tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90315807409019931672024-03-13T16:07:55.332+00:00Birdwatching AlgarveGuided Birding-Tours in South Portugal by Georg Schreier.Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-4074531927171221172023-03-17T14:06:00.003+00:002023-05-15T19:25:15.832+01:00Butterflies & more<p style="text-align: justify;">Earlier this week, I went up into "Serra do Caldeirão", the mid mountain range (up to c. 589m) stretching across most of the Algarve's interior. Just follow (the now famous) "N2"- road from Faro to São Brâs de Alportel and continue further north. Spring has defenitely arrived now and it is quite a celebration! The green and lush season usually lasts till around mid May, then the summer-heat sets in and most of the grasses and annual herbs dry out fairly quickly.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY9sylDuPvFsxLd6MpIXbi8tZSA1E0b94M6t4BG3tE8KnyoXEAM3N0se7f7DysgvgaRIGSfgo7s7wOXPb9Cu9Yn50ebQw3kMb_wbssD0O2ftXR8CXEPxGafQZgYkz3e7iUa7BblVjij7cyp-a7mNE6C0ex4mUOFBRa-JF6xWbsnjRSaLuJ8cINYEL/s1578/Tomares%20ballus%201%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023%20b%20XL%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1578" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY9sylDuPvFsxLd6MpIXbi8tZSA1E0b94M6t4BG3tE8KnyoXEAM3N0se7f7DysgvgaRIGSfgo7s7wOXPb9Cu9Yn50ebQw3kMb_wbssD0O2ftXR8CXEPxGafQZgYkz3e7iUa7BblVjij7cyp-a7mNE6C0ex4mUOFBRa-JF6xWbsnjRSaLuJ8cINYEL/w640-h444/Tomares%20ballus%201%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023%20b%20XL%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Provence Hairstreak</b> (<i>Tomarus ballus</i>) a small and rather scarce butterfly-species of South-Western Europe and North Africa. The main feeding plant for the caterpillar is <i>Erophaca baetica</i> (a white flowering species of milkvetch).The adult can be seen from late February or early March (weather depnding) to April. Serra do Caldeirão (Loulé), 15-March-2023. Foto: Georg Schreier.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I had noticed a population of the <b>Provence Hairsstreak</b> on walks in the area, in recent years, but never took any photos. Curiously, when photographing this butterfly at the roadside on this sunny mid morning, I noticed a shadow on the road and looked up: An adult (female) <b>Bonelli's Eagle</b> (<i>Aquila fasciata</i>) was circling above me, apparently checking me out! The male of this pair was nearby. The Algarve population of this magnificent bird of prey is tree-nesting. I took some pictures (see below) to capture the encounter, but did not have the ideal lens on the camera that moment. Spring migrants are quite late so far ("winter" lasted till early March this year...) but <b>Iberian Chiffchaffs</b> have arrived by now and I also saw the first <b>Western Subalpine Warblers</b> of the year that day. An early <b>Common Cuckoo </b>sang near Tõr (Barrocal) on March, 12th.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22VEJTmkPvzXRby3GedEX0xsfGwIYfsaRY126nMF7Xh9quaRqOucWVEccDeTYTi2vzZ4_rZweCEW51q9WXwd8SGPVZgR13rNd6WfurVcYEdfIn6vylIk6Qsv6bjME64RfCfuMP1qdQu1W8716Z6ZT7vUvudhfB6TXsJ-cwRVDt8S044WFINWGl05j/s1341/Bonellis%20Eagle%20ad%20F%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1341" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22VEJTmkPvzXRby3GedEX0xsfGwIYfsaRY126nMF7Xh9quaRqOucWVEccDeTYTi2vzZ4_rZweCEW51q9WXwd8SGPVZgR13rNd6WfurVcYEdfIn6vylIk6Qsv6bjME64RfCfuMP1qdQu1W8716Z6ZT7vUvudhfB6TXsJ-cwRVDt8S044WFINWGl05j/w640-h436/Bonellis%20Eagle%20ad%20F%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bonelli's Eagle</b> (<i>Aquila fasciata</i>) adult female. A resident breeder of the Algarve Serras. Loulé, 15-March-2023. Foto: GS.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">But back to butterflies. <b>Spanish Festoon</b> (<i>Zerynthia rumina</i>) is another much sought-after species of the region and also found early in the season. Perhaps this is why its Portuguese name translates to "carnival-butterfly" (borboleta-carnaval). Or is it because of its "patchy" and multicoloured look, resembling the traditional <a href="https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=carnaval%20tras%20os%20montes">carnival costumes</a> in the north of the country, showing a lot of yellow and red?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglg6yixK3Apgcfv8wAGRYLz8QHkD0_8ewdAXkCOF_fRcu7xb-msxQHm5BPDUnNFkRkmocos5xJrrX2YfJLo9hPkazm0Rwit_nM7ghqW9iLNC8zaJhrtOJBdNi7YnDZYFTLIK57Rz4Pn78ZwT-0Bq7DC0LHX_l4GOYnXD-FY3HUf116p7ygc80OCL99/s2120/Westl%20Osterluzeifalter%20Alagoas%20Salir%2012%20March%202023%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="2120" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglg6yixK3Apgcfv8wAGRYLz8QHkD0_8ewdAXkCOF_fRcu7xb-msxQHm5BPDUnNFkRkmocos5xJrrX2YfJLo9hPkazm0Rwit_nM7ghqW9iLNC8zaJhrtOJBdNi7YnDZYFTLIK57Rz4Pn78ZwT-0Bq7DC0LHX_l4GOYnXD-FY3HUf116p7ygc80OCL99/w640-h444/Westl%20Osterluzeifalter%20Alagoas%20Salir%2012%20March%202023%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShGI2Y95ACGk5pTvVnCy-W167DfugcYlYLu8OMBqVpGvDn0sWiDPCGI3De6Ev-WEZ6i3u3TVP-oGray-sfwVBig0vDJJRFW-wK93IEVjYimlb-zI9sSqtAs5IRphnflO-v8-1I7J6kpTwM3bN9UrkTAf9tZAEWnvMWT1hVWFPlxsKoYOa7RsWGcIm/s1896/Westl%20Osterluzeifalter%20Alagoas%20Salir%2012%20March%202023%20b%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1896" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShGI2Y95ACGk5pTvVnCy-W167DfugcYlYLu8OMBqVpGvDn0sWiDPCGI3De6Ev-WEZ6i3u3TVP-oGray-sfwVBig0vDJJRFW-wK93IEVjYimlb-zI9sSqtAs5IRphnflO-v8-1I7J6kpTwM3bN9UrkTAf9tZAEWnvMWT1hVWFPlxsKoYOa7RsWGcIm/w640-h442/Westl%20Osterluzeifalter%20Alagoas%20Salir%2012%20March%202023%20b%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish Festoon / Westlicher Osterluzeifalter</b> (<i>Zerythia rumina</i>) feeding on <i>Fedia cornucopiae. </i>The larvae lives on species of Pipevine<i> (Aristolochia sp.). </i>Salir-area (Barrocal), 12 -March-2023. Fotos: GS.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzJlWYNq1HvB3nC3ODqC4gTeopJU993gg11x6MVrBTnifK2Ep5lUGrrvgxz3zbx_0sCyyvzBYPsPwLFew_HIbEepIsQn07iecStc21JHmE0R5BDvRK4XRhsM7poBNiuOkpbGUGdyayNK9FajmYzQZ36EtMWYT7wtXaorv6ehY7aX8gnqPyhWe3xWt/s3100/Scarce%20Iberian%20Swallowtail%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3100" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzJlWYNq1HvB3nC3ODqC4gTeopJU993gg11x6MVrBTnifK2Ep5lUGrrvgxz3zbx_0sCyyvzBYPsPwLFew_HIbEepIsQn07iecStc21JHmE0R5BDvRK4XRhsM7poBNiuOkpbGUGdyayNK9FajmYzQZ36EtMWYT7wtXaorv6ehY7aX8gnqPyhWe3xWt/w640-h446/Scarce%20Iberian%20Swallowtail%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Iberian Scarce Swallowtail / Iberischer Segelfalter</b> (<i>Iphiclides feisthamelii</i>) is one of the biggest and most impressive species in the area, perhaps together with Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), the latter best seen in summer though. Serra do Caldeirão (Loulé), 15-March-2023. Foto: GS.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TABJx4-Exj6Re6NVW1Yk1XkGOVltUXD02XiWRCniUGIAtrwFWqEXAog_Vlymnci1TcOf8nARTMMu_qR15ZUjDd8wB13rLFB9WKus8vrjFq9AqxHqjIIjngkMIrL3vg-SAAqpZ7nk-dcn6ulLiohKFFcQkxRuIzeCMEzZ9Gn7JsqxtWyXTaFU2P0Y/s2700/Monarch%20Estombar%2024%20Feb%202023%20Aa%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="2700" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TABJx4-Exj6Re6NVW1Yk1XkGOVltUXD02XiWRCniUGIAtrwFWqEXAog_Vlymnci1TcOf8nARTMMu_qR15ZUjDd8wB13rLFB9WKus8vrjFq9AqxHqjIIjngkMIrL3vg-SAAqpZ7nk-dcn6ulLiohKFFcQkxRuIzeCMEzZ9Gn7JsqxtWyXTaFU2P0Y/w640-h360/Monarch%20Estombar%2024%20Feb%202023%20Aa%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Monarch</b> (<i>Danaus plexippus</i>) is an American species, famous for its migrations. The populations in Iberia and on the Macaronesian islands originate from specimen "blown across" the atlantic from the east coast populations in the US. Near Portimão, Algarve, 24-February-2023. Foto: GS.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4HuEaJ9fh78uzy-31qKK1NZn1epElATEZ-pqYWyW4pDNRZCZfMCh4KVQUqUhaLA0nS0Wleo2cTLXIw_pG4emVOkNJTGPW5hlewPAFXo3da25RxVLzpn1oKF9j2rg-4XO3BdYxoZEfZ2SqBMyzIwmfk7KmOKCTTuhKMdgyLG87AOqYR-WxvzXslc-/s2208/Adonis%20Blue%20Salir%2025%20May%202022%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="2208" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4HuEaJ9fh78uzy-31qKK1NZn1epElATEZ-pqYWyW4pDNRZCZfMCh4KVQUqUhaLA0nS0Wleo2cTLXIw_pG4emVOkNJTGPW5hlewPAFXo3da25RxVLzpn1oKF9j2rg-4XO3BdYxoZEfZ2SqBMyzIwmfk7KmOKCTTuhKMdgyLG87AOqYR-WxvzXslc-/w640-h460/Adonis%20Blue%20Salir%2025%20May%202022%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to add some different colours, two photos from May last year: <b>Adonis Blue / Himmelblauer Bläuling </b>(<i>Polyommatus bellargus</i>) male. 25-May-2022, Salir, Algarve. Foto: GS.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq-13aXcT-QZieCWaIy9hFZVI5tGxGfGGgP9Te1XXvbuGONLZyCYewYuCPrNKwxCQGla0WPgAd3LUnvGPt7jpPQBcPIo8cncLxVb87Bvhfbkt4DYWU7_WELQJS8jK4j0ukkeyCXB6j1jqxjNbL4H5zuUlWSPRn4IbIYRtm-XehHDdz_P5Ufa1Zcq4/s1800/Clouded%20Yellow%20Salir%2025%20May%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1800" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq-13aXcT-QZieCWaIy9hFZVI5tGxGfGGgP9Te1XXvbuGONLZyCYewYuCPrNKwxCQGla0WPgAd3LUnvGPt7jpPQBcPIo8cncLxVb87Bvhfbkt4DYWU7_WELQJS8jK4j0ukkeyCXB6j1jqxjNbL4H5zuUlWSPRn4IbIYRtm-XehHDdz_P5Ufa1Zcq4/w640-h476/Clouded%20Yellow%20Salir%2025%20May%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Clouded Yellow / Wandergelbling</b> (<i>Colias croceus</i>) near Salir, 25-May-2022. Foto: GS.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UrfCidsMvE9UDM0C7b1-15s4l-ppqwra5-dMoek2U4be3gxlWna_p2GbwvZIabiK9STAuVglRz_PCFI1OwmL2b18KU5xp2lU2F3on2ZlR-WjqsPlMGQUzK1pnrsVXOOv0hUmUjaY8_4z3o9kp3FsaUmqS-Dj7ITloX6-C1VBNscRqd7nqF3tYol2/s930/Western%20Dappled%20White%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023%20b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="930" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UrfCidsMvE9UDM0C7b1-15s4l-ppqwra5-dMoek2U4be3gxlWna_p2GbwvZIabiK9STAuVglRz_PCFI1OwmL2b18KU5xp2lU2F3on2ZlR-WjqsPlMGQUzK1pnrsVXOOv0hUmUjaY8_4z3o9kp3FsaUmqS-Dj7ITloX6-C1VBNscRqd7nqF3tYol2/w640-h506/Western%20Dappled%20White%20Ameixial%2015%20March%202023%20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restless and hard to photograph, but quite common in the region: <b>Western Dappled White</b> / <b>Westlicher Gesprenkelter Weißling</b> (<i>Euchloe crameri</i>). Comprehensive info (& more photos) on this species is <a href="https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Euchloe_crameri">here</a> (D).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-71395490695738878622022-08-05T11:42:00.000+01:002022-08-05T11:42:18.234+01:00Pelagic season 2022<p style="text-align: justify;">August and September are peak season for pelagics here in the Algarve. If you are interested, please contact me per e-mail. Check out the Info on my website here: <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html" target="_blank">Pelagic boat-trips </a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Note: Due to a technical problem (a Windows 10-update containing malware) my website is out of date at the moment. My apologies. I've lost all the files and will have to built it new from scratch. At the moment, I can't make the slightest changes there, including updating any information, dates etc.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here are some picts taken on a pelagic trip off Fuseta earlier this week:</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqqjwzUqAykWcybggL56qnpDMEEv17ePsXyvK2UtCcogpnNEGgZUbHBayvcKNuxYoLjx8LFWLynGC6YHYkjyrFz66fCtCj2ohwvidWm3I8LwPTqzHSNDVIBlkNk1MYHyeLZH8WZH0dLZQhUXt9amwIRp_MSEqtXNzzpt8p_gLpofbwL6ydlEj8LKz/s2500/Wilson's%20Storm%20Petrel%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1703" data-original-width="2500" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqqjwzUqAykWcybggL56qnpDMEEv17ePsXyvK2UtCcogpnNEGgZUbHBayvcKNuxYoLjx8LFWLynGC6YHYkjyrFz66fCtCj2ohwvidWm3I8LwPTqzHSNDVIBlkNk1MYHyeLZH8WZH0dLZQhUXt9amwIRp_MSEqtXNzzpt8p_gLpofbwL6ydlEj8LKz/w640-h436/Wilson's%20Storm%20Petrel%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilson's Storm Petrel</b> <i>(Oceanites oceanicus)</i> c. 3 miles off Fuseta, 01-August 2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6Y0JcQ3bZrbXHfuLKiCWbVACQxQiCqRz2bZWWFouVsBLrLhCdTZA6uxXVwthPlq5OnvjWeUwG2uUqu54d0tZHg9kHiIoFSQpnyV1vzumqegypn9kEZrDzxbwSnjST3tYlabV6tiic515c2GPjpWHqvS2gaC5NLZ5M6sP2V271umDGARiO60D71yC/s1400/Europ%20Storm%20Petrel%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1400" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6Y0JcQ3bZrbXHfuLKiCWbVACQxQiCqRz2bZWWFouVsBLrLhCdTZA6uxXVwthPlq5OnvjWeUwG2uUqu54d0tZHg9kHiIoFSQpnyV1vzumqegypn9kEZrDzxbwSnjST3tYlabV6tiic515c2GPjpWHqvS2gaC5NLZ5M6sP2V271umDGARiO60D71yC/w640-h504/Europ%20Storm%20Petrel%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>European Storm Petrel</b> <i>(Hydrobates pelagicus)</i> off Fuseta, 01-Aug-2022.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZOKarDcZjh44XzstkefnzrnDxdtrJusp2z92CUvF1CKdwOzcu1Lbx7Dz9h_7gqzbiTmOLRYTm-c8tWauYujfAb8WA8tmCguNi1Q_9Dgk4v8ZesMrfpWOcn9GvgBvEvg305cVhNkWVnaEMa-Imc8uC8EOM1XHtZa1c-nQ28lvXPbS6rTso62kUT8J/s2750/Sooty%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20August%202022%20c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="2750" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZOKarDcZjh44XzstkefnzrnDxdtrJusp2z92CUvF1CKdwOzcu1Lbx7Dz9h_7gqzbiTmOLRYTm-c8tWauYujfAb8WA8tmCguNi1Q_9Dgk4v8ZesMrfpWOcn9GvgBvEvg305cVhNkWVnaEMa-Imc8uC8EOM1XHtZa1c-nQ28lvXPbS6rTso62kUT8J/w640-h466/Sooty%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20August%202022%20c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sooty Shearwater</b> <i>(Ardenna grisea)</i> off Fuseta, 01-Aug-2022.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6wKXOlPmfGIgHEAUtmWoOmdreilFxwl2rg938xT4uk97MF4STvgmAuXYqNleV7bCy7Hi3yBzfl14Nq9jKXxUQt7FxdANveQz3YI91_WFnt-Gtuxz_QZ9PImYSqpbbB0U1_yyq8hXlwqkBOw3xL82rhDT56NAJWMf78YsM3vnoRZKa21fSWQpH4NN/s2450/Sooty%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20August%202022%20d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2450" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6wKXOlPmfGIgHEAUtmWoOmdreilFxwl2rg938xT4uk97MF4STvgmAuXYqNleV7bCy7Hi3yBzfl14Nq9jKXxUQt7FxdANveQz3YI91_WFnt-Gtuxz_QZ9PImYSqpbbB0U1_yyq8hXlwqkBOw3xL82rhDT56NAJWMf78YsM3vnoRZKa21fSWQpH4NN/w640-h398/Sooty%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20August%202022%20d.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sooty Shearwater</b> <i>(Ardenna grisea)</i> off Fuseta, 01-Aug-2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXYgNMgMzOYyCacq9Of66MTDf8OYwpc7XtF1S19aVFu3wuIwLFPEK4QDG4HXxMQtTrisvgAvXmyOIP3sfX6wsb-6kanTlc6Ykl9Mj0UB5bqKKsuKlQDl9NMEDyxmEEUZzbMrGHGU0aqfTs95cegB2f7NGYz5ItAIVo_d-vw7j4L4QIZI6bLmEOBPy/s2252/Balearic%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="2252" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXYgNMgMzOYyCacq9Of66MTDf8OYwpc7XtF1S19aVFu3wuIwLFPEK4QDG4HXxMQtTrisvgAvXmyOIP3sfX6wsb-6kanTlc6Ykl9Mj0UB5bqKKsuKlQDl9NMEDyxmEEUZzbMrGHGU0aqfTs95cegB2f7NGYz5ItAIVo_d-vw7j4L4QIZI6bLmEOBPy/w640-h506/Balearic%20Shearwater%20Faro%2001%20Aug%202022%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Balearic Shearwater</b> <i>(Puffinus mauretanicus)</i> off Fuseta, 01-Aug-2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-11276693205044037592021-05-13T18:57:00.011+01:002021-05-14T18:49:52.515+01:00The colours of spring<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YReb7wiZXwY/YJ6f7z_YnmI/AAAAAAAACeM/lLP_hEPq9FkPBi_P7sZKypckdBrE84mHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rothuhn%2BApril%2B2021%2Bcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2048" height="514" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YReb7wiZXwY/YJ6f7z_YnmI/AAAAAAAACeM/lLP_hEPq9FkPBi_P7sZKypckdBrE84mHACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h514/Rothuhn%2BApril%2B2021%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-legged Partridge</b> / Rothuhn (<i>Alectoris rufa</i>), locally know as "Perdiz", is a common sighting on the field tracks in the region and also one of its main game birds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0vuymE-cQQ/YJ6gqDa7UqI/AAAAAAAACec/h52NHr0_6Jk_Q3XLyp9b_PCUWD7rzAggACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Grassland%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0vuymE-cQQ/YJ6gqDa7UqI/AAAAAAAACec/h52NHr0_6Jk_Q3XLyp9b_PCUWD7rzAggACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h446/Grassland%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Baixo Alentejo region in Portugals interior south is characterized by a mix of grass- and pasture land, wide open cereal steppes and scatered Holm Oak Trees. In mid winter and spring it turns into a "sea of flowers" and is home to several endangered grassland bird species... and frankly a paradise for birdwatchers!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23JwV-myN04/YJ1f3BqBhlI/AAAAAAAACbA/J8OTv1uj5YM6_RzjSxqh61nQr_FPZdaLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Ba%2Bcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23JwV-myN04/YJ1f3BqBhlI/AAAAAAAACbA/J8OTv1uj5YM6_RzjSxqh61nQr_FPZdaLQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h468/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Ba%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male <b>Lesser Kestrel</b> / Rötelfalke / Penereiro-das-torres<i> </i>(<i>Falco naumanni</i>) about to land near a wooden nest box in a small town at the Guadiana-river, Alentejo, Portugal, 27-April-2021. Traditionally mainly nesting in colonies in abandoned farm buildings in the region, the breeding success and population size of the species could be increased by providing nest boxes and later also special designed, artificial buildings, by the Portuguese NGO "LPN" and the Guadiana Natural Park authorities.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">These photos were taken during my <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/" target="_blank">Guided birding & Bird photography-tours in the Baixo Alentejo-region of south Portugal</a> in April & May 2021. All photos: © Georg Schreier.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCr58z15nJM/YJ6ecQ2mDYI/AAAAAAAACd8/8Ax0g7KqmYQWov2Jgz0ahRDnqpT5XnxhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Bh%2Bcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="2048" height="546" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCr58z15nJM/YJ6ecQ2mDYI/AAAAAAAACd8/8Ax0g7KqmYQWov2Jgz0ahRDnqpT5XnxhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h546/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Bh%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A different male of the same species with it's prey - a large Centipede, probably Megarian Banded Centepede (<i>Scolopendra cingulata</i>) to feed the incubating female or already the young chicks in the nestbox. The species arrives usually in the first half of February from its wintering grounds in sub-saharian Africa.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcbjuzJmRi0/YJ1fHL8Hx-I/AAAAAAAACag/vKwH63Uls6QsRRvSjd1gbnXYY1Lwm4k_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1602/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Be2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1602" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcbjuzJmRi0/YJ1fHL8Hx-I/AAAAAAAACag/vKwH63Uls6QsRRvSjd1gbnXYY1Lwm4k_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h498/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Be2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same Ind. as above.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIxoRWmvDM/YJ1fPEpj_CI/AAAAAAAACas/NdHY-xenzRMgKCT1W1ek23UQ10yWBqV0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1575/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Be.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1575" height="514" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIxoRWmvDM/YJ1fPEpj_CI/AAAAAAAACas/NdHY-xenzRMgKCT1W1ek23UQ10yWBqV0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h514/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Be.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing approach - stooping down with "landing flaps" up (actually these feathers are called "Alula"). Watching Lesser Kestrels, you can not help to get the impression that they, like other bird of prey species, pretty much enjoy flying and dominating the air space around their nests.</td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL5oLwz1e8U/YJ6ewt9RZ_I/AAAAAAAACeE/fuMd1eQ3F60-V0RK1duZw4XtWeeHQkvlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1830/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Bbreit%2Bcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1830" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL5oLwz1e8U/YJ6ewt9RZ_I/AAAAAAAACeE/fuMd1eQ3F60-V0RK1duZw4XtWeeHQkvlgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h460/Naumanni%2BM%2BApril%2B2021%2Bbreit%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male showing some of the "key features" of the species compared to Common Kestrel: The greater secondary coverts forming a grey band along the upper wing, seperating the reddish-brown mantle (lacks black spots! Mantle spotted on Common Kestrel) and lesser upperwing coverts, from the blackish-brown wing feathers (remiges). The head appears uniformly bluish-grey, lacking almost completely the dark moustache that Common Kestrel shows running down in front of the eye along the cheeks. Bill base is pale and claws are whitish (not visible on the photo, but a good feature to distinguish the females of both species in the scope when perched). Frequently heard call, especially during the display flights of the male, is a harsh, two- or three syllable "Chè-Chè", example: <a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/378670" target="_blank">Here</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1804" height="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCz7hZhqQIE/YJ6XLxO7xSI/AAAAAAAACd0/rmu0A3ElRrIh_CyarGqJE3TbHX5NdHS2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h348/Calandra%2BLark%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021%2Bb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Calandra Lark </b>(<i>Melanocorypha</i> <i>calandra</i>) is locally common in dry grassland, but only to be found in the central areas of the regions "pseudosteppe", where its song is ever present in spring, continuous and full of imitations of local bird species. Its Europe's biggest Lark-species and rather timid.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzGpU5vFH0k/YJ6Wt54RFNI/AAAAAAAACdk/RP3gInDvMEIYbLQIKTyckMLm0aRY_XHnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Calandra%2BLark%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzGpU5vFH0k/YJ6Wt54RFNI/AAAAAAAACdk/RP3gInDvMEIYbLQIKTyckMLm0aRY_XHnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h448/Calandra%2BLark%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCz7hZhqQIE/YJ6XLxO7xSI/AAAAAAAACd0/rmu0A3ElRrIh_CyarGqJE3TbHX5NdHS2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1804/Calandra%2BLark%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021%2Bb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HehefK-m7mU/YJ1h6VLSjCI/AAAAAAAACb0/-K9l6OUb03sNNbHaMvTHzXT0Hm-_q9XvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HehefK-m7mU/YJ1h6VLSjCI/AAAAAAAACb0/-K9l6OUb03sNNbHaMvTHzXT0Hm-_q9XvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>European</b> <b>Roller</b> / <b>Blauracke</b> (<i>Coracias garrulus</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLIg0nqp7z4/YJ1iBru9IlI/AAAAAAAACb8/1YVyPxIAaFMCUg85GXe5sutsihy-cBUBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021%2Ba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLIg0nqp7z4/YJ1iBru9IlI/AAAAAAAACb8/1YVyPxIAaFMCUg85GXe5sutsihy-cBUBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h462/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021%2Ba.