Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Early June 2022

10th June. Around were a Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl and a Marsh Harrier. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Stint and 2 Common Tern. Going south were 53 Swift.

The fifth session of CES, with Liam Andrews, was done this morning. The 26 new birds were a Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Wren, 6 Robin, 2 Blue Tit, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and 2 Blackbird; and the 10 retraps were 2 Robin, a Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Long-tailed Tit, a Wren and a Goldfinch.

Little Stint 10th June. Photos: Kev Wilson

Juvenile Goldcrest, ringed 10 June 2022. Photo - George Gregory

Brimstone 10th June. Photo: Sam Wilson

9th June. Birds around, including those trapped, were a Sparrowhawk, a Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Hobby and an acredula-type Willow Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 9 Black-tailed Godwit.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 30 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 14 Long-tailed Tit, a Reed Warbler, 6 Great Tit, a Robin, a Blackcap, a Meadow Pipit, a Linnet, a Starling and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat.

Acredula-type Willow Warbler, ringed 9 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory

8th June. Rain or drizzle until mid morning with a bright and sunny afternoon. A light Swift passage was underway mid-afternoon with 113 south in an hour. Around was a Barn Owl.

Mill Pond was a nice sheltered spot to observe dragonflies; Hairy Dragonfly, Emperor, Four-spotted Chaser and Azure Damselfly, with Black-tailed Skimmers now out over the Mere adjacent. Painted Lady and Red Admiral Butterflies were still plentiful after the earlier influx which also brought many Silver Y Moths.

Common Blue 8th June . Photo: Kev Wilson

Snail-killing beetle (Silpha atrata) 8th June. Photo: Kev Wilson

7th June. On Tennyson's Sands were a Common Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull and 3 Common Tern. Birds around included a Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: a Great Tit, a Blackcap, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet and a Robin; and 2 retraps: a Great Tit and a Blackbird.

Mediterranean Gull, 7 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Terns, 7 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Hoverfly 7th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Cranefly (Ptychoptera contaminata) 7th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Early Marsh Orchid 7th June. Photo: Richard Doan

Bee Orchid 7th June. Photo: Richard Doan

Ringing Control: Chaffinch, ringed Finningey, South Yorkshire 28 January 2022, controlled GPBO 2 June 2022.

6th June. Rain until late morning.

A female Red-backed Shrike was found just after mid-day at the back of the Freshwater Marsh where distant views were obtained before it moved closer to the Mere mid-afternoon. On the Mere was a Great White Egret; and on Tennyson's Sands were a Pink-footed Goose, a Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Common Tern. Around were a Buzzard and a male Crossbill.

Red-backed Shrike 6th June. Photo: Nige Lound

Reed Warbler with nesting material, 6 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Reed Bunting 6th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Little Grebe with chicks 6th June. Photo: Tom Baker

5th June. Quite strong north-easterly wind, with rain for most of day. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Common Tern.

Ringed Plovers 5th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Greylag and Pink-footed Geese 5th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Muntjac, 5 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Southern Marsh Orchid, Yellow Flag Iris 5th June. Photos: Kev Wilson

4th June. Quite strong north-easterly wind. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Common Tern. Birds around included a Cuckoo and 2 Marsh Harrier. Heading north were 3 Common Scoter, 2 Little Gull, 195 Little Tern, 3 Common Tern, 3 Fulmar and 44 Gannet; and south 14 Gannet and 2 Siskin. In off the sea came 6 House Martin.

Black-headed Gull with chicks, 4 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Little Egret and Avocet 4th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Juvenile Pied Wagtail 4th June. Photo: Tom Baker

Peregrine Falcon 4th June. Photo: Alfie Seastron

Short-eared Owl 4th June. Photo: Alfie Seastron

3rd June. A Short-eared Owl hunted the saltmarsh. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new juvenile Blackbirds; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Curlew Sandpipers, 3 June 2022.
Photo - Tom Baker

Curlew Sandpipers 3rd June. Photo: Nige Lound

Curlew Sandpiper with Avocets 3rd June. Photo: Tom Baker

Curlew Sandpiper with Little Ringed Plover 3rd June. Photo: Nige Lound

Little Ringed Plover, 3rd June 2022. Photo - Tom Baker

Avocets, 3rd June. Photo: Tom Baker

Swallow, 3rd June. Photo: Tom Baker

Meadow Pipit, 3rd June. Photo: Tom Baker

2nd June. Misty start, quickly clearing. Very little moving over land or sea today, but a good day for a full census of common species. A late Sand Martin flew south, a Bullfinch was a new arrival, a single Curlew Sandpiper remained on the lagoons, a Short-eared Owl hunted the Old Saltmarsh and the local pair of Goldcrests had fledged 4 juveniles.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Keith Collett, yielded 4 new birds: 3 Robin and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 5 retraps: 2 Chaffinch, a Robin and 2 Dunnock.

Linnet 2nd June. Photo: Kev Wilson

Azure Damselflies, Eyed Hawk-moth 2nd June. Photos: Nige Lound

1st June. Soggy start, gradually drying out.

A Golden Oriole sang briefly in East Dunes early morning. There were 3 Curlew Sandpiper today: 1 remaining on Tennyson's Sands and 2 feeding with Sanderling at Greenshank's Creek before being moved on by the incoming tide. However, by mid-evening all 3 were feeding on Tennyson's Sands where there were also 2 Med Gulls, 2 Spoonbill, 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Pink-footed Goose and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. On Jackson's Marsh a female Scaup was found with the Tufted Ducks - an unusual June record. Other birds around included a Short-eared Owl, Jay, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear and 2 Crossbill.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Robin, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet and 2 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock and 2 Lesser Whitethroat.

Female Scaup with Tufted Ducks 1st June. Photo: Nige Lound

Newly fledged Long-tailed Tit, ringed 1 June 2022.
Photo - George Gregory