Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog

Mid October 2026

October 14th. Mostly clear morning, cloudier in afternoon, with increasing south-westerly wind.

A much busier morning for visble migration with many flocks of Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Goldfinch;' Linnet and Skylark, Rock and Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings with smaller numbers of Redpoll, Siskin and Greenfinch, a couple of House Sparrows and 11 Jays (including 1 trapped and ringed).

Pipits were still moving south and heading to roost in the late afternoon during a quick recce of Rock Ridge where a Wheatear and 4 Stonechat were present and a Woodlark flew over. Shame that this hotspot for migrants gets recorded so infequently.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 13 new birds: a Blackcap, a Robin, 2 Reed Bunting, a Meadow Pipit, a Great Tit, a Dunnock, 3 Song Thrush, a Blackbird, a Kestrel and a Jay; and 3 retraps: a Redwing and 2 Dunnock.

Kestrel, ringed 14 October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Grey Plover October 2026.
Photo - Ste Taylor

October 13th. Mostly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind, and some late morning rain.

Lighter passage over land and se this morning but still over 150 Rock Pipts heading south in two hours along with a Lapland Bunting.

Another high tide this morning brought masses of waders from the Wash, up to Greenshanks Creek and back again afterwards. Whooper Swans in small groups were again on the move heading south over the sea and there was a further increase of Wigeon around Greenshank's Creeka nd the River Steeping Haven.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 6 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Brambling, a Song Thrush and 2 Blackbird; and 4 retraps: 2 Robin, a Blue Tit and a Long-tailed Tit.

Waders en-masse on the move, 13th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Waders on the move, 13th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Waders heading back to the Estuary, 13th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Whooper Swans heading towards the Estuary, 13th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Oystercatchers heading back to the Estuary, 13th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Brambling, ringed 13th October 2026
Photo - George Gregory

October 12th. Mostly cloudy, with increasing south-easterly wind.

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still around North Building this morning. Sea-watching between 0715 and 0845hrs produced a Sooty Shearwater, a Pomarine Skua and a Black-throated Diver north and a Great Skua and a Little Gull south. Good numbers of Gannet, Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver were also recorded with some arriving flocks of Wigeon. Overland passage was fairly light but the numbers of roosting waders was high again.

Also around today were 150 Teal (Tennyson's Sands), 800 Golden Plover (Distantly inland from the reserve), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Brambling, 3 Stonechat, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Merlin, 4 Marsh Harrier and 3 Chiffchaff. 24 grounded Buzzards settled in the adjacent field was a most unusual sight.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided a new Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 2 Robin, a Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Great Tit.

October 11th. Mostly clear, with light westerly wind.

An Asio sp flew over East Dunes before dawn. The main focus of the morning was the monthly WeBS count - with two counters in place at dawn to record numbers of the principal 8 species of wader, totalling well over 120,000 birds again. These included 9200 Oystercatcher, 3000 Grey Plover, 8000 Bar-tailed Godwit, 90,000 Knot, 700 Sanderling and 5000 Dunlin. A noticeable arrival of Wigeon involved over 500, with 22 Pintail.

It was difficult to also keep track of visible migration with hundreds of Passerines heading south: Skylarks, Linnets and Reed Buntings particularly well represented today. 103 Whooper Swans, 9 Jays, 12 Buzzards, a Hawfinch and a Raven also went south. There was an increase of Robins and Blackbirds with small numbers of Song Thrush and Redwing.

Other birds around were Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler (North Building), Jack Snipe, Lapland Bunting, Kingfisher, Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 10 Stonechat and a Great White Egret.

At least 3 Clouded Yellows were around.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 20 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Robin, 2 Reed Bunting, a Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, a Linnet, 5 Song Thrush, a Redwing and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Robin and a Wren.

Ring Ouzel, 11th October 2026
Photo - Kev Wilson

Stonechat, 11th October 2026
Photo - Tony Foster

Stonechat, 11th October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Waders over the high tide, 11th October 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Great White Egret, 11th October 2026
Photo - Tony Foster

Preening Little Egret, 11th October 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Clouded Yellow Butterfly, 11th October 2026
Photo - Tony Foster

Autumnal Colours on the Saltmarsh, 11th October 2026
Photo - Tony Foster

Early October 2026

October 10th. Clear start, then clouding over, with increasing westerly wind.

A two hour migration watch early morning was rewarded with a very good variety of species on the move, although nothing in more than moderate numbers for the time of year. There were several parties of Whooper Swans totalling 73 birds, 4 Barnacle Geese, a few House Sparrows, Snipe, Swallows and Jays and a single Lapland Bunting. Later in the day, birds of prey were a feature with 15 Buzzards and a juvenile Osprey passing through.

Around the dunes, singles of Ring Ouzel, Redstart and Wheatear were found and the first Woodcock of the autumn. An evening sea-watch produced a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 4 Manx Shearwater heading north, 2 Goldeneye and 8 Little Gulls. The evening wader roost was immense again.

