The ringing station at A Rocha at Alvor was open today, so we decided to take the short trip to Alvor, and walk around the trail we hadn't followed earlier in the week, the good news was that the fuel drivers strike had been called off, so it now depended on when the petrol stations would be able to get supplies. We still had plenty though and set off for the short drive to Alvor.
Heading down the track we could see the Bee-eaters once again, and this time a pair of Hoopoe too, they were becoming quite a common sight on this holiday. After picking the wrong car park we eventually found the right place and found that the birds caught that morning were mostly Blackbirds and Hose Sparrows. There were also two talks on moths and butterflies so we decided to skip this and head off around the trail.
From the car park we turned right, I had decided to risk shorts which without insect repellent was a big mistake, as I walked I was bitten all over my legs, it was OK while actually walking but on stopping they just set about me. Understandably with all the flying insects about there were plenty of Swallows about, and recently fledged juveniles lines the fence and overhead wires.
A little way further we realised that this path would not lead anywhere so we turned around and headed back to the main track. In the field alongside the path a female type Marsh Harrier hunted over the grass, and following the horses around in the paddock were several Cattle Egret. Becoming more and more commoner in the UK these were in summer breeding plumage showing the sandy rust colour on the crown and neck.
Turning on to the main track the Bee-eaters were about, but were heading away from us as we walked the road. One pair though flew to a tree behind a tree, and using the first tree as cover I was able to get close, the background this time not being a white out, but the lovely Portuguese blue.
All slightly different poses.
We walked on reaching the place where we had parked last Monday then turned right and followed the track around the outside of the marsh. We could see many more Flamingos today than previously but they were very distant and not worth trying to photograph.
A pair of Hoopoe flew from the garden of a house, and we seemed to push them along the side of the fence as we walked. From out of nowhere came a rain shower, and it seemed to follow us for a while before the sunshine returned. Across the marsh Black-winged Stilts could be seen and the only duck of note, the Mallard.
We stopped at an old dilapidated house, and commented on it being a good place for a Little Owl, Helen then found one sitting on corner of the building enjoying the sunshine.
The immediate though is that it is sitting asleep in the sun, but in fact it was watching the ground very attentively.
I moved around to try and get a better angle of view.
The yellow eyes not missing any movement or sound. He may look asleep but I know its really watching us.
Classic Little Owl on a brick tile roof
Then Helen picked up a second on the other side of the house, and the one we had been watching disappeared into the tree. The second flying up to the other part of the roof.
Trying to blend in with the yellow flowers.
We walked on and the track wound its way right past a set of industrial fish tanks supported by Air Liquide oxygen tanks. As the path opened up there was a power line in front of us, and on the top of the concrete pole was another Little Owl, probably the one we lost while watching the house.
It watched us closely, but allowed us to walk slowly closer.
Then it was a case of how close could we get while the owl continued to scan the air and the ground.
A couple coming in the other direction walked right underneath it and the owl showed no concern.
Finally flying off the post and across the field to another where this time it used one of the concrete ledges as the place to scan from.
In the open sunshine it was warm, and the insects were still biting. we passed several orange and lemon groves, some with a collection of the largest lemons you have ever seen, they were more like melons. The Bee-eaters returned drifting over our head as we turned on to the main track we had driven down earlier in the morning.
Azure-winged Magpies eluded me in the adjoining fields but as we passed a small group of trees the piping call of a woodpecker rang out and I stopped immediately. I knew I needed to see this bird in the open so I arranged the call back, and almost immediately two birds appeared, one flying to the tree next to me. My first clear view of a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker for sometime, and maybe my best.
This is the female lacking the red on the front of the head.
They then flew away across the field to another small bush, here you can see both birds the male in the top left corner.
Both then flew back, this time the male showing well but unfortunately the light was not as good.
We followed the path back to the ringing centre where we managed to see a Serin in the hand, but decided to move on. I wanted to visit the most south westerly tip of the country, and in fact Europe, Cabo de Sao Vicente, it was about 40 kilometres away and we took a slow drive there passing through the town of Sagres.
A bit like Lands End, this land that stretches out into the ocean with only New Jersey in the US to nearest land to the west, attracts people and there were many about. WE parked and walked to the lighthouse. The cliffs are all limestone and reach up 75 metres, the Atlantic Ocean crashes at the base of the cliffs turning the water a foaming brilliant white, looking back towards Sagres you can see the nature and form the cliffs take.
Walking around the Lighthouse there were views to the north up the coast, more stacks and islands created by the erosion of the limestone cliffs.
As I looked west out across the ocean a Northern Gannet passed below heading around the point.
We left the point and took a single road north that passed between extensive grassland. The road then reaches a collection of farm buildings, an area that is supposed to be good for Little Bustard sightings, needless to say there were none about. The only birds present once again were the Crested Larks and singing Corn Bunting.
We followed the road around heading back to the N125 that would take us back to the Quinta. At one point Helen pointed out a distant bird of prey. I got out and viewed with the binoculars, the belly and breast was a definite white, while the head contrasted with the white belly. I was satisfied this was a Short-toed Snake Eagle, but it was heading away from me and did not present an acceptable photograph.
We returned to the main road, and made our way through Lagos and on to the Quinta. Once back I walked down the track once again. White Storks were still about, flying around the area in pairs.
While the Swallows were hanging around the bride over the irrigation canal.
I have been hearing the Spotless Starlings all week, but every time I went to get the camera they would fly off. Very similar to the Common Starling the Spotless has a very restricted range, confined to western Iberia, North Africa southern most France and the islands of Sicily Corsica and Sardinia.
It is very similar to the common starling but slightly larger and has a darker oily looking black plumage, this is entirely spotless in spring and summer, and has a few pale spots in the winter. They are non migratory, although hybrids can occur with Common Starlings where the ranges overlap.
In every sense it is the same as the Common Starling other than the appearance, jizz song and behaviour are almost identical. They were originally though of as sub species but now they are seen as separate, and are the only two members of the Sturnus genus
The end of another day, with some special birds. With the strike off, and petrol available we decided to head north tomorrow there is some unfinished work around Castro Verde
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