16 April: Porto Carvalhoso, Tavira, Portugal
An unfortunately too brief trip back to Portugal, with a few admin things to sort out as I'm now a Portuguese tax resident, and a report to work on. Decided on a morning visit to pick up some inland species in the hills of Tavira concelho, about 20 minutes away from home. Nice area with water crowfoot-filled river holding a singing wren and a grey wagtail, as well as a late blackcap and crag martin. Taunted by a nightingale, my frustration shortly alleviated by an excellent view of my first woodchat shrike since about 1977 when I was travelling around Greece. Another even closer nightingale continued the frustration, distracted this time by my first Portuguese Dartford warbler, and a brief flight view of a male golden oriole which had been calling from a eucalyptus. Had a great view of a blue rock thrush on my return to the car, then saw a largish relatively long-tailed bird fly catching (or song-flighting?) which landed near the top of a tall olive. Got the binoculars on it to confirm a black hooded Sylviid, but too far away to absolutely confirm it wasn't just a Sardinian. Behaviour totally off for the latter, so I think it was Western Orphean warbler, which is recorded occasionally in this area.
Common Nightingale (heard-only)
150. Woodchat Shrike *
151. Dartford Warbler *
152. European Golden Oriole
153. Blue Rock Thrush
Western Orphean Warbler? (recorded on eBird as Sylvia / Curruca sp.)
I've got a photo of the shrike, once I find my SD card reader...here's my iPhone pic of the water crowfoot beds...