Bird Report 2022 - In Progress

The Report sections listed below are largely complete and may be consulted here. They remain subject to further alteration until the final Report, complete with photographs, is published in the usual format later in the year. In the meantime, suggested changes, alterations or submissions for publication will be gratefully received by the Editor, Ernest Garcia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

BIRDS IN GIBRALTAR 2022 

Compiled by Ernest Garcia

EDITORIAL

Dr Ernest Garcia

A GREAT FUTURE IF YOU LIKE IT HOT

I have recently been perusing a sizeable tome, ‘A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds’ (Huntley et al. 2007) which applied models of climate change predictions to suggest how the breeding distributions of European birds may differ by the end of the century, during 2070–2099 to be specific. The idea is based on measuring the current climatic conditions under which each species now lives in Europe and then using models to predict where similar conditions will persist in the future. The recurrent climatic anomalies, especially the severe summer heatwaves affecting the Mediterranean basin, have prompted me to consider what the long-term consequences might be for the Iberian avifauna should the warming trend continue, as it is predicted to do. I realise that, by 2070, never mind 2099, I will not be in a position to see what happens for myself. Neither will most of you, no doubt. Nevertheless, our descendants should be there to cope with whatever the climate does.

The Atlas particularly highlights southern Spain as a region that will become progressively more arid, leading to northward displacement of many familiar bird species as their living requirements disappear down south. We are predicted to lose breeding populations of many familiar species from southern Spain, including the White Stork, Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle (but not Bonelli’s Eagle), Red-necked Nightjar, woodpeckers, Dartford Warbler (but not Sardinian Warbler), Iberian Chiffchaff, Short-toed Treecreeper and Spotless Starling, among quite a few others. Shags and Yellow-legged Gulls will disappear from much of the Western Mediterranean. Indeed, the Shag may hardly survive anywhere in Iberia. A few gains are projected. Lanners may colonise Spain, mainly in the north, and the Common Buzzard will have been replaced quite widely by the Long-legged (presumably Atlas) Buzzard.

The book is based on European breeding birds only and so does not consider that increasing aridity may serve to displace some North African breeders further north. At present there are over 50 species that breed in Morocco but not in Iberia (see Bergier et al. 2022, highly recommended), although 23 of them have been recorded in Spain occasionally or as vagrants. Several; the Red-rumped Swallow, Trumpeter Finch and Little Swift for example, colonised Iberia from North Africa during the 20^th century and such others as the Laughing Dove and House Bunting may be in the process of doing so. It may well be that these colonisers will be followed eventually by such birds as the Cream-coloured Courser (which has already bred several times in Spain) and some of the North African larks and chats. I hope most sincerely that the Gibraltar birders of the late 21^st century will be on hand to monitor and record what actually happens.

References

Bergier, P., Thévenot, M., Qninba, A. & Houllier, J-R. 2022. Oiseaux du Maroc/Birds of Morocco. Société d’Études Ornitologiques de France, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturel. Paris.

Huntley, B., Green, R. E., Collingham, Y. C. & Willis, S. G. 2007. A climatic atlas of European breeding birds. Durham University, the RSPB & Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Acknowledgments

As ever, I thank Charlie Perez for steering this issue through the publishing process and both Charlie and Keith Bensusan for commenting on the earlier versions of the text. The many observers and ringers whose records make the Report possible are acknowledged on Pages XX and XX. We are all most grateful to them and I commend their efforts in increasing the volume of records obtained year-on-year. My thanks too to our photographers whose splendid work brings publications such as this to life. For this issue they are in particular the indefatigable Robert Perez; responsible for XX photos in this Report, and also Clive Finlayson, X, Y and Z.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Gibraltar birders were clearly both busy and lucky in 2022 since they managed to find a total of 165 species during the year. This greatly exceeded the mean annual species count for 2001–2021, 151 species. It is also a new record since the present series of Bird Reports began in 2001, the previous highest annual total being 164 species in 2004. Figures such as these are of no biological significance reflecting, as I said, observer effort and plain chance. Nevertheless, it is curious to note that several usually-seen species were not recorded at all in 2022: Great Spotted Cuckoo, European Storm-petrel, Purple Heron, Black Tern, Merlin, Lanner and Sand Martin. In addition, there were only two single records of Turtle Dove and only single individuals of Cattle Egret, Common Tern and Scops Owl were reported.

One new species, the European Nuthatch, was added to the Gibraltar List in 2022. There was also a first record of the Scandinavian subspecies of the Bluethroat, the Red-spotted Bluethroat, which was caught by ringers. Other notable observations included a Mallard (5^th record), a Dunlin (7^th record), a group of three Collared Pratincoles (9^th record), a flock of seven Long-tailed Tits (8^th record), a Red-breasted Flycatcher (4^th record), a Moroccan Wagtail (2^nd record), two Yellowhammers (2^nd record) and two more House Buntings (3^rd and 4^th records). Several scarce warbler species were more frequent than usual: they included four Isabelline Warblers, three Wood Warblers, four Yellow-browed Warblers and ten Spectacled Warblers. An Iberian Magpie, presumably the same individual that was first reported in 2021, was present intermittently until early June.

Interesting seabirds included the first double-figure flock of Slender-billed Gulls: 22 birds, exceptional winter records of Lesser Crested Terns during both winter periods and an influx of Razorbills into the Mediterranean in December. The last event resulted in frequent sightings of fishing Razorbills in inshore waters and the harbour into 2023. The Razorbill influx coincided with an influx, perhaps a wreck, of Grey Phalaropes into the Strait and its western approaches. Of these at least two, one of them a tideline corpse, made it as far as Gibraltar, comprising the 14^th and 15^th Grey Phalarope records and the first local sightings since 1984.

Other noteworthy winter records included two Osprey sightings in January and the regular presence of a second individual that took up residence in the northern Bay area, frequenting the western runway margin from late October into 2023. Once again, there were records of an apparently overwintering Sparrowhawk, in January and December. The massive Crag Martin winter roost in the Governor’s Beach cave complex continued to be well frequented, numbers there peaking at over 24,000 birds in January.

Once again, long periods of easterly winds resulted in low numbers of arrivals of soaring migrants at Gibraltar. This was particularly the case in March, which normally sees peak arrivals of both Black Kites and Short-toed Snake-eagles. These were missed in March 2022 but conditions improved in April and May, when there were some good ‘raptor days’. In total, over 19,000 spring raptors were counted, of which nearly 11,000 were Black Kites and 5,214 were Honey-Buzzards.

As usual, the southward, ‘autumn’, raptor passage was not counted systematically but nevertheless there were over 30,000 raptors reported, the great majority of them, nearly 24,000 birds, being Black Kites. Most of the kites passed during a few days in mid August, a count of 11,500 on August 16^th being especially noteworthy since it exceeded the entire spring total of the species. A count of 42 Montagu’s Harriers on the same date was exceptional. These apart, a flypast of some 1,000 Griffon Vultures in just 30 minutes during the late morning on November 3^rd provided an amazing spectacle for those who saw it. Records of scarcer raptors during the year comprised five Black Vultures: three in spring and two in autumn; six Hen Harriers in spring; at least one Goshawk; two Red Kites; just six Common Buzzards, five of them in spring; and three Eleonora’s Falcons.

There were no surprises involving the regular breeding species although once again only one pair of Little Owls produced any young and no proof of nesting was obtained for either Tawny Owls or Robins, both of which had over-summering individuals. A pair of Great Tits was seen with eight recently fledged young in the Nature Reserve, an unusual record involving a locally very scarce species that is beginning to show signs of increasing. Five pairs of Common Kestrels fledged a total of 15 young and four Peregrine Falcon pairs fledged eight young.

THE SYSTEMATIC LIST 2022

Records marked * are pending consideration by the Rarities Panel.

IMPORTANT NOTES.

Status definitions.

Vagrant: Exceptional at any time in southern Iberia (including Gibraltar), e.g. Allen’s Gallinule.

Local Vagrant: Exceptional in Gibraltar but not unusual in southern Spain, e.g. Woodpigeon, Moorhen.

Rare: Seldom recorded in Gibraltar or anywhere in southern Spain, e.g. Yellow-billed Chough and Fieldfare.

Occasional: Seen infrequently and not annually e.g. Common Cuckoo.

Regular: Annual in small numbers. e.g. Red-necked Nightjar.

Common: Annual and sometimes numerous, e.g. Black Redstart.

Locations

Sites mentioned are shown on the Map on Page X. The term ‘Western Runway’ refers to the western end of the airfield runway, where a small loafing ground for gulls, cormorants, waders and some passerines is monitored by airfield staff.

Counts of migrant raptors. (See Appendices for daily totals).

Gibraltar only sees a variable fraction of the passage of raptors across the Strait. Most occur during westerly winds, when a higher proportion of the movements occur at the eastern end of the Strait. Harriers, falcons and the Osprey show only a limited tendency to seek short sea crossings and so their totals are invariably low. A daily watch is kept during the spring migration period.

Ringing

Birds ringed have been caught and ringed at Jews’ Gate, at the GONHS bird observatory at the south end of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Names.

We follow the classification, sequence and nomenclature employed in the HBW-Birdlife Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, del Hoyo, J. & Collar, N. Eds. Volume 1 (2014) Non-passerines. Volume 2 (2016) Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.). (Also online at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Birds of the World website https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home). Certain qualifiers, such as ‘Eurasian’, are omitted from vernacular names where no ambiguity results.

Common Quail Codorniz común Coturnix coturnix

Occasional: migrant.

One was picked up in the town on September 8^th. It was unhurt and released later in more suitable habitat.

Barbary Partridge Perdiz moruna Alectoris barbara

Resident.

The January winter bird count found 83 birds: 21 on the Upper Rock, 47 on the East Side slopes and 15 on Windmill Hill. Throughout the year birds were widely distributed within the Nature Reserve but, as usual, most submitted records were from Windmill Hill, where partridges are readily encountered. Most visits to Windmill Hill during the first half of the year found three to ten birds but there were 16 there on March 29^th and 22 on April 26^th. Double-figure counts were habitual on Windmill Hill from August onwards, with 20+ on six dates and peak counts of 42 on September 9^th and 46 on September 26^th. Six juveniles were among 18 birds on Windmill Hill on August 13^th.

Sightings from locations outside the nature reserve included two at Sandy Bay on June 25^th, up to 12 birds in the Mosque area of Europa Flats on several dates in October and November and three in Little Bay on December 30^th.

Mallard Anade real Anas platyrhynchos

Local vagrant.

An adult drake was seen on June 19^th arriving at Europa Point from the south, from where it continued eastwards. Only the 5^th recent record (C. Perez).

Greater Flamingo Flamenco común Phoenicopterus roseus

Irregular migrant, usually annual.

Ten were seen from Europa Point on March 3^rd and there were two there on June 26^th. One flew south past Westview Promenade on August 29^th. There were three flocks in September: 30 on the 4^th, 35 on the 5^th and 85 flew south-west past the North Mole on the 28^th.

Rock Dove Paloma bravía Columba livia

Rare. (Feral birds common).

Feral birds were much in evidence but, as usual, attracted little attention from birders. The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 116 birds. Occasional site counts included 15 on slopes below the Keightley Way tunnel entrance in Little Bay and 40 on Dockyard workshop roofs, both on October 31^st. On November 3^rd a flock of 40 was frequenting Rock Gun, 20 were around the Moorish Castle and 40 were on rooftops in the central town area.

Woodpigeon Paloma torcaz Columba palumbus

Local vagrant.

There were two records of single birds: in shrubbery near Jacob’s Ladder on February 9^th and in the Botanic Gardens on June 25^th.

