^{PORTUGAL 15th to 25th May 2003 by Andy Jayne & Mo Croose}

Our first visit to Portugal was from 6th-12th May 2001 when we stayed on the Algarve coast near Tavira. On that occasion we recorded 109 species including the following that we did not see on this visit – Cormorant, Short-toed Eagle, Great Bustard, Little Stint, Curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Nightjar, Roller, Woodlark, Thekla Lark, Dartford Warbler, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and Hawfinch. 

Our longer visit this year was based in a very nice self-catering apartment at the Mourabel Hotel on the outskirts of Vilamoura, best known for its attractive marina and numerous, quality golf-courses. The weather was hot and sunny throughout the period, which curtailed birding to some extent, particularly as I didn’t bother to pay the extra for air-conditioning on the pre-booked hire car. With the in-car temperature reaching 39ºC on one occasion this proved to be a rather uncomfortable mistake! The poolside was a welcome refuge after such jaunts and the birding, in general, was done at a leisurely pace.  

Excluding exotica, a total of 125 species was recorded. Personal highlights included Black-shouldered Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Red-necked Nightjar and Rufous Bush Robin. The one target bird that we never got round to was Lesser Short-toed Lark, which does occur at Castro Marim. 

Diary 

16th Vilamoura 

17th late afternoon/early evening visit to Alvor estuary 

18th Quinta do Gondra/Ludo area of Ria Formosa Reserve 

19th Quinta do Gondra 

20th Castre Verde – Mertola Almodôvar (roads N123 and N267)

21st Castro Marim 

22nd Vilamoura 

23rd brief visit to Castro Marim, then drive inland to Martim Longo, Cachopo, Barranco Velho and back through Loule (roads N124 and N396). 

24th Vilamoura marsh 

25th Vilamoura marsh   

Checklist  

Little Grebe              At least 4 adults plus young at Quinta do Gondra and Vilamoura marsh. 

Great Crested Grebe Three on lagoons at Ludo.  

Gannet                      One or two offshore from Quinta do Gondra. 

Little Bittern            Up to three seen at Quinta do Gondra and singles at Vilamoura marsh. 

Night Heron              One in flight at Vilamoura marsh (24th). 

Cattle Egret              At least ten at Alvor Estuary, 50+ around Castre Verde and two at Castro Marim. 

Little Egret               Up to 20 noted at Quinta do Gondra and Castro Marim and smaller numbers at Alvor and Vilamoura.     

Grey Heron               One to three at each of the wetland sites. 

Purple Heron             Regularly seen in flight at Vilamoura Marsh. At least five individuals. 

White Stork             Seen daily. Many nests, particularly between Castre Verde and Mertola. 

Spoonbill                  11 at Quinta do Gondra and 35 at Castro Marim. 

Greater Flamingo       300-400 at Castro Marim. 

Shelduck                  One at Castro Marim (21st). 

Gadwall                    Small numbers at Quinta do Gondra. 

Mallard                    Noted at all the wetland sites including many broods. 

Shoveler                   A drake at Vilamoura sewage works (24th). 

Red-crested Pochard Small numbers at Quinta do Gondra. 

Pochard                    Small numbers, including several broods, at Quinta do Gondra and Vilamoura sewage works. 

Black-shouldered Kite    Two south of Picarros and two at Sao Pedro das Cabecas (both sites near Castre Verde). 

Black Kite                 4+ in the Castre Verde area. One probably this species at Faro Airport (15th). 

Marsh Harrier          A male and two females at Vilamoura marsh, a male at Ludo and a male and female at Castro Marim. 

Montagu’s Harrier     10+ around Castre Verde and a male at Castro Marim.

Buzzard                    6+ on the plains in the Castre Verde area and 1 at Vilamoura marsh (25th). 

Booted Eagle             One south of Picarros and one at Sao Pedro das Cabecas. 

Lesser Kestrel           Four together just off the N123 on the road to Salto and a male seen from Mertola castle. 

Kestrel                     Six individuals noted at various sites. 

