Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: November 2024

November 12th. Cloudy, with moderate north-easterly wind.

A morning seawatch produced a good selection of birds; Flying north were a Red-necked Grebe, a Great Northern Diver, a Skua sp, 110 Kittiwakes, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Arctic Terns and 2 Slavonian Grebes leading a group of Auks and a Pom Skua flew south. 2 Snow Buntings were around the beach and a Twite flew south.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 9 new birds: a Goldfinch, 4 Redwing and 4 Blackbird; 3 retraps: 2 Blackbird and a Song Thrush; and 2 controls: a Sparrowhawk with a British ring and a Blackbird with a Danish ring.

Sparrowhawk, controlled 12 November 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

November 11th. A quite soggy start, then quite sunny but cool, with light north-westerly wind.

Another busy early morning period with Thrushes, Finches, Pipits, Skylarks, 30 Whooper Swans, 400 Pink-footed Geese and over 2000 Woodpigeons on the move. A Woodlark went south over the Plantation and a Cattle Egret went south down the East Dunes, but may have been the bird later joining the regular 2 on Croftmarsh. Offshore a there were good numbers of Gannets for the time of year, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Great Northern Diver going south, 3 Arctic Terns north, and several Starlings and a Woodcock arriving over the waves. Other birds around included 2 Barn Owls, a Green Woodpecker (Plantation), a Water Pipit, a Jack Snipe and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 2 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 4 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Goldcrest and a Robin.

The remarkable run of rare moth occurrences continues with a Red Sword Grass and the first county record of Oak Rustic attracted to light.

Oak Rustic, 11th November 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Red Sword Grass, 11th November 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

November 10th. Cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

A very good morning for visible migration with regular flocks of Redwings and Finches, particularly Chaffinches and Siskins, with fewer Fieldfares and Bramblings. Highlights were 2 Hawfinch, 3 Twite and a Swallow heading south. A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff were around the Plantation. A Green Woodpecker was vocal at the north end of West Dunes where 5 Woodcock were around at first light, with 3 Woodcock in East Dunes later. A group of 3 Whooper Swans went south over the sea early, followed by a group of 8 that flew north along West Dunes. Three Stonechat were opposite the Visitor Centre. Another Swallow arrived from the north late afternoon and was hawking around Sykes Farm. Also late afternoon a skein of 23 White-fronted Geese were reported flying west. Other birds around included a male Hen Harrier, a Coal Tit, a Bullfinch, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 4 Corn Buntings and a Water Pipit. Still very few Goldcrests.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 12 new birds: a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Robin, 4 Redwing, a Song Thrush and 4 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Blackbird and a Dunnock.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 40 new birds: 20 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 3 Great Tit, 3 Robin, 2 Goldcrest, a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch; and 5 retraps: 3 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, and a Goldcrest.

Fieldfares, 7th November 2024.

Photos - Kev Wilson

November 9th. Misty start, then somewhat drizzly, then cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

2000 Pink-footed Geese left the roost on Tennyson's Sands and later, 418 Brent Geese arrived there for a wash. A Greenshank was also on Tennyson's Sands with 6 Water Rail and 2 Cetti's Warblers. Other birds around included 4 Marsh Harriers, a Merlin and 3 Stonechats.

A drizzle-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Song Thrush, a Redwing and 4 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Redwing, a Dunnock and a Blackbird.

Pink-footed Geese on Tennyson's Sands at dawn, 8th November 2024
Photo - Nige Lound

Brent Geese on Tennyson's Sands, 8th November 2024
Photo - Nige Lound

Marsh Harrier, 9th November 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harriers, 9th November 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

November 8th. Cloudy, with light south-easterly wind.

A Hawfinch flew south over the Plantation early morning, and parties of thrushes were arriving throughout the day with some new Chaffinches and several Bramblings. Two late Common Sandpipers were together along the River Steeping. Other birds around included 5 Marsh Harriers, a Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and 4 Stonechats.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Redwing and a Blackbird; and a retrap Redwing.

