Lagoa dos Salgados (1 Viewer)

[Simon Wates]

Oh...and by the way, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs there today!

 

[Pam_m]

I took a few images on my recent holiday (26thOct-2nd Nov) of the ongoing work at the lagoon. It was a predominantly non- birding holiday so only a couple of mornings were managed birding at Salgados! On one of the mornings the wind was blowing strong so not many species seen along the boardwalk! It was good to be back in the Algarve birding or not!

The highlights were Marsh Harrier x2, Black-winged Stilt, Spoonbill, Sardinian Warbler, Hoopoe and a Zitting Cisticola that posed for me!

The images were taken from the boardwalk.

 

[Pam_m]

Good to read the updates on the Portugal threads and especially so the 'Sagres--Autumn migration' thread, nice one Simon! Interesting reading!:t:

 

[pdedicoat]

More about Salgados in today's Portugal News.

 

[Simon Wates]

More about Salgados in today's Portugal News.

Thanks Peter.

So, the secretary of state has made a final decision but is not making it public - yet!

On one hand I'm praying and on the other hand I'm insulted - it comes over like he thinks he owns the site. This is natural heritage for all - damned cheek!

It would have been preferable if they hadn't announced that his decision has been made. Once the decision has been made it should not be privileged private information - it should be made public immediately.

 

[pdedicoat]

Not really a 'shock' decision but an extremely disappointing one:

http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/468-salgados-development-permission-granted-in-shock-decision

 

[MiguelM]

Nothing new. Another corrupt decision from a portuguese government under the argument of "it will create more jobs" .. Dear police, just follow the money

 

[Simon Wates]

Nothing new. Another corrupt decision from a portuguese government under the argument of "it will create more jobs" .. Dear police, just follow the money

Yes Miguel - more deals for the "concrete boys" - this is not driven by a desire/need for more space for paying guests (there's too much of that already - its obvious) but by a massive building materials discount backhander mafia. If this is not true - then they are completely stupid!

Just like Alqueva - no water usage plan - just a massive concrete dam - sacks of concrete = sacks of money.

Maybe worth the fiscals investing the secretary of the environment's piggy bank.

I think we haven't heard the last of this - it cannot be let go.

 

[Mick Sway]

Lagoa dos Salgados - development

Not really a 'shock' decision but an extremely disappointing one:

http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/468-salgados-development-permission-granted-in-shock-decision

Gutted!

 

[Andrew]

I have come back from our regular Xmas trip to the Algarve and I was very saddened by the sight of trucks and diggers around Salgados. I had hoped the sight of a levelled dry marsh and ditches was just a sign of a new approach in managing a nature reserve but what I read above confirms my worst fears. I think we will continue to use Armacao/Pera as our base but feel we have lost what has become a nice 'local walk' where we went when we could not be bothered to drive far. They have done themselves a huge disservice especially when the coast is littered with abandoned projects. Whenever I drive through the new 'Herdade dos Salgados' complex I hardly see any customers there and it is now already weeding over.

 

[Pam_m]

I have come back from our regular Xmas trip to the Algarve and I was very saddened by the sight of trucks and diggers around Salgados. I had hoped the sight of a levelled dry marsh and ditches was just a sign of a new approach in managing a nature reserve but what I read above confirms my worst fears. I think we will continue to use Armacao/Pera as our base but feel we have lost what has become a nice 'local walk' where we went when we could not be bothered to drive far. They have done themselves a huge disservice especially when the coast is littered with abandoned projects. Whenever I drive through the new 'Herdade dos Salgados' complex I hardly see any customers there and it is now already weeding over.

I am saddened to read of your findings at Salgados Andrew! Money is the root and all that!:-C

I trust your holiday was nevertheless a good one in the Algarve.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Simon Wates]

I was very saddened by the sight of trucks and diggers around Salgados. I had hoped the sight of a levelled dry marsh and ditches was just a sign of a new approach in managing a nature reserve but what I read above confirms my worst fears.

Hi Andrew,

I haven't been to the site since a little before Christmas - where was the machinery?

I will probably be visiting on Wednesday.

Unless something new has happened in the last 2 weeks or so, I think little has changed. The diggers and lorries have been excavating a ditch for large pipes to take away treated sewage for a few weeks now. This, apparently, is a necessary step in being able to leave the site alone. I have noticed that they have been careful with the grading and I believe that vegetation will come back soon and things will be restored - its surprising how quickly plants will repopulate. They have built nesting islands (a bit regimented in layout though ;() and divided the lagoon into 2 water depths. They are supposed to be finishing the works very soon - I hope the works don't run into the breeding season.

The works have had some input from SPEA - Portugal's Birdlife partner - though to what degree I don't know.

It does look shocking now though but the site should be free from water level problems and there should be more feeding, resting and nesting areas. I'm looking forward to next spring - I don't think it will be too bad and hopefully breeding birds will increase in numbers.

What worries me much much more is the threat of building a tourist village development on the western side, which is grassland and bushes.

 

[Atricapilla]

They seem to have the work nearly finished ,with just one junction of the pipeline to be connected.
I think I saw a Caspian tern out on one of the islands,new bird for me.

