Saturday, 15th February 2025, 6:56 a.m.
PN Ria Formosa--Praia dos Cavacos, Olhão, Faro, Portugal
Peter Milinets-Raby
Kept to the main track along the northern border of the salt pan complex that followed the train track. Headed west as far as the wooden bridge and short walkway over the tidal creek, then returned. Very misty low cloud at sunrise, which was slow to clear. The 'posh' farmhouse in the middle of the salt pans was boarded up. The lagoons/salt pans did not look like they were in use. Most birds were preferring the lagoon just to the west of the farmhouse.
| 17 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna Every other salt pan had birds present 3, 2, 4, 2, 4, and 2 |
| 13 | Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata 11 in main salt pan/lagoon and a pair in another |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos 1 male, 2 males, and a pair on various salt pans |
| 3 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca crecca Flying over |
| 5 | Feral PigeonColumba livia (Feral Pigeon) Dropped into drink on the edge of a salt pan before moving on. |
| 32 | Common WoodpigeonColumba palumbus Flocks of 2, 13, 11, 2, and 4 heading north in the low cloud and misty conditions |
| 10 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto 1. 2. 3, 4 |
| 11 | Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus Encountered on various salt pans. 1, 3, 2, 2, and 2 |
| 17 | Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta Small groups of 4, 2, seen on various salt pans and 11 on the main lagoon to the west of the farm house. |
| 7 | Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola One salt pan held 4 resting on the banks, and another had 3. All winter plumage birds. |
| 2 | Kentish PloverAnarhynchus alexandrinus Together on the muddy banks of one of the salt pans. |
| 6 | Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa Flying over |
| 1 | Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos Feeding along the edge of one salt pan. |
| 6 | Common RedshankTringa totanus Seen on several salt pans 3, 1, 1, and 1 |
| 4 | SanderlingCalidris alba Together on one salt pan bank |
| 6 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus Individuals |
| 19 | Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis 10, 2, 2, 3, and 2. Seen on various salt pans |
| 2 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus Along the tidal river to the west of the salt pans. |
| 1 | Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia Briefly flying over one of the salt pans |
| 32 | Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus 26 on one salt pan with 6 flying in to join them. |
| 6 | White StorkCiconia ciconia Flying over 1, 1, 2, and a pair on nest on top of a telegraph pole by the tidal river walkway bridge. |
| 7 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo Perched at the southern end of the tidal river in the west. |
| 1 | Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus Flying over heading east. |
| 17 | Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia Groups of 9 and 8 seen on the two main salt pans just west of the farm house. |
| 2 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta Two individuals - one photographed on the small tidal creek. |
| 9 | Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis Birds seen flying over heading north east 3, 2, 1, 1, and 2 (these two in nuotial plumage with bright bare parts and carrying a stick). Attempting to breed nearby? |
| 2 | Great White EgretArdea alba Flying over together, heading east. |
| 2 | Grey HeronArdea cinerea 1. 1 individuals |
| 4 | Common MagpiePica pica 1. 1 1 . 1 individuals |
| 5 | Crested LarkGalerida cristata 1. 1 . 1. 1. 1 singing individuals |
| 10 | Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis Mostly heard singing 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, and 1 |
| 53 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica Snall groups passing through. 2, 2, 1, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 1, 3, 4., and 27 on wires by the salt pan house |
| 3 | Western House MartinDelichon urbicum Flying over |
| 26 | Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita Some singing .others just moving through foraging. 1, 1, 1, 3 on the bank 1,"1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 3 on reeds feeding 2, 3, and 2 |
| 3 | Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti 1. 1. 1 individuals heard singing |
| 1 | Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla Female |
| 6 | Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala 1. 1. 1. 3 singing |
| 10 | Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor Perched on TV wires |
| 2 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos 1. 1 individuals seen feeding on banks. |
| 8 | Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, and 1 All nales |
| 1 | European RobinErithacus rubecula Heard calling |
| 3 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola Three individuals. 1 singing 1, 1 singing All males |
| 12 | House SparrowPasser domesticus 12+ at least. |
| 3 | Spanish SparrowPasser hispaniolensis Male and two females by the tidal river. |
| 6 | White Wagtail (alba)Motacilla alba alba/dukhunensis 1, 3, and 2 male displaying to a female. |
| 4 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis Four individuals |
| 1 | European GreenfinchChloris chloris Singing |
| 3 | Common LinnetLinaria cannabina 1, and 2 heard flying over |
| 19 | European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis 13. 2, and 4 |
| 4 | European SerinSerinus serinus Four individual singing nales |