Turtle Dove Tórtola europea Streptopelia turtur

Regular but scarce migrant.

There were only two records, both of single individuals: on Europa Flats on May 29^th and on Windmill Hill on September 1^st.

Collared Dove Tórtola turca Streptopelia decaocto

Common resident.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 83 birds, including 22 in the Botanic Gardens and 52 in other South District gardens. During the year Collared Doves were commonly found throughout the urbanised areas and in parks and gardens, perhaps with an increased presence in the Europa Point area, where there were up to 15 present in late October and November. Observations from Western Beach in early November saw frequent movement of small groups to and from the Spanish hinterland, as has been noted on earlier occasions.

Red-necked Nightjar Chotacabras cuellirojo Caprimulgus ruficollis

Regular migrant.

One was at Jews’ Gate on May 11^th. One was seen on Signal Station Road on September 12^th and single birds were ringed on September 12^th and 18^th. One was heard at Admiral’s Place, Old Naval Hospital, on September 23^rd.

European Nightjar Chotacabras europeo Caprimulgus europaeus

Regular migrant.

One was flushed at Jews’ Gate on May 11^th and another was found sitting on a car roof in the Midtown car park on the same day. One was sitting on a roof in the town on October 31^st and another was heard around Jews’ Gate on November 13^th.

Alpine Swift Vencejo real Tachymarptis melba

Regular but scarce migrant. Scarce breeder.

Only one nesting pair was located, this frequenting the traditional nesting location at the foot of the east face north of the Talus slope. They apparently fledged several young, There were four records of apparent migrants over the southern part of the Rock in spring: 43 in two flocks on March 16^th, 40 on April 9^th and a noteworthy 200 on April 20^th. Single birds seen over O’Hara’s Battery, the highest point of the Rock, on May 27^th, July 22^nd and August 23^rd are likely to have been from the small breeding population.

Pallid Swift Vencejo pálido Apus pallidus

Common migrant and breeder.

Very few records were submitted although the sizable breeding population was in evidence as usual. The earliest observation was over Europort: four birds on March 3^rd. The last report was of 15 at Europa Point on June 26^th but many will have been present until at least September.

Common Swift Vencejo común Apus apus

Common migrant and breeder.

This species was also under-reported, as usual. The earliest record was of two over the North Front Cemetery on March 25^th. Away from the town, with its large nesting population, reports of apparent migrants included 1,271 feeding around Jews’ Gate on April 17^th and 1,353 over Europa Point on July 26^th. The latest record was of 150 over the Rock on August 16^th.

Common Cuckoo Cuco común Cuculus canorus

Occasional migrant.

One was at Jacob’s Ladder on March 29^th.

Sooty Shearwater Pardela sombría Ardenna grisea

Rare autumn migrant.

One was off Europa Point on September 22^nd.

Scopoli’s Shearwater Pardela cenicienta mediterránea Calonectris diomedea

Regular, mainly on passage.

Only small numbers were reported during both passage periods. In total 399 birds were seen entering the Mediterranean, on five dates between February 26^th and March 20^th, including 312 in 90 minutes on February 27^th.

A further 267 birds in total were noted on seven dates between October 29^th and November 12^th, including feeding groups associated with dolphins and tuna that were displacing flying fish. All records were from Europa Point.

Cory’s Shearwater Pardela cenicienta canaria Calonectris borealis

Common March–October. Most numerous in summer.

Reported on numerous dates off Europa Point and the East Coast from May 23^rd (23 birds) until November 7^th (1 bird) in variable numbers. Feeding flocks of over 100 birds were present between at least late August and the end of October, the largest count comprising 800 birds on October 11^th.

Balearic Shearwater Pardela balear Puffinus mauretanicus

All year, especially summer. Migrant.

There were more observations than usual, all of them from Europa Point and during every month except April, but the numbers involved were very modest in view of the thousands that are regularly reported from Tarifa island, which lies further south. They totalled 477 on 17 dates between January 15^th and March 27^th, incuding 132 on January 27^th.

Later in the year there were a further 563 in total, on 31 dates between May 24^th and December 16^th, including 101 on August 8^th and 91 on November 4^th.

Black Stork Cigüeña negra Ciconia nigra

Common migrant.

Spring migrants totalled a modest 194 birds, reported on 14 dates between February 16^th (7 birds) and May 2^nd (8). Of these 119 passed on just three consecutive days, March 3^rd–5^th, and there were 30 on April 19^th.

There were only three autumn records, on Septmber 16^th (3 birds), October 10^th (2) and November 18^th (2).

White Stork Cigüeña blanca Ciconia ciconia

Common migrant, but most bypass Gibraltar to the west.

The very poor spring season for soaring migrants locally is highlighted by the very low stork total, just 136 birds on eight dates between February 16^th (2 birds) and June 20^th (13). They included 86 over the Bay on March 12^th. Four over the Rock on August 16^th was the only post-breeding record.

Eurasian Spoonbill Espátula común Platalea leucorodia

Occasional migrant.

There were three records: one seen from Jew’s Gate on February 16^th, a group of three arriving at Europa Point on March 13^th and a juvenile flying west past Europa Point on August 16^th.

Glossy Ibis Morito común Plegadis falcinellus

Occasional migrant.

There were three records of this former local rarity that has now been reported annually since 2015 (2019 excepted). Eight flew north along the East Side on April 19^th. One was seen on June 19^th from Sandy Bay. Two were over Windmill Hill on October 9^th.

Cattle Egret Garcilla bueyera Bubulcus ibis

Occasional: migrant and in winter.

Only one was reported: flying south off Sandy Bay on July 15^th.

Grey Heron Garza real Ardea cinerea

Regular: migrant and in winter.

There were frequent reports of single birds, perhaps just one overwintering individual, between January 12th and April 5^th. These observations were nearly all from Europa Point or Little Bay, not from the harbour area that is a regular haunt. Five presumed migrants were seen from Westview Promenade on February 16^th.

At least two were present during the second winter period, from early September until the end of the year, this time frequenting the entire western shoreline, including Little, Camp and Rosia Bays, Seven Sisters rocks, the harbour area and the Western Runway as well as Europa Point. Early birds reported in flight at Little Bay on July 23^rd (at night) and at Rosia Bay on July 25^th, as well as four seen from Europa Point on August 17^th may have been migrants. Groups of five over the Rock on September 3^rd, three at Camp Bay on September 21^st, six off the East Side on September 24^th and five at Rosia Bay on October 9^th were also probably on southward passage.

Little Egret Garceta común Egretta garzetta

Occasional: migrant and in winter.

There were ten records (11 birds), all of them during the second half of the year, between July 7^th and December 16^th. They were seen at Western Beach, Rosia Bay and the Europa area, as well as in the harbour area, where one overwintering bird was a regular visitor from October 13^th into 2023.

Northern Gannet Alcatraz atlántico Morus bassanus

Present all year, especially winter and passage.

Birds were reported offshore every month although only a few individuals were present in summer. Watch lengths were variable and not always recorded but perhaps averaged around two hours. Counts were generally in the low double figures, 10–30 birds, during January–March, but seldom exceeded single figures thereafter. They totalled 1,159 birds during the first half of the year but just 214 during the second half.

The largest day-counts during the early year were from Europa Point: 54 birds on February 3^rd, 50 on February 26^th, 55 on February 27^th and 277 in 4.25 hours on March 21^st, the last count especially probably comprising migrants leaving the Mediterranean. The only sizeable count during the second half of the year was of 50 birds that were diving intensively in a small stretch of the shallows at Eastern Beach on December 11^th, evidently attracted by a concentrated shoal of fish.

European Shag Cormorán moñudo Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Resident.

The small breeding population remained apparently healthy and a few individuals were always to be seen rounding Europa Point during watches there as well as fishing off Little and Camp Bays and visiting the nesting sites around Governor’s Beach. The largest counts were of nine in 1.3 hours at Europa Point on February 26^th, ten in two hours there on July 26^th, nine at Seven Sisters rocks on August 24^th, 19 in Little Bay on September 19^th and ten again at Europa Point on November 1^st.

Great Cormorant Cormorán grande Phalacrocorax carbo

Regular: migrant and winter.

Small numbers were present during the first winter period, the last report being on April 19^th. As usual, favoured loafing grounds included the Western Runway and the cliff at Little Bay. The wintering population seems unlikely to have exceeded 20 individuals during this period, the largest counts being 13 at the airfield on January 31^st, 11 at Little Bay on January 27^th and 11 around Europa Point on February 4^th. Ten flying north at Europa Point on April 15^th were clearly on passage.

One at Europa Point on September 2^nd was the first returning bird reported. Once again, a small wintering population was present around the coastline, chiefly within the Bay, ten at Camp/Little Bays on December 17^th being the largest site count reported. There were also reports of a flocks of eight flying north over the town on November 15^th and seven flying west at Europa Point on December 17^th.

Stone-curlew Alcaraván común Burhinus oedicnemus

Occasional: migrant.

One flew past Europa Point on March 4^th and another was on Windmill Hill on September 26^th.

Oystercatcher Ostrero euroasiático Haematopus ostralegus

Regular: migrant.

There were seven records, totalling 15 birds, between July 26^th and October 11^th. Most were seen flying west past Europa Point, these including a group of five on August 22^nd, but two were at Governor’s Beach on September 22^nd and one was on the Europa Point foreshore on October 11^th.

Pied Avocet Avoceta común Recurvirostra avosetta

Occasional: migrant.

Two flocks were seen coasting west at Europa Point: five birds on July 27^th and 11 on September 6^th.

Whimbrel Zarapito trinador Numenius phaeopus

Regular migrant and winter.

One at Camp Bay on January 25^th was the only report during the first half of the year. Three were seen from Europa Point on August 16^th. There were a further seven records of single birds, some of them perhaps involving the same individual, between September 5^th and December 19^th. Records came from Seven Sisters rocks, Camp and Little Bays, the Europa Point foreshore, Vanguard Cave rocks and Sandy Bay groyne.

Turnstone Vuelvepiedras común Arenaria interpres

Regular, mainly winter.

Up to four were present on the Europa Point foreshore and one or two were reported from the South Mole during the first winter period, on a few dates up to March 22^nd.

One was on the South Mole on July 14^th but there were no further reports until September 21^st, after which several remained on the Europa foreshore until the end of the year. The largest count was six on the foreshore on October 22^nd.

Sanderling Correlimos tridáctilo Calidris alba

Regular, mainly winter

There were five observations, all from Eastern Beach. A flock of six was present on February 5^th. Single birds were seen on September 16^th, 17^th and 23^rd. Finally, a flock of eight was reported on November 20^th.

Dunlin Correlimos común Calidris alpina

Local vagrant

One was on the Europa Point mound on April 4^th. Seventh record (David Murdoch).

Common Sandpiper Andarríos chico Actitis hypoleucos

Regular migrant. Occasional in winter.

One was on the Western Runway on January 12^th. What may have been a single wintering individual was reported from Camp Bay or Europa point on six dates between January 25^th and February 15^th. Thereafter there were two in Rosia Bay on March 14^th followed by four more reports (five birds) around the coastline up to May 19^th, when there were two on the South Mole.

The first returning bird was at Europa Point on August 16^th. There were 15 further reports between August 22^nd and December 18^th, most of them of single birds but there were two on October 23^rd and two on November 6^th. They were seen on the Europa Point foreshore, Sandy Bay, Governor’s Beach, Western Beach and in the harbour.

Grey Phalarope Falaropo picogrueso Phalaropus fulicarius

Rare: migrant and winter.

One was off Europa Point on December 15^th, part of a small influx into the Strait. A dead individual was found at Sandy Bay on December 17^th. These were the 14^th and 15^th records, and the first since 1984.

