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Portugal in November (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter john-henry
- Start date
Quote: "Another favourite spot today, Pera Marsh, about 30km away.
On arriving I couldn’t believe what I saw, the whole marsh had been drained, empty!! There were still quite a few birds here but nothing like it usually is, no Flamingos, Avocets, Black-winged Stilts or wintering duck.
Talking to an Englishman who lives nearby the recent heavy rains had raised the levels in the marsh so high it was affecting the drainage of the adjacent Salgados Golf Course so the local council drained it, obviously under pressure to do so, but I couldn’t believe they were so thoughtless to empty it, they only had to drop the level so it didn’t affect the golf course. Apparently they do this occasionally for various reasons and when the levels rise again the birds do return but it does make you question their mentality."
Hello John,
Congratulations on a very nice report. Have you posted it anywhere else as a single piece? I think it deserves it and a lot of people would like to print off a hard-copy.
I wonder if I was the Englishman to whom you refer above? I have been very much involved in the preservation of Lagoa dos Salgados (or Pera Marsh as you call it) for the past three years. It was I, together with two friends Derek Honnor and Michael Benington, who managed to get the RSPB and SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves), involved along with CCDR (the Algarve Development Board) and other NGO's, in saving this very special place from the hands of the developers. The Cavaco Brothers now have permission to go ahead with their golf academy, hotel and several thousand residential units but they appear to have been swayed into conserving the lagoon as a natural habitat and asset within their development. There are also plans to convert the ruined farm buildings at the north end of the lagoon into a Visitor/Interpretation Centre.
My campaign began with me producing a two-page "flyer" outlining the situation and giving contact details of all parties involved urging people to write with their views and support. Michael has at the same time written several illustrated articles (e.g. in Birdwatch and the WWT magazine) describing the plight of this locality, and Derek was the one who actually went to The Lodge at Sandy, demanded an audience, and did some table-thumping.
As the situation moved forward and became more complex I started my own blog as a way of disseminating information and keeping people up to date. You can see it here: http://www.algarvebirder.blogspot.com/ As well as some of my personal views it contains links to other sites such as SPEA where you will find official documents written in English as PDF files. Of necessity there are some pages of monotonous (but, I hope, informative) text so I have tried to lighten the blog with some of my photos and a few more frivolous items.
At the moment Lagoa dos Salgados has the status of an IBA (Important Bird Area) which offers zero protection. It is hoped that this will soon become an SPA (Special Protection Area) which will ensure its future conservation.
Just to clarify the reasons for draining the lagoon. During the summer the only water entering the lagoon comes via a small stream which is actually the overflow from the local ETAR (sewage treatment works) which can no longer cope with the increased density of residents and tourists. The result is that raw, untreated, sewage is contaminating the water. By late autumn the birds are developing avian botulism and dying in their hundreds. It is a long, slow, agonising death as this disease begins by paralysing the central nervous system. The stench from this water (added to by the large number of bird corpses) is unbearable and it is this factor which makes the Salgados Golf Club get the local council to breach the retaining sand spit and allow the water to escape. When done during spring tides it also allows the sea water to enter and flush out the toxins to some extent and then the sand spit re-establishes itself naturally. The winter rains then re-fill the lagoon and the lower output from the treatment works at this time of year allows the whole ecosystem to "refresh".
To change tack slightly; I actually live on the Ria de Alvor (or Alvor Marshes as most Brits refer to it) near where the A Rocha field study centre and ringing station are situated. This was designated as a Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance) in 1996 and more recently, in September 2006, became an official site within the Rede Natura 2000. This is quite a high level of protection within the EU but the new owner of the estate (Quinta da Rocha), a developer called Aprigio Santos, is flaunting the legal system and is systematically destroying every single square metre of this important area. In winter I used to have Stone Curlew, Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier roosting close to my house, and in summer Red-necked Nightjar breeding nearby and hawking for insects over my garden at night. Now these have all disappeared.
I intend posting more information on the Ria de Alvor situation on my blog before too long. This is a very beautiful place to live but sure as hell is also a very depressing place at times.
Thanks for reading,
Colin
On arriving I couldn’t believe what I saw, the whole marsh had been drained, empty!! There were still quite a few birds here but nothing like it usually is, no Flamingos, Avocets, Black-winged Stilts or wintering duck.
