Birds in Gibraltar

These photographs were taken during the month of December and they are all birds spotted in Gibraltar.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

We weren't able to travel into Spain, what with all the Christmas preparations, so we decided to take a closer look at what was available locally instead.

Black Redstart

Robin

Black Redstart

Hope you enjoy these photos! 

Chiffchaff

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sardinian Warbler

Sardinian Warbler

Black Redstart

Chiffchaff

Robin

Black Redstart

Serin

Serin

Chiffchaff

Goldfinch

Chiffchaff

La Janda & Los Lances

Before the Christmas rush set in we decided to set out on a birding trip to nearby La Janda and Los Lances. 

Crag Martin

Pheasant

Our last bird watching trip had been during early November so we were both very eager to go and excited about the prospect of seeing certain bird species, such as the Bluethroat and the Cranes.

Early morning view at La Janda

Ploughing the fields - La Janda

Here is a lcomplete ist of the birds that we saw on the day:

• Squacco Heron
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Grey Heron
• White Stork
• Glossy Ibis
• Mallard
• Black-winged Kite
• Reed Bunting
• Corn Bunting

Bonelli's Eagle

• Griffon Vulture
• Marsh Harrier
• Hen Harrier
• Spanish Imperial Eagle
• Bonelli's Eagle
• Buzzard
• Kestrel
• Red-legged Partridge
• Pheasant
• Moorhen
• Purple Gallinule

Stonechat

Stonechat

• Common Crane
• Stone Curlew
• Grey Plover
• Lapwing
• Snipe
• Green Sandpiper
• Black-tailed Godwit
• Sanderling
• Black-headed Gull
• Audouin Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Sandwich Tern
• Little Owl
• Meadow Pipet
• Kingfisher

Lapwings

Lapwings

• Calandra Lark
• Crested Lark
• Crag Martin
• White Wagtail
• Robin
• Bluethroat
• Black Redstart
• Stonechat
• Cetti's Warbler
• Chiffchaff
• House Sparrow
• Spanish Sparrow
• Linnet
• Chaffinch
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch

Moorhen & Purple Gallinule

Purple Gallinule

Next post will follow shortly and will be on Wintering birds in Gibraltar.

Sandwich Terns

Sandwich Tern

Anyhow, we hope you've all had a great Christmas! :)

White Stork

Common Crane

Common Crane

Common Cranes

Common Crane

Laguna de Medina Sidonia

We headed over early on in the morning, as it had been quite a while since we had last visited this area and we were keen to spot some ducks.

Early Morning at Laguna Medina

Unfortunately they were too far away to capture any decent photographs however, we were able to view them using a scope.

Here's a complete list of what we spotted in the area:

• Shoveler
• Porchard
• Red-crested Porchard
• Little Grebe
• Great-crested Grebe
• White-headed Duck
• Little Bittern
• Coot
• Chiffchaff
• Mistle Thrush
• Cetti's Warbler
• Sardinian Warbler
• Sandwich Tern

Little Grebe

Mallard

Moorhen

We then drove from there, to Benalup and then onto La Janda. Whilst in La Janda, we spotted:

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

• Meadow Pipet
• White Wagtail
• Black Redstart
• Grey Heron
• White Stork
• Black Stork
• Night Heron (JV)
• Serin
• Gold Finch
• Great White Egret
• Spanish Imperial Eagle
• Common Buzzard
• Bonelli's Eagle (JV)
• Marsh Harrier
• Montagu's Harrier
• Kestrel
• Short-toed Eagle
• Black-shouldered Kite
• Common Crane
• Griffon Vulture
• Green Sandpiper
• Lapwing

Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

We were fortunate enough to see two large Eagles on that day, the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Bonelli's Eagle. We were able to capture some photographs of the Spanish Imperial Eagle from a distance however, we were unable to get any of the Bonelli's as it was too far away. 

Here are the photos we took,  and as you can see they're not the best picture quality but its enough to appreciate the size of the Eagle:

Spanish Imperial Eagle

Spanish Imperial Eagle