Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: 2025

October 10th. A clear and cold start, becoming cloudier later on, with a light westerly wind building through the day.

Recording focused on waders and visible migration this morning. The roost held 60,000 waders and the highlights of overland migration were a Glossy Ibis and several parties of Crossbills heading south. A further 6 Crossbills were in the North Car Park Pines. Around were 19 Brent Geese, 2 Kingfishers (Fenland Lagoon) and a Marsh Harrier.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by two of the Sorby Breck Ringing Group yielded 20 new birds: 3 Wren, 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Robin, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Redwing and a Kingfisher; and 7 retraps: 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Dunnock, a Robin and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

An evening ringing session by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group yielded 2 new birds: a Rock Pipit and a Jack Snipe; and a retrap Barn Owl. The Rock Pipit is just the 16th ever ringed at the Observatory whilst the Jack Snipe is just the 17th ever ringed at the Observatory.

Ringing Control: Lesser Redpoll, ringed at Peebles, Borders, Scotland 17 September 2025, and then controlled GPBO 5 October 2025, a movement of 363km in 18 days.

Jack Snipe, ringed 10th October 2025
Photo - Eleanor Wilkins SBRG

Rock Pipit, ringed 10th October 2025
Photo - Eleanor Wilkins SBRG

Waders at sunrise, 10th October 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Glossy Ibis over Visitor Centre on the morning high tide, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank, 10th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Greenshanks on Fenland Lagoon, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Kingfisher on Fenland Lagoon, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Redwing, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Willow Emerald Damselfly, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

A Weasel with its lunch, a Field Vole seen from the Visitor Centre, 10th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

October 9th. Partly cloudy, with light to moderate westerly wind. A very high tide in the morning.

Early news concerned the 8th and 9th Cetti's Warblers of the Autumn being ringed at the Observatory. Visible Migration was back on the agenda again today with Finches and Larks heading south along the East Dunes in decent numbers including 52 Skylark, 153 Goldfinch, 68 Chaffinch, 26 Siskin, 9 Lesser Redpoll and 28 Reed Bunting.

The High Tide produced counts of 292 Curlew, 2000 Grey Plover, 3000 Oystercatcher, 90 Ringed Plover, 3500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30,000 Knot, 1200 Sanderling and 500 Dunlin. Over the sea were 7 Gannet.

Also around the reserve during the day were 500+ Pink-footed Geese, 66 Brent Geese, 196 Teal, 1 Pintail, 1 Water Rail, 38 Little Egret, 1 Merlin, 2 Buzzard, 4 Rock Pipit, 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, a House Sparrow and a Collared Dove (Visitor Centre) and a Corn Bunting, a Yellowhammer and 10 Crossbill (south). A Firecrest was also reported around Mill Hill area but details could not be verified.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 39 new birds: 5 Wren, 4 Chiffchaff, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Goldcrest, a Goldfinch, 7 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Meadow Pipit, a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and 2 Song Thrush; and 9 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, a Robin, 3 Long-tailed Tit, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock.

Waders on the beach over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Curlews over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Knot over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sanderlings over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Oystercatchers over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sanderlings over the high tide, 9th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Pintail over Tennyson's Sands, 8th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Teal on Greenshanks Creek, 9th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Wigeon over the high tide, 8th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Pink-footed Geese, 7th October 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Stonechat, 9th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

October 8th. A cloudy start to the day with some occasional drizzle in a very light westerly breeze, the cloud breaking up some what later on.

Early news involved a huge amount of Pink-footed Geese on Tennyson's Sands at first light and 24 Crossbill south over the Visitor Centre. Then the 7th Cetti's Warbler of the Autumn was ringed at the Bird Observatory. Small numbers of finches were still on the move but generally numbers were much reduced compared to recent days.

The high tide produced a Little Stint amongst the waders on the beach which also included 90 Cormorant, 4000 Oystercatcher, 3 Turnstone, 500 Grey plover, 190 Curlew, 500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70,000 Knot and 5000 Dunlin.

On New Saltmarsh were 35 Brent Geese whilst around the reserve were 4 Redwing, 78 Siskin, 14 Stonechats, a Treecreeper (Plantation), a Merlin, a Red Kite and a Green Woodpecker. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Pintail, 6 Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler. A late Humming-bird Hawk Moth was seen in the West Dunes.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 19 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, a Wren, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, a Cetti's Warbler, a Robin, a Dunnock and 2 Song Thrush; and a retrap Dunnock.

