Pedro does it again, 2nd Year!!

[Galana]

https://www.birdguides.com/articles/ornithology/red-billed-leiothrix-on-the-rise-in-europe/

[Dave Williams]

I'm impressed by your continued enthusiasm Pedro.  You have demonstrated that Portugal has a lot to offer on the birding front and I had no idea that birds like the Munia could be seen there.. 

[pedro maia]

Saturday I went back to the Alentejo to look for the bird I missed when I saw the Imperial Eagle, same spot and I got it, it´s a scarse species around here, a summer migrant that is about to leave and can only be found in a few areas in Portugal.

 

This could be a good photo for the "name that bird" game but I would take me quite a long time to have a chance to post it there:

 

 

Now the tail in the tipical position for this bird:

 

 

And finally the whole bird, a very cool one, didn´t let me get closer so I had to crop the photo:

 

#212 (N39), 8/8, Rufous-tailed scrub robin, Ribeira de Maria Delgada, Castro Verde

 

 

[pedro maia]

I was hoping to see one or two birds of prey that I still need but it wasn´t meant to be, only saw snake eagles, at least I took same nice pictures, not perfect but I´m quite happy with these:

 

 

[pedro maia]

#213 (N40), 9/8, Iberian chiffchaff, Foz da Ribeira do Vale Vaqueiro

Edited August 11, 2020 by pedro maia

[Soukous]

3 hours ago, pedro maia said:

213 (N40), 9/8, Iberian chiffchaff, Foz da Ribeira do Vale Vaqueiro

 

so that's what they look like. I spend days looking for one around here. I could hear it but never got a sighting.

[pedro maia]

Yesterday I went on a pelagic boat trip in the Algarve, there was some swell, nothing serious but enough to make it difficult to take pictures, but still I managed to get decent photos of the species UI can add to my BY.

 

#214, 12/8, Great skua, offshore Fuseta, Algarve

 

[pedro maia]

Petrels occur along our cost but they are very difficult to see from land, close to where I live thay can be seen with some luck but to take photos allowing ID is too difficult, probably imposible for me, so a boat trip is the solution, and we did to see them, they were feeding on the remains of a dolphin and that allow us enjoy their flights close to the water and to take lots of pictures, but they are fast and small so, with the swell, it was quite a chalenge.

 

#215 (N41), 12/8, European storm petrel, offshore Fuseta, Algarve

 

 

 

[pedro maia]

#216 (N42), 12/8, Wilson´s storm petrel, offshore Fuseta, Algarve

 

 

[pedro maia]

#217 (N43), 12/8, Great shearwater, offshore Fuseta, Algarve

 

 

 

[pedro maia]

Probably the most common gull here but I didn´t manage to take a decent photo until now:

 

#218, 12/8, Yellow-legged gull, offshore Fuseta, Algarve

 

[pedro maia]

And this one was already on land, in a nearby location:

 

#219, 12/8, Red knot, Salinas de Olhão

[pedro maia]

A couple of duplicates from the boat trip:

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Great Pelagics! 

[Galana]

A worthwhile outing and no doubt it was cooler on the water too.

[PeterHG]

That was a very good boat trip. Some species that are hard to come by any other way !

 

[Dave Williams]

Your pelagic trip has convinced me Pedro, I'm heading to Portugal as soon as time and the virus allows! Have you got any more details to share?

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williams we went birding in the Algarve a couple of years ago and loved it. We stayed at Olhao and Sagres and loved it.

Excellent food as well.

[pedro maia]

54 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Your pelagic trip has convinced me Pedro, I'm heading to Portugal as soon as time and the virus allows! Have you got any more details to share?

Whch details do you want Dave?

[pedro maia]

10 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

@Dave Williams we went birding in the Algarve a couple of years ago and loved it. We stayed at Olhao and Sagres and loved it.

Excellent food as well.

The pelagic was right next to Olhão, I might do another one next week but it will be hard to see new species.

 

Sagres is one of the best hotspots in Portugal between the end of August and November, lots of raptors migrating and good for rarities, I haven’t been to Sagres for quite a few years but I will try to go there a couple of times this year.

[Dave Williams]

Does the pelagic boat company have a website Pedro? Were they putting out chum for the the birds to follow or using some sort of oil slick trail to bring them in?

[pedro maia]

This is the guy who organizes these pelagics http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com, a german guy who lives here in the Algarve, there was no chumming and nothing was used to atract birds, the trip was only 2,5 hours long, could be a bit longer I think.

 

In September I booked a pelagic with this other guys http://vanellus.pt/observacao-de-aves/saidas-pelagicas/, that one will be a full day trip, maybe with chum, I think, it will start in Peniche, in central Portugal.

[TonyQ]

@pedro maia we did a Pelagic from Sagres, but didn't see as many birds as you did! You coped well with the tricky conditions to get very good photos. It is difficult with a moving boat and moving birds

 

@Dave Williams we found a useful birdwatching book published (online) by the tourist authority, showing different possible birding sites

I have attached a link - the fourth guide down is the Birdwatching one

https://www.visitalgarve.pt/en/menu/267/guides.aspx

Edited August 18, 2020 by TonyQ

[PeterHG]

16 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I'm heading to Portugal as soon as time and the virus allows!

That's the spirit, @Dave Williams ! My wife and I are also thinking about driving south to Portugal and perhaps the Extremadura in February/March next year, depending on the situation later on. @pedro maia, your showcase of the birdlife there is certainly convincing. Keep it up, please!

Edited August 18, 2020 by PeterHG

[michael-ibk]

I am still hoping to go to Portugal in October. Counting on your advice then Pedro, keep exploring.