Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas

Naturetrek Tour Report 23 - 29 December 2013

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England

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Report & images compiled by Stuart & Jill Elsom

Hoopoe Little Bittern

Purple Swamphen Great Bustards

Tour Report Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas

© Naturetrek February 14 1

Tour Leader: Stuart Elsom Ornithologist

Jill Elsom Ornithologist

Participants: Helen Crowder

Malcolm Crowder

Andy Johns

Kirsty Johns

Chaz Shaw

Judy Shaw

Julie Wilkinson

David Wilkinson

David Faulkner

Jean Faulkner

Judith Shilston

Marion Dale

Naomi Crosby

Claude Smith

Anna Caudwell

Day 1 Monday 23rd December

Fine and warm

Some group members arrived a day or so early, and the remaining group members met Stuart and Jill at Faro

Airport after their flight from the UK. With it being a late afternoon flight, the only birds we could muster en

route were a few Cattle Egrets flying over, probably to roost nearby. We arrived at the Hotel Memmo Baleeria,

Sagres, mid-evening.

Day 2 Tuesday 24th December

Dry and bright with a stiff breeze

The day started with a leisurely breakfast overlooking the harbour. Black Redstart and Common Sandpiper

pottered about on the lawn and a couple of Chiffchaff joined the local Sardinian Warblers as they fed amongst

the Red-hot Pokers outside the restaurant.

After breakfast, we drove the short distance to the open steppe area near Sagres Farm. No sooner had we

stepped outside the vehicles when a superb male Hen Harrier appeared and showed well to us all, and a little

further along the track we enjoyed great looks at four Red-billed Choughs and a male Peregrine. There were

plenty of passerines in the open grassland including Goldfinch, Corn Bunting and Linnet, as well as the

ubiquitous Crested Lark.

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

2 © Naturetrek February 14

Driving east for roughly an hour we reached Pera Marsh. Here we enjoyed watching Greater Flamingos, a single

Caspian Tern with 3 Sandwich Terns, and a comical Purple Swamphen clambering around the reeds. Waders

were well represented with Sanderling, Dunlin, and Curlew Sandpiper joining Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt

and Common Snipe, all feeding in the vicinity of the large pool.

We had our packed lunch while sitting on the very well positioned benches at Pera Marsh before heading off to

Ria Formosa National Park. Here we studied a roost of egrets with hundreds of Little and Cattle Egrets huddled

together and more flying in, almost resembling a snow scene, whilst hundreds of Mediterranean Gulls, several

Pintail, Wigeon and Gadwall swam around on the enclosed lagoon. Nearby in strengthening winds we had good

but brief views of Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest and Crested Tit in the Pine woodlands.

Day 3 Wednesday 25th December

Overcast, gale-force winds and some rain

Christmas Day dawned with a bang. Overnight gale-force winds had whipped up a huge sea and gusts so strong

you could hardly stand up. We tried birding around Sagres Pousada but the wind nearly blew the group back to

the hotel! As we headed towards Cabo San Vicente it was obvious that there were literally thousands of Gannets

moving offshore. It was then I had the idea of trying a seawatch. Getting everyone out of the wind and within

the cover of the lighthouse wall we commenced our collective stare out over the sea - this proved to be a good

move and we were rewarded with over 60 Great and 10 Pomarine Skuas, 20 Balearic Shearwaters, 30 Kittiwakes

and as previously mentioned, thousands of Gannets as they were pushed ever closer to the cliffs! The skies got

blacker though and the heavens eventually opened - time to move on!

After a leisurely lunch at the hotel we set out to explore the west coast. The rain had stopped and although still

very windy we were keen to see what we could find. Taking a narrow coast road we soon found ourselves at

Carrapateria headland; the Gannets were still moving in huge numbers but were 3 or 4 times closer than at the

Cape. Another seawatch for those keen to get blown inside-out produced much closer views of another 50+

Great and 10 Pomarine Skuas, at least 30 Balearic Shearwaters, 20 Sandwich Terns, 30 Kittiwakes, 3 Puffins, 2

Guillemots and, perhaps best of all, 2 lingering Leach’s Petrels which most of the group managed to see. We

worked our way back to the hotel via a pool full of Iberian Water Frogs, well to be more accurate, a pool full of

invisible Iberian Water Frogs. It sounds daft but we knew they were there as we could hear them croaking!

Day 4 Thursday 26th December

Warm and sunny

Today saw us head inland to the Alentajo region, famed for its Bustards and Sandgrouse. I just knew today

would be a good one when Helen found a superb Black-shouldered Kite perched atop a roadside bush 10

minutes into the journey! Reaching Castro Verde around two hours later we headed for a village called Sao

Marcos. Stopping to check out some close White Storks we discovered a flock of 33 Great Bustards feeding with

4 Cranes only a few hundred metres from the roadside. Parking the vans nearby and walking back to the spot we

then enjoyed a real ‘purple patch’ with 19 Little Bustards, Black Vulture, Booted Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite,

Peregrine, Red Kite and another 18 Great Bustards flying in, all in the space of an hour!

