High temperatures this morning resulted in the birds flying much higher and often difficult to locate. The results read ok but it took some time. 21 Booted Eagle, 8 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goshawk, 3 Honey Buzzard. The first Montagu's Harrier of the trip was seen and more unusual were 2 Jackdaw and a late Alpine Swift was flying very high. From the North, 5 Black Storks arrived and later a group of 6 was seen to the NE. Whether these were two distinct groups, I'm not sure. On the ground, a few birds passed through. This Whitethroat stayed for a while. A family of Sub-alpine Warblers were in the myrtle bushes.
I stepped outside the apartment this morning and found a 'life list' within five minutes!! Yes, it was my bogey bird, the Ortolon Bunting. I saw two large bunting-like birds fly to a fig tree about 100 metres away and there it was - Ortolon. I've been looking for that big white eye ring for years! There seemed to be more birds around the apartment and good ones too - Blue Rock Thrush, Redstart, 4 Wheatears, Sub-alpine Warbler, Corn Bunting and Raven. Back to Cabranosa today and more raptor watching. Looking North at Cabranosa watch-point. A Westerly view to Cape St. Vincent lighthouse in the distance. The first sightings were of three late Bee-eaters, flying very high and calling as they passed South. Three Booted Eagles were up and Honey Buzzards started to appear from the North. Five Honey Buzzards passed in the space of 30 minutes followed by a single Short-toed Eagle. Away to the North, around 40 Choughs circled the fields. It was also apparent that a group of raptors were also approaching and comprised of 35 Black Kites and a single Black Stork! A lone Common Buzzard passed overhead. Singles of Peregrine, Osprey and Sparrowhawk were seen along with 2 Kestrels. The Black Kites eventually came a little closer, having been down as far as the lighthouse. Part of the Black Kite flock thermalling. From nowhere, this amazing Bonelli's Eagle was circling above, looking like a 2nd year immature bird. Bonelli's tangling with two light Booted Eagles. The final highlight today was a juvenile Goshawk which put on a good display. A fantastic day with eleven species of raptors seen.
An early start bang on sunrise allowed me to see a Little Bustard in flight in the Vale do Santo area, North of Sagres. It is thought most of the little bustards have moved from this area now, so I was pleased to see one, although briefly as it veered round a small hill. During the hours I was there, little change in the raptor situation with 6 light and 1 dark Booted Eagles, 2 Egyptian Vultures, 1 Goshawk, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels being the sightings. Instead I searched for ground birds and found 4 Short-toed Larks among the Theklas. Short-toed Lark. Around the farm, 20 Choughs flew in and the resident Little Owl stepped out to warm up! Looking in the fields again, House Sparrows, Goldfinches and Linnets were all in small flocks, but the Ortolon I keep searching for is not conspicuous yet. This Whinchat was more easily seen and 4 Corn Buntings flew over too. Staying around the farm area I didn't expect to see this next bird, an absolutely cracking surprise in the form of a 1st winter Dotterel. The first I've seen in this plumage and a first for my Algarve List. Other notable birds today - numerous Stonechats, Wheatears and Fan-tailed Warblers. 2 Ravens, 2 Blackbirds, 12 Spotless Starlings and a skulking Sub-alpine Warbler which rounded off the session perfectly. Then it was off to a lovely quiet beach, for a bit of relaxation!!
How often has it happened that you wait years to find a particular bird species - yesterday's Egyptian Vulture, and then you just start finding them!
After a day in Lagos taking in the sights, sun and a good lunch, a little time was spent in the Vila do Bispo area. In one particular field, I straightaway noticed two juvenile Egyptian Vultures resting on the ground. Comparing yesterday's features, particularly head and wing markings, these look like different birds. Once again I was delighted to get some decent images. What a morning this was, with the problem of coastal fog still tending to hide birds. A group of 5 raptors appeared, a fair distance away on the West coast and slowly drifted inland. I first made out a light Booted Eagle, followed by 2 Short-toed Eagles and then 2 dark birds. One I assumed was a dark Booted Eagle, but the other looked quite different with longer fingered wingtips. I then noticed the tail, a conspicuous wedge-shape and immediately knew I'd found an Egyptian Vulture. The vulture was all dark and clearly a juvenile, it put on a great show for me and came fairly close. A couple of English birders arrived and I pointed out the presence of the Egyptian Vulture with the eagles. We stood talking and exchanging findings for a while, and then took to the road as the fog was worsening. It was then that I noticed, the vulture had landed in a field and it wasn't alone. A 'light variant' type Egyptian Vulture was 50 metres or so from the juvenile. This bird was staggeringly reachable from the roadside. A truly amazing site as far as I was concerned and one I will remember.
