Birdwatching Algarve

At the cape of São Vicente

2012-01-27T00:09:00.019Z

At Europe's south-western tip, the shear sea-cliffs form, what is known at the Algarve's best known seawatching spot. Northern Gannet, Great Skua, Balearic- and Manx Shearwater, Razorbill, Shag, Mediterranean Gull and Sandwich Tern are among the most common seabirds seen on a winter day here.
(Foto: GS, Vila do Bispo, 09.12.2011)

One of at least six Alpine Accentors (Prunella collaris) present near the lighthouse. (Foto: Georg Schreier, Vila do Bispo, 09.12.2011). The species is a winter visitor.

Several pairs of Peregrine nest along the rocky coast.
(Foto: GS, Vila do Bispo, 09.12.2011)

Red-billed Chough (Phyrrhocorax phyrrhocorax) near the cape (Photo: David Rayner). This photo was on the cover of the "Algarve Goodlife Magazine" this last autumn. Some background information about the distribution of the species and the population trend in Europe is here.

Adult male Black Redstart of the Iberian subspecies "aterrimus" (Photo: Gaby Dienst, Vila do Bispo, 09.12.2011). A widespread resident in the area.

A male Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) hunting in the mix of fields and Garigue of the hinterland of the cape (Photo: Gaby Dienst, Vila do Bispo, 09.12.2011). Here, rarities such as Rose-coloured Starling, Pallid Harrier (both juveniles) and Richard's Pipit have been observed by me and others this last autumn.

Little Owls are always fascinating... (Photo: Gaby Dienst, Vila do Bispo, 12.09.2011)

2011-12-21T20:32:00.000Z

Mondego

2011-11-09T12:24:00.003Z

A brilliant documentation (in English) about the Mondego-river in the centre of Portugal and its marvelous and unique wildlife.

Mondego from Daniel Pinheiro on Vimeo.

Possible South Polar Skua?

2011-10-27T16:51:00.014+01:00

This interesting Skua has been photographed during a pelagic trip I organized, on the 16-09-2011 off Fuseta/Algarve. My special thanks to Michael Southcott, who has joined this trip together with two friends, for sharing this and other pictures with me.

Large Skua Stercorarius sp about 5 miles off Fuseta (Algarve, Portugal) 16-09-2011. Photo: Michael Southcott (click photo to enlarge).

The uniformly whitish, "frosty" body, sharply contrasting to a very dark/blackish underwing, together with a relatively small, all brownish head, lacking the "cap" of an (adult) Great Skua Stercorarius skua, makes this a candidate for a South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki (intermediate phase?) in my opinion.
The species is known to winter in the North Atlantic with regularity (pdf) and has been recorded in early September this year in Spanish waters (3 Ind. off Lanzarote and 1 Ind. at Estaca de Bares, Galicia, NW Spain) well documented on the blog of one of the observers here, as well as on Ricard Gutiérrez' website "Rare birds in Spain".

This is not the first "suspicious" Great Skua I am seeing here, but the first one that has been captured in a picture. I am not experienced with this species (I guess relatively few people are...) and lack certainty here, so I would be interested in any opinion on this matter. Field identification seems to be often difficult in this species and a different moulting cycle (reversed, being from southern hemisphere) and pattern (shorter moulting phase, replacing 3 primaries at once) in the species, often pointed out as a reliable criteria, is questioned to be that reliable here.

Is this bird still in the range of Great Skua Stercorarius skua ? Just a slightly aberrant "whitish" Individual ? But I never heard of a "pale morph" on Great Skua... Further, since no moulting is visible and together with the lack of the "cap" of an adult/subadult Great Skua, this has to be a bird before the first immature moult (takes place from December to February on Great Skua) = a fresh juvenile, in case it is "just" a Great Skua. But are not juvenile Great Skuas clearly rufus brown, with somewhat lighter "spots"? And finally, is it possible to identify this bird based on this photo at all ?

Autumn birds

2011-09-24T15:02:00.020+01:00

First of all, please note my previous blog-entry regarding the dates for the next pelagics scheduled. Further dates can be arranged, we just have to have minimum 4 participants for the trips off Fuseta and at least 6 people to go out with the catamaran from Portimão.
The last trips have been all good, particularly regarding Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) which are exceptionally numerous in Algarvian waters this season. The birds are very obliging and we have always had extended, close views (up to two or three meters most times!). Ideal conditions for photography. In two cases we had to shift the dates for the trips for 1 or 2 days, because of weather/sea conditions.

Summary (trip-lists) of the last tours:

Fr., 23rd of September 2011
3h's (c. 8.00 to 11.00 a.m.) off Fuseta (east Algarve), no chumming.
Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) 21 Ind.+
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris d. borealis) c. 10 Ind.
Scopoli's Shearwater (Calonectris d. diomedia) 1 Ind.*
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) 1 Ind.
European Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) 2 Ind.
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) c. 20 + 80 Ind.(distant)
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 5 Ind.
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) 3 Ind. (2 ad., 1 2nd W.) dune island
Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) 1 Ind. (ad. W) when entering Ria F.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 3 Ind. (juveniles)
* good views of the underwing in direct comparison to C.d.borealis close by the boat, bird also appearing slightly slimmer and paler when seen from above. A possible second Ind. could not be confirmed.

Fr., 16th of September 2011
7 h's trip off Portimão (c. 7.30 - 14.30), chumming.
Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) c. 45 Ind.
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris d. borealis) c. 40 Ind.
Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) 1 Ind.
Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) 26 Ind. close to boat
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) c. 150 Ind.*
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) 50+ Ind.
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 6 Ind.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 2 Ind. (ad.)
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) 2 Ind.
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 100 Ind.+, some next to boat
* Between 6 and 8 miles we found dense flocks of swimming Petrels, one of about 100 birds and one of about 50 birds when going out. On the way back we had one of about 70 birds. The bigger flock consisted solely of Europ. Storm Petrels apparently, the others of both species, but they did not allow us to come close. These are probably "day-roosts", because the birds are known to be feeding at night.

Monday, 12th of September 2011
3 h's off Fuseta, no chumming
Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) 9 Ind.
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris d. borealis) c. 10 - 15 Ind.
Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) 10 Ind.
Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) 2 Ind.
European Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) c. 25 Ind.
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) c. 20 Ind.
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 1 Ind.
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) 2 Ind.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 1 Ind.

More Pelagic's scheduled !

2011-08-29T14:05:00.022+01:00

Please find here the dates for the upcoming trips off Fuseta (with Passeios Ria Formosa) and Portimão (Ecoceanus). We received already bookings for each of these dates, but there are still vacancies for all of them.

Please make your reservation via e-mail to georg@birdwatching-algarve.com or mobile phone +351 936129716.
It would be good to have a phone contact of you, too and to know the period of your stay here, allowing me to inform you on short notice, in case a tour has to be shifted because of weather conditions or so.

Google-map to "Passeios Ria Formosa" in Fuseta here.
Google-map with directions to "Ecoceanus" in Portimão here.

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) about 9 miles off Portimão (14th of August 2011). The bird first circled around the vessel during the chumming-session, then landed about 3 or 4 m behind the boat, looked what is under water, like a diver a few times and then disappeared diving for a sinking Sardine for something like 10 seconds, using his wings under water. Great moment ! Thanks to Grégory Lepoutre for sharing the wonderful photo !

September 2011:

1st of September (Thursday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person (25 € preço especial para socios da SPEA)

6th of September (Tuesday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person

12th of September (Monday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person (25 € preço especial para socios da SPEA)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, 16th of September (new date !) - extended Pelagic off Portimão
7.30 to about 14.30 (c. 7 hours) including at least 2 hours of chumming.
We will head out to a sea-canyon between 10 and 15 miles off shore.
Soft drinks and snack included. Toilet on board.
Min. 6 / max. 9 people
Price: 70 € per Person
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

21st of September (Wednesday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person

October 2011:

11th of October (Tuesday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person

14th of October (Friday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person (25 € preço especial para socios da SPEA)

30th of October (Sunday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person (25 € preço especial para socios da SPEA)

November 2011:

17th of November (Thursday) - Pelagic off Fuseta
8.00 to about 11.00 a.m.
Min. 4 / max. 10 people
Price: 40 € per Person (25 € preço especial para socios da SPEA)

For more info and trip-reports please visit my website or previous blog-entries. Thank you.

I include here the species-list of the latest trip done with Ecoceanus / Portimão from 14th of August 2011, including both, Sooty- and Great Shearwaters. A trip-report from September 2010 is here.

Puffinus gravis 2
Puffinus griseus 2
Puffinus mauretanicus c. 30
Calonectris diomedia c. 80 (borealis, +2 possible diomedia)
Oceanicus oceanites c. 25
Hydrobates pelagicus c. 5
Stercorarius skua 1
Larus audouinii 1 juv.
Sterna hirundo 1 juv.
Morus bassanus c. 30

Adult pale-morph Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus) off Portimão, 22-08-2011. Photo: Daniel Machados / Ecoceanus.

Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) is one of the main target-species for Pelagic boat-tours in the Algarve. This has been subject to an article published in Dutch Birding recently.

Wilson's Storm Petrels about 6 miles off Fuseta (east Algarve). July 2011. Both photos: Peter Schwarz. Many thanks for sharing !

New dates for pelagic boat-trips !

2011-07-19T11:50:00.022+01:00

Wilson's Storm Petrels off Portimão, Sept. 2010. Photo: Pim Wolf

The Algarvian waters now hold good numbers of Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) and many other pelagic sea-birds, the first Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) of the season could also be observed already on the last trip, about eight days ago. Close observations under good conditions gave excellent opportunities for photographing this fascinating birds. For the moment, the following trips are scheduled and places are still available:

Tuesday, 26 of July 2011
A 3 hours-trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
starting at 7.00 a.m., Price: 35 € p.p.
Further info
Trip-report
Further reports

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION !!!
Sunday, 14th of August 2011
A 5-hours extended-trip off Portimão in the West-Algarve about 12 miles out to a sea-canyon, on the Catamaran of Ecoceanus
starting at 7.30 a.m., chumming, 6-9 people, Price: 55 € p.p.
Trip-Report
SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION !!!

Thursday, 1st of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p. (25 € for members of SPEA)
Further info
Trip-reports

Tuesday, 6th of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p.
Further info
Trip-reports

Monday, 12th of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p. (25 € for members of SPEA)
Further info
Trip-reports

Please make your reservation via e-mail here, thank you !

Juvenile Northern Gannet taking off next to the boat. Photo: Pedro Marques

Pelagic of today

2011-07-11T15:30:00.014+01:00

Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) where very obliging

Date: 11-07-2011
Time: 7.15 to 10.30 a.m.
Location: 6 miles off Fuzeta (East Algarve)
Conditions: Sunny, 18 to 25 C, hardly any wind (SW before), sea plain, low tide, no chumming.

Trip-list:
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedia borealis) c. 30 Ind.
Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) 3 -4 Ind., close
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) 1 Ind., good views
Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) c. 25 Ind.
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) None ! (unusual)
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) c. 20 Ind in total
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 4-5 Ind., all juv. or 2nd cy
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) up to 4 Ind together
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) 1 Ind. (ad.)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) 1 Ind.

Wilson's ' showing a "light sheen" in the underwing, but never any white...

Sometimes can resemble Leach's Storm Petrel (slightly forked tail, pale band in the upperwing) but note that the silvery upperwing-band never reaches the carpal joint, the feet projecting the tail and (not visible) the obvious difference in size...

A very successful trip regarding Wilson's Storm Petrel, the main target, which we had around two trawlers mainly (3 or 4 birds at the first- and at least 16 Ind. together around the second fishing boat, when taking in the net). We watched them under ideal conditions and at very close distances (often less than 3 m !) when they were circling around the boats and also when foraging in the typical "Petrel-manner", touching the water with their yellow-webbed feet...
Most bird showed heavy primary-moult, the three outer primaries retaining. It was the first time I did not see any European Storm Petrel, when seeing good numbers of Wilson's-, no idea, why so.
On the way back we spotted splashing "Dolphins" but when we approached, they dived and we did not see any more of them. One participant saw a Flying fish.
A nice morning and good trip in the opinion of the participants. I am hoping for some good pictures, though I learned that photographing this quick and little "targets" at close distances is not an easy task and perhaps a 500mm lens is not the ideal tool to bring in this case. The record-shots I include here are made with a digital compact-camera (4x optical zoom) ;P ...

Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)

Pelagic Boat-Trips this summer

2011-06-20T13:52:00.008+01:00

A series of Boat-trips has been scheduled, starting this next weekend. Pelagic birds are around...

11th July 2011 · 07:00 - 10:00

Location
Fuzeta, Algarve, Portugal

A Pelagic Boat-Trip off Fuzeta, East-Algarve, organized together with Passeios Ria Formosa. After crossing through the beautiful channels of Ria Formosa, we head out to the open sea (glass fiber motor boat for 12 people).

Target species: Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), "European Storm Petrel" (Hydrobates pelagicus), Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea ssp.) and others... Most likely also Cetaceans, like the Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

Price: 35 € p.p.

Reservation:

E-mail to
info@birdwatching-algarve.com or
passeios.ria.formosa@gmail.com

Or mobile to:
++351 962156922 (Ricardo Badalo) or
++351 936129716 (Georg Schreier)

Please be there about 10 Min. earlier.

Further, similar trips are scheduled for the 26th of July and the 14th of August 2011.

A summer-splash nature adventure !!!

