Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Early September 2026

September 10th. Cloudy, with light then increasing variable wind.

On Tennyson's Sands there were 140 Black-tailed Godwit and 18 Spoonbills whilst on Jackson's Marsh there was a Greenshank.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Sedge Warbler, a Robin, a Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting and a Sparrowhawk; and a retrap Wren.

Green Woodpecker, 10th September 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Chiffchaff, 10th September 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

A little brown job - Reed Warbler, 10th September 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Young male Sparrowhawk, ringed 10 September 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

September 9th. Partly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind, veering north-westerly

Some waves of visible migration involved Meadow Pipits and Swallows with a few Yellow Wagtails and Linnets, Reed Buntings moving for the first time this autumn, several Yellow Wagtails, 5 Tree Sparrows, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Herons and a Great White Egret. Most unexpected were several calls from the Bee-eater over the west side of the Reserve early morning. Offshore, the first Long-tailed Skua of the autumn came out of the Wash and landed in the feeding flock, and 2 Great Skuas and a Puffin went south.

Evidence of new migrant arrivals were a Pied Flycatcher (trapped and ringed) in the East Dunes with another at Sykes Farm, and a Wheatear in Observatory area. A Green Woodpecker was at Gibraltar Lodge.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 5 Robin, a Pied Flycatcher, 5 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat; and a retrap Wren.

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 9th September 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

September 8th. Cloudy, with morning rain and increasing south-westerly wind.

Just an hour in light rain this morning before the rain got heavier. The main focus being on the sea where the feeding flock contained 1600 Common Terns and 600 Sandwich Terns with a further 185 Common Terns and 280 Sandwich Terns on the beach and others moving south offshore. This is a very large count of Common Terns for the Reserve and interesting to see that dependent juveniles are still being fed by adults as with the Sandwich Terns. With Gulls, Gannets etc, the feeding flock numbers well over 3000 birds and is a very impressive sight, reflecting a rich and mostly undisturbed marine feeding area.

Some large pulses of Hirundines were just starting to move prior to the rain: flocks of 200 and 110 House Martin, with small groups of Meadow Pipits. Waders were arriving form the north.

Around were a Jay, a Spotted Redshank, a Goldcrest, 29 Spoonbills and 9 Eider. A break in the rain late morning enabled some raptor viewing form the 'Hump' where a Peregrine, a Red Kite, 4 Marsh Harrier and 6 Kestrel were recorded.

Kestrel - a rain soaked juvenile, 8th September 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Buzzard, 8th September 2026.
Photo - Mike Watts

Curlews on the Freshwater Marsh, 8th September 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Blackcap, 8th September 2026.
Photo - Mike Watts

September 7th. Mostly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

Many birds on the move again today with good numbers of Swallows and House Martins heading south with fewer meadow Pipits, Sand Martins and Yellow Wagtails. 500 House Martins were hawking over the West Dunes and Plantation. Several Rooks passing were a new feature of the autumn. Offshore, parties of Teal were heading into the Wash with a few other duck including 2 Pintail and parties of arriving waders, mostly Knot and Dunlin, included 3 Curlew Sandpipers. There was a steady passage of Gannets, with several Arctic Skuas, 2 Red-throated Diver and the Black-throated Diver gave another fly-past. Also around were Barn Owl, Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in a new Blue Tit; and a retrap Long-tailed Tit.

September 6th. Cloudy, with increasing southerly wind and occasional brief light rain.

A great morning for visible migration with Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Yellow Wagtails, Swallows and House Martins on the move over the East Dunes and beach. Also involved; 4 Tree Sparrow, 4 Siskin, 6 Alba Wagtails, 4 Kestrel, and a Jay.

Offshore, Black-throated Diver and Manx Shearwater passed south close in with several Gannets, 1 Razorbill, 16 Arctic Skua, a Fulmar, 90 Common Scoter, several parties of duck including 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Pintail and several parties of waders including a Curlew Sandpiper. On the beach and in the feeding flock; 550 Sandwich Tern and 680 Common Tern. Around were 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Redstart and 2 Stonechat.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Bunting; and 6 retraps: 2 Robin, a Redstart, a Reed Bunting, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 26 new birds: 6 Long-tailed Tit, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Great Tit, 4 Swallow, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, a Blue Tit and 3 Dunnock; and 4 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Wren and a Blackcap.

