An autumn break in the Algarve, with a little birding thrown in

16th - 23rd September 2007

by Don Taylor

My partner, Trish, had always been looking forward to the time, once she had retired from teaching, that she could take a holiday outside the school holiday periods. Now that this is possible we had an opportunity to spend a week in the Algarve, based at Valle de Carros, east of Albufeira, with flights between Stansted and Faro. We had visited the Algarve once before, also based in Albufeira, during a half-term holiday, in October 1998.

The weather was dry and generally sunny, though several mornings commenced cloudy. The last two days were hot, still and cloudless.

ITINERARY

Sunday 16th         Landed at Faro at 8pm   

Monday 17th        Visited Salir, then Fonte de Benemola for our picnic lunch and

                          Loule in the afternoon.

Tuesday 18th        Explored Albufeira for much of the day. Walked along Praia de

                          Falesia in the late afternoon.

Wednesday 19th   A morning with Ray Tipper at Altura Tank and the Castro Marim

                          Reserve, with lunch by the Rio Gilao in Tavira. Visited Quinta do

                          Lago in the afternoon.

Thursday 20th       Drove W to Ferragudo, visited the lighthouse to the south,

                                 lunched on the cliff top at Carvoeiro. Walked along the cliff

                                 tops between Carvalho and Marinha in the afternoon and also

                           visited the wetlands at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Friday 21st            Revisited Lagoa dos Salgados, lunched on the cliff tops at

                          Praia do Castelo. Drove inland in the afternoon to Alte.

Saturday 22nd       Drove inland again to Monchique and on to Foia, the              

                          highest peak in the Algarve,   for our picnic. Visited Caldas de

                          Monchique and Silves in the afternoon.

Sunday 23rd          Left Valle de Carros around 9am, visited Lagoa dos Salgados

                          wetland for an hour or so, and drove inland to Paderne for

                          much of the day. Flew from Faro at 8.30pm.  

DIARY

Sunday 16th

Landed at Faro at 8pm; collected our hire-car and drove to our accommodation in Valle de Carros.

Monday 17th

Our accommodation was basic but comfortable and most fortunately quiet - some distance from the noisy bar - with a pleasantly green outlook from our patio. We rose around 8am, did a quick shop at the local supermarket and enjoyed breakfast on our patio. We drove across country to see the castle ruins in Salir, where we were amazed and most impressed with the relatively new and extremely modern styled museum, actually built over some of the ruins. The various artefacts from the digs were tastefully displayed and it was interesting to look through the glazed floor to the ruins beneath. We then headed towards Querenca and turned off towards Fonte de Benemola, a local nature reserve, for our picnic lunch. It was a delightful spot beside a river and spring and the sun came out, as we enjoyed our usual cheese and tomato rolls and red wine. We followed the river for a short walk and noted a few bird species, including a Pied Flycatcher and a few House Martins. Later in the afternoon we visited the museum in the old castle in Loule.

There was an interesting display of acrobatic sculptures in the entrance square. The two floors of the museum displayed totally different historical aspects, with most of the modern display cabinets on the ground floor associated with the Salir excavations. On the first floor, the display comprised a kitchen hearth of the 19th century, with numerous artefacts used in that period. It was possible to walk around part of the old castle battlements, which provided splendid views over Loule.

We returned to our accommodation via the N270 and Boliqueime by 5.30pm, when we relaxed on our patio for a while, reading and planning excursions for the next few days. Few birds were seen but House Sparrows were plentiful and occasionally Collared Dove, Woodpigeon and Blackbird were present.

Tuesday 18th

It was a still, sunny morning, with scattered high cloud and I took a pre-breakfast walk down to the impressively long Falesia beach and en route enjoyed some close views of a flock of about 20 Azure-winged Magpies. I scanned from the limestone cliff top and good numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls littered the sea, a few occasionally chasing some of the 20 or so Cory's Shearwaters. A few adult LBB Gulls were also present.

Joined Trish for breakfast, before exploring Albufeira and discovering places for good vegetarian meals. The new marina area was an interesting development since our earlier visit. We were recommended to visit a vegetarian restaurant called Eurasia and also an apparently first-rate Indian Restaurant, the Unicorn, which was relatively close to Valle de Carros. In the late afternoon we drove down to Falesia beach for a walk along the sands and were pleased to have the company of a pair of Mediterranean Gulls with their one young.