Common Redshank Archibebe común Tringa totanus

Local vagrant.

One was at Sandy Bay on April 24^th.

Collared Pratincole Canastera común Glareola pratincola

Local vagrant.

Three flew south-west over the town on September 15^th. Ninth record (C. Perez).

Little Gull Gaviota enana Hydrocoloeus minutus

Occasional: migrant and winter.

An adult was in Little Bay on January 28^th.

Kittiwake Gaviota tridáctila Rissa tridactyla

Occasional: migrant and winter.

Single birds were seen on January 31^st and February 2^nd. Later in the year there were two first-winter birds on December 14^th and a single bird on December 18^th. All were seen from Europa Point.

Slender-billed Gull Gaviota picofina Larus genei

Local vagrant.

A flock of 22 that flew south along the east side towards Europa Point on April 25^th, comprised the first double-figure record for Gibraltar. A juvenile was at the Point on November 20^th.

Black-headed Gull Gaviota reidora Larus ridibundus

Common migrant and common in winter.

All observations during the first winter period came from Europa Point. Numbers fluctuated considerably and dwindled to zero on some dates, even in January and February when the highest counts of the year occurred. The largest gatherings included 180 on January 9^th, 160 on January 31^st, 295 on February 12^th, 170 on February 15^th and 160 on February 27^th. These counts seem likely to have included birds on passage. There were no three-figure counts in March and only small numbers remained thereafter. Only 22 were reported in total on eight dates between April 12^th and the final sighting on June 27^th.

Two at Europa Point on August 7^th were the first returning birds reported but only 20 birds in total were reported on nine dates between then and November 6^th. The Europa Point flock then built up slowly but except for November 7^th, when 48 birds were present, only 10–20 were seen on most days until December 31^st, when 65 were counted. Records elsewhere during the second half of the year comprised two birds at Western Beach on October 30^th and 11 at Waterport on December 16^th.

Mediterranean Gull Gaviota cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus

Common: migrant and winter.

There were frequent observations, all from Europa Point, during the first winter period. These totalled 310 birds on 27 dates between January 9^th and March 27^th. Counts of 1–8 birds occurred on most of these days but there were 50 on January 27^th and 140 on February 27^th.

Westward movement of small numbers, probably non- or failed breeders, was seen as usual at Europa Point on several dates in early summer. There were 72 birds in total, on seven dates between June 8^th and July 26^th. Later observations totalled 208 birds between September 7^th and December 19^th, most of them in December when they included 30 on the 10^th and 44 on the 15^th.

Audouin’s Gull Gaviota de Audouin Larus audouinii

Common migrant. Some remain in winter.

This species figured in most Europa Point watches during the first half of the year but counts were in the low single figures on most occasions, 16 on March 21^st being the only exception. In total, 114 birds were reported on 38 dates between January 10^th and June 29^th.

As usual, birds were more numerous during the second half of the year, when the exodus to the Atlantic is usually well marked. However, only very modest numbers were seen, totalling 253 birds on 19 dates between July 3^rd and September 16^th, including 39 on August 7^th and 93, including 45 juveniles, on August 8^th. Subsequently there were three observations from Europa Point in mid December: on the 11^th (2 birds), 14^th (6) and 15^th (1).

Lesser Black-backed Gull Gaviota sombría Larus fuscus

Regular: migrant and winter.

There were 52 birds in total reported on 20 dates between January 9^th and April 1^st, with a maximum count of eight on February 4^th. All were seen from Europa Point with the exception of four that were on the Great Sand Slope on January 22^nd. A late bird was seen on May 25^th.

Just 14 were seen later in the year, on nine dates between August 7^th and December 14^th. One was on Catalan Bay beach with Yellow-legged Gulls on October 30^th but all the others were seen from Europa Point.

Yellow-legged Gull Gaviota patiamarilla Larus michahellis

Common resident.

Abundant and ubiquitous as usual, including on rooftops in the city where some nest. Some are to be seen and heard overhead throughout Gibraltar at any time of the day or night. Larger discrete gatherings included 300, mainly immature birds, at Europa Point on February 26^th and at least 200 on Catalan Bay beach on October 30^th.

Gull-billed Tern Pagaza piconegra Gelochelidon nilotica

Occasional: migrant.

Three were seen at Europa Point on May 16^th. [direction?

Caspian Tern Pagaza piquirroja Hydroprogne caspia

Occasional: migrant.

Two at Europa Point on August 16^th were followed by five there on September 6^th all flying west.

Common Tern Charrán común Sterna hirundo

Irregular migrant.

One was in Gibraltar Bay on October 5^th.

Lesser Crested Tern Charrán bengalí Thalasseus bengalensis

Occasional: migrant.

Three were seen from Europa Point on January 10^th. One that was found entangled in fishing line off Western Beach on December 3^rd was released unharmed. This latter bird, or another individual, was seen nearby at Waterport on December 16^th. These three records are exceptional for being in winter. Although there is a small passage through the Strait in late spring, mainly May, and in autumn, mainly October, winter records have been almost unprecedented until very recently. The Gibraltar winter records are paralleled by reports of single birds at Palmones and in Málaga Bay at around the same time.

Sandwich Tern Charrán patinegro Thalasseus sandvicensis

Common: migrant and winter.

Up to five wintering individuals were reported from Camp Bay round to Europa Point during January. There were 13 seen from Europa Point on February 3^rd and numbers generally increased from then until early April, as migrants passed through. In total there were reports of 213 birds, on 20 dates between February 3^rd and April 12^th, including 70 at Europa Point on March 20^th and 24 there on March 30^th. Single birds were at Europa Point on May 23^rd and June 14^th.

During the second half of the year there were ten at Europa Point on September 6^th but only 15 more in total were seen on just four dates between then and November 30^th. There was something of an influx in December, when 118 observations were made in total on 11 dates to the end of the year. These included 54 at Europa Point on December 14^th. Wintering birds were reported from Western Beach, the western coastline and the harbour, as well as from Europa Point.

Arctic Skua Págalo parasito Stercorarius parasiticus

Regular: mainly migrant.

Two were off Europa Point on March 20^th and one was there the following day. There were again two at Europa Point on September 23^rd followed by one there on December 14^th.

Great Skua Págalo grande Catharacta skua

Present all year. Common migrant.

There were nine records, all of them during the first half of the year. They totalled 16 birds, between January 27^th and April 12^th, including six on February 26^th.

Puffin Frailecillo atlántico Fratercula arctica

Common migrant in Strait but rare inshore.

Five were seen entering the Mediterranean past Europa Point on January 8^th. Another four were seen on February 16^th.

Razorbill Alca común Alca torda

Common: winter and migrant.

Flocks totalling 60 birds were seen entering the Mediterranean past Europa Point on January 8^th. They were followed by a further 66 birds in total, on dates between January 19^th and February 27^th. Two individuals were seen in the harbour during this period but all others were seen from Europa Point.

Later in the year there was a significant influx into the Mediterranean with birds reported as far as Malta and beyond and tideline corpses were found on Atlantic beaches in the Strait’s approaches and beyond. In Gibraltar there were observations totalling 77 birds between November 25^th and the end of the year but many were clearly the same individuals that were seen feeding close inshore. One was found dead but the others were seen fishing around the coastline and in the harbour. Probably no more than ten birds were present in local waters in December.

Barn Owl Lechuza común Tyto alba

Occasional.

One was seen at Europa on October 9^th and one was heard in the Vineyards area of the South District on October 19^th.

Little Owl Mochuelo europeo Athene noctua

Scarce resident.

Recorded as present above Sandy and Catalan Bays, where one was seen on the Great Sand Slopes on October 13^th. Only one nesting pair was located, at Forbes’s Quarry, where three young were raised.

Scops Owl Autillo europeo Otus scops

Common migrant. Has bred.

There was only one record, which is unusual. A juvenile was ringed on October 16^th.

Tawny Owl Cárabo común Strix aluco

Regular: mainly winter.

Reported during most of the year from the grounds of The Mount and the Botanic Gardens. One was reported from Eliott’s Battery, Europa Flats, on February 2^nd.

Eagle Owl Búho reál Bubo bubo

Recently re-established resident.

There were reports of a male Eagle Owl, thought to be the same individual, from Windmill Hill, the Eastern cliffs and the North face. Once again, no evidence of breeding was obtained.

Osprey Águila pescadora Pandion haliaetus

Regular migrant and occasional in winter.

Single birds, perhaps the same individual, seen over the airfield on January 5^th and on the East Side on January 6^th are likely to have been wintering in the general area. Observations of spring migrants were sparse: just 16 were seen, between March 13^th and April 21^st.

Returning migrants reported totalled 18 birds, between September 3^rd and October 19^th. One was seen on the Western Runway on October 23^rd and what was presumably the same individual was present frequently there until the end of the year and into 2023. It was a juvenile and hence not the same individual that overwintered at the same site in 2021/2022 but, like it, it was frequently seen perched on the runway margins and fishing nearby.

Honey-buzzard Abejero europeo Pernis apivorus

Common migrant.

Spring migrants totalled 5,214 birds, most of them as usual in early May: 4,120 (79%) were counted between May 1^st and 5^th. The first reports were of single birds on April 21^st and 22^nd. Modest numbers occurred from mid-May onwards, with stragglers through June, the last of these being three on June 30^th.

Southbound migrants were reported on only 16 dates, between August 16^th and October 9^th. Passage locally was sparse, totalling 4.597 birds, most of them on September 4^th (1,500) and September 5^th (1,665).

Egyptian Vulture Alimoche común Neophron percnopterus

Regular migrant.

Only small numbers were reported during both passage periods. In spring there were 36 between February 16^th and May 29^th. In autumn there were 16 between September 2^nd and October 4^th, as well as a late juvenile seen on November 3^rd.

Short-toed Snake-eagle Culebrera europea Circaetus gallicus

Common migrant. Occasional in winter.

The spring passage was protracted as usual but numbers reported locally were relatively sparse. There were 1,143 birds between February 16^th and June 26^th, plus a late bird on July 14^th. The only large day count was on March 3^rd, during the peak arrival period of the breeding adult population, when 815 were counted: 71% of the entire season’s passage.

Post-breeding records were exceptionally few, given that this species tends to loiter at Gibraltar alongside Booted Eagles when inclement easterlies are blowing. Only nine birds were seen, a record low total, between August 9^th and November 13^th. An additional very late or wintering individual was over the Rock on December 3^rd.

Griffon Vulture Buitre leonado Gyps fulvus

Common migrant.

Spring migrants totalled 468 birds, between April 1^st and July 5^th. Most of them occurred over just three dates: April 21^st (119 birds), May 25^th (122) and May 29^th (107). These figures do not include birds rescued from the sea on several dates, most notably on May 25^th when four individuals were picked up just short of landfall. Rescued birds were taken into care by the GONHS raptor unit, for eventual release after recuperation.

The autumn exodus of juvenile and immature birds, bound for West Africa, led to visits to Gibraltar on three dates, although as usual all the birds returned to Spain without attempting to cross from the Rock. There was a spectacular concentration, estimated (by me) at around 1,000 birds, on November 3^rd. These began to arrive around mid-morning, as a succession of large flocks that approached from the north at over Rock summit altitude, over 400 metres. The flocks accumulated over Middle Hill and gained more height on the moderate westerly breeze before heading either westwards or northwestwards across Gibraltar Bay. The flypast was over within 30 minutes. Smaller arrivals were reported on November 13^th, when 120 were seen soaring over the south end of the Rock, and on November 14^th, when 71 appeared.

Eurasian Black Vulture Buitre negro Aegypius monachus

Occasional: migrant.

