19th Oct Gib

October 19th. A Dusky Warbler was discovered around the Cycle Track opposite Tennyson’s Sands. Also around, including birds trapped, were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Great Grey Shrike, a Firecrest, 2+ Brambling and a Merlin. Off the reserve a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen over fields to the north-west, and a Great Grey Shrike was on a hedge to the west of Frederika Road.

  A morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 53 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, 19 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 8 Robin, a Goldfinch, a Blackcap, 4 Lesser Redpoll, a Skylark, 3 Redwing, 11 Blackbird and a Great Grey Shrike; and 9 retraps: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin and a Dunnock.

  A long ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, by Mick Pearson, Kevin Hemsley and Duncan Hooton, yielded 92 new birds: 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.