Golden Plovers & Lapwings, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Golden Plovers, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpipers, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Pintails, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Shovelers & Black-tailed Godwits, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Kestrel, 8th November 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

November 7th. Better visibility than the last couple of days but still very cloudy and overcast with a light south-easterly wind.

Thrushes and Finches were still arriving, including some small flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares in off the sea. On the sea several Red-throated Divers and a Red-necked Grebe arrived from the north, settling for a while with a Great Crested Grebe before both flew south together - a great comparison. Elsewhere, several groups of Siskins flew south, at least 8 Bramblings, 4 Marsh Harriers and 3 Merlins were around, and the 2 Cattle Egrets were on Croftmarsh. A good number of Water Rails are still present, including six seen from Harvey's Hide simultaneously this evening.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided new birds: a Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird and a Merlin; and 3 retraps: a Blackbird, a Great Tit and a Dunnock.

Merlin, ringed 7 November 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Cattle Egret, 6th Nov 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Shoveler & Black-tailed Godwits, 6th Nov 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Water Rail, 6th Nov 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

November 6th. Cloudy, with light south-westerly to south-easterly wind with some mist early and late.

Moth trapping overnight produced another Reserve first - a Merveille du Jour.

Another busy day for Thrushes and Robins etc in the dunes, with new birds dropping in from height and seen arriving over the sea. Chaffinches were particularly common today and some were moving south with Siskins, Skylarks and Pipits. A single Lapland Bunting over East Dunes was presumed to be the same one seen late briefly grounded further south. A few small flocks of Whooper Swans were recorded along with various skeins of Pink-footed Geese. A White-fronted Goose arrived with a Shelduck. The Yellow-browed Warbler remained along the road edge north of Aylmer Avenue and was very vocal. At least 9 Cetti's Warblers remained.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 24 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 14 Blackbird and a Woodcock; and 6 retraps: a Wren, 3 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Dunnock.

Woodcock, ringed 6 November 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Cetti's warbler, 6th November 2024.
Photo - Zara Brown

Merveille du Jour, 6th November 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

November 5th. Remaining mild, cloudy, with light south-easterly wind.

The day started with the Yellow-browed Warbler still along the road edge north of Aylmer Avenue and a further arrival of Thrushes, mostly Redwings with fewer Fieldfares and Blackbirds. Also new in were a Mistle Thrush and 3 Woodcock. Vis mig mostly involved Chaffinches, Siskins, Skylarks and a few Bramblings and Redpolls. A late Swallow also headed south. Offshore, a Great Northern Diver went south and a Short-eared Owl arrived over the sea.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: a Robin, a Linnet, a Great Tit, a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a Kingfisher; and 4 retraps: a Wren and 3 Robins.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent produced 20 new birds: 10 Redwing, 3 Blackbird, 2 Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, a Blackcap, a Robin, a Reed Bunting and a Song Thrush; and 7 retraps: 3 Great Tit, a Robin, a Blue Tit, a Wren and a Dunnock.

Little Egrets, 5th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Pintail & Brent Geese, 5th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Brent Geese, 5th November 2024.
Photo - Tom Baker

Kingfisher, ringed 5 November 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

November 4th. Cloudy, with light south-easterly wind.

Just a light movement of ducks and geese over the sea this morning, including a single Scaup, whilst another good wader roost included 1330 Sanderling amongst high numbers of Knot and Dunlin. A Thrush arrival was evident along the west side of the Reserve with a few Woodcocks and a Continental Coal Tit was identified. Highlights from the lagoons were 2 Cattle Egrets, a Great White Egret, 10 Pintail and 2 Bearded Tits. A Jack Snipe was flushed from East Dunes. A Yellow-browed Warbler was with the Long-tailed Tit flock along the road edge late afternoon. Other birds around included a Water Pipit, a Blackcap and 7 Cetti's Warblers.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Dunnock and 3 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Dunnock.

