Thursday, October 5, 2017

Raptor migration in the Algarve

Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) pale morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.
 At the end of the summer, migratory birds of all kind leave their breeding grounds, driven by the urge to migrate southwards, to their wintering areas in Africa. Among them are thousands of birds of prey that pass through the "bottleneck" of the Strait of Gibraltar, where crossing the ocean is less exhausting and dangerous. Juveniles, on migration for their first time and not having learned the best route yet, often get "trapped" in the Sagres-Peninsula in the western Algarve, continental Europe's south-western tip, where their southbound journey is blocked by the Atlantic Ocean. Most birds of prey and other soaring birds, such as Storks, depend on thermals as they are incapable of performing active flight over long distances. Over the ocean, where no thermals form, they are in danger to get so exhausted that they plunge into the sea and die, so they instinctively don't pick this way. After being trapped in the hinterland of the cape-area of Sagres, sometimes for days or weeks, they eventually take the only way out - eastwards. By following the coastline, they finally reach the Tarifa-area in Andalusia, Spain, where Marokko is visible across the only 14 km narrow Strait of Gibraltar. Surveys related to the windfarms between the Monchique mountains and the cape of Sagres and São Vicente have counted 3000-4000 birds of prey and Black Storks passing through the region each autumn, peaking between mid September and mid October usually, depending on species. Far over 90% are juveniles. On a good day, 15 or more species of birds of prey can be observed from the watchpoint "Cabranosa" in the area. The following pictures are taken over the past month.

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) dark morph juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) very dark juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) adult female, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Eleanora's Falcon (Falco eleanorae) 2nd cy pale morph, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Eleanora's Falcon (Falco eleanorae) 2nd cy pale morph, Cabranosa, Sagres, 16-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile, Vale Santo, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) juvenile dark morph, Vale Santo, Sagres, 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps vulvus) immature, Mértola (Alentejo), 13-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 25-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Lesser-spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) juvenile, Cabranosa, Sagres, 29-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Not only raptors migrate and stop over here:
Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) juvenile, Vale Santos, Sagres, 04-Sept-2017. © Georg Schreier.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Rufous Bush Robin & White-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer), Mértola-area (Baixo-Alentejo) 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.

Summer has arrived here in South Portugal, providing the weather conditions for two species that do like it "hot": The White-rumped Swift and the Rufous Bush Robin, a.k.a.: (Western) Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.
While widespread over equatorial Africa, the White-rumped Swift (WRS) in Europe is confined to areas in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, where it is rather rare, showing a slighly positive trend though since its colonisation beginning in the 1960s at the Strait of Gibraltar. In Portugal it is found in the arid and hot south-east and east of the country only. From the east Algarve hinterland (Serra do Caldeirão), along the Guadiana river-valley and its affluents inland, to areas around Mértola, Beja and Moura (Alentejo) with the Tejo-valley, near Castelo Branco marking the northern limit of its breeding territory in the country (corresponding to the northern limit of the distribution in Spain). Nest sites are often road bridges along small secondary roads over a river bed. Here the species takes over a nest of the common Red-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica) around mid May. Most of the few known breeding sites are occupied year after year. Recently, new nest sites have been discovered. The first breeding record for Portugal dates from 1995. Out of the usual breeding range in the country was a pair nesting in Monchique-area (West-Algarve) a few years ago. It correspondes with observations of the species made near Cape S. Vincent in late August. The total breeding population for the country might be in the order of 10-20 pairs, however, exact numbers do not exist. After the young have fletched, the birds beginn to disperse. I remember having observed WRS's in August on a regular basis feeding above a small reservoir in Alcoutim-county (east-Algarve), before a nearby (c. 10kms) nest site had been discovered. My latest observation date for the species are two Ind. seen over the salt pans of Castro Marim-reserve on the 15th of September, on the way to their wintering grounds in sub-saharan Africa.





White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer), Mértola-area (Baixo-Alentejo) 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.


Rufous Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes). Castro Verde-area, 13-June-2017. All photos: Georg Schreier.



Most birds are less active around mid day- the Rufous Bush Robin however, sings throughout the hottest hours. Again, confined to Portugal's south east and arriving hardly any earlier than the first half of May, it breeds in small numbers along streams in the "pseudo-steppes"of the Baixo-Alentejo plains and the region around the Guadiana-river valley, as well as in the eastern Serra do Caldeirão (Algarve). Territorys occasionally found further west in the Algarve, in the surroundings of Lagoa do Salgados (Silves) and near Paderne, for instance, are thought to be caused by birds forced away from their usual breeding grounds at the Alqueva-reservoir, where the species has lost lots of habitat, when Europe's biggest reservoir was built (around the year 2000). Rocky river beds, in hot and dry areas, best with some cliff faces and the pink-flowering Oleander-bushes (Nerium oleander), are good areas to look for this species. Fruit orchards and gardens also make part of its habitat, essential is the access to water. The birds of South Iberia differ from those found in south-eastern Europe (Greece and Turkey, mainly). The latter, usually treated as a subspecies ("syriacus"), shows a greyish color tone over the head, neck, mantle, back and in the wing, while "our" western birds (subspecies "galactotes") are more uniformly rufous- or buff-orange colored. The species is rarely seen on migration, but there are records from the Cape-area near Sagres (September) and ringing-records made near Faro-airport, for instance. Impressive is the territorial display, shown in the pictures below, including fanning the magnificent tail and dropping the wings.

