Since I last wrote, a few more species have been added to my list of birds observed from the garden. I have had to widen my view with the aid of my Swarovski 10 X 40's thus including most of Alvor Bay. The 20th January saw a Great Skua just offshore which I couldn't resist. By the 24th January, a few small birds had paid a visit including Blue Tit, Chaffinch and fly through Eurasian Magpie and two Jackdaws, bringing the List up to 37 species so far. Was I really pushing my luck on the morning of the 24th, to add flocks of Balearic Shearwaters flying West across the bay. In the course of an hour, five flocks of between 20 and 30 shearwaters flew past which, I have never seen in Alvor before and haven't been seen since that time. The flowers of the Aloe Vera plants continue to attract a few visitors, the Magpies and a male Blackcap are around each morning. In previous years I have seen Meadow Pipits on the lawn with the Chiffchaffs, but no Pipits this year. A female Black Redstart is continually present on the lawn. Every morning, the Cormorants (numbering around 150) leave their roost on the rocks at Vau and pass closely on their way to the estuaries at Alvor. In the evening they all return after a days feeding. There are now 3 Great Skuas spending time in 'my view' most days. They appear quite lazy characters, spending much time sitting on the sea doing nothing. Then, almost for something to do, they come closer and 'bully' the local gulls in the hope of food. I nipped down to the beach yesterday for these shots in the late afternoon. A very choppy sea and brisk South-Westerly winds this morning brought about a large movement of Gannets in a Westerly direction, presumably leaving the Mediterranean. Some Gannets are usually present all day offshore, this juvenile has fished the shallow water close to the beach for some days, Another one for the List ? - I don't think so!!!
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