Tomorrow sees the start of the final week, to what has been a very different Autumn migration this year, in Sagres. I will happily admit to being wrong, regarding my last 'post' on the slowdown of raptors. Griffon vultures have continued to make an appearance and Black Vultures have arrived in two's!! Other raptors showing this week have included at least two different Egyptian Vultures, both Hen and Marsh Harrier, Red Kites, Black Kite, a Merlin and a Black Stork accompanying the vulture flock. At the apartment, two Red-rumped Swallows were quite unseasonal. One of these birds had a very young appearance around the bill, perhaps demonstrating how late breeding may have been this year. Around Cabranosa for some time now, the abundance of insects in many forms has maintained a huge presence of Crag Martins, more than I have seen here in previous years. Thousands of red dragonfly types (of which I have not yet acquired all the i.d. skills) are still plentiful. Various butterfly species are in good numbers, mostly Red Admiral at the moment but some nice Clouded Yellows and Small Coppers have shown up this week. As a change from Cabranosa today, a search of cork oak woodlands in the hills failed to produce the Bullfinch I like to see. I did however, locate this lovely little Firecrest after a short search. I finished the afternoon walking one of the headlands at Sagres where I found the Richard's Pipits to be in their usual winter habitats.
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