Sunday, 29 April 2012

Friday, 20 April 2012

1 st winter Larus delawarensis

The only Ring-billed gull, found this winter in Lisbon area, at Parque da Paz, Almada.

2 cy gull, and probably a male judging by the size and head structure, with very worn flight feathers.

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Birding spots - Alverca IBA II

With some effort, and less gulling, a new record number of spotted crakes have been estabelished in Portugal, with a minimum of 12 birds recorded in one former saltpan water tank at Alverca IBA.
Spotted crakes, have an indetermined status in Portugal, and records are scarce with no more than 3 ind. seen together, although  recorded anually.... judging the numbers envolved, and the lack of an influx in Spain, I would say they are a regular late winter visitor in Portugal.

























foraging for food in the early morning....









an extra bonus .... sorry for the photos, but I could not stop shaking!!!!














First detected by J. L. Santos who heard it, than after much doubt and controversial  between "listeners", if it was, or was not an unknown call of Baillon´s, I manage to see it after several days of blind persistence. The doubt still remains regarding the heard call, but defenetly there was a Baillon´s inside that sedge.