Pink-footed Geese at first light on Tennyson's Sands, 8th October 2025

Video - Nigel Lound

Pink-footed Geese, 7th October 2025
Photo - David Nutt

A Little Stint is in there somewhere (Middle right-ish), 8th October 2025
Photo - Kev Wilson

Bar-tailed Godwits over the high tide, 7th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Knot over the high tide, 7th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Waders over the high tide from Mill Hill, 8th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Greenshanks, 8th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sparrowhawk, 8th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Kestrel, 8th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Goldfinches, 8th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Humming-bird Hawk Moth, 8th October 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

October 7th. Partly cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind.

Another busy morning for recording visible migration down the East Dunes with continuous parties of migrants heading south leaving no opportunity for sea-watching or counting waders. Highlights were single Hawfinch and Lapland Bunting and a few parties of Crossbill. 20 Crossbill also showed in the North Car Park where a Firecrest passed through early morning and a Yellow-browed Warbler was vocal up the road. An obvious arrival of Chiffchaffs had occurred.

On New Saltmarsh were 35 Brent Geese and 15 Whooper Swans went south over the estuary. Flying around early morning were 1000+ Pink-footed Geese. During the late afternoon a single set of bushes around the office in the farm contained over 30+ Chiffchaffs all jumping about feeding on mosquitoes. Also around the reserve today were 2 Cetti's Warblers and 4 Greenshank (Tennyson's Sands), a Snipe, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, and 2 Redwing.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 54 new birds: 6 Goldcrest, 26 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 7 Long-tailed Tit; 4 Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 2 Robin, a Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and a Redwing; and 2 retraps: a Goldcrest and a Long-tailed Tit.

Over night moth-trapping at Sykes Farm revealed a County First in the form of a Plumed Fanfoot, another example of a southern breeding macro-moth expanding its range northwards. Well done to Nigel Lound for this amazing capture and record.

Pink-footed Geese at dawn on Tennyson's Sands, 7th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Grey Plovers over the high tide, 7th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sanderlings returning after the high tide, 7th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Chiffchaff - one of a huge number on the reserve today after an overnight influx of them.
7th October 2025, Photo - Mike Watts

Goldcrest, 7th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Long-tailed Tit, 7th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

A Crossbill in North Car Park, 7th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Crossbills together in North Car Park, 7th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

A Plumed Fanfoot - a county first trapped over night, 7th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

October 6th. Cloudy start, gradually clearing, with light south-westerly wind.

Another very big day for visible migration involving hundreds of all the usual species: more Chaffinches, Redpolls and Reed Buntings today with Crossbills featuring again in several flocks. More Whooper Swans were arriving form the north with many Pink-footed Goose and Wigeon flocks and 5 Merlin. A Glossy Ibis arrived from the north and flew west. Also heading south were a late Cuckoo, a Lapland Bunting, a Coal Tit and 3 Red Kites.

The Hobby was still around the West Dunes. On New Saltmarsh were 3 Brent Geese. Tennyson's Sands held 2 Pintail, 60 Teal, 17 Shoveler 6 Greenshank and 1 Black-tailed Godwit.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group provided 84 new birds: 2 Wren, 13 Chiffchaff, 15 Goldcrest, a Robin, 5 Blackcap, 40 Reed Bunting, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: a Robin, 2 Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting and a Goldfinch.

'A Super Moon', 6th October 2025.
Photos - Kev Wilson

Pintails, 6th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwit, 6th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Greenshanks with Teal, 6th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

A Hare enjoying the sunshine, 6th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

October 5th. A clear blue sky start to the day with a strong westerly wind. Clouding over later on in the day.

A very busy visible migration session over East Dunes between 0730 and 0930 hrs saw many Pipits, Larks, Reed Buntings and Finches, an early arrival of Whooper Swans (several groups totalling 57), regular southbound skeins of Pink-footed Geese (735+) and Wigeon flocks. 10 Pintail flew west and 7 Crossbills went south from North Car Park. Then a Firecrest was caught and ringed at the Observatory. A Wheatear was on the East Dune frontage. Around the reserve were 2 Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard and a Hobby. At dusk 2000 Pink-footed Geese were flying around and 4 more Whooper Swans flew south. A Water Rail was on Tennyson's Sands.

A wind shortened and limited nets ringing session in West Dunes produced 9 new Goldcrest; and 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Robin.

