Michael´s Sixth Year

[michael-ibk]

202/E202.) Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) / Rotkopfwürger

 

Plains of the Alentejo. Another Southern-European species. All the adults were already gone but this youngster apparently was still unsure if it should really embark on the long journey to Africa.

 

[michael-ibk]

203/E203.) Black-Bellied Sandgrouse ((Pterocles orientalis) / Sandflughuhn

 

Plains of the Alentejo. One of the most-sought species here. But almost impossible to photograph according to our host Frank. Extremely wary. So another one which I hope will be considered for the ebc of the year category.

 

[michael-ibk]

204/E204.) Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) / Purpurreiher

 

Plains of the Alentejo. The only one we saw, most Purples had already left the country.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

205/E205.) Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) / Schwarzstorch

 

Barragem Albufeiera. Another very distant sighting. Gathering for the journey to Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

206/E206.) Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) / Wellenastrild

 

Santa Clara a Velha. Frank has built a hide close to the (tiny) village Santa Clara specifically for Kingfisher and Water Rail here. Got them both but a lot of patience was required. This Waxbill was a by-catch. Quite common in Portugal now.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

207/E207.) Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) / Rosaflamingo

 

Ria Formosa. Really not difficult to find this iconic bird in Portugal, especially in the Algarve. We´d stay in this area for our last few days but also took a daytrip down to the Coast with Frank in the first week. Unfortunately quite a dark and gloomy day.

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2021 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

208/E208.) Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) / Heringsmöwe

 

Ria Formosa. I tend to forget about Gulls but since we don´t have LBBs in Austria I of course "needed" this one for the BY. Slightly panicked at home when I realized I had not really made an effort for this species but luckily found one photo. Phew.

 

[michael-ibk]

209/E209.) Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) / Zistensänger

 

Ria Formosa. Also quite a skulker but nowhere near as uncooperative as the Sardinian Warbler.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

210/E210.) Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) / Zwergseeschwalbe

 

Ria Formosa. Quite common in the Algarve.

 

 

A few extras from this day:

 

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2021 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

211/E211.) Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) / Steinwälzer

 

Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha. Long and complicated name but very nice place on the West Coast with tons of waders. Turnstones are very common in Portugal apparently. Almost made me laugh thinking how excited I was in the past when finding one in Austria. They are absolute rarities here.

 

 

 

The area:

 

 

[michael-ibk]

212/E212.) Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) / Trauerseeschwalbe

 

Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha. The only one we saw.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

213/E213.) Scaly-Breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) / Bronzemuskatmännchen

 

Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha. An escapee but has managed to establish a self-sustaining population in Portugal to the point that it´s a "countable" species now. Apparently still a rare sight, Frank was quite excited about it.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

214/E214.) Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) / Sichelstrandläufer

 

Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e Sancha. Another wader which is not uncommon generally but I have never seen it in Austria (although we do get them on rare occassions).

 

 

A juvenile here.

 

 

The plainer-looking adult (photo from the Algarve).

 

 

This one (in Alcochete) has not yet lost its entire breeding plumage, still a good amount of red on the belly.

 

And a bonus (1st year) Little stint just because it was posing so nicely.

 

 

And a Common Ringed Plover - probably the most abundant wader here.

 

Edited October 23, 2021 by michael-ibk

[PeterHG]

Absolutely wonderful to see your Portugal collection of birds, @michael-ibk! Quite a few species that we did not see there and lots of great photos. Also very interesting to get some info on your locations.

[michael-ibk]

215/E215.) Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) / Zwergtrappe

 

Frank had told us about a rural area close to Odeceixe where it´s possible to see this rare bird. It took a while but in the end we found them exactly where he thought they would be - their "favourite" field. A bit too distant but still great to see this specialty, have only got them once before (in Catalonia).

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

216/E216.) Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) / Regenbrachvogel

 

Cabo Sardao. Another species which is considered super-rare at home but was quite easy to get.

 

 

 

Absolutely loved the wild, rugged scenere of Portugal´s rocky West Coast - actually much more than the Algarve.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

217/E217.) Wood Lark (Lullula arborea) / Heidelerche

 

Foia. This is the highest "mountain" in Southern Portugal. Sorry, as an Austrian I just had to use "" for these puny 902 metres above sea level here. Quite a different habitat though, and therefore a good place to find some new species, so Frank took us there.

 

 

 

Wood Lark in flight was taken earlier in the Alentejo.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

218/E218.) Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) / Provence-Grasmücke

 

Foia. One of my main targets here, and I was happy to find it. Much rarer than the Sardinian Warbler but equally restless and terribly skulky.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

219/E219.) Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) / Zippammer

 

Foia. I have little excuse for only getting this bird in Portugal since I could have found it 20 minutes from home with some effort.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

220/E220.) Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius) / Blaumerle

 

Foia. The main target, and my long history of failed attempts with this bird continued. Did get a photo just as we were already leaving but not really what I´d call a satisfying opportunity. This species really does not like me apparently.

 

 

Why couldn´t it pose like a Wheatear?

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by michael-ibk

[pedro maia]

Congrats on the second ton Michael, you really nailed alll our steppe´s species, even the most difficults, and I´m glad you got your Bonelli´s Eagle, which means that the one we diddn´t get to see wasn´t needed .

[Kalaharikind]

Wow! What a lovely collection! From 192 to 220 in what - three hours? Good accelaration there!

 

(But please, next time, take a nap after #200 so that we can all get together to applaud?)

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on the double century @michael-ibk

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations on blowing 200 into the weeds!

 

Great photos and fascinating birds as always.

[Galana]

8 hours ago, Kalaharikind said:

take a nap after #200 so that we can all get together to applaud?)

Absolutely. It came and went so fast I had to go back (no hardship with such subjects) to check he had hit it this post.

All those to digest in one meal.  I need a digestif.

Great photos. Even the three in one waders freebie.