Background

I was lucky enough to be offered a week sharing an apartment at the San Lorenzo development in the South East of the Quinta Do Lago complex in the Algarve, a few miles west of Faro.

Although my transport was limited, I had three great sites on my doorstep and saw almost 80 species inside a week without a great deal of effort.

To reach the “Gallinule Lake” area turn left at roundabout 6 and continue past the Golf Clubhouse on your left, through the arch and park in the San Lorenzo loop. The path to the swimming pool is opposite appt 73. grab a map in any of the brochures.

Be aware of golfers and respect their priority, but the best times are dawn and evening anyway when they are long gone.

Alternatively reach the hide via a good walk east from the beach car park along from the Quinta.

I had the recent trip report from Glen and Debbie Moore, plus a few others and hope I can add a few tips to this small area, which became my patch. 

May 12th

Arriving at dusk I had a very brief walk out behind the apartment onto the golf course and soon found that Azure Winged Magpie was not going to be a difficult bird to find.

In the gloom, I could just make out families of duck on the adjacent lake and looked forward to first light with some excitement.

May 13th

After a short piece of research I managed to get my bearings and found our apartment backed onto the 9th tee at the San Lorenzo course. I walked back along the 8th hole alongside the “Gallinule Lake” and was soon watching Purple Gallinule, Little Egret, Little Terns and hundreds of Swallows, Swifts and House Martins having early morning breakfast.

The lake held large families of Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Coot and Moorhen, whilst the Azure Winged Magpies, Blackbirds and House Sparrows bounced around on the fairway in ever increasing numbers.

I continued to the coast turning right from the hide towards Quinta Do Lago and soon had my attention on various waders feeding on the tidal mud. A flock of 100 Knot in breeding plumage was a stunning sight as they rose as one, disturbed by a low flying White Stork. Curlew, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Grey Heron and Redshank were all close by. Kentish and Ringed Plover were soon added as I reached the long wooden bridge crossing the estuary to the beach. I was liking this place very much indeed.

I returned via the same route, having a quick look from the hide and picked up Serin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Great Tit in the pines behind.

Sitting in the hide, you have the lake in front of you, the long 8th hole to your left and the 17th and 18th holes to your right, a patch that I grew to know very well indeed, even the camouflaged telephone mast on the horizon became a landmark.

 

After breakfast I repeated the walk, with my interested but not heavy birding companions and having shown them great views of the earlier sightings added Sanderling, Crested Lark and Fan-Tailed warbler to the list before reaching a beachfront restaurant for a well-deserved beer and lunch with a few Herring Gulls in attendance.

I heard Bee-Eater and Hoopoe, hoping that was not going to be my only chance, and saw my first Black Winged Stilt and Cattle Egrets of the trip on the return journey.

After the heat of the afternoon had subsided I walked around the back of the 8th green and along the lake edge with a large area of reed bed. I was soon searching for Cettis Warbler that shouted at regular intervals and eventually got good views. Another larger bird flew in and soon announced itself from the stoutest reed stem as a Great Reed Warbler, he became a great favourite all week but seemed to be the only one in residence.

With the golfers gone for the day I walked around the back of the lake (a rough path goes between the lake and the pine covered hill) and soon found myself on the ithmus between the lakes at the 18th green, surprising a Wryneck feeding on the cropped turf. .

Purple Gallinules were out on the fairway and I found Collared Dove and Turtle Dove in the pines above me. I watched the Little Terns fishing for some time before a movement in the reeds a few feet away caught my eye. A Little Bittern emerged and flew as soon as he realised he was being observed showing that lovely black and cream flight pattern.

Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Whitethroat and Sardinian Warbler were all seen before I cut back though the San Lorenzo swimming pool area to the Apartment.

May 14th

A short car ride took us to Armacao De Pera where the river has been closed off by the sandy beach. Turnstone, Sanderling and Black Winged Stilt were in attendance with a large number of Grey Herons feeding in the marsh behind. Hoopoe and Jay were seen in the pines and I sifted through the gulls in vain for anything new.

