Some Algarve ID help please? (1 Viewer)

Have just returned from a few days on the Algarve and would appreciate some help with identifying these birds.
I should first apologise for picture quality (or rather, lack of it!) As normal, I couldn't get anywhere near the birds and all the pics were taken with the lens turned up to something between around 50X right up to maximum of 80X zoom ~ and hand-held at that. (and just to degrade the quality even more, they've all been cropped from the original sizes.)

These first pics were all taken at a wetland area immediately west of Herdade Dos Salgados Golf Club, and about 1 Km east of Armacao de Pera. (and accessed from the EN526.)
1) Is this "just" a Ringed Plover . . . or is it something else? >
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/P-IMG_1650-1.jpg
2) This looks like a Godwit to me . . . but which one? >
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/G-IMG_1673-1.jpg
3) I suspect that the plumage colour as well as the leg colouring may help identify this wader? >
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/Wader-IMG_1681-1.jpg

The next 2 were photographed at the lake (which also serves as some kind of fish farm?) at Quinto Do Lago.
4) Yet another wader! (you may have noticed by now that I'm not the best at Wader ID) >
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/Wader-IMG_1732-1.jpg
5) Finally, just for a change, a small passerine. (about the size of a Finch, but with a thin bill.) >
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/Passerine-IMG_1752.jpg

Thanks for any help you can give. :t:

P.S. in case you're wondering what camera I used . . . it's a Canon SX10 iS (bridge camera) which has a 20X optical zoom with an extended digital zoom up to 80X. At the higher zoom levels the quality isn't the best, but it IS handy for ID purposes. (. . . and very convenient for fitting in my hand-luggage with no changing of bulky lenses.)

Just quick guesses -

1. Kentish Plover?
2. Bar-Tailed Godwit?
3. Ruff?
4. Spotted Redshank?
5. ???????

My Guesses are

1.Ringed Plover
2.Bar-tailed Godwit
3.Buff-breasted Sandpiper
4.Redshank
5.Spotted Flycatcher

Tom

tom tams said:

My Guesses are

1.Ringed Plover
2.Bar-tailed Godwit
3.Buff-breasted Sandpiper
4.Redshank
5.Spotted Flycatcher

Tom

Click to expand...

Agree on all.

Buff-breasted sandpiper is a North American bird, and a rare one at that. Although it is very regular on this side of the atlantic, it's a very good spot indeed!

Graham

EDIT: According to this site, it has only been recorded eight times previously in Portugal.... http://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2009/09/long-billed-dowitcher-and-buff-breasted.html

Agree with Tom.

Edit: And Graham.

Many thanks to all who responded. :t:

Good grief! I wasn't expecting to find that species when I opened the photo!

This needs to be reported properly to the Portuguese rarity committee with some notes on where it was and when - as Graham said, it's a rare species anywhere this side of the Atlantic!

edit: actually, probably no need, though it would be interesting to know the date on which you saw it - it sounds like its the same individual as on Graham's link, present from 21-27 September at least.

bitterntwisted said:

Agree on all.

Buff-breasted sandpiper is a North American bird, and a rare one at that. Although it is very regular on this side of the atlantic, it's a very good spot indeed!

Graham

EDIT: According to this site, it has only been recorded eight times previously in Portugal.... http://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/2009/09/long-billed-dowitcher-and-buff-breasted.html

Click to expand...

David ~ the bird was at the location stated in my opening post, and I took 6 pics of it in total, all of which are timed at between 15.14 and 15.15 on the 28th September ('09).

Here are the rest of the pics, three of which show the bird in close company with another wader which is partly obscured by the surrounding vegetation :-

1) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/BBS-IMG_1676-1.jpg

2) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/BBS-IMG_1677-1.jpg

3) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/BBS-IMG_1678-1.jpg

4) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/BBS-IMG_1679-1.jpg

5) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/zoed73/BBS-IMG_1680-1.jpg

(Although they may look as if they're the same photo, Nos 1 & 2 ARE different photos.)

Anyone have any idea what the other wader is?

The other wader is a Dunlin.

Photo 3

If it helps to verify your sighting, Colin Key (resident Algarve birder) mentioned that he had observed a "buff" at Pera Marsh, in late September.

Trip report

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=154269

Tina
:cat: