Sagres, Portugal - 16-21 September (1 Viewer)

[Paul Chapman]

Having failed to get away since a Finland/Norway trip in Spring, my wife and I decided to meet up with a friend and his wife and spend some time around Sagres in south-west Portugal this week.

I had been to Portugal twice before - my last family holiday as an adolescent in the 80's when I saw my first Purple Gallinule, Little Bustard, etc - and a trip in 2011 when I chalked up the usual plastic Portuguese species (except for that tricky munia) plus Ruppell's Griffon Vulture and White-rumped Swift - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=212144

As a result, I have no targets and this is primarily a bit of a potter rather than a dedicated birding trip.

My friend flew out on Sunday and had the balance of that day, Monday and this morning to get familiarised. He had already chalked up a collection of migrants and I'll try and update his sightings at some point in the next few days.

Today was very much half a day for me at best but still contained a nice surprise.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

We were away from home at 5.00am and in the air at Bristol Airport at 7.05am. By the time we had left Faro airport in the hire car mid-morning, the first seven common species had been seen - Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret, Coot, Collared Dove, Spotless Starling and Swallow.

We headed west to Sagres - a journey of about an hour and a half - and in addition to Cattle Egret, House Martin, Black-headed Gull, Red-rumped Swallow and House Sparrow, a couple of sightings of Azure-winged Magpie once off the motorway and into the slower parts of the journey were nice if not unsuprising.

On entering Sagres and in finding our hotel, the first Feral Pigeons were seen - I had done well to ignore them so far - and also Spotted and Pied Flycatchers were in evidence. This echoed my friend's text from yesterday that he had seen flycatchers everywhere.

An exchange of texts led to a rendezvous at Praia da Castlejo Beach cafe overlooking the Atlantic. The journey added Southern Grey Shrike and the first of a number of Stonechats.

I did my best to stick to bins over lunch but the increasingly obvious Gannets, then the first Cory's Shearwaters and a group of four close Sandwich Terns soon got me digging out the scope from the car to use over coffee. With the aid of the scope, Common Terns were also in evidence with at least one Arctic together with persistent Gannet and the odd Cory's. A few squalls came through and pushed some birds closer to shore and that led to a group of Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit heading south as well as single Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters. A plan was hatched for a seawatch the following morning.

In addition the first Sardinian Warbler of the trip churred and a Thekla Lark was 'identified'.

A decision was made to go to Martinhal - where there is a beach and a saltmarsh early afternoon. The dual purpose compromise of a non-birding holiday.... Beforehand two Ravens tumbled over the road as we climbed away from the beach and a group of twenty Chough flew over the Vila do Bispo Lidl as a few supplies were bought.

Martinhal did not disappoint - 5 adult and 2 first-winter Ringed Plover, two Pectoral Sandpipers (present for their second day), 5 Dunlin, a first-winter Kentish Plover, a Common and a Green Sandpiper and a Spanish Wagtail. My first Fan-tailed Warbler of the trip was seen and my first Crested Larks 'identified'. A number of Gannets continued to be obvious offshore but a few shags/cormorants failed to oblige sufficiently to enable either species to be confirmed.

(I confess my approach to the larger gulls and the Crekla Larks on this trip is unlikely to stand much if any scrutiny!)

It was decided to try the Sagres shelterbelt and the Cabranosa hedge to round the day off as the birders split off. The shelterbelt added the ubiquitous flycatchers, Blackbird, Turtle Dove and Chiffchaff and as a result, we were soon on our way.

The Cabranosa hedge similarly at first failed to provide any excitement. Another (or the same) twenty Chough flew over and Crested Larks and Stonechats were obvious but the only bird added was a fly through calling Linnet. A few Kestrels attracted attention before my friend queried a distant pale falcon. A brief discussion over whether it was just a Hobby and with an initial comment between us that it looked like a Red-foot, my friend went back to get the car and the scopes. The bird came a bit closer and some stalking ensued. It stubbornly continued to look like a juvenile Red-footed Falcon but at that stage, I had not photographed the tail (albeit in flight my friend had noted that it was heavily barred thereby apparently ruling out an odd hobby).

