Today had one of those super mornings when a radio message revealed - a shrike that looks different!! This bird was seen briefly and similar to a red-backed shrike, though its identity was not revealed for quite some time as it skulked in the canal bushes. Eventually it appeared and became very mobile as it fed in the canal area and also flying out onto the saltmarsh. Various features - short primary projection, a worn but still rounded tail feathers led to the identification of a Brown Shrike. This was a first for me, having missed the Flamborough birds a few years ago. It was evident early on that thrushes were coming in off the sea. A walk at Sammy's Point produced plenty of Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares. The Ring Ouzel was also still there. Two Woodcock appeared to drop out of the sky and land near to me. Occasional warblers were still about - Chiffchaffs and a male Blackcap. In the afternoon, the Rough-legged Buzzard reappeared over Long Bank. Fieldfares at Sammy's Point. With little wind and not from a favorable direction, I made a start in Easington this morning looking at the winter thrushes. Having been away for a month, I was catching up with the Redwings and Fieldfares as they gorged on the plentiful hawthorn crop. Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries. A Fieldfare joined the Redwing in same bush. A small number of these 'continental' 1st winter Blackbirds were along Vicar's Lane hedgerow. Moving down to Sammy's Point, another Thrush member, a Ring Ouzel was also taking the hawthorns. Before lunch, I walked the beach at Spurn in the vicinity of the 'breach' in the hope of finding a shore lark. I was unsuccessful but did see a passing Swallow and shortly after, a House Martin flew through - both fairly late birds! After a quietish spell in Kilnsea seeing Brambling and Siskins, I was lucky to see my first Waxwing of winter as it moved North quickly through the patch. I found it off the main road in Kilnsea. Then came my 'bird of the day' - an adult (male) Rough-legged Buzzard. Coming from the North, it was harassed by crows and gained altitude several times, before coming lower over the Triangle and hovering nicely, as Rough-legs do. It rested in Clubley's field area for a while, before lifting off again and gaining height. A Short-eared Owl was on the edge of the saltmarsh and took flight as the Rough-legged Buzzard hovered nearby. I finished the day with a Pallas's Warbler, North of Easington Gas Terminal. A brilliant little bird which showed well, the yellow crown stripe clearly visible and clean white underparts.
Several hundred Grey Lag Geese are on the reserve and their presence seems to attract other species of geese, as winter sets in. Already there have been sightings of Pink-feet, Tundra Bean and White-fronted. This juvenile looking White-front was on the Main Lake shore this afternoon. Four Egyptian Geese were on the Silt Lake, also a Black Swan. On the Main Lake with the Greylags was the long-staying Bar-headed Goose. Along the West path, Siskins are now feeding on the Alders.
From a birding point of view, the purpose of our stay was to observe the autumn migration of raptors on the South-West tip of Portugal - the Sagres Peninsula. The raptors reaching Sagres are nearly all juvenile birds who are basically, lost. Instead of following the main migration route off Gibraltar to Africa, they reach Sagres and feel something is not quite right! They do not attempt the lengthy sea crossing here but instead, return North to try again, or head East towards Spain. Some birds leave the area quite quickly, whereas some may be seen again on subsequent days. I recorded twenty-one species of raptor, not including the magnificent Steppe Eagle on my last day, which was unfortunately an escape - but is at least enjoying a life of freedom now! Griffon Vulture Bonelli's Eagle Montagu's Harrier Goshawk Peregrine Egyptian Vulture Osprey Marsh Harrier Sparrowhawk Spanish Imperial Eagle Common Buzzard Red Kite Kestrel Short-toed Eagle Honey Buzzard Black Kite Hobby Booted Eagle Hen Harrier Black-shouldered Kite Eleonora's Falcon My own efforts were helped enormously by some wonderful people I met at the Cabranosa watchpoint and would mention in particular Martin Hodges, who puts in an enormous amount of time recording there for the Portuguese organisations. Also Danny, Simon Waite and Georg Schreer who are resident birders, Steve & Alyson Strutt among other visitors like myself. In terms of new birds, it had to be the Egyptian Vultures which made frequent appearances and wonderful photos. My UK bogey bird, the Ortolon Bunting of which two were close to the apartment on only one day Also, Rock Sparrow, pointed out to me by Steve Strutt, as it sat in a tree briefly at Cabranosa. A total of 140 species were seen on the trip and many of the sightings will be memorable. .......and Egyptian Mongoose!!