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJPkCm0pgZ8/YJ1iKYgPjGI/AAAAAAAACcE/rEB6ZpkgMvMxNpOke2XI4m4Rta2p9E2wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021%2Bc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJPkCm0pgZ8/YJ1iKYgPjGI/AAAAAAAACcE/rEB6ZpkgMvMxNpOke2XI4m4Rta2p9E2wwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h438/Roller%2B12%2BMay%2B2021%2Bc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7HhzGIhgl1w/YJ1imVdo8YI/AAAAAAAACcQ/uqGaCtHRRUEUJf-xE-jUcM9guNg3qNpAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Gullbilled%2BTerns%2BApril%2B2021%2Ba.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7HhzGIhgl1w/YJ1imVdo8YI/AAAAAAAACcQ/uqGaCtHRRUEUJf-xE-jUcM9guNg3qNpAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h338/Gullbilled%2BTerns%2BApril%2B2021%2Ba.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gull-billed Terns</b> / <b>Lachseeschwalben</b> (<i>Gelochelidon</i> <i>nilotica</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENkCAJo40pM/YJ1i_z1oLdI/AAAAAAAACcY/c9NjdESQiusSFV1QOTuKFWBtXQzqgQtcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021c2%2Bcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENkCAJo40pM/YJ1i_z1oLdI/AAAAAAAACcY/c9NjdESQiusSFV1QOTuKFWBtXQzqgQtcwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021c2%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>European Bee-eater / Bienenfresser</b> (<i>Merops apiaster</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITGPoOgrNFA/YJ1jGV4X1rI/AAAAAAAACcc/IvDXMgXJJf4Lvjk3BOeNiIVCgTflTl_4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021c3%2Bcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITGPoOgrNFA/YJ1jGV4X1rI/AAAAAAAACcc/IvDXMgXJJf4Lvjk3BOeNiIVCgTflTl_4wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h430/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021c3%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5QVi5s0Yfc/YJ1jWQ0I67I/AAAAAAAACco/lwr_jmgzbBIGl4TDaxhlApVdAe7b7J7nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021b%2Bcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5QVi5s0Yfc/YJ1jWQ0I67I/AAAAAAAACco/lwr_jmgzbBIGl4TDaxhlApVdAe7b7J7nQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h432/Bee%2Beater%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021b%2Bcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEegox7kjP4/YJ1j-2MKV_I/AAAAAAAACcw/ejxqWQmdXbA1rvXTGW0cOuDYwPWJtR9xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/G%2Bspotted%2BCuck%2BCV%2BMay%2B11%2B2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEegox7kjP4/YJ1j-2MKV_I/AAAAAAAACcw/ejxqWQmdXbA1rvXTGW0cOuDYwPWJtR9xgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h590/G%2Bspotted%2BCuck%2BCV%2BMay%2B11%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b> (<i>Clamator glandarius</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XahMvuKPzqE/YJ1kSOxwwnI/AAAAAAAACc4/cVqTjDKx5WMQI6CZJ8ChQ1tU-Ul3wR4mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Spanish%2BSparrows%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XahMvuKPzqE/YJ1kSOxwwnI/AAAAAAAACc4/cVqTjDKx5WMQI6CZJ8ChQ1tU-Ul3wR4mgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h392/Spanish%2BSparrows%2BCV%2BApril%2B2021crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish Sparrow / Weidensperling</b> (<i>Passer hispaniolensis</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F69HCjHN1vk/YJ1kx39fJ0I/AAAAAAAACdA/QB5W5LAMGeYTqT6bMw313IiZkGZaoMxSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Litte%2BBustard%2BVS%2B29%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2048" height="444" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F69HCjHN1vk/YJ1kx39fJ0I/AAAAAAAACdA/QB5W5LAMGeYTqT6bMw313IiZkGZaoMxSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h444/Litte%2BBustard%2BVS%2B29%2BApril%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Bustard / Zwergtrappe </b>(<i>Tetrax tetrax</i>) male. A now critically endangered species also in Portugal, where the current intensification of agriculture has lead to massive habitat losses and population decline.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIoDR69u6TQ/YJ1mrsveTQI/AAAAAAAACdI/zlKQLyU5YZUMEn4Yxm5nrx_bVwIEb0gSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1225/Imperial%2BMer%2BMay%2B2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1225" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIoDR69u6TQ/YJ1mrsveTQI/AAAAAAAACdI/zlKQLyU5YZUMEn4Yxm5nrx_bVwIEb0gSACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/Imperial%2BMer%2BMay%2B2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish Eagle / Spanischer Kaiseradler</b> (<i>Aquila adalberti</i>) </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-68668815425333389272020-09-21T20:14:00.003+01:002020-09-25T17:35:42.384+01:00Lesser Grey Shrike<p>One year ago yesterday, I found the <u>first <b>Lesser Grey Shrike</b> (<i>Lanius minor</i>) for Portugal</u>, at the cape-area near Sagres (Vila do Bispo), next to a farm known as "Vale Santo". The record has been accepted by the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdb2hIYcUY18O-OhAgz_On48mCuSUKBIA-QYx7XUTdPQ82kdQ/viewform?formkey=dHJmQTlFUTgza1NPWHJJbUd0ZEQ5T0E6MQ">Portuguese Rarities Committee</a> (CPR).</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSVwdk1jBng/X2iT3hucO0I/AAAAAAAACWI/02rpTh8IIukHlVaIAPbtEvSzDAC2sBtZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019e.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1400" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSVwdk1jBng/X2iT3hucO0I/AAAAAAAACWI/02rpTh8IIukHlVaIAPbtEvSzDAC2sBtZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lesser Grey Shrike / Picanço-pequeno / Schwarzstirnwürger (<i>Lanius minor</i>)</b> 1st winter. Vale Santo (Vila do Bispo), Algarve, 20-Sept-2019. All photos: GS. The same Ind. in the pictures below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZTwmJuwsPs/X2iT7P4f6JI/AAAAAAAACWM/UsJn6-ZYXIoiuOG-ufz7By7Fi3tcYAT_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1384/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019f.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZTwmJuwsPs/X2iT7P4f6JI/AAAAAAAACWM/UsJn6-ZYXIoiuOG-ufz7By7Fi3tcYAT_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w554-h640/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019f.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Immature birds (here: 1st W) and some adults in winter plumage (mostly females) <b>lack the black forehead,</b> otherwise diagnostic for this species. Tricky and then easily dismissed as "just" another Iberian Grey Shrike (<i>Lanius meridionalis</i>) when not paying full attention... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjQ5yp8hU5Y/X2iUBOu74eI/AAAAAAAACWQ/rerVDQH-Yp4kX5ZivMrUGg35ScwwQEf5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019g.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1400" height="528" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjQ5yp8hU5Y/X2iUBOu74eI/AAAAAAAACWQ/rerVDQH-Yp4kX5ZivMrUGg35ScwwQEf5gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h528/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019g.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Note the <b>extremely long primary projection</b> of this long distant migrant and compare with the short winged <i>L. meridionalis</i> <a href="https://ebird.org/species/ibgshr1">here</a>. Obvious also the <b>reduced</b> <b>amount of white</b> on tertial tips (almost absent) and greater coverts and the absence of white tipped mantle feathers (compare <i>L. meridionalis</i>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aagdx9V6fQE/X2iUEFtQUJI/AAAAAAAACWU/fta8UKlH7Bc-CISm6w0R8Z5mJZmZ2Bw1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019J.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aagdx9V6fQE/X2iUEFtQUJI/AAAAAAAACWU/fta8UKlH7Bc-CISm6w0R8Z5mJZmZ2Bw1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019J.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Lesser Grey Shrike showing rather squarish wing panel (formed by the white primary bases) reaching the second primary (P2) = the edge of the wing (P1 is very short and almost invisible). Wing formular different from <i>L. meridionalis</i> (P2 and P3 significantly shorter on the latter species and the primary patch does not reach the edge of the wing). Tail shorter on<i> L. minor</i>. Compare these features <a href="http://blascozumeta.com/wp-content/uploads/aragon-birds/passeriformes/402.lessergreyshrike-lminor.pdf"> <span style="text-align: center;">here.</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wy0DQG6ncm0/X2iUF1Z2l0I/AAAAAAAACWY/7vHekekEKiw8BsEQXYAGZuUCU7YKN9s_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019K.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="1600" height="522" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wy0DQG6ncm0/X2iUF1Z2l0I/AAAAAAAACWY/7vHekekEKiw8BsEQXYAGZuUCU7YKN9s_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h522/ShrikeValeSanto20Sept2019K.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;">Bill shape roundish - shorter and higher in profile than in <i>L. meridionalis</i> and the "Grey Shrikes" of the<a href="http://www.martinbrandsma.nl/grey-shrike-complex/"> <i>L. exubitor</i>-complex</a>. Bill base colour greyish, black confined mostly to lower mandible and the bill tip. Finally, the bird also lacks the fine white line seperating the bill and the black eye mask from the grey forehead, as in <i>L. meridionalis</i>. The different "jizz" (overall impression), reduced overall size and different color tones, including the salmon color on chest and belly, as well as different tones of grey (the bird appeared "whiter" when seen stooping down on an insect and in flight) caught my initial attention.<br /><br />Why is this species so rare in Portugal? <b>Lesser Grey Shrike</b> was very close to extinction in Iberia, with the only remaining breeding population in Catalonia, eastern Spain, reduced to one (!) pair in 2011-2013. A successful conservation program (more info: <a href="http://trenca.org/en/projects/the-lesser-grey-shrike/">Trenca</a>) was started and saved the species from extinction in Spain. The program now includes captitive breeding. Released birds are (color-) ringed and some are tagged with a small transmitter to learn more about their migrations and the wintering areas. The Sagres-bird was not ringed. This- and the fact that a heavy storm, with extreme easterly winds in the central- and western Mediterranean, took place just a few days before, supports the hypothesis that this bird had been "blown off course" and carried away during its (at first) normally eastbound migration, somewhere in the central- or eastern Mediterranean, finally making "land fall" shortly behind the Cape of São Vicente, north of Sagres, where it was seen for two days only by a few observers.<br /><br />In the photo below: <b>Pallid Harrier</b> (<i>Circus macrourus</i>), juvenile. Seen about 20 mins before (!) and only c. 200 m away from the above "shrike encounter". Also a rarity in Portugal, even though observations here, like everywhere else in western Europe, have increased in the last decade or so and the species nowadays even nests in the Netherlands, Spain and a few other European countries, where it used to be a rare vagrant not long ago (further Info is <a href="https://markavery.info/2019/08/05/a-bright-pallid-future/">here</a>).<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ainc3Dq2S1k/X2jscSVOHxI/AAAAAAAACW0/BVlDBJrTbm8-YvcYHrAdfsbQuOmOKwORQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/CircusVale%2BSanto20Sept2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1000" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ainc3Dq2S1k/X2jscSVOHxI/AAAAAAAACW0/BVlDBJrTbm8-YvcYHrAdfsbQuOmOKwORQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h486/CircusVale%2BSanto20Sept2019.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-56235276373040385392020-08-26T15:55:00.008+01:002020-09-14T16:27:09.467+01:00Dragonflies in the Algarve<p style="text-align: justify;">This summer, I went somewhat deeper into exploring the dragonflies of the Algarve. Portugal is home to close to 70 species, the majority of which can be found here in the south. This includes several species restricted to Iberia- and a few areas around the Mediterranean. Namely dragonflies of African origin have begun colonising southern Europe in the last years and decades - some, like the Broad Scarlet (<i>Crocothemis erythraea</i>) have long reached central Europe. Violet Dropwing (<i>Trithemis annulata</i>) is already among the commenest dragonflies here and is found in rocky pools or river sections (most rivers and streams dry out at least partly here in summer) in hot areas with less vegetation. It shares habitat with its sibling species, the <b>Orange-winged Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis kirbyi</i>) first recorded in Portugal only in 2016 (<a href="file:///C:/Users/Georg%20S/Downloads/DeKnijf_2018_BolRola_kirbyi.pdf" target="_blank">link</a>) so one of the most recent additions to Portugals Odonata -Fauna. I was surprised finding it at more than half a dozen different- and new locations in the central- and eastern Algarve over the past two month! So spreading rapidly, it seems. Another speciality we have here in the Algarve is the <b>Ringed Cascader</b> (<i>Zygonyx torridus</i>) known to occur in Portugal only at one single spot in the west Algarve, were we found it easy to see but difficult to photograph. I include here a number of photos taken during the past weeks. The camera I used is a small travel zoom camera from Panasonic with Leica optics: Panasonic DMC-TZ70 in macro mode. Birds are still my specialty but I like not to be ignorant of the many aspects of wildlife we encounter when being in the field.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysibxDA5ap0/X0ZUm6I0KEI/AAAAAAAACS8/sB1Zso47c4Ybo9dTvAjtGg7Jh6Y6cUkmACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TrithemiskirbyiFoupana31July2020b.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1727" height="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysibxDA5ap0/X0ZUm6I0KEI/AAAAAAAACS8/sB1Zso47c4Ybo9dTvAjtGg7Jh6Y6cUkmACLcBGAsYHQ/w675-h800/TrithemiskirbyiFoupana31July2020b.jpg" width="675" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Orange-winged Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis kirbyi</i>) mature male. Alcoutim, 31-July-2020. All photos: Georg Schreier.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FJUPxWaXas/X0ZUrXlsa-I/AAAAAAAACTA/Il8neaRrC9cyD1Ih8zvRkIKHa2vPbd81wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TrithemiskirbyiSerraTavira21Aug2020a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FJUPxWaXas/X0ZUrXlsa-I/AAAAAAAACTA/Il8neaRrC9cyD1Ih8zvRkIKHa2vPbd81wCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h640/TrithemiskirbyiSerraTavira21Aug2020a.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Orange-winged Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis kirbyi</i>) mature male. Serra de Tavira, 21-Aug-2020. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3U9lcdq5yI/X0ZUvQ26m7I/AAAAAAAACTE/xY6v0ene-WQUhlIfl2SXyvb0LIdTvGRFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TrithannulataSerraTavira21Aug2020a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2048" height="553" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3U9lcdq5yI/X0ZUvQ26m7I/AAAAAAAACTE/xY6v0ene-WQUhlIfl2SXyvb0LIdTvGRFACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h553/TrithannulataSerraTavira21Aug2020a.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Violet Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis annulata</i>) mature male. Serra de Tavira, 21-Aug-2020 .<i><br /></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hm3TSpt4P_s/X0ZUy6lA62I/AAAAAAAACTI/9WFOUnWVjYshCwad9FRoWY97LKBWxCADQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/TrithannulataSerraTavira21Aug2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1603" height="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hm3TSpt4P_s/X0ZUy6lA62I/AAAAAAAACTI/9WFOUnWVjYshCwad9FRoWY97LKBWxCADQCLcBGAsYHQ/w626-h800/TrithannulataSerraTavira21Aug2020.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Violet Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis annulata</i>) mature male. Serra de Tavira, 21-Aug-2020 .<i><br /></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQbQASzW_Xg/X0ZU7GiYILI/AAAAAAAACTU/F9WwR5u89gQoQTmfYCOWJ-u-xmuZdsnbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Trith%2Bannulata%2Bfemale%2BFoupana%2B31July2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="539" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQbQASzW_Xg/X0ZU7GiYILI/AAAAAAAACTU/F9WwR5u89gQoQTmfYCOWJ-u-xmuZdsnbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h539/Trith%2Bannulata%2Bfemale%2BFoupana%2B31July2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Violet Dropwing</b> (<i>Trithemis annulata</i>) female. Alcoutim, 31-July-2020 .<i><br /></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5u0VL74y8R8/X0ZVHhe0moI/AAAAAAAACTc/SQ-tttYdNo4kmKGv1WHjRapMTa68Ga4tQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/LongSkimmerFoupana31July2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="2048" height="540" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5u0VL74y8R8/X0ZVHhe0moI/AAAAAAAACTc/SQ-tttYdNo4kmKGv1WHjRapMTa68Ga4tQCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h540/LongSkimmerFoupana31July2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long Skimmer</b> (<i>Orthetrum trinacria</i>) mature male. Alcoutim, 31-July-2020.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72fX8Jh_efw/X0ZVUzrdmUI/AAAAAAAACTk/bpIO_y8w3I84H_Gg03f59VGYTgKZdBNZACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/110222863_934934693639613_3706436248321273101_o_934934690306280.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1831" data-original-width="2048" height="715" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72fX8Jh_efw/X0ZVUzrdmUI/AAAAAAAACTk/bpIO_y8w3I84H_Gg03f59VGYTgKZdBNZACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h715/110222863_934934693639613_3706436248321273101_o_934934690306280.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Epaulet Skimmer</b> (<i>Orthetrum chrysostigma</i>) male. São Brâs de Alportel, 21-June-2020.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ciZ55pBkKM/X0ZVzJ9KNRI/AAAAAAAACT0/YHw0Vb2zH6cAuYVy5W459quTFyjFlXF2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ZygonyxtorridusAlgarve08Aug2020a.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ciZ55pBkKM/X0ZVzJ9KNRI/AAAAAAAACT0/YHw0Vb2zH6cAuYVy5W459quTFyjFlXF2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h518/ZygonyxtorridusAlgarve08Aug2020a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Ringed Cascader</b><span style="text-align: left;"> (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Zygonyx torridus</i><span style="text-align: left;">) west Algarve, 08-Aug-2020.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kT7VldACJxQ/X0ZV4vXfq5I/AAAAAAAACT4/jegByN0e9l4UMRKlWWlSLONC8XNw3shBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ZygonyxtorridusAlgarve08Aug2020Paarungsrad1a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="590" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kT7VldACJxQ/X0ZV4vXfq5I/AAAAAAAACT4/jegByN0e9l4UMRKlWWlSLONC8XNw3shBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h590/ZygonyxtorridusAlgarve08Aug2020Paarungsrad1a.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Ringed Cascader</b><span style="text-align: left;"> (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Zygonyx torridus</i><span style="text-align: left;">) copulation. Western Algarve, 08-Aug-2020.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFegK-cNkGM/X0ZWN_tj-MI/AAAAAAAACUE/PsIOxcrj9IEZMNK-6UhaREP3m6hvSArDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Large%2BPincertail%2BFemale%2B04%2BAug%2B2020%2BAlportel%2B2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="2048" height="528" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFegK-cNkGM/X0ZWN_tj-MI/AAAAAAAACUE/PsIOxcrj9IEZMNK-6UhaREP3m6hvSArDwCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h528/Large%2BPincertail%2BFemale%2B04%2BAug%2B2020%2BAlportel%2B2.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Large Pincertail</b> (<i>Onychogomphus uncatus</i></span><span style="text-align: left;">) female. São Brâs de Alportel, 14-July-2020.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IeSokfdHlo/X0ZWUKxTW3I/AAAAAAAACUI/ZvNHhEKh4pc-cXB8Rk_9YwJEQANsvTS9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Large%2BPincertail%2BMale%2B04%2BAug%2B2020%2BAlportel%2B2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="2048" height="568" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IeSokfdHlo/X0ZWUKxTW3I/AAAAAAAACUI/ZvNHhEKh4pc-cXB8Rk_9YwJEQANsvTS9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h568/Large%2BPincertail%2BMale%2B04%2BAug%2B2020%2BAlportel%2B2.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Small Pincertail</b> (<i>Onychogomphus forcipatus</i><span style="text-align: left;">) male. São Brâs de Alportel, 14-July-2020.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0LRd-iEh_k/X0ZWnmL8UWI/AAAAAAAACUU/BWPaaArMtJcyJ1bw2ApOre5u1sYlbM4KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/115822900_937194323413650_54727461667023762_o_937194320080317.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="2048" height="694" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0LRd-iEh_k/X0ZWnmL8UWI/AAAAAAAACUU/BWPaaArMtJcyJ1bw2ApOre5u1sYlbM4KwCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h694/115822900_937194323413650_54727461667023762_o_937194320080317.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Emperor</b> (<i>Anax parthenope</i>) Quinta do Lago (Loulé), 19-July-2020<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDZbdXvEMUg/X0ZWvWxnylI/AAAAAAAACUY/gvjqeKtVEi0o9uvUceIvDSjFxBeEmhzvACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/LargeEmpOvop21Aug2020Cachopo.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2048" height="520" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDZbdXvEMUg/X0ZWvWxnylI/AAAAAAAACUY/gvjqeKtVEi0o9uvUceIvDSjFxBeEmhzvACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h520/LargeEmpOvop21Aug2020Cachopo.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blue Emperor</b> (<i>Anax imperator</i><span style="text-align: left;">) ovipositing. Serra do Caldeirão, 21-Aug-2020.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHlRbnyZobE/X0ZW744quWI/AAAAAAAACUg/oxA7c1ppNVsmRjazZDdp5nO77uQBvH5MgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CopperDemoiselleFemFonteBen25Aug2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2048" height="575" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHlRbnyZobE/X0ZW744quWI/AAAAAAAACUg/oxA7c1ppNVsmRjazZDdp5nO77uQBvH5MgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h575/CopperDemoiselleFemFonteBen25Aug2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Copper Demoiselle</b> (<i>Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis</i><span style="text-align: left;">) female. Loulé, 25-August-2020. A few streams in the limestone belt (Barrocal) of the Algarve have running spring water throughout the year.