More Info about the Tours here: www.birdwatching-algarve.com (including a map to the location).

Escape the summer heat on a cooling boat-trip and see some "cool" birds !!!

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris (diomedea) borealis) off Fuzeta, Algarve, July 2010. Photo: Rasmus Nielsen.

(Eurasian) Black Vultures

2011-05-18T21:50:00.016+01:00

Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus).
The pale head and bill-base and the advanced moult are indicating older immature / young adult. Baixo Alentejo, 29-04-2011. Photo: Craig Wright.

Among the impressive variety of raptors occurring in South Portugal, Eurasian Black Vulture (or: Cinerous Vulture) Aegypius monachus is one of the most impressive representatives. Normally seen accompanied by Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) these "dark giants" scan the vast, steppe-like plain for carcasses. With a wingspan of up to 2,90 m, they are considered the biggest soaring birds in this part of the world. Their dark overall-appearance, lacking the strong contrast between black remiges and sandy-colored coverts, like in Griffon Vulture, soaring on flat wings and showing a "fingered, hanging hand", makes them unmistakable.

Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus).
Baixo Alentejo, 29-04-2011. Photo: Craig Wright. The same Ind. as above. (Many thanks to Craig for sharing these photos!)

The majority of the European population nests in Spain (about 1100 pairs), mainly in the Extremadura, but there is a reintroduction-program running in the Alentejo, which has good chances to succeed, due to the positive population-trend in the Iberian Peninsula. Other than Griffons, they nest preferably in trees, solitary- or in loose colonies and are very sensitive regarding disturbances in the nest area. We observe Black Vultures from spring to autumn in the "steppes" of South Portugal - up to 6 different Individuals together during April and early May 2011. Most of them were young immatures. During autumn migration, the species is also seen in the Algarve, particularly the Sagres-Peninsula (October/November), when the big Vulture-flocks (up to 1000 or more Ind./day!) pass through the area on their way to Africa.

Griffon Vultures (Gyps vulvus) and Black Vultures (Aegypius monachus) feeding on a carcass. Alentejo, Portugal, 18-04-2011. Photo: GS.- digiscoped at a distance of around 200 m.

Lesser Kestrels and Great Spotted Cuckoos

2011-03-14T21:57:00.006Z

A couple of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) sun bathing on their nesting box in the morning. Baixo Alentejo, 12-03-2011. Photo: GS.
At least 8 Great Spotted Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius) most times two birds chasing each other were among the highlights of a Day Tour last Saturday, together with brilliant views of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (more than 40 Ind. in a flock), Great Bustards (now start displaying) as well as both, Golden- and Spanish Imperial Eagles (immatures). What I never had so far, was a 2nd year Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) circling about 40 to 50 m above us when we had pulled in on a small secondary road, slightly moved away, but then came straight back to us, calling two times (quite low pitched, surpressed and nasal) when flying over, looking down, really "checking us out" ! Amazing, the bird was not anxious at all, but curious ! Great views. I wish I have had the right camera equipment in this situation...
A sighting of these birds is never to guarantee, but recently I see them on most Tours into the area, and sometimes interacting ("tackling") with immature Golden Eagles. It seems they are coming back into these areas they belong to.

Around Faro today: Booted Eagle (6 Ind.) Wryneck, Woodchat Shrike, Little Bittern (male and female), Audouins Gull (3 adults) and Common Cuckoo. Spring is on the move. Expecting the first Bee-eaters and Collared Pratincoles back in the next 10 days...

Rock Pipit

2011-02-05T23:41:00.009Z

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) in the harbor of Sagres today (05-Feb. 2011). A Rock Pipit (this one?) had been reported from this location some weeks ago. Not an easy one to distinguish from Water Pipit (A. spinoletta) in some cases. Both species were formerly seen together as the "Water Pipit-complex". This individual is rather untypical on the first look, a bird of the "Scandinavian" subspecies littoralis. Note the very long bill, the short supercillium, which does not continue behind the eye, dark-grey mantle and the dull underparts, which are diffuse and heavily streaked. I could not see the outer tail feathers. But most of all I found that the call was loud and sharp (accentuated) and sounded clearly different to the weaker and diffuser call of Water Pipit or anything I have ever heard from the latter species. An interesting article about the former "Water Pipit-complex" is here http://www.ntbc.org.uk/water and rock pipits.html - scroll down to the end of the page to see some similar Rock Pipits to this one here. Today, two Rock Pipits have been reported from Sagres harbor (and a Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima, a species that I have found there with a Birdwatching-group this past December) - the photo I saw of the Rock Pipit today, showed a different, more typical Individual (all dull and dark). Yesterday, a Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus) has been found and photographed in Ria Formosa just south of Faro, but I could not find the bird there this morning and it seems it has passed on. It is a species I have never seen in Portugal so far. There is also still a Goosander(Mergus merganser) present in the Alvor-estuary near Alvor. Just no Waxwings so far... :) but there has been a record in the 1960s in Portugal !

Flowers

2011-01-22T15:08:00.003Z

Almond blossom. A few days ago, just out my front door. Barn Swallows (Hirunda rustica) are arriving and Hoopoes (Upupa epops) and Serins (Serinus serinus) are singing. Also some of the wintering birds from the north sing - Robins, Blackcaps, Song Thrushes and Common Chiffchaffs.

Digiscoping - experimenting new cameras

2011-01-11T13:17:00.011Z

I am using the Leica Apo-Televid 77 Telescope since about 10 years now and I am still very happy with it. It is a great Telescope. For digiscoping, I used the Nikon Coolpix 995 and a handmade adapter so far which worked very well until finally now the camera has a defect. I was looking for something new anyway, since it had only a 3 Mega pixel sensor, it is a camera from the 1990s. The photo series above are made with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-F4 near Faro this morning - the photos are not bad, but also still not what I expect.... so I guess I have to keep on looking !
This color-ringed Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) by the way is an almost 14 years old bird from the Netherlands (like a lot of Spoonbills we see here) and seems to winter since at least 10 years here in Ria Formosa. I have reported it already almost exactly 4 years ago from the same location. The life/history of the bird I received suggests also, that it migrates crossing through the Iberian Peninsula. If you ever see a color-ringed Spoonbill and can get the color-ring combination or the code, please send a photo or detailed description *including location, date, observer etc.) to o.overdijk[at]home.nl or visit this page (in Dutch) about the ringing program here: http://www.werkgroeplepelaar.nl/fotos.htm

These two digiscoping shots of a Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) are made here some days ago with a Canon Powershot SX130 IS. The camera has a 12x optical zoom and 12 Megapixel (like the Lumix) but produces a horrible lot of vignetting when used at the telescope... no option, really...
All photos are processed with photo shop by the way (crop, sharpen, sometimes reducing noise, contrast, lightness etc. correction, but moderate... I usually avoid changing things like saturation or hue.

Alentejo impressions

2011-01-06T12:13:00.011Z

Baixo Alentejo, 2011-05-01. Photo: GS

Springtime here in South Portugal begins just after Christmas, is what I usually say and it is true. Serins (Serinus serinus) and Spotless Starlings (Sturnus unicolor) are singing outside, and the first Bees and Butterflies are visiting the flowering meadows. In the Alentejo, the vast inland open Oak woods and grasslands of South Portugal, Calandra Larks (Melanocorypha calandra) and Corn Buntings (Milaria calandra)are singing, while the fields are full of Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) and Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and Red Kites (Milvus milvus) are circling above the scenery, to name but a few common species.

The area is a great place to observe raptors. 2011-05-01. Photo: GS

Yesterday, observations of a Spanish Imperial Eagle (immature) close together with an adult Bonelli's Eagle, have been among the highlights of the trip. But also well a dozen Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) in total gave good views. Spring has only begun, and the Alentejo will be full of flowers until around mid May. In the next weeks, the first migratory birds, like the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) will arrive here, while such elusive bird species as the Rufous Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes), European Roller (Coracias garrulus) and White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) will only come back from tropical Africa around mid April or even in May.

The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is the emblematic bird of the Baixo Alentejo grasslands. Thanks to the successful conservation programs run by the Portuguese NGO "Liga para a proteçaõ da Natureza" (LPN) in the area, this magnificent birds and other "steppe" birds are increasing again but distribution is very local.

Some people call the area the Paradise in Portugal and it is a fantastic place for birdwatching without any doubt, recently ranked on 37 of the best Birdwatching destinations worldwide by the American Birding Association (ABA) here: http://blog.aba.org/2010/12/2010-top-40-the-birding-year-in-review-part-1.html#tp I met the author, Ted Floyd, on the Birdwatching Festival in Sagres in October 2009, when I was guiding a group of journalists and tour operators on behalf of the Algarve eco tourism company Sunquays. The event had been organized by the Tourism board of the Algarve.

2011 - Birds, birds, birds !

2011-01-04T19:49:00.018Z

Wishing everybody a good year 2011 - healthy, happy, successful, prosperous and full of good birdwatching, of course !

Today has been an incredibly sunny day here around Faro, with temperatures close to 20 degree C and hardly any wind. The birds of prey liked it - Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) performed display flights, "miauing" high above the Umbrella Pines and I counted a total of six Booted Eagles (Aquila pennata) in the area. Three Black-winged Kites (Elanus caeruleus) were also present.
In the afternoon, another Black-winged Kite was feeding on his catch on a telegraph post near Vilamoura, a couple of Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) was hunting nearby. Flocks of Spanish Sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis), lots of Corn Buntings (Milaria calandra) and a mixed flock of Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) roosted on an acre.

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) in Vilamoura today. Photo: Georg Schreier.

Extensive reed-beds in Parque Ambiental, Vilamoura. Photo: Georg Schreier

In the Marina of Quarteira, an adult Greater Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) was easy to find, sitting on his favourite boat-Cabin again. I observed this bird there a month ago already, and probably the same Ind. the previous winter. An Irish Birder visiting the Algarve from time to time - we have been runing into each other already years ago, in Ludo, where he had just found a Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), photographed another, ringed adult there recently. He also made a great capture of a flock of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) just before I arrived near the Marina with a Birding group, also seeing these birds.

Adult Greater Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) in Quarteira today. Photo: Georg Schreier.

Adult Greater Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) with rings. Photo: Michael Davies.

Flock of 47 Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), Quarteira, 2009-12-11. Photo: Michael Davies. There is just one adult male in the whole flock. Click on the picture to enlarge. Thank's Michael for sharing - a great shot, I really like it, it remembers me on one of the best observations during that afternoon !

Yesterday I observed an adult male Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) close to the observatory at the São Lourenço Golf-Course, a Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) was foraging close by, next to the ever present Azur-winged Magpies (Cyanopica cooki).
An apparently adult female Goosander (Mergus merganser) currently present at the Alvor-estuary (near Lagoa, west Algarve) is the first record of this species for the Algarve and not the only one in Portugal and Spain at the moment. Not a must for us being used to see these birds wintering further north but definitely a good Algarve tick.

Grey "Little Egret"

2010-12-13T18:32:00.008Z

Presumed hybrid Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) X Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) at Salinas de Santa Luzia (Tavira) on December 12. These birds are seen with regularity in the Algarve and Southern Spain and these type of birds has been discussed in articles in "Dutch Birding" and the website "Rare birds in Spain". The "cave" is, that dark morphs of both species do exist as well.
Lenght and shape of the bill is said to give some indications in this case, among others, as far as I remember, but I did not have the time to look it up yet. This has been only yesterday and I just arrived home now from an excursion with a secondary school class from Faro in Ria Formosa Natural Park to observe birds and talk about (and show!) biodiversity and trophic chain etc.
Voluntary work, by the way ... ;)

Another bird. Little Egret X? This photo is from Febr. 2007 and has been made at a small pool in the salt marsh just behind "Forte do Rato" in Tavira. Perhaps a 2nd or 3rd generation hybrid ?

Resume of the past 7 days Tours

2010-11-26T10:51:00.031Z

Looking out on the plain of the lower Alentejo - all turning green now.

So, what is there to tell about the recent Birding-Tours here in the Algarve and into the Alentejo ?
Well, a lot ! Bird life has been fabulous - plenty of birds and good species !

Yesterday, 25-11, during a Tour around Faro, both, Sacred Ibis (2 Ind.) and Glossy Ibis (1 Ind., very close views) could be observed, as well as Purple Swamphen and a late male Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Black-headed Weavers (Ploceus melanocephalus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), a couple of Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) and various wintering Duck-species in large numbers were present. We also watched a flock of close to 1000 Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) feeding in a drained salt pan together with Pied Avocets and many other wader species. Among the birds of prey, Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), 8 Booted Eagles (Aquila pennata) and a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) could be added to the day list.

On Tuesday, the 23rd, we did a two and a half hours pelagic boat-trip out to the sea from Fuzeta (east Algarve). Despite the rainy weather (the boat has a cabin fortunately) it has been a successful Trip. We saw at least 50 European-Storm Petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus), 2 Balearic Shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus) lots of Great Skuas (Stercorarius skua)- at least 15 Ind, sometimes 5 around the boat at the same time, roughly 250 Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) including many adults now, including 1 bird almost colliding with the boat when we approached a trawler about 6 Miles out... A new species for the year-list but not completely surprising, was a single Atlantik Puffin (Fratercula arctica) diving and then taking off close to the boat. We also saw a distant school of Dolphins (probably Common-) which we did not approach, because we were just "chasing" the seabirds at this moment, plus an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) next to the boat.

