Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Mid April 2025

April 20th. A cloudy start to the day with a light north easterly breeze.

Early news involved a Ring Ouzel flying south along East Dunes, whilst a Woodlark was singing over Army Swathe. On Tennyson's Sands were 2 Great White Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 40 Avocet, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Pintail, 13 Redshank, a Sand Martin and 3 Water Rails. Also around the reserve were 3 Grasshopper Warblers, a Snipe and a Cuckoo.

A sea watch produced 3 Little Gulls, 2 Artic Terns, 9 Sandwich Terns, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Fulmar, 4 Little Terns, 2 Guillemots, an Eider and 8 Common Scoter.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 2 new birds: a Wren and a Ring Ouzel; and 5 retraps: a Wren, 2 Chaffinch, a Dunnock and a Chiffchaff. The Ring Ouzel was extremely light, indicating arrival after a long night flight, probably over the North Sea.

Video footage was obtained of a Water Shrew in a private garden adjacent to the Reserve - see below.

Grey Herons, 20th April 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

x2 Grey Herons and Great White Egret, 20th April 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Resident Sparrowhawk still with damaged wing from earlier in year, 20th April 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Swallow, 20th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

A pair of Water Rails, 20th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Sedge Warbler, 20th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Oystercatcher, 20th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Hare, 20th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Ring Ouzel, trapped 20 April 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Ring Ouzel, ringed 20 April 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

April 19th. A mostly cloudy day, with a fresh easterly wind.

Early news concerned 2 Woodlarks around the south end of East Dunes, and it was clear that a couple more Grasshopper Warblers had arrived overnight. There were 3 Great White Egrets, a Spoonbill, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Brent Geese, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Sand Martins, a Pintail and 2 Water Rails on Tennyson's Sands.

A morning sea watch produced 11 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Fulmars, 10 Common Scoter, an Eider, 9 Sandwich Terns and 6 Little Terns.

Woodlark, 19th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great White Egret, 19th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

A Hare, 19th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Male Shoveler, 19th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Female Shoveler, 19th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwits, 19th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 19th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great White Egret, 19th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

April 18th. An overcast start to the day with light high level cloud and a cool light then increasing easterly breeze, the cloud breaking up somewhat during the day.

On the sea today were 21 Common Scoter and a Fulmar (south), a Great Crested Grebe, 7 Little Terns, 5 Gannets and a Red-throated Diver (north). On the water bodies around the reserve were 75 Brent Geese, 57 Tufted Duck, 38 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 14 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall and a Pintail, along with 38 Avocets, 17 Redshanks, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Spoonbills, 4 Great White Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and a Water Rail.

Also around the reserve were a Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Sedge Warblers, 3 Siskin and a Brambling. Heading south were 4 Mediterranean Gulls, a Blue-headed Wagtail, 10 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit, whilst 2 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier and a Barn Owl were roaming around. A Jay went north up the East Dunes.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 7 new birds: a Wren, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Blue Tit and a Woodpigeon; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit and 2 Dunnock.

Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, 18th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Brent Geese, 18th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great White Egret, 18th April 0225
Photo - Tom Baker

Sedge Warbler, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Whitethroat, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Pintail, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Shoveler, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Spoonbills with Great White Egret, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great White Egret, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Spoonbills with a Great White Egret, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Great White Egret, 18th April 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Woodpigeon, ringed 18 April 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

April 17th. A clear blue sky day with a nearly flat calm.

Early news involved negative news on the 2 Cranes this morning with no sign of them. Last night the Northern Lights put on a show after dark for anybody who happened to be out and about.

On the water bodies around the reserve were 32 Shelduck, 32 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 6 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, a Pintail, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Spoonbills, a Grey Heron, 48 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 6 Swallows and 1 Sand Martin.

Also around the reserve were 63 Brent Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Common Scoter (on the sea), a Sandwich Tern, a Gannet (north), 2 Marsh Harriers, a Hen Harrier, a Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, a Barn Owl, a Merlin, a Green Woodpecker, 15 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, 10 Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, a Stonechat, 6 Wheatears and a Water Pipit.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Owen Beaumont, produced 11 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 2 Great Tit, a Blackcap and a Blackbird; and 6 retraps: 2 Wren, a Chiffchaff and 3 Dunnock.

