[paulwfromtheden]

Just back from hols. It wasn't a birding trip, but I managed to spend a morning with the bins in the wetlands just to the north of a place called Villa Real de Saint Antonio, right on the river Guadiana on the Spanish border. Absolutely fantastic place, in the space of about 30 minutes I managed to see:=

• Osprey
• Hobby
• Marsh Harrier
• 500 Flamingos (lifer)
• Spoonbill (lifer)
• Caspian Tern (absolutely chuffed with this one)(lifer)
• Black Stork (lifer)
• Black-Winged Stilt (lifer)

Also managed a good number of red rumped swallows, which were also a life tick for me.
I will go back and do it properly. There were about 4/5 other birds I could not id, and my camera had conveniently broken!!
I have never really considered birding abroad, but that was stunning....

[ColinD]

Originally Posted by paulwfromtheden

Just back from hols. It wasn't a birding trip, but I managed to spend a morning with the bins in the wetlands just to the north of a place called Villa Real de Saint Antonio, right on the river Guadiana on the Spanish border. Absolutely fantastic place, in the space of about 30 minutes I managed to see:=

• Osprey
• Hobby
• Marsh Harrier
• 500 Flamingos (lifer)
• Spoonbill (lifer)
• Caspian Tern (absolutely chuffed with this one)(lifer)
• Black Stork (lifer)
• Black-Winged Stilt (lifer)

Also managed a good number of red rumped swallows, which were also a life tick for me.
I will go back and do it properly. There were about 4/5 other birds I could not id, and my camera had conveniently broken!!
I have never really considered birding abroad, but that was stunning....

Nice. The Algarve is a superb area for birdwatching, and the River Guadiana is one of the best bits The area you describe is a well known birding location, called Castro Marim. Have a look at this link http://www.birdtours.co.uk/triprepor.../sw-aug-06.htm. Nice and cheap to get to as well.

[Stranger]

Agree with Coigach,the Algarve is superb!
I go in Feb most years and thoroughly enjoy it.
If you can,next time you go,visit Quintos de Lagos,another great place
where you are almost gauranteed Purple Gallinule.
This year I had RC Pochard,Serin and a special bonus of a Bluethroat.
The year before the best bird was a Glossy Ibis
We took the boat trip up the Gaurdiana this year and had distant views of Spoonbill,Cattle egret and a few Raptors that were too far away to ID.
We intend to go back next Feb and explore the Castro Marim area on foot.
Pera Marshes is another good spot.

[paulwfromtheden]

Originally Posted by Coigach

Nice. The Algarve is a superb area for birdwatching, and the River Guadiana is one of the best bits The area you describe is a well known birding location, called Castro Marim. Have a look at this link http://www.birdtours.co.uk/triprepor.../sw-aug-06.htm. Nice and cheap to get to as well.

Thanks Bobby, I'm already planning it, as Castro Marim is about a 10 minute walk from the station, so flight to Faro, and a train up to Vila Real. Nice and easy.
Great article as well.

[joannec]

Originally Posted by paulwfromtheden

Just back from hols. It wasn't a birding trip,
Also managed a good number of red rumped swallows, which were also a life tick for me.
I will go back and do it properly. There were about 4/5 other birds I could not id, and my camera had conveniently broken!!
I have never really considered birding abroad, but that was stunning....

How could any holiday not be a birding trip? Congratulations on all the new birds.

Birding abroad is a gas....so many lifers easily found. Even if most are common wherever you are they are still new to a first time visitor.

Joanne

[paulwfromtheden]

Originally Posted by joannechattaway

How could any holiday not be a birding trip? Congratulations on all the new birds.

Birding abroad is a gas....so many lifers easily found. Even if most are common wherever you are they are still new to a first time visitor.

Joanne

Hi Joanne,
We had to do the beach and a trip to Seville (tell me - why do women, when they arrive at a city that's steeped in 1000 years of Moorish/Christian history chose to get off the coach and head straight for M&S??).
However, I smuggled the bins aboard and we managed to do a bit.
Next time it will be a birding only trip!

[joannec]

Originally Posted by paulwfromtheden

Hi Joanne,
We had to do the beach and a trip to Seville (tell me - why do women, when they arrive at a city that's steeped in 1000 years of Moorish/Christian history chose to get off the coach and head straight for M&S??).

LOL, you wouldn't catch me doing that.

However, I smuggled the bins aboard and we managed to do a bit.
!

Not surprised.....I carry a small pair of bins around in my handbag all the time when not birding.

Joanne