We enjoyed an excellent Indian meal at the Unicorn and took another walk along the beach before returning 'home'.

Wednesday 19th

There was an almost cloudless sky early in the day and having completed our breakfast were ready to leave, when we found that the rear, nearside wheel was flat and needed changing. It only delayed us for fifteen minutes and we met Ray Tipper by the motorway near Tavira at 9am, as scheduled, to join him for a morning's birding. We drove straight to Altura Tank, where a Red-knobbed Coot was still present, among 100's of Coot, and showing obvious red knobs. There were also good numbers of Little Grebes, Mallard, Pochard and a couple of Little Egrets.

We then spent about three-and-a-half-hours on the Castro Marim Reserve, mainly comprising salt-pans, which attract large numbers of wetland species, particularly in the winter. It was interesting to read the numbers and letters on a couple of Greater Flamingo's that had been ringed, somewhere in Spain apparently. An exceptional total of about 500 Spoonbills was present and a count of 62 Slender-billed Gulls was also exceptional - both new highs for Portugal we were told - and their plunging feeding behaviour and continual chattering were interesting to witness. There were good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and among the other waders seen were Ringed and Kentish Plovers, a lone Lapwing, Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Black-winged Stilts, Redshanks, Curlew Sandpipers, Little and Temminck's Stints, Common Snipe, Ruff, a Turnstone, Avocets and four Stone Curlews. Other species included an Osprey, a Marsh Harrier, Shoveler, Teal, White Storks, Grey Herons and Cattle Egrets, Audouin's Gulls, Caspian and Little Terns, and a selection of passerines, including, among others, Fan-tailed Warblers, Crested Larks, both Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes, two Kingfishers, a Raven, a Carrion Crow and a few Azure-winged Magpies. We also saw a couple of Iberian Hares Lepos granatensis, with noticeably black tips to their ears - a different species to ours. We treated Ray to lunch by the Rio Gilao in Tavira, which we all enjoyed and where a Sanderling fed on the opposite bank - the 18th wader species for the day.

We drove back to the car-hire company - Sixt - at the airport and were advised to visit a particular garage nearby to have it fixed. The 'nail hole' was plugged immediately, in rapid time and cost just under 13 Euros. We then headed for Quinta do Lago, which took us a while to find, parked under the shelters provided and walked slowly across the bridge over the narrow estuary and back. Out to sea two Cory's Shearwaters were visible and on the estuary mud a good variety of waders fed, including four more to bring the day's tally to a reasonably good total of 22: they were Grey Plover, Greenshank, Knot and Dunlin. We headed 'home' around 6pm, where we ate our evening meal.

Thursday 20th

It was cloudy and humid for much of the day, with occasional hot, sunny periods. We enjoyed a lazy start not leaving until after 10am, when we headed W along the N125, having discovered a short cut to Pata - even though one of the signs had been turned through 180°! We turned S to Ferragudo, where we indulged in a coffee, as we looked across the estuary to the massive development all along the western bank, between Portimao and Praia da Rocha. It was interesting to see a couple of stalls being set up to BBQ sardines for lunchtime meals. A lone Sandwich Tern and two Common Sandpipers were also present.

There had also been considerable development, which was on-going, on the east bank and it took a while to find our way for a walk to the lighthouse. In that area we saw a very pale-plumaged Woodchat Shrike, a female Sardinian Warbler and a couple of Red-rumped Swallows. There was also an interesting explanation of how the rain and sea erodes the limestone, creating, in this instance a huge 'blow-hole'. We then parked on the cliff-top at Carvoeiro and found another attractive lunch spot, where a swift species didn't provide sufficiently good views to confirm whether it was a Pallid Swift or not. There were the usual Rock Doves on the cliffs. We then walked along the cliff-tops further east and stopped for a coffee at Marinha, noted another Woodchat Shrike, glimpsed and heard several more Sardinian Warblers and had only brief views of a second unidentified swift.

