Few Days in The Algarve.

Hovering Little tern. Almost too close to me

 Day 1: 01.05.22 To Faro and birdwatching on The Salinas near town.

Up early for a flight from Stansted to Faro. Take off 8.50am and was in my room in Faro Old town 2.30pm. Dumped my rucksack, sorted out camera and binoculars and headed to the saltpans just half a mile away. First bird seen was a stick carrying White stork over the city. Arrived at the 1st salt pan (Salinas, in Portuguese,) and was faced with the sight of 100's of waders. Mainly Dunlin but several redshank, Ringed plover and Kentish plover. The trip list was up and running as I wandered over the many tracks in this huge area of the Rio Formosa.

A distant Woodchat shrike, many Yellow legged gulls and singing Serins. I checked a sandy area at a building site: House martins gathering mud for nest building and a solitary Wheatear near 2 Crested larks.

 However, the bird of the day was a single Audouin's gull that flew directly overhead. Described in the Collins guide as still one of the rarest gulls in the world. Great to get such good views.

Serin

White stork on the nest

Yellow legged gulls

White stork over the Old Town

Goldfinch

Wheatear

Greenfinch

Ringed plover

Black winged stilts

Black winged stilt

Dunlin feeding on The Salinas

Ringed plover, left and Kentish plover right

Distant Woodchat shrike

Same bird

Audouin's gull

Dark legs, dark eye and bright red bill

Same Audouin's gull

Black winged stilts were everywhere

One of 100's of dunlin coming into breeding plumage

Waders. All Dunlin apart from one Kentish plover and one Ringed plover

Ringed plover

Serin

Dunlin coming into land

Off to add to the already huge nest

A good start as I headed back to my room before wandering into town for a few beers and a meal. Overhead, Common and Pallid swifts and plenty of White storks nesting on local buildings. As I sat eating my meal the sound of storks bill rattling their courtship ritual could be heard from near and far.

Day 2: 02.05.22. To Tavira, East of Faro.

Up early for the 7.11 train east to Tavira, some 30 minutes away. Grabbed an espresso at the station as set up camera lens and then wandered down to the river and out on to the Salinas. A place I have visited twice before and great bird watching habitat. Again, huge area to cover.

Black winged stilts everywhere as well as plovers, sandpipers and dunlin. Turnstone made the list whilst I listened to the distinctive call of Bee eaters in the distance. A hoopoe flew into some trees and was gone. Sardinian warblers called their scratchy song from deep in the vegetation but occasionally a male would sit right at the top and offered a photo opportunity.

I continued around the salt pans. Serins sang from near the Indoor market where I had bought water and some cooked meats and bread. Spoonbills flew over the road as I headed out to Quatro Aguas to get the ferry across to the Ilha da Tavira where there are tree covered sand dunes and a superb beach.

Once off the ferry, time for a beer as the temps hit 24C before I took the sandy paths in to the trees. Serins, Sardinian warblers, Blackbirds and Hoopoes were all in fine voice. A pair of Hoopoes sat in a distant tree. I continued out into the sand dunes where I have had good birds previously such as Wheatear and Stone curlew, but not today. The ground plants here are yellow and purple flowering Hottentot figs.

Back at the ferry point a group of turnstones, some in full breeding plumage. I walked the mile back into town and met friends, Dodgy Dave Holland and his lovely wife Hilary who now live in Tavira. I used to play golf against Dave. He is still sore that I won the Ash Valley Open in 2011! Great to see them again, must be 8 years since I was last in Tavira.

Train back to Faro and out for a meal before a glass of wine in a splendid Wine Bar, Epicur, right opposite my room before bed in preparation for a long walk and early start the next day.

Record shot comparing Common swift  (left) and Pallid swift (right) Latter is paler.

