A further visit to this excellent site and habitat today, given its coastal location the numbers and species of birds is constantly changing. Not only birds but birders were also out in reasonable numbers, mostly visitors. I met a keen couple from Norfolk, a very competent lady from the Netherlands as well as German and Swedish birders too. Birding began before I had left the car as a Hoopoe was searching out insects on surrounding trees. I've seen so many, but always give them time as they go about their feeding patterns. The plumage is amazing, especially when the crest is raised, which is not that often and, black and white wings are so conspicuous in flight. Other birds on the ground included 2 Crested Lark, 2 Pied Wagtail, Eurasion Magpie which is seen here quite regularly but is absent from much of the Algarve. Small numbers of Linnets and Goldfinches, Stonechats and the usual Fan-tailed and Sardinian Warblers flitting about everywhere. The farmer was driving his sheep (and Cattle Egrets!) over the field which has held the Richard's Pipit recently, so I didn't look for it today. Among the larger water birds were the usual Grey Herons, Little Egrets, 2 White Storks, Cormorants, 8 Glossy Ibis were seen in flight and the odd Spoonbill. 3 Purple Swamphens were seen in two separate locations on the marsh. The wader numbers change daily here and at first sight, there was no sign of either the long-staying Sociable Lapwing or the Lesser Yellowlegs. In fact, the Yellowlegs didn't show up all day, but it could be at the North end of the marsh which becomes more sedgy. Black-tailed Godwits and Common Snipe were quite concealed in that area at times. It was early afternoon before the Sociable Lapwing appeared in flight, emerging from the North end in a flock of Lapwings. In recent days, it has settled on the island close to the boardwalk but today, all the Lapwings were on the mudbank on the golf course side, opposite the viewing screen. Some good views of the Sociable Lapwing in flight were had when the Marsh Harriers were on their rounds. The arrival of around eight Avocets was a pleasing sight as they wheeled around, before settling near the viewing screen. It was early afternoon when I realised a 1w Little Gull had come in from the sea and was hawking insects over the Northern pool. Little Gulls are known to winter in the Western Mediterranean, was this one on its journey North already? This agile gull was so difficult to photograph, constantly twisting and turning - I didn't get the distinctive wing pattern which was a shame, well not in focus anyway! The raptor situation was interesting today, the Peregrine I've known for a long time was sitting on his favourite rock, watching the golf. No Ospreys came in but 2 Booted Eagles were excellent, the first being a dark form bird. After lunch, a light form Booted Eagle appeared and he wasn't messing about - I couldn't keep up with him! A really good day, not sunny and a wind at times but excellent birding here again.
I suspect we're in a lull, waiting for the Spring migration to kick in and see the arrival of the Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles and a host of other delights. Without straying far from home, there are still beautiful resident bird species about. These Azure-winged Magpies are in the garden, devouring red berries on the hedging. Hoopoes are regularly seen around here, foraging on the roadsides. Our Osprey over the marsh. The Greater Flamingos are colouring well now.
A day which started off exceptionally well, following up the location of a Long-eared Owl residing in a sleepy little town, in the Alentejo. According to the locals there, a single Long-eared Owl has been living in the heart of the town in a small number of trees for around a year now. The Owl is so unperturbed, it is possible to share its tree - sitting at a bench in the shade while it sleeps a few metres above. I was amazed to see it there, looking down occasionally and closing its eyes lazily. Finding shade wasn't the problem today after reaching Castro Verde in thick fog. The forecast was good and I was expecting the fog to burn away fairly quickly. On the N2, with visibility around 100 metres, a stop was made at a small stream where White Storks were nesting in eucalyptus trees. It was a case of holding on for a while and as I peered around, I had a 'Gorillas in the Mist' moment as I made out the shape of two Great Bustards in the field to my right. Inside a couple of minutes, 20 Great Bustards were just visible walking along the brow of the field. It is only by tweaking the 'tone adjustment' severely that I can show any record of this surprising encounter. Regrettably, the fog lingered all day and 'roadside' birds included 4 Common Buzzard, 2 Red Kite, 2 Carrion Crow, Calandra Lark, Meadow Pipits, 8 Eurasian Magpie, 6 Southern Grey Shrike and many Corn Buntings. Surprisingly 6 Swallows were found during the day.
