Rainy Day In Tavira

Rain was forecast for Friday but I still went out towards the far end of Tavira. The wet stuff timed itself to perfection; less than halfway back on the return leg it did a stair rod 💦💦 number on me and I got soaked to the skin 😵‍💫.

I was surprised and pleased to get f Black Redstart again though I am almost certain it was the same bird as previously seen.

Good to see rhat the Flamingos 🦩 have now increased to 19 birds 🙂.

A Quieter Session In Tavira

I started off at what I refer to as the Ogden end of the wetland and accordingly my excitement levels remained manageable.Even then as I exited to visit LBBG City another site tick came up in the form of a calling Hoopoe 🙂.

The move was beneficial as I reacquainted with the Caspian Tern flying across in front of me. 7 Great Flamingo 🦩 were busy feeding here and attracting the attention of passing tourists.

Usual hordes of waders seen again plus another White Stork in flight.

I may as well mention that despite the abundance of mud and sand banks I haven’t had a Sand Martin yet. 

It’s both boring and surprising to find that the only corvid species present is the Magpie. I would have lost moolah had I said Hooded Crow is a knocking bet.

Portuguese Birding In Sunshine

A fresh breeze kept one moving this morning despite the sunshine. But here now on the balcony it’s bright warm and sunny with less wind. Got another 5 to add to the list, surely this can’t go on 🥱.

First up was a real surprise out in the wetlands a f Black Redstart flew up from the track into a close by bush. I think I got another much later  - this was a brief view on a ruined building.

Next was a Ringed Plover then a single Oystercatcher. Another surprise came as I binned a solitary so called “wader” on a large dry patch way from the water. It was a cracking Stone Curlew 😵‍💫 😆.

As I go to the busy river near the hotel my clomping footfall cheesed off a Green Sandpiper that made a helluva racket as it flew away. This probably encouraged a Whimbrel in the vicinity to join in.

Hard Work Brings Some Reward

So I did mosy down to the salinas in cool winds grey skies and light rain. About 500 meters away from this hotel I noticed a wader in the heath. I’m glad I decided to unbag the bins cos it turned out to be a Whimbrel 😋.

Much further along this long route I noticed 17 Shelduck but it was generally somewhat tedious. Tedium was lighter when I spotted a Curlew and lighter still on turning back to see 3 Greater Flamingo 🦩 coming down to land. They only stayed for about 20 minutes however 😏.

I decided to investigate LBBG City. This was a good move as I picked up a morsel in the form of a stonkeronious adult Audouins Gull 🤪. The Sandwich Tern was here too as were a handful of YLG.

A real puzzler about this area: I have not seen a Harrier species at all nor any species of raptor whatsoever despite my various (wait for it) Perigrinations 😅🤓.

Tavira Slows Down

Old Age caught up with me today Monday 24 February and I had to cut short an afternoon slog. I hasten to explain that too much wine and lack of sleep could have some blame apportioned 😏.

New birds: 1 each Greenshank, Sandwich Tern. Grey Heron - in with the 🥄 bills. A load of Serin this am in the town area.

Green Algae blooms are starting to show as the water levels drop 🤨.

About 350 LBBG seen resting on the salt pans. Here I met a local who pointed me in the direction of the coastal salinas where she sees Flamingo 🦩 flocks. Reckon I’ll mosy on down there tomorrow 😎.

Tavira Portugal Weekend Birds

Saturday 22 Feb. I picked the wrong turning on this session and the wrong route. It had been raining overnight so I ended up with mud caked boots to boot 🥾.

All the birds recorded Friday were encountered again so I’ll just mention the newbies which were: a pr Stonechat & a Chiffchaff.

Today Sunday 23 Feb proved to be a rewarding one 👍. I went downriver almost to the coast. Another 4 White Stork including one carrying a small tree branch!

Got my first tern sitting in with the gulls; a Caspian 😜. A second tern was too quick and distant in flight to id.

Other new trip species were: a Greater Flamingo, 6 Kentish Plover, 6 Red-rumped Swallow, 4/5 Redpoll, 1 f Reed Bunting & 2 Blackbird. 

More Stonechats, Sardines, Zitbags WW/Chiffchaff etc.

