Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Early May 2016

May 10th. Rain from mid morning.

Birds around included 2 Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Sandpiper, a Cuckoo, 4 Whimbrel, 45 Brent Goose, a Spotted Flycatcher, an Acredula-type Willow Warbler and 2 Grey Partridge.
A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting and a Linnet; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Meadow Pipit.

Spotted Flycatcher, 10th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Acredula-type Willow Warbler, 10th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

This brown and white willow warbler frequented the ‘Bonelli’s warbler sycamore’ today. Pending further research it has been labelled a possible ‘acredula’ As well as the obvious plumage tone differences, its habit of hopping along branches was more nuthatch like than willow warbler like!

May 9th. Around were a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher, an acredula Willow Warbler and 2 Goldcrest.

May 8th. A Western Bonelli's Warbler was discovered at the north end of West Dunes. Other birds around were an Osprey, a continental Coal Tit, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Siskin, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 3 Cuckoo, 49 Little Tern, 4750 Sanderling, 5500 Dunlin and 7 Greenshank. Going east were 5 Spoonbill, south a Fulmar, and north 160 Common Scoter, a Manx Shearwater and a Fulmar.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: 2 Whitethroat and singles of Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat and Goldfinch; and 5 retraps: singles of Wren, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Linnet and Whitethroat.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent, which included the first C.E.S session of the year, resulted in 20 new birds: 4 Blackbird, 3 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, 2 Dunnock, a Sedge Warbler and a Greenfinch; and 22 retraps: 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit and singles of Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Long-tailed Tit.

Western Bonelli's Warbler, 8th May 2016.
Photo - Graham Catley (www.pewit.blogspot.co.uk)

May 7th. An Alpine Accentor was discovered at the feeding station next to Sykes Farm. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, a Buzzard, a Hobby, 3 Greenshank, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Grey Partridge, a Wood Sandpiper, a Grasshopper Warbler and 14 Whimbrel. Flying west was a Turtle Dove.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.

Alpine Accentor at Sykes Farm feeding station, 7th May 2016.

Video - Richard Doan

Alpine Accentor, 7th May 2016.
Photo - James Siddle

Roe Deer, 7th May 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Pseudoscorpion, 7th May 2016.
Photo - Bryony Baxter

May 6th. Around were a Spoonbill, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Cuckoo, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Grasshopper Warbler (including 1 trapped) and 3 Turtle Dove. On Tennyson's Sands was a Wood Sandpiper.
The evening high tide produced a stunning display of May waders in summer plumage; knot, grey plover, bar-tailed godwit and sanderling. Totals included 4880 Sanderling, 14700 Knot, 420 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1600 Grey Plover and 3250 Dunlin; also 6 Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper in the roost.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Linnet.

Lady's Smock, 6th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 5th. Birds around included a Cuckoo, a Marsh Harrier and 4 Whimbrel. A Hobby and a Swift flew south.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Whitethroat.

Marsh Harrier, 5th May 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Rue-leaved Saxifrage, 5th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 4th. Around were 9 Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Little Tern, 2 Grasshopper Warbler. a Short-eared Owl, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Wheatear and a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull. Heading south were 23 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 12 Sand Martin and 2 Yellow Wagtail. Heading west were 2 Mute Swan.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 10 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 2 Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Linnet; and a retrap Linnet.

Turtle Dove, 4th May 2016.
Photo - Paul Johnson

Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 4th May 2016.
Photo - George Gregory

Tail of Grasshopper Warbler, ringed 4th May 2016.
This tail shows, particularly in the hand, moderately contrasting pale tips, but there is not the almost black-and-white contrast shown in the tail of Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler.
Photo - George Gregory

Meadow Saxifrage, 4th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin wilson

Mistle Thrush chicks, 4th May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 3rd. Birds around included a Spoonbill, a Short-eared Owl, a Common Tern, a Cuckoo, a Grasshopper Warbler, 20 Whitethroat, and 2 Whimbrel. Flying south were a Swallow and a House Martin. On Tennyson's Sands was a Great Crested Grebe and a Spotted Redshank.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 13 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, 6 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit and a Wren.

Spoonbill, 3rd May 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Short-eared Owl, 3rd May 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

May 2nd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
Around were 4 Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Reed Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Cuckoo and 10 Whitethroat. Moving south offshore were 42 Little Tern, 5 Common Tern, an Arctic Tern and 49 Sandwich Tern. Finch passage over the East Dunes resulted in 120 Linnet and 33 Goldfinch south.
A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Garden Warbler, 2nd May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Wheatear, 2nd May 2016.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 1st. Birds around included 2 Spoonbill, 2 Short-eared Owl, a Marsh Harrier, a Cuckoo and 2 Wheatear. An Osprey and 2 Marsh Harrier flew south. On Tennyson's Sands was a Spotted Redshank.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 12 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and 3 Blackcap; 7 retraps: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Linnet and a Wren; and a control Chiffchaff.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by David Vincent resulted in 11 new birds: 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, a Great Tit, a Blackcap and a Mistle Thrush; 13 retraps: 4 Goldfinch, 3 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch and singles of Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird and Blue Tit.

Mistle Thrush, ringed 1st May 2016.
Photo - David Vincent.