Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Late June 2019

June 30th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
A superb day for Swift passage with 10,094 flying south through the reserve. Also flying south were 32 Common Scoter, 4 Grey Heron, 7 Golden Plover, 6 Lapwing, 68 Curlew, 108 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Dunlin, 6 Stock Dove, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Hobby, 236 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow, 6 House Martin and 2 alba Wagtail. In off the sea came 3 Grey Heron and a Spoonbill. A Great White Egret frequented Tennyson's Sands later in the day. Birds around, including those trapped, were 3 Brent Goose, 11 Gadwall, 35 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 4 Eider, 6 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 37 Avocet, 222 Oystercatcher, 6 Grey Plover, 14 Lapwing, 28 Ringed Plover, 90 Curlew, a Whimbrel, 33 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Knot, 6 Sanderling, 29 Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 49 Redshank, a Snipe, 17 Sandwich Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Stock Dove, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Hobby, 1200 Starling, 3 Mistle Thrush, a Black Redstart, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 9 Pied Wagtail.
A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 32 new birds: 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Whitethroat, a Robin, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 3 Starling and a Hobby; and 4 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and a Great Tit.

Swift beginning to move at sunrise, 30th June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Hobby, ringed 30th June 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

June 29th. The male Black Redstart was still around the Visitor Centre. On Jackson's Marsh were a Spoonbill and a Green Sandpiper; on Tennyson's Sands a Pochard, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Green Sandpiper; and on Fenland Lagoon a Spotted Redshank.. Around were a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby, 1500 Starling and 2 Yellowhammer. Going south in the morning were 2 Spoonbill and a Puffin; and north a Razorbill and an adult Little Gull.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 2 Wren, 4 Blackcap, 2 Linnet, a Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, 5 Whitethroat and a Goldfinch; and 11 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wren, a Blackbird, 2 Blackcap and a Dunnock.

Black Redstart, 29th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Ringed Plover, 29th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Spoonbill, 29th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

June 28th. A Marsh Warbler was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. A male Black Redstart was around the Visitor Centre in the evening. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank; and on Fenland Lagoon a further Spotted Redshank. Birds around included 2 Brent Goose, 7 Gadwall, 9 Teal, an Eider, 30 Gannet, 2 Grey Heron, 26 Lapwing, a Curlew Sandpiper, 31 Sandwich Tern, 2 Stock Dove, a Hobby and 1060 Starling. Flying north were a Common Scoter, 4 Gannet, 4 Razorbill, a Little Tern, an Arctic Tern and 2 Little Gull; and south 11 Shelduck, a Hobby, 3 Swift and a Swallow.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 7 new birds: a Whitethroat, a Marsh Warbler, a Great Tit, a Blackcap, 2 Linnet and a Goldfinch; and 11 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit.

Marsh Warbler, ringed 28th June 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Black Redstart, 28th June 2019.
Photos - Owen Beaumont

June 27th. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill, 46 Avocet, 16 Black-tailed Godwit and a Spotted Redshank. Around were 6 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 4 Eider, a Great Crested Grebe, 252 Oystercatcher, 4 Grey Plover, 46 Lapwing, 18 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 212 Curlew, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 35 Sandwich Tern, a Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Stock Dove, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, 880 Starling, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin. Moving north over the sea were a Brent Goose, a Pintail, 26 Common Scoter, a Fulmar, 31 Gannet, a Razorbill, 2 Guillemot, 5 Auk spp, 7 Little Tern, 29 Sandwich Tern, a Little Gull and 3 Sand Martin; and going south were a Red-breasted Merganser, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and 7 Swift. In off the Wash came a Grey Heron.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, provided 21 new birds: a Wren, 7 Linnet, 4 Great Tit, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Chaffinch, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 10 retraps: 3 Great Tit, a Robin, 4 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Chiffchaff.

Curlew Sandpiper, 27th June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

June 26th. Moderately strong northerly wind.
A vocal migrant Quail was heard heading north over the southern part of the reserve in the very late evening. Birds around included 9 Teal, 4 Eider, a Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 69 Avocet, 2 Whimbrel, 111 Curlew, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Sandwich Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 250 Starling and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill. Heading south-east were 18 Black-tailed Godwit.
The sixth session of CES was done this morning. The 36 new birds were 5 Wren, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 3 Great Tit, 5 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Dunnock. The 23 retraps were 2 Blackbird, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, a Wren, a Robin, a Dunnock, a Great Tit, a Sedge Warbler and 11 Long-tailed Tit.

