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
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 