Eastern Algarve (staying at Casa Rosa) - February 12^th-19^th 2006

by Graham Watson

Greater Flamingoes

Leaving a cold, seemingly endlessly grey, Britain seems like a good idea in February – and it was!  Flying from Exeter was different, certainly no crowds to jostle through!  Flight an hour late – lack of cabin crew –, which rather makes you worry that they know something that you don’t!  Strong tail winds made up all the lost time and we emerged at Faro to the chirping of House Sparrows, blue skies and the heat of a late spring day.  Collected the car and were off to Casa Rosa seeing White Storks on nests already bill clattering, a sound which can carry for miles.  Roads empty as per usual; perhaps they knew we were coming! The difference from August is astonishing; everything is green.  Sheets of yellow and white flowers interspersed with purple but still only a suggestion of what will be there in a few weeks time.  Okay, there are many dead trees, resulting from last summer’s drought, around, especially the Almonds and Pines, but the winter rainfall has been kind.  Swallowtail and Clouded Yellow butterflies were soon spotted amidst the hum of insects.

White Stork

The Azure-winged Magpies were around this time – every evening they gathered in a flock of 30+, very loudly, in a pine tree at the end of the donkey track.  Very atmospheric against the sunset.  25+ Cattle Egrets flew over along with a Buzzard.  The Barn Swallows had arrived and there were plenty of small birds.  One had to look twice at the female Blackcaps with orange bibs – from the pollen on the flowers when sipping nectar one presumes.  The males stayed clean!  Hoopoes were around prospecting their nest site on the terrace.  A young Hedgehog strolled across the drive.  

                                               Hoopoe on terrace                                                                                Hedgehog                             

The next morning both types of Chiffchaff were singing along the donkey track – the Iberian easily found.  Serins, Sardinian Warblers, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches, Tree Sparrows, Little Owls, Jay and a good many Song Thrushes were obvious, plus numerous Crested Larks. 

Olhao

It is a lot quieter at this time of year though plenty of people were strolling at the town end of the promenade.  A decent selection of waders was around including Whimbrel, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Little Egrets, Black-tailed Godwits and always the Black-winged Stilts.  I walked round some of the saltpans by the rubbish dump this time (there certainly is some rubbish – a lot of it airborne!) seeing a smart male Black Redstart, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails.  Plenty of Yellow-legged Gulls, Lesser Black-backs, Black Headed and as a surprise, a couple of Great Black-backs. Crested Larks of course!

Crested Lark

Fuseta

Lovely – no one around at all, a bit windy though.  Fantastic close-up views of a Spoonbill.  We sat on a bench and watched Sandwich Terns fishing a few feet away.  A scattering of the usual waders, including Curlew and there’s always a Crested Lark or three!

On the Fuseta saltpans was a largish flock of Greater Flamingos, a good selection of ducks including Shoveler, Pintail, Gadwall and Mallard.  Stonechat and Dartford Warbler were in the same scope view. Several Fan Tailed Warblers. Waders included Greenshank and Avocet.  A single Mediterranean Gull lurked amongst the others.  The highlight though was the sudden panic caused by the arrival of an Osprey.  It circled rolled, spiralled and dived – the ducks left, fast and high.  The Osprey also left – I think it enjoyed the havoc!  Did I mention the Crested Larks?

Sandwich Tern                                                                                                               Spoonbill

Mertola/Alentejo

Quite a few dead trees but there is no way you would have recognised this landscape after seeing it last August.  Green and verdant with huge sheets of flowers.  Pleasantly warm thank goodness.  On the way Crag and House Martins were already nest building at bridges.  Mertola had Lesser Kestrels but it was early and they were sitting in the sun at the entrances to holes in the castle walls.  There were Spotless Starlings, Jackdaws, ‘Rock Doves’ and a Grey Wagtail by the river.  Azure-winged Magpies everywhere and, occasionally the boring black and white type – European Magpies. One or two Carrion Crows and Ravens are not uncommon.  There were White Storks on dozens of telegraph pole nests and a positive cacophony of bill clattering.  [Later in the day every nest is deserted as they fly off to feed]  A weird calling suddenly resulted in two Great Spotted Cuckoos – unfortunately at long range.  We were on our third search for Bustards and, as usual, there were none to be seen!  That is until, whilst trying to photograph some Spanish Sparrows at the bottom of a Stork’s nest, a Little Bustard flew, with a loud wing clap, from the field besides me.  Good views of the great white wing bars.  Then, two minutes later.  ‘Is that a bush on the horizon – no it’s moved!’  Two Great Bustards, miles away but still huge – good scope views.  Got both Bustards at once!  Also picked up in the area were a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Black Redstart, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Red Kite, Raven, Lapwing, Golden Plover, [large flocks], Red-legged Partridges, Hoopoes and many commoner birds.  Unusual were a pair of Bullfinches near the Spanish border when we detoured on the way back, and small flocks of Linnets. 

Great Spotted Cuckoo  

Castro Marim

We have never seen a lot here but there were the usual Marsh Harriers, Fan-tailed Warblers, Serin, Corn Buntings, Black Redstarts and plenty of WillowChiffs.  I also disturbed a Brown Hare.  As in August, a few Caspian Terns.  Crested Larks!

Ria Formosa

Always a pleasant stroll but very variable in what you can see depending on the tide, (which goes out to the other side of the world) or the time of year. Purple Gallinule on the pool as usual. All the expected waders in very small numbers, a White Wagtail or two and a Goldcrest in the pinewood.  Waxbills were easy to find.  Crested Larks! 

                                                Kentish Plover                                                                      Waxbill                                   

Pinheiro

I like it here, not much walking and the waders come close.  This time the warm weather had gone and it was grey, windy and after the beautiful first three days – freezing!

Watched a local make a basket in no time at all from the grasses by the saltpans.  New were Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper. Crested Larks! 

Quinta do Largo

It is always green here!  Nearly found it first time!  At the lake there were several Purple Gallinule and a skulking Glossy Ibis plus a single Common Snipe.  New ducks were Teal, Tufted and Pochard.  Wigeon were on the saltpans.  Great and Little Grebes; large numbers of Coot and Moorhen.  Avocets and a single Whimbrel on the seaward side. The orange-bibbed female Blackcaps were here too, mystifying quite a few!  Great Tit at last!  Cetti's Warblers were singing. Crested Larks!  Walked on to the saltpans at Ludo Farm but did not add anything new.

Female Blackcap with an orange bib                                                                             Purple Gallinule

Great weather for the first three days then a bit grey but far better than anything back home!  Birds varied but just a little early for the main influx of migrants.  Still like to go again as there are plenty of places we have not been yet and plenty of birds we have missed. 

                                                                           White Stork with Little Egret                                                                           

  List not in order. Graham Watson.