Barn Owl, 26th June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

June 25th. Rainy spells, mostly in morning.
On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh another Spoonbill. Around were 15 Gadwall, 34 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 4 Eider, 8 Little Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Red Kite, 13 Lapwing, a Whimbrel, a Turnstone, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Sanderling, 13 Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Stock Dove, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 128 Starling and 8 Pied Wagtail.

Little Grebe, 25th June 2019.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Red-banded Sand Wasp (Ammophila sabulosa) , 25th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

June 24th. Birds around included 3 Brent Goose, 82 Shelduck, 4 Eider, 13 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 452 Oystercatcher, 7 Grey Plover, 30 Lapwing, 42 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 189 Curlew, a Sanderling, 33 Dunlin, 42 Redshank, 8 Sandwich Tern, 4 Stock Dove, 650 Woodpigeon, a Collared Dove, 3 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler, 117 Starling, 7 Pied Wagtail and a Siskin. Heading south were 9 Golden Plover, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Lapwing.
Many Painted Lady were still present.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 2 Wren, 2 Whitethroat, a Blackcap,a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit, a Meadow Pipit and 2 Dunnock; and 7 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Blue Tit and a Dunnock.

Jackson's Marsh, after sunset, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Whitethroat, juvenile, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Small Skipper, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Ringlet, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Small Tortoiseshell, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Red-eyed Damselfly, 24th June 2019.

Photo - Nige Lound

Black-tailed Skimmer, 24th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Short-eared Owl, 24th June 2019.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Honeysuckle, 24th June 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

June 23rd. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Spoonbill. Around were 13 Gadwall, 11 Teal, a Shoveler, 62 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Lapwing, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Stock Dove, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Grasshopper Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail. Flying south were 90 Common Scoter, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Swallow.
Butterflies included many Painted Lady; and moths an Eyed Hawkmoth on the Heligoland Trap.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 13 new birds: a Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Meadow Pipit, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 14 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Great Tit, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Blue Tit. a Wren and 2 Dunnock.

Ringed Plover, 23rd June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Pyramidal Orchid, 23rd June 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

Eyed Hawkmoth, 23rd June 2019.
Photo - George Gregory

June 22nd. Increasing easterly wind.
The regular 3 Spoonbill toured several sites throughout the day. On Tennyson's Sands were a Wigeon, 3 Teal, a Shoveler, a Pochard, a Great Crested Grebe, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Yellow Wagtail; and on Jackson's Marsh were 22 Little Egret and a Black-tailed Godwit. Birds around included 4 Eider, a Curlew Sandpiper, 40 Dunlin, 12 Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 2 Hobby, 36 Starling and a Siskin. Going south were 13 Black-tailed Godwit; and north a Fulmar and 3 Kittiwake.
A Red-veined Darter was at Mill Hill briefly prior to drifting south down the dune.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 17 new birds: 9 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet, a Goldfinch and 2 Dunnock; and 16 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 3 Wren, 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Dunnock, 5 Great Tit, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler.

Ringed Plover, first summer, 22nd June 2019.

Photo - Kev Wilson

Lesser Whitethroat, 22nd June 2019.

Photo - Kev Wilson

Small Skipper, 22nd June 2019.

Photo - Ben Ward

Ringing Control:
Reed Warbler ringed Cranwich, Norfolk 24 July 2018, controlled GPBO 16 June 2018.

June 21st. The summer solstice - the longest day.
Around were 2 Brent Goose, 6 Gadwall, a Teal, 4 Eider, 11 Little Egret, a Great White Egret (New Saltmarsh), 3 Spoonbill (Estuary), a Sparrowhawk, a Wood Sandpiper (Tennyson's Sands), 4 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Hobby, a Grasshopper Warbler, 66 Starling and a Yellow Wagtail. Heading south were 7 Swift.
Newly arrived migrant insects included 5 Red-veined Darter and 92 Painted Lady.
A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit; and 6 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and 4 Whitethroat.