Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: May 2021

Late May 2021

May 31st. Around were 2 Cuckoo, 3 Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Cetti's Warbler and a Garden Warbler. On Jackson's Marsh were 4 Spoonbill; on Croftmarsh 6 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Gull and 3 Mediterranean Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands a Pochard, 2 Avocet, 2 Common Tern and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 2 Swift and a Marsh Harrier; and north 2 Gannet.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Linnet, a Reed Warbler, 2 Meadow Pipit, a Whitethroat and a Robin; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Wren, a Meadow Pipit and a Sedge Warbler.

Mediterranean Gulkl, 31 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Common Tern, 31 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

May 30th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 2 Cuckoo, a Buzzard, a Barn Owl and 2 Bullfinch. On Croftmarsh were 3 Avocet and 2 Little Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands an Avocet and 2 Common Tern.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Robin, a Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, a Chaffinch and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Female Bullfinch, ringed 30 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Male Bullfinch, ringed 30 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

May 29th. Misty start, then sunny.

Around were a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 6 Avocet and 3 Little Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Avocet.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 2 retraps: a Dunnock and a Sedge Warbler.

Little Grebe family, 29 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Grasshopper Warbler, 29 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

May 28th. Birds around included 5 Cuckoo, a Sandwich Tern, 20 Little Tern, 2 Common Tern, a Barn Owl, a Ring-necked Parakeet, 6 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Wheatear. On Jackson's Marsh were 3 Spoonbill; on Croftmarsh a Pink-footed Goose, 6 Avocet and 4 Little Gull; on Fenland Lagoon an Avocet and a Little Ringed Plover; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, a Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south were 3 Swift, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, a Peregrine and 16 House Martin; and north 3 Gannet.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: 2 Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Swallow, a Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 4 retraps: a Wren, a Goldfinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling provided 4 new birds: a Reed Warbler, a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Great Tit; and 16 retraps: 5 Great Tit, 7 Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap and 3 Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, 28 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Spoonbills, 28 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Swallow nest-building, 28 May 2021.
Photo - Dean Nicholson

Little Gulls, 28 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 27th. Around, including birds trapped, were 2 Cuckoo, a Sparrowhawk, 2300 Sanderling, a Barn Owl, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat and a Tree Pipit. On Croftmarsh were 11 Avocet and 2 Little Gull; on Fenland Lagoon an Avocet; and on Tennyson's Sands 3 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Common Tern.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by Keith Collett produced 13 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Linnet, a Tree Pipit, a Robin, a Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting; and 9 retraps: a Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Robin, a Goldfinch, 2 Whitethroat, a Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

Cuckoo, 27 May 2021.

Sanderling, 27 May 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Sanderling and Dunlin, 27 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Meadow Pipit, 27 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Tree Pipit, ringed 27 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 27 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

May 26th. A Golden Oriole perched then flew south over East Dunes early morning. Birds around included a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, 12 Sandwich Tern, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Cetti's Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Redwing and a Spotted Flycatcher. On Croftmarsh were 2 Avocet and 5 Little Gull; on Jackson's Marsh 3 Spoonbill; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Tennyson's Sands 2 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were a Red Kite, 15 Swift, 2 Turtle Dove and a Hobby; and north 18 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 9 Common Scoter,10 Fulmar, 4 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver and a Grey Wagtail.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 3 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat; and 5 retraps: 2 Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock, a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting.

Golden Oriole, 26 May 2021.
Photo Nige Lound

Golden Oriole, 26 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Spotted Flycatcher, 26 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

May 25th. Around were a Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Avocet and a Little Gull; and on Croftmarsh 4 Avocet. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, a Hen Harrier, 5 Buzzard, 2 Spoonbill (early morning), hirundines and Swift.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Reed Bunting, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, a Swallow, a Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and a Mallard (in the Heligoland Trap); and a retrap Whitethroat.

A check of a nest site revealed an adult Barn Owl with 4 chicks.

Mallard, ringed 25 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Barn Owl, ringed 25 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Ringing Control: Whitethroat, ringed Kilnsea, Yorkshire 6 August 2018, controlled GPBO 20 May 2021.

May 24th. Soggy start.

