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Message: <blockquote data-quote="john-henry" data-source="post: 1675741" data-attributes="member: 15559">Algarve, Portugal, 7th – 23rd November 2009. J H Johns. Part 516th Nov…Up at 06.45 again. Spent all day at the salt works side of Castro Marim. Bit overcast in the morning, (had to put a jumper on for the first time), then sunny spells for rest of day. Loads of birds throughout the saltpans, many of them out of reach of bins, a telescope is needed if birding but not necessary if you’re here for photography. I met a couple of birders from Tavira, as usual we didn’t exchange names but I’d like to thank them for pointing me in the direction of some Slender-billed Gulls, which showed well and gave me a few photos. Waders were well represented with 19 species seen, Ruff, Dunlin, Little Stint, Sanderling, Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Common and Green Sandpipers, Ringed, Kentish, Grey and Golden Plovers, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, 100+ Avocet and Snipe, 20+ Spoonbill, 60+ Flamingo, White Stork, both egrets, Grey Heron, numerous Cormorants, 3 Marsh Harrier (1male), Buzzard, Bluethroats, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Water Pipits, usual warblers etc, White Wagtails, Southern Grey Shrike, 10 Little Terns – which now seem to winter here. All in all an excellent area, well worth a visit to get a lot of species in one go.Back at Piedras D’el Rei 3 Caspian Terns flew over heading east.17th Nov… Checked out of  Piedras D’el Rei at 08.30 and headed for Tavira saltpans for a last look around. Still good numbers of birds, 20 Spoonbills, 30+ Flamingos, 70+ Audouin’s Gulls, plus usual gulls, waders and passerines. Heading west from Tavira I stopped off at Pinheiro for a look around, loads of small waders in the old saltpans, 15+ Kentish Plover, Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint plus the more common ones. Several Bluethroats again (seems a particularly good year for recording these), usual warblers, Serin, Southern Grey Shrike, Waxbills, Spoonbills, egrets etc.    From here west to Vilamoura and the Oasis Village, for my last 6 nights accommodation. After booking in had a quick look at Falesia Lake just a few minutes drive away. Waxbills, usual 4 warblers + Cetti’s, Penduline Tits calling, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Caspian Terns fishing.Back on the balcony at Oasis Village 5 Night Herons flew over at dusk heading towards the marshes.18th Nov… Up at 06.30 but didn’t leave until 09.00, trying for a few shots of Azure-winged Magpie.10+ Song Thrushes roosting, Crag Martins, Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Cattle Egrets overhead started the day off.    Down to Falesia Lake to look for Penduline Tit, 4 were seen together almost immediately, lovely birds, others were calling from different parts of the reedbed. Good numbers of Cetti’s and Sardinian Warblers with a few Fan-tailed were seen, Waxbills bombing around all over the place.    On to Quarteria from here, to the lake at Forte Novo. No lake, only a channel of water trickling through the middle of dry earth, presumably due to the lack of rain for the past few months. All I could see was a Black-necked Grebe and a White Stork so drove round to the far side of the lake to the reedbeds and pines. Short-toed Treecreeper was my reward plus Kingfisher, loads of Azure-winged Magpies, Jay, usual warblers, Hoopoe, 2 Spoonbills, Black-tailed Godwit and Water Rail.    This seemed a good time to go back to Vilamoura, stock up on food and drink and stick it in the fridge. The last couple of hours of daylight were then spent at Falesia Lake, which turned out very well with 3 Marsh Harriers, ♂ and imm. Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels and a Black-shouldered Kite plus yesterday’s birds in the reedbeds. A good end to the day.</blockquote>

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