[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov 18th – Dec 4th 2008. J H johns Part 1

It’s that time of year for another trip to the Donana area of Spain and Portugal’s Algarve for some decent weather and birding, after the miserable summer and autumn we’ve had I’m really looking forward to it.

Left Camborne Railway station 18.15hrs on 17th Nov. for Bristol Temple Meads, bus to Bristol Airport arriving there about 22.50 hrs for the usual sleepless night before my flight to Faro at 08.15hrs the next morning.

18th Nov.…Flight out on time and even landed 20mins early at 10.25hrs. Picked up hire car, a Fiat Punto, from Air Auto and set off in glorious sunshine for Castro Marim on the Spanish border.

Birded the salt-works area for a few hours which gave a good start to the holiday with several 100 Mediterranean Gulls and smaller numbers of Black-headed, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Little Terns (unexpected at this time of year), Flamingos, Spoonbills, Little and Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, White Storks, Dunlin, Little Stint, Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed and Grey Plovers, sev.100 Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-winged Stilts, Common and Green Sandpipers, Snipe, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, 2 Grey Lag Geese, Little Grebe, Cormorants, Linnet, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Serin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Black-billed and Azure-winged Magpies, Bluethroat, 2 Southern Grey Shrikes, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Chiffchaffs, White and Grey Wagtails, Crested Lark and Skylark, sev. Hoopoes, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Buzzard and 4 Marsh Harriers.
A quick look around the Reserve area added Dartford Warbler, another Southern Grey Shrike and Marsh Harrier and a superb male Hen Harrier.

Time to head across the border into Spain for Hinojos and the Hostal Pino Donana, my accommodation for the next four nights. I found this place ideally situated for easy access to all the Donana areas to be visited and would recommend this hotel to anyone wishing to make a trip to this fantastic birding area. Rooms are cheap for Spain at 22 euros/night for a single room, well maintained and spotlessly clean. The town offers several places to eat and drink and as a bonus the owner speaks excellent English and is extremely helpful if any advice is required.

19th Nov….A trip along the Corredor Verde was first on the agenda. Sparrowhawk the first bird seen soon followed by Southern Grey Shrike, 3 Rock Sparrows with a group of Tree and House Sparrows, Corn Bunting, Serin, Crested and Skylarks, Sardinian, Fan-tailed and Cetti’s Warblers, Raven, Hoopoes, Azure-winged Magpies and a few late Swallows. This took me up to the Laguna de Mancho Zurillo which was very low on water and apart from a few Coot, Grey Herons and Cormorants was unusually quite for birds.
The stretch from here to the Isla Mayor road was still passable with care and 400+ Cattle Egrets in a field being ploughed was quite a sight, Lapwings, Red-legged Partridges, Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite, Marsh Harriers and an Osprey fishing the river brought me up to the Night Heron roost in the Tamarisks where many birds were present.
On to the Canada de Rianzuela from here, passing through the Entremuros 30 Spoonbills, c.20 Black Storks, Grey Herons and Little Egrets were feeding/resting along the river, Reed Bunting and Fan-tailed Warbler in the reedbed and a few gulls and storks in the rice fields. Rianzuela however held many birds, sev. 1000 Shoveler – the water seemed covered by them, large flocks of Avocet and Black-winged Stilts were on the far side of the lake but a bit far away to estimate numbers, certainly way up in the 100’s if not 1000’s. Mallard, Pochard and Red-crested Pochard were mixed in with the Shoveler (as could have been anything else!). Flamingos and Spoonbills could also be picked out in the distance as could the large numbers of Cormorant that roost here, 3 Marsh Harriers quartered the area, Red Kite and a p.ph. Booted Eagle also put in appearances. The Jackdaw colony here – the only one in the surrounding area still seemed to be doing well.

Stopping at the Dehesa de Abajo centre gave Crested, Woodlark and Skylarks, Black Redstart and Hoopoe while further along the road the small pools, sometimes good for Red-knobbed Coot, were too low on water but had a few Swallows and House Martins hawking insects and several Cattle Egrets on the grass.

Returning to the Night Heron roost a little before dusk I counted over 300 birds taking off and heading out for their feeding grounds. A bonus was a Black-shouldered Kite flying over my head and starting to hunt the area and another one near the Dehesa de Pilas turning as I was heading back to Hinojos.

