The clocks went back in the early hours, signalling the beginning of the winter months and what the weather will bring is anybody's guess. This has been by far, the quietest Autumn for bird migration that I have experienced down here on the Sagres Peninsula. Days have been spent with hardly a raptor showing up at Cabranosa which is quite unprecedented when it continues day after day. Our weather has been very changeable and it is also necessary to look at weather conditions further north. Temperatures have been very high, followed by rain, a considerable storm and the general feeling is that the birds may have chosen another route in which to migrate south. I encountered some atrocious weather recently which destroyed my camera gear as I was taken completely by surprise in a deluge of rain. The outcome of that is I have acquired the Canon r7 mirrorless camera and the 100-400 is usm lens to suit. While most of the camera menus are familiar, the actual camera operation is a complete change and will require a lot more practice to get the very best from this equipment. I visited a small wood not far from Vila do Bispo for my first tryout, picking small birds out in the tree canopy. Nuthatch. Long-tailed Tit. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male). Today we visited Alvor marsh where a pale-bellied Brent Goose (juv) has been seen on several occasions in the last week. Any goose is a rarity in the Algarve and this one is hundreds of miles further south than usual for this species. The Brent Goose with Bar-tailed Godwits. Two feeding Whimbrel. One of the regular Ospreys. The German-ringed Ruff continues its long stay on the marsh.
A little more camera practice in Sagres harbour. Comments are closed.
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