Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid October 2014

October 20th. Around were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Hen Harrier and a Green Woodpecker. On Jackson's Marsh were a Spoonbill and 2 Pintail. Visible southward migration involved 16 Whooper Swan, 308 Chaffinch, a Sparrowhawk, 793 Goldfinch, 66 Greenfinch, 142 Reed Bunting, 143 Rock Pipit, 65 Stock Dove, 16 Swallow, 30 House Sparrow, 46 Siskin, 341 Meadow Pipit, 56 Brambling, 18 Alba Wagtail, 233 Linnet, 692 Tree Sparrow, 230 Skylark, 9 Snipe, 5 Yellowhammer, 19 Carrion Crow, 9 Rook, a Goosander and 2300 Woodpigeon. In came 12 Redwing.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 35 new birds: a Long-tailed Tit, 17 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Robin, 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting, 3 Bullfinch, a Stonechat, a Greenfinch, a Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and 3 retrap Robins.

Bullfinch, ringed 20 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Stonechat, ringed 20 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

October 19th. Increasing south-westerly wind in morning, decreasing later.
Birds around included a Yellow-browed Warbler, 1+ Rough-legged Buzzard, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier and a Kingfisher. Offshore were 12 Grey Phalarope. On Jackson's Marsh was a Spoonbill. South went 142 Pink-footed Goose, 20 Tree Sparrow, 10 Redpoll sp, 2 House Martin and 4 Swallow.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 30 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Robin, a Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and 6 retraps: a Wren, a Blue Tit, a Redwing, a Robin and 2 Goldcrest.
A restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs resulted in 71 new birds and 26 retraps. The new birds were 27 Goldfinch, 21 Goldcrest, 14 Greenfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Blackcap and singles of Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Brambling. The retraps were 7 Goldcrest, 7 Great Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch and singles of Blackcap, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Chaffinch.

Rough-legged Buzzard, 19 October 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

Spoonbill, 19 October 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

Peregrine, 19 October 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

Merlin, 19 October 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

Hen Harrier, 19 October 2014.
Photo - Russell Hayes

October 18th. Strong south-westerly wind, occasional light rain.
A Pectoral Sandpiper was photographed on the beach. Around were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Rough-legged Buzzard, 60 Redwing and 2 Coal Tit. Offshore were 15 Grey Phalarope (including some heading south). Also heading south were 26 Swallow, a Snow Bunting, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Red-necked Grebe, 250 Wigeon, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, an Arctic Skua, 9 Little Gull and a Velvet Scoter. In came 30 Redwing and 300 Dunlin.
No ringing was possible.

Pectoral Sandpiper, 18 October 2014.
Photo - Colin Perry

Rough-legged Buzzard, 18 October 2014.
Photo - James Siddle

October 17th. Birds around included 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Great Grey Shrike, 400 Pink-footed Goose, a Jay, 2 Coal Tit, a Treecreeper, 2 Black Redstart, 5 Stonechat and a Hen Harrier. On Jackson's Marsh was a Jack Snipe. Flying south were 2 Swallow and 2 House Martin, and west 185 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, provided 66 new birds: 51 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Goldfinch, a Blackcap, a Song Thrush, a Redwing and 5 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: singles of Blackcap, Robin and Wren.

October 16th. Around were a Spoonbill, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzel, 2 Stonechat, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 20 Tree Sparrow, 6 Rook, a Black Redstart, 2 Wheatear, a House Sparrow (scarce here now), 2 Bullfinch, a Spotted Redshank, a Hen Harrier, 6 Greenshank and a Jack Snipe. South went 15 Jay, 7 Whooper Swan, 155 Goldfinch, 9 Brambling, 3 Siskin, 14 Swallow, a House Martin and 32 Reed Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, produced 58 new birds: 23 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 8 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, 2 Dunnock, 13 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 7 retraps: 5 Robin, a Blackbird and a Great Tit.

Sparrowhawk, ringed 16 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

October 15th. Around were 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Great Grey Shrike, 3 Little Gull, a Shorelark, a Woodcock, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 40 Ring Ouzel, 500 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Black Redstart, 10 Siskin and 60 Brambling. Heading south/south-east were 4 Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Little Gull, 3 Great Skua and 200 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Anthony Bentley, was productive. The 91 new birds were a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 39 Goldcrest, 20 Robin, 9 Blackcap, 4 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock, a Greenfinch, a Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, a Mistle Thrush and a Sparrowhawk. The 13 retraps were 6 Goldcrest, 5 Robin, a Blackcap and a Dunnock. Also caught was a Blackcap with a Slovakian ring.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 15 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

October 14th. A Radde's Warbler was discovered in the Plantation. A Spoonbill flew from Jackson's Marsh towards the estuary. Other birds around, including those trapped, were 5+ Yellow-browed Warbler, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Great Grey Shrike, a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 2+ Long-eared Owl, 3 Jay, a Green Woodpecker, a Pied Flycatcher, 15 Ring Ouzel, 25+ Brambling, 2 Black Redstart, 3 Wheatear, 6 Stonechat, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcock. Flying south were 2 Great Northern Diver, 25 Little Gull, 11 Whooper Swan and 3 Velvet Scoter, and north 2 Shag, 9 Great Skua and 2 Velvet Scoter.
A long ringing session in East Dunes was very productive. The 190 new birds were 52 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 62 Robin, 17 Blackcap, 2 Brambling, 6 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, 4 Dunnock, 12 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, 17 Blackbird, a Great Grey Shrike and a Woodcock. Other birds caught were a retrap Wren and a Blackcap with a Danish ring.

Radde's Warbler in the Plantation, 14th October 2014.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Great Grey Shrike, ringed 14 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

Woodcock, ringed 14 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

October 13th. Strong north-easterly wind, gusting even stronger, rain most of day.
Around were 30 Redwing and a Jack Snipe. Sea-watching produced a Sooty Shearwater south.
No ringing was possible.

October 12th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered in West Dunes. Also around were 2 Lapland Bunting, a late Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Brambling. On the Mere was a Kingfisher. Heading west were 30 Pink-footed Goose and a Whooper Swan, and south 25 Stock Dove and 8 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle, provided 24 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Robin, a Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Dunnock, a Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: singles of Wren and Robin.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David and Liv Vincent resulted in 44 new birds and 17 retraps. The new birds were 15 Goldfinch, 7 Greenfinch, 6 Tree Sparrow, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, 3 Blackcap and a Dunnock. The retraps were 4 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Goldcrest and singles of Wren, Blackcap, Greenfinch and Dunnock.

A foggy start to the day, 12th October 2014.
Photo - David Vincent.

Redwing, ringed 12 October 2014.
Photo - George Gregory

October 11th. In the Plantation was a Yellow-browed Warbler. Around were a Purple Sandpiper, 5 Stonechat, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl. On Tennyson Sands were a Spotted Redshank and 3 Greenshank. Flying west were 470 Pink-footed Goose, and south 2 Lapland Bunting, 4 Jay, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 3 Whooper Swan and 8 Brambling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 40 new birds: 20 Goldcrest, 5 Wren, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, a Reed Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting and a Blackbird; 10 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Wren, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit and a Robin; and a control (ringed elsewhere) Robin.
Meanwhile at Aylmer Avenue Mick Briggs was back at the feeding station for a morning only session which resulted in 73 new birds and just 10 retraps over just over four hours' ringing.
The new birds were 33 Goldcrest, 14 Goldfinch, 11 Greenfinch, 6 Great Tit, 2 Chiffchaff and singles of Wren, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Dunnock. The retraps were 4 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, a single Goldfinch and a single Greenfinch.