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTFhrTpFVvo/X0ZW-tAioLI/AAAAAAAACUk/drQFicPC_941t9jWYb8SWtxaeWYOfhnyACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CopperDemoiselleMaleFonteBen25Aug2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTFhrTpFVvo/X0ZW-tAioLI/AAAAAAAACUk/drQFicPC_941t9jWYb8SWtxaeWYOfhnyACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h590/CopperDemoiselleMaleFonteBen25Aug2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Copper Demoiselle</b> (<i>Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis</i><span style="text-align: left;">) male. Near Loulé, 25-August-2020. <br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2048" height="610" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_KPpZoIQPI/X0f6HCKf4RI/AAAAAAAACVA/LqIieyAZSXYvROxevaEbwacCiDR9XH2cQCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h610/Anax%2Bephippiger%2Bfem%2BPraia%2BFaro%2B27%2BAug%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Post edit:] Today (Aug., 27th) on the bordwalk back from Faro-beach, we noticed several large brown dragonflies hovering above the dunes and salt marsh (c. 20 Ind. in total) and I managed to get this record shot of one Ind. perched: <b>Vagrant Emperor</b> (<i>Anax ephippiger</i>) female. Amazing! This was a migratory event and they were apparently heading north!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2yi81ikEco/X1X12TiescI/AAAAAAAACVk/inRHbHFyK3USoYc8iMcv0q2DT0hHhW44wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BandedGroundlingMaleQdL06Sept2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="2048" height="614" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2yi81ikEco/X1X12TiescI/AAAAAAAACVk/inRHbHFyK3USoYc8iMcv0q2DT0hHhW44wCLcBGAsYHQ/w781-h614/BandedGroundlingMaleQdL06Sept2020.jpg" width="781" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1950" height="643" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PPPLWBTQg8/X1X14ZYyTEI/AAAAAAAACVo/ubAExujOYYgmufSxMJu6g81Be-tC9HCegCLcBGAsYHQ/w781-h643/BandedGroundlingFemQdL06Sept2020a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" width="781" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Post edit] <b>Northern</b> <b>Banded Groundling</b> (<i>Brachythemis impartita</i>) female perching on the golf green. The darker male in the photo above. Quinta do Lago (Loulé), 06-Sept-2020.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaJEd5e8EV4/X1YVBpQ2VcI/AAAAAAAACV4/5hEZxWpq6fA1kNr8AQwGGPw7d02zgb06QCLcBGAsYHQ/w781-h530/BlackPercherCaldeir%25C3%25A3o29Aug2020b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="781" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">[Post edit] <b>Black Percher</b> (<i>Diplacodes lefebvrii</i>) male. Serra do Caldeirão, 29-Aug-2020.</span></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guaQ70-oil4/X0ZXNIC8nzI/AAAAAAAACUw/XkzRV5OokV0CpN0FiO-rIi8L8AuBnVyvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/SympetrumFonscolombiiFoia08Aug2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guaQ70-oil4/X0ZXNIC8nzI/AAAAAAAACUw/XkzRV5OokV0CpN0FiO-rIi8L8AuBnVyvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h454/SympetrumFonscolombiiFoia08Aug2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-veined Darter </b>(<i>Sympetrum fonscolombii</i>)<span style="text-align: left;"> mature male. Foia / Monchique, 08-August-2020. A dragonfly known to every birdwatcher here. At the cape area of Sagres, it can be extremely numerous during autumn (bird) migration, sometimes reaching hundred thousands (!) of Ind./day in the area, on northbound migration.<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-12454696105629582952020-08-16T14:57:00.003+01:002020-09-07T09:52:47.252+01:00Pelagic boat trips<div class="separator"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-muLczPbUguw/Xzke8IFLr9I/AAAAAAAACP4/MIpvWyWeiBoHIGEStIIlOC6mGlIidu_wACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Abheben22July2020FusetaCrop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) and Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) taking off. About 2 miles off Ilha da Culatra, Algarve, 22-July-2020. All photos: Georg Schreier." border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="2048" height="525" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-muLczPbUguw/Xzke8IFLr9I/AAAAAAAACP4/MIpvWyWeiBoHIGEStIIlOC6mGlIidu_wACLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h525/Abheben22July2020FusetaCrop.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cory's Shearwater</b> (<i>Calonectris borealis</i>) and<b> Sooty Shearwater</b> (<i>Ardenna grisea</i>) taking off. <br />About 2 miles off Ilha da Culatra, Algarve. 22-July-2020. All photos: Georg Schreier.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: justify;">One of the best nature activities to do in the hot season here, is going out on a refreshing boat trip, exploring the coastal waters of the Algarve for pelagic sea birds. An activity, which I am doing here in the "</span><b style="text-align: justify;">Sotavento</b><span style="text-align: justify;">" (Algarve's sandy eastern half) with a boat tour operator from Fuseta for more than 10 years now. Between June and October, we can see up to six Shearwater-species, at least two species of Storm Petrels (Wilson's- and European-) and various other pelagic sea birds, including Skuas (mostly Great-, but also Pomarine- and Arctic-) Nothern Gannets, Terns and Gulls, including Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls on a regular basis. Also Dolphins (mostly Bottlenosed- and Common-) are often encountered during these short trips (duration: 2,5 hs) when we go out in a spacy glass fiber boat for up to 6 miles. Each trip is different and what we see depends a lot on season, as well as on weather- and wind conditions. I include here photos from the two last trips (Aug. 12th and July, 22nd this year). Minimum number we require to go out are 4 people. We don't do "chumming", but look for areas with feeding activity or for roosts. We are going to do one trip each week till early September (Sept. 2nd.) for now. For further Info and reservations visit: </span><a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html" style="text-align: justify;">http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html</a><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEyLH-AFSNs/Xzkg1MzdhWI/AAAAAAAACQE/ShosMkyOpTU1TW6o3GE4J1kLAc82RlzcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/GroupingFuseta22July2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="2048" height="540" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEyLH-AFSNs/Xzkg1MzdhWI/AAAAAAAACQE/ShosMkyOpTU1TW6o3GE4J1kLAc82RlzcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h540/GroupingFuseta22July2020.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A nice "grouping" of Shearwaters: <b>Balearic Shearwater</b> (<i>Puffinus mauretanicus</i>) on the left. Two <b>Great Shearwaters</b> (<i>Ardenna gravis</i>) to the right of it. A <b>Sooty Shearwater</b> (<i>Ardenna grisea</i>) in the center back. With three <b>Cory's Shearwater</b>s completing the mix... off Fuseta, Algarve, 22-July-2020.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYoayY2Vg8U/XzkkIV5z49I/AAAAAAAACQQ/LRSYs_NtQOcXPr3D3Y26gu_2I_4e5FhKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta1a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="2048" height="654" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYoayY2Vg8U/XzkkIV5z49I/AAAAAAAACQQ/LRSYs_NtQOcXPr3D3Y26gu_2I_4e5FhKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h654/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta1a.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Wilson's Storm Petrel</b> (<i>Oceanites </i><i>oceanicus</i>) in fresh plumage, passing close by the boat. Amazing, these little sea birds breed around the Antarctic and spend the south winter in our area. About 5 miles off Fuseta, 12-Aug-2020. The birds in the following three photos are of the same species.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QHpx_XJY9U/XzkkNDCb9HI/AAAAAAAACQU/_UVp3YRh73ofropE470bSEe77R0cfKP5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QHpx_XJY9U/XzkkNDCb9HI/AAAAAAAACQU/_UVp3YRh73ofropE470bSEe77R0cfKP5wCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h486/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta7.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xlwsna-WKsg/XzkkQdrrbMI/AAAAAAAACQY/3xewp6K7H1ASve3UnafPM1vTXx8qI6wKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xlwsna-WKsg/XzkkQdrrbMI/AAAAAAAACQY/3xewp6K7H1ASve3UnafPM1vTXx8qI6wKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h464/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta8.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hUsw_3L6qo/XzknbA_mnEI/AAAAAAAACQ8/83LMk_XZunsNHFCACTJH4uwyqO4em6lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hUsw_3L6qo/XzknbA_mnEI/AAAAAAAACQ8/83LMk_XZunsNHFCACTJH4uwyqO4em6lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h434/WilsonsSP12Aug2020Fuseta9.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">The Storm Petrels were feeding around a floating and deteriorating carcass of a Dolphin, we encountered a few miles off shore. Also a small Shark (possibly Blue-) was taking bites...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3l_zgFxEcNg/XzkkdjeMJ8I/AAAAAAAACQo/fO53bUvgH8UB3W1t3aRmEm26a4ntLjqFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EuropeanSP12Aug2020Fuseta.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="2048" height="624" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3l_zgFxEcNg/XzkkdjeMJ8I/AAAAAAAACQo/fO53bUvgH8UB3W1t3aRmEm26a4ntLjqFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h624/EuropeanSP12Aug2020Fuseta.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>European Storm Petrel</b> (<i>Hydrobates pelagicus</i>) showing active wing moult, growing inner primaries. 12-Aug-2020.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61MLkzC4Hpc/Xzk1oS9x6ZI/AAAAAAAACSU/n93-y8gF6iA6BPqjmfUOBvoY0-0MxCeQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2518/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020wide.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2518" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61MLkzC4Hpc/Xzk1oS9x6ZI/AAAAAAAACSU/n93-y8gF6iA6BPqjmfUOBvoY0-0MxCeQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h396/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020wide.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Pomarine Skua</b> (<i>Stercorarius pomarinus</i>) light morph, 2nd summer type, roosting with <b>Cory's Shearwaters</b>. Off Fuseta, 22-July-2020. The next two pictures showing the same bird.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hG9G6mT1TIo/Xzk1qbUz7PI/AAAAAAAACSY/6VCdSgFImpYO4xDGvdyCjy9AJDISd3H7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020a.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="2048" height="699" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hG9G6mT1TIo/Xzk1qbUz7PI/AAAAAAAACSY/6VCdSgFImpYO4xDGvdyCjy9AJDISd3H7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h699/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020a.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7S7OT66zWA/Xzk1sGQQnGI/AAAAAAAACSc/E4XlWPO0DNAGOGgnavj_2Bqg1lufCAQNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="2048" height="561" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7S7OT66zWA/Xzk1sGQQnGI/AAAAAAAACSc/E4XlWPO0DNAGOGgnavj_2Bqg1lufCAQNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h561/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020b.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6XfyZLcYYU/Xzk1u4CZTrI/AAAAAAAACSg/MrY41O82hUYrQftf2yrHydyDupO7bXn-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ManxShearwater22July2020b.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6XfyZLcYYU/Xzk1u4CZTrI/AAAAAAAACSg/MrY41O82hUYrQftf2yrHydyDupO7bXn-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h428/ManxShearwater22July2020b.jpg" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Manx Shearwater</b><span> (</span><i>Puffinus puffinus</i><span>) taking off. 22-July-2020. One of the rarer species here in summer.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUqAtlhfLbw/XzkqsgxbZrI/AAAAAAAACRM/x6Y5GHL0Fc85DMTblG3qP4UpdK5jQKb_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PomarineSkuaFuseta22July2020a.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxWKiTuvLU0/Xzk4RQJUAaI/AAAAAAAACSw/ztNtBBTP8WUp-NUZYoMCqq53UOAte-t3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w800-h508/Roazes22July2020Fuseta.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bottlenose Dolphins</b> (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) with a calf. 22-July-2020. In June we were lucky enough to see <b>Risso's Dolphins</b> (<i>Grampus griseus</i>) during a trip off Fuseta: Here is a short video: <a href="https://youtu.be/cTqI1DlffEs">https://youtu.be/cTqI1DlffEs</a> [post edit: two videos of Common Dolphins I made during a trip on 21-Aug-2020 are <a href="https://youtu.be/ai42ok3Mjlg" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/7ATA-NfTTy8" target="_blank">here</a> ]<br /><br />Next trips are scheduled for Sept., 17th and Sept. 29th, 2020.</td></tr></tbody></table></div>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-89330194041853226052020-06-15T19:06:00.003+01:002020-08-27T19:57:08.579+01:00Yellow-crowned Night-Heron <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this month, I did the first tours after the "lock down" here in the Algarve. The wetlands around Faro (Ria Formosa Natural Park mainly) and to the Baixo Alentejo "cereal steppes", with a Dutch birder and WP-lister. Among the main target species was the <b>Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b> (<i>Nyctanassa violacea</i>), a mega-rarity (first for continental Europe) from the south-eastern US, that had been discovered in the marina of Faro on the morning of the 19th of May, where it was feeding on green crabs <i>Carcinus maenas </i>(<a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S69302518" target="_blank">e-bird checklist</a>). The species is mostly nocturnal and crespuscular (hence the name!) and during the day, it was roosting nearby, perched in trees of a town square next to the marina. It was last seen about 3 kms further east, in a tidal channel next to some sewage works on June, 7th (for now). I had already seen and photographed it on the day of its discovery and we managed to get good and close views of the bird foraging and roosting on the morning of the first tour. I include here some photos I took during the tour, as well as the list of total of <a href="http://www.tarsiger.com/news/index.php?sp=find&lang=eng&species=7500&sel=1&place=&country=&day=0&month=0&year=0&find_button=Search" target="_blank">WP-records</a> and some general Info on the species. By the way, this bird has likely crossed the Atlantik "ship assisted", as has been proved in similar cases before and is not identical with an adult of the same species observed on Horta, Azores, in early April this year (<a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S67149108" target="_blank">e-bird checklist</a>) as plumage details reveal (advance of yellow crown coloration, lenght of crown- and back feathers of the nuptial plumage...). Some general Info on the species is <a href="https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/yellow-crowned-night-heron">here.</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i> feeding in a tidal channel just west of <b>Faro</b>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on <b>June, 7th, 2020</b>. (<u>All photos: GS</u>. click to enlarge image).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> feeding in a tidal channel just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> in a tidal channel just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> in a tidal channel just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d85L2bkbNeI/XutXd7y_TeI/AAAAAAAACO0/PNvtGH1_lJAfUdf7pF4Ohe8PXciY6iw-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YCNightHeron07June2020e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d85L2bkbNeI/XutXd7y_TeI/AAAAAAAACO0/PNvtGH1_lJAfUdf7pF4Ohe8PXciY6iw-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/YCNightHeron07June2020e.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBoT4gajKUs/XutXjo8wOxI/AAAAAAAACO8/bM6SVaqomnszJcS_sPuxyE_Yq2vnWjK4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YCNightHeron07June2020f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1295" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBoT4gajKUs/XutXjo8wOxI/AAAAAAAACO8/bM6SVaqomnszJcS_sPuxyE_Yq2vnWjK4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/YCNightHeron07June2020f.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtP6HTN_Koc/XutXndgo8EI/AAAAAAAACPA/8bnJLKu5XagTnCfLYnnWwli1NyoVqQrJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YCNightHeron07June2020head.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtP6HTN_Koc/XutXndgo8EI/AAAAAAAACPA/8bnJLKu5XagTnCfLYnnWwli1NyoVqQrJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/YCNightHeron07June2020head.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYucv4sgrz0/XutXrChINrI/AAAAAAAACPE/na9e8BvjpEcqxqykAoBoSLP-Bm7rMh9MACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YCNightHeron07June2020post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1247" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYucv4sgrz0/XutXrChINrI/AAAAAAAACPE/na9e8BvjpEcqxqykAoBoSLP-Bm7rMh9MACLcBGAsYHQ/w389-h500/YCNightHeron07June2020post.jpg" width="389" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-crowned Night Heron</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Nyctanassa violacea)</i><span> just west of </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Faro</b><span>, Park Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal on </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">June, 7th, 2020</b><span>. (</span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">All photos: GS</u><span>. click to enlarge image)</span></td></tr>
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Summer is also season for <b>pelagic boat-trips</b> here in the Algarve. Please check my website for further Info here <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/">www.birdwatching-algarve.com</a><br />
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Some more photos taken here in the Algarve over the past weeks:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yv-Ehgqbyzg/Xue5LFtERRI/AAAAAAAACMo/JnQhodPRu9kSUesGztkzdnLqssOmccEogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/PurpleHeron11March2020Vilamoura6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yv-Ehgqbyzg/Xue5LFtERRI/AAAAAAAACMo/JnQhodPRu9kSUesGztkzdnLqssOmccEogCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/PurpleHeron11March2020Vilamoura6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Purple Heron</b> <i>(Ardea purpurea)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuaj7J1UIx0/Xue9ukc9VkI/AAAAAAAACOE/GcIIJcmm3Ms_Eg1mfDqqR_dyJtIWwIhmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/CollaredPratincoleFaroPraiaMai2020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuaj7J1UIx0/Xue9ukc9VkI/AAAAAAAACOE/GcIIJcmm3Ms_Eg1mfDqqR_dyJtIWwIhmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/CollaredPratincoleFaroPraiaMai2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Collared Pratincole</b> (<i>Glareola pratincola</i>) at Praia de Faro.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4k-BAWO07U/Xue9fM0hm5I/AAAAAAAACOA/Y2p9DFJ_muAOQR596xm1gW0WbsPNmn5rQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/SlenderbilledGull22April2020BarrinhaCrop.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4k-BAWO07U/Xue9fM0hm5I/AAAAAAAACOA/Y2p9DFJ_muAOQR596xm1gW0WbsPNmn5rQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SlenderbilledGull22April2020BarrinhaCrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Slender-billed Gull</b> (<i>Croicocephalus genei</i>) at Praia de Faro.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAeKNhcgSBc/Xue7ijXXD1I/AAAAAAAACM8/f2tGhChf4c4lp7dj4Dk3TxVUJ2ryIbHJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BlackHeadedWeaverQdLMarch2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAeKNhcgSBc/Xue7ijXXD1I/AAAAAAAACM8/f2tGhChf4c4lp7dj4Dk3TxVUJ2ryIbHJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/BlackHeadedWeaverQdLMarch2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-headed Weaver</b> (<i>Ploceus melanocephalus</i>) male.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGvYO2PnE4g/Xue7mvJLI4I/AAAAAAAACNA/wtDyEtEmJVAcAaZxgzKk08F7993FDh7LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BlackHeadedWeaverQdLMarch2020nest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1600" height="542" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGvYO2PnE4g/Xue7mvJLI4I/AAAAAAAACNA/wtDyEtEmJVAcAaZxgzKk08F7993FDh7LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/BlackHeadedWeaverQdLMarch2020nest.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-headed Weaver</b> (<i>Ploceus melanocephalus</i>) male at the nest.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFtJ4xrLT9U/Xue8pJazMGI/AAAAAAAACNg/KAQXqdgZe2UoGa8kfMKN2_5jzRIASnZPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IberianMagpieQdL25May2020crop.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1600" height="361" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFtJ4xrLT9U/Xue8pJazMGI/AAAAAAAACNg/KAQXqdgZe2UoGa8kfMKN2_5jzRIASnZPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IberianMagpieQdL25May2020crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Iberian Magpie</b> (<i>Cyanopica cooki</i>)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEZjtdxdRno/Xue7yRDDK-I/AAAAAAAACNE/J3YBpnqKPMgDDYu0djx7KX-_gspnQ0KPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YellowCrownedBishop07June2020Estombar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1450" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEZjtdxdRno/Xue7yRDDK-I/AAAAAAAACNE/J3YBpnqKPMgDDYu0djx7KX-_gspnQ0KPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/YellowCrownedBishop07June2020Estombar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow-crowned Bishop </b>(<i>Euplectes afer</i>) non-breeding plumage.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knlthNst-oI/Xue8wXPmoCI/AAAAAAAACNk/dc6TibmgXKYxUsxCyk5NQCECVUkegeNiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/SpotlessStarlingQdL25May2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knlthNst-oI/Xue8wXPmoCI/AAAAAAAACNk/dc6TibmgXKYxUsxCyk5NQCECVUkegeNiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/SpotlessStarlingQdL25May2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotless Starling</b> (<i>Sturnus unicolor</i>) breeding plumage.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-he4FWgA1n8o/Xue8Hh-rsVI/AAAAAAAACNQ/wr-Vgyxukxof269k1zmODq7AmsLiB7yzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MonarchGomphocarpusfruticosus7June2020Estombar.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="1500" height="553" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-he4FWgA1n8o/Xue8Hh-rsVI/AAAAAAAACNQ/wr-Vgyxukxof269k1zmODq7AmsLiB7yzACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/MonarchGomphocarpusfruticosus7June2020Estombar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Monarch </b>(<i>Danaus plexippus</i>) west Algarve, June 2020.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-MAOh-uNeA/Xue8SL5NAFI/AAAAAAAACNU/qFfsLSjBKKMuVG9vgIu9HMqPuZGI8Q7sQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/LittleTernQdL25May2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-MAOh-uNeA/Xue8SL5NAFI/AAAAAAAACNU/qFfsLSjBKKMuVG9vgIu9HMqPuZGI8Q7sQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/LittleTernQdL25May2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Tern</b> <i>(Sternula albifrons) </i>Quinta do Lago<i>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZJUCF28T9Y/Xue88y4UyuI/AAAAAAAACNs/8Tb05wFXLgcxktJ_lGF4WYBy63D8H4rhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/AfricanReedWarblerVilamoura07June2020a.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1547" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZJUCF28T9Y/Xue88y4UyuI/AAAAAAAACNs/8Tb05wFXLgcxktJ_lGF4WYBy63D8H4rhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/AfricanReedWarblerVilamoura07June2020a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The (Common) Reed Warblers breeding in southern Iberia are actually <b>African Reed Warblers</b> (<i>Acrocephalus baeticatus ssp. ambiguus</i> or <i>Acrocephalus ambiguus</i>, depending on systematic) as recent molecular studies have shown. Link to <a href="https://www.magornitho.org/2016/12/phylogeny-eurasian-african-reed-warbler-complex/" target="_blank">article</a>. This photo was taken near Vilamoura in June this year and shows one of the local breeders. The birds are slightly smaller and perhaps lighter colored as Common Reed Warbler <i>A. scirpaceus</i>. So far, no differences is song or call have been found, as far as I know.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pYL2aQ_ELQ/Xue9GjojYkI/AAAAAAAACN0/A34cSgXYxigXa1pkPwKKOBW7Eps1_2cYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/AlpineSwiftValeSanto13June2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1295" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pYL2aQ_ELQ/Xue9GjojYkI/AAAAAAAACN0/A34cSgXYxigXa1pkPwKKOBW7Eps1_2cYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/AlpineSwiftValeSanto13June2020.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alpine Swift</b> (<i>Tachymerptas melba</i>) Sagres-peninsula.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-48992756426342191912018-11-07T17:13:00.003+00:002018-11-07T21:59:19.272+00:00Yellow-browed Warbler and other rare autumn vagrants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VL7sdJ-XOgI/W-MSHKzscDI/AAAAAAAACFw/bA30fgm-ltQDXgfT0oE4fOJaAX-hAQqCACLcBGAs/s1600/YBWDunitania06Nov2018xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1600" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VL7sdJ-XOgI/W-MSHKzscDI/AAAAAAAACFw/bA30fgm-ltQDXgfT0oE4fOJaAX-hAQqCACLcBGAs/s640/YBWDunitania06Nov2018xl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-browed Warbler</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phylloscopus inornatus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) "Mata de Liceu", Faro (town). November, 6th 2018. Photo: GS. </span></td></tr>