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

© Naturetrek February 14 3

Moving further down the valley through Cork Oak forests and into more dehesa to enjoy lunch and a coffee, our

next stop produced 4 Hoopoes, several dozen Iberian Magpies and great close up views of Southern or Iberian

Grey Shrike. Working our way to the open steppes we flushed 9 Little Bustards from the roadside, pulling over

to watch them flying past then flushed another 4 Little Bustards, followed a few moments later by calling

Calandra Lark overhead. Our most exciting few minutes were still to come when Simon’s group radioed to say

they’d found a Great Spotted Cuckoo whilst looking for our Little Bustards, this in turn caused us to walk back

up the track which produced no fewer than 15 Black-bellied Sandgrouse and a distant flock of 50 Little Bustards.

As we were watching the sandgrouse, Julie and Jean called a flying raptor, ‘definitely an eagle!’ was the cry -

expecting a Booted Eagle I had to do a double take when it banked and showed us it was actually a young

Spanish Imperial Eagle - well done ladies!

Working our way back to the open area we eventually saw the Great Spotted Cuckoo, along with a few more

sandgrouse, another 15 Great Bustards, 2 male Hen Harriers and a Merlin. Well who can top that? Well actually

we can, as a few miles later as dusk drew in, we had another perched Black-shouldered Kite - our third of the

day!

Day 5 Friday 27th December

Heavy rain, dry for a while then rain again

Our first stop today was the mountainous area of Monchique. As we wound our way up the twisty roads towards

the summit it was clear that the wet weather was set in for the day. This did not deter us however and after some

warm drinks and a look around the souvenir shop we headed out into the rain. The only birds active in the poor

weather were a pair of Rock Buntings which showed briefly before taking cover. The weather then closed in,

giving us the choice of standing in in the pouring rain, sheltering in the cafe or heading down and into the fine

weather visible in the distance - only 1 choice then! Heading down from the summit we stopped once we hit

some dry weather. A 30 minute wander around a wooded valley produced Bonelli’s Eagle, 20+ Crag Martins, 2

more Rock Buntings and a flock of rather mobile but nonetheless entertaining Common Waxbills.

Heading down to the coast we had our lunch and then spent the next hour drying out and enjoying some quality

birding at Quinta do Lago. This produced great looks at many shorebirds including both godwits, Spotted

Redshank and numerous Kentish Plovers. Just then the heavens then again opened, leaving us lusting after hot

showers and a nice meal. Back to the hotel we went and the hot showers and meal were excellent!

Day 6 Saturday 28th December

Warm and sunny with light showers in the afternoon

Today we woke to bright sunshine and a blue sky! We started at the excellent limestone gorge at Rocha de Pena

where we saw a couple of Blue Rock Thrushes, a few butterflies including Small Copper and Clouded Yellow

together with a few floral highlights, most notably Friar’s Cowl, looking, well a bit like a Friar’s Cowl! Nearby an

Iberian Green Woodpecker called every so often but refused to come and show itself. When we left to head

south, some lucky group members then saw (from the bus) another Iberian Green Woodpecker fly over the road

just outside the village.

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

4 © Naturetrek February 14

We headed down to Quinta do Lago to finish off our birding there after getting so abruptly soaked the previous

day. Quinta golf course pools proved very productive with Purple Swamphen by the dozen, Cetti’s Warbler

singing, Hoopoes strutting about on the putting greens and Serins singing from the Pine trees. Best birds here

however were the 3 Little Bitterns which showed well in the reeds. Turning our attention to the saltmarshes we

got great views of Greater Flamingo, Black- winged Stilt and both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits. Nearby,

we searched along the muddy edges for the elusive Bluethroat. After brief views of a female, a male perched up

for a few seconds and gave us all a great view of his pale blue throat, bordered by a black and white necklace and

rich reddish-brown breast band. He soon dived for cover, not to re-emerge, so we called it a day and worked our

way back to the hotel.

In the evening we were treated to a superb selection of local food as we moved from one restaurant to another,

finishing up with a wonderful meal - a great way to end our final full day by drinking a toast to the Algarve at

Christmas.

Day 7 Sunday 29th December

Warm and sunny

Our final morning had come and what better way to enjoy it than a visit to the fortress at Sagres Pousada and

then to the farmland where we had actually started the tour exactly one week ago. Arriving at the fort we were

informed that it was free to enter on Sunday mornings so we had a leisurely stroll around the open scrubby areas

situated inside the fort. Over the next hour or so we saw some quality birds including a very confiding Zitting

Cisticola, several feeding parties of Serins and a gorgeous glossy black male Black Redstart. Checking out the

nearby buildings we got great views of a single Red-billed Chough when two thrushes flew out of nearby scrub.

One was definitely a Song Thrush as the characteristic nervous ‘tik’ was heard but the other thrush dived into

cover before we could confirm it was just another Song Thrush. Helen walked gently into the scrub whilst we all

waited for movement, suddenly a thrush flew out and onto a nearby bush, a Song Thrush for sure, it was

followed seconds later by a darker thrush which also perched up - not another Song Thrush but a superb

Redwing!

