As the weather continues to be warm and sunny, I'm probably spending more time walking the quiet beaches than anything else at the moment. In Alvor, you are never far from the picturesque estuaries and surrounding saltmarshes and it only takes a few minutes to deviate from the beach into good birding areas. From Alvor Dunes looking towards Quinta da Rocha. Among the gulls seen on the estuary, Mediterranean Gulls appear quite often, here an adult with a 1st winter (right). Another adult winter Med Gull. The saltmarsh holds a variety of waders with both Whimbrel and Curlew, Greenshank and Redshank, smaller waders are usually Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed and Kentish Plover. A smart little Kentish Plover. I found a single Golden Plover a couple of days ago, but more likely are the wintering Grey Plovers. Among the smaller birds frequenting the saltmarsh, the Stonechat and Fan-tailed Warbler pop up everywhere and, this morning there was a mixed flock of Linnets and Serins feeding together. This morning I found a Water Pipit while watching one of perhaps six Bluethroats seen. At the North end of Abicada marsh, around 80 White Storks were taking to the air in small groups. You cannot fail to be impressed when they soar effortlessly towards your direction. Most surprisingly, a juvenile Black Stork had roosted with these White Storks and was seen flying away in the distance. One of two Marsh Harriers hunting the marsh.
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