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During October and November each year, <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b> (<i>Phylloscopus inornatus</i>) appear in the Algarve and in increasing numbers over the past five years. These tiny Siberian vagrants go often undetected, especially when they are silent. This Ind. here however was very vocal (as they often are) and I found it accidently when walking a dog in a park ("Mata de Liceu") in the middle of Faro (!) yesterday afternoon, 06-Nov-2018. It seemed to live in- and around a single, massive Cork Oak, but showed in an Araucaria tree, for the photos I include here. It may overwinter at this spot, as another one did last winter, only a couple of hundred meters away. Listen to their diagnostic two syllable calls here: <a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Phylloscopus-inornatus?fbclid=IwAR2B4fP0RD_FxJfW2en_43mOcdZKLZvwN4EfBLvzCViYX1Fi2VQgvpTqgEY" target="_blank">xeno-canto</a>. An overview of the development of records of this species in Portugal over the past three decades is here on <a href="http://www.avesdeportugal.info/phyino.html" target="_blank">Aves de Portugal</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pKY-tSci618/W-MSQdfsTOI/AAAAAAAACF0/9UZb25u6f4Q6NZu3AlapipalvYD6I8_aACLcBGAs/s1600/YBW4Dunitania06Nov2018s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pKY-tSci618/W-MSQdfsTOI/AAAAAAAACF0/9UZb25u6f4Q6NZu3AlapipalvYD6I8_aACLcBGAs/s640/YBW4Dunitania06Nov2018s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yellow-browed Warbler</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phylloscopus inornatus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) "Mata de Liceu", Faro (town). November, 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RJ3l8hqQRs/W-MSYmPC8JI/AAAAAAAACF8/ziWXCTIFfbYjsFvmegVAS2ALdYhrJcuaQCLcBGAs/s1600/YBWarblerAlportel02Nov2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1500" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RJ3l8hqQRs/W-MSYmPC8JI/AAAAAAAACF8/ziWXCTIFfbYjsFvmegVAS2ALdYhrJcuaQCLcBGAs/s640/YBWarblerAlportel02Nov2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b> (<i>Phylloscopus inornatus</i>) near Alportel, central-Algarve, November, 2nd 2018. Photo: GS. <br />
This particular spot "works" for the third consecutive year for me now.<br />
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A similar, but yet smaller and rarer autumn leave Warbler is the <b>Pallas's Leaf Warbler</b> (<i>Phylloscopus proregulus</i>) distinguished by a yellowish central crown stripe and yellowish/light greenish rump. This species has only three records for Portugal so far, including a bird that was seen from the 27th to the 31st of December 2017 and found by a visiting Swedish birder at "Fonte Benémola", a valley in the lime stone belt (Barrocal) of the Algarve, not far from Loulé, with a high diversity of plants and birds found along a stream with a dense river gallery. The finder detected the hovering bird, showing its characteristic light colored rump patch. I have been there to "twitch" the bird - not an easy task, since it was silent and using quite a big area along the valley. At the end of the day however, it always showed near a little dam in the river for some moments, allowing some quick photos and observations in the fading light of a winter day... what a fascinating little visitor. An interesting and useful autumn leaf Warbler photo ID-Guide is here on <a href="https://www.birdguides.com/articles/autumn-leaf-warbler-photo-id-guide/?fbclid=IwAR2qqEHx_qEc3I6_C-Tgna4J-kTMJ42JkCOuwCb7GR4jf13ENjrIG-Ys6W4" target="_blank">Bird Guides</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-De5HgvaIydU/W-NDaFm_mRI/AAAAAAAACHM/TC3e9t9Xu3skjbtQTl9Hv9nJGFW2vNg3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-De5HgvaIydU/W-NDaFm_mRI/AAAAAAAACHM/TC3e9t9Xu3skjbtQTl9Hv9nJGFW2vNg3QCLcBGAs/s640/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pallas's Leaf Warbler</b> (<i>Phylloscopus proregulus</i>) Fonte Benémola (Loulé). December, 31st 2017. This and the following photos: GS.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aV5xQvNZzbU/W-NDbqsqW4I/AAAAAAAACHQ/AnrFzzpNRZUBy83rK-eX6aZNxG73lBr3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aV5xQvNZzbU/W-NDbqsqW4I/AAAAAAAACHQ/AnrFzzpNRZUBy83rK-eX6aZNxG73lBr3QCLcBGAs/s640/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017d.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pallas's Leaf Warbler</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phylloscopus proregulus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) Fonte Benémola (Loulé). December, 31st 2017.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_cEWShis25Q/W-NDdeS8g3I/AAAAAAAACHU/q1_oWeOcYHIHkoMSpCNmaHWGKMGxN7BjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="969" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_cEWShis25Q/W-NDdeS8g3I/AAAAAAAACHU/q1_oWeOcYHIHkoMSpCNmaHWGKMGxN7BjwCLcBGAs/s640/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017e.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pallas's Leaf Warbler</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phylloscopus proregulus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) Fonte Benémola (Loulé). December, 31st 2017.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEWMte54Opc/W-NDiuohEYI/AAAAAAAACHY/TaEN43E28B0HzkYahjNpXNKU5wddyxpoQCLcBGAs/s1600/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEWMte54Opc/W-NDiuohEYI/AAAAAAAACHY/TaEN43E28B0HzkYahjNpXNKU5wddyxpoQCLcBGAs/s640/PhyllproregulusFonteB31Dec2017f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pallas's Leaf Warbler</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phylloscopus proregulus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) Fonte Benémola (Loulé). December, 31st 2017.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Red-backed Shrike </b>(<i>Lanius collurio</i>) is also extremely rare in the Algarve, but there is a breeding population in the north of Portugal (Gerês) and I have observed them there, only a couple of hundred km away. Why is it hardly ever seen in the Algarve, despite beeing a Trans-Sahara migrant, wintering in Southern Africa? Researchers found out, that the entire European population migrates around the eastern Mediterranean and only then southwards, meaning for the populations in Western Europe (including north Portugal) to migrate <u>eastwards,</u> instead of southwards! The scientific paper with these findings is here: <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03078698.2012.748508" target="_blank">Article</a><br />
So I was quite exited, when I found a juvenile of this species a couple of weeks ago near a beach (Praia de Loulé Velho) between "Vale do Garrão" and Quarteira ! I took several "phonescoped" videos with the Iphone through the brilliant Swarovski ATX-85-telescope, using also the Swarovski adapter. Here you can watch two of them: <a href="https://youtu.be/KmrZ79xmd3M" target="_blank">Red-backed Shrike (1)</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/Z3xg-f8FT5Q" target="_blank">Red-backed Shrike (2)</a><br />
The second, shorter video, shows the plain reddish-brown (slightly barred) upperparts and the non-graduated tail, when paused at the right moment, thus excluding other vagrant Shrike species, among them Brown Shrike (<i>Lanius cristatus</i>). To distinguish it from the here common Woodchat Shrike (<i>Lanius senator</i>) have a look here: <a href="http://blascozumeta.com/wp-content/uploads/aragon-birds/passeriformes/404a.identification-lanius.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a>. A very good article on the Id-problematic of Red-backed-, Isabelline- and Brown Shrikes is here on <a href="https://www.dutchbirding.nl/journal/pdf/DB_2000_22_6.pdf#page=1" target="_blank">Dutch Birding</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTiBRhlq_Rc/W-MSowcRPDI/AAAAAAAACGI/5bMZ9wMVpIMig1MWQim0dikbqbt2z1XNACLcBGAs/s1600/Gr%25C3%25BCnreiherQuintadoLago24Oct2018s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1200" height="520" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTiBRhlq_Rc/W-MSowcRPDI/AAAAAAAACGI/5bMZ9wMVpIMig1MWQim0dikbqbt2z1XNACLcBGAs/s640/Gr%25C3%25BCnreiherQuintadoLago24Oct2018s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Heron</b> (<i>Butorides virescens</i>) at Lagoa de São Lourenço (Quinta do Lago, Loulé) on October, 24th 2018. This bird is the 1st for continental Portugal. Photo:GS.</td></tr>
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One of the "highlights" of this rarities-season in the Algarve so far, has been the finding of a <b>Green Heron</b> <i>(Butorides viriscens)</i> at the golf-course lake of Quinta do Lago around the 20th of October. The small Heron had been seen by several people, but misidentified as a Little Bittern (!) at first and so the news about the "Mega" arrived at the local birding comunity with a delay. This North American bird must have been "carried over" by one of the severe Atlantic storms in October and its still at the location today. Meanwhile a second Ind. has been found near Lisbon. Most fascinating for me was witnissing this birds clever "fishing-skills". It at first catches an insect (wasp, dragonfly) only to then place it deliberately on the surface of the water right in front of itself and waites patiently for a fish to appear and take the bait. Then it strikes... interesting question how a behavior like this becomes genetically fixed (as it surely is on this species, just like a spider "knows" how to web...).<br />
A <b>Red-knobbed Coot</b> (<i>Fulica cristata</i>), also called Crested Coot :) was on the same lake.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpmcI-DYI24/W-MS9ukxmxI/AAAAAAAACGQ/nKE9su29qsY3cCKmvfV9cOzATlPtO7iYQCLcBGAs/s1600/MarshSandpiperMarinaBeata02Nov2018z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpmcI-DYI24/W-MS9ukxmxI/AAAAAAAACGQ/nKE9su29qsY3cCKmvfV9cOzATlPtO7iYQCLcBGAs/s640/MarshSandpiperMarinaBeata02Nov2018z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <b>Marsh Sandpiper</b> (<i>Tringa stagnatillis</i>) is for the third consecutive winter now at a place between Faro and Olhão<br />
(Parque Natural da Ria Formosa). Photo:GS.<br />
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While Grey-and Red-necked Phalaropes are already very scarce, but are still seen anually in the Algarve, the North American <b>Wilson's Phalarope</b> (<i>Phalaropus tricolor</i>) is truely rare. One bird in winter plumage has been found now in a rice field near the town of Lagoa some days ago and was still there today. It can be distinguished from its relatives by the longer bill and neck, as well as yellowish legs and the lack of a wing bar, among others.<br />
These rice fields are extremely bird rich as they offer a lot of food for the birds. <i>Crustaceans</i>, like the invasive Louisiana Crayfish <i>(Procambarus clarkii</i>) for example. Hence the Phalarope shared the site with 1000+ Glossy Ibis (!), flocks of White Storks, Greater Flamingos and Eurasian Spoonbills, Lots of Black-winged Stilts, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit etc. I include here some pictures and two videos from yesterday. This is an exiting time here in the Algarve!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh7nfwvuLgU/W-NX5xdWztI/AAAAAAAACHw/0Op5KYoDOK4CbgGecIFceiBnoM43u32-wCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh7nfwvuLgU/W-NX5xdWztI/AAAAAAAACHw/0Op5KYoDOK4CbgGecIFceiBnoM43u32-wCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilson's Phalarope</b> <i>(Phalaropus tricolor)</i> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyouT4VGFoY/W-MTTpVSZeI/AAAAAAAACGc/aXuno1Lq41ohqWcHv8Axo57aM1LMa4JdACLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018LagoaB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyouT4VGFoY/W-MTTpVSZeI/AAAAAAAACGc/aXuno1Lq41ohqWcHv8Axo57aM1LMa4JdACLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018LagoaB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ital4Sv7Qo/W-MTZ1D2r5I/AAAAAAAACGg/wp_fa5g5lSQ8wSnioH7fKXg8hq4qHf-zwCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ital4Sv7Qo/W-MTZ1D2r5I/AAAAAAAACGg/wp_fa5g5lSQ8wSnioH7fKXg8hq4qHf-zwCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk0bvl1GGRc/W-MTe8_FByI/AAAAAAAACGk/_cdUU_g4CDk1w13hJAEEywIyEGKKkKh-wCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk0bvl1GGRc/W-MTe8_FByI/AAAAAAAACGk/_cdUU_g4CDk1w13hJAEEywIyEGKKkKh-wCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-yRyL6S8NM/W-MTiPY61gI/AAAAAAAACGs/ZaBFSpLoQ_wTEvw79HI4dnJjet6dnBiAgCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-yRyL6S8NM/W-MTiPY61gI/AAAAAAAACGs/ZaBFSpLoQ_wTEvw79HI4dnJjet6dnBiAgCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0v6714D1Tk/W-MTj2mSnAI/AAAAAAAACGw/16E20ZIse_A-3niOagU25nor95ndvTJswCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0v6714D1Tk/W-MTj2mSnAI/AAAAAAAACGw/16E20ZIse_A-3niOagU25nor95ndvTJswCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epRLWx5JiRg/W-MTlcqhPKI/AAAAAAAACG0/C2_svS-OrwwHYZYavTfp5jfeC-FiwuaEQCLcBGAs/s1600/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1588" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epRLWx5JiRg/W-MTlcqhPKI/AAAAAAAACG0/C2_svS-OrwwHYZYavTfp5jfeC-FiwuaEQCLcBGAs/s640/WilsonsPhal06Nov2018Lagoa8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wilson's Phalarope</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Phalaropus tricolor)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in winter plumage near Lagoa, Algarve. Nov., 6th 2018. Photo: GS.</span><br />
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Two videos of the Wilson's Phalarope are here: <a href="https://youtu.be/uDLL4Gtp2a0" target="_blank">Wilsons's Phalarope (1)</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/L9oUEdVbCSw" target="_blank">Wilsons's Phalarope (2)</a><br />
Updates and locations of rare birds found in the Algarve, are shared on the public facebook-group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/255875318286328/" target="_blank">Rare Birds Algarve.</a><br />
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-57384981539516331902018-06-19T11:07:00.000+01:002018-07-03T14:24:22.381+01:00Spanish Imperial Eagle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuinaZYaxEM/WyjUhKaecTI/AAAAAAAACEI/7AL_MUC4P90FC0omY3DEXp3eswU22i0ewCLcBGAs/s1600/Aqadal23May2018CV10crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1200" height="526" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuinaZYaxEM/WyjUhKaecTI/AAAAAAAACEI/7AL_MUC4P90FC0omY3DEXp3eswU22i0ewCLcBGAs/s640/Aqadal23May2018CV10crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This and all above photos: <b>Spanish Imperial Eagle / Águia-Imperial Iberica / Spanischer Kaiseradler <i>(Aquila adalberti)</i></b> adult. Baixo Alentejo-region, South Portugal, 23-May-2018. Photo: Georg Schreier. [<i>All images can be clicked to enlarge</i>].</td></tr>
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There are these moments in your life as a naturalist or birdwatcher, that you will never forget. Often unexpected, you suddenly become a witness of Nature's great beauty and impressive force and you can only go like: "Wow!" . Watching a full adult <b>Spanish Imperial Eagle</b> flying towards you and then passing us by at a distance of less than 50 meters absolutely falls into this category. A moment like this you can not plan, but since there are now 15 breeding pairs of this species in south and east Portugal again, it is a species we see with regularity and it can be a target species for a day tour to the interior south Portugal, even though it s still hard to guarantee observations and one should not expect to see it as close as this. The Iberian Imperial Eagle (as it should actually be rightfully called) nested in 2003 for the first time in Portugal again, after for decades no breeding record had been obtained. Most pairs choose to settle in large private hunting estates, as these properties are closed to the public and a high population of prey (most importantly rabbits) exists. Population pressure from the increasing population of neighbouring Spain, based on a successful conservation program there, surely played an important role in its return to Portugal as a breeding species. The young Portuguese conservation program "Life Imperial" still faces a lot of difficulties, but the increase to the now 15 pairs in 2017 and 2018 makes it already a success story.<br />
Useful and interesting information on the species and its conservation in Portugal (also in English) can be found here: <a href="http://lifeimperial.lpn.pt/en">http://lifeimperial.lpn.pt/en</a><br />
I wrote a six pages article for the April 2018 - edition of Germany's leading bird magazine "Der Falke" on the bird life of Portugal's Baixo Alentejo-region, highlighting also the return of Iberias "King of birds" to Portugal as a breeding bird: <a href="https://www.falke-journal.de/der-falke-42018/">https://www.falke-journal.de/der-falke-42018/</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IrfGJO_vyeI/Wyjj4umjY2I/AAAAAAAACEc/hT_zJV7EKaIr7UwgtrLXH_5bKXbkVhvIQCLcBGAs/s1600/AqadalAegmonachusCV19April2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="1600" height="620" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IrfGJO_vyeI/Wyjj4umjY2I/AAAAAAAACEc/hT_zJV7EKaIr7UwgtrLXH_5bKXbkVhvIQCLcBGAs/s640/AqadalAegmonachusCV19April2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young immature (2nd calender year) <b>Sp. Imperial Eagle <i>(Aquila dalberti)</i></b> soaring together with a young<br />
<b>Eurasian Black Vulture <i>(Aegipius monachus</i></b><i>)</i> also 2nd c.y., in the "steppe" region of south Portugal,<br />
19-April-2018. Photo: Georg Schreier.</td></tr>
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Yesterday, 18.06.2018, I saw a <b>Little Swift</b> <b><i>(Apus affinis)</i></b> near Cape S. Vincent, the Algarve's western cape ! It was feeding in an area, where also a good gathering of the local breeding <b>Pallid Swifts</b> <i>(Apus pallidus</i>) and <b>Alpine Swifts</b> <i>(T. melba)</i> took place. This species nests in Morocco and there are some small colonies near the Strait of Gibraltar in Spain (Chipiona-harbor, f. i.) but not in Portugal, as far as known and is a rare vagrant with less than one observation per year. Over the last week alone however, five observations in different locations in the west Algarve (including also Foia/Monchique and the Alvor estuary had been made, three of which by a single observer, suggesting that we have an influx of this species in the Algarve right now. I tried my luck yesterday and managed to find one! For me a new bird for Portugal and species number 334 for the Algarve-region. Ironically I only recently watched this species in South Morocco, during a great 8-days birding trip in late March/ early April this year, into the high Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert. If you plan on this (and I can only say its worth while) you should contact <a href="http://www.gayuin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gayuin.com/ </a>who organized an unforgettable and very successful day trip for the desert specialities for us from Merzouga. I took tons of photos and might post some of them here on this blog later. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEWnUp7LcmA/Wyjq5LerLzI/AAAAAAAACEo/Ti9NX6NVZY0XDv5i0jfyk2aodbRq7ZuCgCLcBGAs/s1600/LittleSwiftMarrakesh31March2018d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEWnUp7LcmA/Wyjq5LerLzI/AAAAAAAACEo/Ti9NX6NVZY0XDv5i0jfyk2aodbRq7ZuCgCLcBGAs/s640/LittleSwiftMarrakesh31March2018d.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Swift <i>(Apus affinis)</i></b> is not easy to photograph in flight .... note the square cut off tail and the white rump-patch visible on the flanks. Marrakesh, Morocco, 31st of March 2018. Photo: Georg Schreier.</td></tr>
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Regarding <b>rarities</b> in the Algarve, there is a good network of observers here and we exchange information. I created a facebook-page for this purpose only, which you can join here when looked into your own facebook account: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/255875318286328/" target="_blank">Rare Birds Algarve</a><br />