A wind-restricted morning ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group produced 26 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, a Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Reed Bunting, a Blue Tit and a Dunnock; and 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Robin.

A brief late afternoon ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group produced 6 new birds: a Goldcrest, a Robin and 4 Lesser Redpoll; and 2 retraps: a Goldcrest and a Dunnock.

Sorby Breck Ringing Group, 5 October 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Firecrest, ringed 5th October 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Crossbill in North Car Park, 5th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Wheatear on the East Dune frontage, 5th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Whooper Swans heading south over the sea, 5th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Whooper Swans on the beach, 5th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Shoveler on Tennyson's Sands, 5th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Water Rail, 5th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker
Pink-footed Goose, 5th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

October 4th. Overnight storm force winds from the south-west gave rise to a thick cloud-filled day with occasional heavy rain showers, the wind dying out just before nightfall.

Highlights of a morning sea watch were a Sooty Shearwater (North) and a Great Skua (South). Also seen were a Pintail, a Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Tern, a Little Gull, 6 Kittiwake, 11 Auk species and12 Red-throated Diver all heading South, 29 Gannet and a Great Crested Grebe (On the sea). A Merlin was hunting around Greenshanks Creek and a Marsh Harrier went south along the beach.

Visible migration involved small parties of Siskin, Linnet, Goldfinch and Chaffinch, with several Swallows, a late Swift and a Hobby battling south into the wind over the beach and East Dunes. The regular juvenile Hobby was hawking over West Dunes. The Cattle Egret was still in Field 10.

A Spring high tide from the hump, 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Leaving the Estuary roost, 2025
Photo - David Nutt

October 3rd. Heavy cloud with a strong southerly wind and rain early on and then from 1030am onwards throughout the day, with the wind increasing throughout.

An early morning look at the sea revealed 2 Gannet, 100+ Wigeon and 18 Teal (all heading south). On Tennyson's Sands were 27 Black-tailed Godwit and a single Avocet. The Treecreeper was again in the plantation.

A weather-restricted morning ringing session using the sheltered nets in the West Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group resulted in 30 new birds: 21 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Robin, a Dunnock and a Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest and a Robin.

A fresh Shaggy Inkcap fungus, 3rd October 2025
Photo - Rob Watson

October 2nd. A misty start to the day remaining dry with the cloud starting to break somewhat later on in a light southerly wind.

Birds heading south during the morning in the mist and gloom included 68 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 27 Goldfinch, 16 Chaffinch and 16 Siskin. A Moorhen was in the East Dunes, possibly a migrant. Over the sea were 8 Gannet, all heading south whilst on the river mouth during the evening were 195 Shelduck.

On Tennyson's Sands were 400 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 26 Shoveler, 54 Teal, 1 Pintail and 27 Black-tailed Godwit. Also about were a Hobby over North Carpark, 2 Marsh Harriers over the Mere, a Buzzard over the Plantation and 200+ Pink-footed Geese. Two Cattle Egrets were on Field 10 as were a Grey Heron and 120 Wigeon.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 19 new birds: a Wren and 18 Goldcrest; and 5 retraps: 4 Goldcrest and a Robin.

Hobby, 2nd October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Buzzard, 2nd October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

Wrinkly Peach Mushroom, 2nd October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts

October 1st. Mostly cloudy, with light southerly wind and some light rain from late morning.

Visible migration was fairly steady down the East Dunes between 0720 and 0920hrs involving the usual species: Siskins, Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits, Rock Pipits and Reed Buntings, but with an increase of Goldfinches today and an unusual number of Crossbills - a total of 51 south (including flocks of 22 and 14) with a further 15 Crossbills around North Car Park Pines through the morning. Also heading south were 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Buzzards and a Merlin, with another Merlin remaining local along with single Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. The juvenile Hobby continued to give great views in the West Dunes where it was hawking dragonflies.

Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese came across the Wash and headed NW inland early morning , totalling 550. On Tennyson's Sands were 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank, 478 Pink-footed Geese and 39 Shoveler. The Cattle Egret remained but no reports of Glossy Ibis. Also around the reserve were 2 Stonechats, 5 Bramblings, a Treecreeper, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Greenshank.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 22 new birds: 14 Goldcrest, a Wren, a Robin, a Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting, a Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk; and 5 retraps: 3 Goldcrest, a Cetti's Warbler and a Robin.