Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid May 2025

May 20th. Again a mostly cloudy day with a light north-north-westerly breeze.

Early news involved a Glossy Ibis flying south over the River Steeping, then a Long-Eared Owl was trapped and ringed at the Observatory. The Bittern was again present on Jacksons Marsh on and off all day but very elusive! Despite no sign earlier on, the Red-breasted Flycatcher was relocated in the evening but was mostly elusive and not calling much making it very difficult to see.

Other birds around the reserve included 2 Cuckoos, whilst a House Sparrow was in the farm (extremely scarce on the reserve!). A Redwing and a Garden Warbler were in East Dunes. On the water bodies around the reserve were 3 Great White Egrets, 3 Spoonbills, 1 Grey Heron, 43 Avocets and 87 Black-tailed Godwits.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Long-eared Owl; and 3 retraps: a Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

Long-eared Owl, ringed 20 May 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Long-eared Owl, ringed 20 May7 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Red-breasted Flycatcher, 20th May 2025.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Hairy Dragonfly, 20th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Bittern on Jacksons Marsh, 20th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Bittern on Jacksons Marsh, 20th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Whimbrels, 20th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Muntjac Deer, 20th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Whimbrel, 20th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 19th. Cloudy start, slowly clearing, with light north-easterly breeze.

Highlights of the day were 2 Bearded Tits on Tennyson's Sands early on and a Turtle Dove flying from East Dunes towards West Dunes. Then during the evening a Red-breasted Flycatcher was found near the entrance to the reserve in the West Dunes. Unfortunately it was found so late in the day that only one birder from Skegness managed to get to see it, besides the finder, by the time it disappeared, probably off to roost.

On the water bodies around the reserve there were 1 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 2 Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck, 16 Little Grebe, 78 Avocet, 79 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Redshank, 9 Cormorant, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Grey heron. Elsewhere around the reserve were a Red-legged Partridge, 4 Cuckoos, a Hobby (seen several times in several locations), a Barn Owl and a Buzzard.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Willow Warbler and a Chaffinch; and 2 retrap Wren.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, 19th May 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Red-breasted Flycatcher, 19th May 2025.
Video - Kev Wilson
Turtle Dove, 19th May 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Fledgling Chaffinch, ringed 19 May 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Red-legged Partridge, 19th May 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Hobby, 19th May 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Little Egret, 19th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Avocets, 19th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 18th. Mostly cloudy and feeling quite cold in a fresh northerly wind.

Highlight of the day was the Bittern which appeared back on Jacksons Marsh at lunchtime. On the sea were 45 Common Scoter whilst 199 Little Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Gannet, 1 Arctic Skua and 3 Auk sp. flew north. Heading south were a 2CY Little Gull along with 3 Spoonbill, and later another Spoonbill headed west.

Elsewhere around the reserve were 3 Whimbrel, 1 Peregrine, 3 Barn Owls, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Siskin, 40 Swallows and 15 House Martins, whilst drifting north were 6 Swifts.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and 2 Redwing; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Blue Tit.

The third Constant Effort Session was done this morning in the West Dunes with 8 new birds: 5 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Kestrel; and 14 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Tit and 1 Barn Owl.

Barn Owl retrap, 18th May 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Male Kestrel ringed, 18th May 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Spoonbill, 18th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Jack Hood, 18th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Great White Egrets, 18th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Swallow, 18th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 17th. Mostly cloudy and cool, with fresh northerly wind.

Sea-watching this morning produced 1 Gannet which was heading north, along with a probable record 346 Little Terns! On the water bodies were a Water Rail, 69 Avocet, 93 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Tern, 3 Spoonbill and 5 Great White Egret and a Grey Heron.

Elsewhere around the reserve were 2 Hobbies, a Barn Owl, a Cuckoo, 150+ Swallows, 40 House Martins, 4 Swift and a Siskin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 6 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and a Whitethroat; and 3 retraps: 2 Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced a new Goldfinch; and 2 retraps: a Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Swallows and a few House Martins perched up out of the cold wind!
17th May 2025
Photo - Jason Virgin

Spoonbills, 17th May 20256
Photo - Jack Hood


Spoonbills, 17th May 20256 Photo - Jack Hood

Spoonbills, 17th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Common Tern, 17th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 16th. A mainly cloudy day which felt colder with the stiff north-north-easterly wind.

Early news concerned a Serin sitting on telephone wires with Goldfinch near the reserve entrance briefly before flying off north. Then at the Visitor Centre Carpark there was a Quail calling from the Old Saltmarsh, whilst a Tree Pipit flew over.

On the sea was a drake Eider, whilst heading north were a Long-Tailed Duck, 17 Razorbill, 4 Auk sp., 2 Fulmar and 19 Gannet. On the water bodies were 67 Avocet, 75 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spoonbill and 4 Great White Egret.