Birds around were 10 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Swift, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Red-throated Diver, a Marsh Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and a Cetti's Warbler. On Tennyson's Sands were 21 Avocet; on Jackson's Marsh 3 Spoonbill; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Avocet, and on Croftmarsh a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, 4 Little Gull and a Yellow Wagtail. Going south were a Red Kite and 3 Red-throated Diver.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, including the third session of CES, produced 21 new birds: 2 Wren, 4 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, a Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, a Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and a House Sparrow; and 23 retraps: 2 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Dunnock and 2 Robin.

May 23rd. Around were 2 Cuckoo, a Marsh Harrier, 8 Swallow, 35 House Martin and a Cetti's Warbler. On Croftmarsh were 4 Avocet and 2 Little Gull; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Avocet and a Greenshank. Heading south were 20 Swift, 2 Gannet, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Turtle Dove, a Hobby and 8 House Martin..

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new birds: 2 Blackcap and a Chaffinch; and a retrap Whitethroat.

Below is a photo of the bony remains from Barn Owl pellets collected here recently and analysed by Nige Lound. The species involved were 20 Field Vole, 8 Common Shrew and a Pygmy Shrew.

Bony remains from Barn Owl pellets, 23 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

May 22nd. Moderately strong westerly wind; soggy start.

Birds around included 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Swift, a Cuckoo, a Cetti's Warbler, 20 Swallow and a Goldcrest. On Croftmarsh were a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Avocet, 5 Little Gull, a Mediterranean Gull and a Buzzard; and on Tennyson's Sands 12 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover. Flying south were a Marsh Harrier, 67 Gannet, 47 Fulmar, a Red-throated Diver, 8 Kittiwake, an Arctic Skua and 2 Barnacle Geese; and west a Swift and 2 Hobby.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Wren, 2 Linnet and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

May 21st. Strong south-westerly wind, with prolonged rainy spells.

Around were 2 Cuckoo, 5 Swallow and 3 House Martin. On Croftmarsh were 7 Avocet and 2 Little Gull; on Jackson's Marsh an Avocet; and on Tennyson's Sands 11 Avocet. Going south were 2 Swift.

Mid May 2021

May 20th. Birds around were 32 Mute Swan, a Whimbrel, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, 4 Cuckoo, 3 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow, 20 House Martin, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Wheatear. On Croftmarsh were a Pink-footed Goose, 5 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Little Gull and a Yellow Wagtail; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Spoonbill; on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Tennyson's Sands 9 Avocet, a Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading north were a Swift, a Sand Martin and 8 Swallow; and south 6 Eider, 9 Common Scoter and 7 Swift.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by Keith Collett produced 4 new birds: 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Reed Bunting; and a retrap Whitethroat.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 9 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat; and 8 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler and a Great Tit.

May 19th. A Black Kite circled for 20 minutes then went south at 0850hrs. Around, including birds trapped, were 3 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Long-eared Owl and 3 Swallow. On Croftmarsh were 2 Avocet, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Avocet and a Spoonbill.

Thanks to a local resident on Gibraltar Road for allowing local birders access to see a Hoopoe in the back garden - the bird apparently turned up in the afternoon of 18 May.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 6 new birds: 2 Goldfinch, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, a Blackbird and a Long-eared Owl; and 4 retraps: a Blackbird, a Dunnock and 2 Whitethroat.

Hoopoe, 19 May 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Black Kite, 19 May 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Long-eared Owl, ringed 19 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Common Sandpiper, 19 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Little Gull. 19 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

May 18th. Birds around included 10 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Cuckoo, 8 Swallow and a Crossbill. On Croftmarsh were a Garganey, 2 Avocet and 2 Little Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Avocet and 2 Common Tern. Flying south were 30 Swallow. In off the sea came 9 Swift.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler; and a retrap Sedge Warbler.

Garganey, 18 May 2021.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Meadow Saxifrage and Cowslips, 18 May 2021.
Photo = Kevin Wilson

Crossbill, 18 May 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Ringing Recovery: Song Thrush, ringed GPBO 29 September 1965, recovered using a metal detector below a nest of Peregrines, Site Confidential 16 October 2000. This is obviously not a longevity record since the ring clearly remained there for decades before being detected.

May 17th. Around were 100 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 14 Swift, a Cuckoo, a Buzzard, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest and a Firecrest. On Croftmarsh were a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Little Gull; and on Tennyson's Sands 41 Mute Swan, 10 Avocet, 2 Common Tern and a Cetti's Warbler. Going south were a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard and 12 House Martin.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 2 new birds: a Whitethroat and a Wood Pigeon; and 5 retraps: a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Sedge Warbler.

