Yesterday was spent doing a little more sightseeing and walking around eight miles of Gibraltar's hilly terrain. The botanic gardens were visited and a few shops too! A late afternoon birding session from the hotel, lasting approximately two hours, turned out to be quite rewarding. The raptors were flying very high and difficult to pick out with the naked eye, which meant constant scanning with the bins. In the main, Black Kites were again the commonest species, passing in fours and fives, then a flock of 54 appeared, spread out over quite some distance. More small groups followed occasionally coming lower, until this one almost joined me on the sixth floor! 111 Black Kites passed over during this period. Other sightings (at great height or distance) included 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Falcon sp, 4 pale and 2 dark Booted Eagle, 2 Short-toed Eagle and really good to see, 3 Montagu's Harriers. 29 Swift, 1 House Martin and 1 Swallow flew through low. Montagu's Harrier adult male. Today, a return visit was made to Europa Point but the wind quickly turned to the East, and no raptors were seen making the passage. A 'fresh in' Northern Wheatear was literally on the southernmost shore, presumably dropped in during the night. On the walk up to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gorham's Cave, a couple of Blue Rock Thrush were flying along the cliff tops. Gorham's Cave - Evidence of Neanderthal man found here.
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