Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid September 2015

September 20th. The Barred Warbler was retrapped in East Dunes. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Plantation near Sykes Farm. Other birds around were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Fieldfare, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Wheatear and 5 House Sparrow (scarce here). On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank. Going south were a Hobby, 17 Wigeon, a Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 7 Grey Wagtail, 400 Meadow Pipit, 2 House Sparrow, 50 Siskin and 35 Redpoll, and 38 Pink-footed Goose south-west.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and James Siddle, provided 45 new birds: a Wren, 20 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 4 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet and 3 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: 2 Robin, a Wren, a Barred Warbler, 2 Dunnock and a Linnet.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 47 new birds and 13 retraps. The new birds were 20 Goldcrest, 7 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 4 Dunnock, 3 Robin, 2 Blackcap and singles of Chiffchaff, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird and Reed Warbler. The retraps were 4 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit and singles of Chiffchaff, Wren, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Blackcap and Chaffinch.

Yellow-browed Warbler, 20th September 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

Spotted Redshank, 20th september 2015.
Photo - Paul Neale

Long-tailed Tit, 20th September 2015.

Great Crested Grebe, 20th September 2015.

Kestrel, 20th September 2015.

September 19th. A Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered near Sykes Farm. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, 5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff, a Greenshank and a Water Rail. Around, including birds trapped. were a Barred Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Hobby, a Peregrine, a Pied Flycatcher, a Treecreeper and 8 Redpoll. Heading South over Aylmer Avenue were 30 Siskin, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 40 Linnet, 200 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 10 Yellow Wagtail and 20 Swallow
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, produced 13 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock and a Barred Warbler; and 4 retraps: singles of Blackcap, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Chaffinch.
Meanwhile at Aylmer Avenue, Mick Briggs was ringing, resulting in 42 new birds: 23 Goldcrest, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Blackbird, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Chiffchaff and singles of Dunnock, Robin, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Great Tit and Chaffinch.

Garden Warbler, 19th September 2015
Photo - Nige Lound

Barred Warbler, ringed 19th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

September 18th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Birds around, including those ringed, were 300 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, 2 Redstart, 6 Rook, 4 Crossbill, 4 Pintail, 15 Snipe, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, 4 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, 12+ Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler and 7 Yellow Wagtail. Flying south were a Swift, 50 Swallow, 5 Grey Wagtail, a Yellow Wagtail, 20 Siskin and 23 Redpoll.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 70 new birds: 5 Willow Warbler, 11 Goldcrest, a Wren, 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, 3 Linnet, 9 Blackcap, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Goldfinch and 4 Dunnock; 4 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Blackcap and and a Goldcrest; and a control Lesser Redpoll.

Walnut Spider, 18th September 2015.
Photo - Sam Wilson

September 17th. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spoonbill. Around, including birds trapped, were a Redstart, 10+ Goldcrest, a Garden Warbler, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. Flying south were 45 Siskin and 35 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 19 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Willow Warbler, a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 3 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Siskin, a Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Redshank; and 5 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Robin and a Dunnock. To catch a Redshank in a 30 foot mist net between bushes in the dunes is rather unusual.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 35 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Great Tit, a Robin, 4 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Dunnock and 10 Greenfinch; and 33 retraps: a Chaffinch, 4 Dunnock, 9 Greenfinch, 9 Great Tit, 3 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit and a Robin.

Redstart, ringed 17th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

Redshank, ringed 17th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

Siskin, ringed 17th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

Whitethroat with suspended primary moult, ringed 17th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

The same Whitethroat with a bill deformity, ringed 17th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

September 16th. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Spoonbill, and on the Mere 2 Kingfisher. Birds around included a Greenshank, 17 Sandwich Tern, a Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Whinchat, a Spotted Redshank, 26 Arctic Skua and 3 Yellow-legged Gull. South went a Swift, a Fieldfare, 2 Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, 500 Meadow Pipit and 3000 Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 41 new birds: 9 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, a Robin, 7 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Linnet, 8 Reed Bunting, a Sedge Warbler, a Goldfinch, 4 Whitethroat and 5 Dunnock; and 6 retraps: 2 Wren, a Linnet, a Redstart, a Dunnock and a Blackcap.
A Red Underwing was discovered on the Heligoland Trap.

Red Underwing, 16th September 2015.
Photo - George Gregory

September 15th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, with occasional drizzly spells.
Around were 5 Spoonbill, 55000 Knot, 3200 Sanderling, 5800 Dunlin, 1500 Grey Plover, a Kingfisher, 20 Greenshank, 10 Goldcrest, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart and a Treecreeper. On Tennyson's Sands were a Little Stint, a Ruff and 3 Spotted Redshank. Going south were 7 Arctic Skua, 6 Little Gull, a Swift, 85 Swallow, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Grey Wagtail and 14 Siskin.
A weather-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Jenni Godber, yielded 5 new birds: 2 Robin, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler and a Linnet; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock, a Robin and a Whitethroat.
A check of an owl breeding site on the reserve revealed a pair of retrap moulting adult Barn Owls.

Moulting adult female Barn Owl, retrapped 15th September 2015.
Photo - Richard Doan

September 14th. Rain mid morning.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 3 Spoonbill, 4 Greenshank, 2 Redstart and a Grey Wagtail.
A rain-interrupted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Redstart, a Blackcap, a Robin and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Redstart, a Robin, a Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

September 13th. Around, including birds trapped, were 5 Spoonbill, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Kingfisher, 3 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 3 Redstart, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 22 Robin, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreeper, a Bullfinch, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 20 Redpoll, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin and 4 Buzzard. On the Mere were a Garganey and 3 Water Rail. Heading south were 2 Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Tree Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail. Heading south over Aylmer Avenue were 200+ Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 40 House Martin, 40 Siskin, a Grey Heron and 2 Common Tern.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with James Siddle and Toby Collett, produced 33 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Robin, a Redstart, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting, a Garden Warbler, a Goldfinch, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Lesser Redpoll, a Siskin and 10 Dunnock; and 17 retraps: 2 Blackcap, 8 Long-tailed Tit, a Robin, 2 Dunnock, a Goldfinch, a Linnet and 2 Wren.
A lengthy morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mick Briggs resulted in 64 new birds: 12 Blackcap, 9 Dunnock, 9 Goldcrest, 9 Greenfinch, 9 Goldfinch, 4 Robin, 2 Wren, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat.

Redstart, 13th September 2015.
Photo - Richard Doan

September 12th. Quite strong southerly wind. Early morning rain.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 8 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, a Kingfisher, 2 Merlin, 4 Arctic Skua, 15 Wheatear, 2 Redstart, a Coal Tit, 4 Goldcrest, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher. Heading south were a Pomarine Skua, 3 Siskin and a Marsh Harrier, and north an adult Little Gull.
At Aylmer Avenue a much delayed session due to rain and wind was carried out by Mick Briggs and resulted in 20 new birds: 10 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch and singles of Chaffinch, Redstart, Blackcap, Swallow, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chiffchaff.

September 11th. Increasing easterly wind.
On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Spoonbill, 4 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank, and on the Mere 2 Pintail. Around were a Pied Flycatcher, a Redwing, a Redstart, a Wheatear, a Tree Pipit, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Arctic Skua. Flying north were 3 Sooty Shearwater, a Fulmar, 6 Brent Goose and 18 Common Scoter, and south a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 35 Gannet, 2 Brent Goose, 4 Common Scoter, a Pintail and 6 Teal.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes by Nigel Judson and Christine Flint resulted in just a new Blackcap and a retrap Wren.

Wheatear, 11th September 2015.