Finally the stalking paid off and some good photos were obtained including of the tail pattern. Red-footed Falcon is a surprisingly rare bird in Portugal so I texted out the news. By now the light was fading. The last addition for the day - my 47th species was an Eleanora's Falcon that flew through at dusk.

Not bad for a bit of a potter and looking forward to catching up on some of the migrants that my friend has already chalked up and that I have so far missed having started a little late because of work commitments.

Tonight I popped a photo of the back of the camera image back to England to check that the long day and the sun had not got the better of us and on the expected confirmation, a couple of bottles of Sagres followed. (A few texts from friends with football updates were the only things that put a slight dampener on the evening.)

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

I started this morning with a rendezvous in the hotel car park before heading out to Cabo da Sao Vicente for a seawatch. A Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier over before we started the journey added to my trip list.

We seawatched at the Cape to the right hand side of the buildings. I did not really get on with it as a seawatching venue. With the height, there was a line of birds that was too close and few markers for directions. Nevertheless Gannets passed constantly and Cory's Shearwaters were always in view. Maybe ten Great Skuas went through and in addition I saw two Arctic Skuas. Sooty Shearwaters were pretty constant - say 30 in an hour and a half - and a few Balearics were also seen. The only terns seen appeared to be Common and the only group of waders were Sanderling. A Black Redstart on the buildings itself was a trip tick.

We stopped at the Cabranosa hedge on the way back to the hotel for breakfast to check for the Red-foot and found it quite quickly. The 'supporting cast' were Corn Bunting, 2 Honey Buzzards, Woodchat Shrike, Tawny Pipit, Fan-tailed, Willow, Western Bonelli's and Melodious Warblers, Wheatear, Redstart, plenty of Pied Flycatchers still, Turtle Dove, Wren and Red-legged Partridge.

We were back at the hotel about 10.20am.

The decision was made to take a trip to Foia near Monchique (as a non-birding venue). Short-toed Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Red-rumped Swallows, Southern Grey Shrike and Azure-winged Magpies punctuated the journey.

Then at Foia, complete with cafe and gift shop, Blue Rock Thrushes and Rock Bunting were the most characteristic montane additions. Dartford and Fan-tailed Warblers and Tree Pipits were also seen.

On the way down the mountain, Woodpigeon, Great Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were rather unglamorous additions to the trip list.

I had noticed the saltmarsh area north of Portimao near the N124 and A22 junction on the way to Foia and stopped on the way back. 15 White Stork were the first of the trip. Little Egret, Grey Heron, Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin, a single Spotted Redshank, an Osprey, Mallard, a Common Sandpiper, maybe 400 Black-headed Gull (not yielding anything more interesting) and Goldfinch were seen from a combination of three rather distant viewpoints.

After 5 Cattle Egret near Vila do Bispo, I checked Martinhal briefly where the only waders were single Dunlin and Ringed Plover but four Wheatear and two Tree Pipits suggested fresh migrants.

The last hour of daylight was spent in a hotel balcony seawatch and the only variety to maybe 150+ Cory's and 20+ Balearics together with the ubiquitous Gannets was a single Whimbrel.

So today continued the pottering non-birding holiday theme but nevertheless my trip list has now crept up to 82. Tomorrow we intend to stick more local.

All the best

 

[Simon Wates]

A nice variety of birds around the area Paul - and I see the seabirds and passerines were worthwhile today. Thanks for writing up your sightings - there's not many trip reports on here about Sagres.

On reading, two comments/tips, that may be useful to you or anyone else. To seawatch from Cabo de São Vicente we watch from lower down - hop over the 1ft high car park wall and head on to what may look like the cliff edge :eek!: - from there you can see that actually there is a gentle easily walkable slope down some 30 metres where there is a natural "platform". Its not dangerous at all so long as you don't stray to thesteep cliff edges. From here one has a better perspective on the closer birds and a wider view. Early morning is best light here - though good till about 11 ish. One should note that folk have fallen off around the cape so please take care! Last Friday I enjoyed very close views indeed of Sooty, Cory's, Balearic and one Great Shearwater swimming.

