Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: September 2024

Mid September 2024

September 16th. A clear, soggy start to the day, with occasional broken cloud drifting through on a very light north-easterly wind.

Early news involved a Common Rosefinch trapped and ringed at the Bird Observatory at 7am, a Sparrowhawk over East Dunes, and about 1000 Pink-footed Geese heading north-west out of the Wash.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Robin, a Whitethroat, a Linnet, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Common Rosefinch; and 2 retraps: a Blackcap and a Dunnock.

Common Rosefinch, ringed 16 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

September 15th. Fairly cool start, with some cloud and a light to moderate south-westerly wind.

Heading north-west out of the Wash very early morning were 370 Pink-footed Geese. A good morning for visible migration saw hundreds of House Martins, Swallows and Meadow Pipits pass south with 40 Sand Martins, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Grey Wagtails and the first good indication of autumn Finch movement with Goldfinches, Linnets and Chaffinches. Offshore, groups of Teal and 4 Pintail headed south with a Black Tern, 40 Sandwich Terns and 4 Great Crested Grebes. There were also 6 Snipe around during the day.

Three Great White Egrets were over Tennyson's Sands early morning having arrived from the north, whilst also on Tennyson's Sands were 184 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and a Ruff. A Wheatear, 2 Stonechats and a Whinchat were around the Visitor Centre, with other Whinchats on the Freshwater Marsh and East Dunes possibly new arrivals. Also, 3 Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart around the west side were probably new in with another slight increase of Chiffchaffs and Robins.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 6 new birds: a Robin, a Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Wren and a Chiffchaff; and a retrap Redstart.

Chiffchaff, 15th September 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Blackcap, 15th September 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Wheatear, 15th September 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Great White Egrets, 15th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

September 14th. Another cool start quickly warming up with broken cloud quickly dispersing on a light south-south-westerly wind.

There were 2 Kingfishers on Mill Pond, whilst on the sea out from Mill Hill was a Shag early morning. About 400 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west. Around the East Dunes were 3 Redstart, a Whinchat, 5 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and 22 Robin. 2 Stonechats and a Wheatear were around Rock Ridge. The male Hen Harrier was out from the Wash Viewpoint late afternoon, whilst another Harrier arrived from the north early evening and flew down West Dunes a short time later. This bright juvenile was judged to be a Hen Harrier. Whilst heading south during the day were 160 House Martin.

Seven juvenile Grass Snakes were found together under cover in the West Dunes today - a very encouraging record after only a few sightings of adults reported this year.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Robin and 2 Blackcap; and 2 retraps: a Redstart and a Robin.

Hen Harrier, 14th September 2024.
Photos - Sam Goddard

Grass Snake, 14th September 2024.
Photo - Kev Wilson

September 13th. A cool start to the day again despite the clear conditions and, again, occasional cloud drifting through on the light westerly breeze.

Early news involved a Short-eared Owl and a male Hen Harrier over Old Saltmarsh, and 2 Spoonbills flying from the estuary towards the water bodies. Later there were 31 Spoonbill on Tennyson's sands where water Rails continued to show well. Also on Tennyson's Sands were 322 Black-Tailed Godwits, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Snipe with 38 Little Grebe.

After yesterday's good Fulmar and Shearwater passage, there were high expectations for another good sea-watch, but, unfortunately, a strange haze rendered the sea and everything passing over it beyond a certain distance appearing pixelated. There was another passage of Pink-footed Geese crossing to Norfolk, and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew north.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 17 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 6 Robin, 4 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Goldfinch, a Redstart and a Song Thrush; and a retrap Wren.

Following recent announcements made about the King Charles III England Coast Path, the map below shows the section of the route connecting Gibraltar Point that is not open.

Water Rail, 13th September 29024.

Photo - Jack Hood

Water Rail juvenile, 13th September 29024.

Photo - Jack Hood

September 12th. A cool start to the day despite the clear conditions, broken cloud drifting through on on the light westerly breeze which increased later.