Talking to an Englishman who lives nearby the recent heavy rains had raised the levels in the marsh so high it was affecting the drainage of the adjacent Salgados Golf Course so the local council drained it, obviously under pressure to do so, but I couldn’t believe they were so thoughtless to empty it, they only had to drop the level so it didn’t affect the golf course. Apparently they do this occasionally for various reasons and when the levels rise again the birds do return but it does make you question their mentality."
Hello John,
Congratulations on a very nice report. Have you posted it anywhere else as a single piece? I think it deserves it and a lot of people would like to print off a hard-copy.
I wonder if I was the Englishman to whom you refer above? I have been very much involved in the preservation of Lagoa dos Salgados (or Pera Marsh as you call it) for the past three years. It was I, together with two friends Derek Honnor and Michael Benington, who managed to get the RSPB and SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves), involved along with CCDR (the Algarve Development Board) and other NGO's, in saving this very special place from the hands of the developers. The Cavaco Brothers now have permission to go ahead with their golf academy, hotel and several thousand residential units but they appear to have been swayed into conserving the lagoon as a natural habitat and asset within their development. There are also plans to convert the ruined farm buildings at the north end of the lagoon into a Visitor/Interpretation Centre.
My campaign began with me producing a two-page "flyer" outlining the situation and giving contact details of all parties involved urging people to write with their views and support. Michael has at the same time written several illustrated articles (e.g. in Birdwatch and the WWT magazine) describing the plight of this locality, and Derek was the one who actually went to The Lodge at Sandy, demanded an audience, and did some table-thumping.
As the situation moved forward and became more complex I started my own blog as a way of disseminating information and keeping people up to date. You can see it here: http://www.algarvebirder.blogspot.com/ As well as some of my personal views it contains links to other sites such as SPEA where you will find official documents written in English as PDF files. Of necessity there are some pages of monotonous (but, I hope, informative) text so I have tried to lighten the blog with some of my photos and a few more frivolous items.
At the moment Lagoa dos Salgados has the status of an IBA (Important Bird Area) which offers zero protection. It is hoped that this will soon become an SPA (Special Protection Area) which will ensure its future conservation.
Just to clarify the reasons for draining the lagoon. During the summer the only water entering the lagoon comes via a small stream which is actually the overflow from the local ETAR (sewage treatment works) which can no longer cope with the increased density of residents and tourists. The result is that raw, untreated, sewage is contaminating the water. By late autumn the birds are developing avian botulism and dying in their hundreds. It is a long, slow, agonising death as this disease begins by paralysing the central nervous system. The stench from this water (added to by the large number of bird corpses) is unbearable and it is this factor which makes the Salgados Golf Club get the local council to breach the retaining sand spit and allow the water to escape. When done during spring tides it also allows the sea water to enter and flush out the toxins to some extent and then the sand spit re-establishes itself naturally. The winter rains then re-fill the lagoon and the lower output from the treatment works at this time of year allows the whole ecosystem to "refresh".
To change tack slightly; I actually live on the Ria de Alvor (or Alvor Marshes as most Brits refer to it) near where the A Rocha field study centre and ringing station are situated. This was designated as a Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance) in 1996 and more recently, in September 2006, became an official site within the Rede Natura 2000. This is quite a high level of protection within the EU but the new owner of the estate (Quinta da Rocha), a developer called Aprigio Santos, is flaunting the legal system and is systematically destroying every single square metre of this important area. In winter I used to have Stone Curlew, Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier roosting close to my house, and in summer Red-necked Nightjar breeding nearby and hawking for insects over my garden at night. Now these have all disappeared.
I intend posting more information on the Ria de Alvor situation on my blog before too long. This is a very beautiful place to live but sure as hell is also a very depressing place at times.
Thanks for reading,
Colin
John Butler
Registered Member
Hi JH.
I was guiding a group earlier this month (Doñana and Portugal) and Pêra marsh was full of water and birds.
Plenty to see at Quinta do Lago, Fuseta marshes and salinas, Castro Verde (G Bustards), Castro Marim, Ría Formosa Natural Park and at Cabo Sáo Vicente, where 6 Alpine Accentors were the star turn.
The trip report can be seen on the "Trip Reports" page of my website. http://www.donanabirdtours.com/cgi-bin/web.asp?PageID=61
For the Portugal part of this tour, scroll down to the reports for 17th - 21st January. For the 2 days previous in Doñana, scroll down further and look at the 15th and 16th of January.
I was guiding a group earlier this month (Doñana and Portugal) and Pêra marsh was full of water and birds.
Plenty to see at Quinta do Lago, Fuseta marshes and salinas, Castro Verde (G Bustards), Castro Marim, Ría Formosa Natural Park and at Cabo Sáo Vicente, where 6 Alpine Accentors were the star turn.
