A very happy New Year to all of you who follow my birding adventures. The last few days of 2020 caused great excitement with the finding of a hybrid Lesser/Greater Spotted Eagle and I've been delighted to show many other interesting sightings from my travels this year. I hope we all have a happier year in 2021, helped along by our feathered friends who provide so much enjoyment. The very last day of 2020 gave me four more species for my Winter Algarve List which came as quite a surprise. We began at Ludo where a check for the Lesser Yellowlegs was negative however, many of the larger waders were silhouetted into the sunlight and I'm not saying it wasn't there on one of the saltpans. Among the many Redshanks were two Spotted Redshank, one of which was hiding under the far bank of the saltpan. Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were also seen. Many Sanderlings were in the shallow pools and a few sleepy Flamingos were in deeper water. Walking on from Ludo into Quinta do Lago, a pair of Tufted Ducks provided my first list addition. A fairly scarce duck species throughout the Algarve. We watched a few of the more usual duck species, to the sound of a Purple Swamphen crunching on reeds. There weren't too many other birds on the water, the golf course had a few people playing and the footpath we were on resembled an Olympic stadium, as we dodged one activity or another! A nice find was this Great-crested Grebe, another scarce bird. I was surprised how colourful it was at this time and not in full winter plumage anymore. I suppose before long, it needs to be in breeding plumage for Spring. Afternoon was spent in the Vilamoura area, where we met with Carl and Julie. A while spent in the first hide gave us a Little Bittern, flying between reedbeds either side of us. For most of our time here, a Marsh Harrier continued to circle the far reedbed. The regular Booted Eagles and a Peregrine made frequent sorties, the Penduline Tits didn't show for us today. Carl and Julie live not far from here and have an in-depth knowledge of all this area. It seems I have frequently walked past a Booted Eagle roost site, without realising it and with their help, we watched a number of Booted Eagles at close quarters. A magnificent pale Booted Eagle. On a lake just outside the Park, Carl provided me with my Red-crested Pochard for the Year. I usually find them at Quinta do Lago, but not on my visits this Winter. On this same lake was a bird I have only recorded once in the Algarve - a Mute Swan. Carl has seen two here recently and has established that at least one of them carries no leg rings at all. A brilliant end to a birding year.
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