Bird Sightings August 2025
20 Aug: Clear skies with a fresh south-westerly becoming fresh westerly.
Several hundred Black Kites flew south over the Rock in the morning. A flock of 11 White Storks flew along the east side of the Rock.
At Europa foreshore there were a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and four Turnstones.
19 Aug: Clear skies with some high cloud. Winds moderate north-westerly becoming fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 2 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 4 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals | 9 | 9 |
Finally a change in wind direction and cooler weather, that brought raptor migration over the Rock. Passage from 09:00 until 14:00 when south-westerlies set in.
Totals for the day were five Honey Buzzards, three Booted Eagles, a Sparrowhawk, a Montagu's Harrier and 3200 Black Kites. Also seen in the area of Princess Caroline's battery were single Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart.
A juvenile Flamingo flew west over the airfield towards the Palmones estuary. An Iberian Chiffchaff and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Vineyards estate.
At North Front cemetery there were single Hoopoe, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, a Blue Tit and a Spotted Flycatcher. A Grey Wagtail was observed at Europa walks.
18 Aug: Clear skies with a light variable breeze. Very hot weather.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 7 | 7 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Western Orphean Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 8 | 8 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 21 | 3 | 24 |
Iberian Chiffchaff. T. Finlayson
A flock of Bee-eaters were heard over Jews' Gate mid morning. The first Cormorant of the season was observed from Europa Point. A pair of Booted Eagles were hunting over Camp Bay.
17 Aug: Some high cloud at dawn, but disappearing to give a clear sky. Winds light variable to light southerly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 6 | 6 | |
| Blackcap | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Western Orphean Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Whitethroat | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 5 | 5 | |
| Nightingale | 1 | 1 | |
| Pied Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 20 | 2 | 22 |
Two Nightingales were heard around the Jews' Gate area. A Common Redstart was observed near the top station of the Cable Car, and a Bonelli's Warbler was present by the Great Siege tunnels.
A Grey Wagtail was seen flying over Little Bay. Two Mynas flew in from Spain and landed in Palm trees at Four Corners.
16 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.
A Hoopoe, a Blue Tit, four Sardinian Warblers, four Blackbirds and two Spotted Flycatchers were present at North Front cemetery.
15 Aug: Clear skies but light levanter cloud over the Rock developing just before midday. Winds moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 2 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 4 | |
| Pied Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 6 | 6 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 16 | 16 |
A Bonelli's Warbler was heard above Jews' Gate.
14 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 2 | 2 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 4 | 4 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 4 | 4 | |
| Whitethroat | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Wren | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| Nightingale | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 22 | 1 | 23 |
A Nightingale was heard calling in the Jews' Gate area. A Common Sandpiper was observed at Little Bay.
13 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate easterly wind, with some strong gusts in town.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Woodchat Shrike | 1 | 1 | |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 2 | 2 | |
| Garden Warbler | 10 | 10 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 25 | 2 | 27 |
Two Iberian Chiffchaffs were present in the Botanic Gardens, and another was heard calling in the Jews' Gate area.
12 Aug: Heavy fog over the airport, Rock and Strait with a light variable breeze, until 11am when a moderate easterly set in clearing the fog and leaving clear skies behind.
An afternoon watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, three Audouin's Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, 84 Cory's Shearwaters, 14 Mediterranean Shearwaters and three Shags. Also seen in the area a Sardinian Warbler, two Blue Rock Thrushes and 71 House Sparrows.
11 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in the morning, but clearing in the afternoon to give sunny intervals.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 9 | 9 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 4 | |
| Blackbird | 3 | 3 | |
| House Sparrow | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 20 | 2 | 22 |
A Grey Heron was seen early in the morning flying north over the Harbour. A Sparrowhawk was observed flying south over the top Cable car Station.
The Eagle Owl was on the east side of the Rock.
09 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour and cloudy in the Strait, clearing away from the Rock mid morning. Winds light to moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Hoopoe | 1 | 1 | |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| House Sparrow | 3 | 3 | |
| Totals | 13 | 2 | 15 |
08 Aug: Thunder storm in the area at 1pm, but clear skies at dawn with a moderate south-westerly wind, becoming light and variable in the late morning and turning to light easterly.
An hours watch at Europa Point produced nine Audouin's Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-headed Gull and nine Cory's Shearwaters; all west.
The North Front cemetery held two Blue Tits, three Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and a Spotted Flycatcher.
07 Aug: Clear skies overnight, with slight levanter developing by dawn, but soon dissipated in the afternoon. Winds light easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Bonelli’s Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Melodious Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 5 | 5 | |
| Totals | 8 | 8 |
A Bonelli's Warbler was heard and seen at the Botanic Gardens, with another observed at O' Hara's Battery area.
At least four Spotted Flycatchers were present at North Front cemetery.
An afternoon watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, five Audouin's Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, 23 Balearic Shearwaters, over 100 Cory's Shearwaters, a Gannet, and 12 Shags .
06 Aug: Clear skies with a light levanter cloud over the Rock, dissipating by mid morning. Winds light easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Blue Tit | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Chiffchaff | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 5 | 5 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Blackbird | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Greenfinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 20 | 2 | 22 |
A Grey Heron was present at the Detached Mole.
An Iberian Chiffchaff was seen at Vineyards estate. A Hoopoe, three more Iberian Chiffchaffs, a Bonelli's Warbler and a Western Olivaceous Warbler were observed at the Botanic Gardens.
A Tawny Owl was heard calling in the Mount gardens area.
05 Aug: Clear skies with a light easterly wind.
A juvenile Golden Oriole was present at North Front cemetery, feeding on the fruit of the rubber tree.
Juvenile Golden Oriole. C. Fortuna
An hours watch at Europa Point produced a Common Sandpiper, two Audouin's Gulls west and two Swallows.
04 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour increasly cloudy and overcast over Spain and the Strait. Winds moderate easterly.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Western Olivaceous Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Blackbird | 2 | 2 | |
| House Sparrow | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| Greenfinch | 4 | 4 | |
| Totals | 25 | 4 | 29 |
Western Olivaceous Warbler. J. Yeoman.
At Windmill Hill there were two Kestrels, a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, a Blue Tit, 13 Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and five Blue Rock Thrushes.
The North Front cemetery held two Blue Tits, two Sardinian Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.
03 Aug: Slight levanter cloud at dawn, but increasing mid morning over the Rock, town and harbour. Winds moderate easterly.
A Hoopoe was observed in the Jews' Gate area.
The first ringing day of the season resulted in good numbers of resident birds, in contrast to last year when poor reproductivity was due to predation by rats.
Ringing Totals
| Species | New | Retrap | Total |
| Bonelli’s Warbler | 1 | 1 | |
| Sardinian Warbler | 8 | 8 | |
| Wren | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 9 | 9 | |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |
| House Sparrow | 18 | 18 | |
| Greenfinch | 3 | 3 | |
| Totals | 41 | 41 |
At Europa Point there were three Audouin's Gulls, two Shags, two Common Sandpipers and 13 Cory's Shearwaters. Also in the area 62 House Sparrows.
02 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour in a moderate to fresh easterly wind.
An adult Woodchat Shrike and a Nightingale heard calling in the area of Jews' Gate. A Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail observed at Europa foreshore.
A morning watch at Europa Point produced four Audouin's Gulls, nine Cory's Shearwaters, a Mediterranean Shearwater and a Shag.