PORTUGAL 2008 – ANOTHER TWITCH UP THE ALGARVE
TRIP REPORT 04 TO 10 OCT 2008
PART ONE
Itinerary:
1 Sat 4th October Arrive from Machester at Salgados/Pera Marsh 13.30.
2 Sun 5th October - Alvor Estuary
3 Mon 6th October – Quinta do Lago
4 Tues 7th October – Cape St. Vincent to Vila do Bispo
5 Wed 8th October – Luz to Burgua
6 Thurs 9th October – Castro Verde
7 Fri 10th October – Alvor and Quinta do Lago
Prevailing weather:
At this time of year it’s fantastic to grab a late slice of summer in the welcoming Algarve’s climate.
There’s a joy in sighting hirundines and passerines that one hasn’t seen for weeks, especially in our land locked part of the UK, the Staffordshire Moorlands. The sun shone from the moment that we arrived and temperature rose to the mid twenties by lunch time everyday. However at Cape St.Vincent, Castro Verde and on Friday at Alvor, there was a strong wind blowing from the west, making the use of a tripod and scope difficult at times.
Sat 4th October 2008 - Cohela Beach/Val de Parra:
Having unpacked on Sat 4th, our next stop was Cohela (Rabbit) Beach to catch a few rays and a sardine lunch at the seaside cafe. Two common terns flew south east past us as we eat.
A short walk along the sandstone cliffs, eroded by Atlantic waves, gave us good views of yellow and black headed gull, rock dove, kestrel, two pallid swifts, swallow, house martin, sardinian, fan tailed and willow warbler, black cap and stonechat (which were seen practically everywhere during the week).
Pera Marsh and Salgados Golf Course:
Our initial excitement at the views from our apartment at Quinta Terruta, over the Marsh, turned to disappointment when we noted that the reserve was once again drained of any water. The open strip of land between the gardens of our apartment and the golf course had also fallen victim of serious fly tipping.
Nevertheless on the Saturday we arrived, there was a small flock of spoonbill, greater flamingo, white stork, grey heron, egrets, numerous wild fowl and two female marsh harriers patrolling the area. Unforunately the lack of water allowed for only distant views of the birds that were present. Over the week our early morning walks around the fringes of the Marsh and Golf Course, allowed good views of hoopoes and a small flock of red legged partridge which were also regulars in the scrub area. Passerines observed included waxbills, chaffinch, goldfinch, corn bunting, tree (and house) sparrow, robin, stonechat, northern wheatear, pied and spotted flycatcher, blackbird, fan tailed warbler and spotless starling.
There were a number of hidden channels which held waders and water birds including moorhen and common coot, black winged stilt, snipe, redshank, cettis, reed and other common warblers.
The golf course trees, lake and green held common sandpiper, jay, blackbird, lesser black backed and black headed gulls, egrets (little and cattle), coot, little grebe, ducks including muscovy, gadwall, pochard and mallard.
Every evening, two little owls called to each other from the well and other ruins on the open land beyond Quinta Terruta.
For Salgados/Pera Marsh conservation updates visit the Algarve Birder, Colin Key’s blog at:
[B]http://www.algarvebirder.blogspot.com/
to be continued.........
record shots attached