Single northbound birds arrived on April 13^th, April 14^th and April 21^st. Later in the year one was over the Rock on September 5^th and another was seen there on November 13^th.

Booted Eagle Águila calzada Hieraaetus pennatus

Common migrant. Occasional in winter.

Spring migrant totalled 1,013, between March 3^rd and June 27^th. Peak arrivals were in April as usual, the largest day counts being 184 on April 8^th, 145 on the 9^th, 92 on the 21^st and 94 on the 23^rd. A count of 67 on May 25^th was noteworthy for a relatively late date.

What seems to have been the same single light phase individual was seen intermittently around Windmill Hill, Europa Flats and the Upper Rock from July 26^th, throughout August and until at least mid September. It may have been taking advantage of the abundant prey available, such as partridges and rabbits.

There were some 450 birds reported during the southward passage period, as usual milling about over the Rock during easterlies. They occurred between August 12^th and October 15^th, including 120 on September 19^th and 70 on October 9^th. One visited the north end of the Rock on November 13^th.

Marsh Harrier Aguilucho lagunero Circus aeruginosus

Common migrant.

Spring reports totalled 111, between February 5^th and May 15^th. Passage locally was sparse and the largest day counts were a modest 18 on March 16^th and 16 on April 7^th.

Autumn passage saw 73 birds, nearly all seen between September 1^st and September 13^th, including 43 on September 5^th. The only later individuals were single birds on October19th and November 3^rd.

Hen Harrier Aguilucho pálido Circus cyaneus

Regular but scarce migrant.

Six were reported, all in spring. Single birds on March 3^rd, March 29^th, April 14^th and April 17^th, with two on April 9^th.

Montagu’s Harrier Aguilucho cenizo Circus pygargus

Common migrant.

There were 36 seen in spring, between March 26^th and May 2^nd, except for an early bird on March 4^th.

Returning birds totalled 54, between August 15^th and September 13^th, including a noteworthy 42 on August 16^th.

Sparrowhawk Gavilán común Accipiter nisus

Common migrant.

One at Windmill Hill on January 7^th and January 31^st is likely to have been the overwintering individual from 2021. There were 408 spring migrants reported, as usual over a protracted period, between February 16^th and May 16^th. The largest day-counts were all in April: 72 on the 8^th, 41 on the 9^th and 44 on the 21^st.

Returning birds numbered 78, between August 15^th and November 5^th. An apparently overwintering bird was again present and seen at Windmill Hill on December 8^th, 21^st and 26^th.

Northern Goshawk Azor común Accipiter gentilis

Occasional: migrant.

A juvenile was at Windmill Hill on August 20^th and 21^st. It or another juvenile was on the Upper Rock on September 4^th.

Red Kite Milano real Milvus milvus

Occasional: migrant. Formerly annual.

Single birds were over the Rock on February 18^th and September 4^th.

Black Kite Milano negro Milvus migrans

Common migrant.

Spring migrants totalled a sizeable 10,925 birds but this total is modest in terms of counts in recent years. Sparse passage in March, the major arrival period, on account of unfavourable easterly winds was no doubt responsible. Passage was largely between February 14^th and June 1^st, with one arriving on June 19^th and three on June 26^th. The only four-figure day counts were on March 31^st (1,050 birds) and April 20^th (2136).

The spring total was eclipsed by the 23,968 counted in autumn, between July 26^th and September 16^th, with three stragglers on October 9^th. Although the southward passage is not usually monitored systematically, counts were made this year during the peak passage period of late July to mid August, when 22,613 birds (94%) were counted. These included 5,250 birds on August 15^th and 11,500 on August 16^th. Coverage was incomplete and actual totals would probably have been significantly higher.

Common Buzzard Busardo ratonero Buteo buteo

Occasional: migrant and winter. Formerly annual migrant.

Five were seen in spring, on four dates between February 18^th and April 8^th. One was over the Rock on September 16^th.

Hoopoe Abubilla Upupa epops

Common migrant.

Spring observations were more numerous than usual with 166 birds in total reported between February 14^th and April 11^th. Birds were widespread but favoured locations included Windmill Hill, Europa Point, the Botanic Gardens, Commonwealth Park and the North Front Cemetery. Very few were seen in the Nature Reserve, although three were ringed at Jews’ Gate in April, and there were no reports from the East side. Windmill Hill saw some numbers during falls of migrants, with a maximum of 29 there on March 29^th. Five were ringed between March 29^th and April 6^th.

The first returning bird reported was at Tovey Cottage field centre on July 24^th. There were a further 21 reported between then and September 16^th, this time including one on the East Side on September 7^th. Single birds were ringed on September 17^th and 18^th.

European Bee-eater Abejaruco europeo Merops apiaster

Common migrant.

The first report was a flock heard at Europa Point on March 13^th, an early date for this species. There were further reports on 11 dates between March 29^th and May 1^st, some of them again referring only to birds heard on passage. Six were ringed in early April. Sight records included a count of 437 flying north over the Rock in four hours on April 7^th.

Returning birds were seen or heard on seven dates between August 16^th and September 5^th, these including 112 on September 2^nd and 130 on September 5^th.

European Roller Carraca europea Coracias garrulus

Occasional migrant.

Single birds were seen at Commonwealth Park on April 6^th and over the Botanic Gardens on August 8^th.

Common Kingfisher Martín pescador común Alcedo atthis

Regular but scarce migrant and in winter.

There were two at Camp Bay on January 23^rd and single birds were there on January 25^th and February 6^th. One was in the harbour on February 13^th.

There were 13 records, from Rosia Bay, the harbour and Western Beach, on scattered dates between September 12^th and December 31^st. Most were of single birds but there were two in the harbour on September 14^th on the Europlaza revetment and two were in Rosia Bay on October 19^th.

Wryneck Torcecuello Jynx torquilla

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

The apparently overwintering individual reported from the Botanic Gardens during November and December 2021 was also seen there on January 24^th, January 27^th and February 10^th. Eight spring migrants were seen on six dates between March 29^th and April 7^th, three of them on Windmill Hill on the first date. Single birds were ringed on April 1^st and April 8^th, and three more between September 23^rd and October 2^nd.

Lesser Kestrel Cernícalo primilla Falco naumanni

Regular migrant. Recently extinct breeder.

Very few were reported. There were 14 seen in total on northward passage on four dates between April 7^th and April 21^st. Later in the year there were two over the Rock on September 2^nd and 3^rd and one there on September 5^th.

Common Kestrel Cernícalo vulgar Falco tinnunculus

Resident. Common migrant.

Five pairs nested successfully, fledging a total of 15 young. Local birds were evident throughout Gibraltar as usual, their presence probably obscuring the occurrence of passage birds. Nevertheless, 13 were seen arriving at Europa Point during the morning on July 26^th and six more were recorded there that same evening. These observations may have involved post-breeding dispersal from Morocco, which is suspected to occur in late summer on a small scale.

Eleonora’s Falcon Halcón de Eleonora Falco eleonorae

Regular but scarce migrant, especially in late summer and autumn.

Three individuals were recorded; over the Rock on August 14^th and September 3^rd and at Europa Point on August 17^th.

Hobby Alcotán Falco subbuteo

Regular but scarce migrant.

In total 37 were recorded, all of them in spring between March 31^st and May 30^th. They included eight on April 20^th and ten on April 21^st.

Peregrine Falcon Halcón peregrino Falco peregrinus

Resident. Some migrants occur.

At least four pairs were present and raised a total of eight young.

Golden Oriole Oropéndola Oriolus oriolus

Regular migrant.

Single birds were in the Botanic Gardens on May 9^th and in the town area on July 25^th. One was ringed on May 14^th.

Woodchat Shrike Alcaudón común Lanius senator

Common migrant. Has bred.

There were frequent sight records during the spring passage period, a consequence of several falls of migrants during strong easterlies in late March and April. They totalled 225 birds, between March 14^th and May 10^th. Observations were widespread but as usual the most open locations held the largest numbers reported, including 30 on Windmill Hill on March 29^th and 15 in the North Front Cemetery on April 22^nd. Ten were ringed between April1st and May 8^th.

In contrast, only 19 were reported during the southward passage, between August 8^th and September 10^th. Only one was ringed, on September 3^rd.

Iberian Magpie Rabilargo Cyanopica cooki

Local vagrant.

The individual first reported in 2021 remained through most of the first half of 2022. It was elusive and was only reported on 15 dates: two in January, three in February, none at all in March, five in April, four in May and one in June; this being the last sighting, on June 2^nd. During this period nearly all reports came from the southern half of Gibraltar. In January and February it was seen at Vineyards, where it was eating wild olives, apart from a visit to Commonwealth Park on February 6^th. In April/May there were records from the Europa Flats area, Jews’ Gate and the Rock summit at O’Haras Battery, with one occurrence at Casemates on April 26^th. The final sighting came from its favoured haunt at Vineyards. It seems remarkable that such a distinctive bird was not reported more frequently during its long stay in Gibraltar although the possibility that it came and went across the Spanish border from time to time cannot be ruled out.

Jackdaw Grajilla Corvus monedula

Occasional. Has bred.

There were scattered reports of one or two individuals throughout the year, especially from around the Moorish Castle, where one came to food provided for it. Three were seen together at the castle on June 15^th.

Raven Cuervo Corvus corax

Regular. Former resident.

There were sightings of a pair throughout the year, chiefly over the Upper Rock although they ranged south to Europa Point on occasion. Three were seen together on several dates between August 8^th and September 3^rd, raising the possibility of nesting in or near Gibraltar. Local breeding could not be confirmed nonetheless.

Blue Tit Herrerillo común Cyanistes caeruleus

Common resident.

The January winter bird counts found 47 birds, half of them within the Nature reserve and the remainder in parks and gardens. There were four in Commonwealth Park on January 24^th, this newly created green space clearly continuing to prove attractive to an increasing range of species. Few records were submitted later in the year except from the Botanic Gardens, where there were 13 on February 7^th, 16 on March 21^st and 19 on May 8^th as well as reports of smaller numbers. Birds ringed totalled 56, all but three of them during the second half of the year.

Great Tit Carbonero común Parus major

Scarce resident.

There were seven records from or near the Botanic Gardens on scattered dates between February and November, all of one to three birds except on September 26^th, when there were five. There were also occasional reports from the northern half of the Nature Reserve and here a pair nested successfully, appearing with eight juveniles on May 25^th. Breeding in Gibraltar has been assumed to occur but this is the first recent instance where successful nesting has been confirmed. Four juveniles were ringed at Jews’ Gate during the first half of September.

Skylark Alondra común Alauda arvensis

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

One was on Windmill Hill on October 21^st and there were two there on November 6^th and 7^th. One was reported from Jews’ Gate on October 31^st.

Zitting Cisticola Cistícola buitrón Cisticola juncidis

Regular: migrant and in winter. Has bred.

Single birds were on Windmill Hill on March 26^th and April 11^th. One was in Little Bay on May 11^th and 12^th. Occurrences of this species have been minimal in recent years and any observations made are of interest.

Isabelline Warbler Zarcero pálido Iduna opaca

Occasional: migrant.

One was in the Nature Reserve at the PSA nursery on May 26^th. One was seen and heard in the town at Shakery’s Passage on July 25^th and another was on Windmill Hill on August 13^th. One was ringed on May 10^th.

Melodious Warbler Zarcero políglota Hippolais polyglotta

Common migrant.

Spring sight records were sparse, totalling just 22 birds on 14 dates between March 29^th and May 28^th. Most were seen on Windmill Hill, the Botanic Gardens and the North Front Cemetery but there were also records from the Nature Reserve, Vineyards and Commonwealth Park. Birds ringed totalled 53, between April 11^th and May 14^th.