(Red-footed Falcon)     A falcon thought to be this species at Vilamoura marsh (24th). Just after 11am I, and two other birders from Wolverhampton, noticed a small dark falcon some distance away over the marsh. At first glance I took it to be a Hobby, but it seemed too dark below and lacked any obvious white cheek patch and moustachial marks. The upperparts were uniform sooty grey, but occasionally appeared to show a more brownish tinge. The underparts were not seen well, but did not contrast greatly with the upperparts. Closer views, however, revealed an orange-red tone to the lower belly/vent area and that the underwings were pale (in comparison to the rest of the plumage) with a distinct dark trailing edge. Perhaps the most interesting feature was the birds’ behaviour. For much of the 15 minutes or so that we watched it, it behaved very much like a Hobby, dashing around and taking and eating insects in flight, but at other times seemed more Kestrel-like and hovered, albeit rather briefly, on several occasions. Other species considered included Eleonora’s Falcon, but the wings were nowhere near long or scythe-like enough for this species and the bird lacked dark underwing coverts. Some kind of melanistic Kestrel species might be a possibility, but the Hobby-like behaviour would rule out Common Kestrel and the upperwing would surely still show some contrast between the ‘arm’ and the ‘hand'. Viewing conditions were not great. The strong sunlight came from our right, rather than from behind us, and the W or SW breeze had become quite strong, resulting in rather unsteady ‘scope views. The closest the bird came was probably around 200m.I had to leave to return my hire car, but the bird had become very distant anyway. I returned later in the day and the next day, but did not see the bird again, though I did see single Kestrel, Hobby and Peregrine here the same day. 

Hobby                     One at Vilamoura marsh (24th). 

Peregrine                 One at Vilamoura marsh (24th). 

Red-legged Partridge Four or five individuals along the N123 and N267.   

Quail                       One heard at Alvor estuary and 4+ in the Castre Verde area. 

Water Rail              Several heard at Vilamoura marsh (25th). Probably a family party. 

Moorhen                  Small numbers at Quinta do Gondra and Vilamoura marsh. 

Purple Gallinule        Small numbers including young at Quinta do Gondra and Vilamoura marsh. 

Coot                        Small numbers at the wetland sites. 

Little Bustard          One heard at Sao Pedro das Cabecas. 

Black-winged Stilt    A few at Alvor estuary, plentiful at Ludo and Castro Marim and a pair at Vilamoura sewage works. 

Avocet                     Small numbers at Quinta do Gondra/Ludo and Castro Marim. 

Stone Curlew            Two seen at Castro Marim. 

Collared Pratincole   20+ near the salt works at Castro Marim. 

Little Ringed Plover  A pair in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Ringed Plover           One to four at Alvor, Quinta do Gondra and Castro Marim. 

Kentish Plover          Numerous at Alvor estuary, Quinta do Gondra/Ludo and Castro Marim. 

Grey Plover              Up to ten at Alvor, Quinta do Gondra and Castro Marim. 

Knot                        10+ at Castro Marim. 

Sanderling               Three at Quinta do Gondra (18th) and many at Castro Marim. 

Curlew Sandpiper    Two at Ludo and small numbers at Castro Marim. 

Dunlin                     20+ at Quinta do Gondra and good numbers at Castro Marim. 

Ruff                       One at Quinta do Gondra (19th). 

Bar-tailed Godwit    Ten at Alvor and 15+ at Quinta do Gondra/Ludo. 

Black-tailed Godwit  40 at Ludo (18th). 

Whimbrel                Two at Alvor estuary and four at Quinta do Gondra. 

Redshank                 Up to four at Alvor, Quinta do Gondra and Castro Marim. 

Greenshank              One at Quinta do Gondra (18th), two at Castro Marim (21st) and one at Vilamoura sewage works (24th). 

Common Sandpiper    Singles at Ludo, Castro Marim and in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Turnstone                Small numbers, up to 20, at Alvor, Quinta do Gondra and Castro Marim. 

Little Gull                A first-summer at Castro Marim (21st). 

Black-headed Gull     30 at Castro Marim. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull     Small numbers, all immatures, at the wetland sites. 

Yellow-legged Gull    Most numerous at Vilamoura sewage works where 100+, all immatures. 

Sandwich Tern         Two off Vilamoura (16th). 

Common Tern           At least four off Vilamoura (16th) and two at the Alvor estuary. 

Little Tern              Present at all the wetland sites with maximum of 20+ at Castro Marim. 

Black Tern               Three at Castro Marim (21st). 

Collared Dove          Very small numbers seen each day. 

Turtle Dove             Very common, particularly around the Vilamoura golf courses. 

Woodpigeon             Two or three over Vilamoura (15th), but none seen thereafter. 

Cuckoo                    Singles at Sao Pedro das Cabecas (near Castre Verde) and Castro Marim. 

Little Owl                Singles at Alvor Estuary and under a Stork’s nest along the N123. 

Red-necked Nightjar Heard most nights from our apartment balcony calling from the ‘Old Course’ golf club and up to three birds easily seen (19th & 22nd). 

Swift                      Common. Seen each day. 

