Whilst always looking for something different or unusual, today didn't reveal anything I haven't encountered in the last week. The large reedbed at Paul de Lagos didn't have any Penduline Tits showing at all today. I turned my attention to at least 5 Cetti's Warblers that were calling constantly in the surrounding undergrowth. A common warbler in the Algarve, but doesn't always show easily and is a renowned skulker. This morning, the odd one was sitting in the open, singing merrily and I was pleased to gain some more images of this smart little warbler. In Lagos harbour, I'm keeping my eye open for a Glaucous Gull. There's got to be one down here soon! The Razorbill is still in the fishing port and keeping busy. A fluffy Little Egret was watching the Razorbill. Towards Alvor, I caught up with the Black-shouldered Kite again, in its favourite field. For some reason, it was pre-occupied with trying to disconnect someone's phone line!! Never tire of seeing that bird with the amazing red eyes - mine were that colour after sorting 320 Sora images!!!
3 immature Greater Flamingos - note the 'resting' leg, projecting at the rear. Some 12 kilometres inland from the Algarve coast stands the medieval town of Silves. The preserved castle stands high above the town, looking down over the River Arade. It was the riverside which became the scene of great excitement this morning, as news broke of Portugal's first Sora Rail. The River Arade is still tidal in Silves and at low water, the muddy banks are exposed with scattered reedy areas. Apparently, a lady had seen the Sora for about three weeks(!) before it has come to the attention of the birding world. So this morning, the 1st for Portugal twitch assembled along the riverbank! The few guys I met there were great. Obviously it was a momentous occasion for the dedicated Portuguese birders and I thoroughly enjoyed spending a few hours in their company. The Sora Rail was frequenting an area of bank, directly under the riverside wall, which accounts for why my images give the impression I'm about to stand on it! When you consider, a bird like a Rail rarely spends time on the wing, it is amazing how this one has flown from America (probably) and has found a place to feed and shelter. It was pointed out to me that the name Sora is of feminine gender, in Portuguese and thus - she looked perfectly content, here in the Algarve! She had possibly arrived at the end of December, not unlike the Attenborough NR bird I saw on 28th December 2004. Here are the images. Brilliant views of the Sora and a rare addition to my Algarve list - how do you follow that??
Close by the small airfield at Lagos are a number of pools, one of which held a Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper, both welcome additions to my year list. In the reedbeds behind the pools I had another brief sighting of a Penduline Tit, busy stripping seeds from the bulrushes. In far larger numbers was a flock of 26 Common Waxbill. An introduced species from Africa, they are now widespread along the coastal Algarve. Not sure what's going on here, on the estuary. Looks like a Stilt on Stilts!! In Lagos harbour, a Razorbill was an uncommon sight although I usually see one offshore, each winter. The ever-watchful Grey Heron was standing on a fishing boat in the harbour.
A few extra images which I didn't put on my blog! One of a sizeable flock of Azure-winged Magpies at Ponta Piedade, this one feeding on cactus flower. The largest flock I have seen this winter was 34 birds over Alvor Marsh. Hoopoe on the roadside at Alvor. White Storks are paired up everywhere now, lots of bill-clapping going on! This American Herring Gull on the fish quay at Portimao harbour was a new bird for my 'Algarve list'. It was pointed out to me by a Portuguese birding friend and was completely unexpected. A fine male Stonechat. The resident Osprey at Alvor. This, and the image below are another addition to my Algarve list. As far as my records show, I have never seen a Great Black-backed Gull here and this enormous 1st winter bird made it's presence obvious. A small number are recorded annually, this one at Portimao. Finally, this Yellow-legged Gull wearing ring F287, was ringed as a juvenile in Southern Portugal.
Looking West towards Pera village. One of the best known birding sites with always something interesting to be found. I arrived early this morning and as I've often thought, before people are out in numbers - the elusive Bluethroats are hopping about in the open! This male was in company with a female, also a female Black Redstart, 2 Stonechats and a White Wagtail (below), all just off the car park! Wildfowl comprised numbers of Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail and a single juvenile Flamingo, 5 Glossy Ibis and 3 Grey Heron were noted. An Osprey was eating a fish when I arrived and 3 Marsh Harriers were in the air most of the day. Around midday, a light Booted Eagle stayed on the marsh for a while. I stayed at Pera for the whole day and amounted 43 species including 2 Penduline Tit (very elusive), a Caspian Tern, 3 Eurasion Magpies and the ever-present Chiffchaffs! The Eastern end of Pera Marsh.