We spent some time trying to locate the coastal wetland area Lagoa dos Salgados - the available maps were either too small a scale, inaccurate, or simply not up to date with all the modern development. On arrival, successfully photographed a Hoopoe from the car. Met a Portuguese birder, who'd seen 60 Glossy Ibis there the previous day but I could only see about 20. There were good numbers of Greater Flamingos, a flock of 15 Spoonbills, possibly 100 Black-winged Stilts, seven Turnstone, a few White Storks and Cattle Egrets galore, Grey Herons, Little Grebes and numerous Mallard and Coot. From the observation platform, towards the eastern end of the lagoon, the views over the area were splendid. A few Azure-winged Magpies were seen by the golf course and a Greenshank called as it flew over. I photographed a hen or juvenile Stonechat with a noticeably pale supercilium - a common feature in the Algarve, according to Ray. As we headed 'home' around 6.30pm two Jackdaws and a female Marsh Harrier were seen. Among the passerines noted were a good number of migrant Yellow Wagtails, a Whinchat, a Northern Wheatear and several Fan-tailed Warblers.

The drive took about thirty minutes and we then headed back into Albufeira to enjoy an amazing buffet vegetarian meal - simply helping yourself to as much as you wanted for just 7.50 Euros. The whole bill with wine, beer and a coffee was only 20 Euros - certainly warranting a second visit.

Friday 21st

The day commenced overcast but the cloud broke around 11.30am, as we completed a ninety-minute visit to Lagoa dos Salgados again, where I noted at least 50 Greater Flamingos, about 20 Glossy Ibis again, just seven Spoonbills, four Avocets, three Ringed Plovers, three Common Sandpipers and a Little Stint. From the observation tower Trish found two Purple Swamphens among the reeds below us and a third was present on the opposite side of the lagoon. Among the ducks were about 40 Gadwall, at least 20 Pochard, four Shoveler and a duck Pintail. Four Squacco Herons were roosting in a dead tree by the reeds - a regular roost apparently, though they were absent the next day. A Kingfisher flashed by, another Hoopoe was seen, a Northern Wheatear was again present, along with the usual Fan-tailed Warblers, Stonechats and rather fewer Yellow Wagtails. Offshore a lone juvenile Gannet flew W.

Drove down to Praia do Castello around noon, from where we walked along the cliff-top to another most pleasant lunch spot, looking along the attractive coastline. A tall section of cliff, standing alone, seemed to attract the attention of two cock Blue Rock Thrushes, that continually chased each other around it, occasionally joined by a hen bird, though she alighted quite frequently. The cock birds uttered short bursts of song, as they flew. One or two Red-rumped Swallows were also present, a migrant Pied Flycatcher was seen and a Sardinian Warbler sang briefly. We almost stumbled over an apparently tired migrant Whimbrel, as it fed among the rocky vegetation. Returning to the car park, all the Yellow-legged Gulls flew up and I glimpsed a small falcon flying W, it was almost certainly a kestrel species but the view was too brief to confirm the ID.

From Praia do Castello we drove N at around 2.15pm along the IC1 via Messines de Baixo to Alte, where we spent much of the afternoon, until around 6pm. It is an attractive small village, though the church interior was far too ornate for our tastes. A little way out of the village they've made a lot of the spring, which wasn't obvious, with a restaurant, a picnic area and what looked like a small stage and banked seating. While exploring the village, we were beckoned into a small, private museum by a kindly old citizen - a cobbler by trade - who'd amassed an amazing quantity of memorabilia, which seemed to fill his whole house, including the stairways and open balcony. A lack of a common language wasn't too much of a barrier and there was a newspaper article - in English - about him and his museum.

One house had an amazing number and density of House Martin nests but the birds had all flown and the only species noted were Feral Pigeons and a Robin in song. We returned home soon after 6.30pm to enjoy a cup of tea and prepare for our second Indian meal at the Unicorn. Sadly, we were the only customers but we thoroughly enjoyed our meals and indulged in a delicious mango icecream for dessert.

Saturday 22nd

A cloudless, still day, becoming hot later. During breakfast about six Red-rumped Swallows flew around the villas. Departed for Monchique around 10am and arrived there an hour later, when we enjoyed a coffee but were frustrated to find that the tourist information office only opens on weekdays! Drove up to Foia - the highest point in this mountain range at nearly 3,000 ft - with all its masts and tourists but soon found a people-less, quiet, rocky spot just a short way along the Chilrao road, where we ate our lunch.

