The Ludo Jan 2024

 I love to come into the Ludo NP in the Ria Formosa , every time I come it shares a wildlife moment me.

A fantastic place to get close to water birds and miles of good walking in predominantly good weather.

Flamongos, |Spoonbill, Avocet, Black winged Stilt, Black tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Sanderling , Common Sandpiper and Caspain Terns.

 Raptors were here too with Osprey, Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers and Peregrine all seen within the walk.

Pochard, Pintail, Shovelar and Gadwall made up the ducks and a I found a 1st winter Red-rumped Swallow that has overstayed hawking the pond with Crag Martins

Osprey

Spoonbill

1st winter Red-rumped Swallow

Crag Martin

Pochard

Peregrine  Falcon

Ria Formosa Portugal. Part 2 . Quinto de Ludo

Early up and only a mile walk over the boardwalk that crosses the wetlands and I was was into Quinto de Ludo,
25` with a good wind to keep cool.
This wetland area is amazing for birdlife and a birding paradise
Greater Flamingo , Black winged Stilt,  Avocet,  Black tailed Godwit, and  Kingfisher, were in the shallow lagoons
Zitting Cistocola, Sardinian Warbler, Common Waxbill and a Bluethroat were seen in the scrub areas and edges
Osprey and Booted Eagle were distant

Greater Flamingos

Black winged Stilt

Avocet

Sardinian Warbler

Common Waxbill

Zitting Cistacola

Bluethroat

Booted Eagle

Avocet

The symbol of RSPB 

Looking at the pictures in an Observer's book of birds in the 70`s, I  grew up drawing the black & white bird, watching them on Springwatch etc and for years my father and I have always talked about going to see the Avocets one day. 

Today I took an opportunity and went to Tacumshin in Wexford to catch up with 5 Avocets that had been around the lake over the Easter period. 

The birds kept moving around the lake most of the day, during the afternoon I got good views at Forgotten Corner