With the first cloudy sky for five weeks and a brisk wind blowing from the South-East, I wasn't too optimistic for a good raptor day. In fact I was surprised to see this female Hen Harrier being buffeted as it hunted the fields around Sagres. It was a couple of hours before birds appeared at Cabranosa and we were all treated to the sight of Hobbies, performing their acrobatic pursuit of dragonflies. As I had just been tested, photographing the agile Hobbies, the brief appearance of a Pallid Swift proved even more difficult but I was quite lucky and pleased to get these results. After lunch, the Lesser Spotted Eagle appeared. This juvenile has shown up a couple of days in the last two weeks and I was keen to get some good views of this 'life tick' eagle. As it navigated the entire peninsula twice, we were all hoping for close views. The diagnostic white markings on both upper and underwing could be seen through scopes, but the bird didn't come close at all. I was fortunate to get some record shots and am delighted to have watched this individual as it spent time around the peninsula. Close views were an underestimate when our next raptor arrived - a massive Griffon Vulture, which literally came to see us, flying overhead at the watch point. A juvenile Egyptian Vulture joined the Griffon for a while, as did a Black Stork. At a nearby farm, a carcass has been providing food for a Black Kite flock, often accompanied by Ravens and Common Buzzards. It has provided a great opportunity to see Black Kites close up.
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