On Tennyson's Sands there were 81 Shoveler, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank and 6 Greenshank. Also about today were 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Merlin, 1 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warblers (Mill Hill and Tennyson's Sands), 5 Stonechat and 1 Brambling.

There was a brief display of the Northern Lights during the evening.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 10 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Robin, a Redwing, 3 Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 4 retraps: 3 Long-tailed Tit and a Dunnock.

Northern Lights, 10th October 2026
Photo - Sam Wilson

Female Sparrowhawk, ringed 10th October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

October 9th. Mostly cloudy, with quite strong westerly wind.

Sea-watching was productive with 2 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, a constant light movement of Red-throated Divers, Gannets and Auks heading south, with several parties of Common Scoter passing north. Most unexpected was an immature Surf Scoter that headed south alone not far out.

Migrants around the dunes included Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and 11 Stonechat. The wader roost over the evening tide was spectacular - well over 100,000 birds.

The ever changing view of Greenshanks Creek, Early October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Greenshanks Creek as seen form the look out platform at the end of the sleeper track.
Early October, Photo - David Nutt

Greenshanks Creek, getting closer to the shorebird sanctuary by each tide.
Early October, Photo - David Nutt

The River Steeping at low tide, Early October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

October 8th. Mostly clear, with fresh north-westerly wind.

Another moderate arrival of Redwing, Song Thrush and Brambling etc this morning, with continued passage of Finches, Pipits and Larks. Another Lapland Bunting passed south as did 3 Jays. A Hawfinch flew from West Dunes to East Dunes, where it was trapped and ringed; later it appeared at Sykes Farm.

Offshore, highlights were 1 Barnacle Goose (In off the sea at 1727hrs), a 38 Gannet, 1 Mediterranean Gull (Adult winter South), 1 Pomarine Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua and 54 Red-throated Divers. Other birds around included 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Swallow, 4 Stonechats (Fresh Water Marsh fence line), 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 4 Tree Sparrow, 150 Linnet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Siskin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 29 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Robin, a Reed Bunting, 3 Blue Tit, 14 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, a Blackbird, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Hawfinch; and 3 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Goldcrest and a Wren.

Hawfinch in a Hawthorn after being ringed, 8th October 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Stonechat, 8th October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

Siskin, 8th October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

Song Thrush, 8th October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

Reed Bunting, 8th October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Kestrel, 8th October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Redwing, ringed 8th October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Hawfinch, ringed 8th October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

October 7th. Cloudy, prolonged rain until mid afternoon, with quite strong north-westerly wind.

There was no recording until the rain ceased around 4pm. At that time, around 70 newly arrived Redwings dropped into the Plantation with several Song Thrush and Brambling. Small flocks of thrushes were then coming in off the sea mostly at high level and were heard in the low clouds rather than seen. Some stragglers were seen arriving or trying to arrive very low over the waves, with one Blackbird seen ditching into the sea a matter of 100 metres from the shore while a Song Thrush also ditched at a similar distance, was able to take off from the water when pursued by a Great Black-backed Gull, but the Gull was able to force it back into the sea before consuming it. Tragic endings after long flights across the North Sea.

More routine sightings offshore were several Gannets, Auks and Red-throated Divers, with the highlights being a Velvet Scoter, 2 Manx Shearwater and 2 Arctic Skua, 60 Whooper Swans arrived and a Lapland Bunting flew south.

Moth trapping during September resulted in a total of 136 species recorded on the reserve. Highlights included 3 Clancy's Rustic, 2 Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 4 L-album Wainscot, 2 each of Ni Moth and Vestal Moth and a pristine Scarce Silver-lines which is less than annual on the reserve. On the micro front, both Great Tortrix (Choristoneura hebenstreitella) and Large Willow Roller (Epinotia caprana) were first records for the reserve.

Black Rustic Moth, September 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, September 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Clancy's Rustic Moth, September 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

L-album Wainscot Moth, September 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

Scarce Silver Lines Moth, September 2026
Photo - Nige Lound

October 6th. Cloudy, then a bit foggy, then partly cloudy, with light south-westerly then easterly wind.

This morning's migration watch between 0720 and 0820hrs produced a good variety of birds but nothing in big numbers. A few new Goldcrests and Robins were in the scrub with some new Stonechats on the Freshwater Marsh but coverage was limited this morning. Around were about 30 Pink-footed Geese (heard in or above clouds). An evening session largely focused on counting waders on the dropping tide. Good numbers of Redshank and Ringed Plover were recorded, there were several rafts of Auks floating offshore and over 10,000 Gulls came in to roost. A late Wheatear was around the East Dunes.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 21 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Goldcrest, 11 Reed Bunting, a Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock; and a retrap Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Gannets offshore heading south, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Gannet fishing offshore, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Another Gannet fishing offshore, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Grey Plover on Fenland Lagoon, 6th October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Wheatear, 6th October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

Stonechats on the Freshwater Marsh fence line, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Meadow Pipit on the river bank, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Reed Bunting, 6th October 2026
Photo - David Nutt

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

A fairly typical early October day for overland migration and birds at sea with the respective highlights being another Lapland Bunting moving south with the first Yellowhammer of the autumn and a passage of Black-headed Gulls with a few Terns.