The day before, Monday, the 22nd of November, I went to the Baixo Alentejo with a party of people. We found all the main target-species during the morning, including several groups of Great Bustards (Otis tarda), a feeding flock of 70+ Little Bustards (tetrax tetrax), small groups of Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) flying and a flock of around 100 Common Cranes (Grus grus). From a hillside, we spotted 14 Griffon Vultures soaring in a thermal at quite a distance - a rather late date for this species here. A single Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) was with them and an adult Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) also joined the soaring birds for a while.
Earlier in the morning, we had already watched a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) perched on a pile of stones, presumably his night-roost, with the telescope, as well as a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) hovering next to the road.
On our way back, we stopped at a lagoon on the coast, where we had excellent views of Bluethroats (Lusciana svecica) and also saw various waders and other aquatic birds, including Glossy Ibis, as well as Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) and Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus).

The Friday before (19th) I had been on a Alentejo-Tour already which has been just as good and also included all the main target species, with some slight differences. We did not get any Vultures, but observed two immature Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti) close together on the ground, where they were competing about a small carcase. One bird showing heavy moult in the primaries and the pale and streaked plumage on both indicated, that they were in their 2nd or 3rd year. Besides the numerous Red Kites (Milvus milvus) in the area, we also saw a juvenile Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and observed a hunting Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) which caused quite a panic among the present Lapwings, Black-bellied Sandgrouses and Golden Plovers.

Recent sightings from the west-coast of Portugal suggest that we might get another good winter for North Atlantic Gulls and wintering Passerines here - Let's hope so !

Drake Teal (Anas crecca) almost in full breeding plumage. Faro, 23rd Nov 2010.

Sacred Ibis

2010-11-10T22:42:00.010Z

Photographed this Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) in the Ria Formosa Natural Park near Faro-beach today.
Several sightings of at least 2 Individuals of this "Exotic" bird have been made in central-Algarve wetlands over the past weeks. The species, originally from Sub-Saharian Africa, has formed colonies in several European countries, which are based on Zoo-escapes. Neozoa are a global issue of our time and not a big deal in most cases, but this one is one of the few species with some "conflict potential", because it has been found to be able to do big harm to other nesting aquatic birds up to the complete elimination of whole seabird-colonies by killing the young and eating up the eggs. This excellent article here Yésou, P. & Clergeau, P. 2005 Sacred Ibis: a new invasive species in Europe. Birding World 18 (12): 517-526. is based on the experiences in France and gives all the details, including many photos and plates. Note the hint regarding the negative experiences with the species (on Page 525) which has lead to a "culling" project in France.
Regarding the situation in Portugal, it says on page 520: "(...) three Sacred Ibises found near Coimbra, Portugal, in early 1998 were thought possibly to have bred in the area, as the group increased to six by the end of the year; they disappeared thereafter (Gonçalo Elias pers. comm.)."
So, definitely a nice bird, should feel free to visit here all the time, but please don't nest here (or disappear thereafter !)

Soaring Raptors

2010-11-08T09:05:00.008Z

Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) pale Morph. Faro, Nov-2010. Photo: David Rayner. What a photo, David. Great details... Thanks a lot for sharing ! (click on the photo for magnification)

Griffon Vulture (Gyps vulvus) juvenile. Vilamoura, 03-Nov-2010. Photo: David Rayner. Impressive bird !

Griffons "en masse" and more...

2010-11-05T20:44:00.026Z

Early yesterday morning I drove to the West-coast, to do some field-work for an impact-study near Aljezur. Around midday, I spent two hours at on raptor-watchpoint, where I had god views of an dark morph Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) and a pair of Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus) circling above the farmland and the surrounding hills. Well a dozen Crag Martins (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) were catching insects in the air and the surrounding bushes were filled with European Robins. Around 2 o´clock, after I watched a thermal with 10 soaring White Storks, I saw this distant, huge thermal... and as suspected, they were Griffon Vultures (Gyps vulvus) and there were a lot. I then noticed more of these huge thermals further north, while in the south already birds began to glide straight in southern direction. In between the thermals, birds flew from one to the other and further below, single birds split from the large groups and seem to explore the hills on their own. All of them must have been terribly starving, because there is never enough food for this numbers of Vultures in our cleaned up environment. Feeding might just be enough to "keep" the majority of them "going". I counted/estimated a total of around 900 Ind. in at least 5 big groups which I could see simultaneously. Unfortunately the flocks were too far to discover other species in them, which normally is the case and both, the Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) and the African Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) follow the migrating Griffon Vulture-flocks.
Exhausted Vultures are collected every autumn along the Algarve and brought to the recovery-centre (RIAS) in Olhão, where they get help. If you are in South Portugal and find an injured or weakened Vulture or other bird or wild animal, you can bring it to this rehabilitation-center, the contact of RIAS is Tlm.: 927659313, e-mail: rias.aldeia@gmail.com - you can visit their blog here: http://rias-aldeia.blogspot.com/ They are specialized in wild animals and sometimes local vets don´t know what to do in such a case... If you can not catch the animal yourself, you can call the police for the protection of the environment SEPNA (GNR) Tlm.: 963212962 (Portimão) or T.: 808 200 520 in urgent cases (also forest fire etc.) for the whole country (sos ambiente e território) – , which will do the job and deliver the animal. Many thanks to Thjis Valkenburg for sharing this information.

Looking east from Aljezur, towards the Monchique-mountains.

On Thursday I have been guiding a party of 3 people around Vilamoura, where, when we were still in the car and before we reached our actual first stop, one of them spotted a circling raptor nearby above a golf course. It was a single Griffon Vultures soaring at about 40m above the green ! The huge bird approached us (we had pulled in at the road side) and finally almost flew over, giving great views (I am looking forward to some photos ;-)
We found the Penduline Tits we were looking for, but they did not show themselves, calling nicely on 3 different spots, but we did not see a single one this day ! Watervowl was easier, and a (distant) White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) and at least two Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca) were good encounters. Other birds of prey included Booted Eagle (pale morph), Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) and a couple of Marsh Harriers. We finished the afternoon with observations of Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica) and waders near Faro.

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) first winter. Vilamoura, 03-11-2010.

This morning I observed this juvenile Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in Ria Formosa near Faro-beach, feeding on his catch.

Just recalling now, that a quick visit at Salgados-lagoon yesterday (04-11-2010) produced two late Whiskered Terns (Chlidonias hybridus) and at least five first winter Little Gulls (Larus minutus) among many other birds in the area.

Booted Eagles

2010-10-28T12:33:00.007+01:00

At a traditional roost (near Faro) for this marvelous raptors I counted at least five, possibly six birds this morning. The clear atmosphere and the perfect light conditions allowed excellent observations through the telescope on a medium distance (around 150 m) to the birds. These digiscoping-shots unfortunately don't come close to the original as you might imagine, because the shutter time is a bit long if you zoom in... so, you have to zoom out to make a photo.
Other Birds of Prey in the area were Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) and Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). In the nearby saltpans, Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), a male juvenile Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), a few Mediterranean Gulls (Larus melanocephalus) and 18 Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) were birds of interest. Most welcome were also excellent and close views of an adult Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) and a late Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus).
Migration of Meadow Pipits (Anthus pratensis), White Wagtails (Motacilla alba) and Sky Larks (Alauda arvensis) was obvious. Two Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinera) were present, as well as two King Fisher (Alcedo atthis) a Hoppoe (Upupa epops) and two Iberian Green Woodpeckers (Picus viridis sharpei). Pretty nice for a little morning walk.

Winter birds arriving

2010-10-26T09:20:00.023+01:00

Yesterday a first winter Razorbill (Alca torda) swam out Praia de Faro and many Gannets dived for fish close to the beach. On the Ria Formosa-side, an adult winter Common Gull (Larus canus) quite a rare bird here, has been present at exactly the same spot as last year. A single adult winter Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei), about 20 Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii), and a Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) were present as well. A selection of well a dozen wader-species, included Little Stints (Calidris minutus) a few Knots (Calidris canutus), Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) and at least 130 Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus).
Recently, two single juvenile Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) appeared a bit "misplaced" and suspicious, but were only found to be of the nominate form. One fed on the Golf course near Quinta do Lago, the other one a few days later at the sewerage work near the airport.

Eurasian Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) juvenile. São Lourenco Golf-course, 04-10-2010.

The same species, another juenile. E.T.A.R. Faro-airport, 13-10-2010. Appears pretty slim and long-legged on this photo, but remains P. apricaria...

An adult Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) moulting into winter plumage. Quinta do Lago, 09-2010.

Adult winter Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) Ria Formosa (Faro), 13-10-2010. Almost as long-legged as a Stilt Sandpiper, almost... ;-)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) juvenile. Ludo, 09-2010.

Among the passerines, a lot of Robins, Common Chiffchaff and Bluethroats have arrived during the past two weeks. A Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) has been ringed by Thijs Valkenburg near Silves this month and in Parque Ambiental of Vilamoura, a Brithish Team of ringers caught a Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) - which is apparently the first North Americam songbird recorded in continental Portugal so far, as well as a Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) - both birds juveniles/first winter (photos just examples).

(White-spotted) Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica cyanecula) adult male. Ria Formosa Natural Park near Faro, 19-10-2010.

Upland Sandpiper near Tavira

2010-10-04T16:46:00.004+01:00

An Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) was still present yesterday near Sta. Luzia (Tavira). This is only the 2nd record for Portugal of this North American wader. I "ticked" the bird yesterday morning together with 5 other people which I brought on this little Guided-Tour "special" as a follow-up to the bird-festival in Sagres this past weekend. Thanks for sharing this great shot, Menno; to Peter for sharing the information and to Nigel Jackson for finding it !
Other birds in the area were about 65 Audouins Gulls, 5 Slender-billed Gulls, a Black-shouldered Kite, an Osprey and various wader species.

Juvenile Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) near Tavira, Algarve, 03-10-10, 2nd for Portugal. Photo: Menno van Duijn (www.mvdphoto.com)

Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) drawing

2010-09-23T11:36:00.006+01:00

Received something special. A drawing of Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) made by Phil Jones. This bird has been one of the highlights of a Guided day tour into the
Alentejo in late July this year I made with two of Phil's friends (details here). Knowing the area himself from a Tour we did together for Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-winged Kite and others in 2009, Phil draw this wonderful scetch for his friends, which they kindly shared with me.

The species by the way, is now seen every autumn in the cape area around Sagres, when single immatures are observed in big flocks of Griffon Vultures that pass through the cape area during October and November. Perhaps already during the bird-festival on the 1st-3rd ...

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

2010-09-23T10:38:00.014+01:00

Lagoa Salgados in the west-Algarve is one of the best places to find a wader-rarity here and did not fail us at a visit last week (16-09-2010) when we watched a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) feeding in the low salt-vegetation (Salcicornia) next to the lagoon at the end of the day.
After a while we met Rui Eufrasia, vigilant at the lagoon and learned that the bird had been seen in the morning already but not been reported. Interesting, that there has been a juvenile BBSP at the same spot, last September as well (see photos here.) This years bird was still present the following day, but has not been seen on the 20th and 21st of September anymore. I got some rather poor (low light) digiscoping shots... Several Ind. have been found in Spain this month, too, by the way.
An interesting factsheet about the species (by birdlife) is here.

Plenty of Wilson's Storm-Petrels !

2010-09-20T12:02:00.019+01:00

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) - juv. taking off next to the boat... (Photo: Pedro Marques) Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Portimão in the West-Algarve has been the starting-point for another Pelagic boat-trip organized - this time together with the company Ecoceanus. Sunday morning, 12th of September 2010, a group of 10 enthusiastic "bird-people" plus 2 people from Ecoceanus met at the marina and at about a quarter to eight we were heading out for about 15 miles straight southwards towards a deep sea-canyon where the marine life is special, because food-rich currents attract a lot of fishes, marine mammals and also marine birds... The 11 m's catamaran is a comfortable boat, which is stable, glides low above the water and offers quite some space to choose and change a place. It has a motor, but sails faster than it drives, when this is necessary. It has been a sunny day with some clouds and a breeze, that caused some waves, but all in all we had very good conditions. Soon the first "Cagarras"/ Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) crossed in front of the boat, gliding in their typical relaxed manner with hanging wings almost touching the surface of the sea and Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) flew parallel to the boat, were flushed by us if they had been swimming, or crossed high over on the way to their fishing-grounds further out. Single Balearic Shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus) or small groups of three or four of them also passed by, all heading east.
A much lighter, contrasting and less-bellied bird going west was a Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and not a Manx' Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) this time... Storm-Petrels were spotted from about four miles onwards - single ones of both species (as far as possible to call them while passing by fast...) and later also small groups - several times of 5 to 10, some of them swimming and then resembling somewhat a flock of Phalaropes... We also came across one or two Great Skuas (Stercorarius skua).
At about 10 a.m. we started chumming and within a few minutes, the first Storm-Petrels showed up near the boat, European Storm Petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) in the beginning, but soon also Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) and then more and more came...

Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pedro Marques. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pim Wolf. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pim Wolf. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

We had at least 40 to 50 Storm Petrels (of both species together) around the boat during an almost 2 hours chumming session. I have been to a Wilson's Storm Petrel as close as two meters (!) when it came to investigate where all the good smell came from (was me, entirely covered in nice fishy chum ;-). Up to 24 Wilson's were feeding in a flock, resembling big butterflies, when "dancing" upon the water and touching it with their yellow-webbed feet, while picking small food-particles from the surface... These are the situations, when they also call, but this can only be heard with a special equipment. Including the birds we came across along the way, we have seen about 45 to 55 Wilson's Storm Petrels and around 40 to 50 European Storm Petrels during this trip. The following trip-list is based on António Gonçalves' (who just photographed a Brown Bobby at Portugal's west-coast by the way!) estimates from the (roughly 7 hours) trip:

Puffinus mauretanicus - around 10 Ind.
Puffinus yelkouan - 1 Ind.
Puffinus griseus - 1 Ind.
Calonectris diomedea - 15 to 20 Ind.
Hydrobates pelagicus - around 40 Ind.
Oceanites oceanicus - 45 to 50 Ind.
Morus bassanus - more than 60 Ind.
Larus michahellis and fuscus - around 1000 Ind.
Sterna sandvicencis - 2 Ind.
Sterna hirundo - 7 Ind at Portimão and 2 Ind. at sea
Chlidonias niger - 1 Ind.
Stercorarius skua - 4 to 5 Ind.
Hirundo rustica - 2 small flocks (around 15 Ind.)
Riparia riparia - small groups
Oenanthe oenanthe - 2 inds (1 Ind. landing on the boat)

Sea-mammals:
Minke-Whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) - one Ind.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) - a group of around 20

Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pim Wolf. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pim Wolf. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Magnus Robb (The sound approach to birding) recording a feeding-flock of Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus). Photo by Pim Wolf. Portimão, 12-09-2010.

Many thanks to Daniel Machado and Inês from Ecoceanus for an excellent job with the boat and to all who have joined in.

On the way back. Magnus Robb and Luis Godinho in the front, Pim Wolf to the right. Thanks, Pim and Pedro, for sharing your brilliant shots with me (and you) !!!

Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) by Pim Wolf.

I'd love to repeat a trip like this with Ecoceanus - we only need a group of people to go out (price depending on group-size from 50 € onwards). October is an excellent month for pelagics here, and chances for Great- and more Sooty Shearwaters are even higher. Please note also the trips I am organizing together with Passeios Ria Formosa and visit my website here.

Eleonora´s Falcons near the cape

2010-09-06T10:52:00.004+01:00

Adult Eleonoras's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) - probably female. West Algarve, August 2010.

Birdwatching around the cape of Sagres and São Vicente - the extreme south western point of continental Europe - is always a great thing to do, particularly when migration peaks here in late summer and autumn. On good days, 15 to 20 raptor species can be seen, of a total of 31 bird of prey species recorded here so far. In late August, still at the beginning of the season, Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, White-rumped Swift, Egyptian Vulture, Bonelli's Eagle (I saw 4 different Individuals), Honey Buzzard and Eleonora's Falcon have been seen already. Seawatching from the cape, around 30 Great Skuas, 120 Cory's Shearwater, a dozen or so Balearic Shearwaters and around 10 Grey Phalaropes could be seen during less than an hour on the 31st of August.
Though the Eleonora's Falcons are not known to breed in the area, they show up every year and there are records throughout the season from August to October. It's interesting, because this period is the (delayed) breeding season for this cliff-nesting (often colonial) Falcon, feeding the young with migratory passerines, while dragonflies are the main food during the rest of the year. Main wintering area for the species is east Africa (Madagascar).
I have seen 2 different birds here in late August (of a total of 3 Ind.) - both of the pale morph, an adult and a probable immature, most probably the birds on the photos made by Jorge Safara (Obrigado para partilhar, Jorge !) and included in this article. Latest news - a sighting of a Lanner Falco biarmicus by Simon Wates on the 4th of September, a species that I have seen with a group of people here in February 2007 - record shots are here (scroll down).

Immature Eleonoras's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) - 2nd calender year. West Algarve, August 2010. Both photos by Jorge Safara.

Birdwatching-Festival Sagres 2010

2010-09-02T12:59:00.007+01:00

The Portuguese Birdlife-Partner SPEA has been organizing events in the cape-area of Sagres over the past years already, always on the first weekend in October. This year, on the 1st to the 3rd of october it's going to be bigger ! I remember fantastic days there with hundreds of birds of prey (not "pray"...) in the air and 15 species of raptors through out the day or more. The area offers a spectacular marine bird life as well - you can do both in one day ! I have been seeing Egyptian Vulture and Eleonoras Falcons there this August already but migration is going to peak there in about 4 weeks...
I will be participating and offering field-activities.

http://www.birdwatchingsagres.com/

Don't miss this event !

Manx Shearwater

2010-09-02T09:33:00.002+01:00

This Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) has been seen during a boat trip off Fuzeta (east Algarve) with Passeios Ria Formosa on the 13th of August. I love this photo ! Note the missing toe-projection in comparison to P. yelkouan.

Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in the eastern Algarve. Photo: Rasmus Nielsen.

The next boat-trips (Pelagics) are scheduled for the 11th (Fuzeta) and 12th (Portimão) September ! There are still a few seats available !

Pelagic boat trips

2010-08-18T16:16:00.004+01:00

The dates for the next pelagics are:
3rd and 11th of September(from Fuzeta, 35 € p.p.)
and on the 12th of September (from Portimão, 50 € p.p.)
I will be "out of the office" for the rest of the month and might be only able to reply to e-mails on the 1st of September.

Discover birds & birdlife - courses with CCMAR

2010-08-16T19:21:00.002+01:00

A series of field-ornithology courses at the University of Faro has been scheduled starting in September 2010. The courses will be held in English language. Inscriptions are open. Please visit: http://www.ccmar.ualg.pt

Pelagic off Fuzeta today - Wilson's Storm Petrels & more

2010-08-13T15:15:00.021+01:00

Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) an adult in heavy moult. Photo: Rolf Svennson.

We went out quite early this morning (7.20 a.m.) with Passeios Ria Formosa from Fuzeta. A beautiful sunrise and stunning morning light when we crossed Ria Formosa at high tide. We spotted 4 Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) on a sand bank close by during our passage. The sea then was calm and we had a weak northerly breeze. Plenty of small fishing boats were out there and some bigger trawlers. Those attracted hundreds of seabirds, mainly Gulls (mostly Larus fuscus and L. michahellis) but also about a dozen or so Balearic Shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus), starting from the water and landing again (birds in moult) and Cory's Shearwaters, some of them looking very good for Scopoli's (Calonectris (diomedia) diomedia) but let's wait for the promised photos to confirm the Id... we also saw one very contrasting and slim bird - or P.yelkouan or P.puffinus but again we are hoping for the photos because we could not see details of the face (whitish ear-coverts ?) nor any toe-projection...
Here we also had the first Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), up to 9 birds at the same time, some of them pretty close to the boat and feeding in a loose flock. We just saw one single European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) during the trip ! Almost missed a Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) on its own passing by in western direction (Thanks Magnus !). A single Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) gave good views, too. A wonderful and successful trip !

13-08-2010
Pelagic with Passeios Ria Formosa
off Fuzeta (eastern Algarve)
c. 7.20 - 10.15 a.m.
High tide, sea calm
Northerly breeze, hot and sunny
Chumming

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedia) 50+
some of them showing characteristics of Scopoli's Shearwater

Manx Shearwater (P. puffinus) or Yelkouan Sw. (P. yelkouan) 1
waiting for photo confirmation...

Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) c. 20

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) 1

European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) 1

Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) c. 20

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) c. 10

Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 1

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) 3

Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) 1
plus 4 in Ria Formosa

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 1
juvenil

Great Skua (Stercorarius Skua) probably 1st summer. Photo: R.S.

Watching Wilson's Storm Petrels. Thanks to Rolf Svennson (left) for sharing his marvelous photos.

Two Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) Photo: R.S.

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedia) Photo: R.S.

Pelagic Trip off Portimão

2010-08-11T12:45:00.003+01:00

A pelagic boat-trip with the marine operator Ecoceanus is scheduled for 7.30 a.m. on the 12th of September. In the comfortable 11m catamaran we will be heading out for about 15 miles and do a chumming session to attract the seabirds. Target species are Wilson's Storm Petrel, Great Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater among others. Trip duration is 7h's. Price: 50 €.
Group size is 10 people plus 2 crew members, 4 places are still available for now.
Interested ?

Western Olivaceous Warbler - capture

2010-08-07T23:12:00.018+01:00

This juvenile bird has been captured and ringed by Thijs Valkenburg on the 04-08-2010 near Silves (West Algarve).
It shows all characteristics (and biometrics) of Hippolais opaca (Western Olivaceous / Isabelline Warbler) - a species that is an extreme rare breeder in the country.
I have heard and observed a Isabelline Warbler in May with clients near Faro (bird was on passage) and a friend of mine managed some record shots the same day (see the blog-entry here).
The bird moved on and the photos led to some discussion, because some features, namely the undertail coverts (quite long, not white, graduated rectrices ?) did not look so "ideal" (at least compared to illustrations, like in Svensson et al.)
So, now again an opportunity to compare - the undertail coverts fit ! Also the broad bill base JT pointed out on the bird seen in May.

Photos: Thijs Valkenburg, 04-08-2010, Silves (West Algarve).

A nice video of an adult bird in hand is here.

Rüppell's Vulture, White-rumped Swift and Wilson's Storm Petrels

2010-07-27T22:03:00.021+01:00

On the two Tours, today (27th) and yesterday, we saw some super birds !

A group of Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) feeding right next to the boat of Passeios de Ria Formosa a few miles out Fuzeta (east Algarve). It was fascinating to observe how they were literally "walking on the water" and hovering to catch small food particles at the surface.
We encountered a school of well 20 or 30 Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and watched their joyful movements and jumps. Northern Gannets, Cory's- and Balearic Shearwater as well two juvenile Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) about 4 miles out were other seabirds we saw during this trip. Really looking forward to more trips out to the sea and hoping to be able to bring some photos the next time. Season has only begun !

The plains of the Alentejo (interior south Portugal) were hot today. But that was expectable. After observing Booted- and Short-toed Eagles we saw around 50 Griffon Vultures soaring and then spotted a dull dark-brown Vulture, legging the obvious contrast between black-flight feathers and the buff-brown wing-coverts, but smaller than Eurasian Black Vulture, with a different jizz and not as blackish. The contrasting white bar in the underwing (lesser coverts) could be seen. It also turned in smaller circles with slightly quicker movements than the somewhat bigger Griffon. Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii). Because of moult in the wing feathers it was most probably a previous years bird.
Dick Forsman wrote an article about Rüppell's Vulture in Spain (Birding World, 2005). A second Vulture among all the Griffons we saw showed characteristics of or an adult Rüppell's of the subspecies "erlangeri" or an African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) a species, that has been reported in 2006 in South Portugal, as you can see here. Our bird, soaring quite high, gave the impression of an adult Aegyptian Vulture in the first moment to both observers, because of the "black and white"-contrast between remiges and coverts/body plumage, but it was clear that it was an Vulture of the "Griffon-type".... it went quickly out of range and I could not be sure about the ID, hoping to see this bird again in the next days.
Great Bustard, European Roller, Lesser Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier, Short-toed- and Calandra Larks have been other birds we saw in the "steppes". Earlier, we had observed White-rumped Swifts (Apus caffer) - one bird surprisingly found next to the castle of Mertola !

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) Alcoutim, Algarve. ( Photos by David Rayner ).

In the Algarvian Serra we saw Golden Oriole, Rufous Bush-Robin, Dartford- and Subalpine Warbler, Long-tailed Tits and in a mixed feeding flock of Warblers and Tits, we heard (song!) Bonelli's Warbler. Collared Pratincoles and Lesser Kestrels have abandoned their nest sites already and also Bee-eaters are on dispersion - migration has started.
25 Slender-billed Gulls (Larus genei) on the 13th and a Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) and a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) on the 6th of July (all Castro Marim -area) have been other observations (or dates) of interest.

Slender-billed Gulls (Larus genei) Castro Marim, Algarve.
(Photo: GS).

Soaring Vultures - surfing Egrets...

2010-06-25T13:25:00.010+01:00

Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) "surfing" on a sheep's back.

They come to catch insects and small vertrebrates flushed by the flock. Why not using the comfortable "mobile post" right in the middle ?

"Summer time..." - yes, even the fishes are jumping. It's nice and warm, but not too hot to go out for birding !

A Day Tour yesterday produced a pretty long list of good birds. At 7.00 we went up into the "steppes" of the interior south of Portugal, where we started our Birding with observations of Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, Great- and Little Bustard, Collared Pratincole, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Montagu's Harrier... Later in the morning, when it became warmer, we searched and found Vultures - and a lot. We had some seen soaring in thermal and found later that they were feeding nearby on the ground. More and more came and we observed around 80 Griffon Vultures and a single Black-Vulture around this place. Booted Eagle, Rufous-Bush Robin, Kingfisher, Black-eared Wheatear and a lot of Bee-eaters during the morning were also most welcome.
After lunch, we returned to the coast, were temperatures are still moderate (perhaps also we had seen most of the birds we came for). At a sweet water marsh with reed beds we observed Purple Swamphen, Purple Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron among others. A first adult Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) in full breeding plumage was also remarkable. Many chicks of aquatic birds were present. Black-headed Weavers at their nests and a couple of Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca) finaly made this a successful birdwatching Trip.
On another Tour earlier this week, Eagle Owl (Bufo bufo) and White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) - a couple, were among the highlights.

Pelagic Boat-Tours in the Algarve

2010-06-15T23:42:00.010+01:00

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) by Thomas Moor.

Pelagic boat-trips to watch Storm Petrels, Shearwaters, Skuas and many other seabirds in the coastal waters of the Algarve.

Starting this summer Birdwatching-Algarve offers Pelagic Boat Tours going out from Fuzeta (a fishing village between Olhão and Tavira) in cooperation with the operator Passeios de Ria Formosa.

