The last two mornings I've arrived at Salgados lagoons just as the sun has been coming up, to spend a couple of hours in the most peaceful of settings. My quest for migrants began straightaway in the car park, noticing a Little Ringed Plover a few metres in front of the car. A lovely little character, told from Ringed Plover by the darker bill and conspicuous eye ring, being the easiest features. I was then treated to the sight of a distant heron flying in from a Westerly direction. I watched it intently as the arched wing shape, crooked neck and fine bill made me think straightaway - Purple Heron. It was a Purple Heron and it flew directly to an area of reeds where I have recently been told, is the only remaining breeding area for these herons, on the lagoons. Wonderful to think this is possibly a returning bird, for another season. Woodchat Shrikes made their first appearance here yesterday and I found four in all, present around the car park bushes and boardwalk. Two males in the images above, and below a female type showing a more whitish forehead and paler crown. In one of the tamarisk bushes, a Willow Warbler sang briefly before disappearing into thicker bushes and was not seen again. A nice-looking pipit was sitting close by which I thought initially was a Meadow Pipit as there were two or three around. The eye ring looked a little too bright and when it jumped off the post letting out 'buzzing' sound, I realised it was a Tree Pipit. Further along in the reed beds, a Reed Warbler was singing but keeping out of sight unfortunately. All the above birds were my first of the Spring and the migration is clearly starting in earnest. * * * * * This morning began in a similar way to yesterday in that Woodchat Shrikes were again around the car park. Inside half an hour, I counted nine Woodchats in this area alone, the most I have seen anywhere. As the sun shone on the dunes, small white shapes emerged from the vegetation. Northern Wheatears began to appear in several locations. Another small 'fall' of migrants had surely occurred last night, along the coast. I made my way up the boardwalk to see just how many Wheatears were in the dunes. I hadn't walked far before I was staggered to see another Wheatear in front of me. This time it was a Black-eared Wheatear. For all the time I spend in Portugal, it is years since my last sighting of a Black-eared Wheatear. In fact, I have seen more Desert Wheatears in Britain than I have this species! I was still taking in the beautiful Black-eared Wheatear I had found, when I came across an Iberian Chiffchaff which was both calling and singing alternately. No doubting that identification and an exceptionally close view, off the boardwalk. Yesterday's Reed Warbler performed better for me this morning, in the same location.
Comments are closed.
|
|