| THE SOMERSET BIRDER |  |
|
|
27 October - James J. Packer Introduction As the school half term in I'm not sure how much the trip cost, as we booked EasyJet tickets well in advance, a Holiday Autos Hire Car, and an apartment at The Old Village Apartments in Vilamoura found on the internet. All arrangements worked fine, except for terrible directions to the apartment in The Old Village. We nearly ended up sleeping in the car because we couldn't find the key, which was supposed to be left under the mat. After checking under the doormats of about a dozen random apartments, we eventually found it with great relief. The Old Village Apartments were OK. We had Vilamoura is a good base, being fairly central in The Algarve, though it is most certainly not typically Portugese. The whole town is a purpose built resort, although this is not as terrible as it sounds. The streets are very clean, except for a fair amount of graffiti (sorry, street art) and a lot of the town is built around Pine woodlands. Most of the green areas are gold courses, which are out of bounds unless you're a golfer, but looking into them with a pair of bins' is OK, you just might get some funny looks (hey, you're a birder - no problem then?). I hated the marina, but Emma likes it! The western edge of Vilamoura is flanked by an area of marshland, though sadly this is becoming encroached by development. Even between my visits in August 2004 and October 2005 it was clear that this area is threatened. The Laguna and other golf courses have already been built on much of the marsh. Apparently Vilamoura has won some Environmental Awards, but this all seems a bit of a con. You might also find reference to an Itinery 27 October - Arrive in the dark 28 October - Vilamoura marshes; Quinta de Lago 29 October - Pera Marsh; Tavira Salt Pans; Pedras Del Ray; 30 October - Sagres area; Alvor Estuary; Pera Marsh 31 October - Castro Verde area; Vilamoura marshes 1 November - Vilamoura marshes 2 November - Quinta de Marim (HQ of Ria 3 November - Pera Marsh; Vilamoura marshes 4 November - Quinta de Lago; Ludo Farm; Fly home. My previous report and the Carlson and Gosney guides give directions to most of the sites except Pera Marsh and Vilamoura [update: directions to Pera Marsh (Lagos dos Salgados) are in Carlson but they are so crap that I didn't even realise they were there] - both of which had excellent birds. To find Pera Marsh, follow the following directions I nicked from another report (thanks!): "from N125 east of Alcantarilha at traffic light junction, take road to Armação de Pêra and almost immediately take a minor road left across a narrow bridge. Over the bridge veer right (straight on goes into Pêra) and follow this road around the outskirts of the town, going up a slight incline to an "island" at the top of the rise (circular building in fields to the right) and turn right (main road carries on to Albufeira) taking the small road down to the beach. This road and Pera Marsh are to the west of the golf course - Salgardos. The minor road eventually deteriorates into a track to the main beach car park. Tracks to the left, off this main track go right to the waters edge." The following map might help you track down some good areas in Vilamoura:
Systematic List Great Crested Grebe At Quinta de Lago and Vilamoura. Little Grebe Probably up to 100 at Pera Marsh before it was drained. Others on most ponds. Gannet A few past Vilamoura and Sagres Cormorant Common at many sites Little Bittern A brief view of a probable male at Quinta de Lago. Squacco Heron One at Pera Marsh, seen in flight several times at the back of the marsh, adjacent to the gold course. Cattle Egret Common and widespread. Little Egret Common and widespread. Little Egret x Western Reef Heron In August 2004 I found a bird at Tavira which I put down as a dark morph Little Egret. It clearly wasn't a Western Reef Heron on bare part structure. Photos of it can be seen in the trip report. This year in almost exactly the same place at Tavira was a bird that looked a lot more like a Western Reef Heron, being darker and more uniform. However, it just wasn't quite right, bill being all dark grey and relatively slim. I can only assume that this bird, and probably last years too, is a hybrid Western Reef Heron x Little Egret. Queries have recently been raised whether there's such a thing as a dark morph Little Egret - all these birds may be hybrids. Can the fact that these birds were seen in exactly the same place two years running suggest that maybe nearby there's a regular breeding pair of Western Reef Heron x Little Egret? Comments welcome. Grey Heron Common and widespread. White Stork Far less abundant than in the summer, but small numbers over a wide area. Four birds were feeding in the park in the middle of Vilamoura throughout. Glossy Ibis One at Quinta de Lago. Spoonbill Large numbers at Pera Marsh and Tavira saltpans, with at least 90 at Tavira. Greater Flamingo At Pera Marsh, Tavira and Ludo Farm. Most, about 50 at Pera. Wigeon Small numbers on RF and Quinta de Marim Mallard Common. Gadwall Common and abundant at freshwater pools Teal Small numbers on RF in various places Pintail Single at Quinta de Lago and up to ten at Pera Marsh Shoveler Common at freshwater pools Pochard Small numbers at freshwater pools Tufted Duck Small numbers at freshwater pools