I'm still playing 'catch up' with long-stayers, having been away for a month, and today it was the turn of the American Wigeon at Scalby Mills, Scarborough. This area at the top end of the North Bay, just off the Sea Life Centre always has Wigeon present on the sea, in the winter months. Many gulls bathe and rest on the rocks at low tide and sometimes, white-winged gulls are found here. The American Wigeon was distant on arrival, some two hours after high water - but came into the shallow water later on, fortunately! It appeared that a female Wigeon had taken a liking to its American friend, keeping company with it for most of the time.
Before the end of winter, I always spend some time looking at the wildfowl, once the floods have started to recede on the lower reaches of the River Derwent. Historically, this flood plain has always been a great wintering place for large numbers of ducks, together with varying numbers of swans and geese. There are several venues along the course of the river, and my first choice today was the village of Aughton. The floods are still quite extensive and a 'scope is essential, as the birds can be at considerable distance. On arriving I was lucky to find 2 Whooper Swans were pretty close to the near bank. Scanning this area produced many (hundreds) of Wigeon, Pochard, Teal and around 30 Tufted Duck. Among the tufties were 5 Scaup (2m, 3f). Pintail numbered around fifty here, and 14 Shelduck were on the far bank. 6 Mute Swans and 4 Greylag Geese were also close by. Where the floods have receded, the fields held large flocks of Lapwings, and Golden Plover could be seen flying with them. 2 Common Buzzards passed through and in nearby trees, a Tawny Owl called and a Woodpecker was 'drumming'. Moving on to the next village of Ellerton, the wildfowl numbers increased greatly. 77 Whooper Swans were here, but no sign of any Bewick's today. Around 120 Pintail were seen, 2 male Shovelers and again, huge numbers of Wigeon. In the fields on the far side of the floods, I was looking at a much larger flock of Shelduck than at Aughton. Nearer 50 birds were here and I was surprised to see a Ruddy Shelduck was with them. (Centre of picture, just!!) Finally, I had a look at Bubwith bridge and North Duffield but there was nothing different to what I had seen elsewhere. The floods below the bridge had a very impressive number of Pintails - too far off to count. The flood plain from North Duffield.
This morning was spent walking the beach at Maia Praia. Sanderlings ran along in front of us and Gannets flying in a westerly direction passed us every now and again. In the afternoon, we returned to Alvor Marsh and on the way we had a Black-shouldered Kite hovering by the roadside. On the marsh, the Greater Flamingos numbered 35 and Spoonbills were in three separate roosting groups. Only two were still feeding near the path I was walking. I took this opportunity to photograph some of the species we find throughout the Algarve and tend to accept, after a period of time. They are still beautiful birds - Azure-winged Magpie, Stonechat (male) and Kestrel (male). From nowhere a flock of 11 Glossy Ibis began wheeling about in the adjacent field, which was good as I haven't seen Glossy Ibis in Alvor previously. And finally, driving off the marsh, another super Little Owl on a disused property!
Acting on information from birding friends who had seen a Little Bittern, we made another visit to Pera Marsh this afternoon. Walking towards what I thought would be the most likely haunt, I noticed a Kingfisher perched in the bushes. The Kingfisher moved along the line of bushes a few times and it was whilst scanning around, I realised the Little Bittern was only yards away from where the Kingfisher had originally perched. The Bittern was motionless for quite a while and showed really well, just above the water level. The Little Bittern began to climb the bushes slowly, in that ungainly way they do and rested a little higher. On the walk back we met someone looking for a Bluethroat - one of my most favourite birds. Almost immediately, a pair flew up from the saltmarsh plants in front of us, and the male remained in view - a typical fine male. Look at me ! Cirl Bunting in the bath. Aaah. What's that there?? Wheeee Incoming Black-shouldered Kite Dam it!
A new venue for today found us at a fresh water lagoon, behind the beach of Praia do Loule Vehlo. This turned out to be a most interesting site, as not only was there the lagoon with reedbed behind, but also the sea area and an extensive woodland of 'stone pines'. First impressions from the car park (shown) were that a good number of wildfowl were present and of varying species. Crested Lark in the car park. A first count was made with 4 Shoveler, 26 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 Purple Gallinule, 2 Black-winged Stilt, 6 Snipe, 4 Sanderling, 1 Kentish Plover, 10 Coot and 2 Grey Heron. Whilst counting among the Teal, I was very surprised to see a male Garganey with them. This was a first for my Algarve list and I'm not at all sure what the status of Garganey is, particularly in February. Anyway, it was a cracking bird. Garganey with male Shoveler stretching! 12 Red-crested Pochards flew in and straight out again and a Lesser Black-backed Gull came in to bathe. A Marsh Harrier flew over the reed-beds, as did a Black-shouldered Kite. In the nearby reeds, Cetti's Warblers and Sardinian Warblers were calling constantly. Behind the car park is the woodland , comprising mainly of stone pines. Once inside, the wood is quite thin and lets in plenty of daylight, that is of course, until you try and photograph a Crested Tit, in the tangle of pine branches! Also in the wood were two Short-toed Treecreepers, a Firecrest, Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Serins and a few Chaffinches.
