Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid September 2021

September 20th. Around, including birds trapped, were 25 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 45 Sandwich Tern, 14 Common Tern, 5 Arctic Skua, 2 Peregrine, 2 Swallow, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Wheatear, a Stonechat and a Redstart. On Tennyson's Sands were 31 Avocet, 201 Black-tailed Godwit and 22 Spoonbill; on the Mere 2 Water Rail and a Kingfisher; and on Jackson's Marsh 4 Avocet and 13 Black-tailed Godwit. Going south were 8 Eider and 3 Red-breasted Merganser.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 7 new birds: a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, a Robin, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat and a Song Thrush; and a retrap Robin.

Male Redstart, ringed 20 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 19th. Birds around included a Great Skua, an Arctic Skua and a Merlin. On Tennyson's Sands were 28 Avocet, 230 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank and 23 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper. Heading south were 8 Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Wren, a Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat; and a retrap Song Thrush.

September 18th. Around, including birds trapped, were a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Merlin and a Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pink-footed Goose, 31 Avocet, 275 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 15 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh a Snipe. Flying south-west were 14 Siskin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Kyle Campbell, produced 13 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 5 Chaffinch, a Siskin and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Siskin, ringed 18 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 17th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart, a Whinchat and a Treecreeper. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pink-footed Goose, 29 Avocet, 279 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 3 Avocet. Going south were a Spoonbill and numbers of Meadow Pipit, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler..

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 9 new birds: a Wren, 3 Robin, a Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, a Reed Warbler and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Blackcap. a Dunnock and a Robin.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mike Polling, yielded 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Blackbird and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 3 Wren and a Treecreeper.

Buzzard, 17 September 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

September 16th. Around were a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, Short-eared Owl, a Wheatear and 2 Jay. On Tennyson's Sands were 16 Avocet, 262 Black-tailed Godwit, a Knot and 10 Spoonbill. Going south-west were 9 Rook.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett and Kyle Campbell, provided 10 new birds: 2 Robin, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting and 2 Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Robin.

In the evening six species of bats were identified by Andrew Chick, including Noctule, Daubenton's And Nathasius's Pipistrelle.

September 15th. Birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 2 Peregrine, a Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher and a Wheatear. There was an influx of 60 Robin and 60 Reed Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Avocet, 239 Black-tailed Godwit and 9 Spoonbill. Heading south were a Tree Pipit, 5 Tree Sparrow and a Lapland Bunting.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: 3 Whitethroat, 2 Meadow Pipit and a Robin; and 5 retraps: 3 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock.

Meadow Pipit, ringed 15 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 14th. Rain from late morning.

Around were a Marsh Harrier and a Buzzard. On Tennyson's Sands were 29 Avocet, 277 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 15 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 7 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Little Stint.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced just a retrap Whitethroat.

September 13th. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Long-tailed Skua, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Arctic Skua and a Garden Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 23 Avocet, 267 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and 17 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh a Garganey, 3 Avocet, a Greenshank and a Redshank. Flying south were 2 Great Northern Diver, a Black-throated Diver, 25 Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Skua, a Pomarine Skua and 2 Fulmar; and north 8 Arctic Skua, 2 Arctic Tern, 15 Common Tern, 300 Sandwich Tern and a Black Tern.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Song Thrush and 2 Woodpigeon; and 5 retraps: 2 Robin, a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Garden Warbler.

Juvenile Woodpigeon, ringed 13 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

September 12th. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Little Tern, 2 Peregrine and a Garden Warbler. An Asio sp was over East Dunes around dawn. On Tennyson's Sands were 17 Avocet, 270 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank and 6 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Dunlin, a Snipe and a Great White Egret. Going south were a Buzzard, 3 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 300 Meadow Pipit and 34 Tree Sparrow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: 3 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 3 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler and a Garden Warbler; and 5 retraps: a Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock and a Reed Warbler.

September 11th. The Common Rosefinch trapped and ringed on September 3rd was retrapped early this morning. It increased in weight from 21.1g to 25.6g. Birds around included 80000 Knot, a Great Northern Diver, a Great White Egret, a Peregrine and a Whinchat. On Tennyson's Sands were 9 Avocet, 275 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Stint, a Knot, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Snipe and 17 Spoonbill; and on Jackson's Marsh a Black-tailed Godwit and 35 Dunlin. Heading south were 6 Buzzard, a Black-throated Diver, 1500 Meadow Pipit,1500 Swallow and 1400 House Martin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting; and 2 retraps: a Common Rosefinch and a Dunnock.

Whinchat, 11 September 2021.
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Rosefinch, retrapped 11 September 2021.
Photo - George Gregory