Heard the song of a Woodlark, glimpsed a Dartford Warbler performing a song-flight, saw a distant Common Buzzard, the usual Stonechats, a lone Goldfinch and two Green Woodpeckers, though their calls were noticeably different from those in the UK: they were shorter, harder, lacking the typically tremulous yaffling, sounding more like Grey-headed. We walked over the hillside to the north, photographed a hen or juvenile Rock Bunting and had frustrating glimpses of small passerines, one of which was probably a Grasshopper Warbler. The Common Buzzard was seen again, perched on a distant rock and a Common Kestrel was also seen.

As we drove down to Caldes de Monchique, a perched Common Buzzard provided exceptionally close views. The rather quaint village is set in a steeply sided valley, with 5 star-like Hotel accommodation and attractive gardens. As ever, we enjoyed a cup of coffee and saw both Nuthatch and Blue Tit high in the plane tree branches above us. Headed S and E to visit Silves - which we did in 1998 - glimpsed a Grey Wagtail by the Ribeira de Arade river, purchased some fresh fruit, saw a few Azure-winged Magpies flying across the road and arrived shortly before 5pm to find it was a 'no car' day and had to park away from the town centre. We had a brief look at the Church and the Castle again - both from the outside - and decided that we wouldn't visit again, if we returned to this area. Returned to our accommodation, via Algoz and Pata, in less than 40 minutes and prepared to visit the Eurasia vegetarian restaurant again. The food was so tasty that I made rather a pig of myself and on our way back a little exercise along the Praia da Falesia was most welcome. We then packed for the return journey, making provision for changing into our travel clothes late in the afternoon, wherever we were.

Sunday 23rd

The final day was again cloudless and still. Following breakfast, we packed the car and returned the key of our villa shortly before 9am and visited Lagoa dos Salgados for about 90 minutes. Trish went for a walk, while I did some birding and noted a few additional species, among the ones I'd noted before: 90 Greater Flamingos, 22 Glossy Ibis, just seven Spoonbills and a flight view of a Purple Heron. Waders seen included three Whimbrel, a lone Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilts, a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank. Among the ducks were a few Shoveler and two Teal, a few Gadwall, numbers of Pochard and a possible Ferruginous Duck but it refused to raise its head and be identified. Just one Purple Gallinule was seen but there was no sign of the Squacco Herons. The usual Stonechats and Fan-tailed Warblers were much in evidence again, with singles of Chiffchaff, Northern Wheatear and Crested Lark noted.

We left around 11.15am with plans for lunch on a coastal cliff again but, being Sunday, we found the coastline around Praia de S. Rafael extremely popular and very hot, so we changed our plans and headed inland for Paderne, where we enjoyed a delicious milky coffee, before driving towards the castle ruins and the proposed walking area. We found a delightful picnic spot by a dam and sat on large, cool rocks in the shade. Among the dragonflies seen were Red-veined Darters, a blue darter species and a large hawker species showing a distinct blue patch, probably on the first two segments of the abdomen - both yet to be identified. A Grey Wagtail flew in, as anticipated, and both Pied Flycatcher and Chiffchaff were present.

At around 2.30pm we drove up to the castle ruins, sections of which were being restored, so it could only be viewed from outside, though a convenient rock allowed us to look over a lower wall and take a few photographs. A female Blue Rock Thrush was present and under the motorway bridge were a couple of Starling sp and a Robin in song. Parked again near our picnic spot and walked along the bank of the dry river to the Roman bridge and back on the opposite side. Noted several Pied Flycatchers , another Chiffchaff and a Great Tit.

Changed into our travel gear, did a final pack then enjoyed a beer in Paderne, from which we departed at 4.45pm. We returned the hire car at 5.30pm - just as planned - having driven 825 kms during the week. We checked our cases in at 6pm then ate our 'picnic supper' in the open-air - our final rolls and a little red wine.

The flight was a little late taking off, due to some confusion over passenger numbers, but in the good weather conditions it was rapid and we landed at Stansted only a few minutes late at 11.10pm. Took a taxi to my sister's to collect my car and drove home by 1.20am.

