Now familiar territory, it didn't take long walking a tree lined street before I was looking up at a Long-eared Owl, fast asleep. I took quite a few images but, as the Owl remained asleep and undisturbed, all the images look much the same! It's good that they appear content, roosting in this street and I have seen them here for some years now. Moving on to Horta da Nora on the outskirts of Castro Verde, the lake here always holds some interesting birds. I walked cautiously up the bank to the lake, but even so, startled an adult Black Stork which was on the lake side, just below me. Having watched the juvenile Black Storks at Cabranosa, it is interesting to come across adult birds for a change, in quite different plumage. The Stork soon resumed its feeding on the opposite side of the lake. There were many species here including a large flock of Lapwing numbering around sixty birds. Carrion Crows were seen in the fields, taking care separating them from Ravens which are also present. Mallards and Little Grebes were on the water, with Common Sandpiper and Common Snipe on the shoreline. No Great White Egret this time, but Little Egrets and Cormorants rested on the banks along with two wading Spoonbills. There is a small reedbed along the lake side where I was very surprised to hear the thin 'wheeze' of a Penduline Tit. There were three altogether feeding on the bulrush heads. This was the first time I have seen Penduline Tits in the Alentejo. Remaining at the lake a little longer, a Southern Grey Shrike hunted a nearby field. A Black-winged Kite flew the length of the lake and perched on a power line. Two Common Buzzards sat on fences along with this Red Kite, across the lake. Eleven Red Kites were in the air at this time, frequently passing overhead. The remainder of the day in the Alentejo was sadly uneventful on this visit. No sign of any large eagles or the vultures which had been reported in the area. Buzzards and Kites continued to show everywhere, some nice Calandra Larks were found among many pipits.
We came across two small groups (5+3) of Great Bustards and I still can't find a reliable place to watch Little Bustards. Wonderful to be in this spacious countryside again, enjoying its wildlife. Comments are closed.
|
|