Wildlife Notes by Alan Miller

This was our first holiday in Portugal. We found the people friendly, wildlife sites accessible and abundant, and sightings exciting from Bald Ibis and Purple Gallinule near the coast, to Great Bustard and Black-bellied Sandgrouse on the Plains.

General information

My wife Anne and I travelled to Portugal by Jet2.com from Leeds/Bradford to Faro. Flight times were very convenient and the service was good.

Our Car Hire was booked over the internet through Holiday Autos. We chose an on-airport provider and the car was booked with Goldcar. A number of car hire firms were represented at the airport and Goldcar was the only one with a queue indicating they were offering the best deals, but it meant a long wait (40 minutes). We chose to take the all-inclusive insurance extra which was worthwhile as we spent a lot of time driving on tracks and non-tarmac roads.

We stayed at three very different but equally charming accommodations all booked over the internet. We spent a week at Duas Quintas, a rural bed and breakfast just outside Silves in the Algarve before moving north to Casa Sossagado, a cottage near Ourique in the Alentejo. Lastly we moved back to the Algarve near Boliqueime to a small boutique hotel, Quinta Da Cebola Vermelha.

For the first two weeks the weather was sunny and hot with mainly clear blue skies. The temperature was in the high 20's into low 30's during the day and high teens at night. On the last few days the weather changed following a tremendous storm with thunder, lightning and very heavy rain. After that the weather was mixed and a little cooler being in the low 20's. Even with the change I still wore shorts and sandals throughout our trip.

For advance research we used 'Finding Birds in Southern Portugal' by Dave Gosney (the new edition with the 2009 update), 'Birdwatching Guide to the Algarve' published by the Algarve Tourist Board and given to us at UK Birdfair SPEA (Portuguese Society for the study of Birds) stand, and some trip reports on the Internet.

This was our first holiday in Portugal and I have to say that finding wildlife couldn't have been easier. Birdlife is abundant and widespread and because of the size of the country it was not necessary to travel vast distances. We chose to stay at three locations and look around those locations rather than travel any great distance to published sites and we were not disappointed.

We found the people friendly and welcoming and the cost of food at restaurants really good value. As a word of warning, maps are not as accurate as elsewhere; roads shown as straight are twisty and sometimes junctions are missing. Also finding a signpost can be a challenge, and there is a large network of roads without a hard surface. Having said that we didn't get lost but had to keep a check on where we had come from and where we were heading a few times.

Sites and Areas Visited

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
This is a massive area of coastline and saline lagoons around Faro. There is an easily accessible area near the airport towards Praia de Faro. Because we had all our luggage with us we didn't want to leave the car unattended so we stopped next to the causeway and scanned from there. Sightings included Sandwich Tern, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo, Grey Plover and Whimbrel.

Duas Quintas, near Silves
The B&B is set in 12 acres of orange groves and bordered on one side by the Ribeira de Arade. Hosts Mary and Les were very helpful with suggestions on places to visit. Seen regularly in the orange groves around the Quinta were flocks of Goldfinch, Linnet, Common Waxbill and Azure-winged Magpie. Red-rumpled Swallows were nesting around the buildings and gathered around the swimming pool with House Martins late afternoon. Other sightings included Sardinian Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Spotless Starling, Hoopoe, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Crested Lark and Kingfisher. A Cattle Egret regularly visited the hen compound and overhead we twice saw a Short-toed Eagle. Mary and Les often saw a Little Owl at dusk or dawn on power lines near the house. Whilst we didn't see the bird we heard it twice.
Our Dragonfly sightings included Broad Scarlet, Blue Emperor, Lesser Emperor and Epaulet Skimmer whilst Butterflies included Long-tailed Blue, Lang’s Short-tailed Blue, Small Copper, Meadow Brown (ssp. hispulla) and Monarch. Other sightings included Moorish Gecko, Spanish Psammodromus and Spanish Terrapin.
During the day a single Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen but a nightly check around the security lights turned up other moths. The numbers weren’t vast but this wasn't surprising as each light had a resident Gecko guarding it. Macro moths included Vestal, Bordered Straw and Pale Shoulder.
Before leaving on our last morning we had two new bird species; Serin and Blackcap, showing the richness of the area and the need to keep looking.

Silves
The town of Silves is on the Ribiera de Arade which is tidal up to the town but not beyond. There is plenty of car parking opposite the football stadium and beside the river. A walk around the riverside park turned up Pied Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Common Redstart, Hoopoe and Common Waxbill then along the riverside we saw Common Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Little Egret and Cetti's Warbler and enjoyed excellent views of Kingfisher. The short grass was covered in dozens of African Grass Blue butterflies and we also saw Berger's Clouded Yellow

Fontes, Silves
This is a municipal park about 4kms south-west of Silves. After walking through the BBQ area there is a good path along an inlet to the Ribiera de Arade which is tidal at this point. In the trees we saw Melodious Warbler, Black Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher together with Southern Gatekeeper butterflies. There was a good number of Gulls in the inlet together with Common Sandpiper and Greenshank. As we reached the river we were treated to a spectacle of many hundreds of White Storks arriving in batches and gathering on the riverbank. Also there were Black-winged Stilt and Kentish Plover

Between Furadoura and Odelouca, Silves
The road west from Silves passes through Furadoura. Shortly after a roadside restaurant the tidal Ribiera de Odelouca runs close to the left of the road. The tide was out and large areas of mudflats were exposed. Sightings included Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Kingfisher and Grey Heron

Foia, Monchique
Foia is the highest point in the Algarve at 902 metres. Besides a large car park, tour busses and a cafe there are fabulous views to the south and west coasts. We saw numerous Kestrels and a Short-toed Eagle. Around the car park were lots of Northern Wheatear, some Stonechats and a Common Redstart.