Visit www.birdwatching-algarve.com for further information !

Black-headed Weaver a.o.

2010-06-15T12:06:00.007+01:00

On two recent Tours into the Baixo Alentejo plains, yesterday (Monday, the 14-06-2010) and the past Friday (11-06-2010) we saw among others:

Black Vulture (Aegypus monachus) - on both Tours.
Griffon Vulture (Gyps vulvus) - both Tours.
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) - both Tours.
Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata)- Friday. Pale and dark morph.
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) - Friday. Adult with a fledged juvenile.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) - both Tours.
Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) - Monday, close views.
European Roller (Coracias garrulus) - both Tours.
Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) - Friday. A male.
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) - Friday. Close views.
Rufous Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) - Monday, close views.
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) - Monday. Several males near the nest (Algarve).

Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) a male in breeding plumage. The species has established small colonies in several wetlands along the Algarve-coast. They nest in reed beds. Many thanks to David Rayner for this wonderful photo.

At Lagoa dos Salgados (Pêra Marsh) we witnessed spring migration "meeting autumn migration". A Knot (Calidris canutus) on its own, not yet completely moulted into breeding plumage has been still on its way from (South-)West Africa to the breeding sites of the species, somewhere around the arctic. With a little delay perhaps, but nesting only takes place there from June onwards anyway.
A flock of close to 100 adult Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) roosting in a another part of the lagoon, must have just arrived from Central or Northern Europe, where the species starts nesting in March already and therefore their breeding season is over by this time of the year. The juveniles, however, will arrive here later.

Tawny Pipits a.o.

2010-06-04T17:17:00.008+01:00

The species arrives from March onwards in the Algarve - but the majority of birds shows up during May only in the Alentejo plains - probably still on passing through.
The following photos were made by James Robson (UK) on a Day-Tour into the area. We had several observations of Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Griffon- and Black Vulture, European Roller, Collared Pratincole, Rufous-Tailed Bush-Robin, the "wanted" Rock Bunting and a late Northern Wheatear on passage during that trip on the 18th of May.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) in the Alentejo, 18th of May 2010. Photos: James Robson.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) of the "Greenland-subspecies" O.o.leucorhoa, note the orange extending all the way down (female). Tricky: Note the leg colour - should be blackish on all Wheatears. It is just a layer of fine, whitish dust in this case !

Rock Bunting (Emberzia cia) is best detected by their fine, high pitched contact-calls. They are quite common in Serra de Caldeirão, north of Faro.

Finland 2010 - Oulu and Kuusamo

2010-06-03T12:03:00.018+01:00

I had the opportunity to join a little adventure on short notice - a Guided Birdwatching-Tour to Finland (23. - 29th of May 2010) organized by the German Tour-Operator birdingtours, together with the knowledgeable and experienced local Guide Matti Kumolainen from Finnature.(check this site for excellent photos !). We were 11 people in total and I drove one car for the 1600 km's through the magnificent Taiga, starting near Oulu, at the Baltic sea and heading in north-eastern direction towards the region around Kuusamo, close to the Russian border and only less than 100km south of the polar circle. The bird life was stunning. Owls and Grouses among the main attractions. My bit of digiscoping aside unfortunately only could caught a few impressions... not the male Pine Grosbeak in a spectacular old boreal forest at a mountain top (Oulanka-National Park) - where we also saw and heard the first Red-flanked Bluetail of the journey. Not the magnificent (and widespread) Black-throated Divers (Gavia arctica) - one pair on each of the numerous lakes, apparently. And also not the Golden Eagle (adult) soaring right above us on a sunny day right next to the fence of the border to Russia, where the Taiga seems to continue for ever. The western end of Siberia.
This was an extraordinary experience !

Siberian Jays (Perisoreus infaustus) can be pretty tame. This one showed up at bird-feeder in a forest near Kuusamo, together with Siberian Tit (Poecile cinctus).

The European Elk (Alces alces) is widespread. Warning signs along the roads are supposed to help avoiding collisions with these giants - a bull can be as tall as 2,20 cm (shoulder height) and up to 550 kg heavy. This one crossed our road on the way back from Kuusamo on the morning of the 29th of May.(Photo: Ulrich Noack).

A male (Northern) Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) on its post at a clearing in the boreal forest (above) and singing (below).

The song resembles somewhat a Whimbrel and you can listen to it here (click: Typical voice). It really fits into the whole scenery in this region of "infinite" forests, where the separation between day and night seems to be vanishing (24-05-2010, Kemi-area).

Female (Northern) Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) on the nest (24-05-2010, Kemi-area).

Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) here the male, occurs in the forest. The song sounds like an in between of Dunnock and Blackcap to me. The 200 or so pairs of Yellow-brested Bunting (Emberiza aureola) nesting in the Bay of Liminka up to a few years ago however, disappeared completely for reasons unknown.

Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) - probably non-breeders roosting and feeding on a field, together with Common Cranes, Greylag- and Bean-Geese (A.f.fabalis). We saw about 1000 Ind. of Whooper Swans during that day.

To be continued.

Travel

2010-05-22T18:28:00.002+01:00

"Out of the office" now - back in the first week of June...

www.finnature.fi

Isabelline Warbler (Western Olivaceous Warbler)

2010-05-20T22:28:00.012+01:00

A singing Isabelline Warbler (Hippolais opaca) doubtless was the highlight of today's trip around Faro. We found the bird near the hide at the Quinta do Lago Golf-course this morning, where it has been singing out of the dense crowns of the Umbrella-Pines at this place. After a while we also got views of this bird climbing through the dense vegetation and sitting in the open every now and then just for a moment. The bird lacked any yellowish or greenish color-tone of the possible confusion-species Melodius Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta). The song also differs - it resembles a bit a Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) which does not sing out of the crowns of Pine-Trees and shows some reddish-brown in the plumage.

João Tiago Rocha Tavares managed to get the following photos of the bird:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7328575@N07/4625352440/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7328575@N07/4625352790/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7328575@N07/4624748783

A link to an external site on the ID of Melodius Warbler versus Olivaceous, including sound files, is here.

This his apparently a bird on spring migration - they are very late migrants.
There is only one known breeding-record for Portugal over the last years (Alentejo). This bird is rare - but also easy to overlook, and ID in the field is very difficult, especially when the birds don't sing (autumn-migration).

Links about the splits of Hippolais-Warblers are here and here.

This is also interesting.

Western Orphean Warbler a.o.

2010-05-12T12:55:00.007+01:00

The northern range of the Serra do Caldeirão (11th of May 2010).

A long day-tour yesterday, starting in the central Algarve and into the adjecent Alentejo, produced very good observations of a male Western Orphean Warbler, Rufous Bush Robin (couple), Melodius Warbler, Egyptian Vulture (adult) and Griffon Vulture, Bonelli's Eagle (subadult/3rd cy), Short-toed Eagle (calling a lot), Little Bustard, Collared Pratincole, Tawny Pipit... Black-crowned Night-Heron, Barn Owl and Red-necked Nightjars.

We could not have asked for better views of the Orphean Warbler and the Bush Robin - which have been the main target species for this tailor-made Tour. I would like to post some photos here, but I only do a bit of "digiscoping" through my Leica-Telescope during the trips and this is not the right method nor the equipment to get "snapshots" of Passerines. Since the Internet is full of bird-photos - these photos are almost as good as what we saw - link - if you "click" them for magnification (works also on this blog).
We found the bird singing in a valley, where I recorded it 2 years ago for the first time. Another site visited before and occupied the previous year, didn't produce anything this time. The song of this big Sylvian Warbler resembles a Blackbird, but mostly with repetition of a shorter and simpler phrase and an even lower and more "throaty" tone or pitch than the Blackbird.

Collared Pratincoles

2010-05-09T01:00:00.004+01:00

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) photographed during a Tour in the Alentejo this Friday.

We were walking on a farm track near a small reservoir and surrounded by about 25 of the Pratincoles, flying around us, landing on the acre close to us or hunting for insects above the meadows and among the cattle and sheep, calling and performing with elegance in the air, like giant Swallows. Well a dozen of Bee-eaters were using the same area and perching on nearby fence-posts, a Southern Grey-Shrike and several Short-toed and Thekla Larks were around, when a dark Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) approached the scenery circling low above us - a very dark bird, a marvelous sighting - and flushed every bird in the area, causing quite a panic among them.
We also found Hoppoe, Raven, Little Ringed-Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Little Egret at this place. Other species, earlier this day, had been Rufous-tailed Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) - my first one for this year, Golden Oriole, Black-eared Wheatear and Dartford Warbler (all Eastern Algarve), Montagu's Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite, Griffon Vulture, European Roller, Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Stone Curlew, Calandra Lark, Spanish Sparrow and Alpine Swift.

Alentejo-Trip

2010-05-05T21:00:00.009+01:00

One of the magnificent European Rollers (Coracias garrulus)
we saw (Photo: Harry Hill).

Doing a Tour up into the Alentejo today has been fabulous - more than 60 Great Bustards, Griffon-(about 25), Black-(5) and Egyptian Vulture (1), Lesser Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Booted Eagle (2), the ever present Montagu's Harriers and Black Kites, and the highlight - two Spanish Imperial Eagles (subadults, but apparently a pair).
3 (!) couples of European Rollers, including very close views on a farm track 2 or 3 times (photo), Bee-eater, Hoppoe, Little Owl... Collared Pratincole, Black-bellied Sandgrouse (just heard, because you can only look into one direction at a time), Little Bustard (always calling), Black-eared Wheatear, Spanish Sparrow, many Short-toed-, Thekla- and Calandra Larks... and not to forget, lovely Sandwiches and a sip of Wine on a hillside with a spectacular view over the plain... a very sunny day, almost no wind, just a bit over 20 degree C.
Recently a Nature-Tour Operator and Biologist from the UK stated after a day in the Alentejo - that this was, quite unexpected, probably the best "steppe" birding he had ever done. No further comments.

Griffons (Gyps vulvus) with one Eurasian Black Vulture (Gyps monachus) above the plain.(Photo by Harry Hill)

These Great Bustards are looking good on a local bus.

Pyramidal Orchids

2010-04-30T18:13:00.004+01:00

Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) found during "Common Bird Census" (CAC) south of Loulé this week. Lots of migrants have been still on their way - Pied- and Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Northern Wheatears, Common Redstarts, Golden Orioles, Wrynecks, and as a personal highlight - 2 Bonelli's Watblers found singing near Quinta do Lago - a scarce migrant, never had one in spring and singing neither. They only breed further up in the country or in the mountains of Spain (I remember them from Grazalema).

Buzzard-ID

2010-04-23T13:30:00.008+01:00

Two friends of mine observed this Buzzard (link) (Note: The very last photo shows a different bird, which was with the bird in question (couple ?) - in the plains of inland Southern Portugal a few days ago. It shows characteristics of or "Steppe Buzzard" (Buteo b. vulpinus) or Long-legged Buzzard (B. rufinus) of the North African subspecies "cirtensis". This can be very difficult and following Dick Forsman here http://www.ornithomedia.com/pratique/identif/ident_art66_2.htm
and considering the wide range of characteristics in Common Buzzard (B.buteo), which can be "red-tailed" for example, it's almost impossible to "call" some types of vagrant "vulpinus" Buzzards.
I think that the wing shape (long and narrow, with s-shape trailing edge) and the dark carpal-patch are pointing towards "cirtensis" in this case, and Gensboel (plate on page 315) shows a dark-rufous morph of Long-legged Buzzard (juvenile plumage) with a dark sub-terminal band (which usually excludes Long-legged on rufous or pale morphs, and dark morph is said not to occur on Long legged "cirtensis"). But the distinctive dark terminal band along the remiges and different generations of remiges exclude this plumage - does a subterminal band in the tail ever occur on dark-rufous morph adult (or subadult) "cirtensis" Long-legged Buzzards ?
The distinctive dark-brown carpal-patches (contrasting to reddish brown remaining underwing coverts) and the white basis of the primaries on the bird in question are remarkable, and so are the very pale scapulars (no idea what the latter might indicate...). The relatively dark head on the other hand, is not so "good" for "cirtensis" ...
Any opinions ? Here the link from Forsman on the ID of Steppe Buzzard again: http://www.ornithomedia.com/pratique/identif/ident_art66_2.htm as well as the this one about Long-legged Buzzard "cirtenesis" even said to have nested in Southern Spain http://andalucianguides.blogspot.com/2009/08/atlas-long-legged-buzzards-ruppells.html
and this one about a sighting in Southern Spain by Dick Forsman http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsi005.htm and here is one more, Andrea Corso on "cirtensis": http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsi033.htm
I have seen Buzzards of this type(s) several times in Southern Portugal (Monchique mountains, Alentejo plains, Tagus-Estuary) and Southern Spain (Doñana, Badajoz-area) already - the ones in Spain almost certainly Long-legged Buzzards, but never had "the guts" to call these birds, because they had a subterminal band in tail in some cases, and particularly not after having dad a look into literature - even if they gave an impression almost like a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle in the first moment in the field...
I would like to see more photos of birds claimed also here in Portugal over the past years and a discussion about it to a larger extend or perhaps a summery report. Same is true for Rueppell's Vulture, now also seen regularly around Portugal's South-western cape (Sagres-area).