Around were a Marsh Harrier, 4 Jay, 2 Kingfisher (1 ringed) and 3 Sparrowhawk (1 re-trapped).

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: a Wren, a Blue Tit, a Song Thrush and a Kingfisher; and 2 retraps: a Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk.

Ringing Recovery: Blackbird, ringed GPBO 26 October 2025, found dead Batvikvagen, More og Romsdal, Norway 27 September 2026. This bird had been trapped in netting used to protect vegetables.

Bar-tailed Godwit, 5th October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Young Kingfisher, ringed 5th October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Adult female Sparrowhawk, re-trapped 5th October 2026.
Photo- George Gregory

October 4th. Foggy start, clearing, then partly cloudy, with light south-westerly wind.

Thick fog was sustained through the early morning period scuppering any attempt at meaningful recording. Some Passerines were logged migrating in the gloom along with 80 Pink-footed Geese flying east. When clear conditions resumed, 2 Glossy Ibis were seen heading south.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 20 new birds: a Wren, 3 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 9 Reed Bunting, 2 Robin and 3 Song Thrush; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Blue Tit.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 12 new birds: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, a Robin and a Blackbird; and 11 retraps: a Song Thrush, 2 Great Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit and 4 Blue Tit.

More details of the recent Eastern Bonelli's Warbler can be found here: https://www.grahamcatley.com/blog-1/eastern-bonellis-warbler-at-gibraltar-point

Red Kite, October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

Brambling, October 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

One of many recent Jays, October 2025
Photo - Ste Taylor

October 3rd. Partly cloudy, with light south-westerly wind eventually shifting to south-easterly.

Flying north-west were 70 Pink-footed Geese; and south-east 12 Pink-footed Geese. Another decent movement of Finches, Pipits, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Swallows with most of the Swallows over the sea this morning. Small numbers of both Tree and House Sparrows were involved in the movement with several more Jays and another Lapland Bunting.

More wildfowl were arriving over the sea, mainly Wigeon and Teal with a few Pintail and Shoveler. A feeding flock held 30 each of Common and Sandwich Tern with a single Little Gull.

Some new migrants were apparent from early afternoon with an increase of Chiffchaff , Blackcap and Song Thrush, a new Yellow-browed Warbler at Mill Hill and a Red-breasted Flycatcher in private gardens. More significant was a minimum count of 43 Stonechats - with 13 around the Freshwater Marsh and many along the outer ridges.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 20 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Chaffinch, 3 Reed Bunting, a Robin, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Blackbird, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: a Song Thrush, 2 Robin, a Dunnock and a Chaffinch. So far this year 18 new Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been ringed here (the record is 23 in a year some time ago).

Young male Sparrowhawk, ringed 3rd October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, 3rd October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

October 2nd. Partly cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.

There was no sign of the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler this morning but 2 or 3 Yellow-browed Warblers remained around Sykes Farm. Visible migration was somewhat reduced on yesterday's figures but there was still plenty of action including a high proportion of Reed Buntings moving with the Pipits, Larks and Finches. It was quiet offshore with the highlight being a Manx Shearwater. A good day for raptors with a Hobby, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, a Red Kite and 4 Marsh Harriers. Swallows moved through in small groups with a few House Martins all day with a single Sand Martin.

A Clouded Yellow was in the West Dunes.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Rachael Hustler, resulted in 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin and a Reed Bunting

Black-tailed Godwit being apparently chased by a Teal? 2nd October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harrier, 2nd October 2026
Photo - Jack Hood

October 1st. Partly cloudy, with light to moderate south-westerly wind.

The Eastern Bonelli's Warbler was still present, though elusive in the morning, it showed occasionally well during the afternoon at Sykes Farm but still difficult to see with the throngs of Chiffchaffs distracting continuously. At least 300 travelling birders turned up to see the rarity through the day with up to 80 present at any one time. Around were 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 22 Jays (including 3 trapped and ringed) and 2 Green Woodpeckers (including 1 re-trapped).

Visible migration was very good between 0700 and 1000hrs with hundreds of birds moving, including 350+ Chaffinch, Meadow Pipist, Rock Pipits, Reed Buntings, Linnets and Skylarks with some House Martins, Swallows, Grey Wagtails, Alba Wagtails, Siskin, Brambling, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and the first two Lapland Buntings of the Autumn.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Rachael Hustler, provided 28 new birds: 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Cetti's Warbler, 8 Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Jay; and 4 retraps: a Dunnock, a Song Thrush, a Wren and a Green Woodpecker.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Dave Vincent provided 7 new birds: 2 Robin, a Blackcap and 4 Song Thrush.

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, 1st October 2026
Photo - Graham Catley

Bonelli's Warbler, 1st October 2026
Photo - Graham Hunt

Yellow-browed Warbler, 1st October 2026.
Photo - Jack Hood

Looking for the Bonelli's Warbler at Sykes Farm, 1st October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Green Woodpecker, re-trapped 1st October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory

Jay, ringed 1st October 2026.
Photo - George Gregory