Broad-bodied Chaser, 17 May 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

May 16th. Soggy start.

Birds around, including those trapped, were 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo, 6 Gannet, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, 60 Swallow, a Wood Warbler (West Dunes/Cycle Track), a Firecrest and a Treecreeper. On Croftmarsh were 2 Avocet, 2 Little Gull and 2 Common Tern; and on Tennyson's Sands 8 Avocet. Heading south were 60 Little Tern, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard and 150 Swallow; west an Osprey; and north a Honey Buzzard (over East Dunes early morning).

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Chiffchaff and a Treecreeper; and 3 retraps: a Sedge Warbler, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Treecreeper, ringed 16 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

May 15th. Mid morning rain.

Around were 8 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Cuckoo and a Spotted Redshank. On or over Jackson's Marsh were 2 Spoonbill, 59 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin; on Croftmarsh 2 Avocet, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Gull and 2 Common Tern; and on Tennyson's Sands 9 Avocet, 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler. Flying south were a Great White Egret, 4 Sand Martin, 22 Swallow and 48 House Martin; and north a Honey Buzzard (over East Dunes) and 3 Swallow.

A rain-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch, a Sedge Warbler and a Woodpigeon; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Dunnock.

Woodpigeon, ringed 15 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

May 14th. Birds around were 83 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Sand Martin, a Cetti's Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Wheatear. On Croftmarsh were a Pink-footed Goose, a Little Ringed Plover, 19 Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Gull; on the Mere 2 Mute Swan; on Jackson's Marsh 2 Mute Swan and 2 Spoonbill; and on Tennyson's Sands 26 Mute Swan, 18 Avocet, a Common Sandpiper, a Mediterranean Gull and a Cetti's Warbler. Going north were 2 Swift, a Whimbrel, 12 Kittiwake, 71 Sandwich Tern, 92 Little Tern, 17 Common Tern, a Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 12 Gannet and 3 Swallow; and south 2 Marsh Harrier and 7 Gannet.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 7 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Chaffinch and a Great Tit; and 2 retrap Whitethroat.

Sleeping Spoonbills, 14 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Chaffinch, ringed 14 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

Ringing Control: Blackbird, ringed GPBO 8 October 2017, controlled Omdal, Norway 5 May 2021.

May 13th. A Cattle Egret was discovered on Seacroft Fields. Around, including birds trapped, were 146 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Cuckoo, a Whimbrel, 2 Buzzard, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Wheatear and a Whinchat. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh 2 Avocet, a Little Gull and 2 Common Tern; and on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover. Heading south were a Spoonbill (early morning) and 5 Swallow.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 2 new birds: a Whinchat and a Whitethroat; and 2 retraps: a Robin and a Whitethroat.

Cattle Egret, 13 May 2021.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Whinchat, ringed 13 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory

May 12th. Moderately strong southerly wind, gradually decreasing.

Birds around, including those trapped, were 3 Cuckoo, a Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, a Buzzard, a Merlin, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, a Goldcrest and a Wheatear. On Tennyson's Sands were 8 Avocet, a Common Sandpiper and a Spoonbill (later on Jackson's Marsh); on Fenland Lagoon a Little Ringed Plover; and on Croftmarsh 2 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Gull and 2 Common Tern. Flying south were 70 Swift, 14 Swallow, 9 House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat; and 6 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Chaffinch.

Little Gull and Little Ringed Plover, 12 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

Whitethroat, 12 May 2021.
Photo - Nige Lound

May 11th. Around, including birds trapped, were 88 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 3 Sandwich Tern, 29 Little Tern, 3 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, a Marsh Harrier, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Merlin, 14 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 19 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 21 Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 3 Whinchat and 15 Wheatear. On Tennyson's Sands were 16 Avocet and a Cetti's Warbler; on Croftmarsh a Pink-footed Goose and a Little Gull; on Fenland Lagoon 2 Avocet and a Little Ringed Plover; and on Jackson's Marsh a Little Ringed Plover. Going south were 2 Swift, a Great White Egret, 115 Swallow and 15 House Martin.

The second session of CES was done this morning. The 17 new birds were 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, a Robin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, a Linnet, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, a Chaffinch and 2 House Sparrow. The 15 retraps were 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, a Blue Tit, 2 Whitethroat and a Great Tit.

Wheatear, 11 May 2021.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Acredula type Willow Warbler, ringed 11 May 2021.
Photo - George Gregory