The trip report can be seen on the "Trip Reports" page of my website. http://www.donanabirdtours.com/cgi-bin/web.asp?PageID=61
For the Portugal part of this tour, scroll down to the reports for 17th - 21st January. For the 2 days previous in Doñana, scroll down further and look at the 15th and 16th of January.
Pam_m
Well-known member
Hi Colin,
I have read your post with great interest.
My family and I have had numerous holidays in the Algarve and 'Pera Marsh' is a place where we have spent many happy hours. We can remember driving to Salgados beach on the seemingly never ending road lined with palm trees to the relatively quiet beach and having refreshments at the wooden cafe/restaurant where there always seemed to be a lot of locals gathering for their lunch, but my how it has changed now! I know it is good for the local economy the developments taking place, but it is hardly recognisable as the Salgados we once knew.
We were in the Algarve at New Year, staying in Carveiro. We visited 'Pera Marsh' and the Lagoon was half full, we were told by a gentleman that 2 weeks earlier it had been empty.We could see the pegs in the fields outlining the area for development, so I expect the next time we visit (hopefully not too far in the future) we will see a change again. Good news with the farm buildings and thank goodness the developers have been swayed into conserving the Lagoon, anything else would have been a travesty!
In October 2006 we visited Cruzinha and were told of the terrible problems that were happening with the developer there. We felt saddened to hear of the situation. I shall watch for more information on your blog.
Finally I would like to wish you good people who are battling to save and preserve 'Pera Marsh' good luck in attaining the SPA, it is a special place enjoyed by many.
All the best
I have read your post with great interest.
My family and I have had numerous holidays in the Algarve and 'Pera Marsh' is a place where we have spent many happy hours. We can remember driving to Salgados beach on the seemingly never ending road lined with palm trees to the relatively quiet beach and having refreshments at the wooden cafe/restaurant where there always seemed to be a lot of locals gathering for their lunch, but my how it has changed now! I know it is good for the local economy the developments taking place, but it is hardly recognisable as the Salgados we once knew.
We were in the Algarve at New Year, staying in Carveiro. We visited 'Pera Marsh' and the Lagoon was half full, we were told by a gentleman that 2 weeks earlier it had been empty.We could see the pegs in the fields outlining the area for development, so I expect the next time we visit (hopefully not too far in the future) we will see a change again. Good news with the farm buildings and thank goodness the developers have been swayed into conserving the Lagoon, anything else would have been a travesty!
In October 2006 we visited Cruzinha and were told of the terrible problems that were happening with the developer there. We felt saddened to hear of the situation. I shall watch for more information on your blog.
Finally I would like to wish you good people who are battling to save and preserve 'Pera Marsh' good luck in attaining the SPA, it is a special place enjoyed by many.
All the best
john-henry
Well-known member
Hello Colin,
No, it obviously wasn't you I met, you would have thrown light on the real reason for draining the marsh.
The way it seems at the moment is the marsh is important for the requirements and preservation of wildlife but is also killing them at the same time, due to sewage problems, bit of a 'catch 22' situation isn't it? This also explains the numerous bird corpses I saw scattered around the area.
It would seem, as you obviously know, something urgently needs to be done to rectify the pollution into the river supplying the marsh, but what? There's nothing I can suggest that I'm sure hasn't been thought of already by yourself and the conservation bodies involved, I should think you're tearing your hair out in frustration.
I've visited your website and it really does seem to be an uphill struggle, win a little over a long period of time, must be very frustating for all involved.
On a lighter note I met Michael and Krystal a couple of years ago, please give them our regards when you see them again, from John and Joan Johns.
As you probably read I dropped into Cruzinha and Rachel explained what was going on with the development of the area. I don't know Colin, peoples' greed just amazes me more and more, sometimes I'm just lost for words. The only thing I've come to realise is money speaks louder than anything.
Best wishes
John
john-henry
Well-known member
John Butler said:
Hi John,
Hope all is well with you, seems like long time no see, must be missing your smiling face!
Just had a look at your report, great trip again. January must be a good time for Alpine Accentor I had them a couple of years ago in the same spot, plus Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Black Redstart, Chough etc. much the same as you.
Hoping to get in a trip to Extramadura in early May so might be calling on your expertise regarding Bustards and Sandgrouse.
All the best
John
john-henry
Well-known member
Thanks Marco,
Only problem with the north is lack of information on sites, species etc.
maybe one day....
Regards
John