Post-breeding sightings totalled 16 birds, between July 7^th and September 1^st. Just three were ringed, all of them juveniles, August 26^th, August 30^th and September 2^nd.

Sedge Warbler Carricerín común Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Local vagrant.

One was seen on Europa Flats, near the Mosque, on April 5^th.

Common Reed-warbler Carricero común Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Common migrant.

There were no sight records in spring but nine were ringed between April 29^th and May 14^th.

One was in the North Front Cemetery on August 21^st. Birds ringed totalled 33, between August 23^rd and the late date of November 2^nd.

Grasshopper Warbler Buscarla pintoja Locustella naevia

Occasional: migrant.

The only records were of single birds ringed on May 13^th and October 5^th.

House Martin Avión común Delichon urbicum

Common migrant. Scarce summer resident.

Spring passage was poorly apparent or under-recorded since only 204 birds in total were reported, most of them seen by observers at Jews’ Gate, on 17 dates between February 14^th and May 30^th. The small colony at Four Corners was occupied but a survey of nesting pairs was not conducted.

The only subsequent report was of seven at Windmill Hill on September 26^th.

Red-rumped Swallow Golondrina dáurica Cecropis daurica

Common migrant. Has bred.

Reports were extremely sparse. Only 26 birds were noted in spring, on 8 dates between March 1^st and May 30^th.

Two were with Crag Martins at Jews’ Gate on October 30^th. Nine were ringed between October 13^th and October 31^st.

Barn Swallow Golondrina común Hirundo rustica

Common migrant. Formerly bred.

Spring passage was more evident than that of other hirundines but still sparse. There were 1,004 counted, between February 4^th and May 30^th, preceded by a single bird on January 2^nd. Eleven seen at Europa Point in June and July, including eight on July 25^th, may well have been early returning migrants.

As usual, the southbound passage was less conspicuous than the spring passage. Only 194 were reported, between August 3^rd and October 17^th, but 150 of these were over Jews’ Gate on the evening of October 17^th. A single bird was at Windmill Hill on November 6^th. Birds ringed totalled 20, between September 19^th and October 26^th.

Crag Martin Avión roquero Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Common: migrant and winter resident. Has bred.

Counts of the Governor’s Beach caves roosts, made as part of a continuing study (Bensusan et al. 2022; see also Gibraltar Bird Report 2021 page 38) peaked at an astonishing 24,312 birds on January 2^nd. Numbers declined thereafter but there were still 50 using the roosts on March 17^th. One on March 31^st was the last report of the season.

The first returning bird seen was over Jews’ Gate on September 18^th. The pre-roost assemblage there numbered ten birds on October 6^th but numbers had increased to 800 by October 13^th. Birds ringed totalled 125, most of them caught at Vanguard Cave on October 27^th or November 25^th. On December 4^th a separate roost of some 200 birds was found in the harbour reclamation area, on balconies and other ledges on the Harbour Views apartment block.

Western Bonelli’s Warbler Mosquitero papialbo Phylloscopus bonelli

Common migrant.

Sight records totalled just 38 birds, between March 29^th and May 27^th, 22 of them from the Botanic Gardens, where the ‘open pinewood’ habitat is the most appropriate available. Birds ringed totalled 115, all of them in spring between March 28^th and May 18^th.

There were three post-breeding observations, all in the Nature Reserve, on July 31^st and on August 7^th and 18^th.

Wood Warbler Mosquitero silbador Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Occasional: migrant.

There were three records of single birds in spring. One was at the Europa Point foreshore on March 30^th, an early date for this species, and another was in the North Front Cemetery on May 1^st. The third was ringed on April 29^th.

Yellow-browed Warbler Mosquitero Bilistado Phylloscopus inornatus

Rare migrant. Has wintered.

Four were reported. One was heard and then seen in trees on the harbour reclamation area on November 1^st and it remained there until at least November 7^th. Single birds were ringed on November 3^rd and November 12^th. One was heard above Royal Anglian Way in the Nature Reserve on November 22^nd.

Willow Warbler Mosquitero musical Phylloscopus trochilus

Common migrant.

Small numbers were widely reported during the spring passage period, between March 14^th and May 9^th, with some larger concentrations appearing during falls of migrants. Sight records totalled 194 birds, including 31 on Windmill Hill/Europa Point on March 29^th and 22 on the Europa Point foreshore on April 5^th. There were 149 ringed in spring, between March 28^th and May 14^th.

In contrast, there were only 14 post-breeding sight records, between August 13^th and September 20^th. However, 45 were ringed between August 27^th and October 28^th.

Iberian Chiffchaff Mosquitero ibérico Phylloscopus ibericus

Common migrant.

Records were sparse. One was in the North Front Cemetery on March 14^th, three were on Windmill Hill on March 26^th and one was at Governor’s Lookout on May 21^st. Only four were ringed in spring, between March 28^th and April 5^th, but the late start of the ringing season probably partly explains the low numbers handled.

Returning migrants, 21 in total, were reported on 11 dates between August 7^th and September 1^st. A further 16 birds thought to be this species rather than Common Chiffchaffs were seen during September. Two more were in the Botanic Gardens on October 3^rd. Birds ringed during this season totalled 21, between August 24^th and October 15^th.

Common Chiffchaff Mosquitero común Phylloscopus collybita

Common migrant and common in winter.

The winter bird count on January 22 found 42 widely distributed birds, including 13 on the Upper Rock and eight in the Botanic Gardens. Subsequent sight records of this species, which is especially common in winter, totalled 202 birds, the last of these on April 5^th, with the exception of a very late bird at Jews’ Gate on May 9^th. They included notable counts of 23 in the Botanic Gardens on February 7^th and 30 in the Windmill Hill/Europa Flats area during a fall of migrants on March 29^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 25, between March 28^th, when ringing commenced, and April 18^th.

The first returning bird reported was one in the North Front Cemetery on October 9^th. Small numbers were widespread during November and December. There were 165 ringed between August 31^st and November 30^th.

Long-tailed Tit Mito Aegithalos caudatus

Local vagrant.

A party of seven, perhaps a family group, was ringed on November 7^th. Six of them were retrapped on November 29^th. Eighth record (R. Dickey, M. Cutts).

Blackcap Curruca capirotada Sylvia atricapilla

Common: resident, migrant and winter.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 93 birds, most of them on the Upper Rock but including 27 in the Botanic Gardens. Relatively few records were submitted during the year but they included notable counts in the Botanic Gardens of 20 on February 7^th, 39 on September 26^th and 77 on November 10^th.

Birds ringed totalled 5,249, a local record. Only 44 of these were in spring. The large autumn catch of 5,205 birds was the result of large falls of migrants during October, as described in the Ringing Report.

Garden Warbler Curruca mosquitera Sylvia borin

Common migrant.

Spring sight records totalled 16 birds, most of them seen in the Botanic Gardens and Upper Rock, between April 5^th and May 9^th. There were 72 ringed between April 4^th and May 13^th.

Only two sight records were reported in autumn, single birds on October 3^rd and 10^th. Post-breeding migrants ringed totalled 134, between August 13^th and November 6^th.

Orphean Warbler Curruca mirlona Sylvia hortensis

Common migrant.

Just eight birds were observed in spring, on five dates between April 11^th and May 20^th. A further 11 birds were ringed, between April 29^th and May 17^th.

Single birds were seen on Windmill Hill on September 10^th and October 15^th. Five were ringed between August 27^th and September 12^th.

Sardinian Warbler Curruca cabecinegra Sylvia melanocephala

Common resident.

The winter bird count found 112 birds, chiefly in the Nature Reserve, including 17 on the East Side and 25 on Windmill Hill. Many subsequent sight records came from Windmill Hill, a favoured location for this species. Numbers there fluctuated during the first half of the year, fewer than ten often being present, but there were larger numbers present during the second half of March and early April, when there were several counts of around 30 birds. It seems possible that the increases were due to migrant influxes. Counts of 30+ were also reported from Windmill Hill from early August until the end of the year, these increases probably representing locally fledged young, at least in part, The possibility and extent of trans-Strait Sardinian Warbler movements deserves closer investigation.

The North Front Cemetery and the Botanic Gardens were also favoured locations year-round but this species is ubiquitous in vegetated areas. These notably include the Nature Reserve, where 328 were ringed, 309 of them during the second half of the year.

Subalpine Warbler Curruca carrasqueña Sylvia cantillans

Common migrant.

All sight records were in spring. They totalled 98 birds between March 11^th and May 15^th. Birds were widely reported from the more open vegetated areas, including parks and gardens, where they are most easily detected. No fewer than 36 formed part of the fall of migrants on March 29^th, when 22 were on Windmill Hill and others appeared at the North Front Cemetery, Montagu Gardens, Jacob’s Ladder and the Europa Point foreshore. Birds ringed totalled 14, 11 of them in spring between April 2^nd and 27^th, followed by single birds on September 12^th, 18^th and 26^th.

Common Whitethroat Curruca zarcera Sylvia communis

Common migrant.

Spring reports totalled 46, between March 14^th and May 13^th. Nearly all were seen on Windmill Hill or the Europa Point area, including 12 there during the fall of migrants on March 29^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 17, between March 28^th and May 13^th.

There were only five post-breeding sight records, of single birds, between August 21^st and September 19^th. Three were in the North Front Cemetery and two on Windmill Hill. Single birds were ringed on September 2^nd, September 3^rd and October 12^th.

Spectacled Warbler Curruca tomillera Sylvia conspicillata

Regular migrant. Has bred.

Two were on Windmill Hill on March 26^th and there were eight there on March 29^th.

Dartford Warbler Curruca rabilarga Sylvia undata

Regular migrant. Occasional in winter.

Records of one at Europa Point on March 14^th, 15^th and 17^th seem likely to have involved the same individual. There were also single birds at the North Front Cemetery on March 14^th and 21^st, and on Windmill Hill on March 18^th.

Two were reported from Windmill Hill on October 15^th and again on October 21^st. Five in the Europa area on October 21^st and one was present there, notably around the Mosque, from then until at least late November. It or another was also present at Little Bay in late October and early November. Nine were ringed between October 3^rd and November 6^th.

Eurasian Nuthatch Trepador azul Sitta europaea

Local vagrant.

One was at Buffadero Battery, Windmill Hill, on August 16^th. First Gibraltar record (Morris Figueras).

This was a surprising find, in unsuitable treeless surroundings, of a species that favours deciduous woodland. The nearest populations are in Los Alcornocales Natural Park, some ten miles to the west, as well as at a similar distance in the sierras north and northeast of Gibraltar. The Nuthatch has often been regarded as highly sedentary but atlas work in Spain (Pérez-Granados, 2022) has revealed recent range expansion, including into more southern parts of Andalucía. The Gibraltar record can perhaps be viewed against this background.

Short-toed Treecreeper Agateador europeo Certhia brachydactyla

Occasional: migrant and winter.

One was ringed on October 7^th.

Wren Chochín Troglodytes troglodytes

Common resident.

Most of the population frequents the dense cover of the Nature Reserve, where the birds are hard to see. Only 30 were found during the winter bird count on January 22^nd, chiefly in the Nature Reserve, including five on the Eastern slopes. There was a series of reports from Windmill Hill, on 14 dates between March 8^th and October 21^st, suggesting residence there: most of these observations were of one or two birds but there were three on March 11^th and five on April 26^th. One in the Botanic Gardens on May 8^th was an infrequent sighting there. Only 11 were ringed: single birds on April 24^th and June 15^th and nine between August 23^rd and October 5^th.

