Autumn migration of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina in the Strait of Gibraltar: Accidental or regular?

Abstract

The Lesser Spotted Eagle (LSE) migrates to its winter quarters via the eastern Mediterranean corridor. During 1998 to 2009, 47 LSEs have been registered in the Strait of Gibraltar during a monitoring program of bird migration. All observations were made between 6 August to 12 October (mean 16 September, median 12 September). Of thirteen age-identified LSEs, ten birds were nonjuveniles. Six out of 86 LSEs fitted with a satellite transmitter at the western limit of its distribution followed the western route. Three of those birds reached Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar. The presence of LSE in our study area, albeit in small numbers, indicates the existence of a minor migration route across the Iberian Peninsula.