A good number of rarities I found myself this last winter and spring, including a <b>Sociable Lapwing</b> at Lagoa dos Salgados in November (later seen by many as it stood there till March) a 1st winter <b>Caspian Gull</b>, <b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b>, two different <b>Pectoral Sandpipers</b>, another (now anual) <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b> and a <b>Spotted Sandpiper</b> in March at the Ria Formosa in Olhão, which stood there until early May, when it was in full breeding plumage. Quite a looker! See for yourself ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6a3NhKiS7gQ/WyjxcNcxRsI/AAAAAAAACE8/5DveKnX4QMk3iHUk8fbddiJn34TR1Cc7ACLcBGAs/s1600/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1600" height="538" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6a3NhKiS7gQ/WyjxcNcxRsI/AAAAAAAACE8/5DveKnX4QMk3iHUk8fbddiJn34TR1Cc7ACLcBGAs/s640/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Sandpiper <i>(Actitis macularius)</i></b>, Olhão, 23-April-2018. A very rare vagrant from North America... Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qu2KvSEMDY/WyjxOlqwMgI/AAAAAAAACE0/CGAujwAg5hgh7uaRtVq6LovJG4yhAobPgCLcBGAs/s1600/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qu2KvSEMDY/WyjxOlqwMgI/AAAAAAAACE0/CGAujwAg5hgh7uaRtVq6LovJG4yhAobPgCLcBGAs/s640/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Spotted Sandpiper <i>(Actitis macularius)</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, Olhão, 23-April-2018. Photo: Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRaWiG4xf4o/WyjxXMrQ-lI/AAAAAAAACE4/YuD2w8aYIoQ5dAjhhxzla5DMO-iI0HMkQCLcBGAs/s1600/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="1600" height="596" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRaWiG4xf4o/WyjxXMrQ-lI/AAAAAAAACE4/YuD2w8aYIoQ5dAjhhxzla5DMO-iI0HMkQCLcBGAs/s640/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Spotted Sandpiper <i>(Actitis macularius)</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, Olhão, 23-April-2018. Photo: Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CnpPVamFPhY/WyjxgkisLHI/AAAAAAAACFQ/XohTahAqSqIEwCdzCXnq5GqRZyzFYXlXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1600" height="530" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CnpPVamFPhY/WyjxgkisLHI/AAAAAAAACFQ/XohTahAqSqIEwCdzCXnq5GqRZyzFYXlXgCEwYBhgL/s640/SpottedSandp23April2018Olh%25C3%25A3o6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Spotted Sandpiper <i>(Actitis macularius)</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, Olhão, 23-April-2018. Photo: Georg Schreier.</span><br />
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Finally - I highly recommend you join a<b> <u>Pelagic boat-trip</u></b> to see Shearwaters, Skuas, Storm Petrels and others (often also Dolphins) off the Algarve coast ! Its one of the best things to do during the hot summer months... </div>
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All information is on my website here: <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html">http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html</a></div>
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The next scheduled trips are for <b>July, 12th; </b> <b>July, 21st</b> (Saturday) and<b> July, 31st</b> so far (Fuzeta), other dates on request !</div>
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Some more trip reports of pelagics are here on this blog: <a href="https://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2016/07/pelagic-off-olhao.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2015/08/pelagic.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2014/07/shearwaters-and-dolphins.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2014/07/stormies.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Hoping to see you soon !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJOTRvTVXjk/Wyj8tSVr8EI/AAAAAAAACFY/D8ATTSwYkP89Vj1-76RRDUTDAFfoXupFQCLcBGAs/s1600/GreatShW26Sept2017Fuzeta2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1600" height="546" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJOTRvTVXjk/Wyj8tSVr8EI/AAAAAAAACFY/D8ATTSwYkP89Vj1-76RRDUTDAFfoXupFQCLcBGAs/s640/GreatShW26Sept2017Fuzeta2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Shearwater <i>(Ardenna gravis)</i></b> off Fuzeta, Algarve, 26-September-2017. Photo: Georg Schreier</td></tr>
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Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-32611909971285923052018-02-21T18:02:00.001+00:002018-02-21T18:02:54.995+00:00Spring birds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doKn30PD_bw/Wo2V7lY62XI/AAAAAAAACCE/ndxa0qPbT_gBY5hI1ovnOi_Oub12a2WEACLcBGAs/s1600/EuropBeeEater3Carrapateira22Apr2017s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1500" height="546" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doKn30PD_bw/Wo2V7lY62XI/AAAAAAAACCE/ndxa0qPbT_gBY5hI1ovnOi_Oub12a2WEACLcBGAs/s640/EuropBeeEater3Carrapateira22Apr2017s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>European Bee-eater</b><i> (Merops apiaster)</i>. Algarve, April 2017. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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European Bee-eater is definitely one of the most emblematic bird species for spring in south Portugal. The first birds of this trans-Sahara migrant arrive during the second half of March at the Algarve coast, with most nest sites being occupied during April. Their wonderful flight calls are often the first sign of their arrival (usually a flock).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vKqqPEPmsk/Wo2WDp6s3yI/AAAAAAAACCI/uygsrLIveIoo--wLajL5yGhQMEHlXGyGQCLcBGAs/s1600/BlackearedWheatearSagres22April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vKqqPEPmsk/Wo2WDp6s3yI/AAAAAAAACCI/uygsrLIveIoo--wLajL5yGhQMEHlXGyGQCLcBGAs/s640/BlackearedWheatearSagres22April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Western <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b> <i>(Oenanthe hispanica). </i>The species occurs around the Mediterranean, in a western (incl. the Iberian Peninsula) and an estern form, described as either distinct species or subspecies, depending on the systematic you choose to follow... what a beauty. Algarve, April 2017. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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The Black-eared Wheatear inhabits hot and arid areas with sparse vegetation and some rocks or barren ground, mainly found in the the higher altitudes of Serra do Caldeirão and along the Guadiana valley as well as further inland, in the open plains of the Baixo Alentejo. During spring migration however, in April or early May, they can show up everywhere along the Algarve coast, even in the dunes or on a golf course, if wind conditions are favourable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Slb2hd86zvQ/Wo2WGDo5PEI/AAAAAAAACCM/x424gI2jC20IqH3XgtcA7yJgBnoO79GawCLcBGAs/s1600/Oenhisp4Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="572" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Slb2hd86zvQ/Wo2WGDo5PEI/AAAAAAAACCM/x424gI2jC20IqH3XgtcA7yJgBnoO79GawCLcBGAs/s640/Oenhisp4Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another male <b>Western Black-eared Wheatear</b> (<i>Oenanthe hispanica</i>). This species occurs in two different color morphs - a pale throated one (this photo) and one with a dark throat (the photo above). Algarve, April 2017. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWgzrWEXFQM/Wo2WRKex81I/AAAAAAAACCQ/hgnjYmdQJ3AVNFVYaVuvmH0R7e17I4HbQCLcBGAs/s1600/Sylcant4Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1600" height="616" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWgzrWEXFQM/Wo2WRKex81I/AAAAAAAACCQ/hgnjYmdQJ3AVNFVYaVuvmH0R7e17I4HbQCLcBGAs/s640/Sylcant4Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Subalpine Warbler</b><i> (Sylvia cantillans).</i> This male was found next to the sea and most probably flew in directly from north Africa during the previous night. Algarve, March 2017. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo: GS.<br /></span></td></tr>
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Subalpine Warblers are fairly common breeders in the hills of the Algarvian Serras, where they coexist with <b>Dartford Warblers</b> (<i>Sylvia undata</i>) and the widespread <b>Sardinian Warblers</b> (<i>Sylvia melanocephala</i>) in the same areas and sometimes the same habitat, with the latter two represents of the <i>Sylvia</i>-genus being residents. To make things a bit complicated, also for the Subalpine Warbler a "split" has been suggested, read <a href="http://boc-online.org/bulletins/downloads/BBOC1333-Svensson.pdf" target="_blank">this</a> if you like. The first Subalpine W. arrive as early as late February or early March, depending on weather conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGAtHx1skPM/Wo2WTXNXrLI/AAAAAAAACCU/-mmZycW9xe8n3-48dUgHbWBa1g5WPpIegCLcBGAs/s1600/Sylcant5Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1600" height="636" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGAtHx1skPM/Wo2WTXNXrLI/AAAAAAAACCU/-mmZycW9xe8n3-48dUgHbWBa1g5WPpIegCLcBGAs/s640/Sylcant5Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Subalpine Warbler</b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (Sylvia cantillans).</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Same Ind. as above. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Algarve, March 2017. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo: GS. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rpISCOZpA0/Wo2WYEMkq6I/AAAAAAAACCY/4BmUKB1okBc8MZ4bz7znbYDWTCJbFVdMACLcBGAs/s1600/WesternOrpheanWarblerSBAlp26Apr2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rpISCOZpA0/Wo2WYEMkq6I/AAAAAAAACCY/4BmUKB1okBc8MZ4bz7znbYDWTCJbFVdMACLcBGAs/s640/WesternOrpheanWarblerSBAlp26Apr2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Western Orphean Warbler</b> (<i>Sylvia hortensis)</i> is a rather scarce breeder in the Algarve and not always easy to see. This adult male sings from his perch on top of a Holm Oak Tree (<i>Quercus ilex)</i> in a valley in the foothills of Serra do Caldeirão. Their short phrases of loud and full tones resemble rather a Thrush-species than a Warbler of this size. The white Iris on the male is diagnostic for this species. Serra do Caldeirão, 26-April-2017. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AH4uKjYkJ0k/Wo2Wf6Atb3I/AAAAAAAACCc/sZS9Erwiqz8O_LcqGPTXhyeU5LwZ7Q64ACLcBGAs/s1600/PapaFigosSaoBras07Maio2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AH4uKjYkJ0k/Wo2Wf6Atb3I/AAAAAAAACCc/sZS9Erwiqz8O_LcqGPTXhyeU5LwZ7Q64ACLcBGAs/s640/PapaFigosSaoBras07Maio2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult male Eurasian <b>Golden Oriole</b> <i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Oriolus orioulus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">). The Portuguese name for this species is "Papa-figos", meaning "Fig-eater" and it is something they actually do in late summer. This one here however is interested in the ripe fruits of the "Nêspera" (Loquat) in my front garden. I took this photo out of the kitchen window one morning. 07-May-2016.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y78e5yUmZhI/Wo2WqnwHG1I/AAAAAAAACCg/EFjHYI8HoSEBQcfYkxWikIfj1GqjAwI4ACLcBGAs/s1600/GreatSpottedCuckooCV14April2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y78e5yUmZhI/Wo2WqnwHG1I/AAAAAAAACCg/EFjHYI8HoSEBQcfYkxWikIfj1GqjAwI4ACLcBGAs/s640/GreatSpottedCuckooCV14April2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b>Great Spotted Cuckoo</b> (<i>Clamator glandarius</i>) is an early messenger of spring and during February the first ones arrive (occasionally even in January). Baixo Alentejo-region, 14-April-2016. Photo: GS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTkGPgtoT0M/Wo2WwApax2I/AAAAAAAACCk/9zawky1eNlQbjeM_1lc7K9DaDUDGg7FGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Lansen2Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTkGPgtoT0M/Wo2WwApax2I/AAAAAAAACCk/9zawky1eNlQbjeM_1lc7K9DaDUDGg7FGgCLcBGAs/s640/Lansen2Sagres17Mar2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also back quite early: The <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> (<i>Lanius senator</i>). In the first half of March the first ones arrive usually here.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3VBgFmjywI/Wo2XQInPBEI/AAAAAAAACC4/-u7Y4taospEIGSDc48CtcP4TelSjhu8nQCLcBGAs/s1600/TawnyPipit22April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3VBgFmjywI/Wo2XQInPBEI/AAAAAAAACC4/-u7Y4taospEIGSDc48CtcP4TelSjhu8nQCLcBGAs/s640/TawnyPipit22April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b>Tawny Pipit </b>(<i>Anthus campestris</i>) inhabits open, arid landscapes with short and sparse vegetation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuHnsrAVlaM/Wo2XQxpM6iI/AAAAAAAACC8/8D1r01YX8rUL_dodUC7EDycLTbX15c12ACLcBGAs/s1600/TawnyPipit22April2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="440" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuHnsrAVlaM/Wo2XQxpM6iI/AAAAAAAACC8/8D1r01YX8rUL_dodUC7EDycLTbX15c12ACLcBGAs/s640/TawnyPipit22April2017b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tawny Pipit </b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Anthus campestris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) the same Ind. as above. Sagres-area, 22-April-2017.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sVcFjL6Nas/Wo2XS-jTe6I/AAAAAAAACDA/zdR_fVkWL7QdZM6Zw8ILMqCski3VzUgSQCLcBGAs/s1600/ShorttoedLarkSagres22April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sVcFjL6Nas/Wo2XS-jTe6I/AAAAAAAACDA/zdR_fVkWL7QdZM6Zw8ILMqCski3VzUgSQCLcBGAs/s640/ShorttoedLarkSagres22April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Greater) <b>Short-toed Lark</b> (<i>Calandrella brachydactyla</i>) shares the habitat with Tawny Pipit. One of 7 Lark-species breeding in south Portugal and the only one not wintering here. In March and April migratory flocks of the species may be encountered in dry salt marsh or barren farm land in the Algarve, the majority of birds nests further inland.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKvXuZ4KPME/Wo2XUFwBw9I/AAAAAAAACDE/AJl97Gl_UjMuhyvE-VOQqe-WnnYAmkzHgCLcBGAs/s1600/Cuc2CSV17Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="500" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKvXuZ4KPME/Wo2XUFwBw9I/AAAAAAAACDE/AJl97Gl_UjMuhyvE-VOQqe-WnnYAmkzHgCLcBGAs/s640/Cuc2CSV17Mar2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male <b>Common Cuckoo</b> <i>(Cuculus canorus)</i> seeking shelter on top of the sea cliffs of the west Algarve after a long flight over the sea in late March 2017.<br /></td></tr>
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Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-36130819752657833772017-10-05T12:59:00.001+01:002017-10-05T13:45:38.587+01:00Raptor migration in the Algarve<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1ZRyYOqwAk/WdYJmoNadzI/AAAAAAAAB-A/qDSO18TQyCg9hxmngZ4SX9XCtfKwM-m-QCLcBGAs/s1600/BootedEagleSagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1ZRyYOqwAk/WdYJmoNadzI/AAAAAAAAB-A/qDSO18TQyCg9hxmngZ4SX9XCtfKwM-m-QCLcBGAs/s640/BootedEagleSagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Booted Eagle (<i>Aquila pennata</i>)</b> pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h45FsTJnrKI/WdYJwSz8rQI/AAAAAAAAB-I/2vdYljTlUFQJgBwMxnwb_D-lFWItizGLQCLcBGAs/s1600/BootedEagle1Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h45FsTJnrKI/WdYJwSz8rQI/AAAAAAAAB-I/2vdYljTlUFQJgBwMxnwb_D-lFWItizGLQCLcBGAs/s640/BootedEagle1Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Booted Eagle (<i>Aquila pennata</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i42ozqGHn9Y/WdYJpkeMhGI/AAAAAAAAB-E/iZy0UfWIHwc9jKZuJuumuDPAbWua0CiLACLcBGAs/s1600/BootedEagleSagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1326" height="490" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i42ozqGHn9Y/WdYJpkeMhGI/AAAAAAAAB-E/iZy0UfWIHwc9jKZuJuumuDPAbWua0CiLACLcBGAs/s640/BootedEagleSagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Booted Eagle (<i>Aquila pennata</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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At the end of the summer, migratory birds of all kind leave their breeding grounds, driven by the urge to migrate southwards, to their wintering areas in Africa. Among them are thousands of birds of prey that pass through the "bottleneck" of the Strait of Gibraltar, where crossing the ocean is less exhausting and dangerous. Juveniles, on migration for their first time and not having learned the best route yet, often get "trapped" in the Sagres-Peninsula in the western Algarve, continental Europe's south-western tip, where their southbound journey is blocked by the Atlantic Ocean. Most birds of prey and other soaring birds, such as Storks, depend on thermals as they are incapable of performing active flight over long distances. Over the ocean, where no thermals form, they are in danger to get so exhausted that they plunge into the sea and die, so they instinctively don't pick this way. After being trapped in the hinterland of the cape-area of Sagres, sometimes for days or weeks, they eventually take the only way out - eastwards. By following the coastline, they finally reach the Tarifa-area in Andalusia, Spain, where Marokko is visible across the only 14 km narrow Strait of Gibraltar. Surveys related to the windfarms between the Monchique mountains and the cape of Sagres and São Vicente have counted 3000-4000 birds of prey and Black Storks passing through the region each autumn, peaking between mid September and mid October usually, depending on species. Far over 90% are juveniles. On a good day, 15 or more species of birds of prey can be observed from the watchpoint "Cabranosa" in the area. The following pictures are taken over the past month.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rBks0Zp8bvA/WdYJ0sKhX6I/AAAAAAAAB-M/3kdLEwzOQwQyb8fXwF37hB16hz3A4Pw5ACLcBGAs/s1600/ShortToedESagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1600" height="526" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rBks0Zp8bvA/WdYJ0sKhX6I/AAAAAAAAB-M/3kdLEwzOQwQyb8fXwF37hB16hz3A4Pw5ACLcBGAs/s640/ShortToedESagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Short-toed Eagle (<i>Circaetus gallicus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtsiiCk_o1M/WdYKCU4BNQI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/8W6SS1vJZDYhvcI4U0xgAdnjTvocUluxQCLcBGAs/s1600/Honey2Sagres25Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1504" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtsiiCk_o1M/WdYKCU4BNQI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/8W6SS1vJZDYhvcI4U0xgAdnjTvocUluxQCLcBGAs/s640/Honey2Sagres25Sept2017.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">European Honey Buzzard (<i>Pernis apivorus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> dark morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfs2lv0YHVs/WdYKUn2l_CI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/_6irJ41bwxMIDoMXaUw9MLl1Hbv5e5NcQCLcBGAs/s1600/HoneyB2Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1007" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfs2lv0YHVs/WdYKUn2l_CI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/_6irJ41bwxMIDoMXaUw9MLl1Hbv5e5NcQCLcBGAs/s640/HoneyB2Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">European Honey Buzzard (<i>Pernis apivorus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTzP_L7ntXc/WdYKNrAqMEI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xBKmYmhNtS4Au7Vqd7C4E7JwEyPRIeDegCLcBGAs/s1600/HoneyBSagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1545" height="458" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTzP_L7ntXc/WdYKNrAqMEI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xBKmYmhNtS4Au7Vqd7C4E7JwEyPRIeDegCLcBGAs/s640/HoneyBSagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">European Honey Buzzard (<i>Pernis apivorus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtFyYJqDXTY/WdYKWv_6jdI/AAAAAAAAB-c/hMqfzUyvXX0gjmOf5fmFjoJSLhMqkmsKACLcBGAs/s1600/HoneyB2Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1326" height="506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtFyYJqDXTY/WdYKWv_6jdI/AAAAAAAAB-c/hMqfzUyvXX0gjmOf5fmFjoJSLhMqkmsKACLcBGAs/s640/HoneyB2Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">European Honey Buzzard (<i>Pernis apivorus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> very dark juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQVJ0-stM00/WdYKzuCJc_I/AAAAAAAAB-g/YszUv_weh8kXSZmRH0jncENoSlhku94agCLcBGAs/s1600/AdPeregrineCabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1221" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQVJ0-stM00/WdYKzuCJc_I/AAAAAAAAB-g/YszUv_weh8kXSZmRH0jncENoSlhku94agCLcBGAs/s640/AdPeregrineCabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> adult female, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKtNR4XvpHs/WdYK1sbDoUI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DrUK1kZc_yE2Ts0QCORiavxD3nQszVZYgCLcBGAs/s1600/Eleanora%2527sFalconCabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1227" height="566" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKtNR4XvpHs/WdYK1sbDoUI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DrUK1kZc_yE2Ts0QCORiavxD3nQszVZYgCLcBGAs/s640/Eleanora%2527sFalconCabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eleanora's Falcon (<i>Falco eleanorae</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> 2nd cy pale morph, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6LKpB7e8zuw/WdYK1uhnv7I/AAAAAAAAB-o/qgCiBbo3HGQPkl4s6HNuWW5qbFO6oEqvQCLcBGAs/s1600/Eleanora%2527sFalcon3Cabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6LKpB7e8zuw/WdYK1uhnv7I/AAAAAAAAB-o/qgCiBbo3HGQPkl4s6HNuWW5qbFO6oEqvQCLcBGAs/s640/Eleanora%2527sFalcon3Cabranosa16Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eleanora's Falcon (<i>Falco eleanorae</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> 2nd cy pale morph, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwBukjldWJI/WdYLMgbYquI/AAAAAAAAB-s/bDCq8OdBZyc54EjcIygMR-SkFFPwNMFrgCLcBGAs/s1600/MonatgusHar1ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1473" height="508" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwBukjldWJI/WdYLMgbYquI/AAAAAAAAB-s/bDCq8OdBZyc54EjcIygMR-SkFFPwNMFrgCLcBGAs/s640/MonatgusHar1ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-572abfmwa38/WdYLPnGORVI/AAAAAAAAB-w/d94MBSLWgU02pnw0qWvmemwpWUkbe0EAwCLcBGAs/s1600/MonatgusHar3ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1570" height="436" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-572abfmwa38/WdYLPnGORVI/AAAAAAAAB-w/d94MBSLWgU02pnw0qWvmemwpWUkbe0EAwCLcBGAs/s640/MonatgusHar3ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms8G7XMSbf0/WdYLSiuFvhI/AAAAAAAAB-0/rYdPJcI7AWMstosddI1WFt6AcymsfKWCACLcBGAs/s1600/MonatgusHar4ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1456" height="486" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms8G7XMSbf0/WdYLSiuFvhI/AAAAAAAAB-0/rYdPJcI7AWMstosddI1WFt6AcymsfKWCACLcBGAs/s640/MonatgusHar4ValeSanto4Sept2017crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8APNhjiCfU/WdYLiobkjII/AAAAAAAAB-4/4io0s3BqwtUm0r0meplIJ7KEt3ZgG8ZoQCLcBGAs/s1600/DarkMMontys1Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1557" height="554" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8APNhjiCfU/WdYLiobkjII/AAAAAAAAB-4/4io0s3BqwtUm0r0meplIJ7KEt3ZgG8ZoQCLcBGAs/s640/DarkMMontys1Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vavg1HncNoo/WdYLs2d5QKI/AAAAAAAAB_A/bVkd9pGlKfEQ8aMQQBMs_chY6i8-4nmfACLcBGAs/s1600/DarkMMontys2Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1600" height="508" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vavg1HncNoo/WdYLs2d5QKI/AAAAAAAAB_A/bVkd9pGlKfEQ8aMQQBMs_chY6i8-4nmfACLcBGAs/s640/DarkMMontys2Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlYJ-iFv-jY/WdYLsYviHMI/AAAAAAAAB-8/dtv7fkmQ48glKc00CyCTtbw3qLgdFfqnQCLcBGAs/s1600/DarkMMontys3Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlYJ-iFv-jY/WdYLsYviHMI/AAAAAAAAB-8/dtv7fkmQ48glKc00CyCTtbw3qLgdFfqnQCLcBGAs/s640/DarkMMontys3Sagres13Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Montagu's