My day began down at Port do Baleeira (Sagres harbour). The over-wintering Rock Pipit arrived recently and I wasn't long in locating it, on the seaward side of the outer harbour wall. It was just completing a preening session and looks in good condition. There are five Black Redstarts around the apartment, two males and three females. The plumage of the males is beautiful and they frequently sing from the roofs. At Cabranosa, I finally managed to photograph a bird I've searched for relentlessly in the Algarve. We did have some flocks in flight a few days ago and today, a single bird settled on the trig point for a good while. I mis-identified it at first until Steve called Rock Sparrow, then I realised what was staring me in the face. A juvenile sparrow judging by the white edged coverts. Yesterday's juvenile Golden Eagle took to the air late morning, remaining distant towards Sagres before drifting off East. It joined a Griffon Vulture for a short time, occasionally being lost in cloud. It later appeared to descend again in the distance and may still be in the greater area. There was very low cloud, almost fog, coming and going most of the day. This made raptor viewing difficult, however a small number of Booted and Short-toed Eagles were seen. An Egyptian Vulture, 2 Hen Harriers, 1 Peregrine and 1 Hobby accounted for most of the raptors noted. This single Black Kite arrived late afternoon. I found a Yellow-browed Warbler on a couple of occasions in the trees around the watchpoint. It was possibly the same bird as seen yesterday and fed in all the pine trees.
Comments are closed.
|
|