Apart from reeling from the news of Portugal's 3rd RUSTIC BUNTING, being found at Sagres, it has been a fairly uneventful day. I found one of the Ring Ouzels (a female) still present at Alvor early this morning. Close by, a small flock of Siskins were feeding in tall conifers. Over at Lagoa this Common Buzzard was circling overhead. At the wetland, hundreds of Glossy Ibis were feeding and preening, watched by a Purple Swamphen! The most unusual sighting without doubt, was this very small Ruff. Collins Guide refers to some female Ruffs being 'barely larger than a Dunlin' and this appears to be the case here. The next image shows this Ruff (left) and a more familiar size Ruff, presumably a male on the right. It was a staggering size difference and something I haven't come across to this extent before.
A wonderful encounter today with a juvenile Osprey. This is without doubt the most pristine plumage I have seen on an Osprey and its performance showed every aspect of this. I saw the raptor fly in, over the lake at the Lakeside carpark. This was a good first five minutes of birding this morning as the Osprey began its patrol around the lake. The Osprey made several circuits of the lake, I felt sure it wouldn't be too long before it searched out a suitable prey. Over at the San Lourenco lagoon, around fifteen Coots and three Purple Swamphens were wandering about on the golf course green. I preferred to pick two of the Swamphens which had returned to the water's edge for today's records. At Quinta do Lago, the Purple Swamphens are so blatantly obvious and immediately attract your attention. So much so that I had failed to see the pale shape in the reeds to the left. My previous sightings of Little Bittern here, have been either brief flight shots between the reeds or, a partial view only. Todays' views of this super bittern were staggering and a considerable time was spent with it in close proximity. Together with the long-staying Sociable Lapwing, a smart Richard's Pipit is showing very nicely here at Salgados. A rare vagrant from Siberia, a small number can be found wintering on particular coastal sites in the Algarve, most winters. This bird is of first winter age, denoted by the conspicuous white edging to the secondary coverts. These would be buff on an adult bird. The dark median coverts show the pointed corners which is a key i.d. feature of a Richard's Pipit, The strong looking bill has a light colour on the lower mandible and darker upper. Below, a better view of the white tipped secondary coverts and, some dark streaking on the head. Always standing tall on long legs, has some streaking to the breast and a pure white belly which makes this bird stand out very easily, even in longer grass here. Below, a rear view.
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