Places › Northern shore · Port

Port of Algeciras

Algeciras · 36.13° N, 5.45° W

The quays, ferry terminal and docks of the port of Algeciras, the busiest in the Strait. Gulls, cormorants and, on passage, seabirds among the ferries. Watch from public accesses and the promenade, never from working quays.

122
bird species: 1817–2025
first and last open record

See the place in the explorer

within about 0.5 km · Natural Earth cartography, public domain

90 % of the records are from 2018 onwards.

Few open observations: the southern shore has fewer observers, not less life. The figures here describe what has been published, not what is there.

September

What to watch this week

The species with the largest share of their open observations in these weeks of the year, here (week 37 and its two neighbours). A likelihood, not a promise: observations measure effort as well as presence.

Open records within about 0.5 km of the point by ISO week, all years added up. The current week is outlined.

ResidentTawny OwlStrix aluco
Photo: caroline legg, CC BY
74% of its observations here fall in these weeks
MigrantWillow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5
73% of its observations here fall in these weeks
ResidentEurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Photo: Iruka, CC BY-SA
54% of its observations here fall in these weeks
ResidentEurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Photo: Juan Emilio, CC BY-SA
53% of its observations here fall in these weeks
ResidentEuropean RobinErithacus rubecula
Photo: Arjan Haverkamp, CC BY
51% of its observations here fall in these weeks
ResidentCommon BlackbirdTurdus merula
Photo: Luiz Lapa, CC BY
49% of its observations here fall in these weeks
SeasonalSpotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Photo: Marton Berntsen, CC BY-SA
47% of its observations here fall in these weeks
ResidentCommon KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Photo: Frank Vassen, CC BY
41% of its observations here fall in these weeksrecorded in the field

Where to watch today

Forecast wind at Puerto de Algeciras, 10:00–16:00

16km/h from the W

Gusts

37 km/h

Moderate poniente: crossing in the east

A westerly shifts the passage east. Soaring birds approach the sea between Algeciras, Punta Carnero and Gibraltar, and cross towards Ceuta and Jbel Musa.

Watchpoint: Algarrobo and Punta Carnero

Forecast for Wednesday 9 September, Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). A reading, not a prediction of passage.

Seen these days

No open observations within 0.5 km in the last 14 days.

iNaturalist, research grade and CC0 or CC BY licence; the date is that of the observation, not the upload.

All the species of the site

One list with both sources: the open GBIF and OBIS observations within 0.5 km, which say how many times and when, and the Port Authority's field records, which say it was seen here and with what presence. First those with both kinds of evidence; then those only observed, by number of observations; last, those only recorded in the field.