[Allen S. Moore]

Interesting report - thanks. I saw my first spoonbill of any species at Castro Marim in 1999. I notice that the spoonbill in your photo is colour-banded. You mention amazingly large numbers of some of the species.
Allen

[john-henry]

Originally Posted by Allen S. Moore

Interesting report - thanks. I saw my first spoonbill of any species at Castro Marim in 1999. I notice that the spoonbill in your photo is colour-banded. You mention amazingly large numbers of some of the species.
Allen

There's no exaggeration either Allen, it really is a great time of year for large numbers of birds.
If you get the opportunity try a trip yourself you certainly won't be disappointed.

Regards

John

[Stephen C]

Originally Posted by Allen S. Moore

Interesting report - thanks.

Agreed, keep it coming although I suspect it'll have to wait until after Christmas to read it.

I love winter birding. Not just here in Spain (yesterday I had 80 species in the pouring rain showing how flocks make otherwise more difficult birds easy to see and there was nothing out of the ordinary except a vagrant Slavonian Grebe) but in the UK too. Can't wait 'til I get there for Christmas to see all the birds I miss - the geese in Norfolk...etc etc.

All the best

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 2

20th Nov….Up at 7am and left at 8 for El Rocio, unfortunately water levels were not at their best for birding so I needn’t have made such an early start.
Black Redstarts were seen on many posts alongside the road, as were Buzzards, while a short stop at the Arroyo gave Green Sandpiper, Sardinian, Fan-tailed and Cetti’s Warblers, Lapwing and Corn Bunting.

Huge numbers of duck dotted the lake at El Rocio, mainly Shoveler again, with some Mallard, Teal, Pintail and Pochard. Grey Lag Geese, 100’s of Coot, 2 Purple Gallinules, good numbers of Flamingos, a few Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits, Black-winged Stilts, Black-Redstart, Kingfisher, Spotless Starlings, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Red Kite and Marsh Harriers were soon seen but it didn’t look too promising for close birds to photograph so I decided to head for Acebuche and spend some time with the Azure-winged Magpies - always up for a photo session if you provide the food. About 40 were waiting in the picnic area and eying me up as soon as I got out of the car! Even the Black-billed Magpies have got in on the act now and approach to within a few feet. A couple of enjoyable hours spent here, also seeing Southern Grey Shrike and Dartford Warbler and it was time to move elsewhere.

Back to the Canada de Rianzuela where it was pretty much as yesterday plus a fly through ringtail Hen Harrier. A rice field nearby was just starting to be ploughed and gulls, storks and egrets were piling into the field for the expected feast of crayfish etc.
At the Entremuros the Black Storks etc were still present plus 5 Waxbills.
Finishing off the day at the Night Heron roost the Black-shouldered Kite put in another appearance and at last my first Pin-tailed Sandgrouse in the area with 9 flying over.

21st Nov….Left at 8am for the Northern Marshes but got side-tracked by Great White Egrets flying up the Corredor Verde track, 10 in all went by in a loose group. A stop at the Entremuros found another 4 sitting around with the Black Storks etc. while a Purple Gallinule waded across the river under the bridge.

On to the Jose Valverde Centre track where it was soon noticed there was a shortage of water compared to previous years, many areas were completely dried out. Not much was seen until reaching the Casa de Bombas then a Black-shouldered Kite on a pylon started what was to be a brilliant day with many quality birds seen. A large flock of Calandra Larks with Skylarks and Crested Larks fed in a nearby ploughed field, Marsh Harriers and a ringtail Hen Harrier quartered the area, in total about 20 Marsh and 4 Hen Harriers were seen throughout the area during the day. Small flocks of mixed Spanish and House Sparrows, larger flocks of Corn Buntings and more lark flocks were also seen in several places. A short diversion to the rice fields off to the right of the track was well rewarded with the sight of hundreds of White Storks sitting around the fields, 2 Black Storks, 4Great White Egrets, sev. Glossy Ibis, hundreds of gulls and many waders.
Following the Cano de Guadimar towards the JV Centre started the first sightings of Common Cranes and their distinctive calls, culminating in the sight of hundreds sitting around in the fields on the opposite bank of the river, always a memorable experience for me, I just had to spend an hour or so waiting for them to move off again to feed and try some flight shots as they passed overhead. Time not wasted either as during this time a 1st yr Spanish Imperial Eagle was seen in the company of an adult and a juvenile Egyptian Vulture, c.30 Griffon Vultures, Red Kites, 2 p.ph. Booted Eagles and an adult Peregrine.
Another field being ploughed had at least 50 Kestrels plus a few Buzzards feeding on what was brought to the surface.
A party of 8 Lesser Short-toed Larks were found in the same area as I’ve seen them in previous years, a few were also seen with some of the mixed lark flocks in the area. Near the bottom of the track, where it joins the JV track, a large expanse of water with reed fringes held 30+ Spoonbill, 10 Black Storks, White Storks, Little Egrets, Purple Gallinule, Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Lapwing, Snipe and a few Yellow-legged Gulls.
On the return trip 2 more Great White Egrets in a different area were added to the list.
What a memorable day and what a way to finish my brief trip to this excellent area of Spain.

