We had started to appreciate the Vulture migration and numbers were increasing daily when the weather changed. The wind strengthened in a direction adverse for the vultures and then rain showers set in. A strong wind from mid-Atlantic began moving seabirds in large quantities. Gannet numbers were reaching 2000 per hour at peak times, passing Cape St. Vincent in a Southerly direction. I have never been a serious sea-watcher, probably not having the patience for some long uneventful sessions. When birds are moving ahead of weather fronts for example, then I may perch on a cliff top and give it my best shot. Given the height of the cliffs at the Cape and the obvious distance to reach the passing birds, my photos go some way to illustrate what can be seen with typical birding equipment. Great Skuas showed regularly, fifteen passed in my first session yesterday. Cory's Shearwater is the most numerous and some are always present around the Cape. This was a great moment when a Cory's Shearwater was followed by a Sooty Shearwater and then a Balearic Shearwater - nice comparisons. Not always easy to pick out among the waves but small gulls pass through, such as these adult and first winter Mediterranean Gulls. Two more 'close' Sooty Shearwaters. You will have to take my word for it on this record shot. Seen well through the scope, this was my first Algarve Pomarine Skua, an adult with spoon tail. I went on to see a further two Pomarines today and several Arctic (Parasitic) Skuas. This Pomarine Skua represents my 300th bird species seen in The Algarve.
Alan Cripps
3/11/2021 07:11:15 pm
A great achievement to get 300 species. Well done Nigel. Comments are closed.
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