31 Aug:  Heavy fog over the airfield and drifting south over the Bay.  Some levanter cloud from the south-east with light easterly winds.

Ringing Totals

The Reed Warbler had a Swedish ring, and the Garden Warbler a British ring.

A Stone Curlew was heard at the airfield.

A three hour watch from Europa Point from 11:00-14:00hrs produced the following:-

A Robin was present at Jews' Cemetery, and another at Devil's Bellows.

30 Aug:  Clear skies with a light easterly breeze.

Ringing Totals

A female Sparrowhawk was seen hunting below Jews' Gate.  A Kingfisher was present at Camp Bay.

Two Turnstones were present at Europa foreshore, with five Black-headed Gulls west, and 50 Cory's Shearwaters offshore. Two Little Egrets flew south past Europlaza.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were observed at the Alameda Botanic gardens, among resident species.

A Pied Flycatcher was seen in the area of Middle Hill. A Yellow Wagtail was heard from Jews' gate in the morning.

29 Aug: Mainly clear skies, but some high cloud in the morning.  Winds light easterly becoming light south-easterly.

Ringing Totals

28 Aug:  Clear skies with a fresh north-westerly wind, becoming south-westerly in the afternoon.

Only five birds were trapped due to windy and chilly northerly winds at the netting site at Jews' Gate. A juvenile Woodchat Shrike, and a Great Tit were ringed, and two Sardinian Warblers and an Iberian Chiffchaff were retrapped.

There was a Black-headed Gull, two Cory's Shearwaters and a Grey Heron at Europa Point at midday.  

A Spotted Flycatcher was seen along Rosia Road.

Commonwealth Park held the following:-

27 Aug:  Overcast skies as a frontal system passed east giving some rain showers and drizzle.  Winds moderate north-westerly in the morning becoming south-westerly in the afternoon.

Rain and windy conditions resulted in only six birds trapped, with two Willow Warblers and a Wren ringed, and three birds retrapped; an Iberian Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Blackbird.

At least 1000 Honey Buzzards, an Egyptian Vulture, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 400 Black Kites and a Long-legged Buzzard were observed over the Rock in the morning until 12:00 when winds turned south-westerly. Some Bee-eaters were heard.

Long-legged Buzzard.                                                          P. Rocca.

A 30min watch at Europa Point produced a Black-headed Gull, an Audouin's Gull, four Cory's Shearwaters and five Balearic Shearwaters.  A Grey Heron was resting on rocks near the mid Harbours Marina.

A Common Sandpiper and a Caspian Tern was observed at Europa Point in the afternoon.

26 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly to fresh south-westerly by midday.

At least 800 Honey Buzzards, an Egyptian Vulture, three Sparrowhawks and 350 Black Kites were seen in the morning until 11:30.

Adult male Honey Buzzard.                                                                P. Rocca.

A Hoopoe was observed in the Alameda Botanic Gardens, and another was seen around Jews' gate.

25 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable wind and some Saharan dust.

Ringing Totals

Four Ravens were seen over the Rock. A Little Egret was foraging on rocks around the harbour.

24 Aug:  Mainly clear skies at dawn, but increasing westerly cloud as a frontal system passed overhead with some light spots of rain. Winds fresh northerly becoming moderate westerly later.

Ringing Totals

Mid morning a flock of Black Kites flew over the Rock heading south. There was a flock of 30 Glossy Ibises over the Bay. In the late afternoon another three Glossy Ibises flew over Europa Point heading north-east.

A flock of Bee-eaters flew south over Windmill Hill. The Audouin's Gull was present at Camp Bay.

23 Aug: Mainly clear skies with a moderate northerly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Tawny Owl was heard calling around Europa Walks. Two Shags were seen at Little Bay.  A Common Sandpiper was observed at Europa foreshore and a Kingfisher was present at Western beach.

A Grey Heron was present at Westview park. A Nightingale was seen along Douglas path.

22 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate northerly wind becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly in the Strait.

Ringing Totals

The Audouin's Gull was again seen at Camp Bay, and a male Marsh Harrier flew west at Europa Point in the morning.

21 Aug:  Cloudy skies with some sunny intervals.  Winds moderate westerly.

Commonwealth Park held two Willow Warblers, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Robin apart from resident birds.

A Common Sandpiper was observed on the revetment opposite the rowing clubs.There was a Little Egret and a Grey Heron at Mid Harbour's Marina, with another Grey Heron sighted at Europa Point.

A Robin was present at Commonwealth Park.

20 Aug:  Cloudy skies with some sunny intervals and a midday shower.  Winds fresh south-westerly to fresh westerly.

A morning watch from Princess Caroline's Battery produced a Booted Eagle and several flocks of Bee-eaters for a total of 124 birds.

