Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog

Early November 2024

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

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 Whoopers 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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Cattle Egrets, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cattle Egret, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Cattle Egrets, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Little Egret, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Brent Goose, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Marsh Harrier, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Merlin, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Water Rail, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Mixed Gulls, 1st November 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Late October 2024

October 31st. Cloudy, with moderate south-westerly wind.

Groups of Whooper Swans were moving through again, with 55 during the morning. 3 Cattle Egrets and 10 Pintail were on Tennyson's Sands with Teal remaining at 1000+. Also around were 4 Marsh Harriers, male Hen Harrier and 8 Water Rails.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 5 new birds: a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Goldfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Wren and a Robin.

Whooper Swans, 31st October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

October 30th. Cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

Highlights of morning vis-mig down the west side included Lapland Bunting, 2 Raven, 26 Whooper Swans and a Yellowhammer. Other birds around included 3 Cattle Egret, a male Hen Harrier, Merlin, Goldeneye, Coal Tit, 2 Bearded Tit, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 62 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Stonechat and 4 Corn Bunting.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 16 new birds: 2 Wren, 6 Long-tailed Tit, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, a Redwing, a Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird and a Kestrel; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Dunnock.

Black-tailed Godwits, 30th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Corn Bunting, 30th October 2024.
Photo-Steve Clipperton
Corn Buntings, 30th October 2024.
Photo-Steve Clipperton

Rock Pipit, 30th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Pintail, 30th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Shoveler. 30th October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood
Brent Geese, 30th October 2024.
Photo-Steve Clipperton

Kestrel, ringed 30 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

October 29th. A somewhat soggy start, then mostly cloudy with a light westerly breeze.

Whooper Swans were on the move south from first thing with 149 having passed by 0830hrs. Otherwise, in the quiet and calm conditions, a few Skylark and Finch flocks were also on the move, including 7 Bramblings. Corvids featured prominently during the morning with numbers of Jackdaws, Rooks, Carrion Crows, 3 Ravens and a Jay south. A group of 96 Carrion Crows on the beach was the largest gathering of the year. Poor visibility over the sea resulted in little coverage, but 8 Pintail and 2 Goosander moved south close in with 18 Eider later. A Goldeneye was an increasingly rare sight on the lagoons. Also on the lagoons were 2 Cattle Egrets again, 5 Pintail and single Greenshank and Green Sandpiper.

Around the Plantation were single Hawfinch and Yellow-browed Warbler again, with a Ring Ouzel over. An arrival of Thrushes occurred during the early afternoon with some 30 Fieldfares, 30 Song Thrushes and 300 Redwings dropping in. Other birds around included 4 Marsh Harriers, a Short-eared Owl and 2 Water Pipits.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 10 new birds: a Wren, 2 Reed Bunting, a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Robin; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit, a Robin and a Dunnock.

Cattle Egret with Shoveler and Teal, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Cattle Egrets, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Goldeneye, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Pintails, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Water Rail, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton
Carrion Crows, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Jason Virgin
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 29th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

October 28th. Spells of rain or drizzle, with light south-westerly wind.

Birds around included 2 Cattle Egrets again on Croftmarsh, the Yellow-browed Warbler remaining in the Plantation, 2 Ravens, a Jay, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 5 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier and a Mediterranean Gull.

October 27th. After two days of grim, foggy or drizzly weather, today was a real contrast: clear, and sunny with light westerly to south-westerly wind.

There was a big arrival/passage of Woodpigeons from early on with various Finches, Pipits, Skylarks, Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Whooper Swans moving south, and small groups of Redwings, Fieldfares, Starlings and Song Thrushes arriving. Some large flocks of Pink-footed Geese were commuting over the Wash again. Yesterday's Hawfinch was again around the Plantation with a new Yellow-browed Warbler there too. A flock of 8 Bearded Tits dropped into Tennyson's Sands reedbed.

Also around were 80 Brent Geese, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Ring Ouzel, 5 Stonechats, 2 Water Pipits, 6 Cetti's Warblers, a Red Kite, a Peregrine and a Coal Tit (probably Continental).

A sound-recording made of yesterday's powerful Crossbill has enabled it to be identified as a Parrot Crossbill.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 9 new birds: 3 Wren, a Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, a Fieldfare and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Dunnock, 4 Wren, a Song Thrush and a Robin.

Bearded Tit, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Golden Plovers, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Whooper Swans, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Pintails, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Kestrel, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Marsh Harrier, 27th October 2024.
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Fieldfare, ringed 27 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

October 26th. A very foggy start, clearing mid morning, then partially cloudy, with light southerly wind.

A good day for Finches, with another arrival of Chaffinches, and more Siskins, a few Bramblings and Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches, a Crossbill sp and a Hawfinch. Several flocks of Redwings arrived with a few new Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. A total of 8 Cetti's Warblers was a site record. There were still plenty of Robins around. Several groups of Pink-footed Geese flew over, including some calling in the fog, and small groups of Whooper Swans headed south.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new Goldcrest; and 5 retraps: a Wren, a Robin, a Goldcrest and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent resulted in 12 new birds: 3 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Dunnock and 3 Redwing; and 6 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit and 3 Dunnock.

October 25th. Quite thick fog on and off all day, with light south-easterly wind.

Overnight moth-trapping produced another Marbled Fern.