Young Yellow legged gulls on the river in Tavira

House martins

Black winged stilt

Ringed plover

House martins collecting mud for nests 

House martin

Sardinian warbler

Magpie

Yet another Sardinian warbler

Black winged stilt, male

White stork

Crabs

Muddy Dunlin

Red veined darter dragonfly

Sanderling coming into breeding plumage

House sparrow. They were everywhere.

Sanderling

White stork

Hoopoes

Ferry to the beach on the island.

Flyby Avocet

Avocet

Yet another Sardinian warbler

Curlew sandpiper

Kentish plover

Little egret

Well marked Turnstone

Blue legs of an Avocet

Little egret take off.

Spoonbill flyby.

Curlew sandpiper just beginning to show breeding colours.

Little stint in good plumage

Sanderling

Distant overhead Greater flamingoes

Another hoopoe

Distant and socially distancing Spoonbills

Sanderling left and Curlew sandpiper right

Redshank

Yellow legged gull

Day 3: 03.05.22: Almancil, Quinta da Lago and Faro airport

Up early again for the 7.20 train to Almancil, some 15 minutes west of Faro. Today was going to be the longest walk of the trip and it coincided with being the hottest day so far, touching 27C but a cooling breeze that successfully incinerated my arms and legs.

Off the train and south through the town centre before picking up a country lane all the way to Quinta da Lago. Not too many birds along the lane but a brief view of an in flight Roller was pleasing as was seeing Little ringed plover at some water cress beds. As I approached the town I began hearing and then seeing Azure Winged magpies. Where these occur they are usually found in good numbers. I was to see plenty as I walked though a very posh area of QdL. Huge houses, immaculate lawns where hoopoes called from huge trees.

I arrived at The Shack by the footpath and boardwalk that takes the wanderer 6 or 7 km back to the airport for a bus back into town.

Beer and espresso fuelled me for this wander, a new area for me.

Little terns, a solitary Wood sandpiper, Black winged stilts and a pair of Gadwall were on the pool by the restaurant. A good start. I got on to the boardwalk and headed back east. By now, heat haze was an issue and many potentially good photos were no good due to the camera magnifying the shimmering light, making sharp focus impossible.

Whimbrel, Grey plover, Red rumped swallow, Great crested grebe and Little grebe got on to the trip list as I stopped frequently. Most of the folk here are ex pats so chatted with several. One lady who was on holiday asked if I could give her Social Group based in Surrey, a bird talk on the area. A few other birders were about and as I left the boardwalk for the last 4km to the airport I was all alone. Through woodland. A red legged partridge, whilst both Great spotted and Iberian Green woodpecker were heard.

Bee eaters called from the other side of a thick hedge. I could just see them on a wire but virtually impossible to get a photo, apart from one shown here. Not the most flattering!

I arrived at Montenegro and headed down hill. Beer at the airport, bus back to Faro and then a quick trip to the local Salinas before a much needed shower and out for another meal and half a bottle of Esteva, a red wine from The Douro.

A wonderful day and, in total, 15 miles walked. 

Little ringed plover

First of many Azure winged magpies

First Sardinian warbler of the day

Azure winged magpie showing pale yellow chin

Typical habitat and behaviour of these birds

AWM

Heat hazed flight shot

Bird of Paradise flower

Bottle brush plant in full flower

Little terns

Cormorant trying to swallow a large fish whole

Inevitable Black winged stilt (female)

Wood sandpiper

Recently hatched redshank

One of the parents

Born with good set of legs

Red rumped swallow

Whimbrel

White stork coming at me

Still coming my way.

Spoonbill flyby

Distant and heat hazed Audouin's gull

Little egret and Spoonbill

Hoopoe on the golf course next to the boardwalk

Little egret and very distant summer plumaged Grey plover

A closer grey plover

Turnstone

Little tern hovering

Wind swept Little egret

Same bird

Great crested grebe

Greater flamingo

Sardinian warbler for a change

Kentish plover

Red legged partridge

Bee eater commenting upon my photography!

Dunlin

Yellow legged gull

Spoonbill and White stork

Spoonbill.

