Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: August 2025

August 10th. Clear, with light south-westerly to south-easterly wind.

Early news involved two White-rumped Sandpipers on the foreshore with Dunlin and Sanderling over the early morning high tide. Then the Glossy Ibis was again on Jackson's Marsh in front of the hide for a few hours in the morning before again heading off towards Middle Marsh where it then showed again until lunchtime at least.

During the morning high tide other birds recorded were 13 juvenile Little Terns and around 10,000 waders roosting on the foreshore. The evening high tide peak produced counts of 8240 Sanderling, 2000 Oystercatcher and 25,000 Knot which made looking for the White-rumped Sandpipers again, almost impossible!

On the water bodies were 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Wood Sandpiper and 1 Yellow Wagtail. Also around were a Wheatear and a group of flighty Crossbills around the north end of the West Dunes. Warblers were again much in evidence in both the East and West Dunes with at least 90 Willow Warblers and 45 Whitethroats on site including birds ringed.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 32 new birds: 25 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, a Robin, 3 Linnet, a Whitethroat and a Dunnock; and 4 retraps: a Whitethroat, 2 Wren and a Linnet.

Session number Eleven of the Constant Effort Site was completed in the West Dunes this morning resulted in 23 new birds: 10 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Reed Bunting; and 8 retraps: 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap and 2 Dunnock.

Whilst the CES was underway, the feeding station nets in the West Dunes were opened up along with another trial net, this resulted in 38 new birds: 7 Whitethroat, 7 Greenfinch, 6 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Robin and 1 Dunnock; and 18 retraps: 9 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Blackbird.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Bird B) roosting with Ringed Plovers, 10th August 2025
Photo - Kev Wilson

White-rumped Sandpiper (Bird A) with Dunlins and Ringed Plover, 10th August 2025
Photo - Kevin Wilson

Glossy Ibis, 10th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Juvenile Goldcrest, ringed 10 August 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Adult moulting male Reed Bunting in a shocking post breeding state! ringed 10th August 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Adult male Reed Bunting with Primaries and Tail feathers in a shocking state after a busy breeding season, ringed 10th August 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Adult male Reed Bunting in wing moult showing Primaries 1 to 5 as old and 6 to 10 as new.
Clearly showing why birds have to moult each year! ringed 10th August 2025,
Photo - Michael Briggs

Juvenile Coal Tit, ringed 10th August 2025
Photo - Michael Briggs

Greenshank, 10th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

August 9th. Clear start, becoming cloudier, with increasing south-westerly wind.

Early news involved a White-rumped Sandpiper on the foreshore briefly with |Dunlin over the high tide. Then a Glossy Ibis was on Jackson's Marsh briefly before flying inland, probably back to Middle Marsh where it was first seen the day before.

Also on the water bodies were 2 Marsh Harriers (A male and a juvenile), 4 Little Ringed Plover, 80 Lapwing, 157 Avocet, 589 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Cormorant, 2 Great White Egret, 7 Little Egret and 37 Spoonbill.

Also seen today were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Kestrel, 40 Swallow and 30 Sand Martin.

Good numbers of Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats were in the dunes, with 5 Tree Pipits and a Spotted Flycatcher, whilst visible migration involved 300 Swallows, 220 Sand Martins, 40 House Martins, 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail. Four Crossbills were in the West Dunes.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes, with Mike Polling, produced 10 new birds: 6 Willow Warbler, a Wren, a Robin, a Reed Warbler and a Tree Pipit; and a retrap Robin.

White-rumped Sandpiper, 9th August 2025
Photo - Richard Doan

Glossy Ibis, 9th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Tree Pipit, ringed 9 August 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Spotted Flycatcher & Willow Warbler, 9th August 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Greenshank, 9th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Marsh Harrier, 9th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Willow Emerald Damselfly, 9th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

August 8th. Partially cloudy, with moderate south-westerly wind.

On the water bodies today were 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Great White Egret and 36 Spoonbill. Also about were several Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 21 new birds: 15 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Linnet, a Whitethroat, a Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and 3 retraps: a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Whitethroat, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Wren, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Willow Warbler, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Juvenile Grey Heron, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Great White Egret, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Marsh Harrier, 8th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Buzzard, 8th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Black-tailed Godwits, 8th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Roe Deer, 8th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

August 7th. Mostly cloudy, with early morning brief light rain and increasing south-westerly wind.

On the water bodies during the day were 3 Shoveler, 85 Mallard, 38 Teal, 25 Little Grebe, 143 Avocet, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 60 Lapwing, 388 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 5 Cormorant, 24 Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier.

In the ringing hollow was a Clouded Yellow Butterfly around lunchtime.

A rain-delayed morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, a Robin and a Linnet; and 2 retraps: a Linnet and a Chiffchaff.

Juvenile Dunlin, 7th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Shoveler, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Endomychus coccineus - False Ladybird, 7th August 2025
Photo - Beth McGuire

Common Darter Dragonfly, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Ruddy Darter, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Emperor Dragonfly, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Azure Damselfly, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

One of the Exorista Fly's of the family Tachinidae, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

Small White Butterfly, 6th August 2025
Photo - David Nutt

August 6th. Mostly clear, with light south-westerly wind.

Tennyson's Sands through the day held 98 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 22 Teal, 22 Little Grebe, 28 Lapwing, 145 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 326 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 8 Cormorant (Including a colour ringed bird - see below), 18 Little Egret and 34 Spoonbill. On the Mere was another Green Sandpiper and 140 Black-tailed Godwit - (probably birds flushed from Tennyson's Sands late afternoon).