 

[Simon Wates]

Thanks for the update Bob. There are usually 2 or 3 (more sometimes) Caspian Terns around. In between resting on the far shore and islands they like feeding at the far eastern end of the board-walk just after the main reedbed. If one waits here for a little while, excellent views of them fishing can often be had.

I'll be there tomorrow morning for a couple of hours.

 

[Atricapilla]

Thanks for the update Bob. There are usually 2 or 3 (more sometimes) Caspian Terns around. In between resting on the far shore and islands they like feeding at the far eastern end of the board-walk just after the main reedbed. If one waits here for a little while, excellent views of them fishing can often be had.

I'll be there tomorrow morning for a couple of hours.

Thanks for the tips Simon,I will try that out tomorrow morning,hopefully we will meet up.

 

[Andrew]

Hi Andrew,

I haven't been to the site since a little before Christmas - where was the machinery?

I will probably be visiting on Wednesday.

Unless something new has happened in the last 2 weeks or so, I think little has changed. The diggers and lorries have been excavating a ditch for large pipes to take away treated sewage for a few weeks now. This, apparently, is a necessary step in being able to leave the site alone. I have noticed that they have been careful with the grading and I believe that vegetation will come back soon and things will be restored - its surprising how quickly plants will repopulate. They have built nesting islands (a bit regimented in layout though ;() and divided the lagoon into 2 water depths. They are supposed to be finishing the works very soon - I hope the works don't run into the breeding season.

The works have had some input from SPEA - Portugal's Birdlife partner - though to what degree I don't know.

It does look shocking now though but the site should be free from water level problems and there should be more feeding, resting and nesting areas. I'm looking forward to next spring - I don't think it will be too bad and hopefully breeding birds will increase in numbers.

What worries me much much more is the threat of building a tourist village development on the western side, which is grassland and bushes.

Hello Simon,

Your positive comments on the site's potential future give me a lift. There was some kind of pile driver and a small truck at the mouth. A couple of large dirt trucks and another machine (forget what it was) was on the western bank.

I also had a Caspian Tern patroling the mouth end of the reserve giving nice views from the boardwalk.

Regards,
Andrew.

 

[Simon Wates]

Thanks Andrew.

Well I had a couple of hours this morning and - what a lot of water - something like a 1000 times the amount before Christmas - partly due to rain and because the sea breached the beach - this has closed again, naturally, I think. The watershed is reaching wider at the northern end and a little further inland thanks to the remodelling - this is good because its bigger now |=)|. The new islands look much more naturally placed now there is water around them too. There is still quite bit of work to finish - they are installing a decent sized sluice and have to lay the last bit of sewage pipe. Also, there are some large piles of earth to sort - could be used to create a low bund instead of spending all the money on new board-walks.

Much of the birdlife was distant - I think once the diggers and lorries activity stops there should be plenty more to see at close range. We did manage very nice views of 2 Purple Swamp Hen, 4 ad. Audouin's Gulls, 3 Caspian Terns.

It was nice meeting BobCesme along the board-walk.

Nearby (15kms west) - just north of Portimão, near Estômbar we found 1 or maybe 2 Red-throated Pipits and an unseasonable Short-toed Eagle. Also Bluethroat, Water Pipit and Black-winged Kite (3 seen today in different spots).

 

[Atricapilla]

"It was nice meeting BobCesme along the board-walk."

Nearby (15kms west) - just north of Portimão, near Estômbar we found 1 or maybe 2 Red-throated Pipits and an unseasonable Short-toed Eagle. Also Bluethroat, Water Pipit and Black-winged Kite (3 seen today in different spots).

Yes,it was great catching up with you Simon,and excellent views of the swamp hen.
I will check around Estombar this week sometime.

 

[Mick Sway]

Just catching up with this thread Simon.
Did you get the same high Atlantic tides that we got before Christmas or was the breach due to winter storms? Of course we had both together here.
Just curious.
Mick

PS sounds like the work is still on going at least.
It would be nice to have the results to look forward to if we manage to mage it this year, as views were very limited in October last year.

Thanks Andrew.

Well I had a couple of hours this morning and - what a lot of water - something like a 1000 times the amount before Christmas - partly due to rain and because the sea breached the beach - this has closed again, naturally, I think. The watershed is reaching wider at the northern end and a little further inland thanks to the remodelling - this is good because its bigger now |=)|. The new islands look much more naturally placed now there is water around them too. There is still quite bit of work to finish - they are installing a decent sized sluice and have to lay the last bit of sewage pipe. Also, there are some large piles of earth to sort - could be used to create a low bund instead of spending all the money on new board-walks.

Much of the birdlife was distant - I think once the diggers and lorries activity stops there should be plenty more to see at close range. We did manage very nice views of 2 Purple Swamp Hen, 4 ad. Audouin's Gulls, 3 Caspian Terns.

It was nice meeting BobCesme along the board-walk.

Nearby (15kms west) - just north of Portimão, near Estômbar we found 1 or maybe 2 Red-throated Pipits and an unseasonable Short-toed Eagle. Also Bluethroat, Water Pipit and Black-winged Kite (3 seen today in different spots).

 

[Alf King]

I shall be visiting Albufeira for a brief break in early February - my first visit for 10 years. As Salgados (Pera marshes to me) used to be a favourite haunt I wondered whether a visit will be worth the effort or simply too depressing.

Any advice would be very welcome.