Tuesday, 25th March 2025, 12:02 p.m.
ZPE Castro Verde--Rolão, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal
Bradley Waggoner
First stop on our target birding efforts prior to moving north for our departure from Lisbon on Wednesday. Spots provided by James Halsch who had a guide in this area a few days earlier. This was the Great Buzzard stop - success! Also two other bonus lifers.
| 2 | Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca Pair on small farm pond |
| 2 | GadwallMareca strepera |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos |
| 7 | Great BustardOtis tarda Lifer! Hillside scoping of both handful of males(reddish necks) and a few females. Big, rather bizarre grouse/shorebird like thing. Unfortunately we did not see displaying but still nice. |
| 7 | White StorkCiconia ciconia |
| 1 | Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalis Lifer! Similar to our Northern/ Liggerhead |
| 1 | Common RavenCorvus corax |
| 5 | Crested LarkGalerida cristata |
| 8 | Calandra LarkMelanocorypha calandra Lifer! Glad I spent just a bit of time with omni-present larks. In flight, blackish underwings and bright white trailing edge to wings made this species stand-out while in display flight. |
| 2 | Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis |
| 1 | European Red-rumped SwallowCecropis rufula |
| 3 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola |
| 14 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis |
| 14 | Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra |