Whilst Steve and Allen were searching for raptors I was enjoying the delights of the nets and the great ringing that can be found on Gib. I was under the tuition of the resident ringer, Ray Marsh and various other visiting ringers. By the end of day one I was in full swing taking the biometrics of the birds and carrying out the regular rounds of the nets.
The species we were encountering were generally very familiar to the birds that we getting in the UK, by far the most common were Blackcaps and Robins.
On day two I had a single Sardinian Warbler, a Reed Warbler and my first Greenfinch as well as the commoner northern migrants.
Sardinian Warbler being processed, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 13th Oct 2009
On the Wednesday Song Thrushes and Black Redstarts were a noted addition as they began to arrive from the north and these continued through to the end of the week.
Black Redstart, Gibraltar, 13th October 2009
We continued getting migrants both in the mornings and towards dusk and Thursday brought a ringning tick in the form of a first year Stonechat.
Stonehat, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 15th Oct 2009
By the time we had finished on Friay and it was time to go home I had processed 140 birds of eleven species. Highlights were Scops Owl and Common Nightjar (pics to follow) and two Uk controls, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff.
Once again thanks to Jill for her excellent admin and to Ray Marsh for his patience and sage like mentoring.
Ray and me at the ringing hub, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 15th Oct 09
Mark C.