Common Starling Estornino pinto Sturnus vulgaris

Common in some winters.

Three were at Europa Point on October 10^th. A few were reported on six further dates up to November 7^th, the largest counts being of seven with Spotless Starlings on Windmill Hill on October 15^th and November 7^th. One was ringed on October 7^th.

Spotless Starling Estornino negro Sturnus unicolor

Common resident.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 23 birds, all of them in the town. Otherwise birds were widespread but most submitted records came from Windmill Hill, where a flock was present for much of the year. Numbers there fluctuated but were most often of the order of 20–30 birds. Notably larger numbers on Windmill Hill included 46 on March 16^th, 67 on April 11^th and 87 on April 26^th. A few individuals frequented the North Front Cemetery: a maximum of 11 on April 22^nd. Two were in the Botanic Gardens on November 10^th.

Song Thrush Zorzal común Turdus philomelos

Common: migrant and winter.

Spring records were fairly sparse: 38 birds reported between March 8^th and April 6^th, including seven on Windmill Hill on March 26^th and five there on March 29^th. Only three were ringed in spring, on April 3^rd, 5^th and 8^th.

Birds were visibly more abundant in autumn, from October 15^th onwards, largely frequenting the dense vegetation of the Nature Reserve, where 89 were ringed between October 3^rd and November 30^th. Noticeable arrivals occurred on October 30^th and 31^st, these including 20 at the top of the Rock on October 30^th. Windmill Hill held some numbers on occasion, including 14 on November 6^th and 17 on December 21^st.

Redwing Zorzal alirrojo Turdus iliacus

Occasional migrant.

Single birds were seen at the top of the Rock on October 30^th and heard at Eliott’s Battery on November 5^th.

Blackbird Mirlo común Turdus merula

Common resident.

There were frequent reports from Windmill Hill, the North Front Cemetery and the Botanic Gardens but, as usual, birds were widespread and present in all suitable areas. Some noteworthy site counts included nine at Commonwealth Park on January 24^th, 19 in the Botanic Gardens on February 7^th, 19 on Windmill Hill on March 18^th and 21 there on April 11^th, 27 in the Botanic Gardens on May 8^th and 22 there on August 19^th, 24 on Windmill Hill on September 10^th and 33 in the Botanic Gardens on September 26^th. Birds ringed during the year totalled 81.

Ring Ouzel Mirlo capiblanco Turdus torquatus

Occasional migrant.

One was on Windmill Hill on March 14^th.

Spotted Flycatcher Papamoscas gris Muscicapa striata

Common migrant. Some breed.

The breeding population was not closely monitored but there seem to have been at least four pairs: in the Botanic Gardens, Trafalgar Cemetery, behind the Rock Hotel and the northern end of the Nature Reserve.  Birds were present in the Botanic Gardens between at least April 24^th and September 26^th. There were 14 ringed in spring, between April 26^th and May 13^th, and five more between August 31^st and October 6^th.

Robin Petirrojo Erithacus rubecula

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 67 birds, 35 of them on the Upper Rock, eight on the East Side, 13 in south district gardens including the Botanic Gardens and 11 on Windmill Hill. Robins are commonly present between October and March, with some arriving in late September or departing in early April. Summering birds have been exceptional until recent years and 2022 continued this trend, although all records were of single birds and no breeding pairs or fledged young were seen. Between April 19^th and August 25^th there were records of single birds from Europa Road, the Botanic Gardens, the Trafalgar Cemetery, the Vineyards estate, Commonwealth Park, Eliott’s Battery, Rock Cottage, Sandy Bay, the Museum garden, Southport Gates and the Nature Reserve. Over-summering birds were thus clearly widespread, with apparently resident individuals occurring in the Botanic Gardens and Commonwealth Park in particular. The establishment of a probably resident breeding population seems likely to be in the offing.

Summering birds apart, the Botanic Gardens held some numbers at times in winter, including ten on February 7^th and 21 on November 10^th. In addition, 30 were ringed in spring between February 17^th and May 14^th. Large scale arrivals during the southward passage period led to a record 601 birds ringed in autumn, between September 23^rd and November 30^th.

Bluethroat Pechiazul Luscinia svecica

Occasional migrant.

Three were ringed in autumn. Birds of western subspecies were caught on September 12^th and September 28^th. A male of the red-spotted Scandinavian race L. c. svecica, ringed on October 26^th, was the first of that subspecies to be found locally.

Nightingale Ruiseñor común Luscinia megarhynchos

Common migrant. Has bred.

Spring sight records totalled 100 birds, between March 18^th and May 19^th. They included 17 in the Windmill Hill/Europa area on March 29^th, 16 on Windmill Hill on April 6^th and 14 there on April 11^th. Migrants were also reported from the Botanic Gardens, North Front Cemetery, the Nature reserve and Commonwealth Park. There were 29 ringed in spring, between March 28^th and May 12^th.

Only three post-breeding migrants were reported, one on August 16^th and two on August 19^th. A further 25 birds were ringed between August 21^st and October 4^th.

Red-breasted Flycatcher Papamoscas papirrojo Ficedula parva

Vagrant.

One was ringed on October 27^th. Fourth record (C. Perez, I. Lees)

Pied Flycatcher Papamoscas cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca

Common migrant.

There were 29 sight records, between April 3^rd and May 9^th, including four in the Botanic Gardens on April 7^th and four again there on May 8^th, as well as nine on Windmill Hill on April 26^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 82, between April 5^th and May 14^th.

Post-breeding migrants seen totalled 20, between September 9^th and October 30^th, most records coming from the Botanic Gardens. There were 67 ringed between August 25^th and October 31^st.

Black Redstart Colirrojo tizón Phoenicurus ochruros

Common: migrant and winter.

Wintering birds found during the January 22^nd bird count totalled 92 birds, 40 of them on Windmill Hill. There were numerous observations thereafter, totalling 427 birds, between January 24^th and the last sighting, on April 12^th. These included some sizable site counts that may have involved spring migrants, notably 40 in the North Front Cemetery on March 14^th, 31 on Windmill Hill on March 16^th and 51 in total at four key sites on March 21^st. Nevertheless, only six were ringed in spring, all during February, although the lack of ringing in March would partly explain this mismatch with the sight records.

The first sighting in autumn was of 16 on Windmill Hill on October 15^th. Observations were relatively sparse until October 31^st, when a large arrival was evident in the Nature Reserve. In November, counts of 41 on Windmill Hill on November 7^th and 12 in the Botanic Gardens on November 10^th were noteworthy for the respective sites. A count of 43 on Windmill Hill on December 21^st was also a sizable gathering for such a late date but recalled a similar presence there in January. Birds ringed in autumn totalled 270, between October 8^th and November 30^th.

Common Redstart Colirrojo real Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Common migrant.

Spring sightings totalled 206 birds, between March 16^th and May 1^st. Many reports came from the North Front Cemetery but usually only small numbers were seen there, although there were 19 there on April 5^th and 13 the following day. Windmill Hill held some larger concentrations during falls of migrants: 21 on March 29^th, 25 on April 6^th and 25 again on April 11^th. Birds ringed totalled 17 between March 28^th and May 11^th.

There were only three post-breeding observations of single birds, on August 27^th, September 3^rd and September 26^th. However, a further 49 birds were ringed between August 28^th and the very late date of November 27^th.

Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush Roquero rojo Monticola saxatilis

Occasional migrant.

A male was in the North Front Cemetery on March 29^th.

Blue Rock-thrush Roquero solitario Monticola solitarius

Resident.

Single birds or pairs were reported from Windmill Hill, Europa Point, Signal Station road, the North Front cemetery, the Eastern Sand Slopes and Little Bay. Five were on the eastern slopes on January 22^nd. Otherwise the largest site counts were all from Windmill Hill: four birds on March 26^th, five on August 8^th, eight on August 10^th, five on September 9^th and nine of September 26^th. Single birds were ringed on October 24^th and October 31^st.

Whinchat Tarabilla norteña Saxicola rubetra

Common migrant.

There were 25 observations, all in spring, including 12 on Windmill Hill on April 11^th and ten there on April 26^th. One was ringed on September 24^th.

Stonechat Tarabilla común Saxicola torquatus

Common: migrant and winter.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 13 birds; four on the Eastern Slopes, seven in the Windmill Hill area and two on the Europa Point foreshore. Sight records during February and March totalled 70 birds, the last of these on March 29^th. All these reports came from the North Front Cemetery, Europa Point and Windmill Hill. The largest site count was on Windmill Hill, where there were nine on March 8^th.

Post-breeding sightings totalled 77 birds, between September 19^th and the end of the year. Reports again came from the North Front cemetery, Europa Point and Windmill Hill but also from the eastern Sand Slopes. They included 35 on Windmill Hill on October 15^th and 12 there on December 21^st. One was ringed on October 4^th.

Northern Wheatear Collalba gris Oenanthe oenanthe

Common migrant.

Sight records in spring were sparse, particularly in view of the sizable falls of other migrants in March and April. They totalled 31 birds, between March 8^th and May 2^nd. Nearly all were seen at either the North Front Cemetery or on Windmill Hill, five at the latter on March 29^th being the largest site count.

A further ten birds were seen on post-breeding passage, on six dates between August 30^th and September 26^th, followed by a late bird on November 6^th.

Black-eared Wheatear Collalba rubia Oenanthe hispanica

Common migrant.

All observations were in spring. They totalled 17 birds, on six dates between March 20^th and April 6^th. These included seven on Windmill Hill on March 29^th and five there on April 6^th.

Firecrest Reyezuelo listado Regulus ignicapilla

Regular but scarce: migrant and winter.

Two were reported. One was in Commonwealth Park on January 16^th. Another was ringed on October 12^th.

Dunnock Acentor común Prunella modularis

Occasional: winter.

One was ringed on October 31st.

House Sparrow Gorrión común Passer domesticus

Common resident.

This widespread species was under-recorded as usual. The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 247 birds, including 123 in south district gardens and 66 on the East Side but only 24 in the town: where birds are hard to count.

Eight were ringed in spring between May 11^th and May 23^rd, a period when some nesting birds forage for insects in the Nature Reserve. Ten more were ringed between August 13^th and October 25^th.

Tree Pipit Bisbita arbóreo Anthus trivialis

Regular migrant.

There were seven observations of single birds, between March 21^st and April 22^nd. Most were seen on Windmill Hill. One was ringed on May 5^th.

Post-breeding sightings were similarly sparse Only four were seen, over the Nature Reserve, between August 31^st and September 12^th. Three were ringed between September 18^th and November 11^th.

Meadow Pipit Bisbita pratense Anthus pratensis

Common: migrant and winter.

The winter bird count on January 22^nd found 18 birds, all of them on or near Windmill Hill. There were no subsequent observations until March when wintering or migrant birds were present on Windmill Hill especially. In total there were 164 birds recorded, between March 8^th and 29^th. All but seven were on Windmill Hill, these including 24 on March 11^th, 38 on March 15^th, and 25 on March 26^th.

There were further records on nine dates between October 16^th and the end of the year, chiefly of a few birds seen or heard from Jews’ Gate or Europa Point. Sightings included 12 at Europa Point on November 1^st, one in Commonwealth Park on November 4^th and five on the grass beds of the air terminal on November 5^th. Numbers on Windmill Hill increased from three on November 6^th to 31 on December 21^st.

Tawny Pipit Bisbita campestre Anthus campestris

Regular migrant.

One that flew over Jews’ Gate on April 24^th was the sole record.

Yellow Wagtail Lavandera boyera Motacilla flava

Regular but scarce migrant.