Lunch was taken at the restaurant at the end of the boardwalk and can be thoroughly recommended.

An inland trip to Silves added Blackcap, Kestrel, Chaffinch and Nightingale (along the new car park by the river) but the expected Crag Martins were absent from the castle for some reason.

In the evening I headed down the 17th hole and followed the path around to the left of the hide, following the golf course and soon emerged onto the Ludo Salt Pans.

Keeping to the extreme right I headed for the lagoon, (the houses on the horizon are the resort of Faro Beach on the Ria Formosa sand spit that protects the main port of Faro.)

The light was ideal and got better as the evening progressed giving stunning low sunlit views.

There were lots of waders on show, nesting Storks and lots of activity.

Avocet, Greenshank and Black tailed Godwit were new to the list and Spotless Starling and Bee-Eater entertained in the cool evening air.

I cut back across the golf course 15th hole adding Song thrush and Green Woodpecker near the Villa Ballybunion and walked through the pines alive with Turtle Doves, crossing the road and emerging onto the 18th to say goodnight to the Swampies and Mr Great Reed Warbler.

May 15th

We decided an early start was called for and we headed north towards Almodovar.

Unfortunately the Great Bustard hunt was curtailed early due to bouts of hay fever and the search for toilets/coffee and other things frustrating to birding passengers.

I did see Red Legged Partridge, Buzzard, Corn bunting and Bee-eater plus lots of juddering blurs on the wires as we headed back to the coast and made do with consolation curry pasties and muchos homemade cakes in Sao Bras.

The hot afternoon was spent at the Ria Formosa trail near Olhao, which revealed a few waders plus a Magpie as a new bird.

The evening walk to the 18th found the usual suspects plus a large terrapin and a small Garter-like snake on the path, two courting Hoopoes allowed close scrutiny and this was a delightful end to a frustrating day.

May 16th

Dawn walk to the lake added a gorgeous Black Tern to the role call, only the second time I had seen this bird and marvellous views were had as it fished alongside a dozen Little Terns.

We had lunch at “2 Passas” on the beach, expensive but a treat for fish lovers, and saw Village Weaver and a very obliging Woodchat Shrike in addition to the usual suspects on the Quinta.

In the evening I was back at Ludo and found 22 Spoonbills in a feeding frenzy, together with the Black Tern, which promptly followed me home to have an evening fishing on the 18th in the twilight.

May 17th

A drive to Ponte da Piedade Lighthouse where we left the car and a brave few descended the steps for an enjoyable boat ride with the local fishermen into the cliff grottos, Jackdaw and Spotless Starling were glimpsed on the cliffs but only Herring gulls showed themselves at water level.

There is a motor/train down into the town of Lagos and it would seem sensible to use this to go for lunch around the marina (head for the footbridge across the channel) and leave the car at the Lighthouse.

Storks were nesting on the chimneys and a Cormorant was fishing lazily in the marina.

Evening Ludo saw the spoonbills still in attendance and the Black Tern back at his post as green keeper on the 18th, and a juvenile Little Bittern appeared as I walked back via the swimming pool.

May 18th

I hired a bicycle today and headed via Ludo to Faro Beach, then back via the airport road into Faro itself via Monte Negro. A pleasant last day with lots of nesting Black Winged Stilts on the journey and Storks with healthy chicks on the buildings around Faro Marina.

In the evening I took time out to say farewell to old friends… surely the Great Reed Warbler had a sore throat by now ….and  enjoy the antics of the Azure Winged Magpies, an everyday bird no longer !   

Purple Heron was conspicuous by its absence and the hoped for Flamingoes had no doubt departed for Spain. Migration was over but a delightful and relaxing week was had by all.

Please contact me at tringastag@yahoo.co.uk if you would like any further info !