Monte Gordo area, 13 to 22 November 2023
Another trip on foot and bicycle around the Monte Gordo / Castro Marim area. Warm and sunny every day. Despite being a bit restricted this time due to bad knees, old age etc, we saw 85 species.
Most sightings were similar to previous visits (see our previous reports here), but we had one new species - Ferruginous Duck, with at least eight at the Aldea Nova Lake (in the woods west of MG). We also saw 3 Purple Gallinules / Swamphens there, as well as numerous Red-crested and Common Pochards. As usual, Crested Tits, Short-toed Treecreepers and Iberian Magpies in the woods.
Other birds of interest (for us) included 15 or more Stone-curlews in the scrub area just north of Vila Real alongside the river estuary, as well as a couple of Booted Eagles above the wetlands. We saw more than 10 wader species alongside the river viewed from the northern end of the Vila Real fish dock (but this excellent site depends on the state of the tide). An Osprey was on the resting tower most days throughout the week. Numerous Crag Martins on and around various buildings in MG.
The saltpans trail was fairly dry, but we didn’t follow it beyond the hide because it was deeply-rutted. The cycle track between Sao Bartolomeu and Castro Marim is still under construction, but a gravel surface allows cycle access for much of the way. One of our best viewing sites in the past has been part of the Castro Marim wetland area from the Monte Gordo rail station platform, but the most productive part of the platform is currently inaccessible due to refurbishment work (likely to continue for a long time).
Ruiz Bikes in MG are still excellent for hiring bikes; we paid only €30 per bike for 10 days.
Another trip on foot and bicycle around the Monte Gordo / Castro Marim area. Warm and sunny every day. Despite being a bit restricted this time due to bad knees, old age etc, we saw 85 species.
Most sightings were similar to previous visits (see our previous reports here), but we had one new species - Ferruginous Duck, with at least eight at the Aldea Nova Lake (in the woods west of MG). We also saw 3 Purple Gallinules / Swamphens there, as well as numerous Red-crested and Common Pochards. As usual, Crested Tits, Short-toed Treecreepers and Iberian Magpies in the woods.
Other birds of interest (for us) included 15 or more Stone-curlews in the scrub area just north of Vila Real alongside the river estuary, as well as a couple of Booted Eagles above the wetlands. We saw more than 10 wader species alongside the river viewed from the northern end of the Vila Real fish dock (but this excellent site depends on the state of the tide). An Osprey was on the resting tower most days throughout the week. Numerous Crag Martins on and around various buildings in MG.
The saltpans trail was fairly dry, but we didn’t follow it beyond the hide because it was deeply-rutted. The cycle track between Sao Bartolomeu and Castro Marim is still under construction, but a gravel surface allows cycle access for much of the way. One of our best viewing sites in the past has been part of the Castro Marim wetland area from the Monte Gordo rail station platform, but the most productive part of the platform is currently inaccessible due to refurbishment work (likely to continue for a long time).
Ruiz Bikes in MG are still excellent for hiring bikes; we paid only €30 per bike for 10 days.