[Stephen C]

love the picture of the shrike...

merry christmas

[john-henry]

Many thanks Stephen,

and a very merry Christmas to you, I'm sure the English beer will help!!

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 3

22nd Nov….Left Hinojos about 8am for the hour’s drive to Portugal and the Castro Marim reserve area for another look around. Generally it seemed quiet for birds, a few Crag Martins, Southern Grey Shrike, Black Redstart, Serin, Sardinian, Dartford, Fan-tailed and Cetti’s Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Spotless Starlings, Red-legged Partridge, Cattle and Little Egrets, Crested Larks, Dunlin, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Snipe and Lapwings were seen.
Didn’t look around the salt-works side this time.

Note…To prevent repeating the same birds seen at most sites e.g. Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Crested Lark, Skylark, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Black Redstart, White Wagtail, Lapwing, Dunlin, Sanderling, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Grey and Ringed Plovers, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Blackbird, Stonechat, Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls I’ll just mention these are widespread and common in all estuary/saltpan sites visited, save me a lot of writing and you getting bored.

From Castro Marim an hour or so later I was at probably my favourite spot on the Algarve, Quinto do Lago. There’s always plenty to see here, and photograph, and more often than not something of note, this time was no exception, one of the first birds seen was a Glossy Ibis at the Sao Lourenco lake and hide, shortly followed by a dark phase Booted Eagle. Several Purple Gallinules were showing well as were a good selection of duck including Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, a few Coot and Moorhens, Cetti’s Warbler, 20 Waxbills, Azure-winged Magpies, Robin, Great Tit, Serin and a few Mediterranean Gulls mixed in with the hordes of gulls usually found bathing at the far end of the lake.
A new hide has been built on the site of the old run-down one, a two-tier classy job made of solid wood and a pleasure to use, full marks to whoever who is responsible for it.

After a pleasant afternoon with plenty to look at in the warmth and sunshine it was time to head for Salgados, about 6km west of Albufeira, to book into the Salgados Bayside Apartments for the next 7 nights. A quick trip to the supermarket just around the corner for some groceries etc and a little later I was sitting down to a good old fry-up, good healthy eating ☺, listening to two Little Owls calling from across the road.

This is another excellent base to cover the western half of the Algarve. Very reasonably priced self-catering apartments, basic but clean and ideal for birders who just want somewhere to eat and sleep. A bar and restaurant is available on site if required.

23rd Nov….Pera Marsh was full of water for a change, a bit too full in fact, most of the birds were hidden at the far end of the marsh in the taller vegetation! No flamingos this time and no diving duck, I met Rui the unpaid but dedicated caretaker of the marsh who informed me the marsh had been empty for so long it will take some time for aquatic life etc to re-establish itself before these birds return. If you do happen to meet him, stop and have a talk with him he really is a very pleasant person and a mine of information about the marsh and birding in the Algarve. He put me on to the 5 Bald Ibis roosting at Salgados Golf Course.

Anyway water or no water there’s always birds to look at in and around the marsh, Marsh Harrier, Purple Gallinules, 5 Spoonbills, Grey Herons, White Storks, ducks, waders including 7 Avocets, Golden Plover, 3 Bluethroats, Waxbills, Skylarks, Southern Grey Shrike, Crag Martins, 1 Swallow, Reed Bunting etc
Along the track to Carlos’s Bar many of the usual passerines were seen plus another Southern Grey Shrike and Iberian Hare.

