While birding has been very quiet recently, there is one species which shows up regularly on the Sagres peninsula each autumn, that is the Richard's Pipit. A large pipit, having long legs with which it stands very upright (except today!) The Richard's Pipit makes a long journey from Siberia each year and is found in two or three places around Sagres. The sides are a warm brown and the breast (seen in later images) is mainly white. The red mark on the next image indicates the 'pointed' median covert feather which is diagnostic on a Richard's Pipit. The above shows the white outer tail feathers. The same pipit in different light. Chiffchaffs are becoming more noticeable this week, this one on a Aloe Vera leaf. Fan-tailed Warblers were the most numerous warbler on my early walk. After breakfast, we set off for Carrapateira with Chris and Sue to a most beautiful beach on the West coast. A coastal lagoon there had only a Little Egret this morning, sometimes a variety of small waders can feed here. Ellie the dog enjoyed the largest expanse of sand dunes ever, now a crazy ten year old. The rocks at one end of the beach had a very disguised pair of Grey Plovers, watching the incoming tide. From the beach we made our way up and onto the headland where there are excellent sea-watching viewpoints. Although it was already mid-morning, a steady stream of Gannets were still passing South. There are very few juvenile Gannets this year however, the sheer number of adults and sub-adults that have passed through here and Sagres over the weeks is very encouraging. Chris picked out our first and only Razorbill rocketing through and Cory's Shearwaters glided along fairly regularly. This image shows the locals enjoying their fishing pastime, as they have done for a century and more. Standing precariously on the cliff edge, they cast lines a long way down into the crashing sea below. After a fabulous lunch in Carrapateira, we made our way back via the windfarms, on the lookout for passing raptors. The skies here were empty unfortunately and it wasn't until reaching Vale Santo that we found a small number of Booted Eagles. Here are a few gulls from around this week. Firstly an adult Audouin's Gull ringed in Portugal as one of a hundred birds studied in 2010, making this gull - thirteen years old!! It carries a blue ring on the left leg, with the notation PH76 and a metal ring on the right leg also. It was seen in the Porto do Baleeira. A winter adult, or near adult Greater Black-backed Gull was found among the Yellow-legged Gulls at Porto do Baleeira. ......... and lastly, more camera testing (eye focussing) on a smart Yellow-legged Gull.
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