Birds around included 2 Cuckoo, 2 Hobbies, a Barn Owl, 45 House Martin, 34 Swallow and 2 Stonechat.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Wren, a Great Tit and a Whitethroat.

Male Stonechat, 16th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Female Stonechat, 16th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 16th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwits, 16th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Hobby, 16th May 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Kingfisher, 16th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Little Grebe, 16th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Redshank, 16th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Common Sandpiper, 16th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 15th. Cloudy, with fresh northerly wind.

A look at the sea produced 1 drake Eider on the sea along with 17 Common Scoter and a further 8 heading north. Also heading north were 36 Little Tern, 6 Sandwich Tern, 13 Gannet, and 3 Auks sp. Heading south was a single Fulmar.

On the water bodies were 4 Gadwall, 1 drake Pochard, 1 Water Rail, 78 Avocet, 3 Whimbrel, 94 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spoonbill, 7 Great White Egret and 3 Grey Heron. Also around were 2 Cuckoo, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine (West) and a Yellow Wagtail.

x7 Great White Egrets, 15th May 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Bittern, 14th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Common Sandpiper, 14th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Yellow Wagtail, 14th May 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

May 14th. Mostly clear and sunny, then cloudy, with increasing north-easterly wind.

Highlights of the day was again the Bittern showing occasionally on both Jacksons Marsh and Tennyson's Sands. On the water bodies around the reserve were 52 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 74 Avocet, 82 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Tern, 1 2CY Mediterranean Gull, 1 Spoonbill, 5 Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron and a Yellow Wagtail.

Other birds around the reserve included a male Stonechat (near Weather Station), a Red-legged Partridge (quite scarce here now!), 2 Swift (North), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby (North pm over Tennyson's Sands), 1 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, a Fieldfare (East Dunes), and a male singing Yellowhammer (increasing scarce here now as well).

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided just a new Reed Bunting. Later on a check of a Barn Owl nest site revealed a pair, of which one was ringed.

Barn Owl, ringed 14 May 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Black-Headed Gull, 14th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Common Terns, 14th May 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Common Sandpiper, 14th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Bittern, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Bittern - having a wander!, 14th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Barn Owl, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Male Blackcap, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Little Egret, 14th May 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Common Tern, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Hares, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Whitethroat (With ring on!), 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Male Yellowhammer in Song, 14th May 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Wall Brown Butterfly (A species thought lost from Gib until today! after no records last year),
14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Wall Brown Butterfly (A species thought lost from Gib until today! after no records last year),
14th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

May 13th. A cloudless start to the day warming up quickly despite the light north-north-easterly wind.

Highlights today included a Cattle Egret (North), 2CY Mediterranean Gull and a pair of Stonechats near the Weather Station.

On the water bodies today were 42 Shelduck, 21 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 67 Avocet, 116 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbill, 5 Great White Egret and 2 Grey Heron. Also around were a Cuckoo and a Buzzard.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting.

2CY Mediterranean Gull, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Greenshank, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Avocet, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Common Sandpiper, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Female Blackcap, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Female Stonechat, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Green Hairstreak, 13th May 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

May 12th. Clear and sunny, with light easterly wind.

Highlight of the day again was the Bittern which showed well on and off for most of the day on Jackson's Marsh although could be obviously elusive at times! On the Water bodies around the reserve were 41 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 1 Pochard (Drake), 84 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 97 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 4 Spoonbill, 6 Little Egret, 7 Great White Egret and 3 Grey Heron.

Elsewhere around the reserve were 10 Little Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (Adults heading North), 2 Barn Owl, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Stonechat (Male) and 3 Yellow Wagtail.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat.

Bittern on Jacksons Marsh, 12th May 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Little Egret, 12th May 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

Buck Roe Deer - Monarch of the West Dunes!, 12th May 2025
Photo - Nige Lound

May 11th. Clear and sunny, with a freshening easterly wind.

There were 7 Great White Egrets and 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands from Harvey's Hide, whilst on Jacksons Marsh the Bittern was showing again around 9am but no sign later in the morning, although 2 Hobbies were hunting over Croft Marsh. Birds around included a Grey Heron, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Kestrels, and 2 Barn Owls.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a new Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff.

This morning was the 2nd Constant Effort Site session of the year in West Dunes. Results were 11 new birds: 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Tit and 1 Wren; and 11 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 1 Great Tit.

Of interest during the 2nd CES session was this Lesser Whitethroat (See picture below) which showed some extreme central tail feather wear after its winter back in Sub-Saharan Africa. They were so worn that just the shafts were left of the central two feathers. This wear demonstrates along with a dull top of the eye that this bird is a 2CY individual.