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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pam_m" data-source="post: 1667959" data-attributes="member: 18672">It felt good as we alighted from the plane at Faro Airport to feel the warm air surround us, to us it was warm but judging by the winter clothes worn by the staff at the car hire company you would have thought it was cold! House Sparrows around the airport were the usual first birds seen on arrival, however this time we had spotted three Greater Flamingos on the marshes as we were landing. These three and seven at Quinta do Lago on the lake were the only Flamingos seen during our stay. We were staying in Gale for the duration of the holiday, after a pleasant drive to the hotel and a rest we were off to my favourite place, Lagoa dos Salgados (Pera Marsh)!! It felt good to be back here, a place I will never tire of. As we drove along the road that leads to the lagoon and Carlos Bar, two Hoopoes suddenly lifted in the field alongside the road, what a great start! It had taken a whole week during our stay in January to see a Hoopoe so I was well pleased with this sighting! Crested Lark were plentiful as were Pied/White Wagtails, in fact P/W Wagtails were to be seen in every place we visited! The water level in the lagoon was well down, it was just about reaching the raised banks but thankfully it was to rise well during our stay. Lapwings and a few Golden Plovers were feeding on the scrub areas beyond the Olive trees as we drove down to the lagoon, both of these species were to greatly increase in numbers over the two weeks. Lovely to see them all in flight, especially when the sun highlighted them! Other highlights at Pera Marsh today were Spoonbills (4), Heron (24),  B. W Stilt (the numbers of Stilts also increased as the lagoon filled), White Stork, Purple Gallinule, Cormorant (numerous), Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, a Starling flock ( with numbers increasing daily), Chaffinch ( in abundance), B H & L B B Gulls. The star of the show today were the Shovelers in great numbers, if I hadn't felt so tired after an early flight I would have had a stab at counting them!! The numbers of Shovelers also increased greatly at Pera Marsh throughout our stay. On returning to the hotel a flock of Linnets were heard and then seen in a tree close to the hotel, their melodious song ringing out as the sun was setting! A great end to our first day back in the Algarve.</blockquote>

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