A good choice of hirundines on the peninsula this morning with Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Swift and a single Sand Martin was a surprise. The Short-toed Eagles continued to provide excellent views. The directions to Cabranosa take you along 'the hedge', which isn't a hedge but a long pine plantation. Turning right at the end, the ground rises to an appreciable mound from which there is a 360 degree view of the area. The hedge, I am told, can be full of small migrants but at the moment, it is mainly Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts, with occasional warblers. 1st winter Common Redstart. Male and Female Sardinian Warbler. A Hoopoe flew in and fed on the edge of the trees. Spotted Flycatcher. At the watchpoint, Booted Eagles were in the air and the white 'headlights' on each shoulder showed particularly well. A sizeable flock of Booteds over the coast meant I had a total of 38 and later, I had my closest encounter with this magnificent Honey Buzzard. Coastal fog rolled in for a couple of hours in the morning which held up proceedings for a good while. Other notable birds along the hedge included Turtle Dove and Whinchats.
The lighthouse at Cape St. Vincent marks the S.W. tip of Portugal and jutting out into the Atlantic, it holds many migratory birds at this time of year. Beginning my day just after sunrise, I took a quick look on the sea although I'm not geared up for prolonged sea-watching. Many Gannets, mainly juvs were passing and I managed to make out a couple of Cory's Shearwaters going South. Excuse the long-distance, wind-blowing attempt at a Cory's shot! Two smaller shearwaters passed South, possibly Balearics but not sure and a pod of dolphins made a nice appearance too. Around the lighthouse walls, Black Redstarts can always be found and these SW European males are absolutely stunning. 3 in total were seen, this male and two females. From the lighthouse, a walk along the cliffs should find Blue Rock Thrush and this is a typical rocky site. I was content with having found some of the residents and turned my attention to the nearby fields, where I hoped to find Tawny Pipits. There was a good scattering of Wheatears in the fields but I was pleased to find my Tawny Pipits by call, as they flew into the fields. Difficult to photograph with much heat haze at ground level by this time, but they were stunning birds. There are always Crested Larks present in this area. At a nearby farmhouse requiring some maintenance, a Little Owl appears to live in the roof and a Southern Grey Shrike was close by. It was late morning now and raptors were beginning to assemble in the sky. Booted Eagles numbered around 40 within half an hour, light and dark variants together. In the next hour a further group of raptors appeared, comprising 23 Black Kites and accompanied by 2 Short-toed Eagles and several more Booted Eagles. The local Common Buzzards were out too! Slightly inland from Sagres, I came across a field of corvids and was amazed to find they were all Choughs, 46 in all and the most I have seen here ever. An excellent day's birding with many more species found - Woodlark, Red-rumped Swallow, Pallid Swift, Pied Flys and Redstarts to name a few.
A day of settling in to our apartment in Burgau. Not our usual resort but this time, I wanted to be just that bit nearer to Cape St. Vincent for the Autumn migration of passerines and raptors. The apartment's excellent and this is the view from the front door. Some may prefer a swimming pool and loads of sunbeds, but this is fine for me and in no time, a Willow Warbler appeared over the fence. In the first few hours, 'Garden' birds have included Sardinian Warbler, Wren, R-R Swallows, Spotted Flycatcher, Fan-tailed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Hoopoe. A flock of around 20 Azure-winged Magpies fly from bush to bush regularly and a Southern Grey Shrike was seen briefly. A Tree Pipit called twice in flight and I watched it fall into a nearby tree. After lunch, we made the short drive down to Sagres peninsula and picked a spot to watch from. Over a couple of hours, 4 Booted Eagles (3 dark, 1 light) patrolled the area. These can be resident birds and I didn't regard them as evidence of migration! Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were the only small raptors around at this time. Light Booted Eagle. Dark Booted Eagles. A couple of Ravens passed through and this flock of 22 Choughs over Lidl supermarket took some accepting!! A good first day. I hope the flight shots improve, much heat haze and brisk wind today made it difficult. The light is intense in the perfectly clean Atlantic air!
A very quick blog as I'm busy with other things today, and only had a couple of hours at Spurn this morning. A cloudy, drizzly morning but, as soon as the Yellow-browed Warblers arrive I'm out there. They have to be one of the most desirable warblers and I never tire of seeing their stunning markings, with bright supercillium and wing-bars. There were at least three reported today and this one was moving rapidly around the canal bushes, in repeated circuits as they are known to do. The Barred Warbler near Rose Cottage remained in the back of the elderberry bush being quite furtive. I was lucky to see it make a brief appearance higher up! I dipped out AGAIN with an Ortolan Bunting which was seen to fly into Walker Butts field and failed to show after much waiting. Around Cliff Farm, another Yellow-browed Warbler called. A male Blackcap, Goldcrest, several Song Thrushes fresh in were seen, along with this 1st winter Common Redstart. All quality birds in a short space of time.
A very quiet morning and the start of another unusually hot day, for the time of year.
In the Dryham Lane hedgerow, warblers are still very much in evidence. One of four Chiffchaffs seen was still in full song, as though it was freshly arrived in Spring! A juvenile Whitethroat worked along the hedge and at least one Garden Warbler was singing, but remained elusive. Watching the elderberries in the hope of seeing a Garden Warbler, this 'autumn' Reed Warbler was much more showy. Unlike the Garden Warbler's preference for the elder berries, the Reed Warbler fed on insects in the same bush. |
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