Before I begin the day's outing, an early walk along the lane showed a slight change from the Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers of late. The fig trees frequented by the Redstarts had been taken over by 3 Garden Warblers this morning. A more unusual visitor was what I took to be a Reed Warbler. This individual looked rather different to the ones I have seen in previous Autumns and, considering I am staying out on farmland, miles from any significant water sources, I wonder if this an African Reed Warbler sub-species. This sub-species is being found in Iberia and although I didn't hear a call, I am just a bit puzzled over the extended white lores, the grey legs and most of all, the white almost yellowy look to the underside. I would be grateful for any thoughts on this bird. Thanks to a friend down here, I have a positive i.d. of a Melodious Warbler. The Red-rumped Swallows were busy first thing and the flock had increased to around 30 birds. It was a wonderful opportunity to sit on a wall and watch them to and fro from the power lines above. On the way to Foz do Almargem, I remembered once visiting the Etang (waterworks) at Vilamoura and dropped in their for a while. A small water channel runs parallel with the lane and was busy with Reed Warblers and Cetti's Warblers. A Common Sandpiper was feeding there and Grey Wagtails came in with young. The trees lining the channel were where I found a fair number of Black-headed Weavers, one of the introduced species in Portugal. Female Black-headed Weaver - very different to the male! FOZ DO ALMARGEM. This lagoon lies a few metres literally, behind the sea and the beach of Praia do Almargem. The site turned up a fairly impressive number of birds, certainly the most Little Grebes I have seen with a count of 63. 11 Spoonbills, 16 Little Egrets, 5 Glossy Ibis, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Black-winged Stilts, 40 Dunlin, 1 Redshank. 4 Kentish Plover, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Wood Sandpipers. Wood Sandpiper. Among the Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls were 8 - 1st winter Little Terns which were good to see before their departure soon. Adult and young Glossy Ibis with Little Egret. On the other side of the approach road is an area of Stone Pine trees which was bristling with both Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. I added a few more species here, including 1 Crested Tit, Coal Tit, 3 Serin, 1 Whitethroat and 3 Short-toed Treecreepers moving from tree to tree.
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