An excellent venue and a great day! A short ride out this morning took us to a coastal area, on the West side of the estuary and before the extensive beach of Maia Praia. It was a glorious morning with completely blue sky and great sunshine. The approach down the country lanes revealed the usual Azure-winged Magpies, Corn Buntings and White Storks, circling in the warming air. I always give the old derelict farm buildings a second look, and by the railway line into Lagos, sure enough a Little Owl was standing on the roof . Although he was obviously watching me, he wasn't too concerned and made one flight to the ground and back again while I was there. A Black-shouldered Kite was on a telegraph pole but at some distance. The Kestrel here was more obliging as it went through a preening routine. The tide was dropping in the coastal lagoons and plenty of waders were about. A Little Stint was among the Sanderlings and was my first on this trip. Dunlins and Turnstones were feeding on the near sands and further out, Oystercatchers and a Whimbrel were seen. The largest lagoon had 145 Mediterranean Gulls, in various ages and was the most I have seen anywhere. There must have been many more along the estuary. Part of the Mediterranean Gull flock. One of two Caspian Terns seen flying over the large lagoon. During the visit, I noticed a large number of butterflies particularly these Monarchs which appeared frequently and were quite stunning.
As the skies finally cleared late morning, we worked our way uphill through the town of Monchique, to the summit at Foia. At only 902 metres above sea level, it is still the highest landmark in the Algarve and offers stunning 360 degree views. To the South, Alvor and Portimao can clearly be seen and on the West coast, Aljezur and other smaller towns are visible. North and East, the view stretches for miles over a huge area of unspoilt hilly countryside, as far as the eye can see! What was once a remote hilltop, it has now become home to an array of mobile communications equipment as well as a café, visitor centre and adequate car parking areas. Due to its high, rocky location it is the wintering ground of a small number of both Alpine Accentor and Ring Ouzel. Other favourites often found here (but not in todays' windchill of 6C) are the Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush. Two years ago, I was surprised to find a Ring Ouzel here and today, it was the first bird we saw, flying into a bush yards from the car. A male in excellent plumage! With the temperature and wind being as it was, we stayed in the warmth of the sun on the car and watched a nearby rock face. Within a couple of minutes, I saw an Alpine Accentor - and braved the elements! The images below, show how this quiet little bird, picks its way amongst the crevices in the rocks, in its search for food.
Today the weather has unfortunately deteriorated to almost constant drizzle with a brisk Westerly wind. The light was extremely poor for photography too. Yesterday, we were on the outskirts of Lagoa, looking at Glossy Ibis. Following a report of a flock of Rock Sparrows further on from there, we chose to return to that area again. There are quite a few wet fields East of Lagoa which had good numbers of White Stork, Spoonbills, both Egrets and Grey Herons. We found the Glossy Ibis yesterday numbering around 200 in a single flock. Today we found them at our new site a couple of kilometres further East. On the other side of the track we were driving down, were orange orchards, olive trees and general woodland. Small birds were numerous with flocks of Corn Buntings, Linnets, Chaffinches and I felt hopeful for my first Rock Sparrow. The only sparrow I seemed to find was Spanish Sparrow in groups of around twenty birds. (Male and female below). I kept one eye on the fields, which was just as well as a cracking male Hen Harrier flew through very quickly. Two Marsh Harriers were also hunting the fields and a circling Peregrine had the Ibises departing to another field. An addition to the trip list of species (now 105) came in the form of a noisy Jay and other birds seen included Black Redstart, a Green Sandpiper flew over twice, calling and a Red-legged Partridge was seen, climbing a tree!! There was no sign of a flock of Rock Sparrows in the area we searched, which was a pity. Back in Alvor, on the sea in front of our apartment, many Gannets fly West each day. Mostly juveniles like the one below. A couple of Great Skuas have been seen on most days too, usually far out. A search of the boardwalk on the dunes revealed one Bluethroat which was very reluctant to show, keeping hidden in the vegetation.
With better weather today, we made the trip to Cape St. Vincent at the South-Western end of the Algarve. Additions to the trip list were made straightaway in the form of Blue Rock Thrush which, because of the numbers of visitors, was not in the mood for photographs and was very wary. There were six Choughs in the air at times and with a strong wind off the Atlantic they were highly mobile! On the ground were a few Larks and Stonechats, but equally common are the Black Redstarts which are found every where. The black males are stunning if you can get the light right, the females being a duller brown plumage, the one here even has a duller red tail than usual. My star bird today had to be the Alpine Accentor. Although I've seen them at another site in the Algarve in winter, each time I've been to Cape St. Vincent, I've been unlucky until today. On the more sheltered side, left of the lighthouse, a single Accentor was seen halfway down the cliff face. Really pleased with that find. Not only are you looking down a cliff face, but you can be distracted by Stonechats, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Black Redstarts too. Peregrine and Buzzard were also seen to the North of the Cape area. Looking North along the West Coast.
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