Last nights Northern Lights Show from the reserve, 16th April 2025
Photo - Sam Wilson

Grey Heron and Little Egret, 17th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
Wheatear, 17th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Wheatear, 17th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Willow Warbler, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Blackcap, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Wheatear, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwits, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Whimbrel, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Tufted Ducks, 17th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

April 16th. A partly cloudy day with a strong south south-easterly wind.

The day started off at 5.45am with the 2 Cranes back on Moat Scrape showing very well for 30 mins or so when they flew off again. There was no sign of them either at Gibraltar Point or on the fields they have frequented the last two afternoons but presumably in the strong winds, they won't have gone far?

Mid morning a Woodlark flew over and landed in Army Swathe. At least 6 Yellow Wagtails were on Jacksons Meadow whilst 3 Great White Egrets were in the reedbed there. Tennyson's Sands held 3 Spoonbills and 2 more Great White Egrets along with 30 Redshank, 28 Avocet, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel, whilst 6 Egyptian Geese flew over heading south. On Croftmarsh a Wheatear was darting about trying to feed in the blustery winds. Also around were 28 Swallows, 22 House Martins, 5 Sand Martins and a Marsh Harrier.

On a morning sea watch in the strong southerly winds there were 86 Little Tern, 10 Common Scoter, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Gannet and a Fulmar, all heading south, and 2 Red-throated Diver and 2 Gannet heading north.

Spoonbills, 16th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Marsh Harrier, 16th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Yellow Wagtail, 16th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

3 Spoonbills, Great White Egret and Little Egrets, 16th April 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

April 15th. A very wet start to the day with heavy rain in a flat calm, eventually drying up but remaining cloudy.

The 2 Cranes were relocated this morning at 6am on Croftmarsh visible from Harvey's Hide. They then took off at 6.12am and headed due west at treetop height. They were relocated later on in the afternoon after the heavy rain had stopped in the same field they had been in off the A52 yesterday and showed well but distantly until 17.15hrs at least.

During the heavy rain in the morning Tennyson's Sands received a build of Swallows hawking over the reedbed, numbering at least 40 birds along with a House Martin. Also on there were 3 Great White Egrets, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Ringed Plover. A Cuckoo was calling in the East Dunes and a Crossbill was mobile on the West Side of the reserve.

April 14th. Another clear blue sky start to the day with a light southerly breeze, then increasingly cloudy.

Early news involved the first Cuckoo of the year back on the reserve at the North End, and a Woodlark was flying south as was a male Hen Harrier and a Red Kite. Also this morning 3 Green Hairstreak butterflies were on the wing at the North End. On Tennyson's Sands were 4 Great White Egrets, a Gadwall, a Pintail, a Water Rail, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Sedge Warblers and a Marsh Harrier, whilst on Croftmarsh there were 3 Red-legged Partridges (uncommon here now). Across the morning and evening high tide watch, the totals included 350 Redshank, 1000 Grey Plover, 10,000 Knot, 1500 Oystercatcher, 42 Ringed Plover and 7 Turnstone. Also an adult Mediterranean Gull was out on the foreshore over the morning high tide, as was another Great White Egret.

Also around the reserve were 4 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Whitethroats, a Stonechat, 7 Wheatears and a Jay. In the afternoon 2 Cranes flew north over Croftmarsh before u-turning and appearing nearly to land before heading out to the north-west. Later on in the afternoon they were relocated on nearby fields of the A52 where they showed well till 20.02hrs when they were flushed by a incoming train and flew south-ish, perhaps back to the reserve?

Pair of Cranes on fields off the A52, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great White Egrets, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great White Egret, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Shelducks, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Great White Egret, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Lesser Black Backed Gull harassing Avocets, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Stock Dove, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Chiffchaff, 14th April 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Wheatear, 14th April 2025
Photo - Rob Watson

Green Hairstreak Butterfly, 14th April 2025
Photo - Rob Watson

We were very lucky to be sent some more pics of the male Western Subalpine Warbler today from a very talented fella by the name of Mark Joy. As you can see below, he know how to take a pic or two. So if you were unlucky enough to not see the bird on the 12th April, these pics are very nearly as good!

Western Subalpine Warbler, 12th April 2025
Photo - Mark Joy

April 13th. A clear blue sky day again with a light westerly breeze clouding over during the day.

There was no sign of the Subalpine Warbler today, with it seemingly having moved on overnight.

In East Dunes at the North End there was a Ring Ouzel, a Green Woodpecker and a 2 Stonechat. Then a Hooded Crow headed north up East Dunes at 8.20am and was relocated on Greenshanks Ridge an hour later before flying south again shortly there after. A Common Sandpiper was on the River Steeping.

