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

Slender billed Gulls -Faro

 A walk up toward the end of the beach Island of Praia de Faro you come to the start of deserted sandbanks of Barrinha beach that offer shelter and safety to thousands of Gulls. Flamingos, Cormorants and Waders. I was hoping for a new Gull. 

A fisherman walks past, and keeps walking, I keep an eye on him in the scope as hes heading toward a far away sandbank containing loads of birds. I waited

There was plenty of Audouin`s Gulls with the Thousands of  Yellow legged and Lesser Blacked Gulls to go through . Caspain Tern and Sandwitch Tern were also available.

Up they go in the distance [thanks fisherman}with a good few gulls coming my way. 1 adult Slender-billed Gull past me and I wasnt `100% sure then and I picked up 8 Slender-billed Gulls in the scope as they approached  they flew onto the sandbanks that I was viewing , they stayed a bit distant but decent scope views and an opportunity for some phoneskoping.

          

With 8 possible Slender billed Gull heading my way.. its not until now that Im home checking my photos to find an Osprey on the sandbank...A life at the shoreline.

 

Dartford Warbler .Gower Wales

 I was visiting family and friends during the morning when suddenly I was granted a few hours to my self.

I headed to Cefn Bryn on the Gower, an upland heath with Gorse patches that was up behind a friends home, where I believed I could find Dartford Warbler,  a species that has re established residency in south Wales but still remains one of Wales rarest breeding birds

   I had tried looking in other locations where they have been seen previous over the last few visits home to Wales with no joy.

The !Bryn! was quiet, wet, yet the day had improved. I geared up and took a walk into the horse tracks watching for movement, listening for any calls.

My path opened up and I stopped as I found some impenetrable low fresh Gorse , this time movement caught my eye, and set back  in the thicket a Male Dartford Warbler showed a few times for me as he checked me out.. I adjusted my light angle.

This time I was fortunate to come across a pair holding Territory . Once I was checked out they both moved back deep into the Gorse thicket.

 

female

Dark bellied Brent Geese Crofty Marsh

A nice 400 strong flock of Dark bellied Brent Geese were at the Crofty end of the estuary.

A flocks were further out on the cockle beds but the weather was not helping with views.

1st winter Red Kites Llanridian Marsh

Drifting along the road, fields, woods and marsh of Lllanridian Marsh Gower Wales a count of over 5 1st winter Red Kites were in the air on a dark start to the morning and seemed very successful in finding scraps all over the area.

Grey Plover and Ringed Rockies

 A cold morning had Rock Pipits busy all over Clahane

 I was going through them as one took my eye that seemed a bit paler than the others and it happened to be ringed. I posted it up as to help the ringer [im awful at names] that I met here a few months back that checks my blog.

A Grey Plover was a nice surprise along the shoreline even if they are the world most boring bird ever but  I believe it to be my 1st for Clahane .

Waxwing in Ennistymon

 A Waxwing  was frequenting a garden berry bush in Ennistymon, always a welcome vistor.

Back and forth the surrounding few trees it would quietly sit for 20 minutes, fly down munch 5 or 6 berries and back up into the trees where it was hard to see.

Two birds have been seen but Ive only seen the one myself, many thanks to Joe and Joan who kindly let me hang out in thier garden

Whimbrel and Hooded Crow attracted to the seaweed

Two Whimbrel were attracted to the seaweed that was along the high tide mark along Clahane shoreline.

Other birds such as Gulls, Redshank, Turnstone and Hooded Crows also were crwling through the seaweed wash up

Little Egret at Clahane

   Little Egrets can be seen all along our shorelines and are now a common species to see on the marshes, reefs and joining fields. Nevertheless a stunning bird with beautiful feathers that blow up in the wind and stand out yellow feet.

I remember a long way back in the late 80s in Wales where 4 birds were on Llanridian marsh near a friends house since then Ive witnessed their spread west

 I was watching the Gulls when this fella was walking around the reef at pace it came quiet close while on a major search for food

During a storm at Clahane

 Clahane is a good place to visit during a storm, Birds get blown in off the sea and Clahane offers various types of shelter and access to food and water . Today a hungry Redwing was feeding behind the shelter of the sea walls and seaweed corner

An adult Great northern Diver was  blown in and overhead by a strong west.

A pale bellied Brent Goose was feeling alone and looking very tired on the reef.