Yesterday's sunset across the garden and pool. My birding interest in the Algarve rarely falters when, looking at the view above, I have from my garden - Azure-winged Magpie, Robin, Hoopoe, Great Skua and a pair of Black Redstarts. Variety goes without saying! The Magpies (twelve of them), were finding red berries in the hedge (shown in the photo). The male Black Redstarts are stunning here, he was elusive today but I did see the female. Just as the light was going, the Hoopoe arrived and my attempts at flight shots were let down by the lack of shutter speed. I'll keep trying!! Barragem da Bravura This morning's drive was to a large reservoir, the Barragem da Bravura. Strangely, the area was 99% birdless, save for one species which I have only seen here, and nowhere else in the Algarve.
In the stone pine trees, an abrupt 'seeoo' or just 'see' call had my brain racking until I realised, somewhere in front of me was almost certainly an Iberian Chiffchaff. It appeared shortly and as well as calling, showed a few noticeable characteristics - lighter coloured legs than Chiffchaff, more like Willow Warbler. Whiter underparts and yellowy breast, very pale supercilium and signs of a dark eye stripe. I was pleased to find one of these again and although Chiffchaffs are everywhere here in winter, I'm sure I haven't been overlooking the 'Iberian'. This one was extremely vocal. Comments are closed.
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