Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid October 2018

October 20th. On Tennyson's Sands were a Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Spotted Redshank; and in a channel near the Mere a Jack Snipe. Around, including birds trapped, were 60 Whooper Swan, 150 Brent Goose, 400 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Ring Ouzel and 3 Yellow-browed Warbler. Flying south were a Jay and a Lapland Bunting.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Ed Tyler, produced 18 new birds: a Goldcrest, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Blackcap, 2 Redwing and 4 Blackbird; and a retrap Yellow-browed Warbler, which was ringed on October 19th.

Kestrel, 20th October 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Fieldfare, 20th October 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Yellow-browed Warbler, retrapped 20th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

October 19th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 45 Whooper Swan, 75 Brent Goose, 1873 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Red Kite, a Grey Heron, a Water Rail, a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, 7 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Ring Ouzel, 86 Blackbird, 10 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, a Wheatear, 2 Tree Sparrow, 3 Grey Wagtail, 12 Brambling, a Crossbill and 3 Yellowhammer. Going south were 7 Whooper Swan, a Buzzard, 11 Brambling, 34 Chaffinch, 14 Lesser Redpoll and 52 Siskin.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 28 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Brambling, 7 Reed Bunting, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, a Robin, 4 Redwing and 4 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Blackcap, 2 Dunnock and a Blue Tit.

Red Kite, 22nd October 2018.

Photos - Chris Cullen

Marsh Harrier, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Curlew Sandpiper, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Grey Heron, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Little Egret, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Kingfisher, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Sparrowhawk, 19th October 2018.

Photo - Chris Cullen

Whooper Swans, 19th October 2018
Photo - Ian Hurst

Whooper Swan, 19th October 2018
Photo - Ian Hurst

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 19th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

October 18th. Around were 23 Brent Goose, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, 13 Whooper Swan, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, 2 Jay, 15 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 6 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, 250 Starling, 27 Redwing, a Ring Ouzel, 8 Fieldfare, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail, 8 Brambling and 3 Yellowhammer. Heading south were 340 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Whooper Swan, 18 Tree Sparrow, 2 Alba Wagtail, 9 Brambling, 18 Lesser Redpoll and 14 Siskin; and north 7 Rook.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 15 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 4 Robin, a Reed Bunting, 2 Great Tit, a Goldfinch, a Song Thrush and a Redwing; and 6 retraps: a Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Blue Tit, a Redwing and a Great Tit.

Grey Wagtail, 18th October 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

October 17th. Heading north was a Richard's Pipit; and south were a Red Kite, a Hen Harrier and 3 Lapland Bunting. Birds around, including those trapped, were 6 Brent Goose, 400 Pink-footed Goose, 48 Whooper Swan, a Spotted Redshank, a Pied Flycatcher,4 Ring Ouzel, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 61 new birds: 23 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, a Blackcap, 4 Robin, 4 Chaffinch, a Linnet, 6 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Redpoll, 2 Great Tit, a House Sparrow, a Greenfinch, 4 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 3 Blackbird and a Magpie; and 6 retraps: 2 Robin, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock, a Sparrowhawk and a Firecrest. The retrapped Firecrest was ringed here on October 10th, and retrapped on October 11th; it had increased in weight from 4.7g to 5.2g.

Whooper Swans, 17th October 2018.

Photos - Paul Johnson

Pied Flycatcher, 17th October 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Sparrowhawk, retrapped 17th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Firecrest, retrapped 17th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

October 16th. Foggy, soggy start, gradually clearing and drying out.
Around, including birds trapped, were 29 Whooper Swan, 28 Pintail, 5 Water Rail, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 11 Snipe, 2 Kingfisher, a Peregrine, 74 Goldcrest, 21 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 16 Yellow-browed Warbler, 20 Blackcap, 9 Ring Ouzel, 69 Blackbird, 78 Song Thrush, 715 Redwing, 181 Fieldfare, 3 Mistle Thrush, 141 Robin, a Pied Flycatcher, 8 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 14 Brambling, a Bullfinch, a Crossbill and 18 Siskin. Flying south were 58 Skylark, a Woodlark, 10 Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, 10 Brambling, 76 Chaffinch and 4 Lesser Redpoll. In of the sea came a Marsh Harrier, 34 Lapwing and 491 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 81 new birds: 21 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 18 Robin, 4 Blackcap, 12 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 6 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush and 4 Blackbird; and 5 retraps: singles of Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Blackcap and Blue Tit.

