I was on an airport run yesterday and had plenty of time to call in a few favourite places:- ETAR at Vilamoura. A view across one of the small reservoirs revealed the most Ferruginous Ducks I have seen here. A flock of sixteen were on the far side (as they often are!) A duck I rarely see in the U.K. and these put on a very active performance. This site has a tremendous number of Little Grebes, in the region of 140 birds swimming together. There were many Red-crested Pochards and Shovelers, a few Gadwall but no Tufted Duck were seen. A couple of 'exotics' in the trees here, a female Black-headed Weaver and Waxbill. Overhead, four White Storks had taken to the air. The nearby wetland and hide were not really visitable today. The hide and fencing were receiving a coat of paint, two more staff were cutting down reeds to make a larger viewing area. The Purple Swamphen didn't seem to mind, as they walked close to the workmen, picking up and chewing pieces of cut reed. Quinta do Lago. A Whimbrel on the estuary. The San Lourenco lake was quiet except for the usual wildfowl - Pochard, Gadwall and Mallard. Purple Swamphens showed well but no Little Bitterns emerged from the reeds while I was there. Glossy Ibis and a Cattle Egret on the water's edge. This afternoon, Chris and I searched the trees around Cabranosa for a Cirl Bunting. When he and Sue left and I had started the car engine, I noticed the Cirl Bunting fly into a nearby tree! My first two juvenile Griffon Vultures of the Autumn were observed at great height, some way off Cabranosa and didn't come any closer. We had a report of 400 Griffons to the North but they also turned back - maybe tomorrow!
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