Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: March 2021

Late March 2021

March 31st. Around were 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Sparrowhawk, a Cetti's Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest and 2 Blackcap. On Tennyson's Sands were an Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit. Heading south was a Greenshank.

Bearded Tits, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Mediterranean Gulls, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Blackcap, 31 March 2021,
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Sparrowhawk, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Early Thorn, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Engrailed, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Danish Scurvy Grass, an upper saltmarsh speciality, 31 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

March 30th. New migrants were 2 Wheatear (Visitor Centre area) and a Sand Martin (briefly over Jackson's Marsh). The 2 Black Redstart remained at the Visitor Centre. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Pink-footed Goose, 10 Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh an Avocet and 3 Buzzard; on Jackson's Marsh an Avocet; and on the Mere a Pochard. Birds around included 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Avocet, a Woodcock, 4 Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, a Brambling and 4 Corn Bunting, Flying north was another Sand Martin; and south a Red Kite, a Buzzard, 21 Rook, a Swallow, 2 Brambling and 13 Siskin.

A Brimstone butterfly was present.

Wheatear, 30 March 2021.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Black Redstart, 30 March 2021.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Shelducks, 30 March 2021.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

March 29th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

The 2 Black Redstart were still at the Visitor Centre. Around were 52 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe and 19 Avocet.

March 28th. Strong south-westerly wind.

Birds around included 103 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Chiffchaff. Now 2 Black Redstart were at the Visitor Centre. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit; on Croftmarsh 4 Avocet; and on the Mere a Pochard. Going south were 14 Eider and 19 Common Scoter.

March 27th. Quite strong south-westerly wind.

A Spoonbill was on Jackson's Marsh then on Tennyson's Sands. A colour-ringed White Stork arrived on Croftmarsh from Middlemarsh early morning, then departed. The Black Redstart was still at the Visitor Centre. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Pink-footed Goose, 25 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit; on Croftmarsh a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine; on the Mere a Pochard; and on Jackson's Marsh a Pintail, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Black-tailed Godwit. Around were 121 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cetti's Warbler and 3 Chiffchaff. Heading south were 3 Red Kite.

White Stork, 27 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 26th. Soggy start; moderately strong south-westerly wind; some afternoon rain.

The Black Redstart was still at the Visitor Centre. Birds around included 119 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 32 Wigeon, 5 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Redwing and a Bullfinch. On Tennyson's Sands were 30 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit; on Jackson's Marsh a Pintail and 2 Black-tailed Godwit; and on Croftmarsh an Avocet.

Bearded Tit, 26 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Little Egret with scapular plumes (aigrettes), 26 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Red Chestnut, 26 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 25th. A Black Redstart was at the Visitor Centre. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pintail, a Water Rail, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 21 Avocet and 2 Bearded Tit. Around were 84 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Woodcock, a Snipe, a Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 6 Chiffchaff and a Water Pipit. Flying south were 9 Rook.

Great Crested Grebe, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Great Crested Grebes, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Black Redstart, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Water Rail, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Rooks, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Black Redstart, 25 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

March 24th. Light rain until late morning.

Birds around included 47 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 14 Wigeon, 2 Grey Partridge, a Hen Harrier, a Red Kite, a Barn Owl, a Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail. On Tennyson's Sands were a Great Crested Grebe, 27 Avocet and a Bearded Tit; and on Croftmarsh 3 Avocet. Going south were a Little Gull, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Crossbill.

Silhouette record shot of a Red Kite, 24 March 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

March 23rd. Around were 154 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 35 Wigeon, an Avocet, 3 Woodcock, 4 Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Red Kite, a male Hen Harrier, 5 Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, a Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 20 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch and 9 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Water Rail, 19 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Croftmarsh a Pintail. Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, 620 Starling, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Brambling and 9 Siskin; and north a Woodlark.

Buzzards, 23 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

House Sparrow, 23 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Shovelers, 23 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Shoulder Stripe, 23 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

March 22nd. Birds around included a Woodcock, 2 Snipe, 5 Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Fieldfare, 8 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and a Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler.

