Visible migration over the Gibraltar Straits

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Western Mediterranean and the Gibraltar Straits
18 March - 10 April 2011

An ROV pipeline inspection and intervention job took us close to the Balearics for a few days followed by a few weeks in the Gibraltar Straits. As usual the area produced plenty of birds and other sightings of interest - despite birding being limited to an hour or two around dawn most days. The most frustrating aspect of the trip was waiting for dawn after working the night shift (ended 06:00), at first I only had to wait an hour or so but after the clocks changed for summer time the wait was extended a further hour...

For other pages dealing with birding the Balearics and the Mediterranean see the following pages:

Birding the Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean

Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean

Mallorca

Crete

Map showing average location during the trip

Position was well to the west of Gibraltar itself

Second summer Audoin's Gull, Gibraltar Straits, March 2011

Audoin's Gull featured heavily both close to the Balearics and in the Straits of Gibraltar. As usual they showed rather nocturnal behaviour and often cleared off just as dawn broke.

Nocturnal feeding Audoin's Gull, off Ibiza, March 2011

Plenty of seabirds were seen during this trip including a huge movement of Scopoli's Shearwater in late March. Small numbers of Balearic Shearwater were seen near Ibiza and also heading into the Mediterranean through the Gibraltar Straits. Northern Gannet, Great Skua, various species of gull and even a Puffin were also noted. Once again the impression that Scopoli's Shearwater are seen in greater numbers closer to shore was reinforced.

Mediterranean Gulls were not seen after 01 April but were regular prior to this date both in the Mediterranean and in the Gibraltar Straits (mostly non-adult birds).

Balearic Shearwater, off Ibiza, March 2011

Scopoli's Shearwater, March 2011
Both Cory's and Scopoli's Shearwater were seen during a large movement on 25th March 2011.
For more pictures click on the image above

Bee-eaters migrating under gale force winds, April 2011

Many bird of prey and passerines crossed the Gibraltar Straits under the most atrocious conditions - often during periods of gale force winds. Surprisingly few passed on "good" days - this may have been because they then managed to cross at the narrowest part rather than being forced westwards. One of the highlights of the trip - a migrating Roller - was one of the exceptions, passing on a calm and sunny morning.

Herons such as this Cattle Egret were an almost daily sight

Cattle Egret, Little Egret two flocks of Flamingos and a flock of three Spoonbills were among the larger wading birds seen. The vast majority of passerines were not identified - conditions when these were passing were far from ideal. Hirundines, larks, pipits and finches were all seen in good numbers at times.

Marsh Harrier approacing the Spanish coast, March 2011

The following table gives a list of the species seen during the trip. Itinery was as follows:
16-18 March - Valencia harbour. No time spent birding
19-23 March - Mediterranean between Valencia and Ibiza
24 March - 10 April. Straits of Gibraltar (SOG)