Black-shouldered Kite Single at Vilamoura marshes throughout. Often perched in a preferred tree between Super Mini Golf and the 'beach pool'. One near Castro Verde in exactly the same tree as one was seen in August 2004! At least 3-4 at Vilamoura throughout and 1 or 2 at Tavira, Quinta de Lago, Quinta de Marim and Pera. Common Buzzard Small numbers at Sagres and Castro Verde Booted Eagle Singles at Vilmoura and on the N125 west of here. Osprey One over Pera Marsh appeared to fly out to sea. Kestrel Singles at several locations. Red-legged Partridge Abundant at Castro Verde and a small party at Vilamoura. Water Rail Only heard at Vilamoura. Moorhen Common Coot Abundant at all freshwater pools. Checked for Red-knobs but failed. Purple Gallinule Easy peasy at Vilamoura marsh pools and Laguna Golf Course, Pera Marsh (probably at least 10) and Quinta de Lago and Marim. Great Bustard A single by the reservoir near Castro Verde (which was dry) and a group of at least 10m from the old road adjacent to the fast road between CV and Entradas. Little Bustard Frustrating view of one near the road Castro Verde but couldn't stop! Oystercatcher Small numbers on the RF Black-winged Stilt Common and abundant on the RF and Pera Marsh Avocet Single at Pera Marsh and hundreds at Tavria Salt Pans. Ringed Plover Common all over RF Kentish Plover Common RF Grey Plover Common RF Turnstone Small groups on RF and most beaches Grey Phalarope One 1st winter at the channel at the entrance to Pera Marsh. Sanderling Small groups on most beaches. Curlew Sandpiper Small numbers at Tavira Salt Pans Dunlin Small numbers at Tavira Little Stint Small numbers at Tavira Curlew Singles over RF Whimbrel Heard at Pedras del Ray Black-tailed Godwit Hundreds, if not thousands at Tavira Salt Pans Bar-tailed Godwit Only at RF near Quinta de Lago Redshank Small numbers over all marshes Greenshank One of two at Tavira and RF Wood Sandpiper One at Pera Marsh Green Sandpiper Only two at Pera Marsh Common Sandpiper Singles at many freshwater pools and marshes Audouin's Gull 15-20 at Tavira Salt Pans in exactly the same roosting place as August 2004. Take the track to the salt pans between Mediterranean Gull Common. Most at Pera Marsh where there was up to 30. Black-headed Gull Common and abundant. Yellow-legged Gull Common Lesser Black-backed Gull Common Caspian Tern Three of four at Tavira Saltpans and one at Alvor Estuary Regular in small numbers at most coastal areas and wetlands Common Tern One at Vilamoura. On the nets. Little Tern Only five at Tavira. White-winged Black Tern One at Pera Marsh on Rock Dove Several on the cliffs at Carveiro Collared Dove Common Barn Owl One seen near Old Village Apartments in street lights (see last year!) Little Owl Several around Castro Verde Kingfisher One or two at most freshwater Hoopoe One of two at many locations, including singing at One heard calling near Pera Marsh Calandra Lark At least one near the reservoir, Castro Verde (see Gosney) Skylark Hundreds, Sagres Crested Lark Common and adundant Thekla Lark I really couldn't be bothered after a while. Red-rumped Swallow One or two in an amazing little hirundine flock at Pera Marsh Crag Martin One or two in an amazing little hirundine flock at Pera Marsh. Particularly appreciated! Barn Swallow One or two in an amazing little hirundine flock at Pera Marsh House Martin One or two in an amazing little hirundine flock at Pera Marsh Meadow Pipit Common especially near wetlands Water Pipit One on the golf course near Quinta de Lago Grey Wagtail Singles scattered over many places White Wagtail Common at wetlands Bluethroat At least three, including a singing male, along the silly railway at Pedras del Ray. Out in the open often sitting on the railway tracks. Also at Alvor. Black Redstart 2-3 at Sagres and one at Castro Verde Stonechat Common everywhere Black-eared Wheatear One near Sagres Blackbird Common at Vilamoura Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola) Common Reed Warbler One seen well at Quinta de Marim Cetti's Warbler Common at wetlands Two at Tavira saltpans Blackcap Only one or two at Alvor Sardinian Warbler Common and abundant Chiffchaff Common and abundant One near Quinta de Lago Blue Tit Singles in a couple of coastal resort areas Great Tit Singles in a couple of town areas Penduline Tit One at Vilamoura marshes Southern Grey Shrike Singles at Pera Marsh and Quinta de Marim and three or four near Castro Verde Spotless Starling Much more common than in the summer. Small flocks of up to fifty coming into Vilamoura marshes at dusk. Many other small groups. Jay Several at inland Pine woods Azure-winged Magpie Common and abundant, especially in Vilamoura Chough About 30 in a field near Sagres Jackdaw Small numbers widespread Carrion Crow At Sagres and Castro Verde House Sparrow Common and very abundant Spanish Sparrow Small numbers at Tavira saltpans, Alvor Estuary and in storks nests at Entradas and Quinta de Marim Common Waxbill Common, especially Vilamoura and RF Serin Small numbers in many places Chaffinch Small numbers in Pine woods Greenfinch Small numbers in many places Goldfinch Small groups in many places Siskin Two drinking at a puddle in the park near the Tennis Club at Vilamoura Linnet Common Cirl Bunting One female near Sagres Corn Bunting Large flocks up to 100 near Sagres. Singing at Pera Marsh
|