Oh, and a Hoopoe! Today I was able to meet up with old friends from Cabranosa - Danny, Steve and John, who were there mainly to get the Sociable Lapwing under their belts. Water levels have dropped since my last visit and I was relieved to see the Sociable Lapwing out on the mud, and not hidden in the reed beds where it has spent much of its time. It was feeding in a relaxed manner and the Marsh Harriers, a male and a female only yards away at times, didn't put it off at all. It was while we were watching the Lapwing, that John and I kept looking back at a wader which appeared at first sight, to be a young Redshank apart from its extremely bright yellow legs! Closer inspection revealed other features - it appeared slimmer, if not slightly smaller and having a more delicate and erect posture. I was starting to think Lesser Yellowlegs and a check on Collins Bird Guide App ruled out the possibility of a Greater Yellowlegs. Further observation showed the legs to be longer, the bill, straight and dark and the white spotting on the plumage was giving the correct markings. Some of my images show the wingtips to be longer than the tail length which is diagnostic. I concluded that it was a juvenile/winter Lesser Yellowlegs. Quite unprecedented that a Siberian vagrant (Sociable Lapwing) was sharing the same mudbank as a North American, the Lesser Yellowlegs - both of which should be wintering in Africa. Lastly, I refound a Richard's Pipit for my friends in the field near the access road.
Woodland birding was the object of today's outing, picking a track at random off the N120, a few kilometres North of Bensafrim. The fact that this track was surrounded by a good mixture of pines, cork oak and tall shrubs meant I should have a reasonable chance of finding most of my objective species. With warm sunshine and no wind rattling the branches, it was a lovely spring like morning and Robins, Blackcaps and Song Thrushes were singing well. Rock Bunting is always a great bird to find, usually at a moderate elevation I was surprised to find one so close to Bensafrim. Great facial markings - male and female are alike. Some of the more expected species began to show - Blue and Great Tits, then a couple of Crested Tits which refused to be photographed, staying high up in dense pine trees. The first of three Firecrests found was being equally difficult at times, feeding constantly through the trees. A Jay flew through, calling noisily and Great Spotted Woodpecker was close by but not seen. I then had a far too brief view of a Short-toed Treecreeper, a bird I've been struggling to find this winter. A few Siskins flew over as did small numbers of Serins occasionally, dropping into the smaller shrubs. I returned to the car and carried on to the village of Pincho, I found Lesser Spotted Woodpecker there a while ago and thought I'd try again. Only Azure-winged Magpies and Chaffinches around the trees there today though this had me worried for a moment! A pair of House Sparrows have taken over an old woodpecker hole. After a spot of lunch, I returned to my earlier walk which was now extremely quiet - most of the birds had moved on. I was planning my next move when I noticed a large raptor over the far hills. There had been none all morning and this was a welcome sight. I was not expecting to focus on a Griffon Vulture at this time or, in this location. As I prepared the camera, more birds appeared over the hill until there were seven Griffons beginning to circle about. They were a long way off but all appeared to be adults. Where they had come from, I'd no idea and after circling several times, they headed off in an Easterly direction.
A brief return visit as I scour the area for a reported Great White Egret. Between 80-100 Greater Flamingos are here with many Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Spoonbills and I haven't come across the Great White after some hours on the marsh now. I did spend a little time with this close Spoonbill. Naturally I was looking out for any large birds in flight, and noticed the resident Osprey taking its catch from the fish farm.
A little out of range at about 300 yards, I took these shots as the Osprey flew out to a sandbank in the estuary and settled down with its meal. An afternoon visit to this extensive area of estuary and marsh, close to the village of Alvor. Looking towards the small town of Mexhiloeira and the Monchique hills beyond. There is more water on the marsh now and after the dried out landscape of autumn, January sees the start of flowers emerging on various tender plants. These narcissi were beginning to carpet a meadow by the roadside. The marsh has up to twenty Grey Herons and a flock of around twelve Spoonbills, together with Cattle and Little Egrets. A Great White Egret was reported today but I didn't see it unfortunately. Juvenile Greater Flamingos have been present in varying numbers, all winter. The Black-shouldered Kites weren't showing today. Other raptors seen were Osprey, 2 Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Waders included Little Stints, Grey Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Kentish Plover, Whimbrel, Lapwing, Dunlin and Black-winged Stilt. A mixed flock of Linnets, Goldfinches and Greenfinch also included a pair of Spanish Sparrows. Male Spanish Sparrow. I captured one of the Linnets, nearly as colourful as the saltmarsh plants it was perched on! On another part of the marsh, a flock of adult Greater Flamingos has arrived and looking splendid. Those are oranges in the background! Around half the flock of flamingos present. Seems a little strange seeing Northern Shoveler ducks swimming among them. Quite often, Caspian Terns fly along the waters but today just three 1st winter Sandwich Terns were here, note the dark tips to the forked tail. Cormorant taking a rest.
