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.
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| Common Waxbills on the path first thing |
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| Little Grebe |
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| Western Purple Swamphen |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Serin |
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| A line of Olives alongside an arable field |
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| Much of the area was rough pasture |
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| A distant shot of the Booted Eagle |
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| The reedy pool outside the first hide |
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| Glimpse of a Nightingale |
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| male Black-headed Weaver |
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