Monday, 17th February 2025, 6:55 a.m.
PN Ria Formosa--Praia dos Cavacos, Olhão, Faro, Portugal
Peter Milinets-Raby
Again up early before sunrise to watch the Iberian Magpies leave their roost. Then I decided to slowly zigzag along the saltbpan embankments to view the main lagoon to the west of the farmhouse, which is preferred by the majority of birds. It was tricky to walk these embankments as the birds are easily flushed.
| 14 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna 2, 2, 6, 2, 2, scattered around the site. All birds paired up. |
| 39 | Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata 21 on the main salt pan west of the farm house. And flocks of 7 and 11 over heading east. |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos Male, 2 males and a pair on various salt pans |
| 5 | Northern PintailAnas acuta 2 pairs on the main salt pan west of the farm house. And another male dropped in. |
| 4 | Common WoodpigeonColumba palumbus 4 flying over heading north |
| 12 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto Around the properties and along the train line overhead cables. |
| 13 | Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, in various salt pans |
| 39 | Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta 30 on main salt pan west of the farm house and 6 and 3 on other salt pans. |
| 8 | Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola 5, 1, 1, 1, resting on the banks of various salt pans |
| 8 | Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula Resting on a salt pan bank with other small waders |
| 4 | Kentish PloverAnarhynchus alexandrinus Resting on a salt pan bank with other waders |
| 19 | Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa 2, 2, 10, 4, 1, scattered around various salt pans |
| 1 | Common SnipeGallinago gallinago Flushed from a bank of one salt pan. Landed on the bank edge of another salt pan before finally flying off. |
| 2 | Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos 1,1, two individuals |
| 14 | Common RedshankTringa totanus 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, scattered around the site |
| 1 | Common GreenshankTringa nebularia Heard calling several times. |
| 9 | Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres 4, 2, 3, on various salt pans |
| 3 | SanderlingCalidris alba Resting with other waders on one salt pan bank. |
| 14 | DunlinCalidris alpina 3 resting with other waders on one salt pan bank and a departing flock of 11, leaving another salt pan. |
| 17 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 6 scattered around the site |
| 39 | Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis 1, 2, 3, 12, 4, 2, 5, 10, scattered around the site |
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus Flying over |
| 2 | Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia One flying over heading east. And one perched on the main salt pan west of the farm house. |
| 73 | Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus 52 resting and feeding on the nain lagoon and 21 on another favoured salt pan. |
| 8 | White StorkCiconia ciconia Pair on the nest by the bridge over the tidal river. Another pair on a nest 100 metres north. And 2 birds feeding in the marsh north of the train line. And 2 soaring over drifting east. |
| 15 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo 3 over heading north and 8, 2, 2, perched on posts mostly in the west of the site. |
| 2 | Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus Passing over, very early just after sunrise heading east. |
| 6 | Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia Four on the main salt pan west of the farm house and two individuals flying over heading east. |
| 3 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta 1, 1, 1, individuals |
| 8 | Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis 4, 1, 1, 1, 1 (this latter bird in nuptial plumage with flushed and bright coloured bill and bare parts around the eye). All birds heading inland (north east.). |
| 3 | Great White EgretArdea alba Two individuals flying over heading east and one feeding on the main salt pan west of the farm house. |
| 8 | Grey HeronArdea cinerea 1, 2 feeding on various salt pans and 5 flying over heading east |
| 1 | Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops In the scrub by the adjacent properties showing well. |
| 88 | Iberian MagpieCyanopica cooki Groups departing their nighttime roost and heading west 1, 1, 15, 8, 36, 17, 8, 2, |
| 5 | Common MagpiePica pica 1, 2, 2, seen around the site |
| 10 | Crested LarkGalerida cristata H, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, All singing from around the site. |
| 8 | Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis 1, 2H, 1, 1, H, 1, 1, singing from various parts of the site. |
| 6 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica 2, 2, 2, passing through |
| 18 | Western House MartinDelichon urbicum Around the buildings adjacent the salt pans |
| 52 | Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita H, 2, 2, 4, 1, 1, 3, 14 (an impressive number in vegetation along a narrow stretch of one salt pan bank), 4, 3, 1, H, 3, 2, 5, 4, 1, (only two heard briefly singing). This species seemed to be everywhere this morning. |
| 2 | Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti Two individuals heard singing |
| 3 | Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla 2H, 1, |
| 6 | Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala H, 1, 1, H, 2 males in border dispute with singing, display of wing flicking and chasing one another. |
| 3 | Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor Singing from TV aerials |
| 1 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos In scrub by the track. |
| 8 | Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula H, H, H, 1, 2, 1, 1, scattered around the site |
| 6 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola Male, female, male singing from train electric cable, male, male, female. |
| 22 | House SparrowPasser domesticus Buildings adjacent to the salt pans |
| 2 | Spanish SparrowPasser hispaniolensis Two individual males seen in the muddy riverlet next to the wooden walkway/bridge over the tidal stream along the western boundary of the site. |
| 9 | White Wagtail (alba)Motacilla alba alba/dukhunensis 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 scattered around the site |
| 9 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis 2, 1, 4, 2, scattered around the site |
| 1 | European GreenfinchChloris chloris Singing from trees by the train crossing. |
| 5 | Common LinnetLinaria cannabina 2, 1, 2 flying over |
| 7 | European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis 3, 2, 2 |
| 9 | European SerinSerinus serinus H, H, 3H, H, 1, 1, 1 All singing birds. |