ARRIVED FARO AIRPORT – TRANSFER TO MÉRTOLA WITH STOPS AT CASTRO MARIM AND THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIO VASCÂO
WEATHER: sunny all day, a lovely breeze, top temp 25C
Four of us arrive yesterday on the 4th , myself, Guy, Vanda & Dave, we spent the night in a hotel local to the airport, we had time this morning to walk to a scrub area near our hotel. It was around 9am when we set out, we saw a lot of birds but most of them were Iberian Magpies or Eurasian Hoopoes, we saw dozens of the former and about 10 of the latter.
Other species were hard to come by: Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, a single Turtle Dove, Crested larks, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, a Serin, Zitting Cisticola and a Sardinian Warbler. Our only raptors were: Common Kestrel and Short-toed Eagle, we did see several White storks in the air and we picked out Pallid Swifts with the Common variety, also Red-rumped Swallow, barn Swallow and House Martins.
By 1:30pm we had collected the other three members of the group, Dave, Fred and Lyn, so we set off eastward to the border with Spain. Castro Marim is a natural park with lagoons, dry scrub and a series of working salt pans. It was hot and dry with a nice cooling breeze, but we saw very little in the scrub and very few birds on the lagoons. The river Guadiana forms the border with Spain and reaches the Atlantic Ocean here.
The most common and active species were Black-winged stilts and Glossy Ibis, on the water dozens of Common Coots (with chicks) joined just as many Red-crested Pochards, with Gadwall and Mallards. A few Great flamingos fed around the edges. We saw Cattle and Little Egrets and Guy picked out a Perched Osprey, whilst White Storks sat on nests or drifted over us.
From the viewing point on the top of a small hill we scanned the salt pans where we found Avocets, Little Terns and Kentish Plovers. Small flocks of waders could be seen in the distance, several species were present but the only positive identification ( because of the intense heat-haze) was of summer plumage Grey Plovers. On the way down from viewing area Big Dave found a pair of Yellow Wagtails (iberea) the male was stunning.
Around 4pm we set off northwards to Mértola where we shall be based for the next four days. Along the way we stopped at a bridge over the River Vascâo where we enjoyed a few good sightings which included Rock Bunting, Spanish Sparrow, a pair of Blue Rock thrushes, White Wagtail and Grey Wagtail. Ae Woodchat Shrike sat on a dead tree on a distant ridge and w heard Golden orioles calling and Crag Martins join the Red-rumped Swallows visiting their nests under the bridge.
Other sightings made along the way included Black-eared Wheatear, Turtle Doves and one large raptor, seen by those in the back of the bus which was probably a Spanish Imperial Eagle.
Our Hotel is situated in Mértola on the east bank of the River Guadiana, it is a picturesque setting and the evening meal was delicious.