We're now severely limited in our daily travels but despite this, it's always worth keeping an eye open, wherever you happen to be. The little Chiffchaffs are always moving around the garden, seeking out insects in every nook and cranny. A careful second look at what appeared to be a Blackbird, turned out to be a female Blue Rock Thrush. This bird had presumably wandered from the nearby coastal cliffs and I'll be keeping an eye open for a smart male now. My usual visitors are the Iberian Magpies, three House Sparrows, Chiffchaffs and a male Black Redstart. One visitor I can't account for being here is the Grey Wagtail. Each afternoon, up to four Grey Wagtails have appeared on the flat roof areas and remaining for some time. I still have the Rose-ringed Parakeet and the Indian Grey Parakeet which I first came across last year. They fly noisily over the garden, several times each day. A lovely bird visiting the garden this week has been a male Iberian Woodpecker. Calling frequently from palm trees, it perches vertically and keeps motionless for long periods. The male has a red streak under the eye, black on the female. The Iberian Woodpecker has grey colouring around the eye, whereas the Green Woodpecker would be all black and appear more contrasting.
With a month's national lockdown brewing up, I thought a boost to the year list would be best achieved, around Ludo and the Quinta do Lago area. A good reason to be on the Ludo saltpans again was the chance of finding the Temminck's Stint, seen by Georg Schreier a few days ago. I had seen one here a couple of years ago and had an idea where, on several pools it might be. I first tried the small pool where I had been successful with the Lesser Yellowlegs and, to my surprise, looking tiny alongside a Ringed Plover was the Temminck's Stint. It looks like an adult stint, having traveled South from the Arctic tundra regions and almost certainly giving Africa a miss this year. I was unable to get the Temminck's to stand near the plover for a size comparison however, on the pool opposite, I found two Little Stint among a Dunlin flock. The Little Stints are standing together at the back, with a Dunlin right and Ringed Plover to the left. On this same pool were three Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Turnstone, Sanderling, Kentish Plover and Common Redshank. Another pool lies to the North of this one and distantly I could see around twenty Avocets and a very large flock of Black-tailed Godwits. This is an excellent place for winter waders! Interestingly, there was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs but I also wasn't finding Redshanks in the usual numbers, so perhaps it was on a pool elsewhere. Further away, the saltpans containing deeper water also held the wildfowl. Thanks to the passing Marsh Harriers, I counted large numbers of Wigeon, Mallard and a couple of Shelduck among them. Two of the 'watchers'. Walking the edge of the golf course towards Quinta do Lago, the complete lack of golfers was turning the greens into a birds paradise. There were several large mixed flocks of House Sparrows, Goldfinches and Black-headed Weavers, feeding in the grass. I saw some of the Weavers in the nearby trees. I found three Mistle Thrushes within a short distance, along with several Hoopoes. I only just managed to add a Little Bittern to the list, picking this one out, on a far island. This Little Bittern was warming up in the sun and wasn't inclined to come out.
An excellent day with many more species seen and a chance to observe a Temminck's Stint over a considerable time. A run to Salgados this morning and BOOM, what is this Mega Rarity I find, creeping about in the dunes? Could it be White-headed Lark or, did I just invent that. Quite a smart looking Crested Lark whatever has happened to it. Having lunch in the car, the following species were feeding together in the grass, a few metres away - Linnet, Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, Waxbill and Serin. In the first field North of the viewing screen, Lapwings can be found in Winter. Today a small flock of ten Golden Plover were quite approachable. The high water level in the lagoon has removed any muddy areas for the waders. Yesterday we were on the coast near Aljezur with Chris and Sue for company. Not meaning to be repetitious in any way but, a most peculiar thrush species flew on to some bushes. Just like the Crested Lark at Salgados, this bird turned out to be a Ring Ouzel (female) with a significant amount of white colouring to its head. There were many thrushes seen here including at least one other male Ring Ouzel and good numbers of Song Thrush. The day before was spent around Lagos, where I came across a large number of Mediterranean Gulls, probably around 100 birds. A good place to polish up on their identification as they occur at all ages. At first sight, juveniles might not be straightforward. Whilst watching the Mediterranean Gulls, an adult Caspian Tern fished the same piece of water. An interesting group of waders at rest - Whimbrel, Grey Plover and Greenshank.
A fine start to the New Years' birding with a full day's outing to the ricefields near Estombar. This great site is a known wintering ground for two rarities from North-East Europe, the Red-throated Pipit and the Little Bunting. Conditions were ideal with a bright but not sunny sky and not a breath of wind. It was also only seven degrees above freezing (yes we're still in the Algarve!) These conditions meant that keeping still and looking over the watery fields, small birds could be seen moving around the rice stubble fairly easily. The most noticeable were the many Chiffchaffs and Waxbills, even the Yellow-crowned Bishops (females) were working through the stubble in small numbers. I was scrutinising every small bird carefully, particularly pipits when I saw a small bird which at first glance, looked like a fan-tailed warbler. When it flew into a near bush, accompanied by a 'tik' call, it was the Little Bunting. A great look at this little rarity. The chestnut face is very conspicuous, as is the dark head with a paler crown stripe. The breast is pure white with thin, dark streaks. The bill is very small and pointed on the Little Bunting. Really pleased with this fairly quick find, the search for the 'pipit' resumed. In the order of around eighty Glossy Ibis were on the fields this morning, taking to the air as they moved from field to field. Together with the ibis, herons and egrets were also feeding and a Great White Egret was with them. In one of the fields, many birds were feeding. A large sparrow flock comprising House and Spanish birds moved around noisily, putting up Corn Buntings, Skylarks and plenty of pipits. It was in this field that I heard a Red-throated Pipit call but couldn't pick it out, with most of the birds disappearing in the stubble. I did manage to separate quite a few Water Pipits from the Meadow Pipits. A female Bluethroat. One of eight bluethroats seen on the walk around the fields. The ever present Stonechat.
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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