A special morning within the Ludo NP

   I had the morning to myself and I felt yesterday that I overlooked the boundaries of where a Pine Forest meets a Marsh that flows into the salt ponds along a dusty road that passes the Stork and Heronry . I walked the road Rua Henrique Fernandes Serrão, Faro into the Ludo

7am. The  Azure winged Magpies take you into the Pines, 2 Iberian Woodpecker in the Pine Forest as  graffiti ruined building gave up a nest building pair of Red rumped Swallows, a few Barn Swallows and House Martins.

The Pines 

I got to the area I wanted to be and it turned out to be one of the best days birding I could have asked for, the Morning song of Corn Buntings, Sardinian Warblers, Waxbills, Goldfinch , Zitting Cistacolla and Cettis. A Marsh Harrier was perched at distance.

A drumming and calling along the track was a Lesser spotted Woodpecker that gave unreal views once found, attracting another but it flew of pretty quick 2 unreal,  a noisy Cettis Warbler gave itself up for photos

Take a breath.

I moved along the path 20 Little Egrets were still at roost with Glossy Ibis and a bit away a Purple Heron. The Storks were busy nesting. A few fly over Glossy Ibis and a Booted Eagle stamped a fantastic morning of birding, with more to come.

With mid day approaching and the heat kicking in I walked back getting a few Red Rumped Swallow shots now the light was up.  I caught site of and what turned out to be a female Western Sub Alpine Warbler as it moved through the leaves of nearbye tree

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Corn Bunting

While touring round local along the Algarvecoast we came across a field full of Corn Buntings.

Not easy birds to get close to in open field but this little fella gave me a chance of a few photos

Vilamoura Reedbeds , Algarve

On arriving at the hidden entrance to this park we got to see Marsh Harrier and Booted Eagle before we started our walk in.
Waxbills ,Fan tailed Warblers and plenty of get away quick Passerines were along the red mud path in as was a splendid Booted Eagle perched in a tree
A few Thekla Lark, Mipits, Pied Wagtail and Stonechat were in the muddy field near to the 1st birdhide.
In the morning the 1st hide faces into the sun and is backlit. Purple Swamphen, Coot, Marsh Harrier, Little Grebe, Grey Heron and flitty Chiffchaffs were seen
The path carries on past some agriculture fields where Corn Buntings were numerous.
The 2nd hide gave us superb views of  Purple Swamphen, Coot and Little Grebe but nothing else.
On route back a female Black headed Weaver showed up in the branches ( an ID nightmare)

Booted Eagle

Waxbill

Corn Bunting

Thekla Lark

Purple Swamphen

Black headed Weaver ( female)