Night birds featured heavily in our short visit to the observatory at Jews Gate, Gibraltar. We arrived on the Monday to be told that the day before a Red-necked Nightjar and a Scops Owl had been rung at the obs. Obviously we were hoping for more of the same and weren't disappointed when on the Tuesday the early morning nets produced a European Nightjar, by no means a common find on Gib with most years producing just a single record.
European Nightjar, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 13th Oct 2009 (Photo: Steve Copsey)
A few days later and Ray returns from the early morning nets with another tiny jewel in the form of a Eurasian Scops Owl, this small bird proved a treat for all and Steve, one of the A ringers was chuffed to get a new ringing tick.
Eurasian Scops Owl, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 15th Oct 2009 (Photo: Steve Copsey)
A final mention goes to a bird that was present every night of our visit and apparently for a while before.  As soon as dusk arrived on night one the sound of a hooting Tawny Owl came form the scrub above the obs.  This bird was with us every night sometimes responding to the various attempts at Tawny call but most of the time flying from bush to tree, looking at us as much as we looked at him. 
Tawny Owl, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 15th Oct 2009 (Photo: Steve Copsey)
The last picture is for Steve as he expressed a wish for it to be put on the blog, he's such a big softie at heart, but what a great image.
Eurasian Scops Owl, Jews Gate, Gibraltar, 15th Oct 2009 (Photo: Steve Copsey)
Mark C.