A lovely bright morning out on the Cape and one of the resident adult Peregrines was already in the air, trying to avoid being mobbed by the numerous Yellow-legged Gulls. There was no sign of any passing skuas or shearwaters, only Gannets were passing South in small numbers this morning. With a chilly breeze at first, I didn't spend any time on the Alpine Accentors that I have seen on previous visits recently. The Black Redstarts were much more visible, five altogether around the lighthouse, two of them being stunning males. Over at the Cabranosa watch point, the site was extremely quiet. With recent heavy rain and plenty of drinking water available, no birds were around Carls' pond. A far cry from a few weeks ago when the newly arrived thrushes and Ring Ouzels were desperate for water. The eerie quiet was broken briefly by a couple of Ravens, making their raucous calls as they stopped by for a few minutes. Two Crag Martins were over the hedge, a flock of Goldfinches fed nearby with three Serins among them. Male Serin. Two male Blackbirds and two Song Thrushes flew over, but otherwise most of the thrushes seem to have dispersed. In Sagres harbour (Port do Baleeira), the Rock Pipit wasn't apparent this morning and all the gulls were found to be Yellow-legged Gulls. Yellow-legged Gulls resting on the outer wall defences. Two Turnstones and a Common Sandpiper were the only waders in the harbour. Cormorants watching a fishing boat being unloaded.
Heavy rain for most of the day meant there was little I could do, except take a ride down to the harbour and check out the resting gulls. My visit turned out to be quite worthwhile as I was just getting set up when this Greater Black-backed Gull flew across in front of me. It didn't stay more than a few seconds and I just managed to catch it again, as it came over the car. I'm not sure how rare the Greater Black-backed is, they're certainly not a harbour gull and this is only the second I have seen, in three months on the coast. Gulls were coming and going all the time and there were some splendid examples of adult Yellow-legged Gull. Two Mediterranean Gulls came on to the quay, the first was an adult winter. The second gull, with a clean white tail but dark legs was possibly still in it's second year. There were around twenty Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the harbour, more came in with a fishing boat. The next sight took me completely by surprise. This Yellow-legged Gull was wearing some elaborate metalwork around its neck. Was this some attempt at fitting a tracking device or just an unfortunate encounter with a metal ring? At first sight, I thought it should have been able to shake it off - until I had another view and found the ring had a back flange to it. I now concluded that the ring fitted much tighter than it first appeared. The gull didn't seem to be under any stress due to its attachment, but it could well do without it. Some more human pollution no doubt. ....... and finally, a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull.
I thought I would spend the entire day at Salgados today and very enjoyable it was too. In all, I came across 53 species between sunrise and 3pm. Shortly after sunrise, around 100 Glossy Ibis left the marsh in the direction of Lagoa, where they remain in the rice fields for much of the day before returning late in the afternoon. As the sun climbed higher the marsh sprung into life, Chiffchaffs were milling about in the reeds and the wildfowl were busy on the water. The level of water on the marsh was higher than I have seen before, practically under the boardwalk. With the New Year still in mind, finding the Sociable Lapwing seemed a good idea for my 2018 list. Thanks to three Marsh Harriers hunting over the reeds, I was able to see the Sociable Lapwing on at least five occasions as the resident Lapwing flock took to flight. Golden Plovers were also with the Lapwings and around 12 Black-tailed Godwits and a single Avocet often flew with them. The Sociable Lapwing has been here for some weeks now, it gets pushed around by the Lapwings but seems content with its surroundings for now. I was asked whether the Caspian Terns were here today and I saw four together, at the Southern end of the lake. Late morning saw around 10 White Storks circling the marsh. They attracted the Marsh Harriers to join them and higher up, two Booted Eagles - one light and one dark form, passed through quickly. A highlight came in the form of a visiting Osprey. This superb raptor circled over the lake and after several failed sorties, it plunged into the water and removed a substantial fish. Instead of using a 'local' perch as they often do, this bird circled higher and higher until it was lost to view. I made a mess of the exposure on these images but had to record it! A Reed Bunting was seen which is a scarce bird here, a Penduline Tit was heard as was a Cetti's Warbler. Wildfowl comprised Mallard, Teal, many Shovelers, Gadwall and quite a few Pintail like this smart drake. An excellent day out at one of the Algarve's best known birding sites. Free parking, free entry, good birds, what more could you want!!
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