Saturday 21st April - Suffolk outing

Hadn't seen Gary for months, and with Spring hopefully in full flow we suggested a day out might be in order.  Although given what looked like favourable conditions, being warm sunny weather with an easterly breeze, there were no significant reports of waves of migrants or rare birds. We decided we would head to Suffolk, firstly to Minsmere where there are always birds, and a Savi's Warbler had been reported, then if nothing else had turned up then head further north to Carlton Marshes where the rather longer staying American Bittern had been seen on Friday.

We arrived at Minsmere shortly after 7am and headed straight towards the Island Mere hide, on route seeing Blackcap, my first Whitethroat of the year and the sound of a booming Bittern from the reedbed. The upshot of 90 minutes in the hide was no Savi's Warbler, but to keep us interested there were plenty of Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tit, Sedge and Reed Warbler, Reed Buntings and a number of Sand Martin with one or two Swallow, a very brief view of a Bittern in flight was the only glimpse we had all morning. We relocated to the Bittern hide, where we dully heard further booming of the Bittern but it remained unsighted and we didn't really add anything new other than some flyover Med Gulls. We then walked a longer circuit which took us out to the sluice gates along the path in the dunes for a little way before returning via the beach hides to the visitor centre. Stonechat and a Dartford Warbler were in the gorse and the wet fields held Greenshank along with Teal, a few Wigeon.

The  main scrape was dominated by breeding Black-headed Gulls and of course Avocets, with a smaller number of Med Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and Black-tailed Godwit. Our search for any hint of migrants was firmly drawing a blank with no Wheatears, no Yellow Wagtails or Ring Ouzels, no Garganey on the pools by the  scrapes and the only non-breeding waders were 3 Turnstone and 1 Dunlin and nothing at all moving offshore, at least the spring weather was nice !! We did, however, see a singing Lesser Whitethroat as we neared the visitor centre, stopping briefly at the Sand Martin colony before a quick sandwich lunch.

We saw a Stone Curlew on the way out of Minsmere, happily in a protected area, then we continued to  Carlton Marshes arriving around 2.45pm, which was near Lowestoft on on the southern edge of the Broads. A reserve neither of us had been to before we were given directions by the helpful staff in the car park to the best potential viewing area for the American Bittern. We had more warblers in the first few hundred yards than at Minsmere, firstly a House Martin with some Swallows then Cetti's , Sedge, Reed a few Willow Warblers and a calling Cuckoo. The path lead us to where a fairly large group of birders were standing and found that several people had been waiting for around 3 hours without a view of the Bittern. We did think that later in the afternoon would be the best chance of a sighting so were not unduly concerned, so we set up our scopes on the path for potentially a long wait, with more Marsh Harriers keeping us entertained. But after about 20 minutes the American Bittern was in flight and flew over the path for an extended view before eventually dropping into the reeds (and also into the light). We were very satisfied on 2 counts, firstly that we'd had a decent sighting and secondly that our wait had been short and painless, we debated whether a further wait would yield a better experience, but it was a bird we had both seen before in Cornwall a few years ago so we decided to continue a full circuit of the reserve back to the car park. We saw more Black-tailed Godwit and heard another Cuckoo and saw a Chinese Water Deer . We had opted against taking a short-cut where a footpath cut across a corner of a field , instead taking the longer route out to the river bank path. We noticed another birder had decided on the short cut but half way across the field was challenged by a herd of Bullocks, his retreat was hasty and the lead Bulls decided it was game on and he only just made it back to the gate !.

We both agreed the reserve had a huge potential, and talking to the volunteer staff, we learnt of a planned project to acquire more land and increase the management for birds including an area for Cranes. A place we would both be happy to return to.

Marsh  Harrier

Marsh Harrier over extensive reedbed

Barnacle Geese, breeding stock likely to be feral

Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls

Black-headed Gull

Sand Martins at nesting colony

American Bittern

As it moved away before dropping into cover

Black-tailed Godwits

Friday 6th April - Portugal, Last day

The last full day here and I didn't venture away from the resort area, I went for an early walk around the golf course (before the golfers appeared). I found a Short-toed Treecreeper and with it, 2 Crested Tits, which were a bit of a surprise as I hadn't figured on them here at all but there must be a small population held by the pines in the area, Other species were more familiar, Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff and a couple of White Wagtail.

