Today’s forecast was always looking pretty dire, with torrential rain supposedly lasting all day. As it turned out we did have torrential rain all morning (which allowed me to catch up with blogs) but it abated for a good 2 hours at lunch time and we made the most of it with a walk into town to get a spot of lunch. The rain returned in the afternoon but again stopped in time for us to get a late afternoon walk around the Salinas de Olhão. We were well rewarded with a massive number of birds in decent light, the best of which were five spoonbills. And so it wasn’t too bad a day, although we had to cope with pretty muddy boots.
Kentish ploverChiffchaffChiffchaff in different lightEurasian spoonbillEurasian spoonbillDunlinLots of dunlin (and probably a few other waders).Las Salinas de Olhão Common ringed ploverCommon redshankBlack-tailed godwitsBlack-winged stiltsGrey ploverLesser black-backed gull with crab supperLesser black-backed gull with crab supperStonechat in the fading light
We took an Uber to Quinta de Marim, a few kilometres to the east of Olhão.
Quinta de Marim (or Centro Educação Ambiental de Marim) is a beautiful estate with many different habitats that attract birds. A 3 km trail takes you through various ecosystems – dunes, salt marshes, pine woodlands. There is a visitors’ centre and a couple of hides at the edge of the marsh, one looking across the mudflats and another looking over a fresh water pond.
The dull weather was rather disappointing for photographs but it was still quite warm (17C) and we didn’t need coats. The visit was not at all disappointing.
LavenderIberian magpies in the pine treesRosemary in flowerIberian magpie
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StonechatSwallowFrom the roof of the mill there were spectacular views along the coastThere were waders everywhere along this stretch of the coastGrey ploverBar-tailed godwits and a whimbrelGreenshankIberian magpiePurple viper’s buglossA flyover Eurasian spoonbillTidal mill at Quinta de Marim – In other times, when energy sources were scarce and limited only to muscle power, wind and current, tidalmillshad a major advantage over other forms of energy: their constancyand predictability. There are two daily tides that guarantee approximately4 hours of grinding. They were built in estuaries on low land and in sheltered areas where the water could be dammedKestrelWhite stork, not looking so white in this lightDunlinLittle grebes on the freshwater pondCattle egretWigeon with barn swallow flying pastRoman salting tanksCowpeaBarn swallow on a wireBlackbird on a log
In the late afternoon on our return to Olhão we had another walk around the Salinas de Olhão.
WhimbrelA different swallow ?Pied avocetRedshankPied avocet
A two hour flight from Bristol, a 15 minute transfer from Faro and we are transported into what seems like another world and, in particular, a different climate.
On the first morning of our stay, within a 2 minute walk from our hotel, we are strolling amongst nature in the Salinas de Olhão with colourful wild flowers, huge numbers of waders, lots of small passerines flitting around almost at our feet and with the sun on our backs.
Salinas de OlhãoBlack-winged stiltRedshankRedshank photo bombing a group of dunlinWalks through the former salt pansBlack-tailed godwit centre stageLittle egretChiffchaffSardinian warblerZitting cisticola ChiffchaffBlack-winged stiltSlender-billed gullBlack-headed gullSlender-billed gullKentish ploverSanderlingGreenshank, common ringed plover, sanderling and redshank (back to front)Common ringed plover centre stageCommon sandpiper
We are enjoying a short stay based in Faro on the Algarve in Portugal.
It’s not really a ‘birding’ holiday but we have come equipped with walking boots, binoculars and, in my case, a bridge camera.
Our second ‘birding’ opportunity was to the east of Faro along some of the disused salt pans to the west of Olhão. Here we were lucky to have fairly close up views of waders (although not fantastic light) on the estuary and especially good views of spoonbills, little egrets, greater flamingos and other waders on the salt pans.
Black-tailed godwitFlyover spoonbillsSelection of wadersSpoonbills preening DunlinLittle egretCommon ringed ploverSanderlingTurnstoneBlack-winged stiltCaspian ternSlender-billed gullZitting cisticolaGreater flamingosGreenshankLas salinas de Olhāo
After our birding session we behaved more like normal tourists and visited the food market at Olhāo and had another lovely lunch in a back street alley restaurant away from the main tourist area. This time our walking gear didn’t look too out of place.
The back alleys of Ohāo
The rest of our stay we have been doing cultural things and just wandering around Faro enjoying the local flora.
Faro Town Hall at nightThe cathedral at FaroFaro old city walls at night
We are enjoying a short stay based in Faro on the Algarve in Portugal.
It’s not really a ‘birding’ holiday but we have come equipped with walking boots, binoculars and, in my case, a bridge camera.
Our first ‘birding’ opportunity was in the Ria Formosa Nature Park to the west of Faro, along the São Lourenço trail which winds its way between the Ria Formosa and the Sāo Lourenço golf course. There were a few bird hides along the way but we didn’t spend any time in them as we were able to enjoy the bird life as we walked the trail and benefited fully from the pleasant weather.
Along the estuary there were lots of waders, spoonbills, little egrets and storks. On the edges of the golf course we saw hoopoe, Iberian magpies, glossy ibis and lots of waterfowl on the golf course lakes.
My first photo of the day was a speckled wood butterflyGlossy ibis and yellow-bellied terrapinIberian magpieGadwallA flyover hoopoeWhimbrel devouring crabSpoonbillGreenshankCommon storkGreater flamingoShovelerPurple swamphenThe lake on the Sāo Laurenço golf courseA wooden bridge crosses the Ria Formosa to the beach and Gigí’s restaurantIt was warm enough to be on the beach but everyone was walking, running, cycling and birdwatching
We had a fantastic seafood lunch in Gigi’s beach restaurant at Quinta do Lago, which our taxi driver told us sometimes has a 6 month waiting list. The restaurant was quite rustic but the same could not be said of the clientele – that is until we arrived.
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 