Day 4: 04.05.22 Fuseta Walk.

Today, the plan was to have a change of habitat and get the coach up into the hills north of Faro but it failed to turn up, so back on to the train. This time east to Fuseta, another new area of the Ria Formosa for me. Pleased i did travel here. Had a great time and lovely walk, if somewhat shorter than the previous one.

Off the train, obligatory espresso and checked the marshland on the side of the road. Regular waders so off along a country road that took me to a wide track that meanders around Salinas before arriving at a village after a few miles.

New birds for the trip included Pied flycatcher, Stonechat, Cattle egret and Spotted redshank.

Flamingoes a plenty as there were avocets and Black winged stilts. In one pool, a single spot shank whilst overhead, a few Cattle egrets. I checked all along telegraph wires and managed a pair of linnets and the Pied flycatcher. The sun was directly in front of it so not photo and it had gone by the time I had turned the corner for a better view.

Today topped 27C and no breeze. Hot. In the village a splendid little bar so a beer and chat with a holidaying Irish couple. Then headed down to the beach but just more Mallards and Azure Winged magpies. A Blackbird was in fine voice before I retraced my steps and tried to improve on a few photos of new species, but again, heat haze messed them up.

I got back to the main road to catch a glimpse of a Yellow wagtail, sub species iberiae, showing a grey head with a prominent darker grey cheek and white supercilium. Nearby, another fleeting glimpse of a Common waxbill. This is an escaped cage bird that now populates The Algarve. Usually found in sparrow like flocks, often in dense vegetation near to water, as was the case here. A record shot and it was gone. Didn't see another.

I had an hour to wait for the train so wandered along to the next village, refreshing beer and some snacks and then continued to the next station. 

Back into Faro and a walk back to my room for a rest before out for a meal and a quick trip into the wine bar, my last night.

Distinctive red eye ring of Sardinian warbler

Black winged stilt

Little stint

Smart plumage. Very rarely see this in the UK

Greater flamingo take off

Overhead Cattle egret

Reflection makes these legs look huge!

Crested lark

Greater flamingo

Little tern in good light

Swimming avocet

Greater flamingo

Distant Spotted redshank. Can just make out the downturn at the end of the bill.

Serin in good voice

Serin in good light

Swallow

European form of Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria

Blackbird

Jay

Distant and fast flying Red rumped swallow

Crested lark

Stonechat male

The half white collar and orange underparts point to this being form rubicola

Record shot of Zitting cisticola. Dreadful name, used to be Fan tailed warbler

Drake shelduck

Greater flamingo

Common sandpiper

Linnet

Kentish plover

Nesting BWS

Common waxbill

One of many nests of House martin in Fuseta

Day 5 05.05.22: Faro Salinas and home.

Up, packed and left my rucksack in the office of the place where I roomed and off for a few hours to wander the areas of the Salinas I had not previously explored. Nothing new added to the trip list but did note that the numbers of waders had decreased considerably as they presumably set off to breeding grounds. A grey heron patrolled one salt pan before I wandered a mile along the road towards Olhao, hoping for better views of the Woodchat shrike, but I didn't find it again. 

Back to pick up my baggage, bus to airport and home by 9pm. Only blot on the 5 days was the chaotic mess that is Stansted airport passport control. Clearly not fit for purpose and in future I shall fork out the extra £7 to get through along Fast Track. Took an hour to get through passport from joining the queue. 

Big thank you to Rick Stead. As I headed back into town I tried for a few final shots of yet another very close Sardinian warbler when my camera packed up, stating error and that I needed to format the card. A few texts to him and instant replies saved the day as I discovered I had 2 memory cards in the camera. Some photos were saved on one card but fortunately, all were on the CF card. Took some time to download them all, needing two laptops as mine doesn't have a card reader port. For a few minutes I thought I had lost all of the 800+ photos I had taken, now whittled down to around 150.