The weather had been generally better than expected although Friday afternoon it rained, but otherwise this has been a great break.

Thursday 5th April - Portugal, Vilamoura Parque Ambiental

I revisited the site I went to on Sunday at Vilamoura from the arched gate, and although I was there early the theme was more of lots of joggers and barky dogs and as a result I feel I lucked out a little on the birds. However, there was still plenty of activity, including at least 4 Nightingales, which I assume must have arrived since Sunday as I heard none then. More Crested Lark, Corn Bunting, Serin and Zitting Cisticola dominated the scrubby field edges and Sardinian Warblers held territory wherever possible. There were 2 very vocal Quail in the fields of course remaining unsighted. I walked as far as the hide which bordered the golf course, the pool itself held 12 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe a Coot and a Moorhen, with the Coot trying very hard to drown one of the Little Grebes and to reduce the wildfowl even further. A couple of Barn Swallows were hawking and a Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and some Black-headed Weavers were in the reed edges. The return walk offered similar birds , in addition 3 Grey Herons flew over as did 12 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Kestrel and Buzzard and 2 White Stork nests were showing 4 birds. A Green Woodpecker was calling, but again didn't show but a Great-spotted Woodpecker was on view. I stopped a while at a patch of dense wood and scrub, I was sure I heard the call of a Short-toed Treecreeper, but it did not call again and I saw no movement. I did find a single Turtle Dove, preening itself high in a tree. Again back for breakfast.

Cetti's Warbler

Pool from the hide

Black-headed Weaver

Sardinian Warbler

White Stork 

Wednesday April 4th - Portugal, Ria da Formasa (west side)

This morning I headed back towards Faro airport, to try and access an area of salt pans which run between the airport and San Lorenzo golf course, I found an access track and drove along this, passing a number of the salt pans. The first bird that flew across in front of me was a ringtail Hen Harrier and the first salted pan held a number of waders, Dunlin, Sanderling, a couple of dozen Little Stint, about 8 Kentish Plover and a Caspian Tern was hunting a little further out. A little further along and 3 Greater Flamingos were standing alone in the middle of a pool where a number of Common Swift were hawking over the pools. A further group of waders roosting were a mixture of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Knot, as I moved along the light was poor as I was looking directly into the early morning sun. I parked the car at the end of this track which just bordered the golf course and ran alongside the course with a large hide overlooking a big reed fringed lake in the middle of the course. There were lots of Iberian Magpies and a few Purple Swamphens and 3 Hoopoes on the fairways, the call of the Green Woodpecker was heard frequently but remain unseen (the variety here Picus Sharpei, has been split as a separate species, Iberian Woodpecker) and the large lake held Great Crested and Little Grebes, Pochard and 2 Red-crested Pochard. Passerines had been limited to Serins and Sardinian Warblers and a single Great Tit. The track veered back to the estuarine pools, a Yellow Wagtail was heard flying over but unseen and Crested Larks occasionally popped out onto the path. the saline water here held very little, a few Grey Plover, 2 Black-winged Stilt and a single Kentish Plover. Retracing steps back towards the car, a distinctive piping call was coming from the top of a pine, a Wryneck eventually showed with another call and a third bird appeared. I managed to see two of the three, then a further two were seen nearer to the car. I'm not sure whether these birds would have wintered in the area or whether they were recently arrived birds I started scanning the salt pans again as I returned in the car and added Avocet and Greenshank, but then entered traffic as big articulated trucks were working shifting the salt piles which meant I couldn't stop on the track for fear of being crushed .... Another productive morning, headed back for breakfast and back at the apartment another Bee-eater flew over.

Dunlin and Little Stint on the salt pans

Who needs a reed bed when there is  a golf course available ?

Iberian Magpie

Into the sun - Saline pools towards the sea

With sun behind - Saline pools towards the beach

Kentish Plover

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Wryneck - hiding in pine.

