It wasn’t only raptors we saw during our visit. We did also connect with a 'few' of the local specialities. Barbary Partridge was a target bird for Allen and fortunately on our travels we came across five birds. Including a pair just underneath O’Hara’s Battery at the top of the Mediterranean steps. Getting a shot of them was another matter. The most widespread passerine is the Sardinian Warbler; these were seen all over the rock in most habitats.
Sardinian Warbler, female, Jews Gate Observatory, 14 Oct 2009
Sardinian Warbler, male, Alameda Gardens, 14 Oct 2009
Yellow Legged Gull is by far the most common bird on the rock. I know that their numbers used to be controlled but they still roam around in great numbers.
Yellow Legged Gull, Near the Alameda Gardens, 14 Oct 2009
Yellow Legged Gull, Juvenile Europa Pt, 13 Oct 2009
For the first two days of the visit we saw one Black Redstart, over the last three days we must have seen upwards of a 100. I’m pretty sure that these will over winter on the rock. As will a number of Song Thrushes. The place started filling up with this species from the Thursday.
Black Redstart, Jews Gate Cemetery, 15 Oct 2009
Another good find was Cory’s Shearwater. It was the right time of year for the Med population to be on the move. A couple of hours sea watching from Europa point produced c40 birds. Unfortunately they were a little distant but a heavily cropped shot is shown below. I am back in the Med on Sunday, sailing from Genoa for a week’s cruise/busman’s holiday. Hopefully I will manage a few better shots. We dipped on Audoin’s Gull during the week. Again I hope to put that right next week.
 Cory's Shearwaters, Europa Pt, 13 Oct 2009
Steve Copsey
| 
