After days of cloud and strong easterlies the morning was soon sunny once the early morning cloud had dissipated. The wind was fresh from the north-west so there was a good chance that raptors would come over Gibraltar. Early indications were good - a strong passage of Swallows, House Martins, Goldfinches, Linnets and Serins, all arriving across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco. With them were the first Black Kites. But the day belonged to the Booted Eagles (above and below).
These eagles are now hitting their peak passage and many had obviously been waiting to get across
The finches continued to swarm. A flock of ten or so Red-rumped Swallows dashed past a metre away from me and Bee-eaters swarmed as they noisily passed north. If the day was the Booted Eagles', the Sparrowhawks weren't far behind, darting into the trees and having a go at the passing finches. There were many males in today's migration (below).
The range of species was good and included Montagu's and Marsh Harriers.
Male Marsh Harrier overhead
Some Short-toed Eagles are still coming through - their peak was earlier in the month - and the gulls still make them feel unwelcome!
And of course the Black Kites keep on coming, these are now heading for Western and Central Europe
