Following a couple of quiet days due partly to passing rain showers, it was good to see more birds showing on the way up to Cabranosa. Around the hill, Redstarts and both common flycatchers had re-appeared, together with Garden Warblers, a Wryneck and Meadow Pipits flying over. Finch flocks, mainly Chaffinches were passing through in small but regular flocks. The air was warming up, now the sun was back and Common Buzzards were soon in the area. Our attention was constantly divided between a steady flow of passerines coming through and fresh raptors arriving. Several Common Whitethroats were seen and Woodlarks were singing over the trees. A flurry of hirundines included Barn Swallows, 3 Crag Martin and a single Sand Martin. A Golden Plover was heard then seen flying over. Short-toed Eagles came over, a group of five to begin with. Booted Eagles were next, mostly pale birds with one dark form. Two juvenile Egyptian Vultures passed through high up and, although I didn't see them , a group of four Black Storks showed for a time. We enjoyed a steady movement of raptors throughout the morning and around midday, out of nowhere appeared a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle. In comparison to what we have been watching, this is a very large eagle. The next image shows a distant encounter between a pale Booted Eagle and the much larger Spanish Imperial Eagle. This beautifully coloured juvenile eagle made two passes over us, as it surveyed the Sagres area from high up, eventually leaving us extremely pleased to have seen this rare eagle in these parts. It was whilst watching the Spanish Imperial Eagle, we then saw a large flock of Griffon Vultures heading in our direction. We estimated the number at around 500 birds, frequently thermalling and then moving forward again. The Griffons didn't approach close enough for a good inspection before turning away to the North and leaving us. Feeling the day had gone well, some of us reverted to checking small migrants around the hill. A very keen eye found a small warbler which was no less than a Yellow-browed Warbler. It was found in a small undergrowth and was happy feeding on open ground, which I haven't seen before but stayed there for a good while. This Yellow-browed Warbler is my second individual of the Autumn around Sagres.
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