Michael´s Fourth Year

[michael-ibk]

-/E117.) Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) / Graureiher

 

Already seen in Botswana. And of course as well here at home. Somehow I forgot that I had not yet posted one so did not really take pictures of this species in Seewinkel (where they are not as wary as in the rest of the country).

 

[michael-ibk]

352/E118.) Woodlark (Lullula arborea) / Heidelerche

 

As the scientific name implies found much more often in trees (or on wires) than its cousins. Very localised in Austria, I have never seen one here.

 

[michael-ibk]

353/E119.) Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) / Heringsmöwe

 

Nothing special for our UK members but a bird hardly ever seen here in Austria, only possible during migration and very scarce even then. The bright yellow feet are a good feature to tell them apart from the Greater BB Gull.

 

[michael-ibk]

354/E120.) Iberian Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) / Iberienraubwürger

 

Extremely similar - and long considered conspecific -  to the Great Grey Shrike.  It is slightly smaller and darker, where they co-occur, they do not interbreed and are separated by choice of habitat. One sighting of a bunch of them close to a farmhouse.

 

[pedro maia]

It was indeed a great dinner, pity that Matt had to leave early and also that he coudn´t go birding with us Friday afternoon.

 

About the weather, it wasn´t good but right now we are again above 35º, and I hate that kind of heat.

 

Great swift and superb flamingo pictures (nice spot to see them, don´t you think ?

 

I´m also glad we found the Black-winged Kite, it wasn´t close but even a great phtographer like you must have a few EBC´s on the portfolio .

 

Looking forward for the rest and lets see if I can spot your owlet one of these days, I just think I will have to wake up really early for that...

Edited May 31, 2019 by pedro maia

[michael-ibk]

7 hours ago, pedro maia said:

About the weather, it wasn´t good but right now we are again above 35º, and I hate that kind of heat.

 

I would gladly take that, sounds good to me - after all, we´ve just pulled through the coldest and wettest May in decades. Sun, sun, sun - where art thou?

 

-/E121.) Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) / Kuhreiher

 

Already seen in Botswana. Just as easy in Portugal as in Africa, the most tricky thing is not to forget to take a photo. Very different from here at home where they are considered a "birding sensation" when they pop up.

 

[michael-ibk]

355/E122.) Greater Short-Toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) / Kurzzehenlerche

 

A pretty common Lark in the Tagus region, we saw lots of them on the roads. The lack of any crest, the shorter bill and the very clear white belly are the fieldmarks are good ID features to tell it apart from Crested Lark and Skylark. The pretty similar Calandra Lark has a bigger bill and much more distinct black breast patches.

 

[michael-ibk]

Three Exotics:

 

-/E123.) Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) / Wellenastrild

 

Already seen in Botswana. Long established in Portugal, and pretty common. Ground-nesting, they are known to weave predator faeces into their nest which it is thought they do to deter other predators. I asked my guide if they are a problem for the native birdlife but apparently not. Apparently they are covering a niche in the foodchain which was pretty much vacated.

 

 

-/E124.) Yellow-Crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) / Tahaweber

 

Already seen in Botswana. Introduced in the late 80ies, and not as unproblematic as the Waxbill. Weavers are much more aggressive, and they do fend off classic European reed birds which basically use the same habitat. The Tagus estuary is apparently the best spot to see them but they are spreading.

 

 

356/E125.) Scaly-Breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) / Muskatbronzemännchen

 

An ebc-sighting of this Asian bird. Apparently this sighting was more special than I thought - "Aves de Portugal" tells me that while they probably have established breeding populations they are most likely  extinct by now. Ha, take that, Aves - they are still there.

 

Edited May 31, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

357/E126.) Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) / Orpheusspötter

 

Basically the Western counterpart to the very similar Icterine Warbler. Very tricky to tell it apart from that species, the book says it has a "friendlier face". Their song is quite different however.

 

[michael-ibk]

358/E127.) Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) / Purpurhuhn

 

Seen from a photo hide, this is a pretty secretive and shy species so I was very happy to get it. This used to be the the nominate form of the Purple Swamphen but that bird has since been split into no less than six different species. A conservation success in Portugal, Aves de Portugal (thanks, Google translate!) tells me they were almost gone 30 years ago but have recovered sensationally well and are now reasonably common in suitable habitats.

