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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mick Sway" data-source="post: 1318465" data-attributes="member: 15566">[PLAIN][B]PORTUGAL 2008 – Thurs 9th October – Castro Verde[/B][/PLAIN]PORTUGAL 2008 – PART SIXThurs 9th October – Castro VerdeSetting off at 8.00 am, we joined the IP1 toll road just east of Albufeira (off the A22 motorway) heading north to Castro Verde (the cost paid at exit is about 6 Euro). The idea was to take 123 heading east towards Mertola, however the since the exits from the town were not clearly identified, we found ourselves heading out towards Aljustrel and had to double back, though it was along this road that we spotted the first of four red kites.It’s worth noting that, although surfaced the Mertola road is very rough, with no sign of any improvement in its maintenance since our last visit a few years ago. Obviously used mainly for agricultural traffic, it crosses a vast plain of big skies and dry soil, occasionally broken with a few copses of eucalyptus, the odd oak and almond trees. Along the road a few kilometres out of Castro Verde there is small river gulley, crossed by means of a bridge, which is worthwhile checking out – on the East side there is a dilapidated farm. Although on this occasion there were only grey heron, common sandpiper, corn bunting and little egret, in spring it is bound to be more productive. Further on along the road a great grey shrike was perched in an almond tree. Flying low over the eucalyptus to the North, two red kites patrolled the skies.Some of the telegraph poles along this road are numbered, at 10.00 am we pulled over at pole number 203 heading East, where on the opposite side of the road, a farm track runs north across the plains. At this point scoping the characterless steppes we eventually located in the distance, a number of great bustards (20+) and some smaller upright birds which may well have been little bustards. Disappointed with the views I set off across the landscape with scope trying get a little nearer, however the sound of gunshot echoed across the plains and the birds flew even further off(apologies for the photo,but this gives some idea of their distance). Whilst walking across the ploughed land a flight of black bellied sand grouse also took off, leaving me disappointed that I did not spot them earlier.It has to be said that the distant views we obtained of the birds and the characterless nature of the views left us feeling that a visit to Ria Formosa or Quinta, may have been more rewarding.Thurs 9th October – SilvesAs we left Castro Verde, this time via the IC1, another red kite flew by the road side.As we entered the Algarve we took the N124 to Silves, stopping there for a tasty chicken piri piri lunch at one of the grillsnear the river and later took a stroll around this picturesque old castled town.A quick twitch down the river gave us good views of kingfisher, common sandpiper, black winged stilt, grey heron and little egret.Acknowledgements:We would like to pay a small tribute to our friends Teresa and David Minshull who, some years ago now,introduced us to both birding and walking in the Algarve. Our late friend Dave wrote two excellent reports of their time in the Algarve whilst he was ill. He would have relished the opportunity of being able to share his experiences through the Birdforum and internet, but was called before he was able to do so.The following guides are useful:A Birdwatchers Guide to Portugal and Madeira – C.C.Moore, G.Elias & H.Costa(Published by Prion Ltd)A Birdwatching Guide to the Algarve – Kevin & Christine Carlson (Arlequin Publication)</blockquote>

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