We made our way to Cabranosa on another beautiful morning, pausing en route to look at two of the Algarve's native owls - the large and the small! Just before arriving, we passed the flock of Choughs near Vale Santo and two Ravens flew overhead. At Vale Santo we saw our third Little Owl in the space of one kilometre. Around the farm there was very little bird activity in these now bare, lifeless fields. As is often the case, birds are in the air as we arrive at Cabranosa. This morning we were in time to see a departing juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle which was a great surprise and not expected at all, at least not in mid September. The day's observations produced a good selection of raptors again tending to fly at height, with the exception of the above eagle and a pair of Black Kites which circled low later in the afternoon. My records accounted for - 1 Spanish Imperial Eagle, 8 Booted Eagle, 16 Short-toed Eagle, 3 Egyptian Vulture, 10 Honey Buzzard, 4 Black Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. On the ground, the Redstarts we have watched during the last week have left. Several more species had arrived, particularly Subalpine Warblers which were busy feeding in the lower vegetation and gave us excellent views, for prolonged periods. Our ongoing efforts to see Spectacled Warblers resulted in a few more Whitethroats being seen. A Garden Warbler was a nice discovery and both Pied and Spotted Flycatchers continued to be found. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were in the woods, together with five Turtle Doves.
Nigel Crompton
21/9/2020 06:59:52 am
Morning Nigel ... Is that a 'new' eagle owl ? Comments are closed.
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