Also, I like seawatching from Ponta da Atalaia - which is easily accesible - park at the Pousada de Sagres hotel and walk down to the tip of the headland - the planted bushes around the south side of the hotel can be teeming with migrants and nearly always have something of interest. You can drive down to the point but the track is not easy. Anyway - once at the trig point on the top of the low headland you can walk down to the right corner - and watch from low down - or if you want just 3 metres above sea level. There are often large concentrations of Cory's here and plenty of Balearics too - as well as anything else. The views here are regularly very close. Its best here before 9am and in the late afternoon.

By the way - the wider area around the hedge to Cabranosa has lots of Spectacled Warblers still now - in the very low open scrub of Aromatic Inula (Dittrichia viscosa) still showing some of its yellow ragwort like flowers. Its best to wait for them to appear - usually within 10 mins one will pop up - of course calm conditions are best, they are a bit skulking in the wind. Little Bustard and Stone Curlew are also around this general area.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Simon - many thanks.

Today we started off at the picnic site en route to Praia da Castalejo and Praia da Cordoama. There were a scattering of migrants with good numbers of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers again, White Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Nightingale, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Subalpine Warbler. Also there were 8 Raven over, Crested Tits and a Hoopoe.

We then had a seawatch from just above Praia da Cordoama. On the way I had my first Greenfinch of the trip and a Honey Buzzard headed south along the coast.

The seawatch did not disappoint. We did not have much height but again Gannets were in their hundreds and Cory's Shearwaters constant. Next in numbers were 60+ Sooty Shearwaters, 40+ Balearic Shearwaters, maybe 30 Great Skua and 20 Sandwich Tern. A couple of Common Tern, 3 Manxies, an Arctic Skua and a Pomarine Skua completed the variety. A few Rock Buntings were seen throughout the morning.

After being joined by our wives for breakfast at the cafe, we headed to the Cabranosa raptor watchpoint. We were unable to find the Red-footed Falcon and although it was not a raptor day, we had 15+ Booted Eagle, 5+ Short-toed Eagle and 2 Black Kites. Other birds seen were Spectacled Warbler, Sand Martin, a Pallid Swift, Southern Grey Shrike and 2 Wheatear.

We headed to Cabo da Sao Vicente for an afternoon and non-birding coffee before my friend and I split off again and headed to the Vale Santo Plain where after a Hoopoe and 30+ Wheatear, we eventually found 5 Little Bustard.

This evening a short trip to the harbour added one Shag amongst the Cormorants, a Little Egret, a Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 3+ Turnstone, 3+ Common Tern, 2+ Whimbrel and a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull amongst about 300 gulls lined up along the harbour wall.

We are hoping for a boat trip in the morning and my trip list has just clocked up to 100 species (if I haven't miscounted!)

All the best

 

[Simon Wates]

You had a productive seawatch and its great to here of visitors trying out their own spots. I find that seabirds tend to be quite far out from that area - to the north, Pontal - a more protruding headland near Carrapateira (between Praia do Amado and Praia de Bordeira) can be very good - but is watched little. CSV is the most busy for birds I believe and Ponta da Atalaia is a great personal favourite. The southern side of the peninsula has much more habitat for passerine migrants and usually in a much higher density of birds than than the picnic area and roundabout on the way to Praia do Castelejo

How close to the coast were the Rock Buntings? - I'd be interested (they are common 1km or so inland) as I suspect the odd pair may be maritime cliff breeders.