Shortly before dusk I was waiting outside the entrance to Salgados Golf Course for a chance of seeing the 5 Bald Ibis come in to roost, I wasn’t disappointed as right on cue in they came and settled on top of the tall wire fence around the Golf Target Range only 20yards or so away. I presume these birds are from the re-introduction programme in Spain and have wandered along the coast, no doubt the numbered rings on their legs will confirm this, or not.

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 4

24th Nov….First birds of the day were c. 20 Waxbills roosting in the willow tree outside my apartment, which was a good start, soon to be followed by a noisy Monk Parakeet sitting on top of a tree.
A trip to Quinta da Rocha today even though it was very windy, there’s always plenty of birds to be found here and often the wind brings terns and waders into the marsh and saltpans for shelter.
A circular walk from the car park along the raised bank, taking in the saltpans at the rear end usually gives good numbers and variety of birds, today was no exception.

Several Sandwich and 8 Caspian Terns, the usual gull sp. plus Mediterranean Gull and a real bonus of an adult Audouin’s Gull in the saltpans along with 17 species of wader including Knot, Kentish and Golden Plovers, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher and Avocet. Flamingos, Spoonbills, Cattle and Little Egrets, Spanish Sparrows, Serin, Linnets, Water Pipit, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Hoopoe, Corn Bunting, 3 Bluethroats, etc. and the star of the day for me, an Osprey eating a fish on the poles around the fish farm.

A stop at the Abicada roman ruins viewpoint overlooking Alvor marshes turned up a stunning male Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a few waders and duck, 25 Spoonbills,1 Black Stork and 200+ White Storks many of which arrived in three groups and had obviously just migrated in.

Last stop of the day was Pera Marsh again, pretty much as yesterday with the addition of a ringtail Hen Harrier.

25th Nov….Cape St. Vicente today, not the best of choices as it was blowing a gale when I arrived there and very few passerines were to be found. No hoped for Alpine Accentors, Red-billed Chough or Thekla Larks around the car park area. I did manage Gannets offshore, a few Dartford and the usual Warblers, Crag Martin and a male Pied Wagtail here before moving inland along the Trig Point track where it was more sheltered and more productive. Ringtail Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrels, Little Owl, Cattle Egrets, Crested and Thekla Larks, Linnets, more warblers, Robin, Song Thrush etc.

On the way to the cape in the morning another of the highlights of the holiday was 2 Black-shouldered Kites flying across the road in front of me between the Silves services and junction 6 on the A22.

Back to Pera Marsh for the last hour of daylight, Caspian Tern, 2 Marsh and a ringtail Hen Harrier, Spoonbills, etc finished off the day.

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 5

26th Nov….Wall to wall sunshine today but a fresh chilly wind. Didn’t feel like driving far today so thought I’d have a look along the coast locally. Starting at Salgados beach photographing some close Sanderling, Dunlin and Kentish Plover and a fly-over Caspian Tern I drove as close to the coast as roads would allow into Gale, followed a sign that said EVANISTA and found an interesting little area of woodland and scrub leading down to the beach here. Lots of passerines in this area and I wondered what it would be like in spring or autumn. Moving on to San Raphael and its Praia Grande then cutting inland and heading back towards Gale via several minor roads/lanes through farming countryside.
Nothing of any great note seen but a good variety of passerines including the usual warblers, finches, etc. Azure-winged Magpies, Song Thrush, the only Chaffinch of the trip, 1 Spoonbill overhead, gulls, Gannets and Sandwich Terns offshore.

Calling in to the Oceano supermarket at Salgados I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling from trees at the side of the car park and despite some funny looks from the locals managed to get views of it before the light went just to confirm its’ ID. Totally unexpected it made my day even better.

27th Nov….warm and sunny all day I headed back to Quinta da Rocha for the day for some photos.
Virtually all the species seen on 25th (53) plus a male Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, 4 Bluethroats and a Little Owl on the roof of the ruined building in the car park then another along the track on the way out.
Another great day with glorious sunshine and loads of birds, what a change from home where the weather is cold, wet and windy, and birds thin on the ground. This and good birding draws me back to the Algarve in winter.

