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Message: <blockquote data-quote="john-henry" data-source="post: 1674198" data-attributes="member: 15559">Algarve, Portugal, 7th – 23rd November 2009. J H Johns. Part 2.9th Nov…Up at 07.40, left at 08.30 for Quinta da Rocha. Weather sunny, warm but windy, A group of Azure-winged Magpies moving through the hedges and coming down onto the track was worth stopping for especially as it led to a close Southern Grey Shrike perching up nicely for a photo.Arriving in the car park 60 Flamingos and several Grey Herons were on the flash lagoon, which today was too full of water to hold small waders. The usual passerines were present but not showing too well due to the strong wind, a bit of patience though produced Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, Waxbills, Spanish Sparrows, Serins, Goldfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch, Crested Lark and Skylarks, etc. while inland a large flock (c.200) of White Storks circled.The usual circular walk along the seaward bank, up to the saltpans and back to the car park was fairly quiet due to the tide being in but as it dropped waders started appearing, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed and Grey Plovers, Turnstone, Redshank and Greenshank, Whimbrel, Black-winged Stilts and Oystercatchers. Sandwich Terns and Caspian Tern, Water Rails calling, another Southern Grey Shrike, 3 Bluethroats, Water Pipit, Kingfisher, Kestrel were all seen plus a few Mediterranean Gulls with the usual 3 gull spp.Later in the afternoon a scan for Stone Curlew proved fruitless but a field being ploughed attracted scores of Cattle Egrets including one almost brown in colour, so much so I thought it was a Squacco Heron at first sight, a good number of gulls were following the plough of course. Numerous White Wagtails picked through earth ploughed earlier in the day while 4 Little Owls called to each other. A Black Redstart bounced around the ruined building and the Azure-winged Magpies returned to inspect the track – probably for road-kill insects etc.On the drive back towards Alvor the bird of the day presented itself, Black-shouldered Kite, hunting the area to the left of the road just before the turn-off for Faro. Amazingly this was followed by two more as I was going round the roundabout that leads up to the A22, of course I went round this twice for another look because I couldn’t stop anywhere. What a great finish to an already great day!10th Nov…Up at 06.40, only a light breeze today with temperatures in the 70’s. I left for Cabo de Sao Vicente but it looked a bit cloudy in that direction so turned off for Quinta da Rocha again, this turned out a good decision for today, and tomorrow.A Black-shouldered Kite was one of the first birds seen, luckily it landed on a nearby tree, so I drove a bit closer and managed 3 quick shots before it moved further away, they really are wary birds.Back to the car park, more passerines visible today, mainly as yesterday with the addition of Hoopoe and Reed Bunting. Loads of Waxbill activity, one even carrying nest material while others were feeding fledged young, no wonder they’re spreading so fast! Only one juv Flamingo on the lagoon today plus 2 Avocets and a Black-tailed Godwit. I did the circular walk in reverse today to catch the waders roosting in the saltpans, only problem was they weren’t there!! Most of yesterday’s birds were seen plus 2 Golden Plover, a Grey Plover mainly in summer plumage looked brilliant with the sun on it, 2 Caspian Terns etc. 4 Bluethroat today, one sitting up nicely for a photograph as a bonus. About 20 Griffon Vultures passing over heading west was unexpectedOn to Abicada from here, plenty of White Storks and Spoonbills present but I didn’t stay long due to a couple of seedy characters in the adjacent building, when I saw one putting make-up on the other’s face I thought it time to go.Pera Marsh for the rest of the afternoon seemed a good bet, it didn’t disappoint either, 2 Marsh Harriers quartered the marsh, a Black-shouldered Kite came over from Quinta de Saudade area and headed across the golf course and a ringtail Hen Harrier hunted the Carlos track area. Someone I met earlier told me a White-headed Duck was present at the small pool tucked away at the top end of the marsh but it wasn’t showing amongst the Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Shoveler and Little Grebes present, however I put up 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Jack Snipe (my first in Portugal) and several Common Snipe getting there.</blockquote>

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