Harrier (<i>Circus pygargus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6J-VUL9MWVk/WdYMDzgh_rI/AAAAAAAAB_E/mc4OIHubIpwi0ozZs1pu-jWkqEVMYpt9QCLcBGAs/s1600/EgyptianSagres25Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6J-VUL9MWVk/WdYMDzgh_rI/AAAAAAAAB_E/mc4OIHubIpwi0ozZs1pu-jWkqEVMYpt9QCLcBGAs/s640/EgyptianSagres25Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Egyptian Vulture (<i>Neophron percnopterus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpiMVPaRCM4/WdYWrreX6qI/AAAAAAAACAA/iUOAzI9i99I5nxGkVZKvG2Bhu1Wq0GmHACLcBGAs/s1600/GriffonV14Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1600" height="545" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpiMVPaRCM4/WdYWrreX6qI/AAAAAAAACAA/iUOAzI9i99I5nxGkVZKvG2Bhu1Wq0GmHACLcBGAs/s640/GriffonV14Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eurasian Griffon Vulture (<i>Gyps vulvus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> immature, Mértola (Alentejo), 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLY1bu2UDgc/WdYMFSYoYQI/AAAAAAAAB_I/q_7wp_jI2f0hjdTCe6N6fqSU8pKbU_jxACLcBGAs/s1600/BlackStorkSagres25Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLY1bu2UDgc/WdYMFSYoYQI/AAAAAAAAB_I/q_7wp_jI2f0hjdTCe6N6fqSU8pKbU_jxACLcBGAs/s640/BlackStorkSagres25Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Black Stork (<i>Ciconia nigra</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp5GqJxKrnE/WdYNNTGt_GI/AAAAAAAAB_U/12nGwQMvuyQgxesDj4RoBcjoVbs_riTywCLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina9Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp5GqJxKrnE/WdYNNTGt_GI/AAAAAAAAB_U/12nGwQMvuyQgxesDj4RoBcjoVbs_riTywCLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina9Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRJfWQ62pGA/WdYNRKfLisI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/od_hQMquj_k5Ypr5X0SKxwyGuteKuV8JQCLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina5Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1246" height="488" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRJfWQ62pGA/WdYNRKfLisI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/od_hQMquj_k5Ypr5X0SKxwyGuteKuV8JQCLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina5Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fE4xAIhY2gc/WdYNWyjcghI/AAAAAAAAB_c/zXiJqs4Utlgy9VqFwHJGypuoYQa8sFkYACLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina4Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1380" height="488" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fE4xAIhY2gc/WdYNWyjcghI/AAAAAAAAB_c/zXiJqs4Utlgy9VqFwHJGypuoYQa8sFkYACLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina4Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-efJKbW_xk/WdYNYfYdquI/AAAAAAAAB_g/JfEBsjbacmIN8XOa4poW40AETHd9EKMEQCLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina3Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1401" height="518" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-efJKbW_xk/WdYNYfYdquI/AAAAAAAAB_g/JfEBsjbacmIN8XOa4poW40AETHd9EKMEQCLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina3Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7eUsBlxGWnE/WdYNZjoIVMI/AAAAAAAAB_k/0jApZA_EmKAApnK3yx8igJlE9tWWKJ-zwCLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina2Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1148" height="490" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7eUsBlxGWnE/WdYNZjoIVMI/AAAAAAAAB_k/0jApZA_EmKAApnK3yx8igJlE9tWWKJ-zwCLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina2Sagres29Sept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42ygbusg0f4/WdYNau_bZ3I/AAAAAAAAB_o/T-zwp7LjWUYsmYgn2s3UrwSS7BFY1mzDACLcBGAs/s1600/Clangapomarina1Sagres29Sept2017crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="720" height="476" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42ygbusg0f4/WdYNau_bZ3I/AAAAAAAAB_o/T-zwp7LjWUYsmYgn2s3UrwSS7BFY1mzDACLcBGAs/s640/Clangapomarina1Sagres29Sept2017crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lesser-spotted Eagle (<i>Clanga pomarina</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.<br /><br />Not only raptors migrate and stop over here:</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbBgYpePmoU/WdYVxG0yfpI/AAAAAAAAB_4/cEAADgNRXos8LI0_kIHJN7ALIBCXuG3uQCLcBGAs/s1600/Dotterel2ValeSanto04Dept2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="1600" height="534" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbBgYpePmoU/WdYVxG0yfpI/AAAAAAAAB_4/cEAADgNRXos8LI0_kIHJN7ALIBCXuG3uQCLcBGAs/s640/Dotterel2ValeSanto04Dept2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, Vale Santos, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-71514642864024231872017-06-14T18:03:00.000+01:002017-06-15T11:01:52.966+01:00Rufous Bush Robin & White-rumped Swift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-excyjrSNsTM/WUFXb8ak5gI/AAAAAAAAB8o/3ebfTMff3_U_INJ7g-L-cfRkXlrEN1cEwCLcBGAs/s1600/Apuscaffer11M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1200" height="444" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-excyjrSNsTM/WUFXb8ak5gI/AAAAAAAAB8o/3ebfTMff3_U_INJ7g-L-cfRkXlrEN1cEwCLcBGAs/s640/Apuscaffer11M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">White-rumped Swift (<i>Apus caffer</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, Mértola-area (Baixo-Alentejo) 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvp_8HL6ip0/WUFXmDpuL3I/AAAAAAAAB8s/KmDHse1zCeQwl6WnrwIkMd9ygp_Nw_ycgCLcBGAs/s1600/Apuscaffer4M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1200" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvp_8HL6ip0/WUFXmDpuL3I/AAAAAAAAB8s/KmDHse1zCeQwl6WnrwIkMd9ygp_Nw_ycgCLcBGAs/s640/Apuscaffer4M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Summer has arrived here in South Portugal, providing the weather conditions for two species that do like it "hot": The <b>White-rumped Swift</b> and the <b>Rufous Bush Robin</b>, a.k.a.: (Western) <b>Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin</b>.<br />
While widespread over equatorial Africa, the <b>White-rumped Swift (WRS)</b> in Europe is confined to areas in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, where it is rather rare, showing a slighly positive trend though since its colonisation beginning in the 1960s at the Strait of Gibraltar. In Portugal it is found in the arid and hot south-east and east of the country only. From the east Algarve hinterland (Serra do Caldeirão), along the Guadiana river-valley and its affluents inland, to areas around Mértola, Beja and Moura (Alentejo) with the Tejo-valley, near Castelo Branco marking the northern limit of its breeding territory in the country (corresponding to the northern limit of the distribution in Spain). Nest sites are often road bridges along small secondary roads over a river bed. Here the species takes over a nest of the common <b>Red-rumped Swallows </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">(Cecropis daurica) </i>around mid May. Most of the few known breeding sites are occupied year after year. Recently, new nest sites have been discovered. The first breeding record for Portugal dates from 1995. Out of the usual breeding range in the country was a pair nesting in Monchique-area (West-Algarve) a few years ago. It correspondes with observations of the species made near Cape S. Vincent in late August. The total breeding population for the country might be in the order of 10-20 pairs, however, exact numbers do not exist. After the young have fletched, the birds beginn to disperse. I remember having observed WRS's in August on a regular basis feeding above a small reservoir in Alcoutim-county (east-Algarve), before a nearby (c. 10kms) nest site had been discovered. My latest observation date for the species are two Ind. seen over the salt pans of Castro Marim-reserve on the 15th of September, on the way to their wintering grounds in sub-saharan Africa.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHexzVxWoaY/WUFXmone0wI/AAAAAAAAB8w/mAXsAQ3HhgY13v5j62STGMmTPFAIxdqHACLcBGAs/s1600/Apuscaffer5M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1300" height="430" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHexzVxWoaY/WUFXmone0wI/AAAAAAAAB8w/mAXsAQ3HhgY13v5j62STGMmTPFAIxdqHACLcBGAs/s640/Apuscaffer5M%25C3%25A9rtola13Jun2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">White-rumped Swift (<i>Apus caffer</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, Mértola-area (Baixo-Alentejo) 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rufous Bush Robin (<i>Cercotrichas galactotes</i>).</b> Castro Verde-area, 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.</td></tr>
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Most birds are less active around mid day- the <b>Rufous Bush Robin</b> however, sings throughout the hottest hours. Again, confined to Portugal's south east and arriving hardly any earlier than the first half of May, it breeds in small numbers along streams in the "pseudo-steppes"of the Baixo-Alentejo plains and the region around the Guadiana-river valley, as well as in the eastern Serra do Caldeirão (Algarve). Territorys occasionally found further west in the Algarve, in the surroundings of Lagoa do Salgados (Silves) and near Paderne, for instance, are thought to be caused by birds forced away from their usual breeding grounds at the Alqueva-reservoir, where the species has lost lots of habitat, when Europe's biggest reservoir was built (around the year 2000). Rocky river beds, in hot and dry areas, best with some cliff faces and the pink-flowering Oleander-bushes (<i>Nerium oleander</i>), are good areas to look for this species. Fruit orchards and gardens also make part of its habitat, essential is the access to water. The birds of South Iberia differ from those found in south-eastern Europe (Greece and Turkey, mainly). The latter, usually treated as a subspecies ("<i>syriacus</i>"), shows a greyish color tone over the head, neck, mantle, back and in the wing, while "our" western birds (subspecies "<i>galactotes</i>") are more uniformly rufous- or buff-orange colored. The species is rarely seen on migration, but there are records from the Cape-area near Sagres (September) and ringing-records made near Faro-airport, for instance. Impressive is the territorial display, shown in the pictures below, including fanning the magnificent tail and dropping the wings.<br />
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These two were the main target species for yesterday's day tour and we got really good views (and photos) of both. Other species seen during the day-tour included: Spanish Imperial Eagles (two immatures), Black- and Griffon Vultures, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Golden Oriole, Great Spotted Cuckoo (juv.), Woodchat- and Southern Grey Shrikes, Great Bustards and back at the coast- Little Bittern (feeding fledged juveniles), Purple Swamphen, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-headed Weaver, Azur-winged Magpie, Hoppoe, Wryneck, Audouin's Gulls and many more.</div>
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Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-28087784953873267472017-04-12T00:05:00.000+01:002017-04-12T00:05:31.769+01:00A morning around Faro<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGexB6zknNs/WO1S3SKWoVI/AAAAAAAAB7o/pGN8hlTD978NQu5OiUEfetQPq0uJdWdPACLcB/s1600/LaniussenFaro10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGexB6zknNs/WO1S3SKWoVI/AAAAAAAAB7o/pGN8hlTD978NQu5OiUEfetQPq0uJdWdPACLcB/s640/LaniussenFaro10April2017.jpg" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Woodchat Shrike (<i>Lanius senator</i>)</b> adult male, told by black mantle feathers. First Ind. usually arrive <br />in early March here, depending on weather conditions. 5 or 6 Ind. where perched on- or next to the <br />airport-fence. Faro, 10-April-2017.</td></tr>
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Some shots I took during a morning just west of Faro airport yesterday. Continuous sunny weather and easterly winds provide excellent conditions to find spring migrants along the coast right now. After travelling with a group last week, I just enjoyed taking some time in my own pace. Sitting quietly at a good spot is often rewarded with surprisingly good observations. Amazing what you can spot here in a single morning without even trying too hard!</div>
<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkr9_5cEGK4/WO1S8wvpbvI/AAAAAAAAB7s/ztwth91NDHoXTk44DYWKWx2P5iw3WLWwgCLcB/s1600/WhinchatFaro10Apr2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkr9_5cEGK4/WO1S8wvpbvI/AAAAAAAAB7s/ztwth91NDHoXTk44DYWKWx2P5iw3WLWwgCLcB/s640/WhinchatFaro10Apr2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <b>Whinchat (<i>Saxicola rubetra</i>)</b>. Faro, 10-April-2017.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVrhecJQIfQ/WO1TGaYwIBI/AAAAAAAAB7w/Dr5_dts4wDIJUnaoPYJdQRlBRSz8yGzTACLcB/s1600/WryneckQdL10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVrhecJQIfQ/WO1TGaYwIBI/AAAAAAAAB7w/Dr5_dts4wDIJUnaoPYJdQRlBRSz8yGzTACLcB/s640/WryneckQdL10April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wryneck (<i>Jynx torquila</i>)</b>. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6myFwhy1lr8/WO1TQy-pUUI/AAAAAAAAB70/kFF9u6VkISExUpuiuip3mc7_bVUgKqXJACLcB/s1600/Hoppoe10April2017Ludo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6myFwhy1lr8/WO1TQy-pUUI/AAAAAAAAB70/kFF9u6VkISExUpuiuip3mc7_bVUgKqXJACLcB/s640/Hoppoe10April2017Ludo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoppoe (<i>Upupa epops</i>)</b> carrying food. Ludo (Faro) 10-April-2017.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLhNnuwWZo0/WO1UE3V5ihI/AAAAAAAAB8I/fUf8Uybcwo4u5j49U8yHLzXvql2NDD01QCLcB/s1600/BHWeaver0QdL10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLhNnuwWZo0/WO1UE3V5ihI/AAAAAAAAB8I/fUf8Uybcwo4u5j49U8yHLzXvql2NDD01QCLcB/s640/BHWeaver0QdL10April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-headed Weaver (<i>Ploceus melanocephalus</i>)</b> male. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. An established breeding bird in the Algarve, origin is sub-saharian Africa. Populations here are based on escapes - perhaps from the Zoo in Lagos?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yNLt8eOB_w/WO1T2nWe2fI/AAAAAAAAB8A/EfJYYvz01gEo-OgWRqInfduJ6mSIBfPxACLcB/s1600/BHWeaverQdL10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yNLt8eOB_w/WO1T2nWe2fI/AAAAAAAAB8A/EfJYYvz01gEo-OgWRqInfduJ6mSIBfPxACLcB/s640/BHWeaverQdL10April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Black-headed Weaver (<i>Ploceus melanocephalus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. Male displaying at a fresh nest.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8I04ZGOudo/WO1UCucqxmI/AAAAAAAAB8E/H5Bo70d1mjIOqA0PXJy_FGteSejb4tx5gCLcB/s1600/BHWeaver2QdL10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8I04ZGOudo/WO1UCucqxmI/AAAAAAAAB8E/H5Bo70d1mjIOqA0PXJy_FGteSejb4tx5gCLcB/s640/BHWeaver2QdL10April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Black-headed Weaver (<i>Ploceus melanocephalus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> male and female at the nest. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbPlsghvVF8/WO1TelO31oI/AAAAAAAAB74/fgRnbz05g0IANz5LB-k2zwuuw-p2oS3zACLcB/s1600/BluethroatQdLago10April2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbPlsghvVF8/WO1TelO31oI/AAAAAAAAB74/fgRnbz05g0IANz5LB-k2zwuuw-p2oS3zACLcB/s640/BluethroatQdLago10April2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bluethroat (<i>Lusciana svecica</i>)</b> second calender year. A rather late date for this wintering species here.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRVfDYVn-7g/WO1TkUzJtHI/AAAAAAAAB78/8_Tx0Hqd0yoWV6eEATZPmPWN6EIII6RpgCLcB/s1600/PorzparvaQdL10Apr2017s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRVfDYVn-7g/WO1TkUzJtHI/AAAAAAAAB78/8_Tx0Hqd0yoWV6eEATZPmPWN6EIII6RpgCLcB/s640/PorzparvaQdL10Apr2017s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <b>Little Crake </b>(<i>Porzana parva</i>) <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. A rare but regular passage migrant in the Algarve, during March/ April and September. The status of this secretive species as well as of its relatives here is not fully known.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-67913385515887442232017-01-25T12:40:00.001+00:002017-01-25T21:00:56.402+00:00Sora (Porzana carolina) in the Algarve<u>The first ever</u> <b>Sora (<i>Porzana carolina</i>)</b> for continental Portugal has been discovered yesterday in the town of <b>Silves</b>, west Algarve. The species is a very rare vagrant to the WP from North America, with most records from the <a href="https://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=042093" target="_blank">UK</a> and the Azores.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sora (Porzana carolina)</b> in the town of<b> Silves, west Algarve, on 24-Jan-2017</b>, <u>1st for continental Portugal</u>.<br />
This photo shows all the key features of the species - black face markings and all yellow bill, speckless<br />
ear coverts and neck sides, whitish outer undertail coverts... (Foto: Georg Schreier).</td></tr>
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The actually story is a bit different. The bird had been seen by Luisa Sequeira more than two weeks ago already, residing between the old roman bridge and the new road bridge, on the town side river bank, where it comes out of the reed bed onto the mud flats and debris to feed during low tide. This section of the river also holds an unusual high density of Common Moorhen (<i>Gallinula chloropus</i>), besides King Fisher, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, visiting Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Muscovy Ducks and other feral watervowl.<br />
Only yesterday (24-Jan-2017) Luisa posted a photo of the bird she finally got a few days before in the facebook-group "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/121307984660183/" target="_blank">Aves de Portugal Continental</a>", but uncertain about the ID, as a probable <b>Spotted Crake</b> (<i>Porzana porzana</i>). I saw this post a couple of hours later and it striked me right away as a <b>Sora</b> - the black face markings and the all yellow bill (reddish bill base on Spotted Crake), lack of spots on head and neck, white outer undertail coverts... I wondered why nobody seemed to have noticed this and after a few friends I alerted had seen the photo and shared in my opinion, Luisa kindly gave me details about where exactely she saw the bird and an hour later I was there, watching the bird with only two or three other birders from the Algarve (in the UK for instance, I guess would have been hundreds by then!). Worth mentioning perhaps is also an adult Bonellis Eagle circling high above the town together with about a dozen of White Storks when I arrived on the roman bridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sora (Porzana carolina)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> in the town of</span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Silves, west Algarve, on 24-Jan-2017</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, </span><u style="font-size: 12.8px;">1st for continental Portugal </u><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Foto: Georg Schreier).</span></td></tr>
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I have begun to take videos with my mobile phone through the telescope. I use the new <b>Swarovski ATX 85</b> scope and the <b>Iphone 5s</b>. Adapter for other oculars and Iphone-models exist - <a href="http://aa.swarovskioptik.com/nature/phone-adapter-c21020605/phone-adapter-i6s-p5265614" target="_blank">check here.</a><br />
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Two rough examples of yesterdays <b>Sora:</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sZTEVZCGeUE" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrCT_0urgps" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Talking about facebook - perhaps more interesting for you, because in English, is the public facebook-group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/115256975331612/" target="_blank">"Algarve Portugal rare birds"</a> to which I contribute quite often to inform about rare or scarce bird sightings in the Algarve. My (new) personal facebook account, where I show fotos and post updates much more frequent than here, is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgschreier.birdwatching" target="_blank">"Georg Schreier Birdwatching"</a>.<br />
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Other examples of videos I made recently:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKFfqgXpGZg" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0yXQK3GBOUQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/J8KHt_SEr3k" target="_blank">Osprey</a> (click to view).<br />
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Some shots taken on recent tours:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06glQDWPhgk/WIiVwkRXEUI/AAAAAAAAB6s/M3FcheQ7aPEsQc92jDSod15tJ_F-L394gCLcB/s1600/ShorttoedEagleSnakeSagres20Dec2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06glQDWPhgk/WIiVwkRXEUI/AAAAAAAAB6s/M3FcheQ7aPEsQc92jDSod15tJ_F-L394gCLcB/s640/ShorttoedEagleSnakeSagres20Dec2016.jpg" width="534" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short-toed Eagle (<i>Circaetus </i></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>galli</i></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>cicus</i>)</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> juvenile, with Montpelliers Snake (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Malpolon monspessulanus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">), <br />Sagres "Baleeira" on 20-Dec-2017. Foto GS.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0ZoAM_rSe4/WIiX-hvoRII/AAAAAAAAB64/nFMWm-a8cKM4k2d6aYD9J0R3pS0Pa_XxwCEw/s1600/BBSG13Dec2016CV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0ZoAM_rSe4/WIiX-hvoRII/AAAAAAAAB64/nFMWm-a8cKM4k2d6aYD9J0R3pS0Pa_XxwCEw/s640/BBSG13Dec2016CV.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-bellied Sandgrouse</b> (<i>Pterocles orientalis</i>) near Castro Verde, Alentejo, 14-Dec-2017. Foto: GS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v64QZhWWnps/WIiYPdehbMI/AAAAAAAAB68/7SxRpdSAFm8KScI50vArLiPxbtsGR4wTQCEw/s1600/GreatBustardsCV09Jan2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v64QZhWWnps/WIiYPdehbMI/AAAAAAAAB68/7SxRpdSAFm8KScI50vArLiPxbtsGR4wTQCEw/s640/GreatBustardsCV09Jan2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Bustards (<i>Otis tarda</i>)</b>. Castro Verde-area, 09-Jan-2017. Foto: GS. This group was so close to a <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">public road, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">that they took off when we slowly passed by. Luckily they have lots of habitat in the area.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-55025916168369414702017-01-01T12:06:00.003+00:002017-01-01T12:06:53.833+00:00New Years Greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WjIN7iZs4/WGjwxbH5b4I/AAAAAAAAB58/BiiG_YDnQHslcxXWJx5cqKmC2_Kvqr_IQCLcB/s1600/HoopoeQuarteiraNewYear2017XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WjIN7iZs4/WGjwxbH5b4I/AAAAAAAAB58/BiiG_YDnQHslcxXWJx5cqKmC2_Kvqr_IQCLcB/s640/HoopoeQuarteiraNewYear2017XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-43957053674933479322016-07-11T19:04:00.001+01:002019-08-15T15:56:58.057+01:00Kelp Gull in the Algarve today<b>Kelp Gull (<i>Larus domincanus</i>)</b> is a southern hemisphere gull and breeds during the north winter, coastal mostly, in Southern Africa, South America, Antarctica, South Australia and New Zealand. It is a very rare vagrant to the <a href="http://www.tarsiger.com/news/index.php?&sp=find&find_button=ok&country=&lang=eng&species=16040" target="_blank">Western Palearctic (Morocco mainly)</a>.<br />