One lasting impression of the Algarve on this occasion was the overall cleanliness and almost complete lack of rubbish anywhere. All the beaches had waste sacks, some with alternatives for paper waste, glass, tins etc and also rather novel plastic cones, to stick in the sand, for cigarette ends, which could then be tipped into special containers.

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Little Grebe      Tachybaptus ruficollis

Good numbers were present at El Toro Tank and Castro Marim Reserve, and also at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Great Crested Grebe        Podiceps cristatus

One was seen at Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Cory's Shearwater      Calonectris diomedea

A flock of 20 or more was seen on the sea off Praia de Falesia on the 18th and two were seen off Quinta do Lago on the 19th.

Gannet      Morua basssanus   

One in juvenile plumage was seen offshore at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 23rd.

Cormorant      Phalacrocorax carbo

One-two were noted at Castro Marim, Lagoa dos Salgados and at Quinta do Lago, with a few sightings along the rocky coastline.

Squacco Heron    Ardeola ralloides

Four were seen well as they roosted in a dead tree amongst reeds at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st, with two seen there distantly the previous day.

Cattle Egret      Bubulcus ibis

Commonly seen, often with cattle, at various sites. Particularly numerous at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Little Egret      Egretta garzetta

Two were seen at the El Toro Tank on the 19th but thereafter no attempt was made to identify any others. Obviously greatly outnumbered by the previous species.

Grey Heron      Ardea cinerea

Commonly seen at various wetland localities, with between 10 - 20 at Lagoa dos Salgados.

White Stork      Ciconia ciconia

Noted occasionally, with small numbers at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Glossy Ibis      Plegadis falcinellus

Good numbers were present at Lagoa dos Salgados (60 being seen by the regulars there) and I noted about 20 on the 20th and 21st and counted 22 on the 23rd.

Spoonbill      Platalea leucorodia

Flocks of 100 and 400 at Castro Marim on the 19th constituted exceptional numbers the Algarve. A small flock at Lagoa dos Salgados comprised 15 on the 20th, with seven the next day and on the 23rd.

Greater Flamingo      Phoenicopterus ruber

Good numbers were present at Castro Marim, including a couple with rings that were close enough to read. About 90 were also present at Lagoa dos Salgados, but those with rings there were too distant to be read.

Gadwall      Anas strepera

Present at Lagoa dos Salgados, with a flock of about 40 noted on the 21st.

Teal      Anas crecca

One was seen at Castro Marim on the 19th and two at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 23rd.

Mallard      Anas platyrhynchus

Commonly seen in good numbers at the key wetland localities.

Pintail      Anas acuta

One duck was seen at Vale de Parra on the 21st.

Shoveler      Anas clypeata

Just a pair was seen at Castro Marim on the 19th, with four at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st and 10 or more there on the 23rd.

Pochard      Aythya ferina

Good numbers were present on Altura Tank and on the three visits to Lagoa dos Salgados.

Osprey      Pandion haliaetus

One was seen distantly, carrying a fish, at Castro Marim on the 19th.

Marsh Harrier      Circus aeruginosus

Females were seen on the Castro Marim reserve on the 19th and at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th.

Common Buzzard      Buteo buteo

One was seen over the Castro Marim reserve on the 24th, at least three were present over the moorland at Foia on the 26th and another one was seen distantly near Quinta do Lago on the 29th.

Kestrel      Falco tinnunculus

A possible single was only glimpsed at Praia do Castelo on the 21st but one was identified on Mount Foia on the 22nd.

Moorhen      Gallinula chloropus

Noted most commonly at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Purple Swamphen      Porphyrio porphyrio

At Lagoa dos Salgados three were seen on the 21st, with just one on the 23rd.

Coot      Fulica atra

Commonly noted at all the wetland sites visited.

Red-knobbed Coot    Fulica cristata

An adult, with prominent knobs, was still present on Altura Tank on the 19th - a rare visitor to Portugal. It was apparently visiting for a second winter.

Black-winged Stilt      Himantopus himantopus

Present on the Castro Marim Reserve, with up to 100 or more at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Avocet      Recurvirostra avosetta

Just one was noted at Castro Marim on the 19th, with four at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st.

Stone Curlew      Burhinus oedicnemus

Four were seen in flight - lost to sight on landing - at Castro Marim on the 19th.

