It was a beautiful clear morning as we set foot on the boardwalk at Alvor. It was almost high tide and the estuary was already covering most of the saltmarsh and silently creeping under the boardwalk. We counted seven Bluethroats along the walk, along with Fan-tailed and Sardinian Warblers. On the remaining vegetation in the estuary there were five Whimbrel, some Redshank, Sanderlings and a Ringed Plover. There were more Ringed and Kentish Plovers on the beach at the breakwater. After lunch, I took myself off to the ricefields near Estombar, one of my favourite sites whilst at Alvor. I hadn't been there long when a Great White Egret flew in, which I was pleased to see as it was my first this Autumn. The large egret settled on one of the fields and began feeding. There is a large flock of Waxbills, around one hundred birds moving along the reedbeds and showing very well. I also came across another introduced species, the Yellow-crowned Bishop, looking like female/juveniles. In this same reedy area there was much noise from the Purple Swamphens. I had already counted ten when I saw this young Swamphen, climbing high among the reeds. I expected to be finding Common Snipe by now but none appeared. Both Common and Green Sandpipers were seen flying over the ricefields along with two Kingfishers. A brief glimpse of a Little Bittern, too fast again for a nice photo! Out on the rice stubble I counted six Meadow Pipits and also found two Water Pipits, which remained closer than the Meadow Pipits would. Nothing called like a Red-throated Pipit but I'll keep trying! Along with two White Wagtails was this superb Grey Wagtail. The highlight of the afternoon walk was undoubtedly 'seeing' instead of just hearing, my first Quail. On one of the tracks, a Quail sprang up from the salicornia next to me and 'whirred' away for about fifty metres before dropping out of view. An unmistakable little bird which kept low as it flew away from me, with rapid wingbeats.
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