Another Wryneck, briefly perched

Sardinian Warbler - seemingly abundant but not so far very photogenic

Hoopoe

Hoopoe - much more interested in the beetles than me.

Tuesday April 3rd - Portugal, Vilamoura reed beds

This morning I returned to Vilamoura, although I decided to try a different part of the area and accessing the 'reserve' from the other end. It took me a little while to find a track for an entrance but eventually drove on a dirt track and found a place to park just off the verge. It was just getting light and as soon as I was out of the car I heard a Nightingale blasting its song, what joy ! the sound of Nightingales are incredible, I eventually heard about 4 different birds and even got a view of one, I am sure they were newly arrived here as in the UK most arrivals are from the 3rd week of April. Small flocks of Common Waxbills were on the path and after a very short distance I heard the call of a Little Bittern and briefly saw the bird fly from reeds at the side of the path. Serin, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap and Reed Warbler were also vocal and a pair of Stonechat were along the track. Up to 15 Iberian Magpie flew out of a bamboo which I assume was there roost. Common Swifts were overhead and Zitting Cisticolas had started their display flight. I reached a path that was signposted observatoir, which I assume meant a hide, and heard a Quail calling from a field with a new crop growth. A small track through some bushes end up in a hide overlooking a reedbed and a small pool. A Purple Swamphen came briefly into view along with a Moorhen and Little Grebe, then a Little Bittern popped up close to the hide on top of some reeds where it stayed momentarily before dropping away, Gadwall and Pochard were making flights from the pool and Black-headed Weavers were darting across the reeds.

I left this hide and retraced my steps before taking another track across farmland a Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were over the fields, more Serins and Waxbills were visible and a couple of pairs of Red-legged Partridge. Then I saw a Woodchat Shrike, it was fairly distant along a line of thistles, briefly flying, then perching then the same again until it went over the tree line. Crested Larks and Corn Buntings were common sights along this track , a couple of Iberian Chiffchaff were following me along a line of Olives with at least on pair of Sardinian Warblers, then I reached another hide which was probably close to the furthest point I reached on Sunday. The hide overlooked a pool which held a few Pochard but little else. A couple of Marsh Harrier were quartering the area and another Quail was signing close by.

I retraced my steps heading back towards the first hide, What I first thought was probably a Buzzard or a Marsh Harrier, did a dive into the field, it was trying to grab a Hare. The bird was completely pale underneath, I had a brief thought of Osprey then realised it was a Booted Eagle. It quickly gave up on the Hare and was chased away by a slightly larger Marsh Harrier. Returning to the first hide where more Barn and Red-rumped Swallows were hawking over the reeds and I saw a single Bee-eater fly over. Walking back towards the car with more signing Nightingales and a number of hirundines included House Martins. A great morning walk before returning for breakfast.

Common Waxbills on the path first thing

Little Grebe

Western Purple Swamphen

Little Bittern

Little Bittern

Little Bittern

Little Bittern

Serin

A line of Olives alongside an arable field

Much of the area was rough pasture

A distant shot of the Booted Eagle

The reedy pool outside the first hide

Glimpse of a Nightingale

male Black-headed Weaver

Monday 2nd April - Portugal, Praia do Salgados

Another early venture out to a different part of the Portuguese coast. I drove West to the other side of Albufiera to Praia dos Salgados, which is the equivalent of a nature reserve, Portuguese style. The area is a mixture of dunes, lagoons and reed beds, and respectably a wide boardwalk takes you over the dunes and even a couple of hides. At first there seemed to be little on the water, with a few Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot and Pochard. More Crested Lark and Corn Bunting were in the dunes and Cetti's Warblers were very vocal with one even showing itself briefly, the reedbed area also held a single Reed Warbler and couple of Zitting Cisticolas. There was a small gathering of large Gulls and amongst the Yellow-legged Gulls were 4 Audouin's Gulls, later increasing to 8, and group of Med Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls also dropped in. I belatedly latched onto a flyby  Caspian Tern and managed to ID it before it just became a rear view. A scope would have been handy due to the size of the lagoon, but the baggage situation would not have been conducive to the extra equipment, but more visible were Black-winged Stilts and Avocets  and 2 Dunlin, Redshank and a Sanderling were the only other waders. 3 Spoonbill were at the back of the lagoon and 3 White Stork also dropped in. A distant Marsh Harrier and a Kestrel were the only raptors present. I walked over the dunes on the boardwalk but only saw a Hoopoe and more Crested Lark. A single Barn Swallow, 4 Pallid Swift and 8 Common Swift were hawking over the lagoon on the return walk and 2  distant Purple Swamphen were in the reeds at the back of the lagoon. The skies started to cloud over as I returned for a late breakfast with the others.

