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Message: <blockquote data-quote="john-henry" data-source="post: 1675013" data-attributes="member: 15559">Algarve, Portugal, 7th – 23rd November 2009. J H Johns. Part 311th Nov…Up at 05.40, quick breakfast and on the road for Cabo de Sao Vicente before 07.00, getting there about 08.00. The first couple of hours were spent covering the area for Alpine Accentor but with no luck, a few Black Redstarts, Thekla Larks, 2 Blue Rock Thrushes, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Kestrel and several Buzzards were seen while a few finches, including Siskin passed overhead. Gannets fished offshore.About 10.00 I started noticing an increase in Buzzard numbers, 8 in the air together. While watching them a Booted Eagle joined them and a Peregrine shot through the group, great I thought, scanning around I counted 20 Buzzards scattered over the area, next several Booted Eagles appeared along the coast, this was getting good, another scan showed a large kettle of vultures in the distance. Then it clicked, raptor migration, yes, one of the things I’ve most wanted to see here but always thought I was too late in November.Over the next 1½hours Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Egyptian Vultures and Buzzards seemed to be everywhere and coming from all directions, some singly, some in small groups, one group of 8 Short-toed Eagles really had me drooling, some were just coasting, some passing overhead seaward then returning a few minutes later, others heading inland, I didn’t know where to look first, it was an absolutely fantastic experience, one that will always stay in my memory.. On the comical side of it I suppose, I was stood in the middle of nowhere with a camera on a tripod, swinging it left then right, even going round in circles at times, anyone looking and not realising what was happening must have thought I’d been out in the sun too long!!Things quieted down a bit after 11.30 with more birds moving inland, when I calmed down a bit I too headed inland along the Vale de Santo track to see if any were hanging around, from here I could see several Short-toed Eagles to the east so moved over to the ‘Trig Point’ track, but not before seeing 30+ Red-billed Chough feeding in the fields, Thekla, Crested and Skylarks, Jackdaws, Spotless Starlings and Hen Harrier.    Parking near the start of the pines several Short-toed Eagles were hunting the area, one group of 3 being seen on and off throughout the afternoon, one passing directly overhead, absolute magic. The occasional Booted Eagle also put in an appearance while several tired Buzzards rested on the ground or low bushes. The Griffon Vultures hadn’t really seemed to move anywhere but as the afternoon passed they gradually worked their way inland – presumably to try again another day.Other birds in the area include Crag Martins, Swallows, 2 Ravens, Cattle Egret, Thekla Lark and one Black Stork flying inland.What a day, I’ll certainly celebrate with a few glasses tonight.12th Nov…Up early again at 06.40. A quick stop at the golf course ditch found 2 Squacco Herons there before the golfers appeared. Onward for a couple of hours at Quinta da Rocha to try for some pics of Sardinian Warbler and Spanish Sparrow, no problem and left again an hour later for Foia but not before adding Green Sandpiper to the list for here.    Today I was trying for some photos of Dartford Warbler and Rock Bunting but failed miserably, absolutely nothing. Saw plenty of Dartford and 3 Rock Buntings but none out in the open or within range.However it was a beautiful day and a very scenic area. A Woodlark was singing as if it was spring, the usual warblers and finches, lots of Stonechats, Wren, a late Wheatear, 1 swallow, 30-40 Crag Martins and 8 Griffon Vultures made it worth the trip. A Crested Tit was calling on the way down to Monchique.    Last quick stop of the day at Pera Marsh gave Marsh Harrier, 6 Spoonbills, Caspian Tern, a few more waders than last time – 10 Black-winged Stilts, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing and 20 Golden Plover.</blockquote>

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