 

Edited May 31, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/E128.) Barn Swallo (Hirundo rustica) / Rauchschwalbe

 

Already seen in Botswana, and obviously also seen many times in Europe this year, just did not take many pictures. Nesting in my mother´s barn in Carinthia. Every year she is worrying that they won´t return but fortunately they have never disappointed us so far.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

359/E129.) Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) / Rotflügel-Brachschwalbe

 

One sighting in the estuary. Another Southern European birding specialty I was happy to see although they were pretty far away unfortunately. Classified as waders but pretty unusual birds for that family since they mostly hunt on the wing.

 

[michael-ibk]

360/E130.) Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) / Säbelschnäbler

 

One of my favourite waders, I am quite fond of "pied" birds and I do like their unusual bills.  They sweep their long, thin, upcurved bills from side to side when feeding in the brackish or saline wetlands they prefer. We also had nice sightings in Seewinkel (where the second photo is from).

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

361/E131.) Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) / Samtkopf-Grasmücke

 

Actually one of the most common Warblers in the area, every second bush seems to have one but they are not the easiest species since they tend to stay inside. A juvenile took mercy on me but I was less successful with the (very attractive) male. Unlike most Warblers it is not particularly migratory, but some birds winter in north Africa, and it occurs as a vagrant well away from the breeding range, as far as Great Britain.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

362/E132.) European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) / Schwarzkehlchen

 

We had some good sightings of Stonechats in Seewinkel also but here in Portugal they are just abundant, a pair sitting on a fence or bush every 100 metres. And much bolder than our locals, Stonechats here don´t seem to mind cars at least at all.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

363/E133.) Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) / Schwarzkopfmöwe

 

One ebc-sighting in a flock of Black-Headed Gulls. Late in the year for them, they only occur as migrants in Portugal. Very similar to the Black-Headed Gull but the head is blacker (not dark brown) and the bill redder. They are not that hard to tell apart once you have seen them closer, and I enjoyed good vistas of them last year in Romania where they are common.

 

[michael-ibk]

364/E134.) Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) / Seeregenpfeifer

 

Missed them in Seewinkel this year where we do have a couple of breeding pairs -even though the bird books state they don´t occur inland. Tiny as they are they are not the most easy birds to get, and this one was pretty far away.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/135.) Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) / Sichler

 

Already seen in Botswana. Apart from two distant flocks flying I saw only two birds. More and more of them pop up in Central Europe every year.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

365/E136.) Little Owl (Athene noctua) / Steinkauz

 

One sighting on a derelict building. Although generally a "Least Concern" species in a declining freefall in Middle Europe . Symbol of wisdom in Ancient Greek, the scientific name alludes to that.

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

366/E137.) Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) / Steinsperling

 

One sighting. This bird is similar in size to a house sparrow but with a larger more conical bill, a strong whitish supercilium and weaker crown stripe. It has a patterned brown back and wings, streaked underparts, and a diagnostic, but hard-to-see, yellow throat spot.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E138.) Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) / Stelzenläufer

 

Already seen in Botswana, and also good sightings in Seewinkel. The scientific name Himantopus comes from the Greek meaning "strap foot" or "thong foot".

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

367/E139.) European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) / Stieglitz

 

Obviously not my first sighting of the year, they are pretty common here at home as well. But I somehow like this photo with the bird sitting on thistles since in German they are also called "Distelfink" - "Thistlefinch".

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

368/E140.) Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) / Zaunammer

 

Another more Southern and Eastern European species. Unfortunately I did not manage a photo of the very attractive male. I might have a chance later in the year since I will be in Bulgaria for a week, let´s see. Tidbit for our UK members:  It once occurred there over much of the south of the country, it is now restricted to south Devon.

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/E141.) Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) / Zistensänger

 

Already seen in Botswana, which shows how widespread this (largely non-migratory) species is. The only Cisticola in Europe.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

369/E142.) Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) / Zwergadler

 

A pretty common raptor on safari in Africa but more special (to me) in Europe - they don´t occur in Austria, and I´ve only seen a few when abroad in Italy or Spain.