Following our very enjoyable hour at the fortress we headed to the nearby farmland. Jill and I commented to the

group that on our pre-tour recce we’d watched a Little Owl dozing in the sunshine on an open tiled roof.

Driving along the track and scanning ahead of us I saw a small ‘bump’ protruding from the roof on our left,

getting a scope on it confirmed that our Little Owl was back and once again enjoying a few rays after the last

couple of windy and wet days. Driving along the sandy track down to the sea we checked out the cliffs to find a

beautiful powder-blue Blue Rock Thrush atop a rocky crag - this seemed a fitting way to end our birding, to head

back to the hotel, pack and depart. Travelling to the airport a few White Storks soared over the motorway and

the odd Iberian Magpie was seen as we stopped at junctions or traffic lights, however it was soon time to check-

in and head back to wet and windy UK, but as we did so we reflected on an enjoyable and relaxing weeks birding

in the Algarve - the perfect destination for Christmas!

On the final day Stuart asked all of the group members to send him their vote for bird of the trip. After all 15

votes were cast, there was a tie for first place between Great Bustard and Little Bittern with Bluethroat as the

runner-up.

Tour Report Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas

© Naturetrek February 14 1

Species List

Birds ( = recorded but not counted)

December

Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

1 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa 5 2

2 Gadwall Anas strepera

3 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 20 10 20

4 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 5 10 10

5 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca 25 40 20

6 Wigeon Anas penelope 12

7 Common Pochard Aythya ferina 15 10

8 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 7

9 Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa 2

10 Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1

11 Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 50

12 Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 1

13 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2 3 4

14 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 5 2

15 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 1

16 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 10 4 8

17 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 6 20 100+ 20 5

18 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 4 6 4

19 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus 3

20 Great White Egret Egretta alba 1 1

21 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 50 200 2

22 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 6 1 4 3

23 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 4 2 1 5 3

24 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 2 1000+ 1 2

25 European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 2 3 1

26 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 150

27 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 3 1

28 Red Kite Milvus milvus 15

29 Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus 1

30 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 2 2

31 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1

32 Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti 1

33 Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata 2

34 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 4 2 6 5 3 2

35 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 2 1 3

36 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 5 3 4 5 6 4

37 Merlin Falco columbarius 1 1

38 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 1 1

39 Great Bustard Otis tarda 75

40 Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax 90

41 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 3+ 12

42 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

43 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

44 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

45 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 2 1

46 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

47 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 20 12

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

2 © Naturetrek February 14

December

Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

48 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 20

49 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 4 7 3

50 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 1 1

51 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 5 6 2

52 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 2 1

53 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1 2

54 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 6 2

55 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 5

56 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 2

57 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 1

58 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 6 5 3

59 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 2 1

60 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 3 1 4 3 2

61 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 3 2 4 3

62 Sanderling Calidris alba 3 15 20

63 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 2

64 Dunlin Calidris alpina 7 10 5

65 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

66 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 200+ 50 20

67 Common Gull Larus canus 4

68 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1 1 1

69 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

70 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

71 Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 70

72 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 1

73 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 3 10 6

74 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1 100+

75 Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 10

76 Puffin Fratecula arctica 3

77 Guillemot Uria aalge 1

78 Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis 20

79 Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia

80 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 6 1

81 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

82 Little Owl Athene noctua 1

83 Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius 1

84 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1 2

85 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 8 1 4

86 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 1 1

87 Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpei 1+

88 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 4 6 1 2

89 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 2 2

90 Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki 4 50 30 20 10

91 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 1 1 2 2

92 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 4 4 3 5

93 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula

94 Carrion Crow Corvus corone 5

95 Northern Raven Corvus corax 2 2 2

96 European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 2

97 Great Tit Parus major 3

98 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 2 1 4

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

© Naturetrek February 14 3

December

Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

99 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra 6

100 Crested Lark Galerida cristata 4 3 7 2 5 3

101 Thekla Lark Galerida theklae 2

102 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 6 4 10

103 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 2 1 20 30 4

104 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti 2H

105 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 6 2 4 7 5 8

106 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 2 1 1 4

107 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 1 1

108 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala 7 10 2 5 7 6

109 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 1

110 Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla 1

111 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

112 Common Blackbird Turdus merula

113 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1

114 Redwing Turdus iliacus 1

115 European Robin Erithacus rubecula 2 4 2 3

116 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 3

117 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 6 1 1 1 2 3

118 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

119 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 2 2

120 House Sparrow Passer domesticus

121 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 20

122 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 1 1

123 White Wagtail Motacilla alba

124 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

125 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 2 4 3

126 European Serin Serinus serinus

127 European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

128 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

129 Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina

130 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

131 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia 2 2

132 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 2

Mammals

1 Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis 1

Reptile & Amphibians

1 European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis 3

2 Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra 1

Butterflies

1 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea 1 1

2 Wood White 1

3 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas 1

4 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 1 1

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

4 © Naturetrek February 14

December

Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Invertebrate - other

1 Megarian Banded Centipede Scolopendra cingulata 1

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