The vague title rather sums up the fact that we found ourselves in an interesting area of salt-pans, to the west of Alvor marsh. Across the road from a vineyard were half a dozen or so pools of brackish water, which we were passing in the car, on our way to Maia Praia beach. My attention was drawn straight away to a Marsh Harrier hovering over the ground. A Kestrel was also in hovering mode and as I scanned the entire area for other raptors, I was delighted to see a Black-shouldered Kite perched on a distant pylon (heavy cropped image!) Unfortunately, it didn't come any nearer but I had some good views of a female Hen Harrier towards the estuary which was an addition to the trip list. Waders on the pools comprised 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 4 Common Snipe and 11 Black-winged Stilts - all juvenile birds. In the very shallowest water, wagtails kept arriving including some smart White Wagtails and occasionally a Water Pipit (another List addition) The saltmarsh vegetation was alive with Chiffchaffs and a few Fan-tailed Warblers. After a while, a flock of three Waxbills flew in - note the Chiffchaff feeding with them on one image! Throughout my searching, I saw Bluethroats flying on two occasions and luckily, one perched fairly close and is one of my favourite birds. An excellent day and on the way back to Alvor, looked at these White Stork nests, which are unusually low down in a field.
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