Autumn birds

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 !

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 !

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

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

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

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

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...