On the way back one of the previously seen Black-shouldered Kites was hunting near Junction 6 on the A22.
The 5 Bald Ibis were still coming in to roost at Salgados Golf Course just before dusk again.

28th Nov….Back to Quinta da Rocha again, seems the more I visit the more I want to return here.
Another good day and added Peregrine and Water Rail to the list, missed seeing Stone Curlew and Purple Gallinule though. Superb views of an Osprey eating a large fish in the saltpans and a Caspian Tern right in front of Colin Key and myself as we stood talking. This was the first time I’ve met Colin and found him very good company, if you’re in the area and see a man with binoculars walking his dog stop and have a chat, he’s very friendly.

Birds seen around the Salgados Bayside Apartments: Hoopoe, Little Owl, Azure-winged Magpie, Waxbill, Blackcap, Serin, Collared Dove, Crag Martin, Cattle Egret, Monk Parakeet etc.

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 6

29th Nov…Left Bayside for Oasis Village at Vilamoura for my last 5 nights. The idea of staying at two different places was to cut down on the driving, and petrol costs of course, and still cover quite a lot of the Algarve. Once again the Oasis was excellent value for money, I booked a SC studio and it was ideal for what I wanted, somewhere clean to eat, sleep, charge camera batteries etc.

A quick look at Pera Marsh before I left found the ringtail Hen Harrier mobbing an Imm. Peregrine sat on the ground, 12 Mediterranean Gulls along with the other 3 usual species etc.
A Jay flew across the road just after I got on to the A22 near the Pera turning.

Managed to book into the Oasis about midday so after a hot drink and dumping the bags I went in to Vilamoura for some shopping I had to do then on to Quarteria to look at a site mentioned by some English birders I met at Quinta da Rocha yesterday.
Forte Novo is a lake with surrounding reedbeds and woodland just in from the sea at the Eastern end of Quarteria, one of those places that immediately strike you as having great potential for passing migrants as well as breeding birds. As well as most of the widespread species mentioned previously were a dozen or so Swallows and House Martins, 6 Waxbills, 1 Spoonbill, Purple Gallinule, Water Rail, 11 species of wader, Azure-winged Magpies and a possible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling – I’m a bit rusty on their call so only got it down as a possible.

30th Nov….A sunny start to the day but cloudier and a cold wind later. Quinto do Lago all day.
Took the right hand track from the car park first. A flock of 70+ Waxbills were feeding in a large grassy area along with 12 or so Chiffchaffs and 2 Hoopoes, Sardinian Warblers seemed everywhere, a flock of several 100 House Sparrows fed on the weeds on the saltmarsh side, a few Serins mixed in with them, 2 Bluethroats opposite the lake were difficult to see, despite coming out onto the track, a couple of Kingfishers darted all over the place, Azure-winged Magpies always seemed to be in view somewhere among the pines while White Storks, Spoonbills, Little Egrets and Grey Herons rested in the saltmarsh. Many gulls and waders could be seen along the estuary including Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew and Whimbrel, Black-winged Stilts etc. (14 species in all).
Back to the car park and took the left hand track towards the lake and hide and then on to Ludo Farm saltpans.
The Glossy Ibis was still present and showing well as were several Purple Gallinules, including a pair of adults courtship feeding. Plenty of duck, the most numerous being Gadwall, the most colourful Red-crested Pochard. 3 fem/imm. type weaver birds (not sure what species yet), Cetti’s Warbler, another 30+ Azure-winged Magpies, pr. Hoopoes, White Wagtails etc etc. all seen from around the hide area while the dark phase Booted Eagle put in another appearance as I headed for Ludo saltpans.
The large lake area seen from the Roman Ruins held Flamingos and Spoonbills plus masses of waterfowl, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Coot, Great Crested Grebes etc.
Once on the track inside the saltpans proper a pale ph. Booted Eagle was seen circling away to the left, also an Osprey, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel. Several White Storks were staking claims to the old nests in the trees on the right while another 75+ were in the air or resting on the ground on the left side, a Black Stork circling with them. Kingfishers, gulls, waders and the usual warblers etc were all present.
If I only had one day in the Algarve this would be the place I would choose to spend it in. There always a good variety of birds and what’s more most of what you see you see really well.