Cetti's Warbler, 22 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Fieldfare, 22 March 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

March 21st. Around were a Sparrowhawk, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Barn Owl, 3 Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, 13 Corn Bunting and 14 Snow Bunting. On Croftmarsh were 87 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 65 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Great Crested Grebe and 18 Avocet.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 21 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Snow Buntings, 21 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Snow Bunting, 21 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Mid March 2021

March 20th. Around were 9 White-fronted Goose, 220 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 5 Buzzard, a Caspian Gull, 9500 Starling, a Chiffchaff, a Firecrest (North Building Ridge), 2 Goldcrest, a Bullfinch and 10 Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 33 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south was a Red Kite.

Leucistic Redshank, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Snow Bunting, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Red Kite, 20 March 2021.
Photo Dean Nicholson

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Firecrest, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Caspian Gull, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Bullfinch, 20 March 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

March 19th. Birds around included 100 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 550 Wigeon, 2 Eider, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, a Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. On Tennyson's Sands were 21 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Croftmarsh 2 Pink-footed Goose and 3 Pintail. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier.

Eider, 19 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 18th. Around were 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest (North Building Ridge). On Croftmarsh were 60 Wigeon. Going north were 125 Pink-footed Goose; and on Tennyson's Sands 11 White-fronted Goose and 3 Avocet.

Clouded Drab, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Common Quaker, 18 March 2921.
Photo - Nige Lound

Satellite, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Small Quaker, 18 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 17th. Birds around included 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 105 Wigeon, a Long-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and 12 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Pink-footed Goose, 24 White-fronted Goose, 2 Pintail, a Water Rail, 9 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 2 Eider, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Siskin; and north a Gannet, a Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver.

Sweet Violets in flower, 17 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Treecreeper, 17 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

March 16th. Soggy start.

Around were 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Rook, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper. On Croftmarsh were 80 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Great Crested Grebe. Flying south were 16 Kittiwake, 2 Red Kite and 135 Redwing; and north 2 Great Skua, a Guillemot and a Gannet. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier and a Short-eared Owl.

Great Skua, 16 March 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Ringing Recovery: Black-headed Gull ringed GPBO 29 August 2008, ring read in field GPBO 12 March 2021. This bird has hung around the Visitor Centre Car Park for many years.

March 15th. Birds around included 137 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Woodcock, 3 Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl and a Green Woodpecker. On Tennyson's Sands were 30 White-fronted Goose, 9 Avocet, an adult summer Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler; and on Jackson's Marsh 45 Wigeon and a Cetti's Warbler. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier.

White-fronted Geese, 15 March 2021.
Photo - Barbara Meyer

White-fronted Goose, 15 March 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

March 14th. Moderately strong westerly wind.

On Croftmarsh were 40 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 15 Avocet. Around were 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

March 13th. Quite strong south-westerly wind; some morning light rain.

On Tennyson's Sands were 22 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh 12 Wigeon. Birds around included 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Red Kite. Flying south were 38 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Red-throated Diver and a Mediterranean Gull.

March 12th. Fairly strong south-westerly wind; some morning light rain.

On Croftmarsh were 250 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 150 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 17 Avocet. Around were 130 Redshank, 400 Sanderling, 2050 Oystercatcher, 2840 Grey Plover, 13350 Knot, 3300 Dunlin, 1400 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Redwing and a Goldcrest. Heading south were 47 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet and 90 Chaffinch.

Scarlet Elfcup, 12 March 2021.
Photo - Jack Wilson

March 11th. Strong south-westerly wind, gradually decreasing; some light morning and afternoon rain.

Birds around included 113 Eider, 111 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great Crested Grebe and 16 Avocet; and on Croftmarsh 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 30 White-fronted Goose and 200 Wigeon. Going north were 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose; and south 8 Great Crested Grebe, a Common Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull, a Fulmar and 5 Gannet.