Resume of the past 7 days Tours

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

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

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...

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) 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

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

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

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.birdingnetherlands.com)