A morning visit from 10:00-11:00hrs produced a Black-headed Gull four adult Audouin's Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, (a juvenile and a third year), a Cory's Shearwater and three Swallows.

A Robin was present at the Cable Car top station. A pair of White Wagtails with three young were present on Windmill Hill.

19 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

 Two visits to Europa Point (12:30-14:15, and again 17:15-18:30) produced the following totals:-

Eagle Owl heard calling along the east side. A Kingfisher was present at Mid Harbour's Marina.

18 Aug: Levanter cloud over the Rock and town, dissipating by mid morning to give clear skies.  Some fog along Europa Point in the late morning.  Winds light easterly.

Ringing Totals

An unprecedented early passage of trans-Saharan migrants, and a good breeding result for local resident birds that were ringed with totals from the 16^th July until the 18^th August:-

A Golden Oriole was seen along the Saluting Battery, and a Willow Warbler was seen near the top of Med Steps.  There were still 12 Pallid Swifts hawking around Ocean Village.

Six Ravens flew in from Spain and landed in the Middle Hill area. Two Grey Herons flew east past Europa foreshore, and another flew north over Windmill Hill.  An Audouin's Gull was present at Seven Sister's rocks.

17 Aug:  Overcast skies with levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour, and westerly cloud overhead as well.  Winds moderate easterly, but a south-westerly wind managed a few gusts early in the morning in the south of the Rock, with mist patches.

Ringing Totals

A flock of approximately 450 White Storks flew in over the Rock in the afternoon.  This is an unusual sighting as White Storks tend to congregate in the Tarifa area, specially with easterly winds.

Also seen in the morning and early afternoon were several Booted Eagles and 14 Black Kites.

Robins were present at Campion Park, and Montagu Gardens estate, and three Spotted Flycatchers were present at the Convent gardens.

16 Aug:  Light drizzle before dawn, with south-westerly cloud and levanter cloud over the Rock, town and harbour.  Winds light to moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

A Whimbrel was present at Europa foreshore, and a Grey Heron was on the pontoon at Mid Harbours Marina.  A Little Egret was seen in the harbour area.

A Tawny Owl was heard above Queen's Road in the early morning.

15 Aug:  Slight fog over the town at dawn quickly receding and slight levanter cloud until mid morning, with a light south-easterly wind becoming light and variable.

A Hoopoe was present at Europa foreshore.  Two Grey Herons were present at the Detached Mole.

There were 21 Booted Eagles, a Sparrowhawk and 180 Black Kites over the Rock.  Also seen were a flock of Bee-eaters.

14 Aug:   Low fog at dawn rising quickly but dissipating mid morning, with levanter cloud  mid morning over the Rock and town.  Sunny intervals away from the rock in the afternoon. Winds moderate easterly.

Seven Sisters rocks held a Grey Heron and two Shags, whilst Camp Bay had a Common Sandpiper.

A dead Kingfisher was picked up at the GSLA Bathing Pavilion.

13 Aug:  Low fog at dawn rising quickly but dissipating mid morning, when heavy levanter cloud developed mid morning over the Rock and town.  Sunny intervals away from the rock in the afternoon. Winds moderate easterly.

Ringing Totals

Four Booted Eagles were observed over the Rock.  Eleven Black-headed Gulls in two flocks headed south off Sandy Bay.

12 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable wind becoming light easterly mid morning, with a few wisps of levanter cloud over the Rock.

Ringing Totals

Two adult Audouin's Gulls were foraging at Camp Bay. A Booted Eagle was seen over the Rock.

11 Aug: Clear skies with a moderate north-westerly wind.

A Little Egret was present opposite the New Harbours Marina. A juvenile Swallow was seen perched on vegetation at Camp Bay.

 A juvenile Woodchat Shrike was present at North Front cemetery.

An evening watch at Europa Point produced the following:-

Two Grey Herons were observed off Europa Advance road.

10 Aug:  Clear skies with a light to moderate westerly wind.

Between 11:45-12:30hrs a steady passage of Black Kites were observed numbering 1200 birds.  No more were seen after this until 16:20hrs when a further 701 Black Kites and a Montagu's Harrier were seen.

In the evening an Eleonora's Falcon, (probably yesterdays bird), was seen heading north over Apes Den.

A morning and afternoon visit to Europa Point produced the following:-

The flock of 21 Glossy Ibises west at Europa Point.                         A. Fortuna.

Two Grey Herons flew south over Mid Harbours Marina.  Another Grey Heron was present at Rosia Bay.

