I started the day at sunrise in a woodland I had visited last week. On that occasion, I accidentally flushed a Hawfinch which was feeding on the ground so I endeavored to find it again today. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called and Nuthatches were creeping up the pines. A pair of Cirl Buntings were seen which was quite unexpected and several Chaffinches passed through the clearing. Despite keeping a close watch on various finches including a calling Bullfinch, my Hawfinch quest was unsuccessful after an hour and a half. Returning to Vila do Bispo, I took the road over to Vale Santo and found the area alive with passerine flocks. Chaffinches flew over in numbers higher than I have seen anywhere - several hundred at least. Linnet and Goldfinches were plentiful. Siskin flocks had as many as twenty birds in a flock and even Brambling were heard to call. On the road there I had passed 7 Jackdaw, a declining species here in company with 2 Ravens. A Ring Ouzel also flew from the roadside. It was nice to see Mistle Thrushes gathering in their winter habitat and several were photographed below. Also on the wires were a female Black Redstart and the regular Common Buzzard. It was mid-morning when I decided to go up to Cabranosa. The sky had seemed quite so far with only a single Black Kite and a light Booted Eagle noted. Perhaps the Portuguese observers would have some interesting news. Cabranosa watch point - quiet now after the migration festival. Five or six Common Buzzards kept our interest going until I picked out a large swirl of circling Griffon Vultures heading our way from Raposeira wind farm in the distance. Estimated number - 400. In a short while they were in better range but flying at great height in the fine, clear weather. This flock remained in the area for some time, staying very high before drifting away in an Easterly direction. 400 Griffons was impressive enough but, they returned later bringing with them at least double the number. When we are watching and recording the raptor movements, apart from the obvious dilemma of - how many, is what other species are up there, flying with the Griffons. Fairly easily picked out were 3 Black Storks and juvenile Egyptian Vultures are often present also. Two Griffon Vultures with two Egyptian Vultures in front. By 3p.m. there were roughly 1000 birds spread across the sky over Cabranosa. The next image shows a light Booted Eagle and juvenile Egyptian Vulture, within this picture. Part of the total movement - now the work starts! Observers at Raposeira windfarm are able to shutdown the turbines when Griffons move through. A turbine can be off-line and stopped within 30 seconds. A view from Raposeira towards the Algarve coast.
Comments are closed.
|
|