Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: Late April 2026

April 26th. A cloudy day throughout with a light easterly wind.

Highlight of the day was the pair of Garganey which remained on Fenland Lagoon along with a mobile Greenshank. On the estuary were a pair of Spoonbill.

Elsewhere there were 61 Brent Geese, 1000 Oystercatcher (Flying over high tide), 16 Ringed Plover, 7 Whimbrel (East of North Building), 35 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatear (Saltings) and 70 Swallow (South).

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 11 new birds: 2 Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat and 2 Chaffinch; and 4 retraps: 2 Wren, a Sparrowhawk and a Long-tailed Tit.

Oystercatchers, 26th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Sanderlings on the beach, 26th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Ringed Plover on the beach pulling up dinner, 26th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Sparrowhawk on the hunt, 26th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

April 25th. Anther cold morning with a ground frost but light wind and becoming warm through the morning before the wind increased from the north.

A good movement during the morning involved 277 Swallows, 75 Sand Martin, 35 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Whimbrel, various Corvids and Finches, two Swift and a Jay. A pair of Garganey were found on Jackson's Marsh late morning with another pair arriving on the Fenland Lagoon late afternoon (Both pairs confirmed present at same time, so four birds possibly being a new reserve record!). Plenty of Hirundines were hawking over the lagoons late afternoon.

Also around the lagoons there were 31 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Spoonbill, 21 Avocet, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 47 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Mediterranean Gulls. A drake Wigeon was feeding on one of the golf course greens at tea time.

Elsewhere around the reserve there were 2 Buzzard, 42 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 11 Sedge Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warblers (Singing along cycle track area), 1 Grey Wagtail (On River) and 2 Yellowhammers.

In the West Dunes was a brief sighting of a somewhat unusual over wintered Painted Lady Butterfly.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 11 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting and a Sedge Warbler; and 2 retraps: a Whitethroat and a Wren.

Garganey pair, 25th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor

A Garganey pair, 25th April 2026
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Jay, 25th April 2026
Photo - Ste Taylor
April 24th. A harsh frost to start the day with freezing fog for the first couple of hours daylight, becoming sunny but staying cold in a light northerly wind.

Highlights today on Tennyson's Sands were a Green Sandpiper , 2 Ruff, 1 Spoonbill and a Cetti's Warbler.

Also around the water bodies around the reserve were 46 Brent Geese, 1 Egyptian Geese, 33 Shelduck, 28 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 14 Coot, 12 Little Grebe, 3 Oystercatcher, 30 Avocet, 71 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Dunlin.

Elsewhere around the Reserve were 2 Buzzard, 14 Skylark, 12 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Mill Hill), 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 12 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (Mill Pond Road showing very well!). 7 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Whitethroat, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 16 Chaffinch.

Butterflies around the reserve included 3 Green-veined White, 1 Orange Tip, 2 Green Hairstreak and 2 Peacock.

Barn Owl with dinner, 24th April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

April 23rd. A bright sunny day again but still staying cool in a fresh north easterly wind.

Highlights today included at least 2, if not 3 Ring Ouzels (2 males squabbling along the West Dunes and 1 later on Tennyson's Sands). Two Mediterranean Gulls were again over Jackson's Marsh and then Tennyson's Sands, 2 Ruff were with the Black-tailed Godwits on Tennyson's Sands and a Greenshank was over Jackson's Marsh and a further 2 over the East Dunes. A Garden Warbler was new for the year singing near North Building.

On the water bodies were 76 Brent Geese, 1 Pink-fronted Goose, 1 Egyptian Geese, 29 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 1 drake Wigeon, 5 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 11 Little Grebe, 31 Avocet, 64 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler (North Hide).

There was a good arrival overnight of warblers along the coast including 12 Chiffchaff, 12 Lesser Whitethroat and 67 Whitethroat. Also there was a general build up of Hirundines hawking over the water bodies across the reserve as well with 21 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, 32 House Martin recorded.

Also around the reserve today were 4 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker (Halfway Sycamores), 2 Cuckoo (North End and North Car Park), 1 Buzzard, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warblers (Mill Pond Road and North Building) 9 Blackcap, 5 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, 18 Chaffinch and 26 Goldfinch.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 5 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Chaffinch and a Great Tit; and 2 retrap Wren.

The high tide washing more of the East Dunes away at the south end of Greenshank Creek.
23rd April 2026, Photo - David Nutt

Sanderling feeding whilst trying to avoid helium party balloons on the beach!
23rd April 2026, Photo - Mike Watts

Avocets, 23rd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Singing Garden Warbler around North Building, 23rd April 20226
Photo - Tom Baker

Wheatear in the sanctuary area, 23rd April 2026
Photo - Mike Watts

Pink-footed Goose on Jackson's Marsh, 23rd April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker

Drake Gadwall, 23rd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Drake Wigeon, 23rd April 20226
Photo - David Nutt

The Millennium Ridge, 23rd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

April 22nd. A clear sunny day all day but staying cool in a moderate east north easterly wind.

Highlights of the day had to be a pair of Glossy Ibis that flew north over Field 10 at 10.35am before being seen again flying south over Field 10 later in the morning. Other highlights included a Spoonbill on Jackson's Marsh and 2 Grey Partridge flushed from the Visitor Centre garden (A proper rarity at Gib!). A Ruff was amongst the Black-tailed Godwits on Croft Marsh. During the late afternoon, a Ring Ouzel was discovered in the West Dunes.

The water bodies held 66 Brent Geese, 3 Egyptian Geese (Field 10), 37 Shelduck, 36 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 17 Tufted Duck, 14 Little Grebe, 32 Avocet, 78 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Snipe (Tennyson's Sands).

Elsewhere around the reserve were 1500 Oystercatcher, 24 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank (Old Saltmarsh), 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 10 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, 9 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (Mill Pond Road), 15 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (Field 10 Hedgerow), 10 Whitethroat, 1 Rock Pipit (On tide wrack), and 20 Chaffinch.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 4 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Robin; and 3 retraps: a Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Long-tailed Tit.

Spoonbill, 22nd April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker

A Ruff amongst Black-tailed Godwits, 22nd April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker

Black-tailed Godwits over Croft Marsh, 22nd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Male Chaffinch with ring on, 22nd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

A Green-veined White Butterfly, 22nd April 2026
Photo - David Nutt

Speckled Wood Butterfly, 22nd April 2026
Photo - Tom Baker

A Bee Fly (Bombylius major) a common springtime pollinator in gardens and woodlands
22nd April 2026, Photo - Tom Baker

April 21st. A clear sunny day all day in a moderate to string easterly wind which kept temperatures cool.

A look at the sea during the morning revealed the following moving North - 1 drake Eider, 4 Little Tern, 34 Sandwich Tern, 6 Kittiwake, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 2 Gannet. On the beach were 6 Turnstone.

The water bodies held 1 Pink-footed Goose (Croft Marsh), 7 Mute Swan, 21 Shelduck, 31 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 15 Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 9 Little Grebe, 31 Avocet and 80 Black-tailed Godwit.

Also around were 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 2 Cetti's Warbler (Tennyson's Sands and Mill Hill), 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 8 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 9 Whitethroat, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 16 Chaffinch.