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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SUN BIRD" data-source="post: 1613919" data-attributes="member: 70750">Algarve Trip Report 2009SITE REPORTS (cont):Cape St.Vincent & Val do Bispo :  Tuesday 6th OctoberColin was a very nice guy and provided us with lots of info relating to birding in the Algarve.  He also sent his regards to Ruby, hopefully we will visit the other sites he mentioned next year.The Cape is about one hours drive north west of Guia via the N22 and 20mins from Lagos via the N125. The best and the quickest way into the Cape itself, from a birding point of view, is to take the Val do Bispo exit from the N125. However please be aware that I was driving a small family car on the connecting road from Bispo, which varies from tarmac to track. Evidently they must have had rain in the area, which coupled with a heavy bull dozer working on the track, made it difficult in places. There are numerous sub tracks well worth exploring, if you can afford to hire a four wheel drive, which is really necessary for the area. It is along these tracks that in the past, we have had;Egyptian vulture, common buzzard, short toed eagle, hen and montagu’s harrier. However we have not been fortunate enough  to sight little bustard, which Colin Key informed us that both that species plus dotterel had been reported in the area in recent weeks.We had sighted two black shouldered kites on the side of the N125 as we drove up.On the track at Bispo a very large bird took off from the ground in the distance, as a farmer passed by on a tractor. By the roadside; northern wheatear and crested lark took flight as we passed by. While corn bunting,greenfinch, goldfinch and linnet picked at the thistle down. A great grey shrike was on a wire alongside a spotted flycatcher.Near the farm half way along, we moved inland stopping to view a small chattering of choughs feeding near by on the rough steppe ground along with some spotless starlings. Before my lovely man could get a camera shot, they were dispersed by the sudden stoop of a peregrine in the middle of them. Michael spotted two tawny pipits, but they disappeared before I could get my bins on them.Several kestrel hovered over the plane as the sun came out, stonechats and a whinchat were by the side of the road as two ravens flew over the pines to the south.We pulled in at a sunny Cape St Vincent near the Lighthouse for a cuppa and something to eat.Suddenly half way through my drink, Michael alerted me to a raptor drifting over the cliffs.As we got out of the car five magnificent booted eagles, in various stages of adulthood, passed over our heads and out to sea, before passing briefly back over the cliffs inland. Whilst this wonderful event took place, the many busy Cape tourists milled about the cliff tops, obliviously videoing and photographing the old lighthouse. Surprisingly there were no swifts or martins to be seen on the cliff tops.I pointed out a black redstart on the car park before I drove off for the raptor watch point, encountering several more Kestrel whilst on the way. A small group of birders hunkered down on the sandy hill above the heath as many more booted eagle and a goshawk passed overhead. After half an hour or so we made are way back to Bispo, with out adding any new sightings to our tally.To be continued.Tina:cat:</blockquote>

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