Red-necked Nightjars (Caprimulgus ruficollis)

2010-04-20T11:21:00.005+01:00

They are back in the Algarve - yesterday evening, just after sunset, 3-4 Ind. were singing at my "home patch" here next to Faro for a while - but not yet continuously. In one or two weeks time they will be singing here right out of my front door. That is also where I heard my first Golden Oriole, Bee-eaters and Common Cuckoo this year - sitting at the desk, door open - it's nice here !

Little and Tawny Owls were active, too and earlier, at the Golf course lake, I got good views of Great Reed Warbler singing and a total of 3 male Little Bittern displaying and fighting each other within a hardly 100m range around the hide.

Photo of the species (link)

Poster about the migration of the species (Spanish)

Distribution-map of the species

Moulting in Red-necked Nightjars

Rainbirds

2010-04-17T23:05:00.010+01:00

Red-rumped Swallows (Hirundo daurica)

Yesterday I did a Tour into the Serra de Caldeirão north of Faro and further north, into the Baixo Alentejo around Almodovar. We had rain most of the day, so conditions were rather difficult. Never the less it turned out to be a successful birding day after all. Birds in the Serra included Subalpine, Dartford- and Melodious Warbler, Golden Oriole, Common Redstart, Crested Tit and Rock Bunting.

Male Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax). Digiscoped out of the car.

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) - "wet-look".

In the open fields and meadows, north of the Serra, we saw quite a lot of Little Bustards - mainly males, displaying or in small groups, well 20 in total and two times a female. Plus 3 Great Bustards. When ever the rain stopped, Montagu's Harriers were scanning the fields for food, or up to 6 together were in the air for display and territorial flights. Calandra- and Short-toed Larks were widespread and we got excellent vies of both, plus a Tawny Pipit flying over. Stone Curlews were calling and flew when we left the car. We also saw both, Common- and Great Spotted Cuckoo and found around 20 Collared Pratincoles on an acre, some very close to the track. They looked quite odd in the heavy rain when we watched them out of the car. Neither much raptors nor Spectacled- or Western Orphean Warbler, both occurring in the area, could be found due to the bad weather.

(Greater) Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla) gave excellent views on the track just at a few meters in front of the car.

Tongue-Orchid (Serapis spec.)

Evening walk

2010-04-05T23:45:00.006+01:00

Wryneck (Jynx torquila) sunbathing in the late afternoon.

Left the house in the late afternoon on another sunny day today for the parts of Ria Formosa Natural Park I am living next to. Wildflowers are still stunning where ever one looks. A perched Black-Kite and many Bee-eaters and Azur-winged Magpies (or should I say Iberian- ?) were the first birds I noticed. I had good observations of Little Bittern and also managed some digiscoping-shots. Nearby, a Wryneck sung loudly. I then saw it in a Pine Tree and got some record shots, as well. I scanned the flocks of Dunlins and Little Stints in a tidal lagoon, mixed with a few other wader-species, but there wasn't anything "unusual" among them. Visiting previous years nesting side of Savi's Warbler produced 2 singing males. Purple Heron (couple), a few Spoonbills and an adult Black-crowned Night Heron were at the same place. Water Rail, Little Bittern and Purple Gallinule were heard, plus Stone Curlew on the way back to the car.

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

3500 pairs of Glossy Ibis at their nests

2010-04-05T10:40:00.004+01:00

Coto Doñana Natural Park (Andalusia, Spain) yesterday - the colony of Glossy Ibis in the Northern Marsh is growing from year to year since the birds started nesting there in 1996 and has now reached incredible 3500 nests. On our way, we saw about 500 Gull-billed Terns feeding over an area of the Marsh, about 200-300 Whiskered Terns over the lagoon of El Rocio alone and well 50 Collared Pratincoles together in another area. Black-crowned Night-Herons, Purple- and Squacco Herons at their nests, Short-toed- and Booted Eagles, many Black Kites, Marsh- and Montagu's Harriers, more than 20 Griffon Vultures... lots of Short-toed Larks and Lesser Short-toed Larks on the (bad) track... flocks of Calandra Larks (one of about 200) in the fields, Sedge and Great Reed Warblers singing, and many, many more.

Castro Marim

2010-04-02T13:06:00.003+01:00

Collared Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola)

Visited the Reserve of Castro Marim, at the border to Spain on Wednesday afternoon with Philip Precey from wildlife-travel(UK). We found all the target species for the trip quite soon - Lesser short-toed Lark doing display flights, Spectacled Warblers only showed up for seconds, because they are incubating now, and Collared Pratincoles (17 Ind. together) gave excellent and close views at their roost. Later the were flushed by a local farmer with a Shepperd's dog walking close by. I always try to have an eye on who or what is actually causing disturbance in the reserves, because there have been a lot of discussions on this issue (including signalization of tracks, closing areas or have areas with limited access).
We had good views of a small flock of Little Bustards (almost all males) flying by and landing, they had been flushed by a male Marsh Harrier. We also saw Montagu's Harriers well, and Stone-Curlew had been very active. Short-toed-, Thekla- and Common Crested Larks, Spanish Sparrows, Red-rumped Swallow and Pallid Swifts had been other birds of the trip. On Sunday I am off to Doñana, Andalusia(E)- birding what is supposed to be one of the best areas in SW-Europe. White-headed Duck and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse are on the "wish list"...
Today biking with my son in Ludo/Faro, Bee-eaters and Hoppoes "everywhere" and Wryneck calling consistently.

Orchid-Trip

2010-03-30T10:08:00.010+01:00

Italian Man Orchid / Wavy-leaved Monkey Orchid (Orchis italica)

I had met Philip Precey from wildlife travel/UK in the Spanish Extremadura some weeks ago - an excellent naturalist with a wide ranging knowledge. He said he would be planing to visit the Algarve, for birds but also flowers and other wildlife. So, when he came last Friday, we started near the airport with a brief birding trip at around 11 a.m. after he landed. We had excellent views of Little Bittern, 2 to 3 males and one female, among others. One male was singing when we arrived at the place. After a quick but relaxed lunch break we headed north into the "Barrocal" - the limestone-belt between the coast and the Serra, for orchids and other plants. We found seven or eight different Orchid species at least that afternoon. When checking for one Id, I found this very nice homepage in the internet, about "European Orchids and their hybrids" (D/Eng.) - its very useful.

Barrocal-area near Salir, Central Algarve.

Woodcock-Orchid (Ophrys scolopax ssp.)

Yellow Bee Orchid (Ophrys lutea)

Orchis morio ???

Sawfly-Orchid (Ophrys tendredinifera)

...and back to the birds:

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) female.

Spring-migration continues

2010-03-25T11:41:00.011Z

I have been guiding a Tour in the eastern Algarve yesterday - Castro Marim and then up the Guadiana-River. The countryside is marvellous and it seems, nature is almost exploding now. Unfortunately I could not take any pictures, because after getting a new camera-battery, my charger refuses to work ...

Anyway, the trip produced a bunch of "new" birds for this year - among them, Collared Pratincoles (expected), Nightingale, Iberian Chiffchaff, Common Quail (many), a male Garganey and a Great-spotted Cuckoo (2nd Cy, a rather late date). We saw all 5 European Swallow/Martin-species during the trip, had excellent views of male and female Montagu's Harriers, saw and heard Lesser short-toed Lark displaying, had great views of Stone-Curlews (they were also very vocal), saw big flocks of Bee-eaters (50+) and Swifts, flocks of male Yellow-Wagtails (mainly flava, few iberiae) and a lot of Woodchat-Shrikes and some Southern Grey Shrikes. 10+ Caspian Terns, some Audouins Gulls, Greater Flamingos, a flock of 50+ Shelduck, Purple Gallinule, Water Rail, Spoonbills and many waders, including some Curlew Sandpipers (first ones now moulting into breeding plumage) and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers at their presumed nest site, which were nice to see, too. I have been fascinated by a group of Willow Warblers (5 to 10 birds) in an wild Olive-tree, constantly calling and moving around inside the tree - there was a Little Owl roosting in that tree and they had find it. We observed the scene at close ranges in the telescope - the owl looking on us and the Willow's jumping around it...

Here are the additional arrival dates:

Garganey (Anas querquedula) -24-03-2010- Castro Marim - 1 male.
Common Quail (Cot. coturnix) -24-03-2010- C. M.(council)- several.
Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) -24-03-2010- C. M. - 5 Ind.
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) -20-03-2010- Faro (Gambelas)- 1 Ind. (grey morph) displaying. 23-03-2010 - Olhão - 1 Ind. 24-03-2010 - Castro M. (council) - 1 Ind.
Nightingale (Lus. megarhynchos) -24-03-2010- C. M.(council) - 1 Ind.
Subalpine Warbler (S. cantillans)-24-03-2010- C. M.(council)- 2 Ind.
Willow Warbler (Phy. trochilus) -24-03-2010- C. M.(council) - 5+ Ind.
Iberian Chiffchaff (P. ibericus) -24-03-2010- C. M.(council) - 2 Ind.

On Monday morning (22-03) I went into Ludo, near Faro for a bit more then half an hour in the morning. First Pallid Swifts, an Osprey, 2 Booted Eagles (both, dark and pale morph) and a couple of Marsh Harrier's at their previous years nest-site in a reed-bed were well worth the visit. Confusingly both of the apparently nesting Marsh Harriers do have female plumage,... a lesbian couple ? Possibly, since there are confirmed "gay" penguins existing in a German zoo...)

Bee-eaters are back !

2010-03-19T21:19:00.002Z

Spring is here now. Since the rain stopped about 10 days ago, it has been getting warmer continuously. The south-easterly has brought in several birds back from Africa over the past days and particularly today - when I saw (or heard) my first Bee-eaters, Reed Warblers, Yellow Wagtails and a female Montagu's Harrier of the year. The dates:

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) 15-03-2010 - Faro - 1 Ind. around a previous years nesting site.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) - 19-03-2010 - Faro - 1 female Ind. soaring in a thermal together with White Storks.

Common Swift (Apus apus) - 18-03-2010 - Faro - 4 Ind. above a salt pan.

(European) Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) - 19-03-2010 - Faro (Gambelas) - 1+ Ind. heard in the early afternoon.

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - 15-03-2010 - Loulé - 1 Ind. at a Golf-course reservoir.

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) - 13-03-2010 - Faro (Gambelas) - 1 couple around their previous years nesting-site.(Besides some wintering-records)

(Iberian) Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava iberiae) - 19-03-2010 - Faro - several Ind. heard in different locations, only males seen (next to the airport, for instance).

(European) Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) - 19-03-2009 - Faro - 2 Ind. singing in a reed bed.

Next week I am going to do some field-trips to the eastern Algarve and hopefully "get" the first Collared Partincoles, Spectacled Warblers and perhaps Short-toed Larks and early Slender-billed Gulls there... but let's see. A trip into the Serra should produce Subalpine Warbler and Iberian Chiffchaff by now already.

Woodchat-Shrikes arrival

2010-03-08T19:50:00.008Z

This male and female Woodchat-Shrikes Lanius senator were my first ones for this year, on a fence, just behind the house. I was kind of surprised - been reminded, that spring is coming - what ever the weather may look like (no further comment regarding this issue...)

Its normal, that first records of trans-Sahara migrants are made here in the Algarve, but this (06-03) is still quite an early date. Medium of first spring-records of the species in the Algarve between 2004 and 2009 has been the 14th of March (Source: SPEA/"Chegadas"-Project, Coordinator: Henk Feith). Some "odd" winter-records stand out - like this past winter, when one has been found around Christmas at the western Algarve coast, for instance. I also reported a male from the 28-12-2001 (already a while ago...) onwards, from Ludo, Faro here which has been an extreme early arrival in my opinion, rather than a wintering bird. Males of course do show up first usually. In 2009 I saw my first Woodchat-Shrike (male) on the 2nd of March near Salir, Central Algarve.

The National Park of Monfragüe and the Spanish Extremadura

2010-03-01T14:02:00.032Z

Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius at the watch point "Salto del Gitano"

On Sunday evening I returned from a 5-days Fam-Trip to Central Spain. I participated on behalf of birdingtours (D) who had been invited to this event, scheduled simultaneously with the annual Bird fair (FIO) in the National Park of Monfragüe.

During the 3-days program we have been visiting the Sierra de Gata in the north-west of Extremadura, then Monfragüe (Cáceres-province) - a peace of "birdwatchers heaven" and one of the best locations to observe large birds of prey in Europe - and finally the Sierra de Hornachos and the plain of Campiña Sur in the south.

Despite the bad weather and the relative short time we were effectively birding, we saw a lot of birds. Up to 25 Eurasian Black Vultures at their breeding site in Serra de Gata were soaring together and we also observed a couple on their nest in the crown of a Pine-tree at a mountain slope. Some 300 pairs are breeding in the region.
I had two observations of Golden Eagle and two of a couple of Bonelli's Eagle - the latter one when "testing" the big 15x56 Swarovski-Binoculars right above the Fair-ground (!), where they were joining some Griffon Vultures circling in a thermal.
Spectacular also the watch point "Salto del Gitano", where we arrived first thing in the morning, when the whole scenery was still "mysty" (first 3 photos). Someone pointed out 2 Otters, which were fishing and playing together in the Tejo (Tajo) below us. The 100+ Griffons roosting all over the cliff eventually began to soar after a while and where impressive - some birds were incubating already and a couple right in front of us had occupied a Black-Storks nest (photo). When we Tour-operators (or represents) had to attend (local) businesses from almost everywhere in Spain (lots of great offers really ! Rural Houses where the Lammergeier flys by daily...)the others (Press people) were brought to a second watch point, where they saw adult Spanish/Iberian Imperial Eagle, Egyptian Vulture and Black Stork... other than that, we came across Black-winged, Red- and Black-Kites, Short/toed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin (the latter 2 hunting together), hundreds of Common Cranes, a few Great Bustards and 2 Stone Curlews.

