Most of today was spent on the Sagres Peninsula, taking my time and seeing what was about. A look on the sea off Cape St. Vincent gave my first views of passing Razorbills this winter. Plenty of Gannets moving South and a few Cory's Shearwaters were noted. Away from the Cape, two groups of four Brambling were seen and heard in flight. An irregular winter visitor, they were new to my Algarve list and a part of the large finch movement here at the moment. Siskins are occurring all over and the stunning male below was part of a flock of eight, in the trees below Cabranosa. This male Blackcap was one of several seen this morning, a common resident in the Algarve Very alert! An uncommon bird in these parts is the Lapwing and eight were found near Vale Santo farm. Around the farm were Spotless Starlings, Black Redstart, many Thekla Larks and four White Wagtails. The raptor migration has all but ended. The remaining vulture flocks moved away to the North and will no doubt find a new route South for the winter. Two female and one male Hen Harriers were seen, together with a male Marsh Harrier, Peregrine and this near adult Short-toed Eagle which hunted over the nearby fields. ....... and one of eight Common Buzzards in the area.
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