A walk along the Alameda Botanic gardens produced the following:-

09 Aug: Dense fog overnight and at dawn but quickly disappearing and leading to clear skies.  Winds light variable becoming light to moderate south-westerly.

A morning visit to Windmill Hill produced the following:-

A morning walk along Engineer road produced four Blue Tits, two Blackcaps, six Sardinian Warblers, a Wren, two Blackbirds, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Greenfinch.

A Hoopoe and a Bonelli's Warbler were present at North Front cemetery. An Eleonora's Falcon was observed over Jews' Gate.

08 Aug:  Clear skies at dawn but heavy fog from the east over Europa Point and the airfield, and low levanter cloud developing for most of the morning and early afternoon.  Winds light variable to light easterly.

Ringing Totals

Two Purple Herons flew south over the harbour.  A Booted Eagle was seen over Rock Gun in the afternoon.

Four Common Sandpipers flew from Sandy Bay groyne towards Catalan Bay.

At North Front cemetery there was a Bonelli's Warbler, an Iberian Chiffchaff and a Greenfinch.

07 Aug:  Clear skies with a light variable becoming light easterly by midday.

Ringing Totals

A Kingfisher was seen outside a window at St. Bernard's Hospital.

A Black Kite flew in from the east side and soared over Jews' Gate.

06 Aug:  Clear skies with a light westerly wind.

The Audouin's Gull at Camp Bay remained in the area.

At North Front cemetery there was a Hoopoe, a Woodchat Shrike, a Melodious Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Three Black Kites were seen in the morning.

An adult Sabine's Gull flew west past Europa Point.                       A. Fortuna.

05 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate south-westerly in the Strait and Bay but moderate north-westerly at the head of the Bay.

A count from 08:00-15:30hrs produced, a juvenile Flamingo heading south over town, 11 White Storks, 16157 Black Kites, a Red Kite, an adult Egyptian Vulture, two Booted Eagles, and two Lesser Kestrels.  Over 5000 passed in an hour between 10:30-11:30hrs. Later on passage resumed for a record total of 26200 Black Kites.  Obviously some were missed so this is only the ones counted. A Zitting Cisticola flew overhead at Princess Caroline's battery.

At Europa Point in the early afternoon there the following:-

Two Whimbrels west at Europa Point.    C. Fortuna.

There was an adult Woodchat Shrike at North Front cemetery.

Adult Woodchat Shrike at North Front cemetery.               C. Fortuna.

04 Aug:  Clear skies with a moderate westerly, turning to fresh south-westerly by midday, but north-westerly further north.

An early morning watch at Europa Point produced the following:-

In the afternoon there were a total of 15 Oystercatchers west at Europa Point.

Eight Oystercatchers west at Europa Point.   A. Fortuna.

A juvenile Flamingo was rescued off Rosia Bay when it was seen in difficulties and unable to fly from the surface of the sea.  The Department of the Environment was notified and the bird was taken to the Vet.

A total of 12268 Black Kites counted today, with passage continuing well into the evening.  Also seen were several hundred Common Swifts,  a Long-legged Buzzard, four Booted Eagles and four Lesser Kestrels.

A Grey Heron was present at Small Boats Marina.  Three Oystercatchers flew west past Europa Point in the early afternoon.

03 Aug:  Clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds moderate north-westerly, but fresh south-westerly in the Strait.

An exceptional day with at least 12565 Black Kites observed heading south.  Also several flocks of Common Swifts, six Grey Herons along the east side of the Rock, two Little Egrets heading north over the North Mole,  a Lesser Kestrel, and three Swallows.

At Europa Point there were two juvenile Flamingoes,  8 Audouin's Gulls, two Cory's Shearwaters, two first year Gannets and a Gull-billed Tern in the morning.

There were two Hoopoes at North  Front cemetery and another at Europa foreshore. A Little Egret was present at Mid Harbours Marina.

02 Aug:  Mainly clear skies with some high cloud.  Winds moderate to fresh westerly.

There were at least 7500 Black Kites heading south over the Rock.  Some aborted the Strait crossing in the afternoon and evening.  Also seen was a late Honey Buzzard heading north over Europa Point.  Five Ravens were seen over the Rock.

At Europa Point the following were seen:-

One of the Shags flying east bore a white ring.

A mid afternoon watch at Europa Point produced the following:-

01 Aug:  Heavy fog at dawn, persisting into mid morning, and dissipating later.  Some high cloud also, with a light easterly wind.

Ringing Totals

A Melodious Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher were present at North Front cemetery.  Two Iberian Chiffchaffs were heard calling in the vicinity of Jews' Gate.

An evening watch at Europa Point produced the following:-