On the reserve during the day were a Short-eared Owl, a male Hen Harrier, up to 7 Marsh Harriers, 11 Buzzard, a Merlin and a Peregrine. The Bearded Tit was seen again from the Mere Hide, whilst on Tennyson's Sands there were 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 350 Black-tailed Godwit, 92 Avocet, 337 Pink-footed Geese (With another 150 south), 300 Canada Goose and 60 Greylag Goose. 170 Golden Plover flew south.

Other migrants on the reserve included at least 16 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler (From Harvey's Hide), 2 Grey Wagtail and a Redstart.

The strengthening wind late afternoon prompted a sea watch which turned out to be very productive despite the first hour being relatively quiet. However, between just after 5 pm, Fulmars started to move and after 2.5 hours , a total of 155 had flown north - this is the highest count for a number of years. Also involved in the movement, 18 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 12 Arctic Skua and 2 Great Skua with good numbers of Gannet, Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 11 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Reed Warbler, 2 Redstart, a Blackcap, 3 Robin and a Dunnock.

Male Redstart, ringed 12 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Spotted Redshanks with Avocets, 12th September 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

September 11th. Fairly cold, clear start, with increasing westerly wind.

A different feel to the morning with 3 Goldcrest and a Song Thrush being the first birds recorded shortly after donning a woolly hat and gloves ! Over the East Dunes, another good morning for visible migration with Meadow Pipits and House Martins being the main birds on the move, with fewer Swallows and a few Tree Pipits, Yellow Wagtails and Grey Wagtails again. A newly arrived male Hen Harrier was hunting the outer dunes and mobbed by a Hobby while two Merlin were also around the foreshore. A fair number of Chiffchaffs were in the dunes and around the Plantation.

Other migrants seen included 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Stonechat, 5 Whinchat, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Wheatear whilst 32 Spoonbill were on Tennyson's Sands.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 17 new birds: a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, a Whitethroat, 9 Robin, a Redstart, 2 Meadow Pipit and a Tree Pipit; and 2 retraps: a Wren and a Great Tit.

Juvenile Sparrowhawk, 11th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

Spotted Flycatcher, 11th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

Willow Warbler, 11th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

Willow Warbler, 11th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

Wheatear, 11th September 2024.

Photo - Paul Neale

Tree Pipit, ringed 11 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Early September 2024

September 10th. Cloudy and overcast with a strong westerly wind, then light rain in the afternoon.

A morning sea-watch/vis migration session was undertaken from 0700-0900hrs, with highlights of 3 Black Terns and a Great Skua offshore, mixed waders arriving from the north including a Little Stint and overland passage of 400 Meadow Pipits, 5 Grey Wagtails, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 120 Swallow and 400 House Martins including a single flock of 190. The juvenile Hobby showed very well again in the East Dunes.

During the late afternoon from the Mere Hide there were 3 different Marsh Harriers seen flying south along with a Buzzard and a probably Honey Buzzard together flying west from the East Dunes. Meanwhile a Bearded Tit called briefly just after a heavy rain spell and a Kingfisher was present as well. On the water were 14 Tufted Duck, 14 Shoveler and 3 Pintail with 8 Little Grebe. At the back of the Mere was a Short-eared Owl hunting, whilst a skein of 150 Pink-footed Geese went south before turning out towards Norfolk.

Great White Egrets, 10th September 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

September 9th. Cloudy, with some light morning and afternoon drizzle and increasing north-westerly wind.

The first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn were heard in the murky conditions in the morning, with a skein of 21 in the evening. A scattering of migrants around the Reserve included several Redstarts, Wheatears, Whinchats and Willow Warblers, with 5 Tree Pipits passing over, but no Flycatchers today. Other birds around included a Short-eared Owl, 3 Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine and 2 Hobby..

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: a Willow Warbler, a Robin and 2 Blackcap; and a retrap Robin.

An arrival of Convolvulus Hawkmoths involved at least 8 found around the Reserve.

Pink-footed Geese, 9th September 2024.

Photo - Kev Wilson

Hobby, 9th September 2024.

Photo - Kev Wilson

Whimbrel, 9th September 2024.

Photo - Jack Hood

Common Sandpiper, 9th September 2024.

Photo - Jack Hood

Convolvulus Hawkmoths, 9th September 2024.

Photos - Sam Goddard

September 8th. Soggy, cloudy start, gradually drying out and clearing, becoming warm and humid, with light to moderate south-easterly wind.

