Pedro´s Rookie Year

[pedro maia]

The first time I passed by the owlet´s home it wasn´t there so I followed the road and I got another difficult one, as I said the light was terrible, very early and overcast sky, it was in the reeds in a small creek and it´s small and doesn´t stay still, I was lucky that it gave lots of chances otherwise I would have lost it.

 

#135, 20/6, Cetti´s Warbler, Barroca d´Alva road

 

[pedro maia]

According to what I was told in the Portuguese birding forum, my Cetti´s Warbler is actually a juvenile Reed Warbler, so here goes the correction:

 

  #135, 20/6, Reed Warbler, Barroca d´Alva road

[Kitsafari]

Wonderful BIF shots of the kestrel!

 

N glad you caught that owl.

[pedro maia]

Yesterday I went fishing with some friends, I actually don´t fish but it seemed like a nice way to spend the day and also a good chance to get some additions to my BY, we would go a couple of miles offshore Cabo da Roca and Cabo Raso, close to Cascais, both good places for maritime birds.

 

The plan was good but the weather was terrible, most of the day, drizzling rain, poor visibility and constant swell, with the rain there were almost no birds and with the swell it was very difficult to take pictures of those who showed up, and the light was also far from good.

 

Still I managed to have 3 birds for my BY, so the result was still ok, although I was expecting it to be better.

 

The boat and the weather:

 

#136, 23/6, Cory´s Shearwater, offshore Cabo da Roca/Cabo Raso

 

 

#137, 23/6, Balearic Shearwater, offshore Cabo da Roca/Cabo Raso

 

 

#138, 23/6, Common Tern, offshore Cabo da Roca/Cabo Raso

 

(terrible picture, this one)

[pedro maia]

Already have the Gannet but I like this two pictures, even though the light was still not the best:

 

 

[Galana]

Good IDs on the Shearwaters and a worthwhile trip despite the weather.

[pedro maia]

Week-end in the Alentejo, not as many additions as I hoped but still a few birds to add to the count.

 

It´s not Africa but still it was a glorious sunrise over the plains:

 

 

 

Missed my goals in terms of steppe birds but got this unexpected one:

 

#139, 29/6, Common Quail, Castro Verde area

 

An EBC

 

#140, 29/6, Little Ringed Plover, Castro Verde area

 

And another one...

 

#141, 29/6, Montagu´s Harrier, Castro Verde area

 

 

[pedro maia]

Sunday we went to another place also in Alentejo but in a more hilly and forested part, the place had a hide where I spent the morning, many birds from different species but only 2 for my BY.

 

The hide

 

 

#142, 30/6, Nuthatch, Monte Horizonte, Santiago do Cacém 

 

#143, 30/6, Crested Tit, Monte Horizonte, Santiago do Cacém 

 

[pedro maia]

And a few duplicates from the hide:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also showed up Blackbird, House Sparrow, Serin, Linnet, Zitting Cisticola, Melodious Warbler and Sardinian Warbler, as far as I remember.

[michael-ibk]

A Quail, fantastic! Did you already have Middle-spotted Woodpecker in the count? 

[pedro maia]

21 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

A Quail, fantastic! Did you already have Middle-spotted Woodpecker in the count? 

 

The quail was quite a surprise and I nearly missed it as it was going inside the grass but I resisted the temptation to approach the car and took the safety picture in the right momment.

 

I only had the Great-spotted wood pecker in my count, a great EBC of the back of one, isn’t this one a Great-spotted?

Edited July 2, 2019 by pedro maia

[michael-ibk]

Sorry it is after all. A juvenile. I thought it was Ms because the black cheekband does not connect with the back of the head - but that's often the case with juv. GSs. And I see MS does not occur in Portugal. My bad. 

Edited July 3, 2019 by michael-ibk

[pedro maia]

Today I had to go to the north of Portugal, after work was finish I had time for a short, albeit productive drive through Serra do Alvão, where I haven´t been before:

 

#144, 4/7, Rock Bunting, Serra do Alvão

 

 

#145, 4/7, Red-backed Shrike, Serra do Alvão

 

#146, 4/7, Tree Sparrow, Serra do Alvão

 

Edited July 4, 2019 by pedro maia

[pedro maia]

Where´s Wally?

 

 

This is an islet in front of a fishing village called Escaroupim, some 200m from shore, it hosts probably the biggest colony of cranes and egrets  in Portugal, and also glossy ibis, I went there last Saturday looking for specific species and it can be seen in this picture, there are boat tours around the islet but not at the time I went there.

 

 

[pedro maia]

Here´s Wally:

 

#147, 6/7, Black-crowned Night Heron, Escaroupim

 

And at the right tip of the islet there was a juvenile:

 

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by pedro maia

[PeterHG]

What a collection of birds in that area! I think Wally's a black-crowned Night Heron, though.

[pedro maia]

36 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

What a collection of birds in that area! I think Wally's a black-crowned Night Heron, though.

 

And I made the right ID in Portuguese but put the wrong name in Englosh, thanks Peter, I’m going to edit the name.

 

Lota of birds there indeed, and in the top of the trees were a couple of raptors and also carrion crows.

Edited July 10, 2019 by pedro maia

[Dave Williams]

Caught up Pedro! I haven't got time to look back right now but are all the photos taken in Portugal? Great home country score if so. I think I detect an improvement in your photo skills too since you started. Great progress in every way! Keep it up.

 

[pedro maia]

43 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Caught up Pedro! I haven't got time to look back right now but are all the photos taken in Portugal? Great home country score if so. I think I detect an improvement in your photo skills too since you started. Great progress in every way! Keep it up.

 

 

Hi Dave, until now all the photos were taken in Portugal, so far I haven´t been abroad this year.

[Dave Williams]

I think the home count is the crucial one, it's easy to hop on a plane and go somewhere different if you are lucky enough to have the funds, there again some home countries have a much bigger species count than others.Imagine the bird count for the likes of the Vatican City is down to just House Sparrows and Pigeons. There again, none of the residents have joined in the BY...yet!!

[pedro maia]

43 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

I think the home count is the crucial one, it's easy to hop on a plane and go somewhere different if you are lucky enough to have the funds, there again some home countries have a much bigger species count than others.Imagine the bird count for the likes of the Vatican City is down to just House Sparrows and Pigeons. There again, none of the residents have joined in the BY...yet!!

 

I think I may be leading the home count, but that´s because most of you don´t need to rely only in that, and it´s something that will surely change, it´s just a matter of @Peter Connan going camping .

 

And regarding the Vatican Cty, I could use a few of the species that can be founf there, I may have to go on a pilgrimage https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1107515.

Edited July 11, 2019 by pedro maia

[PeterHG]

3 hours ago, pedro maia said:

 

And regarding the Vatican Cty, I could use a few of the species that can be founf there, I may have to go on a pilgrimage https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1107515.

I just knew there would be Hooded Crows and Monk Parakeets in Vatican City! 

[Dave Williams]

Quite a  list for the Vatican Pedro but surprisingly no Cardinals!

[pedro maia]

47 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Quite a  list for the Vatican Pedro but surprisingly no Cardinals!

 

Not even Bishops...

[pedro maia]

#148, 9/7, Dunnock, Serra da Estrela

 

 

#149, 9/7, Tawny Pipit, Serra da Estrela