Sandwich Tern, 6th September 2026
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Spoonbills, 6th September 2026.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Spotted Redshank with Black-tailed Godwits. 6th September 2026.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Buzzard 6th September 2026
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cetti's Warbler, ringed 6th September 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Redstart, 5th September 2026.
Photo - Ste Taylor
Fox, 6th September 2026.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

September 5th. Partly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

A brilliant day for birding the Reserve with Meadow Pipits opening their visible migration account, plenty of Swallows, House Martins and Yellow Wagtails moving with 7 Tree Pipits and 2 Swift, migrating birds of prey including several Kestrels, Marsh Harriers and Buzzards, arriving Whinchats, a scattering of remaining Willow Warblers, Redstarts and Flycatchers.

Offshore, a mass feeding flock of Terns and Gulls were present with attendant Arctic Skuas, many Terns roosting on the beach and a vocal Bee-eater around from early morning when it flew over to the Golf Course. Despite making a brief sortie back over the Reserve around mid-day, the Golf Course wasn't checked until mid evening when initially quiet calls were heard as the bird was settling to roost distantly in a Hawthorn bush. Unfortunately, it was flushed by Magpies coming in to pre-roost. A while later, it selected another roost site but was then inadvertently flushed by someone entering the area searching for lost golf balls ! It then flew around for a while, attracting unwanted attention from a mob of Hirundines before flying off strongly to the west.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 16 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Robin, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Meadow Pipit and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 3 retraps: a Wren and 2 Redstart.

Bee-eater, 5th September 2026
Photo - Rob Watson

September 4th. Cloudy, with early morning rain and increasing westerly wind.

The wet weather appeared to put off everybody from visiting the reserve today so no records recieved!

September 3rd. Partly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

Flying south early morning were 640 Swallow, 110 House Martin, an Osprey, and north-west a Grey Heron. Around were a Short-eared Owl (over Observatory), a Redstart (trapped Observatory), and a Pied Flycatcher (Mill Hill).

On the water bodies were 1 Brent Goose, 57 Shoveler, 44 Teal, 28 Avocet, 400 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Spotted Redshank, 18 Greenshank and 21 Spoonbill. Over the sea were 2 Artic Skua and 11 Gannet whilst on the beach were 2 Turnstone and a Ruff.

Also around were 1 Cetti's Warbler (Beach Car Park), 1 Grey Wagtail

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: A Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Robin and a Redstart.

Spoonbill, 3rd September 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Avocet, 3rd September 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Black-tailed Godwits, 3rd September 2026
Photo - David Nutt

September 2nd. A cloudy day with some light afternoon rain in a light south-westerly wind.

A late start this morning in anticipation of the forecast blanket of rain that allowed the alarm to be left unset! The rain didn't happen. Recording subsequently was just from Mill Hill between 0720 and 0840hrs. Highlights were a single Pomarine Skua (first of autumn), a Cattle Egret, a Merlin, a Hobby and an Osprey heading south with a moderate passage of Hirundines and 3 more Tree Sparrows. A further increase in wader numbers involved 90,000 Knot and 11,000 Oystercatchers up to roost but no counts/estimates of other species.

September 1st. Partly cloudy, with increasingly fresh south-westerly wind.

Another great day for migrants and number of species in the recording area. A slightly lower tide this morning but still high numbers of waders up to roost. Visible migration highlights were a Cattle Egret, 4 Wigeon, 6 Pintail, 3 Goosander, 400 Golden Plover, 400 Swallow, 250 House Martin, 30 Sand Martin, 5 Tree Sparrow and 2 Swift.

A further 15 Tree Sparrows were on Rock Ridge, whilst other birds around were 20 Spoonbill, a Great White Egret, 2 Short-eared Owl, 7 Marsh Harrier, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 120 Yellow Wagtail (including 70 to roost), a Tree Pipit, 6 Redstart, 7 Pied Flycatcher, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and an influx of new Whinchats - totalling 17 with 2 early Stonechats.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 16 new birds: 4 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Reed Warbler.