Generally quieter than yesterday with few signs of new grounded migrants. A Honey Buzzard was flying south along the Storm Ridge at 6.40am, later flying north up the East Dunes, presumably the bird that settled at the south end yesterday morning. A Hobby was on the beach. Two Ospreys passed through during the morning, with one heading off south-west and the later bird heading south over the beach and possibly out to Norfolk. A Wryneck was found mid morning (originally on the Heligoland Trap briefly, then towards Storm Ridge and not seen again).

A Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby and at least 15 Common Buzzard also moved south as the day warmed up. There was a fair passage of up to 400 Swallows early morning, and a scattering of Redstarts, Wheatears (over 25) and Spotted Flycatchers, with fewer Tree Pipits, Whinchats and Pied Flycatchers. A Kingfisher was on a new artificial perch in front of Fenella Hope hide early morning whilst in the afternoon there were 26 Spoonbill there. Late on a Swift was over North car park as was a Pied Flycatcher whilst a Spotted Flycatcher was in the West Dunes.

A morning ringing session in the East Dunes provided 14 new birds: 3 Great Tit, 2 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler and a Redstart; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Pied Flycatcher, 8th September 2024.
Photo - Zara Brown

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8th September 2024.
Photo - Zara Brown

September 7th. A very overcast start to the day with the cloud starting to break up later on somewhat. A hint of precipitation occasionally and a very light almost undetectable north-easterly breeze.

Starting with a wader roost of 100,000 birds, the day turned into a great one for migrants with news coming in from all over the reserve from first thing. A Wryneck was found by the northern boundary, whilst an Icterine Warbler was discovered near Mill Hill. Probably two different Honey Buzzards arrived today (compare photos below), with one seen passing over the south end of the reserve early and one seen on North Building Ridge perched occasionally and making short flights in the misty conditions. Early afternoon, a Barred Warbler was discovered on Rock Ridge which was still showing at 4pm at least.

Other migrant totals for the day, including birds ringed, were 25 Wheatear, 11 Tree Pipit, 12 Spotted Flycatcher, 15 Redstart, 7 Pied Flycatcher, 7 Garden Warbler and 10 Whinchat. Also around were 2 Peregrines together on East Dunes, 4 Marsh Harriers and a Short-eared Owl. From Harvey's Hide there were a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Tern amongst other waders.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 32 new birds: 2 Wren, a Wood Warbler, a Firecrest, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Redstart, 3 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, a Tree Pipit, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, a Blue Tit and a Whinchat; and 4 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Long-tailed Tit and a Blue Tit.

Honey Buzzard, 7th September 2024.
Photo - Steve Halward

Honey Buzzard, 7th September 2024.
Photo - Nick Crouch

Honey Buzzard, 7th September 2024.
Photo - Mark Dawson

Honey Buzzard, 7th September 2024.
Video - Mark Dawson

Barred Warbler, 7th September 2024.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Tree Pipit, ringed 7 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Wood Warbler, ringed 7 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Whinchat, ringed 7 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Firecrest, ringed 7 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

September 6th. A bright start to the day with clear blue skies continuing through the day, becoming warm despite the increasing north-easterly wind.

A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was trapped at Sykes Farm overnight.

At least 15 Wheatear were amongst birds on the reserve along with a Yellow Wagtail around the Wash Viewpoint, a Corn Bunting over the Ringing Hollow, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Redstart in the Plantation and at least 4 Tree Pipit over, whilst a hunting Sparrowhawk was around East Dunes and an Osprey passed through.

The morning sea-watch was difficult in bright sunlight but three hours produced the following highlights; a Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, 14 Arctic Skua, a Pomarine Skua, a Long-tailed Skua and 2 Great Skuas.

During the mid afternoon, it was apparent that the easterlies were starting to produce with new birds arriving, and there were totals of 10 Spotted Flycatchers, 18 Pied Flycatchers, and 12 Redstarts.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 4 new birds: 2 Wren, a Willow Warbler and a Dunnock; and a retrap Great Tit.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 6th September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Spotted Flycatcher, 6th September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Pied Flycatcher, 6th September 2024.

