Jolly boys and girls on Tour !!

Apologies for no posts recently but we have been in Portugal on our 13th annual ringing trip to the Algarve region. WIFI connection was pathetic so it was impossible to provide a running commentary--which was unfortunate because we had a brilliant time. So I shall try to give you a feel for it with some figures and nice pics!

 

The first week saw 13 of us--including some guests from Cumbria, visit our regular site near Vilamoura, for general ringing. We ringed 962 new birds ( a bit less than average) the most common of which were Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. One of the former was carrying a British ring but we haven't got the details yet. The following pics are some of the other species we ringed:-

 This is one of the three Wrynecks we ringed--always a superb bird in the hand.

We also caught three Kestrels--this is an adult male

This is a juvenile Little Bittern which spends its time in the very large reed beds catching fish and frogs

A family party of Penduline tits had arrived for the winter from goodness knows where--this is one of the juvenile birds as can be seen by the poorly developed black mask.

Although there are some common Starlings in the area--the Spotless Starling is the most regularly seen. Ben tried to catch some at their large roost--and this is one of the small number he caught-an adult male with absolutely no spots at all.

Hoopoes are quite common in southern Europe--but that never detracts from their splendour in the hand!!

This is obviously a magpie--but not as we know it Jim. It is now called an Iberian Magpie--having previously being called an Azure Winged Magpie--a stunning bird

Southern reed beds are the winter home of this stunning bird--it's a male Bluethroat--a relative of our Robin. This is a male and a member of the white spotted race which breeds across large parts of central and southern Europe. Birds from farther north have a red spot in the middle of the blue bib unlike this bird.

It's always exciting to find a new species at the site--especially when its one that you've never handled before. So it was with this male Dartford Warbler. A beautiful grey back contrast beautifully with the dark maroon breast with white speckles--an absolute stunner!! 

 

Week two saw 6 of the group stay on, four new members join up and the team move east to the Ria Formosa National Park where we have access to some old disused salt pans and a superb shallow lagoon, in order to catch and ring wading birds for the Portuguese ringing scheme. It's great fun, but also very tiring because we need to catch at high tide and at night--so most catches meant leaving at around 9pm and getting to bed about 0500...........

Our efforts were rewarded with a very creditable 424 waders ringed --Curlew, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Bar and Black Tailed Godwit all provided some syunning birds in the hand. The picture that follow are mostly taken using flash which unfortunately really doesn't do the plumage justice.......

This was one of a record breaking 16 Whimbrel--smaller than a Curlew with a shorter bill and a central white stripe down the mid line of the head

Here is a Curlew for comparison-much longer bill and no head stripe

This is a Bar Tailed Godwit--one of the medium sized waders with a slightly upturned bill

These are two Bar Tailed Godwits showing the difference in bill length between females on the left and males on the right ( as you look at them)

Ringing at night always opens the possibility of birds like this Barn Owl finding their way into the nets--what a bird!! A male judging by the almost plain breast with hardly any spots.

 

Sometimes we had enough energy to do some daytime ringing for other birds. In fact we caught 200 new birds--mostly Chiffchaffs. However we were delighted to ring another new species for the project--this bird is a Woodlark. The stripes above each eye meet at the rear of the head is one of the key ID features of this species.

Finally, a picture which sums up how most of us feel at the end of each day in sunny Portugal even in late October---tired but happy!!

Plans are already being laid for next year's repeat visit!!