Pallid Swift             A small colony near Vilamoura marina and small numbers at Mertola and Castro Marim. Quite easily identified in the strong sunlight, even with the naked eye. 

Kingfisher                Singles at Ludo, by the N267 near Almodôvar, in the river valley SW of Martim Longo, and at Vilamoura marsh. 

Bee-eater                Seen each day at various locations. Up to 20 roosting each evening near our apartment. 

Hoopoe                    Small numbers, up to three, seen each day at various locations. 

Green Woodpecker  Two at Quinta do Gondra (18th). 

Calandra Lark          One south of Picarros near Castre Verde. 

Short-toed Lark      One calling in flight at Castro Marim (21st) was the only sighting. 

Crested Lark           Very common and seen at all localities. 

Sand Martin            Up to three at Castro Marim and one at Vilamoura (25th). 

Crag Martin             Two at the reservoir by Odeleite and a total of six in the river valleys near Martim Longo. 

Swallow                   Common. Many broods just fledging. 

Red-rumped Swallow Only two seen at Vilamoura, but much more numerous further inland. 

House Martin           Common, Seen each day. 

Tawny Pipit              One by the minor road to Salto off the N123. 

Yellow Wagtail         Small numbers, up to 10, at the wetland sites. Presumably all of the race iberiae (most seen were juveniles). 

Grey Wagtail           One in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

White Wagtail         Two at the reservoir near Odeleite. 

Wren                      Just two heard at inland valleys. 

Robin                      Two heard north of Loule. 

Rufous Bush Robin    Two in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Nightingale              Small numbers inland, mostly in the river valleys. 

Stonechat                Quite common inland particularly along the N267. 

Black-eared Wheatear Two near Corte Ruiva long the N123, two at Azinhal north of Castro Marim and two near Martim Longo. 

Blue Rock Thrush     Single males at Mertola castle and in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Blackbird                Common. Seen each day. 

Mistle Thrush          A maximum of four on the fairways at Vilamoura ‘Old Course’.

Cetti’s Warbler       Heard or seen at most of the wetland sites and a few in bushy areas elsewhere.

Fan-tailed Warbler  Common. Seen each day, even in suburban areas. 

Reed Warbler          At least ten at Vilamoura marsh, but not noted anywhere else. 

Great Reed Warbler Two at Quinta do Gondra, one at a pond by the N123 and two at Vilamoura marsh. 

Melodious Warbler  Two in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Subalpine Warbler  A pair in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros and a female by the N124 SW of Cachopo. 

Sardinian Warbler  Common. Seen each day. 

Blackcap                 Small numbers noted around Vilamoura. 

Long-tailed Tit        A family party in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros. 

Blue Tit                  Just one seen in a river valley near Almodôvar. 

Great Tit                Just three sightings. 

Golden Oriole          Regularly heard, but just the odd sighting of a pair around the apartment. Another male heard in Vilamoura. Two males seen on the drive to Martim Longo (23rd).  

Southern Grey Shrike Two at Alvor estuary and at least 20 seen during the drive inland (20th). 

Woodchat Shrike     Two at Alvor estuary and at least 20 seen inland (20th). Seemed to be less plentiful than on our last visit in 2001. 

Jay                         Singles at Vilamoura, Quinta do Gondra and near Cachopo (23rd). 

Azure-winged Magpie Widespread, but particularly common around our apartment where seen down to two feet when enticed to our balcony by a bit of breakfast cereal! 

Magpie                    One by the N267 east of Almodôvar (20th).

Carrion Crow           Just three seen in the Castre Verde.

Raven                      One at Cabeca de Serra near Castre Verde (20th).

Spotless Starling     Just two seen at Vilamoura, but much more numerous inland where several small groups.

House Sparrow         Very common. 200+ at Vilamoura marsh.

Spanish Sparrow      Many colonies along the N124 between Balurcos and Martim Longo.

Chaffinch                 Two at Alvor estuary and two heard SW of Cachopo (23rd).

Serin                       Common around Vilamoura, but fewer seen elsewhere.

Greenfinch               Common and widespread.

Goldfinch                 Common around Vilamoura.

Linnet                      One heard at Azinhal north of Castro Marim and up to six at Vilamoura marsh.

Rock Bunting            One heard singing in the river valley between Martim Longo and Vaqueiros.

Corn Bunting            Common in most farmland habitats and also noted at the wetland sites.

Parakeet sp.             One at Vilamoura (22nd).

Common Waxbill       At least 10 at Vilamoura marsh.

Masked Weaver       Singles at Quinta do Gondra (18th) and Vilamoura marsh (25th).