Gibraltar Point

Kev, Duncan and I had been planning a return visit to Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory for some time and after keeping a close eye on the weather, the Gibraltar Point Blog and liaising with Mick Briggs, (ringer in charge), we hoped to take advantage of the influx of birds and go one day last week. Unfortunately strong winds on the day meant we had to cancel that visit. This was a pity as when we finally got there on Monday 19 October, we had missed the main passage of birds.

We arrived slightly later than planned and opened the nets in the Aylmer Avenue area at about 07:30. Catching started briskly but slowed down in the afternoon. We managed 92 new birds and 42 retraps giving us a respectable total of 134 birds for the day, so well worth the visit.

The best bird of the day for us was a Brambling, though George Gregory, a resident ringer ringing in the East Dunes, caught a Great Grey Shrike, a Skylark, and had a Merlin escape from the net!

Our totals for the day were - 33 Goldcrest, 3 Wren, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 11 Robin, a Reed Bunting, 2 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 4 Blue Tit, 16 Greenfinch, 10 Redwing and 7 Blackbird; and 42 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 6 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 13 Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, 3 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 5 Blue Tit, a Blackbird, 3 Greenfinch and a Coal Tit.

Mick P

 Duncan checking the nets around the feeding station. 

 Kev, multitasking- bring birds back and delivering newspapers.

 Brambling (pics by Mick P.)