September 20, 2004
Raptors over Gibraltar
Raptor Migration over Gibralter
By way of a change from my local patch(es) I recently took some time out to do some birdwatching at Gibraltar and Southern Spain.
A friend from Glasgow joined me Keith" Hawk Eye" Hoey.
We based ourselves at Gibraltar for 3 days from the 5th to the 7th September.
We stayed in Bruceīs Farm and research centre where long term studies of the resident population of Barbary Macaques are being carried out.
The Centre and accommadation are maintained by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society. Itīs self catering and costs 15 GBP a night for a room.
Itīs situated well up on the Rock with views over Algecirus Bay and Morocco.
We couldnīt wait to see the famed Raptor migration.
We arrived mid afternoon on the 5th and soon settled in. We had hardly got our telescopes set up when the birds starting appearing from no where!
Black dots in the sky got closer and closer as they soared above us searching for the right thermals. First of all Honey Buzzards, showing pale spots on both wings. Then Black Kites showing their notched tails in silhouette. Then a familiar sound of Bee eaters, tiny dots but unmistakable silhoette, 55 in one flock. Other birds amonst the main groups of Buzzards and Kites turned out to be Marsh and Montaguīs Harriers, Lesser Kestrels and Sparrowhawks.
During quiet spells there were the odd bird around to distract us -resident Blue Rock Thrushes, and passing migrants such as Ortolan Bunting and Hoopoe.
We also saw large Butterflies enjoying a feast on a nearby Prickly Pear Two Tailed Pasha.
If we thought the 5th September was good the next day was stunning.
We started our Raptor watch just after 8.15am and were still watching at 6.15pm.
By the end of the day the following numbers of birds were noted flying over.2 Black Storks, 3533 Honey Buzzards; 876 Black Kites; 5 Egyptian Vultures; 2 Marsh Harriers; 8 Montaguīs Harriers; 9 Sparrowhawks; 1 Booted Eagle; and 1 Osprey.
As well as the above there were several birds of prey that eluded identification either to high up before being spotted or against the light. Canīt win them all.
We sure had sore necks after that day.
The G.O.N.H.S. also run a ringing station on the Rock.
If you want any information about the that or the Raptor passage their web site is:-
www.gibnet.gi / sqiggle (which I donīt have on my keyboard).gonhs/gibralta1.htm. If that doesnīt work just type in Gibraltar Birds in your search engine.
The wind changed round to the East on the 7th September, so not so good for the Raptors, so we did a sea watch and caught up with the local Barbary Partridges.
So thus ended a very exciting few days on Gibraltar.
Stop press news A Spotted Eagle was seen with some Booted Eagles on the 18th September.