This bird here was found by Thijs Falkenburg on July, 5th in Olhão ("Quinta do Marim"). It belongs to the subspecies<b><i> L.d. vetula</i> ("Cape Gull")</b> which breeds in Southern Africa. Cape Gulls are the largest among<i> </i>this species and they are particularly long-legged like this bird. Also the olive-green tinge to the leggs is typical, the crown is flat and the bill is heavy with a deep gonys angle, all together being jizz-wise much closer to a Greater black-backed Gull (<i>Larus marinus</i>) than to the also very dark-backed nominate form of Lesser-black-backed Gull (<i>Larus fuscus fuscus</i>), especially when dealing with an adult male, like in this case. An (older) article on Kelp Gull ID is <a href="http://gull-research.org/papers/papers7/Jiguet-Jaramillo-and-Sinclair-ID-of-Kelp-Gull-cropped.pdf" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
A curiosity is, that Thijs also found the first Kelp Gull for the Algarve (on 14-Aug-2013) only a few kms further west, at sewage works (ETAR) between Faro and Olhão (possibly the same bird?). Now this time this Kelp Gull showed up right at his work place, the recovery centre for injured birds and other wildlife (<a href="http://rias-aldeia.blogspot.pt/" target="_blank">RIAS</a>) in "Quinta do Marim", Olhão, sitting upon the cages containing chicks of Yellow-legged Gulls (<i>Larus michahellis</i>) and showing up there daily since about one week now. This is where I took these photos this morning (11-July-2016). So far this bird is the 5th record for Portugal.<br />
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-77487953996117529192016-07-06T17:13:00.002+01:002016-07-12T11:41:47.606+01:00Pelagic off Olhão<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0NLiIMd9Jr8/V30xPM1mL5I/AAAAAAAAB10/kLKGF6cIT7MB8RfMGFPHz-1SQA9L_UvkACLcB/s1600/DolphBirdActivity05Jul2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0NLiIMd9Jr8/V30xPM1mL5I/AAAAAAAAB10/kLKGF6cIT7MB8RfMGFPHz-1SQA9L_UvkACLcB/s640/DolphBirdActivity05Jul2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(all photos are clickable to enhance)</td></tr>
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Yesterday morning, 5th of July, we went out on a boat with Passeios Ria Formosa (<b>Fuzeta</b>), this time departing from next to the Real Marina Hotel in <b>Olhão</b> and headed for the waters off<b> Culatra</b> Island. There was an overcast in the beginning, therefore not a hot morning, calm sea and hardly any noticeable wind. The light improved along the trip. Despite not getting any fishing vessel within reachable distance, it turned out to be a very successful trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSEGFXAnj9M/V30x1xHS8OI/AAAAAAAAB14/fV-di-sbBgsPkS9mFnbAV4PwTgkFKx_4wCLcB/s1600/GreatShW1Olhao05Jul2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSEGFXAnj9M/V30x1xHS8OI/AAAAAAAAB14/fV-di-sbBgsPkS9mFnbAV4PwTgkFKx_4wCLcB/s640/GreatShW1Olhao05Jul2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Shearwater</b> (<i>Ardenna gravis</i>) with <b>Cory's Shearwaters</b> (<i>Calonectris borealis</i>) off Culatra Island, 05-Jul-2016.</td></tr>
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For more than one hour we were basically surrounded by a huge pod of over 100 <a href="https://youtu.be/XNR1f8w-ifQ" target="_blank"><b>Short-beaked Common Dolphins</b> (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)</a> and also well over 100 <b>Cory's Shearwaters</b> (<i>Calonectris borealis</i>) among which we coud also identify and photograph at least three <b>Scopoli's Shearwaters</b> (<i>Calonectris diomedea</i>) a species (or still a subspecies, depending on systematic - but have a look <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/45061132/0" target="_blank">here</a>). There are only a hand full of records of this taxon in the Algarve so far anyhow and as far as I know none of them documented by photos. On the other hand, <b>Scopoli's</b> mainly breeds in the Mediterranean and winters in the South Atlantic, so occurance in Algarvian waters during non-breeding season at least makes sense. Identification in the field is often not straight forward (good views or better, photos of the underwing neccessary) and therefore the few <b>Scopoli's</b> among the majority of <b>Cory's</b> go easily unidentified.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xq4KIrGemhE/V30yFIpWLxI/AAAAAAAAB18/--1ELIkKiV8T3JM3inqzmXGJGHN4_grOQCLcB/s1600/CaldiomedeaOlh%25C3%25A3o05Jul2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xq4KIrGemhE/V30yFIpWLxI/AAAAAAAAB18/--1ELIkKiV8T3JM3inqzmXGJGHN4_grOQCLcB/s640/CaldiomedeaOlh%25C3%25A3o05Jul2016.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Scopoli's Shearwater </b><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Calonectris diomedea) </i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">off Culatra Island (Olhão) 05-Jul-2016. Note </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">the white extending into the wing tip (web of primaries).</span></td></tr>
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After searching for quite a while, we also spotted two <b>Sooty Shearwaters</b> (<i>Ardenna</i> <i>griseus</i>) and finally a single <b>Great Shearwater</b> (<i>Ardenna gravis</i>) - both giving great and close views and this is only the very beginning of the season for both species.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Great Shearwater</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ardenna gravis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) with </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cory's Shearwater</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calonectris borealis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) in the background. <br />Off Culatra Island, 05-Jul-2016.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cory's Shearwater</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calonectris borealis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">). Off Culatra Island, 05-Jul-2016.</span></td></tr>
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We also encountered <b>Storm Petrels,</b> among them <b>Wilson's SP</b> and <b>European SP - </b>perhaps three or four Ind. of each species, but did not get the best views, because without the birds foraging (next to a fishing boat pulling in the net, for instance) but only travelling, even photographing them is not an easy task. However, we managed at least record shots and thought to have found also one <b>"Band-rumped Storm Petrel".</b> The now potentially 4 species in this species-complex (compare <a href="http://www.scillypelagics.com/pnd.html" target="_blank">Robb et al., 2008</a>) were previously all lumped as Madeiran Storm Petrel (<i>Oceanodroma castro </i>or<i> Hydrobates castro</i>). Systematic here is not uniform and field-ID within the "Band-rumped SP -complex" is very difficult if not impossible, but have a look <a href="http://www.scillypelagics.com/Band-rumped_Storm-Petrel.pdf" target="_blank"> here</a>). Interesting is that also the recently published <a href="http://www.atlasavesmarinhas.pt/" target="_blank">"Atlas of Marine birds in Portugal" (in Portuguese)</a> shows the occurence of this species in Algarvian waters.<br />
However, after reviewing the ID and getting expert opinions, it turned out to be "just" a Wilson's SP flying with feet retracted and therefore completely lacking feet projection over the tail, one of the most usefull fetaures to ID Wilson's in the field. The Storm Petrel in question also shows a too short arm and too weak bill to be a possible "Band-rumped". We will keep looking....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilson's Storm Petrel </b><i>(Oceanites oceanicus) </i>off Culatra Island (Olhão) 05-Jul-2016.<br />
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The following five photos show a potential "Band-rumped Storm Petrel" we saw during the trip. But for the reasons explained above, it turned out to be another <b>Wilson's Storm Petrel</b> in the end.</div>
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Expert opinion on the above Storm Petrel by <b>Bob Flood</b> is here:<br />
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<i>In my opinion, this is a Wilson's Storm-petrel.
It has a small squarish head and slim bill (Band-rumped has bulkier
head and deeper bill, even the smaller forms). The arms are short and
broad, hands medium length, and wing tips pointed (Band-rumps have
medium-length arms, long hands, while some forms do have fairly pointed
wing tips). The leading edge of the wing is moderately angular, but the
trailing edge is fairly straight in most shots (typically angular in
Band-rumps). I don't think the tail is really forked; this may be an
impression given by a toe projection. It has a long caudal projection
(rear carriage behind wing, longer than Band-rumps). The head, body and
tail are fairly sleek (unlike Band-rumps). The white 'rump patch' folds
over to the underside and joins the thigh patches (depth greater than N
Atlantic Band-rumps). The upperwing ulnar bars are variable in intensity
in Wilson's and we see quite a few with dullish bars, as this bird
(affected by wear and bleaching). Second-year and older Wilson's start
moult by early June, but juveniles do not start the complete
preformative moult until at least mid July, most later, so presumably
this is a juvenile (plumage looks pretty fresh). By the way, it always helps if you describe flight behaviour, because this can be very important in storm-petrel ID.</i></div>
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<i>Hope this is of use.</i></div>
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<i>Cheers,</i></div>
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<i>Bob</i></div>
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Robert L. Flood DSc, PhD, BSc (1st Hons)<br />
<a href="http://www.scillypelagics.com/" target="_blank">www.scillypelagics.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/c/scillypelagics2" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/c/scillypelagics2</a></div>
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Twitter: @Scillypelagics</div>
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Naturally we saw many <b>Northern Gannets</b> and also had one immature<b> Pomarine Skua</b> (<i>Stercorarius pomarinus</i>) flying over.<br />
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<b>New dates for Pelagics have been scheduled</b> on my <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html" target="_blank">website here</a>. Available dates are:<b> July, 22nd; August, 2nd; August 12th; August 25th; September 6th; September 30th; October, 13th. </b>We can organize a pelagic at any time between June and October/November when the participation of min. 4 people is assured.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhh3q6vDd_w/V303sTkLmnI/AAAAAAAAB24/qXhX9fWhwjwSmfXT57Sm2I3GDwcalidNACLcB/s1600/PomarineSkua05Jul2016Olhao4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhh3q6vDd_w/V303sTkLmnI/AAAAAAAAB24/qXhX9fWhwjwSmfXT57Sm2I3GDwcalidNACLcB/s640/PomarineSkua05Jul2016Olhao4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Pomarine Skua</b> (<i>Stercorarius pomarinus</i>) pale morph juvenile flying over. C. 3 miles off Culatra Island, 5th of July 2016.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i2zZTKr6WCg/V304TJH9WXI/AAAAAAAAB28/puQIF6DxHJ4AJOMlI45LWufOqvjSWIrigCKgB/s1600/AudouinsJuv05Jul2016Olhao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i2zZTKr6WCg/V304TJH9WXI/AAAAAAAAB28/puQIF6DxHJ4AJOMlI45LWufOqvjSWIrigCKgB/s640/AudouinsJuv05Jul2016Olhao.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fresh juvenile </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Audouin's Gull </b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>(Ichthyaetus audouinii)</i> in Ria Formosa, next to Olhão on the way back in. In the background: Caspian Tern, Sandwich Terns and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. July, 5th, 2016.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa4GdwiJ_Xc/V304YfwfPfI/AAAAAAAAB3A/g_bJdkuCgOMHAUaDZpuD3KSBpDDc3MOfACKgB/s1600/AudouinsJuv05Jul2016Olhao2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa4GdwiJ_Xc/V304YfwfPfI/AAAAAAAAB3A/g_bJdkuCgOMHAUaDZpuD3KSBpDDc3MOfACKgB/s640/AudouinsJuv05Jul2016Olhao2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fresh juvenile </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Audouin's Gull </b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>(Ichthyaetus audouinii)</i> in Ria Formosa, next to Olhão on the way back in. In the background: Caspian Tern, Sandwich Terns and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. July, 5th, 2016.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIsFDFDBT8A/V307gobi7qI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/w_sI4sRinHQNmKkTi3yE8hB5k1Bs-S9zQCLcB/s1600/StcaspiaRedFY2Olhao5Jul2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIsFDFDBT8A/V307gobi7qI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/w_sI4sRinHQNmKkTi3yE8hB5k1Bs-S9zQCLcB/s640/StcaspiaRedFY2Olhao5Jul2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the <b>Caspian Tern</b> (<i>Hydroprogne caspia</i>) turned out to be color-ringed. Red: <b>FY2</b>. Still looking for the program...</td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-30104713438908940812016-04-26T19:50:00.003+01:002016-04-26T20:49:10.538+01:00Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in the Algarve<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Bvrtt7ebpM/Vx-28pAvUtI/AAAAAAAAB1M/trpwor0upOMr3NcktlQG8QV6JM83hpVVwCLcB/s1600/Meropspersic1Fuzeta18April2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="610" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Bvrtt7ebpM/Vx-28pAvUtI/AAAAAAAAB1M/trpwor0upOMr3NcktlQG8QV6JM83hpVVwCLcB/s640/Meropspersic1Fuzeta18April2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-cheeked Bee-eater / Abelharuco-persa / Blauwangenspint <i>(Merops persicus)</i> in Fuzeta-saltpans (Algarve)<br />
on April 18th, 2016. Foto: Georg Schreier. This is only the 2nd record for Portugal.<br />
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It was Monday, late afternoon, when I sat in a bird hide near Faro for some "easy birding" in my own pace, to relax after an eight days group-journey I had been guiding. The phone rang and my friend João Tiago Tavares brought me the news, that a <b>Blue-cheeked Bee-eater</b> had just been found by João Ferreira (whom I do not know) west of Fuzeta, near the saltpans. After making shure I got the directions to the exact location, I was on my way. Shortly after I parked my car near the spot, other observers familiar to me arrived. We spread out over the area - a mix of arid farmland and gardens, abandoned fruit orchards and a small sand pit with two- or three nest tunnels of <b>European Bee-eaters</b> <i>(Merops apiaster)</i> which were feeding in the area and perched occasionally on the telegraph wires. But no sign of the bird. Soon it was clear to me, that the Bee-eaters present were only the local breeding birds and "our" bird must have been with Bee-eaters still on migration and therefore already passed on. I informed the others, that I would go and try my luck on the other (east) side of the village, where I was going to look out for flocks of Bee-eaters in the salt pans. After a little search there, I found a gathering of about 15 Ind. on the east side of the saltpans, close to Arroteia de Baixo, feeding and perching on wires. I approached the area on foot and finally - was that Bee-eater catching the insect just now and perching on the wire not greener than the others?? A look in the Bins confirmed - Yes, here it was! Quickly taking a few photos ( I was perhaps still 100m away) and calling the others. Still on the phone, the entire flock got up in the air and came my way. The marvellous "Green" Bee-eater with them flying by now in about half of the distance, showing its red underwing and the extremely long tail skimmers. Me, still on the phone, missing the third hand to get the flight shot and having to let the bird pass by and moving on...<br />
The following search for the flock that have seemed to move on eastwards, following the coast line and stopping over in suitable habitat from time to time, for feeding, did not produce any result.<br />
So I remained the one lucky guy, who was able to get a photo of this bird and the only one, who saw it after the finder.<br />
Earlier that day, <b>Western Orphean Warbler</b> <i>(Sylvia hortensis) </i>and <b>Melodious Warbler</b><i> (Hippolais polyglotta)</i> both near my home near São Brâs de Alportel, had been new birds for this year for me. The rather wet and windy April so far had not been great for spring migrants and birds arrived rather late. But some strong southwesterlies were responsible for bringing this "green jewel" into these parts, overshooting on its spring migration to its northernmost breeding grounds in Marokko supposedly. A good candidate for the bird of the year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPkFQrGPlDM/Vx-2-OFlZGI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/jP6Mpd5U6PgIPoFM0jEYh93QZ5Sl7bMyACLcB/s1600/Meropspersic2Fuzeta18April2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPkFQrGPlDM/Vx-2-OFlZGI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/jP6Mpd5U6PgIPoFM0jEYh93QZ5Sl7bMyACLcB/s640/Meropspersic2Fuzeta18April2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Blue-cheeked Bee-eater / Abelharuco-persa / Blauwangenspint <i>(Merops persicus)</i> in Fuzeta-saltpans (Algarve) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">on April 18th, 2016. Foto: Georg Schreier. This is only the 2nd record for Portugal. One of only a few record shots I managed to take out of some distance, before the flock (of European Bee-eaters) moved on further east and disappeared with this bird. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELvI4NWI6Sw/Vx_ERPMgOFI/AAAAAAAAB1g/MTCdHKR1Y1UcUIpfjWVJcIylN3mSQHjiwCLcB/s1600/Beeeaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELvI4NWI6Sw/Vx_ERPMgOFI/AAAAAAAAB1g/MTCdHKR1Y1UcUIpfjWVJcIylN3mSQHjiwCLcB/s640/Beeeaters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>European Bee-eaters </b><i>(Merops apiaster) </i>at the same site. The "carrier species".<br />
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Summer is almost here now and in June, the season for <b><u>Pelagic Boat-trips</u></b> will start. I have a number of trips scheduled already and first people have booked. Please send me an e-mail to reserve your seat(s). All the necessary Info is on my website here:<br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html">http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html</a><br />
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-3192308347553319392016-03-28T18:33:00.002+01:002017-01-19T19:44:07.266+00:00Spring migrants keep arriving<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pGz5ytQ-ws4/VvlczhrPovI/AAAAAAAAB0I/hEHBU8woODYboRdA7-EoXVhXM8Go7IsoQ/s1600/GreatSpoCuckoo3LdS19Mar2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pGz5ytQ-ws4/VvlczhrPovI/AAAAAAAAB0I/hEHBU8woODYboRdA7-EoXVhXM8Go7IsoQ/s640/GreatSpoCuckoo3LdS19Mar2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Spotted Cuckoo <i>(Clamator glandarius)</i></b> near Lagoa dos Salgados (Silves) on 19-03-2016. The species arrives as early as mid February in South Portugal, but adults already head back to Africa during May. Since their favourite host species is the Common Magpie <i>(Pica pica)</i> the distribution of the two species pretty much merges in the Algarve and the Baixo Alentejo-region. The species is very vocal and often can be detected by their giggling calls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xax5MqJUlus/Vvlc5RMwvOI/AAAAAAAAB0M/QxGR38EKSLM2boz6S1j4PFjfmlO5yys8w/s1600/SylconspicillataSagres26Mar2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xax5MqJUlus/Vvlc5RMwvOI/AAAAAAAAB0M/QxGR38EKSLM2boz6S1j4PFjfmlO5yys8w/s640/SylconspicillataSagres26Mar2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult male <b>Spectecled Warbler <i>(Sylvia conspicillata)</i> </b>near Sagres (Vila do Bispo) on 26-03-2016. This small Sylvian Warbler, somewhat resembling a miniature Common Whitethroat, is only locally distributed along the Algarve coast, basically in the extreme west- and east of the region. It favours very low shrub and open countryside, such as dry salt marsh or the Garigue of the hinterland of the Cape of Sagres and São Vicente. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_ksZXnPU5I/Vvlc_kuz-jI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/5WuGWkHYeWU0-DKE-wx056AvN1QPwHYjg/s1600/MarshHarrier26March2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_ksZXnPU5I/Vvlc_kuz-jI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/5WuGWkHYeWU0-DKE-wx056AvN1QPwHYjg/s640/MarshHarrier26March2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male<b> Marsh Harrier <i>(Circus aeruginosus)</i></b> over its breeding territory in a reed bed in Portimão-area on 26-03-2016.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtEY6vixR0Q/VvldECNLz4I/AAAAAAAAB0U/HFFs46XId9ETGEDV0oN2ejvOq6eeI9BWA/s1600/Circuscyaneus2Vilamoura07Mar2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtEY6vixR0Q/VvldECNLz4I/AAAAAAAAB0U/HFFs46XId9ETGEDV0oN2ejvOq6eeI9BWA/s640/Circuscyaneus2Vilamoura07Mar2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hen Harrier <i>Circus cyaneus</i> </b>(2nd calender year) near Vilamoura (Parque Ambiental) on March 7th, 2016. The species is a wintering bird in the area and prefers open country side like marhes, fields or steppe land.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2vXn7oORC4/VvldI3ap_cI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/NrSGxiEYSGkOXMQoY8I5RY9FWrsblQggQ/s1600/GreatBustardsCV09Mar2016GS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2vXn7oORC4/VvldI3ap_cI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/NrSGxiEYSGkOXMQoY8I5RY9FWrsblQggQ/s640/GreatBustardsCV09Mar2016GS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <b>Great Bustards <i>(Otis tarda)</i></b> in the "pseudosteppe" of the Baixo Alentejo-region in Castro Verde-area. I took this photo out of the car during a tour in the region on March 9th, 2016.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BouGu3h-_Gs/Vvldg_o_efI/AAAAAAAAB0c/-PxCwFvNhCkcZTtAE44YGau6BkZN0ztMA/s1600/BonaparteLdS26Mar2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BouGu3h-_Gs/Vvldg_o_efI/AAAAAAAAB0c/-PxCwFvNhCkcZTtAE44YGau6BkZN0ztMA/s640/BonaparteLdS26Mar2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regarding rarities over the past weeks in the Algarve, this first winter <b><a href="https://youtu.be/kE99J-sVmE0" target="_blank">Bonaparte's Gull <i>(Croicocephalus philadelphia)</i></a></b> I found at Lagoa dos Salgados (Silves) on March 19th, 2016 has been one of the most interesting birds. Might be overlooked among Black-headed Gulls, but note the more delicate and blackish bill and grey head- and necksides, as well as light pinkish legs on this digiscoping shot I took on a second visit at the site on March, 26th.<br />