Sparrowhawk, 4th November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Sparrowhawk & Magpie, 4th November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

November 3rd. Cloudy, with light south-easterly wind.

Before first light there were 3 Tawny Owls calling around the north end of the West Dunes with a Yellow-browed Warbler calling infrequently later on in the same area, around mid morning. A very busy morning session from Mill Hill saw some large Starling flocks coming in off the sea (1400+), skeins of Pink-footed Geese heading north-west (2500), a wader roost with 49,000 Knot, 5600 Dunlin and 1200 Sanderling and a passage of ducks offshore including 2 Scaup with 3 Pochard, 2 Goosander, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 81 Eider, 67 Common Scoter, 6 Goldeneye and 10 Pintail amongst flocks of Wigeon and Teal and 60 Brent Geese. 2 Merlin were around the beach and a Woodcock arrived over the sea.

There were 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Water Rails on Tennyson's Sands, with 2 Stonechats right in front of North Hide. In East Dunes, there were 5 more Cetti's Warblers and 2 Woodcock. There was a small arrival of new thrushes evident in the dunes, with good numbers of Blackbirds and Robins. Goldcrests have been recorded in very low numbers so far and although new birds were in today, the total barely made 20.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, produced 4 new birds: a Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: a Robin, 3 Wren and a Goldfinch.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 38 new birds: 13 Redwing, 11 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Robin, a Wren, a Dunnock and a Woodcock; and 8 retraps: 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Wren, a Robin and a Dunnock.

Redwings, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Redwing, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Blackbird & Redwing, 3rd November 2024.

Photo - Steve Clipperton

Pintail, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cattle Egret, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Water Rail, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cetti's Warblers, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Michael Briggs

Cetti's Warbler, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Michael Briggs

Woodcock, 3rd November 2024.
Photo - Michael Briggs

November 2nd. Mostly cloudy, with light easterly wind.

A Cypress Carpet turned up in the moth trap overnight - another Reserve first.

Flying north-west early morning were several large skeins of Pink-footed Geese, while two small herds of Whooper Swans moved south. A morning sea-watch was rewarded with 2 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas and an Arctic Tern in an hour. Brent Geese were arriving in small groups every few minutes and it would have been very interesting to have recorded this movement for longer.

A Snow Bunting was out from Mill Hill. Three Mediterranean Gulls were in front of Harvey's Hide (2 adults and a 1st winter), with good numbers of mixed small gulls. The 2 Goldeneye were still present on Tennyson's Sands with a Great White Egret, whilst on Freshwater Marsh were 2 Water Pipits, a Ring Ouzel and a Woodcock. Thrushes were arriving during the day, predominantly Redwings but Blackbirds increasing later.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 7 new birds: a Wren, a Robin, a Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing and 2 Blackbird; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Wren

Fieldfare, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Goldeneyes, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Great White Egret, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Med Gulls with Black-headed Gull, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Med Gull, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Med Gull, 2nd November 2024.

Photo - Steve Clipperton

Med Gulls with Black-headed Gull, 2nd November 2024.

Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cattle Egret with Little Egret, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Cattle Egret, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Little Grebe, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

Shoveler, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Pintail, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale
Woodpigeon, 2nd November 2024.
Photo - Jeremy Eyeons

November 1st. Cloudy, with light south-westerly wind, gradually becoming north-easterly.

Heading south were a Hawfinch and small numbers of thrushes along with 21 Whooper Swans and a Marsh Harrier, and north-west 60+ Pink-footed Geese. A Merlin was out from the Wash Viewpoint, whilst a Lapland Bunting was heard flying over. Three Cattle Egrets were on Croftmarsh with the cattle. Later on they were in front of Harvey's Hide. A Goldeneye was on Jackson's Marsh and another on the Mere.

Towards dusk 700+ Pink footed Geese were flying around, some heading towards the Wash to roost, others coming from the Wash and farmland towards the lagoons to roost. Also a Woodcock was noted just before dark.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Redwing and 2 Song Thrush; and a retrap Wren.