123 bird species122 with open observations6 recorded in the field

Common Kestrel37 obs. · recorded in the field · Resident
Black-headed Gull26 obs. · recorded in the field · Resident
Great Cormorant23 obs. · recorded in the field · Seasonal
Razorbill3 obs. · recorded in the field · Migrant
Whimbrel3 obs. · recorded in the field · Seasonal
Yellow-legged Gull394 obs.
Rock Dove170 obs.
Spotless Starling139 obs.
House Sparrow130 obs.
Common Blackbird127 obs.
Pallid Swift104 obs.
Eurasian Collared Dove92 obs.
Tawny Owl77 obs.
European Robin63 obs.
Eurasian Blackcap59 obs.
Lesser Kestrel58 obs.
Spotted Flycatcher47 obs.
Willow Warbler37 obs.
Eurasian (African) Blue Tit36 obs.
Barn Swallow32 obs.
Great Tit31 obs.
European Pied Flycatcher29 obs.
European Honey Buzzard27 obs.
House Bunting23 obs.
Common Swift22 obs.
White Wagtail21 obs.
Peregrine Falcon20 obs.
Booted Eagle19 obs.
Sandwich Tern18 obs.
Hoopoe18 obs.
Common Chiffchaff17 obs.
Eurasian Crag Martin17 obs.
European Greenfinch16 obs.
Black Redstart16 obs.
Sardinian Warbler15 obs.
White Stork14 obs.
Common House Martin14 obs.
Lesser Black-backed Gull14 obs.
Short-toed Snake Eagle13 obs.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk12 obs.
Griffon Vulture11 obs.
Western Bonelli´s Warbler11 obs.
Black Kite10 obs.
European Goldfinch9 obs.
Melodious Warbler8 obs.
Cattle Egret7 obs.
Little Egret7 obs.
Common Sandpiper6 obs.
Black Stork6 obs.
Northern Gannet6 obs.
Subalpine Warbler5 obs.
Woodchat Shrike5 obs.
European Bee-eater5 obs.
European Turtle Dove5 obs.
Meadow Pipit4 obs.
Grey Heron4 obs.
Common Chaffinch4 obs.
Mediterranean Gull4 obs.
European Crested Tit4 obs.
Blue Rock Thrush4 obs.
Egyptian Vulture4 obs.
Common Starling4 obs.
Alpine Swift4 obs.
Red-legged Partridge3 obs.
Mallard3 obs.
Ruddy Turnstone3 obs.
Common Buzzard3 obs.
Montagu´s Harrier3 obs.
Common Wood Pigeon3 obs.
Osprey3 obs.
European Serin3 obs.
White-rumped Swift2 obs.
Caprimulgus europaeus2 obs.
Cetti’s Warbler2 obs.
Westhern Marsh Harrier2 obs.
Western Jackdaw2 obs.
Northern Raven2 obs.
Audouin´s Gull2 obs.
Common Nightingale2 obs.
Common Scoter2 obs.
Motacilla flava2 obs.
Common Redstart2 obs.
Eurasian Siskin2 obs.
Garden Warbler2 obs.
Common Kingfisher1 obs.
Tawny Pipit1 obs.
Little Swift1 obs.
Eurasian Stone Curlew1 obs.
Sanderling1 obs.
Short-toed Treecreeper1 obs.
Kentish Plover1 obs.
Whiskered Tern1 obs.
Slender-billed Gull1 obs.
Zitting Cisticola1 obs.
Hawfinch1 obs.
Great Spotted Woodpecker1 obs.
Black-winged Kite1 obs.
Eleonora’s Falcon1 obs.
Crested Lark1 obs.
Rüppell´s Vulture1 obs.
Eurasian Oystercatcher1 obs.
Caspian Tern1 obs.
Western Olivaceous Warbler1 obs.
Common Linnet1 obs.
Woodlark1 obs.
Grey Wagtail1 obs.
Monk Parakeet1 obs.
Black-eared Wheatear1 obs.
Eurasian Golden Oriole1 obs.
Phylloscopus ibericus1 obs.
Glossy Ibis1 obs.
Psittacula krameri1 obs.
Balearic Shearwater1 obs.
Common Firecrest1 obs.
Common Stonechat1 obs.
Common Whitethroat1 obs.
Sardinian Warbler1 obs.
Dartford Warbler1 obs.
Common Greenshank1 obs.
Common Redshank1 obs.
Winter Wren1 obs.
Song Thrush1 obs.
Red-necked Nightjarno open observation · recorded in the field · Seasonal

A species recorded in the field with no open observation is not doubtful: it means nobody has published it under an open licence from this point. One with hundreds of observations and no field record is not either: the guide is not exhaustive. APBA bird guide (PDF, in Spanish)

The ones that define the place

Species more concentrated here than in the rest of the Strait: their share of observations at the place divided by their share across the whole area. An index of 3 means three times more frequent here than expected.

Most observed birds

Birds with 30 or more open records within the site radius. It measures observation effort as well as presence.

Each species' line is its weekly distribution here; the vertical tick is the current week.

The place's calendar

39 %

Monthly distribution of the open observations within about 0.5 km of the point.

Protection

Important Bird Area (IBA)

Outside every IBA in the inventory.

Inventory kept by SEO/BirdLife within BirdLife International's IBA programme. It is not a legal protection status, but it carries weight in impact assessments and in court.

Natura 2000 network

The point is not inside any Natura 2000 site.

How to watch

The colonies of Isla Verde and the Isla de las Palomas are watched from a distance. Binoculars and telescope, no approach.
No drones over islands, breakwaters or docks: they scare the birds and are forbidden in the port domain without authorisation.

Other places

CC0 and CC BY records from GBIF and OBIS in the own database, deduplicated, within about 0.5 km of the point. Natura 2000 sites from the European Environment Agency. Protection designations as currently in force; no legal value. 9 September 2026.