Yes - the Red-footed Falcon was last seen around mid-morning yesterday. Although raptor passage is being held up big time by the unusual weather (looks better for tomorrow later and Sat) a nice variety were seen today - inc. the Spanish Imperial, Goshawk, Osprey, Montagu's Harrier, Booted, Bonelli's and Short-toed Eagles. Also - very interestingly a large dark Aquila was seen brieifly from Cabranosa - maybe it will appear tomorrow. If you go to Cabranosa give it time as folk often turn up for 30 mins and go - and miss everything!

Your Great Black-backed Gull is an early record - the few we get at Sagres are usually quite a bit later - November.

Nice to hear there are more Wheatears around - there has been fewer than normal for the time. I hope you get a proper surge of raptors before you go - its high time. Hope your pelagic runs tomorrow - according to this: http://www.windguru.cz/pt/index.php?sc=32 it looks like it might be a good idea to leave a little later in the morning.

Like the last days I'll be inland on the raptor census - hoping things kick off again.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Simon

There were Rock Buntings right on the coast in the car parks by the cafe at Praia da Cordama - as well as inland at the picnic site and along the road before you dip into the valley.

Noted on the weather! It is a bit breezy at the moment. We were postponed from yesterday so fingers crossed.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

Overnight rain and thundery conditions had apparently put down birds today. Around the hotel, I had Wryneck, Melodious Warbler, a pair of Black Redstart, Pied Flycatchers, two Chough and a flyover Grey Heron.

However, the main business of the morning was a pelagic. We used Maritima and set off from the harbour shortly after 9.00am having allowed a downpour to finish. In the harbour as we pulled out were 5 noisy Whimbrel, a Turnstone, a first-winter Common Tern, Common Sandpiper and Little Egret. During the pelagic (three hours in total), Gannets were everywhere. In the main, we steamed out in an inflatable that would carry maybe a dozen people to the edge of the continental shelf and chummed. On the way out and on the way back, we had about 50 Common Dolphin. Cory's Shearwaters were constant and there were good numbers of Great Shearwater - 20+. The odd Balearic Shearwater was also seen together with maybe ten each of both European and Wilson's Storm-petrel and 2 Great Skua. The crew seemed happy with a first-winter Black Tern.

I spent some time on the Cory's. All proved to look as expected for borealis save for a handful including one photographed and showing the alleged diagnostic under primary pattern for Scopoli's (diomedea). I suspect that there were a handful amongst a group of maybe 50 Cory's Shearwaters hanging around the Common Dolphins on the way back. I confess a healthy amount of scepticism on the diagnosability of Scopoli's!

On returning to the hotel, there were 5 Red-rumped Swallow reeling around. We headed out to Martinhal for lunch. There were 3 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin in the pool. Walking the valley produced a Hoopoe, Melodious Warbler, male Redstart, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Fan-tailed Warbler and 8 Azure-winged Magpie.

After a further break, we headed out again this evening. The Cabranosa Hedge produced both flycatchers, Turtle Dove and Willow, Melodious and Western Bonelli's Warblers.

We headed out to the Vale Santo plain to check a couple of gulleys a friend had told me about. Things were quiet with a Little Owl, 2 Raven, 20+ Chough and a Wheatear.

The last knockings of the shelter-belt simply produced Spotted Flycatcher and Turtle Dove.

So some nice additions today and my trip list I think has crept up to 107 species.

All the best

 

[Andy1979]

Thanks for taking the time to post updates Paul. You're not missing much here, but the influx of RB Flys is pretty exciting.

Have you done any moth-ing or just noted anything interesting on the walls etc?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Many thanks

I've not done any mothing but kicked up some Crimson Speckled and Vestal and to hotel lights etc have been White-speck and Great Dart as well as an unidentified large pale footman, small wave (like Small Dusty Wave but with pointed hindwings), small pug (with two 'mottled pug-type blotches) and triangular pyrale.

All the best

 

[Simon Wates]

Paul - I suspect Scopoli's is regular - though I have only seen one positively identified by Magnus Robb on a pelagic some 3 years back - early October. Good that you managed the Great Shearwaters and the Wilson's - two more Sagres specialities!