English	Norwegian	Scientific	Numbers	Comments
Cory's /Scopoli's Shearwater	Gulnebblire	Calonectris diomeda	****	Huge numbers 24.04.11, most days in SOG. Usually closer to shore,. Most positively identified as Scopoli's but some Cory's too.
Balearic Sheawater	Balearlire	Puffinus mauritanicus	*	Few in Med, several SOG
Northern Gannet	Havsule	Sula bassana	**	Over 25 on 24.03, smaller numbers daily in SOG
Great Cormorant	Storskarv	Phalacracorax carbo	*	Two east near Spain, SOG
Cattle Egret	Kuhegre	Bubulcus ibis	*	1-3 regularly SOG
Little Egret	Silkhegre	Egretta garzetta	*	Valencia, 2 north SOG 06.04
Grey Heron	Gråhegre	Ardea cinera	*	Valencia
Eurasian Spoonbill	Skjestork	Platalea leucorodia	*	3 N 28.03.2011
Flamingo	Flamingo	Phoenicopterus	**	30 N on 02.04.2011, 20 migrating 09.04.2011
Eurasian Marsh Harrier	Sivhauk	Circus aeruginosus	**	Up to 12 per day, usually during strong easterlies
Montagu's Harrier	Enghauk	Circus pygagus	*	1+ seen several times, inlcuding a femaile on 08.04
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Spurvehauk	Accipiter nisus	*	One on 25.03, 1 on 08.04.2011
Lesser Kestrel	Rødfalk	Falco naumanni	**	One took a small passerine at sea west of Ibiza
Common Kestrel	Tårnfalk	Falco tinnunculus	*	Common migrant in SOG
Ringed Plover	Sandlo	Charadrius hiaticula	*	Two birds together, SOG, 06.04
Great Skua	Storjo	Stercorarius skua	*	Several SOG, up to three per day
Mediterranean Gull	Svartehavsmåke	Larus melanocephalus	**	Valencia, small numbers SOG but none after 01.04.2011
Little Gull	Dvergmåke	Larus minutus	*	Valencia
Black-headed Gull	Hettemåke	Larus ridebudus	*	Valencia, small numbers SOG
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Sildemåke	Larus fuscus	**	SOG
Yellow-legged Gull	Gulbeingråmåke	Larus cachinnans	**	Common
Audoin's Gull	Middelhavsmåke	Larus audouinii	**	Common, often more at night
Gull-billed Tern	Sandterne	Gelocheldon nilotica	*	At least 1, SOG, 06.04
Sandwich Tern	Splitterne	Sterna sandvicensis	*	Valencia
Atlantic Puffin	Lunde	Fratercula arctica	*	Two NW 26.03, SOG
European Turtle Dove	Turteldue	Streptopelia turtur	*	One 08.04.2011
Common Swift	Tårnseiler	Apus aapus	**	Common migrant
European Bee-eater	Bieter	Merops apiaster	**	90+ 01.04, single 03.04, SOG
European Roller	Blåkrake	Coracias garrulus	*	One flying around vessel 28.03
Sand Martin	Sandsvale	Riparia riparia	*	Small numbers SOG
Barn Swallow	Låvesvale	Hirundo rustica	***	Common migrant, ringed bird landed in Med
House Martin	Taksvale	Delichon urbica	**	Small numbers SOG
Yellow Wagtail	Gulerle	Motacilla flava	*	Single SOG, 03.04.11
White / Pied Wagtail	Linerle	Motacilla alba	**	Small numbers SOG and Med
European Robin	Rødstrupe	Erithacus rubecula	*	Small numbers SOG and Med
Song Thrush	Måltrost	Turdus philomelus	*	SOG One or two 10.04.2011
Common Chiffchaff	Gransanger	Phylloscopus collybita	*	One singing onboard, Med
Common Starling	Stær	Sturnus vulgaris	*	Valencia
House Sparrow	Gråspurv	Passer domesticus	*	OFFSHORE SOG (must have been blown here!)
European Greenfinch	Grønnfink	Carduelis chloris	*	Small numbers SOG, probably a lot commoner
European Goldfinch	Stillits	Carduelis carduelis	**	GOG: Small flocks migrating

Montagu's Harrier being blasted past the vessel in high winds

Migrating Roller, one of the highlights of the trip, 28 March 2011

Yellow-legged Gull, Gibraltar Straits, April 2011


Flocks of migrating Flamingos were seen on two occasions	Marsh Harrier crossing the Straits in gale force winds

Spoonbills migrating over the Gibraltar Straits

Migrating Spoonbills, Gibraltar Straits, March 2011

Windmills greet raptors along the Spanish coast

Plenty of windmills to greet migrant raptors after crossing the Gibraltar Straits....


Ringed Swallow resting onboard, off Ibiza, March 2011	Sunfish, Mediterranean, March 2011

Ocean Sunfish on the surface, between Spain and Ibiza
Sunfish were also seen at depths of >100m in the Gibraltar Straits

Other Sightings:
There was plenty of marine life in the area. The highlights were a shark and sunfish (twice). Howeverm, there were all kinds of fish seen including Moray Eel, Conger eel and many, many more - many of which remain unidentified. Several species of moth and butterfly made the sea crossing during periods of calmer weather.

Migrant Cricket / Grasshopper onboard, Gibraltar Straits, April 2011

Hawk moths such as this one turned up twice, several during a "fall" containing several moth species and an "invasion" of 25

Sunrise over Ibiza

Shark

This shark inpsected the vessel briefly

Another migrant moth

Links to birding Gibraltar Straits:

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society - Link here