Arrived in temperatures just over 30 degrees and a little time was required settling in to the Algarve climate, which has been hot and completely without rain for months now. The familiar countryside is now a golden brown throughout, after relentless high temperatures. This morning was much fresher, still with cloudless sky. A 'cold' Northerly wind was given as a weather warning and in fact, through the night the strength had increased to near gale-force. The first point of call was the harbour at Sagres as I thought there could be some sheltering seabirds. It proved not to be the case, around 100 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed and a Common Sandpiper accounted for the birds braving the wind. Sagres harbour during lunch! After lunch, the temperature was 22C and the wind still blowing hard. The Peninsula was going to be difficult and probably unproductive in these conditions but, I decided to start around the farm fields at Vale Santo. Previous experience told me to find a field with the shortest vegetation and start looking for a Tawny Pipit. I was lucky, as there wasn't a bird flying, I found this Tawny Pipit keeping well down after a short search. Only Linnets, Goldfinches and two Yellow Wagtails showed on the ground, even the farm's Little Owls had their heads down today. Two Booted Eagles remained stationary in the wind, towards Cabranosa in the East. Another piece of luck was encountering this Short-toed Eagle perched by the roadside. The images clearly show the feathers being battered in the wind, as it held on to the pylon. It looks like an adult, judging by the heavy barring on the breast. Hope the wind drops tomorrow and I get to grips with the super bright conditions!!
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