Photo - Matt Heaver

Redstart, 6th September 2024.
Photo - Jack Hood

September 5th. Soggy start with increasing north-north-easterly wind, full cloud cover and occasional light rain/drizzle throughout the day.

Early news involved a Redstart and a Wheatear along with a general increase in Meadow Pipit numbers along the Storm Ridge. Meanwhile a Wryneck was re-located along the Cycle Track near the entrance to Harvey's Hide, and there was presumably another Wryneck next to Sykes Farm Track a short time later. During the course of the day there was a Pied Flycatcher opposite the gate to Jackson's Marsh and another one close to Mill Hill with the tit flock. A Redstart was at the north end of West Dunes whilst 2 Wheatear were on the East Dunes frontage and a Hobby was over the Ringing Hollow.

During the late afternoon, the Mere held 11 Little Grebe, a Pochard, a Gadwall, 5 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 20 Mallard, 62 Teal and 4 Tufted Duck. From Fenella Hope Hide on Tennyson's Sands, there were 35 Spoonbill, 202 Canada Goose, 203 Greylag Goose and 10 Little Grebe.

Highlights of a morning sea-watch included 2 Black Terns, 14 Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver north, and a Black-throated Diver, a Long-tailed Skua, a Manx Shearwater and a Bonxie south, whilst in the evening 4 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 20 Arctic Skua, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, 3 Shearwater sp, 2 Fulmar, 170 Kittiwake and 240 Common Scoter were recorded. A Caspian Gull and a Merlin were on the beach.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 2 new birds: a Robin and a Sparrowhawk; and 4 retraps: 2 Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Wren.

Wader roost with Bar-tailed Godwits and Oystercatchers, 5th September 2024.

Photo - Jason Virgin

Sparrowhawk, ringed 5 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

September 4th. A mostly sunny day with clear blue skies and an almost still day, with just a hint of a west-south-westerly wind, although clouding over later on with prolonged rain through much of the afternoon.

Early news involved the re-discovery of the Wryneck on the Cycle Track near the North Hide entrance from 7.20am onwards. Four Tree Sparrows were in the Visitor Centre Car Park before flying towards the Wash Viewpoint. Few Pied Flycatchers remained on the Reserve, but 3 Redstarts were seen at the north end of the West Dunes and 4 Wheatears were along the East Dune frontage. Swallows and martins were heading south during the morning with several Yellow Wagtails and a pulse of Meadow Pipits. A Kingfisher was on the Fenland Lagoon.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 8 new birds: a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Swallow, 3 Robin, a Blackcap and a Redstart; and 2 retraps: a Redstart and a Dunnock.

Wryneck, 4th September 2024.
Photo - Paul Neale

Tree Sparrows, 4th September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Tree Sparrow, 4th September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

September 3rd. A very wet start with torrential periods of rain, staying cloudy for much of the day, with occasional rain and a light northerly breeze turning westerly later on.

Early news after the rain stopped involved a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Wood Warbler with 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Pied Flycatchers in the Pines by the entrance sign to the reserve. There was a good scattering of Pied Flycatchers and a few Redstarts elsewhere around the reserve. Presumably one of yesterday's Wrynecks was located on the path to the Mere at 12.40pm, with (presumably the same bird?) being relocated back on the Cycle Track at 4.40pm until at least 7.30pm.

Eleven Egyptian Geese were on Tennyson's Sands early on with a group of 32 Golden Plover which dropped in briefly on their way inland. Also on Tennyson's Sands early on were 441 Black-Tailed Godwit,1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and 22 Dunlin, 22 Spoonbill.

Six Pintail flew over Aylmer Avenue during the afternoon, whilst 3 were on the Mere with other wildfowl later in the afternoon. Four Whinchat and 2 Stonechat were on ridges out towards the East Dunes during the day and a Water Rail family was showing well on Jackson's Marsh for much of the afternoon whilst a Garden Warbler was along the Cycle Track towards Harvey's Hide briefly later on during the afternoon. A Kingfisher was commuting between the Mere and Tennyson's Sands often visiting the Mill Pond. The Wood Warbler was seen again briefly in the afternoon a few hundred yards from where it had been originally assuming it was the same bird.

