Nicely settled in Alvor with a view I'm more than happy with, for the next few months. Time for some more birding!! A walk along the coastal cliffs took us through an area known as Prainha. Looking over the cliffs reveals the secluded coves with remarkable eroded rock formations. The walk itself is through mainly pine woodland and some open ground. Some familiar species were around in good numbers - Black Redstarts, Sardinian Warblers, Blackbirds, Chiffchaffs and among them were the odd Chaffinch and Greenfinches. In the first half hour, Siskin flocks were flying West as were Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail was unusual. Many Azure-winged Magpies frequented the pines here. It was on the return walk, as I was still checking the Chiffchaffs, I found one to be a Yellow-browed Warbler. Although seen well at first, it was in a tree which proved very difficult to re-locate the bird. Many leaves and moving branches left me with no option but to keep squeezing the shutter button and hope for the best! Whilst I was fighting with this tree for a considerable time, I was also aware of a peculiar bird call a short distance away. I gave up with the Yellow-browed Warbler (although I did return an hour later) and sought out the odd call I kept hearing. It proved more difficult than I thought, but eventually found the culprit, hiding in a Medronho or Strawberry Tree. Thanks to Google, this bird appears to be a Grey Indian Ring-necked Parakeet. I can't imagine it being an introduced species and more likely, hopped out of its cage. (It is 'ringed'). Coincidentally, in the short time I have been in Alvor, I have seen two green Ring-necked Parakeets which I believe are introduced/escape category birds. After lunch, I wanted to see the breached path/wall at Alvor marsh and spent a few hours down there. It is difficult to assess whether the 'dry' saltmarsh areas which are now covered at high tide has made the area better or worse for wildlife, not only now but in the future. At the moment, the vegetation is laid flat and there seems to be an absence of ground birds such as the Fan-tailed Warblers and Bluethroats, although I noticed the latter had relocated, over the road in the hedgerow. With the tide out during this visit, I noticed some new small pools and in these I found Common Snipe and a Water Pipit. Further away, there were plenty of White Storks, Grey Herons, Spoonbills, Flamingos and Egrets which appeared quite encouraging. It is clear the area will keep changing for some time yet and it will be interesting to see how it develops. That is assuming no restoration work is going to take place. I would like to think that a greater water surface area, may produce some interesting gulls and more wildfowl. At the moment, only a handful of Mallard are found there normally which isn't great. Several raptors in the air here, a pale Booted Eagle passed through going North. Two Common Buzzards and a male Marsh Harrier frequented the marsh. The two Black-winged Kites were in the usual field. A Lapwing was in a field, just off the marsh.
Geoffrey Morrison
19/11/2019 03:05:19 am
Hi Nigel, Comments are closed.
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