After the huge movement of Griffon Vultures, there have been some interesting raptors over the last week. Some Griffons did linger for another day or so, these were seen from Raposeira. Fresh arrivals of eagles began to take place, notably Booted and Short-toed Eagles. A top view of the Booted Eagle showing the white 'headlight' feathers on the shoulders nicely. This Short-toed Eagle settled in a tree a short distance from Cabranosa. The last two days have seen a juvenile Iberian Imperial Eagle between Vila do Bispo and Cabranosa. Flying very high all the time, he wasn't an easy subject to observe and left to the North this morning. As the Imperial Eagle departed, a flock of twenty Short-toed Eagles arrived from the North over Vale Santo and flew to the Cape. Turning around quickly they came over me a second time and I saw what I believe to be a female Hen Harrier (top right) with them. Again, all the birds were incredibly high today. Returning to Cabranosa this afternoon, at one point I counted 32 Short-toed Eagles leaving to the East and ten Booted Eagles also. I cannot recall seeing so many Short-toeds together and certainly, never in November! Speaking of late departures, this Western Subalpine Warbler at Cabranosa, late this afternoon was also a bit of a surprise. More playtime with the new camera and I couldn't resist this handsome Cormorant in Porto da Baleeira. I'm always pondering over some gull or other and can't make my mind up as to whether this is a 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull or 3rd winter Herring Gull (argenteus). Help me out somebody?? There are often Sandwich Terns in the harbour and today I found the juv Common Tern had come back and was sharing a mooring buoy with a Sandwich Tern. I noticed one of the Sandwich Terns was carrying a 'flag' on its right leg marked JO213. So far, I have found that this Tern was ringed in Gdansk in Poland and hope to have more information on its travels shortly. ....... and finally, that Cormorant again!
Comments are closed.
|
|