White stork in Faro

Yellow legged gull

Crested lark

Whimbrel

Grey heron

Ringed plover

Dunlin

Swallow

Splendid male Greenfinch

Species list:

1. Little grebe 1 pair
2. great crested grebe 2 pairs
3. Cormorant 1at  QdL
4. Cattle egret 10+
5. Little egret 20+
6. Grey heron 4
7. White stork loads
8. Glossy ibis 5 flying distant and high at Fuseta.
9. Spoonbill loads
10. Greater flamingoes. In good numbers when seen
11. Shelduck 20+
12. Mallard common
13. Gadwall 2 pairs
14. Marsh harrier 1 at Fuseta
15. Red legged partridge 1 near airport
16. Moorhen 1 on pond near Tavira
17. Coot 2 at QdL
18. Avocet loads
19. Black winged stilts, at every site where there is water.
20. Little ringed plover. 1 at QdL
21. Ringed plover loads
22. Kentish plover loads
23. Grey plover 3 on beach/saltmarsh QdL
24. Sanderling loads
25. Turnstone loads
26. Dunlin everywhere suitable
27. Curlew sandpiper 50+
28. Little stint 8
29. Wood sandpiper 1 at QdL
30. Common Sandpiper 4
31. Redshank 15+
32. Spotted redshank 1 at Fuseta
33. Whimbrel 4
34. Yellow legged gull everywhere
35. Audouin's gull 3
36. Little tern everywhere
37. Rock dove 3
38. Wood pigeon 50+
39. Collared dove, everywhere
40. Swift everywhere
41. Pallid swift associates with swift and needs to be looked for carefully
42. Hoopoe 15+
43. Kingfisher 1 at Fuseta
44. Bee eater 4. 2 at Tavira and 2 near airport. Expected more.
45. Roller 1 at Almancil
46. Green woodpecker or Iberian woodpecker heard near airport
47. Great spotted woodpecker heard near airport
48. Crested lark loads
49. Sand martin 20+
50. Swallow everywhere
51. Red rumped swallow 6
52. House martin everywhere
53. Yellow wagtail ssp iberiae 1 at Tavira
54. Wren 2
55. Robin 1 Faro
56. Wheatear 1 at Faro Salinas
57. Stonechat form rubicola 1 at Fuseta
58. Blackbird loads
59. Sardinian warbler everywhere
60. Zitting cisticola everywhere but elusive
61. Cettis warbler heard
62. Melodious warbler 1 at Faro
63. Chiffchaff 2
64. Pied flycatcher 1 at Fuseta
65. Great tit near airport
66. Woodchat shrike 1 at Faro Salinas
67. Azure winged magpie plenty
68. Magpie everywhere
69. Jay 3
70. Jackdaw in Faro
71. Carrion crow in Faro
72. Starling everywhere
73. Spotless starling (possible but too distant to be sure in a flock of 10)
74. House sparrow everywhere
75. Chaffinch near airport
76. Linnet 4 at Fuseta
77. Goldfinch everywhere
78. Greenfinch 10+
79. Serin everywhere
80. Common waxbill 1 at Fuseta.

If a trip to the hills had been possible the list would have included many more birds of prey for instance and if I had made the long 3 hour+ journey to the west (Sagres and Cabo da Sao Vincente) another 20 species would have been easily added.

Costs:

Return flight Stansted to Faro: £74.

Accomodation: Room with en suite shower and shared kitchen/bathroom and lounge in central Faro: £88 for the 4 nights.

Travel whilst in Portugal (buses, trains for the 5 days) £20 maximum

Meals: a wonderful steak/veg/pint of beer/half bottle of decent Portuguese red and a glass of Portuguese brandy £23.50

Espresso coffee (Uma bica) 75p

Large beer c£2.75 away from tourist areas.

Adding up, it would probably have cost more to stay 4 nights in a b and b in Norfolk, evening meals out,  £60+ petrol, local bus transport and assorted coffees and snacks.