Praia do Salgados overlooking lagoon at first light.

Reedbeds around the edges were large

Cetti's Warbler

Cetti's Warbler

Zitting Cisticola

3 Audouin's Gulls with a Yellow-legged Gull (second from left)

male Pochard

Sunday April 1st - Portugese Easter

We have regularly been to Portugal for a week, probably now for the last 12 years, although work often prevents me from going, our week has always been utilised by friends or family. We stay in an apartment embedded within a nice resort about 30 minutes West of Faro on the coast, we do have a choice of weeks although generally we have opted for a week within the Easter break this was the first time we have been away for Easter Sunday. Frequently we have just taken a taxi to and from the airport and made do with on-foot for the week. This time there were 5 of us and I decided to hire a car which if nothing else would let me explore whilst the girls opted for other activities. I didn't want to spend a fortune on a large estate so decided that a small category of a 5 door hatchback would suffice. It was laughable as trying to squash 5 plus bags into this car , the girls had to virtually chew on the cases for the journey to the hotel last night. The other feature has been that I have rarely ventured anywhere for birding when I've been here, although typically have picked up a few local species, the resort is mainly covered in pines, but increasing development means green spaces are shrinking, this time I wanted to schedule in some mornings out to find some birds elsewhere.

The weather here is so much better than the UK at this time , a pleasant 17C with occasional sun, there will be a little rain this week but it is still an escape from what we had at home.

This morning I went to a place called Parque Ambiental near Vilamoura. A couple of Cattle Egrets were on the grass next to the car before I left. I found an entrance to the area after a little driving around and a brief stop for a White Stork on a nest. The track was a clear and wide dirt track that went through a range of scrubby growth until it eventually went past the equestrian centre and a few reedy pools came into view. There was a fair amount of bird activity as I started walking, with a surprising number of Corn Bunting, plenty of Serin, a good number of Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola were plentiful with their distinctive calls, Iberian Magpies were frequent as were Sardinian Warblers . A Hoopoe was seen in flight before alighting on a distant wire to start its bubbling call. As the track passed into a vast open area with low thorny scrub a Marsh Harrier flew over and a Common Buzzard was on the fence, Iberian Green Woodpeckers were heard rather than seen, as were many Cetti's Warbler. Another couple of local specialities, both Black-headed Weaver and Common Waxbill were present, the Waxbills in particular in good numbers.

As I moved alongside the golf course a Snipe was flushed form the ditch and the first reedy pool held Purple Swamphen, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe and Pochard, along with a number of Barn Swallow. using the reeds as resting places, presumably newly arrived from Africa.

2 Black-winged Stilts looked out of place on the golf course and Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails were flitting along the path. I could hear what was probably Great Reed Warblers from a patch of reed but I couldn't get close enough to get a view. A single Common Swift would have been an early migrant and other than a few Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff there was no great influx of summer migrants. The site had more pools to view, but I had Easter Bunny duties to get back to so hopefully I can visit here again during the week.

Back at the hotel, several Red-rumped Swallows were hawking over the pines, and more Serin, Iberian Magpie, Sardinian Warbler and another Hoopoe were seen.

White Stork on an occupied nest.

Corn Bunting

Black-winged Stilt on the 11th Green

Western Purple Swamphen

Crested Lark

Zitting Cisticola (or Fan-tailed Warbler) - with nesting material