After a leisurely morning in the seaside resort of Salema, today was my last chance on this trip to see Griffon Vultures in numbers. Arriving at Cabranosa around 1-00pm, it wasn't long before Martin Hodges received a call from the guys at the wind farm, to say around 140 Griffons were making their way towards us. My first impression was similar to a swarm of midges as the flock of juvenile Griffon Vultures spiralled slowly towards the Sagres peninsula. It took quite a while before they reached reasonable viewing range, like an advancing army! In the flock, we were picking out Egyptian Vultures and the odd Booted Eagle when panic ensued from the direction of Martin Hodges. He had picked out, no less than a Steppe Eagle heading towards us, much closer than the Griffons.
The significance of this bird meant it would be a first for the Cabranosa watching area. I was trying to photograph the eagle in a tricky white sky and without shaking with the ongoing excitement!! It soon became apparent that the Steppe Eagle had some lengths of leather attached to its legs, which meant that sadly for all of us, the bird must be an escaped captive. I have since learnt from Martin that the Steppe Eagle is in fact, an escape from Malaga Zoo. A trip into the hills to the West of Monchique resulted in a fruitless search for Griffon Vultures. In fact, no raptors were in the air, during the visit. On a particularly rocky roadside, I did find 5 Rock Buntings scrambling about. At Cabranosa yesterday, a single Griffon Vulture made an appearance. I saw it coming in from the North and it stayed in the area for some time, before leaving East with 6 Black Storks for company! An Egyptian Vulture appeared shortly after. On the ground close by, Subalpine Warblers are still present and feeding on the remaining berries of a shrub I'm not familiar with. Today, Cabranosa was very quiet up to leaving at 1-30pm. 7 Short-toed Eagles, 8 Booted Eagles, 5 Egyptian Vultures and a Hen Harrier flying with a Marsh Harrier accounted for the raptor movement. The afternoon was spent on the beach at Boco do Rio where, on leaving, this superb Black-shouldered Kite was seen perched on a hillside tree. Our arrival at Cabranosa this morning coincided with good views of a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle. Always regarded as a rare passage bird in the Algarve, this was only my second sighting of this superb raptor. There was a good movement of raptors for a couple of hours, with around 40 Booted Eagles making up the majority. Short-toed Eagles only numbered 7 with some interesting colour variations amongst them. Two Egyptian Vultures showed up, in company with a Booted Eagle. A single juvenile Marsh Harrier was a change and both Goshawk and Peregrine flew over the woods at low level.
Black Storks are still arriving and 7 were present today, circling the peninsula at least three times before flying East. With only the morning for birding today, I made an early start and it was very much rewarded with a Booted Eagle. On what is a fairly busy road from Sagres to Cape St. Vincent, this dark form Booted was perched on the roadside telephone cables and gave excellent views. During my stay, I managed to see 14 Booted Eagle, 4 Short-toed Eagle, 1 Egyptian Vulture, 3 Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk - which wasn't bad at all, but sadly, still no sign of the Griffon Vultures which are known to be some distance North of us still.
Today I headed along the Algarve coast to Pera Marsh, one of the best wetland locations just over the dunes from the sea. At the moment, half the water has been lost for some reason but a good variety of birds were available. This Caspian Tern was one of two fishing in the water. Spoonbills headed out early in the morning. Where I have spent the last two weeks, the Thekla Lark is most predominant, however moving East, the Crested Lark is more likely to be seen along the coast - this one singing to me! Northern Wheatears are everywhere and occasionally, I still have to photograph them... This one by the viewing screen waits for photos! Wildfowl on the marsh included Teal, Mallard, one Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall and a few Shoveler. These Shoveler flying locally for a while. From Pera Marsh I headed along the '125' to Falesia Lagoon, outside Vilamoura. As I arrived, some holidaymakers were throwing the remains of their lunch to the Coots. I was rather surprised to see a Purple Swamphen come swimming out of the reedbed and start devouring the sandwiches!! Part of the surprise was that I haven't actually seen Purple Swamphen swimming in open water, more usually walking on the edge of the reeds. It seemed to have a good laugh, as did I.
Needless to say, we're still waiting for the arrival of Griffon Vultures and anything else that accompanies them. No large movement today, but quality sightings as always:- 3 Honey Buzzard, 3 Egyptian Vulture, 4 Bonelli's Eagle, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Short-toed Eagle, 15 Booted Eagle, 3 Goshawk, Peregrine and Kestrels. Also noted were 4 Ravens, 2 Black Stork and c.40 Chough. My best Short-toed Eagle images are below and are of a yesterday's bird. One of three juv Egyptian Vultures today, showing the tail shape very well. A distant juv Goshawk showing streaking on belly, from chest down, as opposed to across on Sparrowhawk and adult Goshawk. Just for information and as an indication on migrant movements, the first Yellow-browed Warbler of autumn was trapped and ringed here, two days ago. |
|