The Gibraltar Rarities Panel is set up by the Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory to consider records of birds not usually recorded in Gibraltar.

The membership of the Panel is: 

Charles Perez (Chairman), Albert Yome (albert (at) gonhs.org) (Secretary), Paul Acolina, Les Battle, Keith Bensusan, Dr John Cortes, Andrew Fortuna, and Dr Ernest Garcia

The Panel aims to ensure that published records of birds observed at Gibraltar are those which have satisfied defined, objective criteria regarding their authenticity. In common with other national Rarities Committees, the Gibraltar committee is conservative in outlook, preferring to err on the side of caution when doubts arise. The rejection of a record by the committee does not imply that the record was incorrect but only that the circumstances of the observation were insufficient to rule out all possibility of error.

The list below includes all those species for which records submitted to the Panel DO NOT require supporting descriptions. Records of any other species must be accompanied by a written description, including full details of the observation.

A written description of the bird(s) and the circumstances of the record should be submitted to the Committee Chairman, Charles Perez (records (at) gonhs.org) in the first instance. The format favoured by the Association of European Rarities Committees is ideal (see http://www.aerc.eu/Documents.htm) and is available as a Rarities Submission Form here. A description is required for records of all species EXCEPT those specifically excluded below. Descriptions are also required for all potential additions to the Gibraltar List.

Rarities Panel Decisions.

Records accepted at the Rarities Panel meeting held on 4th October 2005

26/07/1967 Red-backed shrike                                                    1 E.F.J. Garcia
03/09/1993 Cetti’s Warbler                                                            1 ringed C. Perez, K. Bensusan
07/10/1994 Sedge Warbler                                                            1 ringed C. Perez, R. Rutherford
08/10/1994 Cetti’s Warbler                                                            1 ringed J. Cortes
18/03/1995 Sooty Shearwater                                                       2 C. Perez
30/09/1995 Coal Tit & 24/03/1995                                                1 ringed, then re-trapped
21/10/1995 Sooty Shearwater                                                        1 C. Perez
28/08/1998 Lammergeier                                                               1 C. Perez, K. Bensusan, J. Tebar
22/09/1998 Sedge Warbler                                                             1 ringed
17/10/1998 Sooty Shearwater                                                        2 J. Cortes, K. Bensusan
02/10/1999 Great Shearwater                                                        1 J. Cortes, C. Perez
16/04/2001 Sedge Warbler                                                             1 ringed C. Perez
23/05/2001 Lanner                                                                           1 K. Bensusan, J. Cortes
30/06/2001 Lanner to 24/07/2001                                                  1 J. Cortes
27/04/2002 Alpine chough                                                               3 C. Perez
28/04/2002 Black Vulture                                                                 1
07/05/2002 Black Vulture                                                                 1
09/06/2002 Black Vulture                                                                 1 J. Cortes
04/09/2002 Lanner                                                                            1 P. Rocca
31/10/2002 Bullfinch                                                                         1 ringed
07/01/2003 Guillemot                                                                       1 R. Rutherford
21/03/2003 Bullfinch                                                                         1 ringed I. Thompson
30/03/2003 Black Vulture                                                                 1 K. Bensusan, I. Thompson
31/05/2003 Lanner                                                                           1 P. Rocca
22/07/2003 Long-legged buzzard                                                  1 K. Bensusan
06/09/2003 Sanderling                                                                    2 K. Bensusan, C. Perez
20/09/2003 Lesser whitethroat                                                      1 ringed R. Marsh
08/11/2003 Cetti’s Warbler                                                             1 A. Fortuna
08/03/2004 Lanner                                                                           1 P. Rocca
09/04/2004 African chaffinch                                                           1 ringed I. Thompson
17/04/2004 Magpie                                                                           1 J. Cortes, V. Robba
05/05/2004 Laughing Gull                                                               1 R. Rutherford
25/06/2004 Crested Tit                                                                     1 P. Rocca
04/08/2004 Lanner                                                                            1 P. Rocca
11/08/2004 Purple Swamphen                                                       1 J. Cortes, K. Bensusan, C. Perez
08/11/2004 Bullfinch                                                                          9, 8 ringed R. Denyer, T. Beasley
12/11/2004 Long-tailed tit                                                               10  ringed R. Denyer, T. Beasley
14/11/2004 Bullfinch                                                                          1 ringed
14/11/2004 Indigo bunting                                                                1 Trapped, Tony Beasley.
19/11/2004 Cetti’s Warbler 15/01/2005                                         1 K. Bensusan, D. Federico
31/01/2005 Sanderling                                                                      1 C. Perez, K. Bensusan
28/04/2005 Seebohm’s wheatear                                                   1 K. Bensusan
02/09/2005 Long-legged buzzard                                                    2 C. Perez, K. Bensusan, et al.

LIST OF SPECIES WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONS

The Rarities Panel may on occasion request a description and further details for any bird recorded in Gibraltar, even if on the list above, particularly if the record is outside the season when the bird is usually recorded.

Any enquiries as well as details of all rarities observed should be referred to the Secretary of the Rarities Panel, Albert Yome (albert at gonhs.org).