Kestrel - 16th October 2018
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 16th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Stinkhorn Fungus, causing a bad smell in the Heligoland Trap, 16th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

October 15th. Rain for most of day.
Birds around included 29 Whooper Swan, 50 Brent Goose, 440 Wigeon, a Grey Heron, a Mediterranean Gull, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Goldcrest, a Merlin, 4 Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzel, 70 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 75 Song Thrush, 344 Redwing, 45 Robin and 37 Brambling. Going south were 9 Brent Goose, 19 Teal, 52 Wigeon, 12 Common Scoter, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver, an Arctic Skua, 2 Skua spp, 4 Siskin and a Lapland Bunting; and north a Manx Shearwater, 80 Gannet, a Great Skua, a Skua spp and a Kittiwake. In off the sea came 130 Starling.

Eurasian Teal, 15th October 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont.

Tree Sparrow, 15th October 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

October 14th. Rain for most of day.
Birds around included 31 Whooper Swan, 210 Pink-footed Goose, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Rail, 6 Avocet, 3860 Oystercatcher, 3131 Grey Plover, 37 Lapwing, 58450 Knot, 750 Sanderling, 3354 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 4 Snipe, 2 Tawny Owl, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, a Jay, 12 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, 24 Blackbird, 16 Redwing, 25 Robin, 7 Brambling, 3 Lesser Redpoll and 5 Siskin. Heading south were 85 Pink-footed Goose, 17 Teal, 11 Wigeon, an Eider, 9 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Shag, a Great Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, a House Martin, 6 Swallow, 6 Brambling and 64 Siskin. In off the sea came 9 Lapwing and 319 Starling.

October 13th. Strong southerly wind.
Birds around included 29 Whooper Swan, 15 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Pintail, a Grey Heron, 2 Avocet, 5 Spotted Redshank, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, 9 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Chiffchaff, 6 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Fieldfare, 80 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, a Yellow Wagtail, a Water Pipit, 3 Brambling, a Redpoll, 4 Siskin and 3 Crossbill. Heading south were 14 Swallow.

Dawn over East Dunes, 13 October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

October 12th. Increasing, then decreasing, southerly wind.
Birds around, including those trapped, were 29 Whooper Swan, 6 Pink-footed Goose, 13 Pintail, 3 Eider, 17 Common Scoter, 3 Turnstone, 2 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, 13 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 13 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, a Water Pipit, a Brambling, 15 Siskin and 3 Crossbill. Heading south were 141 Wigeon, 111 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 6 Common Scoter, 5 Red-breated Merganser, 7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Guillemot, an Arctic Skua, 3 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, a Kestrel and 4 Swallow. In off the sea came 23 Pink-footed Goose.
A brief, wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 4 new birds: 3 Goldcrest and a Song Thrush; and 4 retraps: a Robin and 3 Goldcrest.

Brambling, 12th October 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

October 11th. An Arctic Warbler was discovered near North Building, otherwise typical the single heard call threw observers as it was thought to be more consistent with that of Greenish Warbler, leading to much discussion. Around, including birds trapped, were 30 Brent Goose, 29 Whooper Swan, 85 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 283 Cormorant, a Greenshank, 7 Snipe, a Pomarine Skua, a Ring Ouzel, 5 Fieldfare, 50 Song Thrush, 220 Redwing, 6 Stonechat, a Water Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, a Firecrest, 20 Brambling, 4 Crossbill and 2 Snow Bunting. Flying south were 43 Brent Goose, 169 Wigeon, 31 Teal, a Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 14 Eider, 53 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, a Goosander, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 7 Turnstone, a Great Skua, 2 Sandwich Tern, 300 Woodpigeon, 94 Skylark, 7 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 70 Redwing, 30 Rock Pipit, 60 Brambling, 12 Crossbill and a Yellowhammer. In off the sea came 200 Starling.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, resulted in 17 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 5 Song Thrush and 4 Redwing; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap, a Blue Tit and a Firecrest.

Arctic Warbler, 11th October 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

Snow Bunting, 11th October 2018.

Photo - Ben Ward

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 11th October 2018.
Photo - George Gregory