Just had to post this picture. Will talk later about where and how it was taken. But if you have time it’s really worth looking at the Griffon Vultures set on Flickr.com.

Its quite rare to see the little bustard in a flock….and to have a camera ready was a great opportunity.

It’s not everyday you get a ZC right out in the open like this. This was taken out on the Plains in late October. They are always there just not so easy to see.

This picture of a juvenile roller was recently uploaded onto Flickr and we wanted to test the connection between flickr and our birding blog.
Basically with one click we can create a BIP blog from within Flickr

Whinchat ( Saxicola rubetra)
A small passerine bird which used to be classed as a member of the thrush family. However it is now considered part of the Old World Flycatcher family.
The Whinchat winters in Africa but for the summer it nests in tussocks on rough pasture land or uncultivated grassland.
Good sightings are possible and it is most often seen on the open plains near the Quinta

Booted Eagle    (Hieraaetus pennatus) Medium sized eagle with a wingspan of up to four feet. It breeds in Portugal but during the winter will migrate to Sub-Saharan Africa. Typically  it can be found in wooded and hilly countryside.  It lives off small mammals, reptiles and other birds. It is comparable to the Common Buzzard in size. During late September when the migration starts the booted eagle is often seen near to the Quinta

Woodlark ( lullula arborea)
The wood lark breeds across most of Europe and will over winter in Portugal as well. Prefers open heath with some trees, ideally pines on light soil. Reasonably common around the Quinta.

Purple Gallinule or Swamp hen ( Porphyrio porphyrio)

Increasingly common in the Algarve and rumoured to be at risk from golf balls!
They breed in warm reed beds and habitat preferences are areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. If they are not persecuted then they can become tame and are also found in towns and cities.

Collared Pratincole ( Glareola pratincola)

Stunning bird both in flight and stationery. Although this bird is classed as a wader they hunt insects on the wing like swallows, using a graceful flight pattern. Typically most active at dawn or dusk they will rest during the warmest part of the day.

Although often thought of as scarce we have had good success finding them on the Alentejo plains. They like to be near water but will nest on dry scrubby land. Their camouflage is excellent. Also their Portugese name translates as Sea Partridge.

Common waxbill ( Estrilda astrild)
Becoming more common as it spreads northwards from the Algarve. Although a native of sub –saharan Africa it has now been introduced to many other regions. The waxbill is a small bird with a slender body , short rounded wings and a long graduated tail.
Waxbills commonly forage in flocks of over 1,000 birds. They feed by clinging to stems with their long,spindly claws and picking seeds from flowers.