Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid March 2026

March 13th. A sunny start to the day after ferociously strong wind conditions overnight clouding over later on and a few showers close to dusk with the strong south westerly dropping off to nearly a flat calm by sun down.

Highlights today included a Red Kite south over Jackson's Marsh followed a few minutes later by a Bean Goose flying over. Then at mid day the 2 Cranes were seen again flying distantly over farmland beyond Croft Marsh, probably the same pair seen over Rimac earlier in the morning.

The water bodies held 26 Shelduck, 174 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 197 Wigeon, 18 Mallard, 14 Teal, 48 Tufted Duck, 41 Coot, 12 Little Grebe, 31 Avocet, 25 Curlew and 30 Black-tailed Godwit.

Elsewhere around the reserve there were 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and a small number of Finches still heading south including 4 Siskin.

Two Cranes seen distantly over Farmland beyond Croft Marsh, 13th March 2026
Photo - Rob Watson

Bean Goose flying over Jackson's Marsh, 13th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale

Shoveler's over Jackson's Marsh, 13th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale
Shoveler's on Tennyson's Sands, 13th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt
Little Grebe, 13th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt
Coots squabbling! 13th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt
Avocets sheltering into the wind with Cormorants for company, 13th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt
Avocets braving the windy conditions, 13th March 2026
Photo - David Nutt
Meadow Pipit, 13th March 2026
Photo - Paul Neale
March 12th. A cloudy day with the strong south south westerly increasing to strong storm force later on in the day with a steady 45mph and 70mph+ gusts!

Most bird today were keeping their heads down in the violent gusting conditions. Highlight of the day was the female type Scaup which was still on Tennyson's Sands. A look at the sea revealed 9 Common Scoter and a Guillemot (South). Visible migration along the East Dunes was still much in evidence despite the strong head winds with 350 Chaffinch (South) and 5 Redwing (South).

The water bodies held 170 Brent Geese, 145 Wigeon, 207 Shoveler, 62 Tufted Duck, 13 Mallard, 25 Teal, 25 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 8 Little Grebe, 63 Golden Plover (Croft Marsh), 16 Avocet and 23 Black-tailed Godwits. Also around during the day were 1500 Starlings (Jackson's Marsh) and a Barn Owl.

Golden Plovers struggling in the gusting conditions, 12th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Avocets keeping their heads down in the blustery conditions, 13th March 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

March 11th. A sunny day with an increasingly strong southerly wind, reaching storm force not long after dark.

A male Stonechat was around the Visitor Centre. Visible migration was evident again during the morning with 226 Chaffinch, 18 Siskin and a Red Kite south over the hump between 7am and 8.30am. Also south during the day were another Red Kite and a Peregrine with 2 more Peregrine on Farmland over the river.

On the water bodies were 26 Avocet, 60 Golden Plover (Croft March), 24 Black-tailed Godwit and a Cetti's Warbler. Also reported today by visiting birders were 3 Red-throated Divers, a Kittiwake, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, a Merlin, 2 Mistle Thrush and 2 Corn Buntings.