Just 16 were seen in spring, on eight dates between March 21^st and May 22^nd. Most were found around Europa Point and the foreshore there or in the North Front Cemetery. They did not figure at all in the falls of migrants on Windmll Hill.

Post-breeding observations totalled 42 birds, chiefly seen in flight from Jews’ Gate or Europa Point, on eight dates between September 3^rd and September 21^st. They included 14 at Jewsate on September 11^th and ten there on September 21^st. Single birds were ringed on September 24^th and 25^th.

Grey Wagtail Lavandera cascadeña Motacilla cinerea

Regular but scarce: migrant and winter. Has bred.

Very few were reported. Single birds were in Commonwealth Park on September 25^th and November 4^th and two were seen nearby over Queensway on November 5^th. One was in Little Bay on November 4^th. One was ringed on September 18^th.

White Wagtail Lavandera blanca Motacilla alba

Regular but scarce migrant. Regular in winter. Has bred.

One or two were present in the North Front Cemetery until at least April 1^st. During March one was also reported on several dates at Europa Point and it or another was also seen then on Windmill Hill.

Observations were slightly more frequent during the second half of the year, with reports frim Europa Point, Western Beach, the North Front cemetery, Montagu Gardens, Commonwealth Park and Camp Bay. These again involved just one or two birds mainly but there were five in Commonwealth Park on November 4^th.

A male Moroccan White Wagtail M. a. subpersonata was seen and photographed on the Europa Point foreshore on May 24^th. Second record (R. Perez)

Chaffinch Pinzón vulgar Fringilla coelebs

Common: migrant and winter.

Only 12 were found during the winter bird count on January 22^nd, seven of them in the Botanic Gardens and five on the Upper Rock. Three were in Commonwealth Park on January 24^th and 21 were counted in the Botanic Gardens on March 7^th. Very few were reported thereafter, just eight birds in total up to March 30^th. One was in the northern Nature Reserve on May 1^st.  On May 1^st one was in the northern Nature Reserve where a pair was later photographed feeding a recently fledged juvenile. One was ringed on April 7^th. 

One was in the Trafalgar Cemetery on October 10^th and some autumn passage was evident from Jews’ Gate during the second half of October. The few subsequent records included two in Commonwealth Park on November 4^th and six in the Botanic Gardens on November 10^th. Birds ringed in autumn totalled 31, between October 16^th and November 27^th.

Brambling Pinzón real Fringilla montifringilla

Occasional: migrant.

One was ringed on November 6^th and two more were ringed on November 7^th.

Hawfinch Picogordo común Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Local vagrant.

Single birds were in the Botanic Gardens on April 16^th and at Jews’ Gate on October 8^th.

Bullfinch Camachuelo común Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Rare migrant.

Single birds were ringed on November 12^th and November 14th.

Greenfinch Verderón común Chloris chloris

Common: migrant and winter. Some resident.

Only eight were found during the winter bird count on January 22^nd, five of them in the Botanic Gardens. Mainly small numbers continued to be reported during the first half of the year, except from the Botanic Gardens where the core breeding population seems to reside. There were 17 in the gardens on February 7^th and again on April 25^th, and 23 there on May 8^th. The only other double-figure records were of presumed migrants: ten in the North Front Cemetery on March 25^th and 12 over the Rock on April 9^th. Birds ringed in spring totalled 11, between April 1^st and May 18^th.

A small flock was reported regularly from Windmill Hill throughout August and until the end of the year. This typically numbered around six individuals but there were up to 12 on occasion and 19 were present on August 4^th. Reports of daily southward movement of a similar small flock from the southern gardens at dawn, returning to roost at dusk; apparently a year-round phenomenon (R. Perez, pers. comm.), may involve the birds that feed on Windmill Hill. Passage of successive flocks was reported from Jews’ Gate during the second half of October. This was the most numerous of the finch species captured during the second half of the year: 135 were ringed between August 13^th and November 28^th.

Linnet Pardillo común Linaria cannabina

Common migrant.

There were only three spring records. Two at Europa Point on March 5^th, one on Windmill Hill on March and 12 again on Windmill Hill on March 26^th.

Small numbers were reported among finch flocks seen flying south at Jews’ Gate during the second half of October. There were two on Windmill Hill on November 6^th. Eight were ringed between October 17^th and November 12^th.

Goldfinch Jilguero común Carduelis carduelis

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

Up to seven were present on Windmill Hill on several dates in March. Records elsewhere were similarly sparse but they included 21 over the Rock on April 9^th and 12 there on April 23^rd, probably birds on passage. Two on the Upper Rock on May 2^nd was the last spring record. Only one was ringed in spring, on April 11^th.

Two on Windmill Hill on September 26^th was the first record of the the post-breeding period. Southward passage of small flocks was evident at Jews’ Gate during the second half of October, and again on November 19^th. Birds ringed in autumn totalled 70, between October 16^th and November 29^th. Six on Windmill Hill on December 21^st was the only December record.

Serin Serín verdecillo Serinus serinus

Common: migrant and winter. Has bred.

Two were on Windmill Hill on January 21^st. Small numbers, 84 birds in total, were reported on dates between March 6^th and May 30^th, chiefly from Europa Point, Windmill Hill and the Nature Reserve. They included 15 over the Rock on March 12^th, 21 at Europa Point on March 22^nd and 22 in the North Front Cemetery on March 29^th. Single birds at Europa Point on June 15^th and 26^th, and five there on June 20^th, were unseasonal.

Southward passage was evident at Jews’ Gate during the second half of October, and again on November 19^th. Late year records comprised three birds at Europa Point on December 18^th and five on Windmill Hill on December 21^st. There were 121 ringed in autumn, between October 9^th and November 30^th.

Siskin Jilguero lúgano Spinus spinus

Regular but scarce migrant. Occasional in winter.

Single birds were on Windmill Hill on March 29^th and near the Europa Point mosque on April 5^th. One was ringed on April 8^th.

One was at Europa Point on October 22^nd. A few were reported over Jews’ Gate on October 27^th and some flocks were among the sizable passage of commoner finches observed there on October 31^st. Elsewhere 16 in total were reported on six dates between October 30^th and November 20^th, these including three over Windmill Hill and four over Western Beach on October 30^th. Eight were ringed between October 29^th and November 14^th.

Corn Bunting Escribano triguero Emberiza calandra

Occasional: migrant and winter.

Two were in the North Front cemetery on March 21^st. Two were on Windmill Hill on March 26^th and four were there on March 29^th. There were again two on Windmill Hill on November 6^th.

Yellowhammer Escribano cerillo Emberiza hortulana

Local vagrant.

Two, a male and a female, were on Windmill Hill on March 15^th. Second record (K. Bensusan, MFI); the first was also on Windmill Hill, on March 7^th 1984.

Ortolan Bunting Escribano hortelano Emberiza hortulana

Occasional: migrant.

One was on Windmill Hill on April 26^th.

House Bunting Escribano sahariano Emberiza deserti

Vagrant.

An adult male was ringed on September 25^th. Another male? was seen and photographed in the reclamation area at Harbour Views on October 19^th. Third and fourth records (F. Torrilla / R. Geary). See Garcia (2022) for a discussion of these and the earlier records in and near Gibraltar.

References

Bensusan, K., Holmes, T.L., Perez, C., Finlayson, G., Finlayson, S., Guillem,

R., Finlayson, C. 2021. Crag Martin neontology complements taphonomy at the Gorham’s Cave Complex. Scientific Reports, 11: 16851. ttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95974-9

Garcia, E. 2022. House Bunting Emberiza deserti. First Gibraltar records. Gibraltar Bird Report 22: 64–66.

Pérez-Granados, C. 2022. Trepador azul Sitta europaea. In III Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción en España. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. https://atlasaves.seo.org/ave/trepador-azul/

APPENDIX 1 MINIMUM DAILY TOTALS OF SOARING RAPTORS SPRING 2022

See Systematic List for records of falcons and species represented by fewer than ten individuals  

APPENDIX 2 MINIMUM DAILY TOTALS OF SOARING RAPTORS AUTUMN 2022

See Systematic List for records of falcons and species represented by fewer than ten individuals

Observers 2022

M. Ashman, K. Bensusan, N. Bulpitt, L. Cooper, J. Cortes, M. Cutts, R. Dickey, C. Durante, J. Durante, R. Espada, M. Figueras, C. Finlayson, A. Fortuna, E. Garcia, D. Gruar, R. Guillem, T. Hammond, G. Heath, T. Holmes, L. Ignacia, I. Lugaro, J. Mesilio, D. Murdoch, D. Murray, S. Olivero, K. Palmer, D. Parody, M. Pearman, C. Perez, J. Perez, R. Perez, N. Ramos, V. Robba, P. Rocca, C. Rugeroni, A. Russo, J. Sanchez, J. Shelton, G. Smith, J. Smith, F. Torrilla, C. Twitchen, H. Van-Gils, S. Warr, J. Yeoman, A. Yome.

RINGING REPORT 2022

Charles Perez

Gibraltar Ringing Group, GONHS, P.O. Box 843, Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Ringing Group, working under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology, is based at the Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory at Jews’ Gate, on the Upper Rock. The ringing campaign started late with only a few sessions during February and March. This was mainly due to unforeseen circumstances. The operation began in earnest as from April 1^st and continued mainly on a daily basis until the 18^th of May.

There were 43 ringing days in the first half of the year, one fewer than in 2021, and 89 ringing days in the second half, five more than in 2021. Ringing took place from sunrise until early afternoon, occasionally continuing throughout the day when many migrants were present and weather conditions were appropriate.

The Pallid Swifts at the Museum roof colony were accessed on March 31^st and April 21^st, when ten birds were processed by removing and replacing geo-locators for analysis, and new birds were ringed.

A Yellow-legged Gull project, in collaboration with the Gibraltar Museum and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) from Doñana, processed twenty adult gulls with rings and satellite tracking monitors in late April and early May. A further nine juvenile birds were fitted with colour rings in mid June.

Trapping at the Crag Martin roost at the Gorham’s Cave Complex was only carried out on October 27^th and November 25^th, due to adverse weather until the end of the year. A total of 128 birds were processed on those two dates.

In total, 9,224 birds were processed; 1,174 more than in 2021. These comprised a record 8,572 new birds and 652 retraps, and a record 5,249 new Blackcaps. With a similar number of ringing days, the spring total was 815 new birds, 110 fewer than in 2021, due to inclement weather. The post-breeding period saw an astounding 8,257 new birds ringed, 1,854 more than the previous year. There were seventeen controls of foreign-ringed birds, 14 of them Blackcaps: single birds from Germany and the Channel Islands, two from France, five from Belgium and five from the United Kingdom, as well as a Pied Flycatcher from Finland and two Spanish Serins (Table 1).

A token total of 30 birds were processed on three dates in February, using just the pond nets, most of them resident and wintering birds: 18 Robins, eight Black Redstarts, two Blackbirds, a Sardinian Warbler and a Blackcap.

Only three days, (10^th, 28^th and 29^th), were tackled in March with only a few nets operating. The 24 birds processed included trans-Saharan migrants; a Hoopoe, four Bonelli’s Warblers, two Willow Warblers and single Whitethroat, Common Redstart and Nightingale. Some late wintering birds were also on the move with seven Common Chiffchaffs and three Robins ringed. Pallid Swifts arrived at the Museum roof colony where four birds were retrapped on the 31^st.