Ringed Plover      Charadrius hiaticula

A few were seen at the three wetland localities visited - Castro Marim, Quinta de Lago and Lagoa dos Salgados.

Kentish Plover      Charadrius alexandrinus

A few, present on the Castro Marim reserve on the 19th, were the only ones noted.

Grey Plover      Pluvialis squatarola

Three were seen at Quinta do Lago on the 19th.

Lapwing      Vanellus vanellus

A lone bird was present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Knot    Calidris canutus

Two were present on the estuary mud at Quinta do Lago on the 19th.

Sanderling      Calidris alba

On the 19th, one was seen during lunch by the river in Tavira and several were present on the estuary mud at Quinta do Lago.

Little Stint      Calidris minuta

About 10 were noted on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and one was seen at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st.

Temminck's Stint      Calidris temminckii

Two were eventually identified satisfactorily on the Castro Marim reserve on the 19th.

Curlew Sandpiper      Calidris ferruginea

At least three were present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Dunlin      Calidris alpina

On the 19th a few were present on the Castro Marim Reserve, with rather more on the estuary mud at Quinta do Lago.

Ruff      Philomachus pugnax

At least three were seen on the Castro Marim reserve on the 19th.

Common Snipe      Gallinago gallinago

A few were seen at the Castro Marim reserve on the 19th.

Black-tailed Godwit      Limosa limosa

No count was made, but probably several hundreds were present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Bar-tailed Godwit      Limosa lappinica

The only record concerned one feeding at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 23rd.

Whimbrel      Numenius phaeopus

An apparently exhausted migrant was seen at exceptionally close range amongst rocky coastline vegetation at Praia do Castello on the 21st and three were seen in flight at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 23rd.

Redshank      Tringa totanus

Commonly seen at all the suitable wetland areas visited.

Greenshank      Tringa nebularia

Singles were seen at Quinta do Lago on the 19th and at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st and 23rd.

Green Sandpiper    Tringa ochropus

Three were seen on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and at least one was present at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 23rd.

Wood Sandpiper    Tringa glareola

Two were present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Common Sandpiper      Actitis hypoleucos

Just one-two were noted on the Castro Marim Reserve and by the estuary at Ferragudo, with at least three at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st.

Turnstone      Arenaria interpres

On the 19th one was seen on the Castro Marim Reserve, with two on the estuary mud at Quinta do Lago. A flock of seven fed at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th.

Mediterranean Gull      Larus melanocephalus

A pair with a third in juvenile plumage were seen along the beach at Falesia on the 18th.

Slender-billed Gull    Larus genei

A remarkable total of 62 was counted on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th. It was fascinating to watch their manner of feeding - springing from the water and dropping down head first, presumably to get their bills that little bit deeper.

Audouin's Gull      Larus audouinii

Probably 10 - 15 were roosting with YL Gulls on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Black-headed Gull      Larus ridibundus

Commonly seen.

Lesser Black-backed Gull      Larus fuscus

Quite commonly seen along the coast, with a few that were seen in reasonable light appearing to have the slightly darker mantle and wings of L.f.intermedius , though L.f.graellsii is the common race here.

Yellow-legged Gull      Larus cachinnans

Good numbers were present at various localities along the coast. Little time was spent studying the various plumages and all the adult 'Herring' Gulls looked at showed yellow legs.

Caspian Tern      Sterna caspia

One was seen on the 19th on the Castro Marim Reserve.

Sandwich Tern      Sterna sandvicensis

One was seen in the estuary at Ferragudo on the 20th.

Little Tern    Sterna albifrons

Two were seen on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Rock Dove      Columba livia

A good number of the doves along the coastline showed all the characteristics of this species, though a few seen were more feral-like.

Collared Dove      Streptopelia decaocto

Resident at Valle de Carros and a few were seen at various other localities during the week.

Kingfisher      Alcedo atthis

Two were seen on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and one at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 21st.

Hoopoe      Upupa epops

Seen and photographed at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th and there again the next day.

Green Woodpecker      Picus viridis sharpei

A pair was seen rather distantly on Mount Foia on the 22nd, when their calls mad me think that they should be Grey-headed Woodpeckers, which don't occur here. Apparently they are typical of the race that occurs across Iberia and in the Pyrenees.

