Lesser Short-toed Lark - two new sites (2 Viewers)

[Gonçalo Elias]

Today we found a flock of about 12 LSL at Culatra island.

The species had not been recorded there last April, but this flock was in a sector that had not been visited in spring, so it is quite possible that the species breeds on this island as well. I will try to confirm that next year, during the breeding season.

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

LST singing at Culatra island on 15th Feb, maybe they breed on this island as well?

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

LST habitat on the barrier islands

 

[Simon Wates]

LST habitat on the barrier islands

Nice one - very "steppey" in structure...and big! I could almost do a plant inventory with closer photos . Quite different in plant composition to core Spanish breeding areas - and to Castro Marim in Portugal.

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

Hi Simon, I would appreciate that, next time I get there I will take some more pictures of the vegetation

 

[Simon Wates]

Great. Seems the structure of the vegetation is much more important than the the plant species, much like with Spectacled Warbler (still good to document the plants though). Any of them in the same area?

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

I have never seen Spectacled at Armona.

BUT:

Last year in April I counted FOUR at Culatra island, of which two at least were singing. There were many migrants present though so I was not certain if those were breeding birds. I am planning to go there next week in order to sort that out - and check if the LSTL are around

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

Breeding of Lesser Short-toed Lark was confirmed this morning on Culatra island, Faro by me and three other birders.
This is the third barrier island in the Algarve where a breeding population of this species is found (after Tavira and Armona islands in 2017).

There were also FIVE singing males of Spectacled Warbler scattered throughout the island.

 

[Simon Wates]

Excellent news! Also a range extension for Spectacled Warbler, in a way.