CASTRO VERDE LPN RESERVE ((LIGUE DE PROTECION DE NATURE) – ESTRADAS – AÇUDE DO CARREGUEIRO – AÇUDE DO ESTRADAS – RIBEIRA DE COBRES - MERTOLA
WEATHER: Glorious sunshine, fluffy white clouds and a nice breeze. Top temp 27C
Most of the day was spent in or around the LPN Reserve at Castro Verde and despite there being perfect Steppe habitat for miles around us we saw very few Steppe Bird species! It was disappointing, the grass was quite tall all around us and activity was minimal.
The view from the hotel in Mertola
We saw the usual roadside species as we travelled the 40+ kilometres to get there and because of difficulties finding the entrance we didn’t arrive until 9:45. From the car park we noted large flocks of Jackdaws, A couple of Ravens, carrion Crows and a few Lesser kestrels.
We set off on a circular walked of about 5km but stopped very soon to watch the sky as a group of Griffon Vultures appeared, we also picked out a single Short-toed Eagle, a Black kite and a Common Buzzard.
The wide open grasslands of Castro Verde LPN Reserve
On the ground we were serenaded by Corn Buntings and crested larks, with many Stonechats flitting about, we had good close views of lesser kestrels as fed on the wing above us. We never had a sniff of a Great or Little Bustard and no Sandgrouse appeared, we only saw one Calandra Lark and heard one distant Quail.
Montagu’s harriers were the exception, we did them quite frequently, the Birding Guru, Guy, was quick to pick them up whenever they appeared, we had excellent views of both sexes.
Zitting Cisticola
In a small copse of mature eucalyptus trees a Hoopoe was found by Lyn and we had good views of Zitting Cisticola. Corn Buntings and crested Larks dominated the landscape. One or two Bee-eaters flew over and as we approached the visitor’s centre on our return we watched as three Black Vultures appeared above us with more Griffon Vultures.
my group walking back to the car park with the Guru in the foreground (and it just after 12 noon)
After eating our picnic lunch on the benches outside the centre we drove to Entrades, a small town to the east of Castro Verde, we headed north and visited a couple sites a few kilometers apart. The first produced nothing new but at small man-made lake called Açude do Carregueiro, we walked to a hide from which we listed a few sightings. The best of which was three Ferruginous Ducks and a pair of Egyptian Geese, but we also added Great crested Grebe to the list and we saw Little Grebe Gadwall, Mallard, lots of Common Coots with chicks, and we heard a Cetti’s Warbler. Walking back to the bus some of the group had good, but short, views of a Common Nightingale.
a pair of Ferruginous ducks was a good find - distant and blurry I'm afraid
We visited the small reservoir just outside Entrades but saw nothing new except a White Wagtail and a Marsh Harrier. Taking the minor road back towards Mertola we stopped several times to watch Montagu’s Harriers and Lesser Kestrels. We parked near the bridge over the Ribeira de Cobres when Lyn called out a big raptor circling to our left. It was a SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE, our bird of the day, well done Lyn.
At the bridge we watched Spanish Sparrows dashing to and fro from a huge nesting colony, we saw a Short-toed Eagle some Bee-eaters, a Woodchat Shrike and the usual Corn Buntings, Crested Larks and Stonechats. A couple of further additions to the list was a brief glimpse of Golden Oriole and a Red-legged Partridge ran across the road in front of the bus.
a apir of BlacK-winged Stilts
We got back to hotel around 6pm and got ready for our 7:30pm, I must say the hotel, the service and food are excellent, the group are really enjoying their stay.