Also seen today was a Hobby over North Hide, while common migrants were continuing to build in the dunes. A single flock in the West Dunes today included 31 Long-tailed Tit and another 40 to 50 birds with them including over 20 Willow Warblers, some Chiffchaff and other Tits and Sylvia warblers. A Treecreeper was in Sykes Farm at lunchtime.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 10 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, a Linnet and a Dunnock; and 5 retraps: 2 Dunnock, a Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Reed Warbler.

Dragonfly news involved 80+ Willow Emerald Damselflies that were around the Plantation during the afternoon.

Colour-ring sighting Control: A Cormorant that was spotted this evening on Tennyson's Sands, firstly by Mick Briggs and then the ring being read and photographed by Nigel Lound has already been reported back on courtesy of Kieran Foster of the Merseyside Ringing Group: a bird originally ringed on the 18th June 2025 at Hale Duck Decoy in Cheshire. Orange Darvic ring number "408" is just 2 months old and it shows an un-expected eastward movement so quickly after fledging. This birds metal ring number is "5290385", which we would never have been able to read in the field - colour-rings triumph again!

Colour ringed Cormorant, 6th August 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

Ruff & Lapwing, 6th August 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Spotted Redshanks, 6th August 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Spoonbills youngsters fighting over food from a parent, 7th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Lapwing, 6th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Hobby, 6th August 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Wood Sandpiper, 6th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Snipe, 6th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

x2 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank on the left with a Teal, 6th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

August 5th. Mostly cloudy, with occasional showers in an increasing strong westerly wind.

Through the day Tennyson's Sands held 61 Mallard, 38 Teal, 27 Little Grebe, 11 Lapwing, 97 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 416 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 72 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 4 Dunlin, 9 Cormorant and 24 Spoonbill. A Green Sandpiper was also on the Mere, but most birds seemed to be keeping their heads down in the strong westerly winds. Another day of continued Tern passage at a steady pace offshore, typically mostly Sandwich Terns but with increasing numbers of Common Terns and 35 Little Terns

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 8 new birds: 3 Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, a Linnet, a Reed Bunting, a Dunnock and a Sparrowhawk; and a retrap Robin.

Juvenile male Sparrowhawk, ringed 5 August 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Greenshanks, 5th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Redshank, 5th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Spoonbills, 5th August 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

August 4th. Mostly cloudy with prolonged rain from mid morning until late afternoon when the sun eventually put in an appearance in the increasingly strong westerly wind.

Birds around during the morning included a Barn Owl. A lunchtime look at the sea revealed 2800 Sandwich Terns, mainly roosting on the beach but many moving south fishing as they went. About 300 Commic Terns south as well with 15 Arctic Skuas and a further 7 "blogging" off shore.

On Tennyson's Sands through the day were 65 Mallard, 44 Teal, 32 Little Grebe, 131 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 446 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 119 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 26 Spoonbill, 37 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher and 8 Cormorant. About 120 Swifts moved south during the early evening.

August 3rd. Cloudy, with late morning to early afternoon light rain, and increasing south-westerly wind.

Early news involved evidence that another influx of Willow Warblers had taken place overnight with birds spread widely across the reserve with a day count of at least 85 birds present, including 33 caught and ringed. Nine Crossbills were again buzzing around the north end of West Dunes, often visiting North Car Park. A couple of hundred Hirundines were sunning themselves on the building's roofs at Aylmer Avenue early on in the cold start, with a good 50/50 split of House Martins and Swallows.

A morning look from Mill Hill resulted in 8 Gannets and 400+ Sandwich Terns at sea whilst the real action was visible migration through East Dunes with 30 Sand Martins, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 18 Crossbills and 80 Linnets all heading South. Also noted were a juvenile Merlin and 2 Marsh Harriers.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 26 new birds: 2 Wren, 15 Willow Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, a Robin, a Meadow Pipit, 2 Whitethroat and a Linnet; and 3 retraps: a Dunnock, a Wren and a Willow Warbler.

Session number 10 of the Constant Effort Site was done this morning and resulted in 39 new birds: 17 Willow Warbler, 5 Swallow, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 House Martin, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock and 1 Song Thrush; and 14 retraps: 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker2 Wren, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Great Tit and 1 Robin.

Whilst the CES was being done the West Dunes feeding station nets were opened up and resulted in 18 new birds: 10 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Great Tit, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Robin; and 4 retraps: 2 Great Tit, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Blue Tit.

Common Sandpiper, 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Avocet "Stumpy" 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Little Grebe, 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

August 2nd. Cloudy, with moderate north-westerly wind.

Early news concerned 2 Roseate Terns that were in the Sandwich Tern roost on the beach down from Mill Hill. Also 9 Spoonbills flew in off the sea over Mill Hill.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 10 Willow Warbler and a Wren; and 9 retraps: 2 Whitethroat, 3 Dunnock, a Wren, a Willow Warbler, a Robin and a Chiffchaff.

Redshank, 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Avocet "Stumpy" 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Green Sandpiper, 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Avocet "Stumpy" 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

Spoonbills, 2nd August 2025
Photo - Steve Clipperton

August 1st. Cloudy, with rain from early to mid morning, and increasing north-westerly wind.

On the water bodies around the reserve were a Little Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 9 Greenshank, 8 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Golden Plover (fly overs only) and 9 Cormorant.

Also around the Visitor Centre were 4 Stonechat which appeared to be a pair and two juveniles. Around the West Dunes during the afternoon was a Jay, and 2 Crossbill were around North Car Park. Willow Warblers were still much in evidence with 20+ just along the West Dunes and Cycle Track.

A brief, very early morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 4 new birds: a Wren, 2 Willow Warbler and a Linnet; and 4 retraps: a Robin, 2 Wren and a Reed Warbler.