Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid July 2015

July 20th. On Tennyson's Sands were 10 Spoonbill early morning, some of which flew to and from Jackson's Marsh and the estuary later. Birds around included the first-summer Hen Harrier, 3 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Arctic Skua, 58 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cuckoo.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Swallow; and 8 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Dunnock, 3 Wren, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Linnet.

Little Egrets on hedge next to Jackson's Marsh, 20 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

Black-tailed Skimmer, 20 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

July 19th. Rain until mid morning.
Flying onto or on Jackson's Marsh were now 12 Spoonbill, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank. On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Greenshank, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Ruff and 85 Black-tailed Godwit. Around were a juvenile Peregrine, a Kingfisher, 2 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper. Heading south were a Whimbrel, 241 Swift and 50 Swallow.

Pine Hawkmoth, 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Rosy Footman (very scarce here), 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Small Emerald, 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Blackneck (very scarce here), 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Blue-bordered Carpet, 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

Burnished Brass, 19 July 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

July 18th. Flying from Tennyson's Sands to Jackson's Marsh were 10 Spoonbill and a Curlew Sandpiper. Remaining on Tennyson's Sands were 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Ruff and an adult Mediterranean Gull (red ring with white PLY5). Birds around included a Hen Harrier, a Montagu's Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Turtle Dove and a Whimbrel. Flying south were 350 Swift, 30 Whimbrel and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 3 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Swallow, 2 Dunnock and a Greenfinch; and 5 retraps: 2 Wren, a Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.
A White-letter Hairstreak was in West Dunes north of the Sycamore Plot.

Little Tern, 18 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

Montagu's Harrier, 18 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

Spoonbills, 18 July 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

July 17th. On Tennyson's Sands were 10 Spoonbill, 12 Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshank, and on Jackson's Marsh 22 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. Around were 2 Montagu's Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Arctic Tern, 200 Little Tern, 5500 Sandwich Tern, 100 Common Tern, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Siskin, a Bullfinch and 2 Green Woodpecker. Going south over land were 2237 Swift, 200 Swallow, 153 Sand Martin, 6 Yellow Wagtail and a Hobby. Moving offshore were 43 Oystercatcher, 206 Whimbrel, 33 Black-tailed Godwit, 1136 Knot, 5 Turnstone, 4 Golden Plover, a Ruff, a Manx Shearwater and 2 adult Little Gull.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 43 new birds: 4 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, a Reed Bunting, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Goldfinch, a Reed Warbler, 5 Dunnock and 14 Greenfinch; and 15 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, 4 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, a Reed Warbler, a Wren, a Blue Tit and 2 Chaffinch.
Shorebird Warden, Richard Doan, recorded 101 species of bird on the reserve today.

July 16th. In the estuary were 2 Spoonbill. Other birds around included a Green Woodpecker and 30 Swallow. Heading south were 2 Siskin and 2 Sand Martin..
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 3 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Great Tit, 2 Swallow, 3 Dunnock and a Cuckoo; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock and 2 Wren.
In the Sanctuary 3 pulli Skylark were ringed.
Butterflies included 2 White-letter Hairstreak in West Dunes north of the Sycamore Plot.

Juvenile Cuckoo, ringed 16 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

White-letter Hairstreak, 16 July 2015.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

July 15th. Soggy start.
Now 2 Quail were singing north of the reserve in the morning. A Honey Buzzard flew north over the West Dunes at 12:00hrs. Around were 2200 Sandwich Tern, 60 Common Tern, 228 Little Tern and a Whimbrel. One of the Sandwich Tern was a juvenile ringed recently in the Netherlands. On Tennyson Sands were 61 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank,a Spotted Redshank and 2 Ruff, and on Jackson's Marsh a Ruff. Flying south were 17 Curlew and 30 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 14 new birds: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Meadow Pipit and 4 Dunnock; and 8 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 3 Whitethroat, a Dunnock, a Wren and a Robin.
A Sea-watching Event is scheduled this afternoon from 1730-1930hrs for those interested in participating.

July 14th. Birds around included a Montagu's Harrier. A Quail sang north of the reserve early morning. Going south were 2 Swift.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 57 new birds: 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 4 Great Tit, 4 Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, 5 Whitethroat, 6 Chaffinch, a Reed Warbler, a Blue Tit, 13 Dunnock, 11 Greenfinch and a Woodpigeon; and 21 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Wren, 7 Whitethroat, 6 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, a WillowWarbler and a Woodpigeon.

July 13th. A Quail was heard singing on the saltmarsh before dawn. Also around were an adult Mediterranean Gull and 350 Sandwich Tern. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff and 20 Black-tailed Godwit, and on Jackson's Marsh 9 Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 55+ Siskin, 47 Curlew and 2 Swift. In off the sea came a Short-eared/Long-eared Owl.
A female Ghost Moth was found on part of the Heligoland trap.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 3 Linnet and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: singles of Whitethroat, Linnet and Dunnock.

Treecreeper, ringed 13 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

Female Ghost Moth, 13 July 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

July 12th. Birds around included a Cuckoo and 350 Sandwich Tern. On Tennyson Sands were 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff and 11 Black-tailed Godwit, and on Jackson's Marsh 20 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank. Flying south were 120 Swift.

July 11th. Around were 150 Sandwich Tern, 1+ Arctic Skua, 2 Common Scoter, 45 Swallow and 2 Crossbill. On Tennyson's Sands were an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff and 12 Black-tailed Godwit, and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit. Heading south were 2 Swift.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Lesser Whitethroat.