Visible migration was evident as the morning warmed up with birds heading south, including at least 8 Red Kites, 12 Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 5 Jays and a Raven along with good numbers of Sand Martins (30+), smaller numbers of Swallows and House Martins and 9 Yellow Wagtails. A male Hen Harrier was hunting up and down the foreshore as was a Merlin.

Great White Egrets had increased to 5 on Tennyson's Sands where there was also a female Garganey (at the North End of Tennyson's), 3 Little Ringed Plover, 28 Avocet, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Pintail and another Marsh Harrier. On Croftmarsh was a pair of Ruff. At least 6 Grasshopper Warblers were singing, whilst there were 3 Wheatears, 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Sedge Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, and increased numbers of Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats. A Woodcock was noted and a Jack Snipe was flushed during the late evening from Measures.

x5 Great White Egrets together on Tennyson's Sands, 13th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Great White Egret, 13th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Little Egret with fish, 13th April 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Sedge Warbler, 13th April 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Raven, 13th April 2025
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Common Sandpiper, 13th April 2025
Photo - Ste Taylor

Wheatear, 13th April 2025
Photo - Ste Taylor

April 12th. A clear blue sky day again with a light breeze the sun fading as the clouds grew through the day.

Two Mediterranean Gulls flying south past the Visitor Centre were just a pre-cursor to a red letter day for the Bird Observatory. A male Redstart was in the Ringing Hollow from the Observatory Building platform, whilst on Rock Ridge there was a male Wheatear. Clearly a fresh arrival of migrants had taken place overnight.

Then at 09.40hrs a 2cy male Western SUBALPINE WARBLER was found showing well in scrub along the footpath between the Observatory Building and the Tern Wardens Hut. The bird continued to show well to an constantly refreshing assembled crowd of admiring onlookers until 18.55hrs at least, showing all day down to 5 metres and giving occasional subsong and calls whilst feeding in the sunshine seemingly oblivious to the assembled bird watchers etc.

During the day, other birds included a Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Redwing, a Swallow, 3 Sand Martins and a Jay, all south. Also about during the day were 3 Whimbrel, 2 Hen Harriers (a distant ringtail out to the south and another male), several Whitethroats and 2 Wheatears in the East Dunes and 5 Egyptian Geese in the gull roost on Millennium Ridge. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Great White Egrets in the afternoon and a brief Greenshank.

The Western Subalpine Warbler is just the second for the reserve. An unassigned Curruca sp. female was ringed on 7th May 1983 and stayed for 8 days. The first Western "proper" was a 2cy male which was found on 20th May 2013 and stayed for 4 days. There has also been an Eastern Subalpine Warbler which was ringed on 29th April 2019 and stayed until the next day, its taxon being confirmed later by DNA analysis of dropped feathers. Hopefully today's bird will stick around for a few days to allow birders to see it who were unable to get there today.

Thanks to the video below we can see that today's bird showed all the characteristics of a 2nd year bird, with two replaced tertials and 2 replaced inner secondaries, very sun-bleached primaries and outer secondaries and an iris not as bright as one would expect in an older bird, still showing hints of olive in the orange colour of the eye.

A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Owen Beaumont, yielded 6 new birds: a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch and a Robin; and 2 retraps: a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Male Western Subalpine Warbler, 12th April 2025

Video - Kev Wilson

Male Western Subalpine Warbler, 12th April 2025
Photo - James Siddle

Redstart, 12th April 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

April 11th. Mostly clear, with light variable wind.

On Jacksons Marsh were 3 Great White Egrets and a Snipe. On Tennyson's Sands were a Spoonbill, 62 Tufted Duck, 31 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 3 Pintail, 37 Avocet, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Heron, a Kingfisher, a Sedge Warbler and 8 Fieldfares (south-east at 0810hrs). Two more Fieldfares were in West Dunes later on in the morning. On the high tide there were 330 Redshank, 900 Grey Plover and 12400 Knot.

Elsewhere on the reserve there were a Red Kite, a Barn Owl, a Yellowhammer, 9 Chiffchaffs, a Black Redstart, a Blue-headed Wagtail, 2 Willow Warblers, a Jay and a Woodcock. A group of 8 Sand Martin went south over Sykes Farm in the late afternoon and a Firecrest in the plantation.