Canvasback

Hollesley at the weekend, more Gulls but nothing really good just the usual Caspian and yellow legged gulls. A Great White egret again on winter flood.

Today 28.12.23 i finished work early and headed for Abberton res in essex and the winter Canvasback duck, Very Very hard work due to the lashing wind and rain making viewing almost impossible, Scope lens was drenched in moments, the mass of ducks were all asleep too, i wasn't very happy cursing my rotten luck.  Im not sure how i found it but i did, distant and in-between drying my lens i took these awful shots. A few other bits were a Red Kite and a couple of  Scaup. Duck numbers were impressive, shame i didn't get to enjoy it.  

December

 We're now into December and the year is drawing to a close.  Gulls are starting to take over again at Hollesley but ive seen a few other bits too. 

Nipped to Thorpness Meare for the Ring Necked duck, a fav of mine. 6 Goosander and some showy Shovelers also.

 

Over at Iken 2 Cattle egret, seems to be a special spot for them here.

 Back to Hollesley A Glossy Ibis is sticking on site but very elusive and usually only seen in flight as it moves areas. A Goosander and Great White Egret is staying for the winter again. 5 Velvet Scoter a massive bonus this year.

50 Brent Geese and 70 White fronts are now here for the winter too. 

 Now onto Gulls, Various ages of Caspian Gulls appearing at Hollesley. The last picture is a strange looking bird so maybe some other genes init. 

Yellow legged gulls too again of all ages.

Missed a 1st Winter Glauc and patch tick 4 Bewick Swans .... Doh 

Boyton Early Nov and waxwings in Lowestoft

 A nice short walk around Boyton, Bearded Tits on show.  Distant Kingfisher too.

Waxwings from Lowestoft. Light was awful.

Portugal, 13th November to 16th November 2023

 Monday 13th 

We flew into Faro airport from Stansted just after lunch so by the time we picked up our car and had lunch in Tavira then a walk around Cabanas, it was too late for any proper birding. Did spot a dark phase Booted eagle from the motorway and other highlights were Slender billed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Whimbrels, Common Waxbills, Spotless Starlings and a Hoopoe. 

I did add 47 Species to the eBird checklist 

Tuesday 14th 

It was Rachels birthday so birding took a back seat to start with so initially it was local stuff around the Cabanas Hotel, birding was limited but a Black Redstart around the hotel was 1 of many. Lunch and a walk around Tavira was great in 24 degree heat, it was a beautiful warm day, certainly didn't feel like November. Late afternoon i got my first opportunity for some birding along the river and salt-pans in Tavira. It was great with 10 Caspian Terns, 8 Audouin's Gulls, 75 Spoonbill, 45 White Storks and plenty of waders, a few Flamingos, 50 Mediterranean Gulls,  A Bluethroat was a highlights. The sunsets are great. 

56 species added to eBird.

Wednesday 15th

A good half day birding visiting a small nature reserve near Albufeira, Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura. A potentially very good area but not so for birders, the hides were their but the pools were all overgrown so seeing what was their was difficult. 3 Swamphens were good and vocal, lots of Common Waxbills over 100, 2 Black headed weavers were a surprise bird of the trip a Black winged Kite distant but brilliant, 8 Glossy Ibis, trees were full off Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Iberian Magpies were great around the Golf Coarse, 3 Monarch Butterflies were a great Bonus. 

eBird total 48

The remainder of the day was spent in Albufeira. More Black Redstarts as standard. A Razorbill on the sea a highlight. Just 6 eBird total of 6

Thursday 16th

Pretty much all day birding around the Castro Marim area. Found a brilliant little pool at Lago de Aldeia Nova, as part of the Rio Formenta area but here 5 Ferruginous ducks with the 4 Red crested Pochard and 45 Common Pochard. 3 Hoopoe were great as were the Firecrest, Crested Tits and double figure Crag Martins. A Good area for European Camelions but i failed in finding any.  The weirdest bird was a fly over noisy Scarlet Macaw. Butterflies were Lang's Small tailed blues. 

eBird total 40

Moved onto the Castro Marim Castle grounds where the views are always stunning and birds are just as good, 19 Crag Martins 5 Swallow, Peregrine falcon, 3 Osprey and 75 Common Starling streamed through in a group.. 

eBird total 44

Finished at the nature reserve RN Sapal Castro Marim DeVento Moinhos. This was the reserve we could see from the castle. Water pipit was a treat, more Greater Flamingos, another 11 Caspian Terns, the 3 Osprey hunting or feeding, Red kite and a surprising Thekla Lark on the marsh. Our first Spanish Sparrow of the trip. 

eBird total 48

Yes plenty of other birds of note as above. 

Friday 17th

Was home time so no birding, a short but very sweet unexpected trip to Portugal was a good one with 106 Species added.

List here.