The campaign began in earnest in April, when all nets were up and running. During this month only 19 days were active during which a total of 521 birds were processed. After a day with westerly winds on the 1^st, levanter conditions settled in over the next four days, with gale force easterlies on the 4^th. Wintering species were still heading north during the first week, with 40 Blackcaps, nine Robins and two Song Thrushes caught. Common Chiffchaffs were also evident with an arrival of Phylloscopus warblers that made for a total of 13 Common Chiffchaffs, 29 Bonelli’s Warblers and 29 Willow Warblers during that week. Local birds included six Blue Tits, seven Sardinian Warblers, three Blackbirds and two Greenfinches, most of them retraps. First captures of the season included Woodchat Shrike on the 1^st, Subalpine Warbler on the 2^nd, Garden Warbler on the 4^th and Pied Flycatcher on the 5^th. A Wryneck on the 1^st, a Bee-eater on the 2^nd and four Hoopoes during that week added to the variety.

The following week was dominated by westerly winds, with only the 10^th and 11^th seeing easterly winds. Significant catches during the only two days of active ringing during that week comprised three Bee-eaters and a Siskin on the 8^th, single Wrynecks on the 8^th and 9^th, and the first Melodious Warbler of the season on the 11^th.

Ringing resumed on the 17^th with 281 birds processed until the end of the month. The last few days were the most productive, totals during that period including 31 Bonelli’s Warblers, 66 Willow Warblers, 18 Blackcaps, 26 Garden Warblers, 13 Nightingales and 30 Pied Flycatchers. Scarcer species included five Melodious Warblers, three Subalpine Warblers, seven Whitethroats, three Orphean Warblers six Common Redstarts, and two Spotted Flycatchers. A Woodchat Shrike, a Common Reed-warbler and a Wood Warbler were trapped on the 29^th.

Westerlies dominated the first few days in May with easterlies settling in on the 6^th. Ringing took place on 13 days until the 18^th, when the campaign ended. Phylloscopus warblers dominated the first week with 12 Bonelli’s Warblers and 16 Willow Warblers. Other species included 10 Melodious Warblers, 21 Garden Warblers and 10 Pied Flycatchers and two each of Common Reed-warblers, Whitethroats and Common Redstarts and an Orphean Warbler and a Tree Pipit on the 5^th. Local birds comprised five Sardinian Warblers, mostly retraps, seven Blackbirds including three juveniles, and two Greenfinches.

The following week was dominated by the levanter conditions that are most productive for falls of migrants. The 8^th was noteworthy with a total of 88 birds processed that included 13 Melodious Warblers, 11 Bonelli’s Warblers, 14 Willow Warblers, seven Garden Warblers and 26 Pied Flycatchers among other species. Totals for that week consisted of 37 Melodious Warblers, 29 Bonelli’s Warblers, 27 Willow Warblers, six Common Reed-warblers, six Orphean Warblers, nine Spotted Flycatchers and 40 Pied Flycatchers. Six Robins were late migrants. The five House Sparrows caught resulted from the sparrow habit of foraging for insects in this habitat in late spring when feeding their young. An Isabelline Warbler on the 10^th, a Grasshopper Warbler on the 13^th, a Golden Oriole on the 14^th were the first and only for the season.

The last three days of the season, the 17^th, 18^th and 23^rd, were dominated by local species. The total of 26 birds processed included nine Blackcaps, four Blue Tits, four Sardinian Warblers, two Blackbirds, two House Sparrows and two Greenfinches; the majority retraps. The only trans-Saharan migrant was a Bonelli’s Warbler on the 18^th.

The post-breeding campaign started mid August, when conditions were favourable with a levanter cloud, that ensured the safety of birds at the net. Most days ringing was cut short by mid morning when the heat became unbearable for birds and ringers alike. A total of nine days ringing was attempted during the month from the 13^th but mainly from the 23^rd until the end of the month. During the 13^th and 21^st 21 birds were processed, the majority local and juveniles; a Blue Tit, seven Blackcaps, nine Sardinian Warblers, two House Sparrows and a Greenfinch. The only trans-Saharan migrant was a Nightingale on the 21^st.

The turnover from the 23^rd onwards consisted mainly of local juveniles including ten Blue Tits (one adult), 69 Blackcaps, 21 Blackbirds (all juveniles), 44 Sardinian Warblers (nine adults), seven Wrens (two adults), three House Sparrows and 13 Greenfinches (all juveniles). Trans-saharan migrants comprised single Melodious Warblers on the 26^th and 30^th, 14 Common Reed-warblers, five Iberian Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher on the 27^th, nine Garden Warblers, five Orphean Warblers, 14 Nightingales, a Common Redstart on the 28^th and a Spotted Flycatcher on the 31^st. Two Robins on the 25^th and 30^th may have been local birds or early migrants.

Ringing took place on 25 days in September, when a total of 759 birds were processed. Compared to last year, September trans-Saharan migrants totals this year were disappointing but there were only a few days mid-month with some levanter conditions. The first week was dominated by westerly winds with some high cloud that was not conducive for falls of migrants. Catches were again dominated by local species: ten Blackcaps, 40 Sardinian Warblers, 10 Blackbirds, seven Wrens and eight Greenfinches. Three new Great Tits, an uncommon resident species, were ringed. Trans-Saharan migrants totalled seven Common Reed-warblers, two Melodious Warblers, seven Iberian Chiffchaffs, six Willow Warblers, nine Garden Warblers, two Whitethroats, six Nightingales, three Common Redstarts and seven Pied Flycatchers as well as a Spotted Flycatcher on the 1^st and a Woodchat Shrike on the 3^rd.

Light westerly winds and clear skies during the 9^th and 10^th resulted in a low catching rate, again mainly comprised of resident birds, the only migrants being two Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher on the former date, and eight Garden Warblers, a Common Reed-warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Common Redstart on the latter date. The easterlies, and some levanter cloud, returned mid-way throughout the second week, resulting in greater numbers of trans-Saharan migrants trapped. Early morning fog ensued during this period with the 11^th and 12^th seeing totals of 38 and 36 birds processed respectively. Trans-Saharan migrants on these two days were a Red-necked Nightjar, two Common Reed-warblers, two Willow Warblers, four Iberian Chiffchaffs, 28 Garden Warblers, an Orphean Warbler, a Subalpine Warbler, a Bluethroat, two Nightingales and a Pied Flycatcher. The following two days were hampered by light rain showers and westerly winds.

Ringing resumed on the 17^th and numbers increased as an arrival of migrant Blackcaps heralded the start of a productive autumn. Migrant Blackcaps have a wing in excess of 71mm, compared to 65mm to 71mm in local birds of the ssp. heineken. Blackcap daily totals increased from ten birds on the 18^th to 38 on the 21^st, 53 on 23^rd and 72 on the 24^th with levanter conditions in that interval. Trans-Saharan migrants were low compared to last year with the exception of Willow Warblers with a total of 14 birds, Garden Warblers with 47 birds, and Pied Flycatchers with 23 birds until the 27^th. Other trans-Saharan species remained in the low single figures. Single Hoopoes on the 17^th and 18^th; a Red-necked Nightjar, a Subalpine Warbler, a Tree Pipit and a Grey Wagtail on the 18^th, a Barn Swallow on the 19^th, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Wryneck on the 23^rd, a Whinchat and another Wryneck on the 24^th and Yellow Wagtails on the 24^th and 25^th completed the variety. Exceptionally, a House Bunting trapped and ringed on the 26^th was the second ringing record, (the first being on the September 19^th 2021) and the fifth record for Gibraltar. A Red-spotted Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica cyanecula ringed on the 28^th, was the first record of this race.

Levanter conditions dominated October, resulting in the most productive month since records began. Light westerly winds were only recorded the 10^th, 21^st, 23^rd, 24^th and 26^th, but did not impede the ringing operation which took place on all the days of the month, and in some cases continued from dawn until dusk. In total 5,077 birds were processed, only 183 of them retraps that included ten controls.

Trans-saharan migrants were mainly recorded departing during the first two weeks with some species still trapped later in the month. Four Reed-warblers, 14 Willow Warblers, 21 Garden Warblers, four Nightingales, 28 Redstarts, two Spotted Flycatchers and 19 Pied Flycatchers were ringed during that period. There also were a Scops Owl on the 16^th, a Grasshopper Warbler on the 4^th and a Common Whitethroat on the 12^th. Last departures included a Common Reed-warbler on the 22^nd, a Garden Warbler on the 30^th, and a Common Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher on the 31^st.

Local birds in October comprised 39 Blue Tits of which 12 were retraps; 157 Sardinian Warblers, including 31 retraps; 41 Blackbirds, 21 of them retraps, single Blue Rock-thrushes on the 24^th and 31^st and five House Sparrows.

Blackcap catches increased in frequency during the first week of October, giving a total of 846 birds. This included 275 on the 3^rd, 110 on the 4^th and 155 the following day, the largest local fall of this species recorded. The month’s total of Blackcaps was a spectacular 3,853 birds of which 88 were retraps. Robin arrivals also increased at a steady rate with 196 birds during the first two weeks and a total of 230 up to the end of the month. Other wintering species arrived during the period including the first Song Thrush on the 3^rd with their main arrival from the 16^th giving a total of 37 birds. The first Black Redstart arrived on the 8^th with their main arrival from 18^th onwards, giving a total of 106 for the month, which was below average. Common Chiffchaff arrivals began from the 8^th with their main arrival mid-month, giving a total of 67 birds. Six Dartford Warblers were ringed between the 3^rd and the 31^st.

Finch passage was evident from mid-month, with small numbers trapped and ringed. They comprised 12 Chaffinches, 82 Greenfinches, five Linnets, 46 Goldfinches and 55 Serins. Single Siskins were caught on the 29^th and 31^st. Hirundines, attracted by sound lures, totalled nine Red-rumped Swallows and 19 Barn Swallows during the month; mainly trapped from the 12^th onwards. Single Sparrowhawks on the 21^st and 23^rd, an Iberian Chiffchaff on the 15^th, single Short-toed Treecreepers on the 7^th and 10^th, single Wrynecks on the 2^nd, 4^th and 14^th, a Dunnock on the 31^st, a Firecrest on the 12^th and a Bluethroat on the 26^th increased the species count. A Red-breasted Flycatcher on the 27^th was only the 4^th record and the 2^nd ringing record for Gibraltar.

The month of November was mainly dominated by light westerly and northerly winds with only a few days of easterlies and levanter conditions. With fog on the 11^th and gale force westerlies with rain on the 16^th and 17^th, there were only 23 ringing days during the month. During this period 2,156 birds were processed of which 1,991 were new and 173 were retraps, with one control, a Blackcap.

Blackcaps and Robins continued to dominate the catch totals with 2,163 and 337 birds processed respectively. Common Chiffchaffs, Song Thrushes and Black Redstarts were also numerous with totals of 94, 52 and 167 birds respectively. Small numbers of finches were trapped and visible finch migration was apparent during the first half of the mornings, as flocks of birds headed south. Serins were most numerous, with 68 birds ringed, followed by 27 Greenfinches, 24 Goldfinches, 19 Chaffinches, six Siskins and three Linnets. Among the rarer finch species were a Brambling on the 6^th with two more on the 7^th, and single Bullfinches on the 12^th and 14^th. A total of 52 Song Thrushes for the month was exceptional.

Late trans-Saharan migrants in November comprised single Common Reed-warblers on the 1^st and 2^nd, a Garden Warbler on the 6^th, a Common Redstart on the 2^nd and a Tree Pipit on the 11^th. A flock of seven Long-tailed Tits trapped on the 7^th was unexpected, with six of those birds retrapped on the 29^th: the last time that species was ringed was in 2004, when ten birds were processed.

Other species trapped during the month included single Dartford Warblers on the 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th; two Redwings on the 11^th and another on the 27^th, and single Yellow-browed Warblers on the 3^rd and 12^th; the 19^th and 20^th Gibraltar records. 

Table 1: Controls 2022