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Lesser Short-toed Lark - two new sites (1 Viewer)

Gonçalo Elias

Gonçalo Elias

avesdeportugal.info
Portugal
Hi all,

I am pleased to announce that I have found two new populations of Lesser Short-toed Lark in Portugal. The first population was found at Armona island, Olhão, on March 29th and the second at Tavira island, Tavira, on April 10th. Both populations consist of several pairs (maybe 10+) and it is quite possible that they have been there for a long time, remaining unnoticed for many years, as both are located in remote parts of the islands, which are not regularly visited by birders or ornithologists.

Both islands are what we call "barrier islands" (sandy islands with open sea on the outer side and saltmarsh / ria on the inner side).

I have been able to confirm breeding at the latter place and hope to do so at the former during the next few days.

So far the species was only known from a single location - the sapal de Venta Moinhos in the northeastern sector of the Castro Marim reserve.
 
Excellent. Does the habitat contain elements of "high Mediterranean salt marsh?" - with lots of open dry bits and plenty of the shrubby glassworts;Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Sarcocornia perennis - especially the former?

Also, is Spectacled Warbler using the same area? I say this because in SW Spain and at Castro Marim, Portugal the habitat LSTL uses seems always to be like this and often has the warbler too.
 
Hello Simon,

I am no specialist in botany so I cannot say which plant species occur in the area. But I should point out that the habitat used in the islands is not dry saltmarsh. Birds occur on dunes with low vegetation instead.

As to Spectacled Warbler, I did not see any on Tavira or Armona islands, but I saw a number of them (ca. 4-5) on Culatra island (which also had lots of Short-toed Larks but no Lesser Short-toed Larks).

1 abraço,
Gonçalo
 
Gonçalo Elias said:
Hello Simon,

I am no specialist in botany so I cannot say which plant species occur in the area. But I should point out that the habitat used in the islands is not dry saltmarsh. Birds occur on dunes with low vegetation instead.

As to Spectacled Warbler, I did not see any on Tavira or Armona islands, but I saw a number of them (ca. 4-5) on Culatra island (which also had lots of Short-toed Larks but no Lesser Short-toed Larks).

1 abraço,
Gonçalo
Click to expand...

Their habitat choice is interesting.

The Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Glaucous Glasswort - no name in Portuguese in Portugal Botânico A a Z) I mention is easy - you've seen "millions" ;) its the low (20-50cm approx) slightly woody sub-shrub with succulent/fleshy leaves (like large rice - bad description!) that grows all over the saltmarshes here. There are two other similar species but this one dominates in normal LSTL habitats. As with Spectacled Warbler its more about the habitat structure, not the plant species - extensive areas with very low shrubs and open dry earth/sandy bits that is important I believe - not the fact that they are on saltmarsh per se.

So, these dunes they are breeding on - I'm guessing they are on rather flat extensive areas...? I don't need to know the location - just very interested in the habitat in some detail.
 
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Thanks Gonçalo - yes the Carpobrotus is the one pulled out - good job, did you remove it? Its a threat to any dune system as you know. The main plants are Limoniastrum monopetalum (limited to S.Iberia in Europe), which normally have their feet in the heavier soils of saltmarsh so I assume there is saltmarsh close. Regarding the dunes, that's a habitat I'd normally associate with Greater STL. I can't think of ever seeing them in southwestern Spain (which the Portuguese population is part of) outside larger drier saltmarshes - maybe they do breed on dunes somewhere else - but do they also need to have saltmarsh habitats with heavy, packed soils close by?

I'm rambling, but anyway thanks for any feedback :t:
 
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Hello Simon,

I did not remove the Carpobrotus, they cover a vast area an in my opinion this would require a large scale action.

As to your other question, yes there is saltmarsh in the vicinity. In both cases the birds were in a flat area between the primary dune and the saltmarsh, let's call it a "transition area". But it's sandier and drier than e.g. at Castro Marim.

1 abraço,
Gonçalo
 
Thanks for the last reply - and sorry for missing it! That all makes sense now re; habitat. As per Carpobrutus - yes its laborious indeed and wide areas need a lot of man hours! Shame the authorities don't (didn't!) prioritise the control of this scary invasive (many years ago).
 
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Hi Paul,

They are scattered over the western half of the island, the easiest way is to cross the channel using the pedestrian bridge at Pedras d'el-Rei (just west of Santa Luzia), then proceed along the railway line for 500 metres, when you reach the first trees, turn right and walk westwards for at least half an hour. You should eventually find the larks.

Hope this helps,
Gonçalo
 
Gonçalo Elias said:
Hi Paul,

They are scattered over the western half of the island, the easiest way is to cross the channel using the pedestrian bridge at Pedras d'el-Rei (just west of Santa Luzia), then proceed along the railway line for 500 metres, when you reach the first trees, turn right and walk westwards for at least half an hour. You should eventually find the larks.

Hope this helps,
Gonçalo
Click to expand...

Hi Gonçalo,

I followed your advise on Sunday 23 July and managed to catch up with a flock of 15 small larks that had just been flushed by a Marsh Harrier. I didn't hear the calls well enough so they may have to remain as "small larks". I have attached a poor photo of part of the flock together with the location. Two other small larks were also seen in flight 200 metres west of this near a hunting S Grey Shrike.

Thanks for the information.

Norm
 

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Hi Norm - just a comment, although maybe nobody would agree with me but for me your photo does show LSTL - they are certainly Calandrella and their jizz/shape/tone/bill are spot on ;) Well done, hell of a challenge at this time of year.! (a favourite bird of mine - you must see them in springtime one day)
 
Hello Simon,

Good to hear from you. Birds were certainly calandrella and thanks for your comments. Yes, it was a bit of an effort, compounded by the high tide which had me paddling at some stages but still enjoyable.

I would like a spring visit to this part of Portugal but have to tie in birding with family holidays.

Norm
 
Yes a two fold effort.... the very long and hot walk through tricky habitats in piercing sunshine and....finding these, even in traditional areas with large pops (in Spain) at the post breeding stage in the high summer is very tough, usually a failure.

Calls; yes GSTL can and does emit calls that could confuse but LSTL has a very peculiar call that once heard........
 
Gonçalo Elias said:
Hi Paul,

They are scattered over the western half of the island, the easiest way is to cross the channel using the pedestrian bridge at Pedras d'el-Rei (just west of Santa Luzia), then proceed along the railway line for 500 metres, when you reach the first trees, turn right and walk westwards for at least half an hour. You should eventually find the larks.

Hope this helps,
Gonçalo
Click to expand...
Hi Gonçalo, I connected with 2 birds at Castro Marim shortly after requesting info but many thanks for replying :)
 
Simon,

Sorry to bother you and apologises for being off topic but I have just noticed your post of the 24th regarding the Kelp Gull. Is it still being seen at the reserve and is there a better time of day to try and catch up with it? I am staying at Fuseta and so am just down the road. I would be grateful for any information.
 
AC Lig said:
Simon,

Sorry to bother you and apologises for being off topic but I have just noticed your post of the 24th regarding the Kelp Gull. Is it still being seen at the reserve and is there a better time of day to try and catch up with it? I am staying at Fuseta and so am just down the road. I would be grateful for any information.
Click to expand...

Still there today.
 
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