The apartment sits in a prime location looking one way towards Cape St. Vincent, and the rear towards Raposeira and the wind farm high on the hill. It appears initially to be a great location to observe raptors passing overhead. Just outside my door are the remains of a Red-rumped Swallow nest which was visited by a juvenile bird yesterday evening. At sunrise this morning I was at Vale Santo farm, looking for two birds in particular - Tawny Pipit and Short-toed Lark. The fields before the farm had flocks of Corn Buntings, Linnets and individual Wheatears, every few yards. In a short space of time, I found two Tawny Pipits on the ground. The image is a rather orange colour as, straight after sunrise! Around the farm I didn't see any Short-toed Larks, only five juvenile Skylarks with Corn Buntings. At the pottery pinewood, I was greeted with both Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. Four Turtle Doves flew out as I made my way between the trees, flycatchers showing continuously. A Common Whitethroat, Sardinian Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs and 4 Willow Warblers accounted for all the warblers seen on the walk. One of the 1st winter Pied Flycatchers. The afternoon was spent at Cabranosa. The woods there had more Spotted and Pied Flycatchers than I have previously seen. Perhaps due to me being here earlier this year. Several Redstarts were flitting about in the trees and a Tree Pipit was a nice find. There were few warblers around, a couple of Chiffchaffs and the usual Sardinians. Continuing a walk through the trees, I found a juvenile Cirl Bunting in a pine. The raptor watching is just getting underway and my start began with 2 Honey Buzards. A group of four distant birds were identified as 2 Short-toed Eagles, 1 light Booted Eagle and a Black Kite. A further five Short- toed Eagles flew in together. The pale Booted Eagle made a further appearance over the wood. One of the many 1st winter Pied Flycatchers around the hill at Cabranosa. 7-00pm Update: Taken Ellie for a walk in the pinewood. Loaded with flycatchers, a male Whinchat and Tree Pipit were seen and a female Golden Oriole flew over followed by a Turtle Dove.
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