblers, four Willow Warbler, three Sardinian Warblers, a Spectacled Warbler, a Robin, two Whinchats and five Yellow Wagtails.

10 Apr:  Overcast skies with a levanter cloud over the Rock.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

Europa foreshore held two Common Sandpipers, a Willow Warbler, two Blackbirds, six Spotless Starling and a Robin.

A Hoopoe and a Robin were observed at the Botanic Gardens.

Three Spanish Sparrows flew across the Strait and landed by Europa Point.

Spanish Sparrow at Europa Point.                                                  C. Finlayson.

09 Apr:  Hazy skies with high cloud increasing.  Winds moderate to fresh easterly.

Ringing Totals

First Wood Warbler of the Spring.                                       M. Cutts.

At North Front cemetery there were single Collared Dove, Woodchat Shrike, Bonelli's Warbler, Chiffchaff, six Blackcaps, five Sardinian Warblers, 12 Blackbirds and 27 House Sparrows.

Commonwealth Park held a selection of migrants, with a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Subalpine Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher. apart from the regular local Blue Tits, Blackcaps, Blackbirds, Robins and House Sparrows.

There was a Yellow Wagtail at Western beach, and a Willow Warbler,  Spectacled Warbler and a Robin at Europa foreshore. 

08 Apr:  Hazy skies with a moderate easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

Orphean Warbler ringed at the Observatory.      M. Cutts.

A Hoopoe was present in the Botanic Gardens and a Robin was observed at Witham's cemetery.

At North Front cemetery there were two Blackcaps, two Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, a Whitethroat, seven Spotless Starlings, 10 Blackbirds, a Nightingale, a Redstart and 47 House Sparrows.

At the Botanic Gardens there were 17 Collared Doves, a Red-necked Nightjar, a Hoopoe, a Wryneck, nine Blue Tits, two Great Tits, 17 Blackcaps, three Sardinian Warblers, a Whitethroat, 21 Blackbirds, nine House Sparrows and seven Greenfinches.

Along Signal Station road teher were four Blue Tits, two Bonelli's Warblers and a Subalpine Warbler.

07 Apr.  Mainly clear skies with a warm westerly sea breeze, becoming light south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

This morning there was a flock of 30 Flamingoes heading south past Sandy Bay.

A Whitethroat and a Robin were present at the Convent gardens, and a Hoopoe was observed in the Lathbury area.

Seven Shags and a Cormorant on rocks at Little Bay, where a Nightingale was also seen.  A Gannet, a White Wagtail and a Goldfinch observed at Europa Point.

A Common Sandpiper and a Subalpine Warbler present at Western beach, and at Europa foreshore a flock of five Turnstones,  a Subalpine Warbler and a Wheatear.

North Front Cemetery held a Woodchat Shrike, a Blackcap, an Orphean Warbler, two Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, and a Wheatear, and the Botanic Gardens held nine Collared Doves, a Hoopoe, 21 Blue Tits, five Great Tits, 19 Blackcaps, two Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Wren, 31 Blackbirds, a Robin, a Nightingale, 23 House Sparrows and 16 Greenfinches.

Two White Storks flew by the Observatory at 12:45hrs.

06 Apr:  Mainly clear skies with a light westerly wind.

Ringing Totals

Alpine Swifts were present at the North Face colony.  A Robin was present at Little Bay while a Shag was on the rocks.

The Orphean Warbler was still present at North Front cemetery, while raptor sightings consisted of a Griffon Vulture over the runway, and overhead four Ospreys, three Booted Eagles, two Marsh Harriers, a Montagu's Harrier,  two Black Kites, three Lesser Kestrels, and a female Merlin seen.

Female Merlin over Europa Point.                                   R. Mor.

05 Apr:  Cloudy in the morning with some sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Winds light south-westerly.

Ringing Totals

A visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

At Europa Point there was a flock of 17 Black-headed Gulls followed by five Little Gulls heading west.

Small passage of hirundines throughout the day with 26 Swallows and 17 Red-rumped Swallows counted in the morning.

Raptors were few with only 14 Booted Eagles, a Short-toed Eagle, three Sparrowhawks, three Marsh Harriers, 13 Black Kites and a Hobby seen.  Also two Black Storks.

The Wryneck and the Orphean Warbler were still present at North Front cemetery, together with six Blackcaps a Robin and a Redstart.

A Nightingale was present by Transport Lane.

04 Apr:  Cloudy in the morning with some sunny intervals and light showers in the afternoon.  Winds light south-westerly, becoming moderate in the Strait in the afternoon.

Ringing Totals

North Front cemetery held a Wryneck, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Bonelli's Warblers, seven Blackcaps. an Orphean Warbler, five Sardinian Warblers, two Subalpine Warblers, a Nightingale, a Common Redstart, and a Blue Rock Thrush.

Wryneck at North Front cemetery.          C. Fortuna.

A male Black-eared Wheatear was present at Europa foreshore.  Raptor passage poor with only a Booted Eagle,  three Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 89 Black Kites and two Hobbys mid afternoon.

At the Botanic Gardens there were nine Collared Doves, a Hoopoe, 11 Blue Tits, two Great Tits, two Willow Warblers, a Bonelli's Warbler, a Melodious Warbler, 42 Blackcaps, four Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, an Orphean Warbler, 27 Blackbirds, and a Pied Flycatcher.

03 Apr:  Cloudy skies with a heavy levanter cloud.  Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

At North Front cemetery there were two Woodchat Shrikes, two Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, three Blackcaps, two Sardinian Warblers, a Subalpine Warbler, a Orphean Warbler and a Whitethroat.

There was a flock of 40 Flamingoes heading west over Western beach, and another flock of 24 heading south-east towards the Rock, later in the morning.

A Hoopoe and a Nightingale present at the Botanic Gardens, with another Nightingale singing from Vineyards estate.

At Europa Point in the evening four Audouin's Gulls, four Sandwich Terns, four Balearic Shearwaters and seven Gannets.

02 Apr:  Cloudy with sunny intervals in the morning, becoming overcast in the afternoon.  Winds light southerly.

No raptor passage observed.

Ringing Totals

Scops Owl ringed at the Observatory.   M. Cutts.

01 Apr:  High cloud most of the morning, clearing somewhat in the afternoon.  Winds light to moderate south-westerly, fresh in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

North Front cemetery held four Woodchat Shrikes, a Subalpine Warbler, four Blackbirds and two Wheatears.

A good raptor day with birds increasing during the afternoon.  Sporadic counts made with a total of two Ospreys, an Egyptian Vulture, an early Honey Buzzard, two Short-toed Eagles, a Lesser Spotted Eagle, over 410 Booted Eagles, 21 Marsh Harriers, two male Pallid Harriers, six Montagu's Harriers, 42 Sparrowhawks and 5763 Black Kites.  Also seen were several flocks of Bee-eaters throughout the day,  eight Cormorants, two Swallows and 11 Red-rumped Swallows.

Male Pallid Harrier at Jews' Gate.                                                T. Vinent

A Nightingale was seen in the Arengo's area.  A flock of 58 Flamingoes flew west over western beach.

There were three Sandwich Terns resting on bouys in the harbour.