[john-henry]

Donana and Algarve Nov.08 Part 7


1st Dec….Sunny most of the day, some cloud in pm. light wind.
Tavira today, big disappointment to start with, no Audouin’s Gulls seen at all, I’d got used to seeing an increase in numbers each November but this year zero, unless they were in parts I never covered.
In fact there wasn’t very much at all here, most of the saltpans were empty or too full for gulls, waders etc the only spot I found a few birds was in the old, disused saltpans along the ToMe Mariscos track, here I managed 2 Bluethroat, including a gorgeous male, Spanish Sparrow, Kingfisher, a few Flamingos and 15 Spoonbills, small numbers of the usual waders including Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper, Sandwich and 1 Caspian Tern, and surprisingly a Griffon Vulture overhead.

Heading towards Fuzeta on the N125 I noticed a sign for Pinheiro on the left and on impulse took it, it brought me down to the Rio Formosa estuary and some old saltpans. A quick look discovered saltpans, saltmarsh, the estuary, a fish farm and a bit of agriculture, it all made a good varied habitat so worth a look. Standing by the car with my cheese sarnie Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Sardinian Warblers and various finches, including Serin and Linnet, were regularly coming in to feed on rotten Pomegranites or insects around them.
A walk along the track turned up 15 species of wader including Curlew Sandpipers, Knot, Avocet, Whimbrel, Black-winged Stilts and Kentish Plover, Spoonbill, White Stork, Little Egret, Grey Heron, the 4 usual gull sp. Kestrel, some Waxbills with newly fledged young, Collared Dove and Kingfisher.
A handsome male Hen Harrier flying over put up a flock of large waders from a ploughed field opposite the small bridge at the end of the track, unbelievably they were all Stone Curlews, I counted 70 of them as they swung around and landed back in the field. Well pleased with my short diversion I left and headed for Fuzeta.

Not much at all at Fuzeta, ‘improvements’ to the area seem to have restricted access to the old saltpans area, about 20 Flamingos and the usual waders were all I could manage

2nd Dec…..Sunny and warm with a light wind I headed for Quinta do Lago for the day.
The usual itinerary off on the right track to start with then the left track as far as Ludo.
All the previous species seen with additions of Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mistle Thrush and Grey Wagtail.
Worth an extra mention are 3 Booted Eagles, 1 pale.ph, 1 dark ph, and 1 intermediate ph, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine all at Ludo plus the Black Stork still present.

3rd Dec…. My last full day today started with a Short-toed Treecreeper in the Oasis grounds, then off to Quinta do Lago again. Weather not so good, windy, cloudy and turning cold in the afternoon..
7 Spoonbills and an Osprey at the lake extra along the right hand track, no Glossy Ibis seen today but usual suspects all present.
Didn’t bother with Ludo today due to the cold wind but stayed in the hide scanning the area towards the distant hills, the 3 Booted and a Short-toed Eagle were picked up but at long distance from here and there seemed to be a small but steady movement of White Storks passing the distant hills.
On the way back to the car park a scan through a party of Black-headed Gulls revealed an adult Audouin’s Gull with them, a great way to end another great holiday in the Algarve..

4th Dec…. A quick stop at Faro Marshes on the way to the airport gave 1 Caspian Tern, Bluethroat, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Serin and a selection of the usual waders.

Birds seen at the Oasis Village….Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Crag and House Martins, Serin, Azure-winged Magpies, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Cattle Egret.

That’s it another excellent holiday in the Algarve over, plenty of birds seen and photographed, quiet roads, very little human disturbance (unlike at home) and friendly people. Weather was a bit unsettled this year but compared to what it was like back in Britain it was glorious.

[ColinD]

Hi John,
Great report and great pictures. I spent a few days in the area in November and overlapped with the start of your holiday. I saw many of the same birds that you saw. We also visited a few different places. You can read my report here.

We're going back for hopefully more of the same in February. Can't get enough of the place!

[Andrew]

Hi John,

Just back myself and working my way through my 'cough mixture' (Real Companhia Velha, later some Quinta da Infantia and Niepoort) that I brought home! May need some more to sort the gout later though.

A great read and it was good to relive my trip. I dearly wish to be back there right now considering how cold it is right now but I have the Snowy Owl to be thankful for.

The Short-toed Treecreeper was still in Oasis Village!

I take it you have now deserted us digiscopers and moved into the dizzy realms of DSLR judging by the standard of your superb pictures.

