Birding spots - Alverca IBA

Spring is on the way, passerines and non-passerines are being spotted everywhere returning from their wintering grounds, so I decided to share a good birding location for Lisbon visitors that dont have much time to spend. It only takes15 minutes to reach it by car 38°53'0.78"N   9° 2'25.29"W, and some southern breeding species may prove to be a good option for northern birders,  Red-Crested Pochard Netta rufina, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola are some of the highlights.

In the last few days it have produced Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus, Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Spotted Crake Porzana porzana, Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio and Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus shoenobaenus.

 

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus shoenobaenus

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus

1st winter LBBG from February & March

Some 1st winter Lesser black-backed gull from the last months

15.02.2012

07.03.2012

Two twitches in one day

I havent got much time to write on the blog or even for gulling latelly, but last Sunday together with Pedro Ramalho, Luis Gordinho, Magnus Robb and Pedro Fernandes we manage to relocate the Green-winged-teal Anas carolinensis found by David Rodrigues at Paul to Taipal.

Paul do Taipal is one of the best wetlands in the center of Portugal where you could easily see Purple Gallinule and large numbers of waterfowl, many with nasal saddles from David Rodrigues. See more at pt-ducks from David ringing project.

On the way back we visit Figueira da Foz harbour but no luck on Gulls, few individuals present and randomly roosting, the same for waders at the Murraceira saltpans on high tide. So we decided to give a look at Pedro Ramalho backyard mini wetland called Poça da Amoreira, where he spotted the most photographed Spotted Crake Porzana porzana , from the last days, since the news came out. It was a first for me, and what a lovelly bird it was...

One of the Photographers present in a nearby hide João Edgar, as send me some of is lovelly photos.