Largish birds near Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal (1 Viewer)

We were driving through Alentejo yesterday and were looking for Bustards - we don't think we saw any.

What we did see was a fair number (groups with 10-30) of bird foraging in the grass.

Size: Between pigeon and pheasant.

Colours: Golden brown and white, with dark markings that had a metallic greenish/blueish sheen. underside of wings black and white.

The wings were fairly rectangular, and they had crests on the head similar to lapwings.

Time and Place: N2 near Castro Verde, 28 Dec. around noon.

They flew off when we got out of the car, distance perhaps 50m.

This is probably dead easy for the seasoned, but please bear over with the not-quite obsessed newbies

Unfortunately we forgot our bird book.

Merry xmas/happy new year

Lapwings.

sounds like lapwings, though in a light that makes them look more brownish than black and white, rectangular wings with black and white underneath and a crest similar to a lapwing, leaves really only lapwing.

They will be Lapwings, there are zillions in the Castro Verde area along with Golden Plover.

I had three instances of Great Bustards last week including a large flock from the Senhora de Araceli viewpoint as well as a large flock of Little Bustards. No Sandgrouses though.

Andrew said:

They will be Lapwings, there are zillions in the Castro Verde area along with Golden Plover.

I had three instances of Great Bustards last week including a large flock from the Senhora de Araceli viewpoint as well as a large flock of Little Bustards. No Sandgrouses though.

Click to expand...

You are right, also saw golden plower.

Thanks to all.

Martin