Birding In Portugal

Tavira

Day 1 a 90 minute afternoon saunter after arrival. Black tailed Godwits. Avocets. 1 Grey Plover. Sanderlings. Dunlins. BW Stilts. Other distant waders. 3 White Wagtails 1 Yellow Wagtail ssp. Cettis Warbler. Zittin Cisticola. House Martins & Swallows. YLGs & BHGs.

Day 2

Imagine a wetland 25 times Swillington full of birds.

Pr White Stork on nest atop a power station chimney.

120+ Black tailed Godwit similar Dunlin. 3 Spoonbill loads of BW Stilt and Avocet. Scores Sanderlng. 700+ Cormorant. Several Redshank 1 Spotted Redshank. 1 Grey Plover. Pr Shelduck.

Zitting Cistocolas. Sardinian Warblers. Cettis Warbler, WW & other of that ilk that were just too zippy for my aging brain cells.

Few Linnet & Goldfinch more House Martins & Swallows.

More LBBG than YLG a few BHG.

Another Exciting Day

Ogden Water: 1 Blue Tit on a feeder nothing else in the trees. A few gulls including adult LBBG. It was good to hear barking dogs as I’ve been missing em.

Mixenden Res: pr Cormorant loads of gulls including several Herring.

Most interesting bird of the day was near the HX Interchange. An adult LBBG was on the tarmac inspecting a half full large plastic bag. Hope it didn’t choke.

A Cold Morning At Low Moor

I went out yesterday for a short trip round Horton Bank CP, it was rock bottom as was Littlemoor Park 😖.

Determined to see some birds today I went to the old faithfuls Harold Park Lake and Park Dam.

Harold Park was vibrant with loads of gulls but no ducks other than dullards. Plenty of BHGs and Herrings but not many Common gulls. A GC Grebe was busy diving.

Park Dam was dirty filthy rotten with Goosander 16 of em. They were very busy chasing each other around.

4 Tufted Duck & the pr GC Grebe plus 2 Cormorant. 

Again plenty of gulls here & in the fields c65 Canadas.

Catch Up Ogden Area

Friday 7th.

Didn’t want to see many birds today so Ogden was perfect. 6 Common Gull, 1 Robin & 4 Blue Tit. Slipped up badly on the way through Bradshaw as I saw 5 Red-legged Partridge on a wall.

Mixenden Res was full of mixed size Gulls.

Monday 10th

The absolute pits. Ogden coughed up a Raven a Robin a Great Tit & a small number of gulls.

I started off towards Mixenden but gave up owing to the cold wet weather and total dismay at the lack of birds.

Contrasting Numbers At Low Moor Sites

A bright morning with a fresh W'ly blow. Harold Park was crawling with numerous Gulls plus the many Coot & Moorhen.

On the downside not a single non-Dullard duck sp. seen. Around 14 Canada were drifting around.

Park Dam was missing many birds. A m Tufted Duck was all by itself. 3 Greylag were present as were 3 GC Grebe. The single juvenile had a pr Adult birds for company. The adults engaged in pair bonding.

Also 1 each Grey Wagtail & Kingfisher. 

More Plentiful Nothingness

A Nutter gets up and thinks I fancy some birds today so I’ll do Low Moor. He has an errand for a friend which takes him up Chapel Lane so he has a change of plan and decides on Soil Hill instead. A voice of reason in a corner of his decaying brain 🧠 whispers Its a strong SW’ly wind. Ignoring this said Nutter does the entire hill and is rewarded with a Pheasant 😰. At one point he thinks a Teal was on the bottom pond but by now he has completely lost any rational thought process and dare not trust his instincts.

Halfwit nay Quarter wit progresses to Ogden Water. Here a pr Goosander are seen. Plenty of gulls one of which a probable 2CY Herring looks rather poorly and isn’t bothered by a pointing Camera.

Nutter goes on to Mixenden Res where there are more gulls and a pr Cormorant. 

My next trick will surely get me the psychiatric help I need. I’m going to stand on top of the cenotaph in a Tutu and sing a Roxy Music tune while doing the paso doble.

More Dismay At Ogden

How long can this mass scale absence of avians go on I asked myself as the only sound in the woods was the thud of my tears hitting the deck 😢.

I’d skipped the full reservoir walk as only a modicum of gulls were present.

A lifting of one’s spirits at near Stod Fold as I heard faint calls of distant Pink-footed Geese. Perhaps the skein reported by BS on his blog?

A Mistle Thrush sang in the woods at Mixenden.