`The field` above the lagoon

After a few days observing the lagoon area I passed the viewing hide and continued walking north into the scrub.

I came a cross a mud-stoney field that had been worked. It was busy with birds.

A Bluethroat was on the hop, loads of Crested Larks, Spotless Starlings, Waxbill,  White Wagtails, a good few Red legged Partridge were out in the open but always close to the borders where they can scurry into foliage when the Marsh Harrier comes. A nice male Black Redstart was showing well

Then bird of the week came onto a post, an Iberian Grey Shrike and that makes the day!

Bluethroat

Black Redstart

Iberian Grey Shrike

Crested Lark

                                                            Waxbill

Salgados lagoon day 2

 Id skipped a day due to a bit of rain, but was up early at the hide area of the lagoon.

 An early dawn walk out with Waterrail and Cettis Warbler calls

I was the only person out there and the sun was coming out.

 An colourful adult Bluthroat was feeding along the edges of the grassland adjacent which holds quite a few small birds , Mipits, Chiff chaff , Crested Lark , Serin, Waxbills  and Finches come to this area. I also found a 1st winter Bluethroat that didnt have much blue further along the track

Usual ducks, Moorhens, a few Spoonbills, Herons were on the lake . A Ruff was also seen .

On the walk back a Swamphen was close to the bridge with the Coots

Bluethroat adult

Waiting for the sun to come up.

Western Swamphen

!st winter Bluethroat

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

Bluethroat -Clonea strand

The plump wintering Bluethroat  is still hopping around the shoreline near Clonea strand,Waterford enjoying being photod by every twitcher thats come to see it, Is this bird becoming a star?

Bluethroat

This Bluethroat has been hanging out at Clonea strand for nearly a month and should be around North Africa for winter...worth the drive to Waterford though.

The bird was quite elusive and  disappeared for some time making brief shows