Pedro does it again, 2nd Year!!

[Soukous]

I've never seen a Purple Sandpiper. How often are they in that area?

[pedro maia]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

I've never seen a Purple Sandpiper. How often are they in that area?

 

It´s not a common bird but there are some places where it can be seen during winter, that spot in Peniche (a little less than 1 hour north of Lisbon) is one of them, the easiest places to see them I think are the Estolril coast beaches, right where I live, and it also occurs al least in some beaches close to Porto.

[pedro maia]

#46, 17/1, Northern Lapwing, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira

 

[pedro maia]

#47, 17/1, Zitting Cisticola, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira, 17/1, 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by pedro maia

[pedro maia]

#48, 17/1, Grey Heron, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira

[pedro maia]

#49, 17/1, Western Marsh Harier, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by pedro maia

[pedro maia]

I had two main goals last Friday, this was one of them, not easy to spot as this picture shows:

 

 

#50, 17/1, Short-eared Owl, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira

 

It flew away went I got out of the car.

 

 

But later I saw another one:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by pedro maia

[pedro maia]

The other main goal I had was the bird that eluded me the most in the last couple of months, I looked for it many times in the area where it occurs without success, and the most frustrating thing was that every time I would check ebird and it had been spotted in that very same area, Friday I got out of the Lezíria at some point to have a coffee and 100 meters after re-entering the gate there it was in a pole right by the road, a beautiful female (I think) that wasn´t shy at all, it was less than 5 meters from the road and didn´t even bother when I repositioned the car a couple of times, I had it all to myself for as long as I wanted:

 

#51 (N11), 17/1, Merlin, Lezíria Vila Franca de Xira

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a beauty

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by pedro maia

[michael-ibk]

Wow! Two absolute top birds, and stunning photos as well. While I have seen both I never managed to take a picture of a Merlin, and my SE-Owl is just about recognizable as one. Incredible sightings Pedro, fantastic stuff - and #50 already, Bravissimo!

[Galana]

Awesome Merlin. So cooperative.  Really jealous.

Well done on the half century.

[Peter Connan]

38 minutes ago, Galana said:

Awesome Merlin. So cooperative.  Really jealous.

Well done on the half century.

 

+1

[pedro maia]

Thanks guys, it was an awesome sighting and it was a great compensation for all the time it eluded me, and I was also very lucky with the owls.

[elefromoz]

@pedro maia, so lucky with the Merlin sitting pretty for you, great photos

[Soukous]

A fabulous Merlin @pedro maia the Short-eared Owl is pretty neat as well.

 

You're flying in 2020.

 

Out of curiosity, was the Merlin shot with your P900? If so, I'll have to revise my views on its capabilities.

[pedro maia]

1 hour ago, elefromoz said:

@pedro maia, so lucky with the Merlin sitting pretty for you, great photos

 

Luck plays an important role here, the Merlin gave me the chance to take nice pictures without much effort.

[pedro maia]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

A fabulous Merlin @pedro maia the Short-eared Owl is pretty neat as well.

 

You're flying in 2020.

 

Out of curiosity, was the Merlin shot with your P900? If so, I'll have to revise my views on its capabilities.

 

All the Merlin pictures were taken with the P900, I think that with the right conditions it alows you to take very nice pictures, I´m very happy with that camera.

[pedro maia]

#52, 18/1, Crested Myna, Caxias

 

[Zim Girl]

Fantastic pictures of the Merlin @pedro maia

[xelas]

Nature is always full of surprises. This time it shows you its best, and you have been able to show us how the best looks like, @pedro maia!

[mvecht]

@pedro maia  absolutely wonderful Merlin and SE Owl

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching 50.

The Owl, and in particular the Merlin are magnificent!

I have never seen a Merlin so am very jealous 

[pedro maia]

Thanks @Zim Girl, @xelas, @mvecht and @TonyQ.

[Peter Connan]

Great birds already @pedro maia!

[pedro maia]

Thanks @Peter Connan.

[Kitsafari]

the owl is stunning but WOW that merlin is so enchanting, so spectacular - immediately it conjured up a magical aura for me. I've never seen one, now you've gone and made me dream of one.