I made an early start this morning to a location I have come to like very much, offering excellent birding in a range of habitats. This area, known as Arrozal do Nossa Senhora do Rosario comprises mainly ricefields but has extensive marshland, reedbeds, small lagoons and waterways. The River Arade runs along the Northern edge and to the South, parallel to the access road is a small hillside, covered with trees and thick scrubby bushes. A wide range of species can be found here with many birds feeding on the ricefields and in the case of smaller passerines, the surrounding bushes and hedgerows afford good cover and resting places. This results in large flocks of Corn Buntings, House Sparrows (with some Spanish), Goldfinches, Linnets and several pipit species. This particular location on the Algarve has been a traditional hotspot for two winter rarities - Red-throated Pipit and Little Bunting. In the winter of 2017, I saw a Little Bunting here and this morning I was rewarded again with the briefest of sightings of this small winter visitor. I found the Bunting sitting in the hedgerow among various other species, including Waxbills, Corn Buntings, Linnets, House Sparrows, Sardinian Warblers, Stonechats and Chaffinches. Approaching any bird around the ricefields is difficult as you stand out too easily, so I was watching these birds from a considerable distance. This one bird looked quite different and at first, I thought it was probably a female Yellow-crowned Bishop. The head looked unlike a Bishop, particularly with a central stripe on it and the tail looked long too. I was tied between continuing to watch or, get some photos taken quickly. It turned out that I had less than a few seconds before it took off, flying into the ricefield even further away. Only one Great White Egret was visible this morning though others may have been nearby. The reedbeds had squealing Water Rail and a single Reed Bunting was seen in flight. The Purple Swamphen is thriving here and have been seen on every visit, sometimes in excess of twenty birds. On the ricefields, Meadow Pipits and Water Pipits were seen. I counted 3 Water Pipits feeding in one small area. The paths around the ricefields were busy with feeding Chiffchaffs and smart-looking Bluethroats popped out regularly. Overhead, Crag Martins were in good numbers, joined by two Swallows all morning. The Marsh Harriers were slow to appear but once the air warmed up, four Common Buzzards and a pale Booted Eagle were seen along with White Storks circling high.
Comments are closed.
|
|