Crested Lark      Galerida cristata

Only noted on the Castro Marim Reserve and at Lagoa dos Salgados.

Woodlark      Lullula arborea

Song was heard on Mount Foia on the 22nd.

Swallow      Hirundo rustica

A few were seen at various localities, with some evidence of early morning movements at Valle de Carros .

Red-rumped Swallow    Hirundo daurica

A few were seen on several occasions, including six or more at Valle de Carros on the 22nd.

Meadow Pipit      Anthus pratensis

Several were present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th but none consciously noted thereafter.

Yellow Wagtail      Motacilla flava

Several migrants were noted on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th and 21st.

Grey Wagtail      Motacilla cinerea

Singles were noted on at least two dates, by the Ribeira de Arade on the 22nd and along the river valley near Paderne the next day.

White Wagtail      Motacilla alba

Another commonly seen species.

Robin      Erithacus rubecula

Occasionally seen but heard calling frequently and occasionally in song in quite widespread localities.

Whinchat    Saxicola rubetra

One was seen and photographed at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th.

Stonechat      Saxicola torquata

Seen quite frequently in a variety of habitats. As in 1998 the hen birds showed a noticeably pale supercilium.

Northern Wheatear      Oenanthe oenanthe

One or two were noted at the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th and 21st.

Blue Rock Thrush      Monticola solitarius

Two adult males and a female were seen well at Praia do Castelo on the 21st and a female was seen on the castle ruins at Paderne on the 23rd.

Blackbird      Turdus merula

Seemingly quite widespread.

Mistle Thrush      Turdus viscivorus

Three or four flew over the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th.

Fan-tailed Warbler      Cisticola juncidis

Seen and heard on various occasions, particularly around the wetland areas of Castro Marim and Lagoa dos Salgados.

Dartford Warbler      Sylvia undata

Seen only briefly on one occasion at Foia.

Sardinian Warbler      Sylvia melanocephala

Heard occasionally and seen only briefly on a few occasions.

Chiffchaff      Phylloscopus collybita/brehmi

On the 23rd one was seen at Lagoa dos Salgados and at least two were present along the river valley near Paderne.

Pied Flycatcher    Ficedula hypoleuca

A good passage was indicated by the scattering of sightings noted. One was present near the Fonte de Benemola on the 17th, another along the coast near Praia do Castelo on the 21st, with several in the river valley near Paderne on the 23rd.

Blue Tit      Parus caeruleus

Very few actually seen. Certainly present in Caldas de Monchique.

Great Tit      Parus major

Calls were heard occasionally and one was seen along the river valley near Paderne.

Southern Grey Shrike      Lanius meridionalis

Two were seen on the 19th on the Castro Marim Reserve.

Woodchat Shrike    Lanius senator

At least one was present on the Castro Marim Reserve on the 19th and an extremely pale juvenile was seen near the lighthouse south of Ferragudo and a second bird near Marinha the next day.

Azure-winged Magpie      Cyanopica cyana

Small flocks were seen on several occasions, including about 20 near our base in Valle de Carros on the 18th, a few on the Castro Marim Reserve the next day, just one-two at Valle do Parra on the 20th and a small flock near Algoz on the 23rd.

Jackdaw      Corvus monedula

Two seen at Lagoa dos Salgados on the 20th were the only ones noted.

Raven      Corvus corax

On the 19th, at least one flew over the Castro Marim Reserve.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

This species isn't supposed to occur in the Algarve but a small corvid I managed to get a distant photograph of, on the Castro Marim Reserve, couldn't really be anything else. Ray Tipper was happy with the identification and one was apparently seen there the day before.     

Starling sp     Sturnus vulgaris/unicolor

A few seen in a variety of widespread localities weren't looked at closely, but were probably Spotless Starlings.

House Sparrow      Passer domesticus

A few were noted daily in widespread localities.

Greenfinch      Carduelis chloris

Noted occasionally.

Goldfinch      Carduelis carduelis

The only one actually noted was on Mount Foia on the 22nd.

Rock Bunting      Emberiza cia

One was seen on Mount Foia on the 22nd.

A total of just 97 species was satisfactorily identified.