Though I have not seen any bird species I could not see in Southern Portugal, it is easier here to get good views of raptors at their breeding sites, because of the high populations and the abundance of cliff faces which make it easier to observe. The landscapes and also the culture (Mérida is said to have been the biggest city of the Roman Empire within the Iberian peninsula) and gastronomy are all making it well worth visiting the region.

Thanks to our excellent Bird-Guides Godfried Schreur (NL) at the right, Martin Kelsey (GB) next to the telescope, as well as Karissa Winters (US) in the middle and Yadira Chaparro (E) from the regional Tourism board Turextremadura , this has been a great trip. Martin Kelsey runs his own country side Hotel in the area and I can highly recommend his services - the link is here. Godfried's e-mail is: godfried.schreur@gmail.com
I'd like to come again ! But I was keen to check the coast for Gulls when I came home, as well... !

Calandra Lark

2010-02-19T21:35:00.003Z

Calandra Lark - Kalanderlerche - Calhandra-real (Melanocorypha calandra). This male has been performing display-flights including the "slow motion wing-beats" that also Lesser Short-toed Lark does, while singing - today, around half way, Faro-Lisboa...

Larus marinus

2010-02-09T17:55:00.006Z

Saw this adult Greater Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) in Quarteira this morning.
The species is still considered a rarity in Portugal, but single birds show up with regularity in the Algarve. Mostly youngsters, of course.
The bird was roosting about 5 ms away from a working fisherman but did not bother.

Next to it, a first winter Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) was bearing a type of colour pvc-ring I did not see so far - curious to find out where it comes from.

This Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) - a winter-guest from the British Isles, was still at the same location where I observed it a month ago...(check an earlier Blog-entry).

Sociable Lapwing

2010-01-29T20:50:00.007Z

This Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) winters in the Alentejo-plains (Mertola-area) together with many thousand of Lapwings and Golden Plovers since December now and was still there today. Is it in adult winter- or in first winter plumage ?

Hoppoe & friends

2010-01-27T19:33:00.010Z

This Hoppoe (Upupa epops) was preening his entire plumage on his post in the afternoon sun today.

His friend Azur-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana cooki) was roosting in a nearby Pine-tree.

Spotless Starlings (Sturnus unicolor) were singing and Barn Swallows are arriving since about mid month...

Ferruginous Ducks and -hybrids

2010-01-16T18:53:00.014Z

Earlier this week, I went to Vilamoura, in the Central Algarve, to the main observatory near the ETAR (sewerage-work) in the "Parque Ambiental". After parking the car, I flushed a Squacco Heron out of the ditch right next to the path. Penduline Tits were present and I could see one bird well. Marsh Harrier, Common Waxbill and calling Cetti's Warblers were other typical and expectable birds along the way my. After reaching the hide at the small lake, surounded by reeds, at first, only Common Coots, Great Cormorants, Little Grebes and some Mallard seem to be present - only a few birds in total, wich is nothing unusal there. The Marsh Harrier showed up from time to time, a Kingfisher crossed the lake and then, a first Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) swam out of the cover and was just visible beyond the small reedbed in front of me. A first winter male, in my opinion, still without the white eye of the adult. At least the bird looked "normal" for the species to me. I observed the bird for about 15 Min., during his diving-action at the edge of the reeds, where it probably fed on the common (introduced) freshwater Crayfish-species Prokambarus clarkii wich is also one of the favourits of the local Otters (lutra lutra) wich show up occasionaly in the Marinas of Vilamoura nad Faro, by the way.
Then a second bird- and a few Min. later, a third bird showed up. These two birds, were both a product of Hybridisation with Common Pochard (Aythya ferina).
At my previous visit, in early December 2009, there were 2 "normal" adult males present, plus one bird, wich could have been the second of the Hybrids shown further down. So, 2 of, at least 5 different "Ferruginous Ducks" observed at the location this winter, were Hybrids. I have seen and photographed this type of Hybrids at Lagoa dos Salgados, about 15kms further west, in earlier years already, wich is the only site, were the species is known to have bred with succsess in recent years.

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca). A "normal" first winter -male. Note the colour-tone, hardly contrasting between flanks and breast. Head- and bill-proportions and the bright white and clear defined undertail-patch. Vilamoura, 14-01-2010.

Hybrid of Ferruginous Duck and Common Pochard (Aythya nyroca x ferina) an adult male. Note the greyish flanks, yellowish eye, colour-tone on head and breast and the head and bill-shape. The confusion species Aythya americana has a different, more roundish head-profile and different markings on the bill. the following two photos are showing the same Individual. Vilamoura, 14-01-2010.

The following two photos show the third Individual present that day, also a Hybrid obviously, of the same species, apparently. A first winter or a female Individual ?

Hybrid of Ferruginous Duck and Common Pochard (Aythya nyroca x ferina). Vilamoura, 14-01-2010.

Black-winged Kites and Booted Eagles

2010-01-12T00:20:00.019Z

Yesterday, the weather conditions seemed to be right to check a nearby wetland- and farm-area for wintering birds of prey. It is particularly interesting for Booted Eagles (Aquila pennata) and Black-winged Kites (Elanus caeruleus). Total count was 6 Ind. pale-morph Booted Eagles (this has been the minimum count, avoiding possible double counts). I saw up to 4 of them soaring together and two birds gave very close views. Black-shouldered- or Black-winged Kites were at least 3 Ind., plus possible two more in the far distance. Other birds of prey I observed during my one hours stay, were Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - 3 Ind., calling and showing display flights, 2 juvenile or female Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) and an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

When I arrived at my observation-point, which overlooks most of the area, I was already welcomed by a continuously calling Booted Eagle, perched somewhere in the Eucalyptus in front of me. I soon found the bird with the scope, a pale morph - juvenile, with broad, pale margins to the tail feathers...still calling long rows of "gji gji gji" or "jik jik jik", it approached another Booted in the same group of trees. It then occurred to me, that this calls I hear so frequently are begging-calls of the juveniles/first winter birds, still following their parents and begging them for food (no wonder they were hungry after all that heavy rain...)also here in their wintering grounds.
I observed the same on Terns - wintering Sandwich Terns (Sterna sandvincensis) and Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) are both followed by the juveniles when scanning the channels of Ria Formosa for food and I several times saw the young ones being fed with fishes on the water, when the adult was successful. The young ones also call a lot while following the adults... So "childhood" extends into the winter and the following year in many cases apparently.... have to check what literature says regarding this matter...

Other than the birds of prey, there where about 150 White Storks in the area, about a third of them local breeders, already around their nests. The others later circled up and disappeared in northern direction, most probably "having lunch" at a rubbish dip in Serra de Caldeirão...Before the left I cold read one ring code which I will send to see where the bird comes from.
Birds heard or seen from my watch point where Cetti's Warbler, Common Waxbill, Penduline Tit, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Sardinian Warbler, Spottless Starling, Azure-winged Magpie, Hoppoe and a few others. Also Mediterranean Tree-Frogs are calling now, that everything is green and there is water almost "everywhere".

First Swallows are arriving already. Single Barn Swallows(males usually) can be seen in their breeding areas already, I did so yesterday in two locations. Its hard to say if this Ind. have been staying here during the winter or are coming back from Africa already. There are definitely small winter flocks, especially in- or near the wetlands with reed beds, which are giving food and shelter / night-roost.
Yesterday, I observed at least 3 Crag Martins, 2 House Martins, 1 Red-rumped Swallow and 1 Barn Swallow from my vantage-point while looking for the raptors.

Well, this little census was my "duty" but I was curious if the cold in Central and Western Europe had pushed down some Gulls from the North Atlantic to the Algarve already, so I went to check one of my favourite spots for Gulls in the Central Algarve.
No, not yet, was the result. But a juvenile Razorbill (Alca torda) was still in the little fishing harbour of Quarteira. Majority of small Gulls in the area were Mediterranean Gulls (Larus melanocephalus)- about 150 at least I would say, which is a good number for the winter. Most Gulls were feeding at the breakwaters. Among the few Gulls roosting at the beach; I found one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) with a colour-ring (photo). The bird had heavy problems with this ring and could not use the leg. It seems this occasional happens. Other Gulls where just of the common species. But I found a Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) - a scarce winter-visitor to the Algarve, coming from the British Isles. Additionally information about the sub-species of White Wagtails you can find here.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Quarteira, 11.01.2010.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) Quarteira, 11.01.2010.

New Years Day

2010-01-01T18:59:00.010Z

A very happy, healthy, successful and what-ever-you-might-wish-for-yourself - Year 2010 to everybody !!!

This Squacco Heron (Ardea ralloides) gave very good views at the Golf course of "Quinta do Lago" today.

Sitting in the afternoon sun, it catched very small fishes at the surface from time to time...

The Squacco Heron is not known to nest in the Algarve, though this has been reported accidently. It is a rather scarce visitor to the Algarve, most birds might be coming from the nearby Doñana-National Park in Andalusia/Spain, where it nests with regularity but is also one of the rarer Heron-species and far from being common.

It has been raining a lot here the last, say 2 weeks... and today has been the first day with good conditions to go out and watch some birds. But luckyly now everything outside turns green finaly - the land needed the rain and this winter had been very dry before. Its interesting to notice, how the nature "awakes" here just after the rain, since water is the limiting factor for vegetation here and not the cold as it is in the northern countries. Cetti's Warblers have been very active today. I have missed there calls when I was in the areas (wetlands with bushes usually) where they usually occur and are very abundant. Also, a pair of Great Crested Grebes started to show there mating behaviour today.
Besides the more regular birds at the Golf course Lake (Purple Gallinule, Glossy Ibis, Iberian Magpie, Hoppoe, Common Waxbill, Duck Species, Med Gulls etc...) some Swallows and Martins were catching insects above the Lake. About 10 or so Craig Martins, one House Martin and 6 Barn Swallows were there at least. An Alpine Swift had been seen there in December by another birder but I could not see it today. However, wintering flocks of Swallows and Martins have become almost a regular thing here, too. Craig Martin is the most abundant, especially in the western Algarve.
In the Saltpans, a bit further back, I observed about 100 Black-winged Stilts quite close together, wich is a good concentration for the mid winter, when the numbers of this species are lowest.
When leaving the area, around sunset, an adult Osprey gave good views, flying low above a channel filled with Ducks and Coots. Further beyond, a Black-winged Kite hovered nearby, above a swampy area, being the last bird I noticed on my afternoon's birding-trip at, what happened to become my homepatch for already some years now.

"Ludo" near Faro.

Winter Birding around Faro

2009-12-22T19:51:00.026Z

Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild - an introduced species that has successfully conquered the Portuguese wetlands. I heard it been called "Tamagochi" by some local birders...

The second common exotic species here is the Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus - here a female. The males are bright yellow with a brown hood. These birds also prefer wetlands with reeds, where they nest in autumn.

Audouin's Gulls Larus audouinii in Tavira

The Booted Eagle Aquila pennata - photos showing the dark and the pale morph - winters in the Algarve, particularily around Faro. These birds are surprisingly vocal.

First Caspian Terns Sterna caspia arrive on the Algarvian coastline in the last days of August or early September already and some Individuals are staying here until late April...

The Ferrugineous Duck Aythya nyroca - here two males - is a rather rare and vulnerable Duck-species in Europe and can be found wintering near Vilamoura with some regularity.

Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica are mainly seen in the channels of the Ria Formosa. This Ind. has been photographed near Tavira.

Faro-area is also the centre of the winter-distribution for Hoppoes Upupa epops in Portugal. They often feed on Golf courses. This one does so, accompanied by a Meadow Pipit.

Unbeatable colours - the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio.

The Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus is a regulary guest - when will the species start nesting in the Algarve ?

Ring-billed Gull in Castro Marim

2009-12-13T20:51:00.004Z

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis (1st Winter) Cerro de Bufo (North-Western part), Castro Marim Reserve, 12th of December 2009.

Penguins in Ria Formosa ?

2009-12-06T22:40:00.002Z

Today: Juvenile Razorbill Alca torda at the harbour of Ilha da Culatra, Ria Formosa.

Surf Scoter in the Central Algarve !

2009-12-05T22:29:00.001Z

Today I received a phone call from a friend and experienced Birder and Ringer here in the Algarve, saying that he found a Velvet Scoter on the sea just out a small lagoon between Quinta do Lago and Quarteira (Praia das Dunas Douradas). I was quite busy with other stuff at the moment and actually decided I would not go, though I had never seen this species in Portugal, but knew it well from Germany. Few minutes later the phone ringed again:"Its a Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata !" Now that was more convincing and 5 Min later I was in the car. Just before arriving I received the message that the birds (the bird was found in a group of 14 juvenile Common Scoters Melanitta nigra) had just left. We met at a nearby beach few km's east an could relocate the flock - but before we could aproach it, the birds flew again and moved back to the first place ! There, we finaly came close enough to see them well (its a juvenile) and make some record digiscoping-shots of the bird, before they moved on again.... A super-rarity in Portugal, most European records are made in Ireland. (Observers: João Ministro, Miguel Mendes, Georg Schreier)

(Un-) Common Gulls in the Algarve

2009-12-01T21:23:00.010Z

Common Gull (Larus canus)- here an adult bird in winter plumage, Ilha de Faro, 01.Dez. 2009 (seen with João Ministro).

