The Gulls of Ria Formosa NP sandbanks Faro Portugal

 Just south of Faro are miles of deserted beach and back beach that holds a great concentration of Gulls, Cormorants, Flamingos, Terns and waders.

Even though this in walking distance from the Hotel ,Its an area that is off the beaten track and an area that I saw from the plane a few years back and wanted to check out.

Mostly this area is inaccessible, mainly covered by boat and birdwatching tours out of Faro, but for a hardy coastal lad like myself the draw of so many Gulls are worth the walk with Scope and backpack. When the road ends at Praia de Faro village a boardwalk carries on for over a mile then its sand trekking at Barrihina beach Ilha de Faro and sandbanks that go out of sight.

Yellow legged Gulls and Audouin`s Gull

Nice flock of Audouins Gull with over 50 birds on an outer bank

Lesser Black backed Gulls and Audouin`s Gulls

Audouin`s Gull in flight

Audouin`s Gull and Yellow legged Gulls

Great black backed Gull sub adult locally scarce

Yellow legged Gull adult

Yellow legged Gull 1st winter

Slender billed Gull flight

Slender billed Gulls

Lets not forget the Caspain Terns

Ria Formosa Portugal . Part 1 . Praia de Faro

I took a short 2 day break in the Ria Formosa wetland area south of Faro Portugal.

2 days of Birdwatching and walking the national park area.

Good old Ryan Air making it possible for under 80 quid return.

Arriving midday with 28` weather and check in at 2pm I stayed local and walked the beach area around where I was staying.
My 1st bird was a Kentish Plover  just along the beach where I was staying also along the beach Crested Lark , Med Gull and Yellow legged Gulls were common sight ,a Corys Shearwater was further up the beach feeding with Gulls only 5 metres from shore, but as I was trekking up it flew off.

Yellow legged Gulls plus Iceland Gull at O'Callaghan Strand – Limerick

Every month I have to be in Limerick and I enjoy the birds that visit the slipway at O`Callaghans Strand on The Shannon and city centre.

Todays visit concised of 3 Yellow legged Gulls

(1 2nd win +2 1st win I believe) and an a stunning adult Iceland Gull 

The lack of Herring Gull and Black headed Gull here today made it a bit easier to lD the YL Gulls a species and ages I have not encountered many times before.

2nd win Yellow legged Gull

Stunning adult Iceland Gull

Grey Heron