New birds were arriving in the fog, noticeably Chaffinches, with some Bramblings, Redwings, Song Thrushes and Starlings. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also a new arrival in the East Dunes. Other birds around included at least 4 Bearded Tits, 6 Cetti's Warblers,3 Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret and 2 Cattle Egrets.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 8 new birds: 2 Wren, a Robin, 4 Chaffinches and a Blackbird; 2 retrap Robins; and a control Goldcrest.

A late afternoon/roost ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 8 new birds: 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Blackcap; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Robin.

Ringing Control: Goldcrest, ringed Top House Farm, Rawcliffe Bridge, East Yorkshire 16 March 2024, controlled GPBO 25 October 2024.

Great White Egret, 25th October 2024.
Photo - Merv Goddard

Marbled Fern, 25th October 2024.

Photo - Sam Goddard

October 24th. Clear, with fresh south-easterly wind.

Overnight moth-trapping yielded another selection of migrants, including the second county record of Radford's Flame Shoulder (following the first here on October 6th), along with 3 Clancy's Rustics and a Gem.

The morning started with over 5000 Pink-footed Geese moving north-west out of the Wash, 3 Marsh Harriers leaving the roost, 1800 Lapwing commuting between feeding and roosting sites and 5000 Woodpigeon heading south in various sized flocks. 2 Cattle Egrets remained on Croftmarsh with 6 Bearded Tits nearby on Tennyson's Sands. Also on there were a Great White Egret and 4 Water Rails, while a Red-breasted Merganser was an unusual visitor on the Mere late afternoon. A Ring Ouzel was in East Dunes and at least 6 Cetti's Warblers were recorded.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 3 new birds: a Linnet, a Chaffinch and a Robin; and 5 retraps: 2 Wren, a Great Tit and 2 Long-tailed Tit.

Red-breasted Merganser, 24th October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Common Darter, 24th October 2024.
Photo - Zara Brown

Radford's Flame Shoulder, 24th October 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

October 23rd. Damp start, misty until mid morning, then cloudy with light south-westerly wind.

Calling and heading south in the mist were 30+ Whooper Swans (in 2 groups) and 1000+ Pink-footed Geese (in several groups). Six Bearded Tits were around Jackson's Marsh. A Water Pipit was flying around Jackson's Marsh scrape in the afternoon.

During the late afternoon close to dusk there were 9000+ Pink-footed Geese visible from Fenella Hope hide over distant farmland, all moving into the Wash to roost. Another 500 were on Croftmarsh until after dark. Also on Tennyson's Sands were 2500+ Teal, 100+ Shoveler, 10+ Pintail, 500+ Lapwing, 2 Water Rail, 30 Little Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin and a Barn Owl.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 5 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting, a Redwing and a Song Thrush.

October 22nd. Mostly cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind.

Visible migration between 7.15am and 8.30am from the Hump yielded 8 Brambling, 84 Chaffinch, 94 Goldfinch, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4 House Sparrow, 28 Redpoll, 34 Meadow Pipit, 46 Siskin, 6 Swallow, 43 Whooper Swan, a Yellowhammer and 800 Woodpigeon, all moving south.

Visible migration from Mill Hill during the morning revealed more birds moving south including 3490 Wood Pigeon, a Tree Sparrow, 87 Meadow Pipit, 78 Skylark, 6 Swallow, 18 Rock Pipit, 219 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 27 Greenfinch, 141 Linnet, 12 Redpoll, 738 Goldfinch, 38 Siskin, 35 Reed Bunting, 25 Whooper Swan and 1 Woodlark.

A total of 3000 Pink-footed Geese and 4 Marsh Harrier moved out of the Wash at first light. Birds around included 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, 3 Water Rail, 4 Egyptian Geese, whilst on Croftmarsh there were 2 Cattle Egret with the cows. Over the sea, a Red-breasted Merganser moved south.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Robin, a Meadow Pipit, a Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk.

Double Rainbow, 22nd October 2024.
Picture - Nigel Lound

Sparrowhawk, ringed 22 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

October 21st. Cloudy, gradually clearing, with decreasing south-westerly wind.

Flying south in the morning were 16 Whooper Swans and 5 Swallows along with a Purple Sandpiper along the beach with a Velvet Scoter south shortly afterwards. Also south from Mill Hill were a Snow Bunting, a Tree Sparrow and a Mediterranean Gull. Another 10 Whooper Swans went south over Harvey's Hide in the afternoon. A Snipe was on Freshwater Marsh. Around Aylmer Avenue were 30 House Martins.

During the late afternoon/early evening 3600 Pink-footed Geese went into the Wash to roost, whilst 2 Great White Egrets went into the Plantation to roost. Around late on were 2 Merlin, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl. 26 Pintail were on the Wash along with 300 Teal.

On Tennyson's Sands were 2000 Teal, 132 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 14 Pintail, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Egyptian Geese and a Cetti's Warbler, whilst a Cattle Egret was on Croftmarsh. During the day 14 Swallow moved south and 3 Stonechat were around the East Dunes frontage.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group produced 35 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, a Wren, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, a Coal Tit, a Chaffinch, 16 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Great Tit, a Greenfinch, a Redwing and a Blackbird; and 8 retraps: a Dunnock, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, a Great Tit, a Wren and a Blackbird.

Whooper Swans, 21st October 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

Leucistic Pink-footed Goose with Pink-footed Geese, 21st October 2024.
Photo - Nigel Lound

Lesser Redpoll, ringed 21 October 2024.
Photo - George Gregory