Tennyson's Sands held impressive numbers of birds during the late afternoon, including 276 Canada Goose, 101 Greylag Goose, 134 Mallard, 102 Teal, 42 Little Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rail and 14 Spoonbill. Waders were represented by 385 Black-tailed Godwit, 77 Lapwing, 35 Avocet, 4 Dunlin, 4 Curlew, 2 Ruff, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, a Snipe and a Spotted Redshank. Hirundines included 400+ Swallows and 10 Sand Martins passing south over the Lagoons and Croftmarsh in a 20 minute period late afternoon.

Wryneck on the Cycle track, 3rd September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Wryneck on the Mere path, 3rd September 2024.

Photo - Rob Watson

September 2nd. Cloudy, misty, quite soggy start, rapidly clearing and drying out, becoming quite warm, with light north-easterly wind, and with the occasional shower in the afternoon.

Another highly entertaining day for observers on site in and amongst a raft of migrants. Highlights of the day were an Icterine Warbler early on around North Car Park. Three Wrynecks were found with the first discovered out from Mill Hill in scrub to the west. Early afternoon another Wryneck was discovered on the Cycle Track near to the entrance to North Hide and continued to show intermittently on the Cycle Track well into the late afternoon. A third Wryneck was discovered in scrub north of the Mere Meadow late afternoon showing at nearly the same time as the Cycle Track bird leading the observer to believe it was third bird.

Totals of other migrants on the reserve for the day were 31 Pied Flycatcher, 23 Redstart, 13 Whinchat, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler and 2 Tree Pipit (South). Seven Buzzard passed south over Sykes Farm and there was a noticeable increase of Robins and a light movement of Hirundines through the day, with 8 Swift south during the late afternoon.

Also during the late afternoon, Harvey' s Hide provided views of 414 Black-Tailed Godwit, 66 Golden Plover flying over with 47 dropping in to preen on their way to the Wash, 6 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 17 Little Grebe, 2 Marsh Harrier and 4 Kestrel.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 11 new birds: a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, a Robin, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Dunnock; and 3 retraps: a Redstart, a Dunnock and a Whitethroat.

Wryneck, 2nd September 2024.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Wryneck, 2nd September 2024.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Spotted Flycatcher, ringed 2 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Male Redstart, ringed 2 September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Lesser Whitethroat, 2nd September 2024.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

September 1st. Mostly cloudy, with increasing north-easterly wind.

The day's recording started with a fairly routine if slightly disappointing sea-watch in respect of the conditions; a constant stream of northbound Sandwich Terns was mixed with Kittiwakes and Gannets and a single Black Tern, with flocks of Common Scoter totaling 246. In addition, there were 8 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skua, 5 Fulmar, 2 Red-throated Divers and an unidentified Diver.

On the beach, one of the regular Hobbys looked like it had roosted overnight. After a Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher had been trapped in the ringing area, it became apparent that new migrants were arriving from late morning and into the afternoon. Good coverage of the census area resulted in counts of 29 Pied Flycatcher, 10 Common Redstart, 5 Tree Pipit, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 11 Wheatear, 9 Whinchat and a Goldcrest amongst a small arrival of warblers. The windy conditions making observations difficult away from sheltered spots. A group of 8 Buzzards were circling over the Reserve late morning and probably passed through, whilst highlights from the lagoons included a Curlew Sandpiper, a Great White Egret and 14 Spoonbill.

In the evening, attention turned to the sea again where passage was fairly similar to the morning but a Manx Shearwater passed through and the highlight was an adult Sabine's Gull, initially flying strongly north, but then pausing and blogging offshore for a while.

On the beach, numbers of large Gulls were building up and included 5 Caspian Gulls and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. A Hobby was again harassing the smaller birds in the roost and was given some assistance from a Marsh Harrier.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 3 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart; and a retrap Dunnock.

Overnight, migrant moths trapped included a Tawny Wave.

Pied Flycatcher, 1st September 224.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Pied Flycatcher, ringed 1st September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Redstart, 1st September 2024.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Redstart, 1st September 224.
Photo - Sam Goddard

Redstart, ringed 1st September 2024.
Photo - George Gregory

Tawny Wave, 1st September 224.
Photo - Sam Goddard