On a walk around Alvor marsh this morning, two friends pointed out a sizeable raptor standing on the edge of a disused saltpan. From a distance where we were, it clearly looked large and, recognizing it as a Peregrine it was probably a female bird. The Peregrine seemed undeterred as I walked the track a little nearer to the saltpans. It appeared to be eyeing up the Kentish Plovers and Dunlin as they flew about. An absolute joy to watch at fairly close range and happy with the pictures too. Among the regular waders, this Spoonbill flew in close and posed for a while. On the estuary, one of four Mediterranean Gulls came in to rest. On the cliff at Praia da Rocha, a Yellow-legged Gull, one of three Serins and a skulking male Sardinian Warbler. The cliffs at Praia da Rocha from the beach.
I've visited this location a couple of times already, this winter. The fields are water-logged and as well as holding many White Storks, Grey Herons (32 today), and Egrets, it is a feeding ground for around 600 Glossy Ibis. At the moment the Ibises are a long way off across the fields, but today I witnessed a spectacle resembling a Starling murmuration! It began with the local feral pigeon flock scattering far and wide. Then the White Storks took to the air and circled, gaining height all the time. I picked up a large raptor, high over the rice fields. I had seen a pale form Booted Eagle a short while earlier, but this bird seemed larger and paler. Too early for a Short-toed Eagle, it had to be a pale juvenile Bonelli's Eagle. I certainly didn't expect to see such a bird in this area of the Algarve, but did see them at Sagres in October, though in earlier plumage. The light underside in two tone grey showed the darker barring and the creamy/orange colour was beginning to show on the chest and underwings. It was also now apparent that this bird had an immensely full crop already, judging by the large bulge in its throat, (or a serious problem). By now, the entire Glossy Ibis flock was in the air and the Bonelli's set about causing havoc, for a while. The earlier pale Booted Eagle. Don't mean to rub it in but, heat haze was a problem this afternoon!
For more than a week now, there has been an interesting gull near the fish quay, in Portimao harbour. Looking quite like a Herring Gull in winter plumage, this bird has features making it a possible American Herring Gull.
It has been reported as a 3rd year bird by Portuguese birders who swarm around in numbers of, about one a week!! I am not a gull expert in splitting races but, the features that lean that way and, are fairly obvious are:- The bill is required shape and pale green in colour, which is not seen in any aged Argentatus. The head, neck and breast are more blotchy than Argentatus. Details of primary and secondary wing differences have been seen by others, in flight. I have only seen the gull on the ground. It does have damage to the left wing and is reluctant to fly. There are a few images below and I would welcome any comments, so that I may learn from this encounter. On my travels around the Algarve, I never fail to be impressed by the sight of this small raptor hunting on one of its territories. A close encounter with a Black-shouldered Kite reveals some amazing colours, the blue/grey above, the white underwing tipped black, the red eye and the yellow legs dangling, in anticipation of a prey.
The size of a Hobby, I spent a full half hour watching this bird hunt over an orange orchard. It hovered frequently, then moved on covering the area repeatedly, coming to rest a couple of times on a convenient pole. I set out for a walk on the beach this morning, which was as busy as usual and kept an eye out for passing seabirds. Yellow-legged Gulls and offshore Gannets are always visible, but a flock of 22 Common Scoters, flying East was more unusual. Large numbers of Cormorants feed in the estuary, this one did a close fly-by! Three Sandwich Terns had passed by when I noticed a larger tern coming towards me and this was a nice adult winter Caspian Tern. When I reached the saltmarsh, Bluethroats were calling and I found this male showing off its red tail in spectacular fashion. It remained in a pampas grass for a while, all the time calling and I wondered if the tail show was a form of display. In the afternoon, I found the Caspian Tern again at Alvor Marsh as the tide receded on the estuary, with a second bird also. The exposed mud was collecting waders, mainly Dunlin, Grey Plover, Sanderling and Knot. A flock of wintering Golden Plover were resting on the marsh where, there was a Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite, Osprey, 3 Flamingos and 8 Spoonbill. Down here, I've found Red-legged Partridges seem to call from vantage points, such as walls and old building roofs, this one soon acquired a friend!
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