I also 'discovered' Forte Novo thanks to Google Earth. If you carry on walking past the lake eastwards you will discover a brilliant marsh that is also very 'birdy'. I have two other underwatched places to mention later, Dunas Douradas and Fonte Benemola. Exploration is the business!

Likewise, I bumped into Colin and his cute dog at Alvor and found him a really warm chap.

Sorted my pics and now sorting my video clips then I will do the trip report. Also looking into prices for spring! The Hostal Pino Donana looks great.

Cheers for now,
Andrew.

[john-henry]

Glad you had another good trip Andrew, welcome back to the 'balmy' west country.

Must try and find some way of getting out there for the winter, like you say it's b****y freezing when you get back!! I think you chose the best time to go, I haven't felt warm since I got back!!!

Re Forte Nova, I think it will also be a great area in the spring, Makes you wonder how many other sites are yet to be 'found', by visiting birders, doesn't it?

Did you get the Bald Ibis, Booted Eagles, etc?

Go for it in the spring Andrew, the Hostal Pino Donana has got to be one of the best places to stay for price and a centre to work out from, cuts down the driving a hell of a lot compared to staying at El Rocio etc. and the birding is first class at any time of year.

As for digiscoping, it's a means to an end but has lots of disappointments, mainly due to poor cameras, surprisingly since I switched to a DLSR I get more pics than I did before, better quality and nowhere near so frustrating. I'd recommend any digiscoper to change over, as and when they can afford it of course, it took me 2 years to save enough for a half decent camera and a really good lens, but well worth it.

I'll look forward to reading your report.

Happy New Year and hope it's a good one.

John

[Andrew]

Hi John,

I did score with the Bald Ibises easily twice, thanks. Booted Eagles were seen a few times with one pale bird right overhead at Forte Novo. I pretty much saw all I wanted to see bar the Alpine Accentors at St Vicente.

There are many times I pined for a DSLR when a bird has been within touching distance but I fear it is out of my price range I think. I shall look into them now though more for dream material than anything.

I have the Moreno & Gutierrez book on Donana and shall read it over the next few weeks and maybe get John Butler's book too.

Andrew.

[madamcoolpix]

Hi, John!

Here I am finally! Sorry, it took me longer than I thought to find the time to visit this thread but I've read the whole trip report from the first to the last line!!! I've thoroughly enjoyed it, fantastic birding and no less fantastic pictures (I had already seen a few of them in the gallery, by the way). Loved the Cattle Egret with the bug in its bill, and all those gorgeous flight shots. The Bald Ibis is worth a big "WOW!", and the Yellow-browed Warbler even a loudest one!!!

Thank you for sharing this report and the effort you put on it, it sure has loads of very valuable information on places to visit and where to stay!!!

Cheers!

[Stephen C]

Can't really argue with that, Marian. I've enjoyed reading this one immensely.

All the best

[john-henry]

HI Marian,
Thanks for your kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

You've hit the nail on the head as to the reason I do a report, the Algarve is a very under-watched area with a very large population of wintering birds, plus its resident ones, the weather is usually good and accommodation is cheap, the combination of all this makes for a great birding holiday which many people don't seem to realise, probably because it hasn't a high profile like Donana etc. If it gets a few people interested in a visit then it's well worth the effort.

Yes the Yellow-browed was a real surprise for me but talking to a local birder there was another one along the Algarve plus Dusky Warbler, Little Bunting and a few other goodies!

Looking forward to 2009 now, as I'm sure you are, I'll take this opportunity to wish you a very happy year and an exceptionally good one for birding.

Best wishes

John

[john-henry]

Hi Stephen,
Glad you enjoyed it too.

Have a brilliant 2009

John

[Mick Sway]

Brilliant report John.
Can't believe that you got those Bald Ibis at Salgodos.
We spent a week overlooking the golf course in October, nothing so exotic turned up, though the birding was still great.
For anyone interested go to:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=125400
Great stuff and great pics!
Best
Mick

[john-henry]

Cheers Mick,

I believe the Ibis are still around, certainly were at the beginning of the month when Andrew was there.

Looking forward to the next trip, I expect you are too especially with the poor winter weather we're having Brrrrr!

All the best

John

[TWM]

Great report ,it brought back many memories of birding there.