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

Quinto do Lago , Algarve

On arriving at 8am at the carpark on Ayrton Senna avenue , we were straight into a fishing Osprey and a Kingfisher at the main lake.
Along the track round the Quinto do Lago lakes we saw Spoonbills, Cormorants, Egrets, Redshank, Bluethroat and Black Redstarts
 Caspain Terns were in the air over the open waters
At the Soa Lourenco bird hide we saw Little Bittern, Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, Pintail , Gadwall, and a few Tufted Duck
Azure winged Magpies House Sparrows and Hoopoes were abundant.

Salgados Lagoon , Algarve, Portugal

A glorious wetlands teaming with birdlife with easy access and a boardwalk along the southern end of the reedbeds.

The 1st hide is a disgrace but the 2nd gives great views from the west end.

Birding highlights seen here during 2 visits

Audouins Gull, Lesser black backed Gulls, Med Gulls, 6 Caspain Tern,  4 Penduline Tits, 2 Bluethroats, Cragg Martins, Marsh Harrier, Purple Swamphen, Flamingo, Avocet, Ruff, Blackwits, Glossy Ibis, White Storks, Black headed Weaver, Fan tailed Warblers, Shoveler,  Pochard, Coot , Cattle Egret, Grey Herons, Cormorants, Common Sandpipers, Chiffchaffs and Hoopoe plus a rare Greenshank.

Glossy Ibis

Black winged Stilt

Caspain Tern

Audouins Gull

Spoonbill

Penduline Tit

Marsh Harrier

Cettis Warbler

Cattle Egret

Black headed Weaver

Fan tailed Warbler

Bluethroat

Ria Formosa Portugal. Part 4. The Boardwalk

From where I was staying at Praia de Faro to get to the Ludo I had to walk the mile long boardwalk that crosses over the tidal flats.

Spoonbills, White Storks , Little Egrets ,Redshank were always on show, a few Caspain Tern and a Little Tern were also seen from here

Caspain Tern

Dungarvan Bay

Spoonbill

Chough

Brent geese

Black Redstart

Some good birding is to be had around 4 km-wide Dungarvan Bay, with Spoonbill ,Little Egret at the rivermouths,and thousands of Brent geese on the grass pastures,Choughs and Black redstart patrol the hightide shorelline.Its a busy day