Another Common Gull (Larus canus) - in 1st winter plumage. Lagoa dos Salgados, 29. Oct. 2009.

Todays bird is, as far as I remember, the first adult I saw here. Juvenile / first winter birds, I find one or two per year.

This is a new Forum/discussion-group about Gulls in the internet.

White-rumped Sandpiper at Martinhal today

2009-11-22T20:06:00.018Z

Another rarity has been found in the Cape-area near Sagres today - a juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis at the small lagoon at Praia de Martinhal. When I arrived at the late afternoon, the light was getting low already I did not get a good photo. Anyway, this has been one of the biggest twitches I have seen here so far - with more than 15 people showing up at the location during the afternoon. The bird was very tame and did not bother photographers crawling closer than 10m.

Note the extremly longish body-shape and the primaries extending well beyond the tail as well as bill-length compared to Little Stint, for instance.

The brownish base of the lower mandible is an important feature to seperate the species from Baird's Sandpiper, wich could be the confusion species. Brownish cap and greyish neck indicating a juvenile bird. The bird is moulting into first winter plumage of course, but some chestnut-brown scapulars are still retained and the edges of most of the tertials are not showing this colour tone anymore but have been replaced by the white edged ones of the first-winter plumage.

The body shape seen from the front would be broader on Baird's Sandpiper.

When a walker in a signal-yellow jogging-dress passed close by the waters edge on the opposite side of the very small lagoon, the bird showed a behaviour wich I have never seen any wader doing - it pressed itself down to the water-level and stretched out as much as possible, to hide from the approaching, potential threat. It was then holding this position for about 20 seconds or so ! Only coming out, when the danger had passed away. Amazing. It reminded me on a bevaviour, Little Grebes show in similar situations, when they hide themselves in the water, in an in-between position, between swimming and diving, and stay there, with only their head and a part of the neck above the water level.

Note again how longish the bird is !

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) at Altura

2009-11-21T18:12:00.005Z

Another surprise - a Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus has been found by Carlos Vilhena at the tank of Altura in the eastern Algarve yesterday. I went to see the bird in the afternoon. It was roosting next to the tank and I got the impression, that it was very exhausted. I could not see its legs, but others did and the bird is not ringed. It really looks like a wild bird to me ! Would be the second record for Portugal. I know that Whooper Swans sometimes join flocks of Common Cranes Grus grus on migration, of wich big numbers are wintering each year in the South of Portugal (inland) and Spain, like in Doñana, Andalusia. Lots of birds are already there. The yellow-brownish colour tone on the birds neck and head might come from pigments in the water it has been feeding in (Iron-Oxid or similar) but could also indicate that it is a second year bird. However, I miss the reference to clearify this at the moment. Bill colour defenitly excludes a 1st Winter bird. Its often young birds wich tend to "exaggerate" their passage and end up far beyond the actual wintering distribution of the species. In this case this would be the northern parts of central Europe, with the big lakes at the northern margin of the Alp mountains as the southern limit.
You can check a map of the wintering distribution of the species in Germany here, and in the UK here.
Its remarkable that 8 Whooper Swans (of how many in total ?)have been reported flying westwards on the north-western Tip of Galicia a week ago. And many northern Ducks and Geese has been reported. These Ind. could have reached the Algarve in the meanwhile. Here is the original note from www.rarebirdspain.net
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus (1-8)
(1-8) A Coruña Eight birds were seen flying W from O Barqueiro, A Coruña on 13.11 (Ricardo Hevia)
Altura-reservoir actually is an rather ugly concrete-tank that does not look very attractive to waterbirds one should say, but it is filled with a Makro-Algae and therefore does attract many Common Coots (and Red-Crested Coot occasionaly) wich also feed on this plants, like Gadwalls and Swans...

Long-billed Dowitcher and Buff-breasted Sandp.

2009-09-27T21:46:00.009+01:00

This Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus was still present today at Lagoa dos Salgados (again !). It is a juvenile, moulting into first-winter plumage and has been reported there since the 18th of this month, when it had been found in a group of Common Snipes. It resembles these species pretty much in silhoutte and movements, when feeding. This is going to be the fifth record for Continental Portugal.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis juvenile, also present today and since at least the 21st of September. The two birds were seen less than 100m away from each other. The rather "tiny" Buff-breasted preferably feeds on land and was pretty "tame". This is record number 8 for the species in Portugal (Continental). The lagoon - also often refered to as "Pera Marsh" is THE hotspot for wader-rarities in Southern (Continental) Portugal !

White-headed Duck and Red-knobbed Coot

2009-07-31T09:24:00.006+01:00

On Tuesday I met up with a couple of friends visiting the Algarve. It has been Magnus Robb ("The sound approach to birding" http://www.soundapproach.co.uk/ ), Pim Wolf (former member of the Dutch rarities committee) and Joao Tiago Tavares (a Portuguese ornithologist working on Bonelli's Eagles over the past years) - so, a nice bunch of birders, actually....
After a Coffee, we went to Ludo, were we saw a Red-crested Coot (Fulica cristata) and to Quinta do Lago, where five or more Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus-juveniles mainly) were observed and heard near the hide. Purple Gallinule with chicks, an 2nd Summer Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) and several Mediterranean Gulls were present. Little Terns (Sterna albifrons) and Kingfishers (Alcedo attis) were fishing right in front of the hide. The Little Grebes (Tachybabtus ruficollis) were still on the nest or had small chicks and several Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) were mixed under all the Gadwall and Mallard on the lake. Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) were present at both sites. And many Iberian Magpies gave good views, a lot of them juveniles. A Hoppoe and a Black Kite, Greater Flamingos, Avocets and Curlew Sandpipers were seen, as well.
Our next target was Lagoa dos Salgados, west of Albufeira. Arriving there, after a bit more then half an hour driving, a flock of about 300 Greater Flamingos in the lagoon could be seen from a distance already. Hundreds (probably thousands) of House Martins, Common- and Pallid Swifts were feeding above the lagoon. We spotted a few Alpine Swifts (Apus melba) among them.
Next to were we stood, a female White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) was swimming. Two females have been present here during the past weeks and an adult male had been observed for at least two weeks in spring 2008, until the lagoon had been drained once more, to avoid it flooding the nearby Golf course... This place definitely has potential for a breeding site for this highly endangered species - if only there would be a management of this wetland and an approved conservation plan...
In the evening, around sunset, a flock of about 180 Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) arrived and landed on the opposite side of the wetland to roost here for the night, gathering with the 30+ birds which were present already. An adult Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) was one of the last birds for the day. When leaving the site, Stone Curlew (Burrinhus oedicnemus) called loudly and near the access to the motorway, a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) perched on a telegraph wire near a pine forest - quite an unusual sighting. All in all a successful and not at all boring birding-trip.
Even more so, if one knows, that the others had seen birds like Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, European Roller and White-rumped Swift during the morning in the Alentejo already...

American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) at Lagoa dos Salgados today

2009-07-18T22:05:00.004+01:00

Elegant adult bird in full breeding plumage. This is a typical date for the species, regarding adult birds. Had a Pl. fulva at the same spot at the 22nd of July 2007, wich has been the second acknowledged record for Continental Portugal !

Golden Eagle and starting wader-passage

2009-07-05T20:51:00.005+01:00

when doing my field-work around the wind-farm in the Caldeirao-mountains last week, about three quarters of an hour north of Faro, I had a first for the area: An immature Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (3rd calender year male) - fantastic bird ! The eagle flew along a slope, very low above the ground, perhaps intending to flush a Hare, a Rabbit or a Red-legged Partridge with this technique and finaly perched in an Cork-Oak Tree. Later it just lifted wings again and then crossed the valley high, then gliding and finaly diving down to disappear somewhere near the Odelouca-River. An immature Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus perched on a telegraph-post next to the road has been another nice observation during these samples. The bird was probably just crossing through the Serra - on the way from the breeding grounds in the Alentejo-plaines to wintering areas near some Algarve wetlands or pasture areas.
In the saltmarshes and saltflats of the Algarve-coast the first Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa arrived, all adults and still in breeding plumage. Another wader indicating "autumn migration" is already on the way, is Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - wich I saw on a reservoir in the Castro verde plaines as well as in Castro Marim Reserve during last week. In Castro Marim, where I was accompanied by a small group of people, we observed also 3 to 4 juvenile Great-spotted Cuckoo's Clamator glandarius, one apparently still being fed by their favourite host-species, an European Magpie. A family of Lesser Short-toed Larks Calandrella rufescens and a couple - still in full breeding plumage - of Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis has been remarkable, too. For the Grebe its quite an early date.
On the beach, besides the local Little Terns there, also the first Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus show up now. An adult breeding Mediteranean Gull in soar, with the sunlight shining through the feathers and nothing but sea and sand behind it, is one of the most beautiful sightings I can imagine, I just found out.

Summer Birds

2009-06-18T01:02:00.003+01:00

Now summer definitly arrived and drought takes place where ever you look. June is the month of fledgeing young and juvenile dispersion. According to this, a Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) hangs arround the roadcrossing of the N 125 towards the airport just north of Faro a lot. Many juvenile Iberian Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava iberiae) can be seen in Ria Formosa and other salt marsh habitat along the coast. I saw juvenile Grey Wagtails as well today, at a reservoir near Ribeiro de Alamo, few km west of the Castro Marim reserve. Besides Great- and Common Reed Warbler, also Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) was present. I observed a male attacking (!) a Fereal Pigeon, wich flew by, intending to drink, and chasing it away. I guess he was overdoing a bit in defending his territory, but who knows, never trust domestic animals...The Red-necked Nightjars, wich I can sometimes hear at night when I leave the window open, or see just after sunset, hunting for insects near some Pine trees, wich I am looking at, when I step out of my front door, are silent at the time. Probably incubating. But the Little Owls, inhabiting a nearby ruin, are noisy as most of the year. Now matter wich side of the sandy track leading to the house I take - there are Bee-eaters perched on the telegraph wire along the track.Last Wednesday I went into the eastern Algarve Serra, the secondary valleys west of the Guadiana river, in particular. The purpose was to get White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) wich is a very scarce breeder in the area, as well as to see Western Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) wich is not uncommon along the streams in the area.I did not go alone. Pedro Marques, a Portuguese photographer based in Lisbon, and perhaps one of the best wildlife photographers in the country, accompanied me. To cut a long story short, this has been a succsessfull trip ! You can see some of the results below. Pedro later told me, he went to visit the site again the next day, and was surprised to see a couple of Black Storks (Cigonia nigra) including one bird flying about 3m above his head...! We also had good views of Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) - carrying food, as well as a rather pale Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)hovering and passerines like Thekla Lark, Rock Bunting, Subalpine Warbler, Craig Martin and Red-rumped Swallow. Remarkable also, that Common Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover and Water Rail apparently all breed at this site. The wonderfull
photos at the following post - the best I have seen so far from this species actually, are clickable to enlarge.

2009-06-18T00:35:00.007+01:00

Western Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) Algarve, June 2009. This and the following photos are made by Pedro Marques.

2009-06-18T00:19:00.002+01:00

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) Algarve, June 2009. Photo: Pedro Marques.

About my Tours

2009-05-27T09:13:00.001+01:00

The following text is a brief description about myself and the tours, in near future further information will be available on http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/
Living in Central Algarve, right next to the beautifull Ria Formosa Natural Park, I can guide you through all Southern Portugal. Tours can be tailored to your individual needs – various itineraries and target species are possible – head out in search of your “lifer” and see the highlights of the season – nearly 100 different bird species can be seen on a day-tour. Areas of main interest include:
Steppe-like Plains of the Southern Alentejo:
The rolling plains form a vast ocean of grassland, flowers and cereal fields with some scattered oak trees. White stork nesting is widespread, often accompanied by Spanish Sparrows. Great and Little Bustards can be spotted, and Black-shouldered Kite, European Roller, Western Rufous Scrub-Robin (May-July), Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Montagu´s Harriers breed. Vultures occur, especially in summer and the Golden Eagle, as well as the Spanish Imperial Eagle occur occasionally. Cranes overwinter, as well as large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover.
Coastal wetlands of the Algarve:
The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, with its channels, salt marshes and salt flats – as well as other lagoons and estuaries – is home to Flamingos, Spoonbills, Egrets as well as various waders and waterfowl. Purple Gallinule and Azure-winged Magpie are typical, summer-birds include Collared Pratincole, Little Bittern and Red-necked Nightjar as well as Audouins- and Slender-billed Gull. Wintering of Booted Eagle, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Blue-Throat and Penduline Tit is common. Raritys with some regularity include Richard´s Pipit, Red-knobbed Coot and others.
About myself: Born 1968, birdwatcher for 25 years with detailed knowledge about the birds of Portugal and the Western Palearctic. I studied biology and geography in Germany and worked there as a teacher and started a project for the protection of a wetland area with success. I am familiar with the regional birdlife of all Southern Portugal for more than 10 years. I am a member of the Portuguese Society for bird studies (SPEA) and work as a Tour-guide for several Operators for birdwatching-travel from Germany and Swizzerland (birdingtours, Albatros-Tours, Arcatour) as well as for the Golf-Resort of Quinta do Lago and the University of Faro occasionally. Besides the work as field-guide I am surveying the impact of windfarms on bird populations, in particular on birds of prey, in the Serra de Caldeirao. I speak fluently German and English as well as basic French and Portuguese.