Glaucous Gulls in the Algarve !

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb.18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

A series of north Atlantic storms have caused the biggest influx of Arctic Gulls to the Algarve since February 2009. Yesterday, I photographed three different Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) in the fishing harbor of our "cape-town" Sagres. All birds were in there second calender year and feeding on fishery discard. A full adult was still present in the fishing harbour of Portimão yesterday afternoon, where me and others have discovered it in early January already. What a pleasure to watch and photograph these arctic beauties here in the wonderful and mild spring weather of the Algarve !

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1st winter. Sagres harbor, Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Adult Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) Portimão fishing harbor. Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

Adult Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) Portimão fishing harbor. Feb. 18th 2014. Foto: Georg Schreier.

It has been only the day before (Monday), that on a day tour with clients, we watched Spanish Imperial Eagles hunting hares and Black-winged Kites mating, Great Bustards, Lesser Kestrels, Stone Curlews, Hen Harriers and Great Spotted Cuckoos. I am still fascinated by the diversity Southern Portugal has to offer throughout the year. At the moment, arctic birds meet the first arriving Africa-migrants here.