Other rarities included an adult male Citrine Wagtail, also near Lagoa dos Salgados. Unfortunately the information about the presence of this very rare vagrant to Portugal (3 records so far) had been passed on after days only and the bird was gone before it was made public... the male Bufflehead is still present at "Altura-reservoir" (near Monte Gordo) as today.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8HQx_dYWjYw/VvldrlYAlqI/AAAAAAAAB0k/1i2nF80bJPog3Oza9HpKZJz2kNrQyXmOw/s1600/Bonaparte%2527sGull3LdS19Mar2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8HQx_dYWjYw/VvldrlYAlqI/AAAAAAAAB0k/1i2nF80bJPog3Oza9HpKZJz2kNrQyXmOw/s640/Bonaparte%2527sGull3LdS19Mar2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">First winter </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bonaparte's Gull <i>(Croicocephalus philadelphia)</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> at Lagoa dos Salgados (Silves), March 19th, 2016 (left) in comparison to Black-headed Gull (also late first winter) on the right. Compare upperwing-pattern - note the evenly fine and well defined trailing edge of the wing on the Bonaparte's Gull on the left. [You can always click the photos to blow them up a bit].</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Fq48a1Ny8/VvldsDOYuDI/AAAAAAAAB0o/gtBtnAq-I1QqWFk1jTRopKmfM6eqLtR4w/s1600/Bonaparte%2527sGull4LdS19Mar2016crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Fq48a1Ny8/VvldsDOYuDI/AAAAAAAAB0o/gtBtnAq-I1QqWFk1jTRopKmfM6eqLtR4w/s640/Bonaparte%2527sGull4LdS19Mar2016crop.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another record shot of the same bird as above -<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">first winter </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Bonaparte's Gull </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">(Croicocephalus philadelphia) </i>in flight (the bird below)</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> - note the all white underwing with dark trailing edge and compare to the underwing (primaries) of a Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus. Feeding action of Bonaparte's Gull also resembling a Marsh Tern Sp. / Little Gullat times. (Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/kE99J-sVmE0" target="_blank">click here</a> ).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ue05REluov0/Vvld_2jaZFI/AAAAAAAAB00/NWF-9YsJs1UtbvlTdHDTWYHq3q3ZOySyQ/s1600/RingneckedDuck16March2016LdS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ue05REluov0/Vvld_2jaZFI/AAAAAAAAB00/NWF-9YsJs1UtbvlTdHDTWYHq3q3ZOySyQ/s640/RingneckedDuck16March2016LdS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One more rare visitor from North America present at Lagoa dos Salgados the same day as the above Gull and also self-found a couple of days before - <b>Ring-necked Duck <i>(Athya collaris)</i></b><i> </i>adult male, with Common Pochard. (March, 19th, 2016).</td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-13943904262364196642016-02-12T17:26:00.004+00:002016-02-12T18:36:27.557+00:00Scotish Osprey, Short-eared Owl and Snow Finch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8a-QFbtKI8/Vr4OVV874MI/AAAAAAAABy4/ERzsbEHmhT4/s1600/Aflammeus1Faro22Jan2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8a-QFbtKI8/Vr4OVV874MI/AAAAAAAABy4/ERzsbEHmhT4/s640/Aflammeus1Faro22Jan2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i></b> in Ria Formosa Natural Park, near Faro-airport, 22-Jan-2016. I had a close<br />
encounter with this bird just before sunset...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96QJNuyCV9g/Vr4OZAKsJHI/AAAAAAAABy8/nij5OEeADho/s1600/Aflammeus2Faro22Jan2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96QJNuyCV9g/Vr4OZAKsJHI/AAAAAAAABy8/nij5OEeADho/s640/Aflammeus2Faro22Jan2016.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> near Faro-airport, 22-Jan-2016. The same Ind. as above. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I also observed this species in Tavira-area and others were found at Ria de Alvor. This wintering birds </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">arrived </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">rather late </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">in the winter though this year, due to relatively mild temperatures in the north.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRfC-le8YvA/Vr4Or_m1CBI/AAAAAAAABzA/rxgDfwVbep8/s1600/PandionALudo11Feb2016x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRfC-le8YvA/Vr4Or_m1CBI/AAAAAAAABzA/rxgDfwVbep8/s640/PandionALudo11Feb2016x.jpg" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Osprey </b><i><b>(Pandion haliaetus)</b></i> looking down on me, yesterday, 11-Feb-2016 in "Ludo" (Faro). This bird<br />
has been ringed as a juvenile in South Scotland. Information I received from the ringer: "<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">CK4 was </span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">ringed in the tweed valley (Scottish borders) from a brood of 2 chicks on 26/06/2012 </span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">BTO number 1445932."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBm58xYucKk/Vr4Oyc3BMuI/AAAAAAAABzE/GFn7bYC8lFk/s1600/PandionBLudo11Feb2016x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBm58xYucKk/Vr4Oyc3BMuI/AAAAAAAABzE/GFn7bYC8lFk/s640/PandionBLudo11Feb2016x.jpg" width="594" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Osprey </b>- Another Ind. (2nd calender year) without a ring, was accompanying the above bird.<br />
Counts in the last two winters showed that about 10 Ind, of this species winter in the areas of the<br />
Ria Formosa Natural Park between Tavira and Quinta do Lago. 11-Feb-2016.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VCQOMzMtTg/Vr4PZ-9BBnI/AAAAAAAABzM/GOa3eWtid3M/s1600/EmbcirlusAljez01Feb2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VCQOMzMtTg/Vr4PZ-9BBnI/AAAAAAAABzM/GOa3eWtid3M/s640/EmbcirlusAljez01Feb2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female <b>Cirl Bunting <i>(Emberiza cirlus)</i></b> near Aljezur, 01-Feb-2016. This species is mainly found in the western Algarve,<br />
at the west coast and around Monchique.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPRnM6PLFdw/Vr4PhCGQqCI/AAAAAAAABzU/Ow039UGCxBY/s1600/Montifingrnivalis01Feb2016Aljez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPRnM6PLFdw/Vr4PhCGQqCI/AAAAAAAABzU/Ow039UGCxBY/s640/Montifingrnivalis01Feb2016Aljez.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <b>White-winged Snowfich <i>(Montifingrilla nivalis)</i></b> is the first documented record of this species in Portugal<br />
since 2005. It has been found near Praia de Armoreira, Aljezur on 31-Jan-2016 by Nuno Dosantos and was<br />
still at the same location today. It breeds in the high mountain ranges of the Alps and the Pyrenees.<br />
I took this foto on February, 1st. For me this is my 322nd bird species seen in the Algarve.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhLCz5uECZI/Vr4PuQ_Yf2I/AAAAAAAABzY/G9edAXBN_cM/s1600/GlossyIbissesLagoaFeb2016c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhLCz5uECZI/Vr4PuQ_Yf2I/AAAAAAAABzY/G9edAXBN_cM/s640/GlossyIbissesLagoaFeb2016c3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A feeding flock of <b>Glossy Ibis <i>(Plegadis falcinellus)</i></b> at a rice paddy between Lagoa and Silves.<br />
The numbers of this fascinating bird species have increased over the last decade - here as<br />
in all western Europe (you can click the image to zoom in).</td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-74672204674789456172016-01-08T16:36:00.000+00:002016-01-08T16:36:04.151+00:00Happy new year 2016 !... and peace and health to all of you.<br />
<br />
I include here a couple of photos - all taken on a tour during the week before Christmas 2015 - most photos showing typical species found up in the Baixo Alentejo plains.<br />
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Regarding rarities - I "co-found" a first winter <b>Glaucous Gull</b> (<i>Larus hyperboreus</i>) on December, 18th in Sagres harbor and another one near Portimão, in the small harbor-bay of Ferragudo on December, 27th. Both birds practically still in juvenile plumage. There was (and probably still is today) also a <b>Rock Pipit</b> (<i>Anthus petrosus</i>) and an unusual obliging Shag. A<b> Richard's Pipit</b> (<i>Anthus richardi</i>) was on December, 19th in the fields west of Lagoa dos Salgados (Silves) where I found wintering birds in years before. a pair of <b>Ring-necked Ducks</b> (<i>Aythya collaris</i>) has been on a sewage work near Vilamoura for a couple of weeks in December, but seems to have gone now. A female or first winter<b> Bufflehead</b><i> (Bucephala albeola)</i>, another vagrant Duck species from North America has been found by June Taylor and Peter Dedicoat at a small lake near Aldeia Nova (Monte Gordo) in the pine forest of "Mata Nacional" on January, 3rd 2016. I relocated the (very nervous) bird the next morning on the nearby tank (east) of Altura. Curently it seems to frequently exchange places between this two sites. Also rather unusual - a <b>Great (White) Egret</b> in Ludo still on January, 1st.<br />
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To be continued...<br />
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-73894774448824714762015-11-04T17:18:00.002+00:002015-11-04T17:22:50.540+00:00Visitors from the high north<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvOa7QY8NOA/Vjo9uERhFaI/AAAAAAAABvw/F351HrlJP8w/s1600/Clangula%2BhyemalisETAR04Oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvOa7QY8NOA/Vjo9uERhFaI/AAAAAAAABvw/F351HrlJP8w/s640/Clangula%2BhyemalisETAR04Oct2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today a <b>Long-tailed Duck</b> <i>(Clangula hyemalis)</i> adult male and only yesterday, a <b>Red (Grey) Phalarope</b><i> (Phalaropus fulicarus) </i>are both rare winter visitors here in the Algarve, coming from the subpolar regions of Eurasia.<br />
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Why not spending the winter where it is less cold? Clever birds! (I still remember what winter around the north sea feels like...)<br />
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Here are two hand-held videos taken through the scope: </div>
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Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-34724384687487211172015-11-02T13:36:00.003+00:002015-11-02T14:56:11.263+00:00Some recent photos from my tours...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4MAU0HcncY/VjdkMnR7UgI/AAAAAAAABtU/STZAqNQZwBE/s1600/Booted%2BEagle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4MAU0HcncY/VjdkMnR7UgI/AAAAAAAABtU/STZAqNQZwBE/s640/Booted%2BEagle1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Booted Eagle / Zwergadler / Aguia-calçada<i> (Aquila pennata)</i></b> juvenile pale morph photographed during a tour in Ria Formosa Natural Park near Tavira on 1st of October 2015 (GS.) The species is a fairly common passage migrant and local wintering bird n the Algarve (same bird in the above photo).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult male <b>Little Bittern / Zwergdommel / Garçote </b><i><b>(Ixobrychus minutus)</b> </i>right in front of the bird observatory of Quinta do Lago. Although somewhat "overrun" at times, this is still a great place to watch birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7pJcj1ApGGU/Vjdk9yhr_PI/AAAAAAAABt8/PE_pBxBvAP0/s1600/CorysShearwater1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7pJcj1ApGGU/Vjdk9yhr_PI/AAAAAAAABt8/PE_pBxBvAP0/s640/CorysShearwater1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cory's Shearwater / Sepiasturmtaucher ("Kanarensturmtaucher") / Cagarra</b> <i><b>(Calonectris d. borealis)</b></i> a few miles off-shore Fuzeta (on boat-trip with Passeios Ria Formosa, Fuzeta, October 1st, 2015). In summer and autumn this is a common seabird off the Algarvian coast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Shearwater / Großer Sturmtaucher / Pardela-de-barete<i> (Puffinus gravis)</i></b> photographed during the same trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwXQBVf3TcQ/VjdlNEruRvI/AAAAAAAABuM/H6VrvrhSgeU/s1600/FerruginousDucks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwXQBVf3TcQ/VjdlNEruRvI/AAAAAAAABuM/H6VrvrhSgeU/s640/FerruginousDucks1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck / Moorente / Zarro-castanho <i>(Athya nyroca)</i></b> are very rare breeding birds in the Algarve. Sometimes more than 30 Ind. can be found wintering near Vilamoura, where the species might also nest. The extension of the Marina of Vilamoura westwards will however consume most of the remaining reed bed of the area (Parque Ambiental) for the sake of a 900 Million € luxury resort. Bad news, because it is also the main breeding site for Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) in the entire Algarve. Also Otters live here, among others. (The photo below showing a male at the same location, both photographed on the 2nd of October 2015).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser-crested Tern / Rüppell-Seeschwalbe / Garajau-bengalense <i>(Sterna bengalensis)</i></b> at Sagres fishing harbor on October 21st 2015. One of many rarities of this atumn season. This bird whos next breeding colonies are in Lybia, had been found the day before by the team of "Strix" (Riacardo Tomé et al.) who survey the birds of prey around the wind farms of the area, during a severe southerly storm...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Also present in the harbor when I arrived there in the morning after the storm had passed, were well a dozen Black Terns, some Common and two Arctic Terns, the usual Sandwich Terns and this interesting Tern (above two photos) I considered Roseate Tern </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">(Sterna dougallii)</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> adult winter. But grey on outer tail feathers for instance excludes this species (thanks Pedro Ramalho) and it remains just another nice <b>Common Tern </b></span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>(Sterna hirundo).</b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tern / Trauerseeschwalbe / Gaivina-preta <i>(Chlidonias niger)</i></b> at Martinhal lagoon (Sagres) on October21st 2015.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RaXqpfkNZ04/VjdyayoN5SI/AAAAAAAABvU/4cEDovyZXG0/s1600/WhiskeredTern1Faro26Oct2015crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RaXqpfkNZ04/VjdyayoN5SI/AAAAAAAABvU/4cEDovyZXG0/s640/WhiskeredTern1Faro26Oct2015crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Whiskered Tern / Weissbartseeschwalbe / Gaivinha-dos pauis </b><i><b>(Chlidonias hybridus)</b> </i>adult winter,<i> </i>east of Faro on October 26th, 2015.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rR0f7fFTFx8/VjdmQKfVpCI/AAAAAAAABu8/gP8RPTKeasY/s1600/Phyllinornatus2Sagres13Oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rR0f7fFTFx8/VjdmQKfVpCI/AAAAAAAABu8/gP8RPTKeasY/s640/Phyllinornatus2Sagres13Oct2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On of at least two <b>Yellow-browed Warblers / Gelbbrauenlaubsänger / Felosa-bilistada <i>(Phylloscopus inornatus)</i></b> near Sagres ("Cabranosa") on October 13th, 2015. Like the previous atumn, we experience quite an influx of this Siberian species in SW-Portugal. </td></tr>
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-47779725310538471372015-08-21T21:24:00.000+01:002015-08-21T21:24:49.251+01:00Autum passage begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Collared Pratincole</b> (<i>Glareola pratincola</i>) at a small reservoir near Mértola (Alentejo-region) 20th May 2015. <br />Photo: Georg Schreier</td></tr>
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On August, 3rd the subsequent song of a <b>Western Bonelli's Warbler</b> (<i>Phylloscopus bonelli</i>) heard when arriving in "Ludo" near Faro, for a morning tour with a German family, marked the beginning of autumn migration to me this year. The Warblers stayed for some days and three weeks later, some days ago, Bonelli's Warblers were still stopping over in the hinterland of the cape area of Sagres, in the western Algarve.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both Photos showing <b>Western Bonelli's Warbler</b> (<i>Phylloscopus bonelli</i>) in the hinterland of Cabo São Vicente, <br />Sagres-area, Algarve, Portugal on August, 19th 2015. Fotos: GS.</td></tr>
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Of course some sort of migration, "up" north- or "down" south is going on at almost every day in the year. In June, sometimes as early as the 10th of June, the first <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b> and <b>Green Sandpipers</b> show up here in the Algarve, coming straight down from their nesting grounds in Scandinavia and around the north sea, where they start- (and therefore also finish-) breeding quite early in the year. At the same time the very last <b>Greater Ringed Plovers</b> or<b> Bar-tailed Godwits</b> stop over in the lagoon system of the Ria Formosa Natural Park still on their way north...<br />
June is also the month of the fledged juveniles here and shortly after, from July onwards, the local summer birds, like <b>Bee-eaters</b> and Sylvian Warblers start to disperse over the countryside and gather up around sites with higher food availability, often next to wetlands, since particularly the interior from mid summer onwards suffers from a draught and food shortage as a consequence. By mid August, neither<b> European Rollers</b> nor <b>Collared Pratincoles</b> could be found in the Baixo Alentejo plain anymore since this summer was particularly hot. However,<b> Great- and Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Sp. Imperial- and Golden Eagle</b> and many others could be observed on a tour on August, 12th. Also <b>Black-eared Wheatears</b> and <b>Calandra Larks</b>, as well as some<b> Lesser Kestrels</b> and<b> Montagu's Harriers</b> could still be seen.<br />
Monday, 17th this week, a <b>European Roller</b> stopping over at Lagoa dos Salgados (Silves) was a nice surprise. <b>Collared Pratincoles</b> bred again at the site this year. For the second year now, since the earthworks at the site, creating a dam to hold back part of the water when the lagoon is drained and the construction of artificial islands for the nesting of birds, were finished. The investment done of around 1 Million € at this site is probably unique in the Algarve. The final results remain still to be seen. At the moment, the site has lost attractivity to waders in particular, because of both, a too high water level and the replacement of soft mudflats for hard soil banks. Vegetation on the islands will grow high quickly, too, having perhaps the positive effect of the possibility of a Egret/Heron colony forming in Tamarisc bushes.<br />
On the next day, Tuesday, 18th, a <b>White-rumped Swift </b>(<i>Apus caffer</i>) gave still good views at a small lagoon near Alcoutim (Algarve). <b>Short-toed- and Thekla Larks</b>, Black-eared Wheatear and <b>Black Vultures</b> were also seen that day, when <b>Short-toed Eagles</b> and <b>Booted Eagles</b> were crossing the country side and Bee-eaters seemed to be perched on almost every telegraph wire in the area.<br />
In Sagres, two days ago, 2 juvenile <b>Egyptian Vultures</b> (<i>Neophron percnopterus</i>) gave close views and a thermal of 28<b> Black Kites</b> (<i>Milvus migrans</i>) was typical for the date, since the species is known to peak early in the season. Many <b>Woodchat Shrikes</b> were on the move already, mainly juveniles and a <b>2nd cy male Montagu's Harrier</b> puzzled us a bit, because it had pretty much the "jizz" of a Hen Harrier, appearing unusual heavy build and broad winged for the species.<b> Little Bustards</b> and a <b>Tawny Pipit</b> were among the local breeding birds we saw. Yesterday evening, 12 <b>Stone Curlews</b> were on a stubble field east of Faro, plus a <b>Willow-</b> and a <b>Melodius Warbler</b> in the same area.<br />
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My year list for continental South Portugal (south of Lisbon) is on <b>245 species</b> at the moment.<br />
<a href="http://www.bubo.org/Listing/view-list.html?list_id=21074" target="_blank">Bubo.org</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyOxD_Pvkvw/VdeD68Lab-I/AAAAAAAABsc/327ADtbQV7Q/s1600/Neophron19Aug2015SagresGS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyOxD_Pvkvw/VdeD68Lab-I/AAAAAAAABsc/327ADtbQV7Q/s640/Neophron19Aug2015SagresGS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile <b>Egyptian Vulture</b> <i>(Neophron percnopterus)</i> near Sagres. August 19th, 2015. Foto: GS.<br />
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<br />Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9031580740901993167.post-39118366888436238582015-08-06T13:30:00.000+01:002015-08-07T18:57:16.624+01:00Pelagic<b>Yesterday morning, August 5th 2015</b>, we did a c. 3 hours <b>boat-trip off Fuzeta (east Algarve)</b>. Besides many<b> Common Dolphins</b> (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>) close to the boat and an <b>Ocean Sun Fish</b> (<i>Mola mola</i>) it was a very successful trip regarding pelagic sea birds:<br />
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Cory's Shearwater (<i>Calonectris diomedea</i>) c. 70-80 Ind.<br />
Great Shearwater (<i>Puffinus garvis</i>) c. 20-25 Ind.<br />
Balearic Shearwater (<i>Puffinus maureatanicus</i>) 6 Ind.<br />
Sooty Shearwater (<i>Puffinus griseus</i>) 1 Ind.<br />
Wilson's Storm Petrel (<i>Oceanites oceanicus</i>) 12 Ind.<br />
European Storm Petrel (<i>Hydrobates pelagicus</i>) 2 Ind.<br />
Northern Gannet (<i>Morus bassanus</i>) 8 Ind.<br />
Great Skua (<i>Stercorarius skua</i>) 1 Ind.<br />
Pomarine Skua (<i>Stercorarius pomarinus</i>) 1 Ind.<br />
Skua species (<i>Stercorarius sp</i>.) probl. Pom.Sk. 1 Ind.<br />
Common Tern (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>) 1 Ind.<br />
Sandwich Tern (<i>Sterna sandvicensis</i>) 2 Ind.<br />
Little Tern (<i>Sternula albifrons</i>) 2 Ind.<br />
Med. Gull (<i>Ichthyaetus melanocephalus</i>) 3 Ind.<br />
Audouins Gull (<i>Ichthyaetus audouinii</i>) 1 Ind.<br />
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I want to share some photos I took during the trip here:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZiYybFUET0/VcNQ_8MyCXI/AAAAAAAABqQ/I2dLq5mmqqY/s1600/CorysShW1Fuzeta05Aug2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZiYybFUET0/VcNQ_8MyCXI/AAAAAAAABqQ/I2dLq5mmqqY/s640/CorysShW1Fuzeta05Aug2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDWtQ3u_9jo/VcNR4B-BihI/AAAAAAAABq4/8u4by1zT8pQ/s1600/SootyShWFuzeta05Aug2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDWtQ3u_9jo/VcNR4B-BihI/AAAAAAAABq4/8u4by1zT8pQ/s640/SootyShWFuzeta05Aug2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>More Info about this offer is on my website here:</b> <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/pelagic-boat-trips.html" target="_blank">Pelagic boat trips</a>Georghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850898592132440365noreply@blogger.com0