I know the gulleys you mean - one is called Vale do Telheiro and has always a little water (spring) so is attractive to migrants. There were enormous numbers of Pied Flycatchers (especially) etc. all over the peninsula inland today.

Some decent movements in and out of Sagres today with the raptors but birds were arriving and leaving at 500m or more! Normal conditions are on the way so we think things will take of in the next couple of days.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Simon

Noted. I'll have a proper look on the photos on the deck when I get home and see if I can pick out the bird where I got the flight shots. I suspect there is some size and structure difference on the sea but not as pronounced as say the size difference between Cory's and Cape Verde Shearwater where picking out a Cory's amongst a Cape Verde Shearwater raft is far more obvious.

Our last full day today so more bush-bashing this morning.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

A good day today - alas heading off in the dark in the morning.

We started around our hotel where both flycatchers were very obvious in addition to Subalpine, Reed, Willow and Melodious Warblers, Nightingale, Tree Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart and Woodchat Shrike.

We then headed to the south end of Sagres to an area a friend called the 'fig garden' (after he found a Common Rosefinch there in a late autumn trip - http://markgtelfer.co.uk/2009/11/09...09-a-birding-and-natural-history-trip-report/). I didn't remember he'd been to the area until he contacted me while I was here! Again both flycatchers were in numbers in addition to another Woodchat, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Red-rumped Swallow.

We had arranged to meet our wives at Martinhal but walked the valley first. Waders were in their highest numbers of the trip - presumably because of the high tide with 7 Sanderling, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and 2 Turnstone. The valley produced again prodigious numbers of both flycatchers, 2 Hoopoes, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, an adult male Redstart, Southern Grey Shrike, Red-rumped Swallows, Reed, Melodious, Willow and Subalpine Warblers and Whitethroat.

A short break late morning to Boca da Rio produced Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper and Red-rumped Swallow.

I returned to Sagres and over lunch at 'Best Burger' by sitting outside I clocked up 25 raptors - mainly Booted Eagle but also Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Short-toed Eagle.

A trip to the Cabranosa watchpoint was required. However, en route the hedge was jumping with birds. We estimated 150+ Pied and 50+ Spotted Flycatchers along its length. In a combined list including after the raptor watch, I saw Redstart, Whinchat, 2+ Woodchat and Willow and Melodious Warblers as well as some of the raptors seen from the watchpoint itself.

Between 2.45pm and 4.15pm, the watchpoint also had both flycatchers, Wryneck, Hoopoe and Red-rumped Swallows as well as almost constant Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle and Honey Buzzard. Also seen were 2+ young Egyptian Vultures, a ring-tail Montagu's Harrier and 10+ Black Stork. When driving away from Cabranosa at about 6pm, a flock of Jackdaws were my first of the trip.

We then checked out the shelterbelt and again both flycatchers were present in numbers as well as Melodious, Western Bonelli's, Willow and Reed Warblers and Red-rumped Swallows. 2 Serins with a group of Linnet and Goldfinch in one of the fields further down the track were a trip tick.

Finally, the last hour was spent seawatching from the point opposite the hotel were there was one Curlew heard in addition to the Whimbrel and Balearic and Cory's Shearwaters offshore. The highlight was a good number of Common Dolphins.

I think that puts my trip list on 117 with some quality which is pleasing for effectively a last minute bit of pottering. To prove it's definitely not been a birding trip - I've not missed one meal and only used half a tank of diesel in the hire car!

I doubt I'll get to do any birding before the flight in the morning but if I get the opportunity, I'll post some pictures and final thoughts.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

I left Sagres at 6.00am this morning for the 1 hour 20 minute drive back to Faro Airport. Alas I did not quite have the time for a quick look at the Ludo Farm saltpans very close to the airport. (Indeed if you get petrol near the airport, you are less than 5 minutes drive away from some cracking birding but I did not have even that.)

However as we took off, the Greater Flamingoes on the saltpans were obvious taking my trip list to 118 (I believe). Back home within 3 and a half hours of take off - very tempting to squeeze another trip in soon over the moth-less winter months.

