We're still restricted in where we can go without good reason and this post shows some of the various birds which have attracted my attention over the past week. On the edge of town, Corn Buntings can be heard with their'jangling' call in the fields. This one was feeding on dry seed heads. Together with Serins, these Siskins are the predominant finch species around the apartment at present. The males are looking very colourful. We have a band of around ten Iberian Magpies moving through the garden most mornings. Spectacularly colourful and noisy. Swallows are returning all the time and numbers increasing wherever we go. Any day now, I should find a Red-rumped Swallow and then we'll be on the lookout for Swift species. In my opinion, the finest of all the sparrows - the male Spanish Sparrow! (Goldfinch at the back of bush).
A brisk wind was producing a choppy sea when I got up this morning. One of those mornings when Gannets begin streaming across the bay in a Westerly direction and totals of hundreds per hour are quite usual. Apart from the Cormorant colony going out for the day and several Sandwich Terns flying along the shallows, there looked nothing unusual and we took a walk into town. On our return, I noticed at least four Great Skuas were quite close in the bay, in fact just over the first few waves. Some of the local Yellow-legged Gulls were annoyed by their presence. I may not be correct but, I have a feeling these skuas may be taking out the gull casualties we see on the beaches, which I think is caused by toxic algae in the sea. It isn't the first time I have watched a Great Skua pulling at a half submerged gull. (The colour on the images is poor as I'm always into the strong light in the bay). The stream of Gannets slowed to a trickle over midday and in to the afternoon. Later on, I was watching the Great Skuas again and noticed a slimmer skua, clearly not a Great, moving really fast and far out in the bay.
The pictures are to give an idea, I think most likely an Arctic Skua. What better way to start the Spring migration than the sight of a newly arrived Northern Wheatear. Whilst watching the bird eagerly feeding in a small goat pen, I realised a subtle difference to the Spring birds I usually see in the UK. This male Wheatear had brown wings, signifying it was retaining some Winter plumage whereas, by April when I normally see them on the East coast of England. the wings would be black. An exciting find and according to records sent to me by Luis Gordinho, possibly the third earliest recorded arrival here. Here's a beautiful Cattle Egret showing off its newly acquired breeding plumage. Long orange plumes develop on the crown, back and chest which give a totally new appearance to the usual small white egret. On another of our walks around Alvor estuary, I saw a strange looking bird flying across us from the saltmarsh and quickly realised it was a Stone Curlew. Alvor continues to be a great place to watch Ospreys. If they are not actively feeding over the rivers, a quick check of any nearby trees often reveals where they take their meals or rest.
For a change, a short article on this delightful moth we encountered, during a walk on Alvor estuary. This is Macroglossum stellaturum, or Hummingbird Hawk-Moth found in the Algarve and in much of Africa, Europe and Asia. I was surprised to see this character feeding yesterday, but with the return of warm sunshine, along with a couple of butterfly species it felt very Spring-like. Hovering almost like a hummingbird, the moth has a wingspan of up to 45mm and a stout, hairy body. The photo above shows the moth in a hover, approaching some flowers with the feeding device, or proboscis curled up in front of the moth's mouth. The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth was feeding among the bright yellow Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-carpae) which covers the path edges and many fields at this time of year. There was little change in the bird species on the estuary. Towards the seaward end on the farthest mudflats some Oystercatchers could be seen with the resting Cormorants. In the saltmarsh were the Grey Plovers and four Golden Plovers. A Grey Heron watched us pass by. I've watched this trio before and it appears that this clever Little Egret allows the Spoonbills to do all the work, shoveling in the mud and disturbing food for the egret to snatch! An adult Sandwich Tern.
Since I last wrote, a few more species have been added to my list of birds observed from the garden. I have had to widen my view with the aid of my Swarovski 10 X 40's thus including most of Alvor Bay. The 20th January saw a Great Skua just offshore which I couldn't resist. By the 24th January, a few small birds had paid a visit including Blue Tit, Chaffinch and fly through Eurasian Magpie and two Jackdaws, bringing the List up to 37 species so far. Was I really pushing my luck on the morning of the 24th, to add flocks of Balearic Shearwaters flying West across the bay. In the course of an hour, five flocks of between 20 and 30 shearwaters flew past which, I have never seen in Alvor before and haven't been seen since that time. The flowers of the Aloe Vera plants continue to attract a few visitors, the Magpies and a male Blackcap are around each morning. In previous years I have seen Meadow Pipits on the lawn with the Chiffchaffs, but no Pipits this year. A female Black Redstart is continually present on the lawn. Every morning, the Cormorants (numbering around 150) leave their roost on the rocks at Vau and pass closely on their way to the estuaries at Alvor. In the evening they all return after a days feeding. There are now 3 Great Skuas spending time in 'my view' most days. They appear quite lazy characters, spending much time sitting on the sea doing nothing. Then, almost for something to do, they come closer and 'bully' the local gulls in the hope of food. I nipped down to the beach yesterday for these shots in the late afternoon. A very choppy sea and brisk South-Westerly winds this morning brought about a large movement of Gannets in a Westerly direction, presumably leaving the Mediterranean. Some Gannets are usually present all day offshore, this juvenile has fished the shallow water close to the beach for some days, Another one for the List ? - I don't think so!!!
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