A beautiful day walking around this great wetland area near Alvor. Since work was completed in repairing the breached walls, the quality of birdlife is, in my opinion improving all the time. The morning began with the arrival of two Ospreys. Today is the third day in succession these Ospreys have been around Alvor. They are both juveniles, by the incomplete dark wing band and lack of dark tail band. Neither bird is the 'resident' Osprey frequently seen at the fish farm and surrounding area. One of them had little experience in fishing, missing at every plunge in the water. This young Osprey is carrying a metal ring only, on the left leg (most usually carry a plastic identifier also). Setting off from the parking area we soon came across a large feeding party of Spoonbills, Cormorants and Little Egrets. Supplies of fish seem plentiful in the channels from the estuary. The number of Grey Herons and Egrets is quite staggering. Waders were showing all along the walk. Ringed Plover, Grey and Golden Plover were seen, as were three Lapwing. Four Whimbrel were picked out in the thicker vegetation. Small waders on the exposed mud included Turnstones, Sanderling and Dunlin. One Common Sandpiper and one Green Sandpiper were also found. A small party of Sanderlings below. I kept checking the small waders, I was determined to find a Little Stint which would be my first in the Alvor area. This morning I was lucky, seeing a single bird among the Dunlins and Sanderlings. By pure fluke, this image shows nicely the comparison in sizes of the three species. The Little Stint in the foreground. We continued our walk, noting small birds such as a Water Pipit, Bluethroat, Chiffchaffs and Fan-tailed Warbler along the embankment. Sandwich Terns passed by us and various gull species were seen along the estuary. Several unexpected birds cropped up such as a Sand Martin flying with five Swallows near the fish farm, a very early arrival! A brief view of a Sparrowhawk as it flew away from us and the return of a Black-winged Kite to its favoured field added to a really excellent day. A Great White Egret was well away from its usual feeding area, this time near the parking area. Spring is on its Way !!
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