All the best

 

[Mick Sway]

Great report Paul thanks for sharing your experience.
It just illustrates what fabulous birding the Sagres peninsula can offer during migration,
especially for anyone new to the pastime.

 

[Simon Wates]

I think that puts my trip list on 117 with some quality which is pleasing for effectively a last minute bit of pottering. To prove it's definitely not been a birding trip - I've not missed one meal and only used half a tank of diesel in the hire car!

Well you did great - and squeezing in the moths too (I assume they were between dinners and desserts ) - not to mention finding a rarity as well as an extra Pec Sand to boot!

Thanks so much for letting me know pronto about the Red-footed Falcon when you found it at the end of the day - I like to think the raptor team would have seen it anyway in the morning - though it was a way away from the nearest manned point and in the least obvious spot - right at the back of the apartment they were sleeping in! Got to admit its uncanny....I could easily imagine them rushing off to the watchpoints in the morning and not noticing the "funny Kestrel" on the wire as they drove off - could easily have happened to the best of us!

The bird was watched by the raptor team the next morning eating beetles at close range - a lifer for some and first for Portugal for all of them I think.....

.....so on behalf of all the folks that saw the bird...Thank-you :t:

I look forward to seeing your photos!

 

[Paul Chapman]

Simon - many thanks and many thanks for the identification on the Portugal thread.

Belated addition - Alpine Swift 119th species - heard only from the Saturday evening on the point opposite our hotel at dusk.

Battling with the diagnosability of the Scopoli's Shearwaters and the patterning of P10 on the photos - http://www.scillypelagics.com/COSH_1.html - but still happy with at least one.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've now got my photos sorted from this trip and I should be able to post tomorrow.

I've spent a while on the Calonectris Shearwaters with the Alula article - http://www.scillypelagics.com/COSH_1.html, Petrels Night and Day and finally Petrels, Albatrosses & Storm-Petrels of North America. I remain reasonably happy with at least one Scopoli's but I'm going with Cory's for the majority (as expected) including the attached.

None of this has done anything to persuade me that the split is solid or that a significant number of either species are safely diagnosable! That conclusion was reinforced by a chat (whilst dipping a South Gloucestershire cagebird yesterday) with a friend who had spent some time studying the skins of both at Tring with similar doubts.

All the best

Paul

 

[Paul Chapman]

A few scenery shots to kick off.

The first is Sagres Beach from the headland opposite our hotel.

The second is the Cabranosa watchpoint. In the distance it is the slightly raised area. This was manned by professionals identifying and cataloguing the raptors seen and despite being relatively quiet during my short trip it produced Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Black Storks, Egyptian Vultures, Montagu's Harrier, Eleanora's Falcon and Red-footed Falcon. The scrub in the vicinity was good for migrants including Wryneck.

The third and fourth are Martinhal - the 'wader scrape' (Kentish and Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, Sanderling, etc) and the valley - again a series of migrants.

The final picture is the beach at Praia da Cordama which over lunch and in an early morning seawatch produced Sooty, Cory's and Balearic Shearwaters, Pomarine, Arctic and Great Skuas, various waders, terns, etc.

All the best

Paul

 

[Paul Chapman]

Some of the main highlights of the trip.

Firstly, Portugal's first twitchable Red-footed Falcon - a juvenile bird found near the Cabranosa watchpoint.

Also the two different Pectoral Sandpipers and a Great Shearwater shot from our three hour 'pelagic'.

The final photo is a Scopoli's Shearwater. I have spent some time on the photos of the Shearwaters and there are three further photos of this bird that I will post. The underside of the primaries are in shadow and if anything, the photographic effect on this bird makes the under primaries appear darker than should be the case. Nevertheless the white fingers can be made out on all outer primaries including P10. So I am relatively happy with this bird. When the Cory's spread their primaries, they can give this effect but they tend to look solid when the primaries are held in normal flight position.

All the best

Paul