These two were the main target species for yesterday's day tour and we got really good views (and photos) of both. Other species seen during the day-tour included: Spanish Imperial Eagles (two immatures), Black- and Griffon Vultures, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Golden Oriole, Great Spotted Cuckoo (juv.), Woodchat- and Southern Grey Shrikes, Great Bustards and back at the coast- Little Bittern (feeding fledged juveniles), Purple Swamphen, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-headed Weaver, Azur-winged Magpie, Hoppoe, Wryneck, Audouin's Gulls and many more.






Wednesday, April 12, 2017

A morning around Faro



Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) adult male, told by black mantle feathers. First Ind. usually arrive
in early March here, depending on weather conditions. 5 or 6 Ind. where perched on- or next to the
airport-fence. Faro, 10-April-2017.
Some shots I took during a morning just west of Faro airport yesterday. Continuous sunny weather and easterly winds provide excellent conditions to find spring migrants along the coast right now. After travelling with a group last week, I just enjoyed taking some time in my own pace. Sitting quietly at a good spot is often rewarded with surprisingly good observations. Amazing what you can spot here in a single morning without even trying too hard!


Male Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). Faro, 10-April-2017.
Wryneck (Jynx torquila). Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.
Hoppoe (Upupa epops) carrying food. Ludo (Faro) 10-April-2017.
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) male. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. An established breeding bird in the Algarve, origin is sub-saharian Africa. Populations here are based on escapes - perhaps from the Zoo in Lagos?
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus). Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. Male displaying at a fresh nest.

Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) male and female at the nest. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.

Bluethroat (Lusciana svecica) second calender year. A rather late date for this wintering species here. Quinta do Lago, 10-April-2017.

Male Little Crake (Porzana parvaQuinta do Lago, 10-April-2017. A rare but regular passage migrant in the Algarve, during March/ April and September. The status of this secretive species as well as of its relatives here is not fully known.


Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Sora (Porzana carolina) in the Algarve

The first ever Sora (Porzana carolina) for continental Portugal has been discovered yesterday in the town of Silves, west Algarve. The species is a very rare vagrant to the WP from North America, with most records from the UK and the Azores.

Sora (Porzana carolina) in the town of Silves, west Algarve, on 24-Jan-2017, 1st for continental Portugal.
This photo shows all the key features of the species  - black face markings and all yellow bill, speckless
ear coverts and neck sides, whitish outer undertail coverts... (Foto: Georg Schreier).

The actually story is a bit different. The bird had been seen by Luisa Sequeira more than two weeks ago already, residing between the old roman bridge and the new road bridge, on the town side river bank, where it comes out of the reed bed onto the mud flats and debris to feed during low tide. This section of the river also holds an unusual high density of Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), besides King Fisher, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, visiting Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Muscovy Ducks and other feral watervowl.
Only yesterday (24-Jan-2017) Luisa posted a photo of the bird she finally got a few days before in the facebook-group "Aves de Portugal Continental", but uncertain about the ID, as a probable Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana). I saw this post a couple of hours later and it striked me right away as a Sora - the black face markings and the all yellow bill (reddish bill base on Spotted Crake), lack of spots on head and neck, white outer undertail coverts... I wondered why nobody seemed to have noticed this and after a few friends I alerted had seen the photo and shared in my opinion, Luisa kindly gave me details about where exactely she saw the bird and an hour later I was there, watching the bird with only two or three other birders from the Algarve (in the UK for instance, I guess would have been hundreds by then!). Worth mentioning perhaps is also an adult Bonellis Eagle circling high above the town together with about a dozen of White Storks when I arrived on the roman bridge.


Sora (Porzana carolina) in the town of Silves, west Algarve, on 24-Jan-20171st for continental Portugal  
(Foto: Georg Schreier).

I have begun to take videos with my mobile phone through the telescope. I use the new Swarovski ATX 85 scope and the Iphone 5s. Adapter for other oculars and Iphone-models exist - check here.

Two rough examples of yesterdays Sora:







Talking about facebook - perhaps more interesting for you, because in English, is the public facebook-group "Algarve Portugal rare birds" to which I contribute quite often to inform about rare or scarce bird sightings in the Algarve. My (new) personal facebook account, where I show fotos and post updates much more frequent than here, is "Georg Schreier Birdwatching".


Other examples of videos I made recently:





Osprey (click to view).


Some shots taken on recent tours:


Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicicus) juvenile, with Montpelliers Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus),
Sagres "Baleeira" on 20-Dec-2017. Foto GS.


Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) near Castro Verde, Alentejo, 14-Dec-2017. Foto: GS.


Great Bustards (Otis tarda). Castro Verde-area, 09-Jan-2017. Foto: GS. This group was so close to a public road, 
that they took off when we slowly passed by. Luckily they have lots of habitat in the area.