Barragem do Funcho and Barragem do Arrade
These are two adjoining man-made reservoirs just north of the 124 Silves to Sao Bartolomeu de Messines road. Whilst they looked a good size on the map, the water levels were very low and typical of this type of reservoir, water birds appeared absent. Access was easy but the surrounding hillsides were tinder dry. We did add Crag Martin, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker to our holiday list and other sightings included Pied Flycatcher and Sardinian Warbler.

Lago de Salgado
This is an excellent, easily accessible, coastal site. When approaching from Pera the hard surfaced road ends about 400 metres from the car park. 50 metres before the car park we took a short sandy track to the left which took us to a lookout over the shallow side and the area favoured by waders. We had very close views of Sanderling, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Dunlin, Little Stint, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Black-winged Stilt. In the slightly deeper water were Greater Flamingo, White Stork and Spoonbill. Whilst scanning, behind the lake we spotted a Brown Hare.
We then drove round to the main car park and walked east along a good, raised boardwalk between the lake and the coastal dunes. On this side the water was slightly deeper still and we saw Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Coot and Moorhen. Scanning across the water to the reeds we saw Kingfisher and Purple Gallilule. On the dunes and scrub were good numbers of Fan-tailed Warbler and Crested Lark with a few Thekla Lark, Cetti's Warbler, Spanish Yellow Wagtail and singles of Northern Wheatear and Whinchat.
Half way along the boardwalk is a raised viewing platform. The view from the top is marginally higher than the boardwalk but access can only be gained by climbing a vertical ladder. The view from the lower area is hampered by the reeds but it does provide some shade.
At the end of the boardwalk is a beachfront bar overlooking the sea where we stopped for a welcome drink but the atmosphere was somewhat spoiled by the loud music. We did, however, watch Gannet out at sea diving for fish.
Back at the car we drove to the start of the hard surface where there is a junction and turned left. This sandy track winds through a disused farmyard going west towards Armacao de Pera and finishes close to another beach bar. From the end of the track we scanned to the right over a marshy area covered in Cattle Egrets and Spotless Starlings. Eventually we were rewarded with good views of two Bald Ibis which rose from the marsh and gave us a nice fly-by.
We visited Lago de Salgados a second time towards the end of our holiday. Our sightings were very much the same as on our first visit including Bald Ibis and Purple Gallinule but this time we had two new birds for the trip, Pochard and Curlew Sandpiper, and we added Red-veined Darter.

Silves to Sao Marcos da Serra road
On leaving Duas Quintas we headed north to the lower Alentejo area. Les recommended a scenic route heading north-north-east from Silves to the IC1 road. This was a lovely drive and took us 2 hours due to the amount of things to see. We added Southern Grey Shrike, Rock Bunting, Woodlark and some dubious Greylag Geese to the bird list and a stunning Two-tailed Pasha to the butterfly list. The supporting act was quite good including Grey Heron, Kestrel, Blackcap, Black Redstart and a Small Copper butterfly

Casa Sossagado, near Ourique
This rural cottage was our home for a week. Other than the owner, Michael, who lives close by we were in a superb private setting with 23 private acres to wander around. The grounds included a small lake and a high-point (trig. point) affording wonderful views in all directions. The cottage had two covered verandas, one facing east and the other west, which made the cottage an excellent hide for watching the wildlife.
Outside our bedroom window was a Holm Oak providing shade but it also provided us with some close sightings from bed including Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Subalpine Warbler.
From the verandas bird sightings included Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Jay, Azure-winged Magpie, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodlark, Hoopoe, Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Alpine Swift. Butterflies also came within touching distance including Two-tailed Pasha, Tree Grayling, Small Heath, Long-tailed Blue and Lang's Short-tailed Blue. Dragonflies from our house hide included Blue Emperor and Common Darter.
Around the grounds we found Grey Heron, Red-legged Partridge, Crested Lark, Wryneck and Spectacled Warbler. Also we saw Rabbit, Brown Hare, Large Pssamodromus and evidence of Wild Boar.
I had a magical moment the first time I visited the trig. point when I came across Swallowtail and Spanish Scarce Swallowtail butterflies dancing around the trig. marker oblivious to my presence. This was repeated a couple of days later on my second visit but this time with Two-tailed Pasha and Spanish Scarce Swallowtail. Other butterflies included Southern Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Southern Marbled Skipper, Adonis Blue, Brown Argos and Small Copper whilst Dragonflies included Broad Scarlet and Violet Dropwing.
With no sign of other habitation from the cottage our prospects for moths was better. Leaving outside lights on after dark we again found that both lights had resident Moorish Geckos. We did manage to find some new moths including Red Underwing, Hoary Footman, Yellow Belle and Great Dart. The lights also attracted several Praying Mantis.

Castro Verde Plains
On our first visit we spent a whole day in the vast area of Plains between Castro Verde and Mertola in what turned out to be a hot, frustrating adventure. We criss-crossed the area stopping frequently to scan. At one point the car thermometer showed 41 deg.C. and bird-life was hard to find. Whilst we failed to see any Bustards we did have many interesting sightings. We checked stagnant water pools in otherwise dried-up riverbeds and saw Wood Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret and a number of European Pond Terrapins. There were lots of Northern Wheatear, Stonechat and Crested Larks. Some new birds for the trip included Tawny Pipit and an unexpected Rock Thrush. On wires we found both Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrikes. Aerial views included Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard and Raven.
We awoke one morning to find a cloud cover so we decided to pay a second visit to the Plains. This time we focused on the area south of Sao Marcos Da Atabueira and the N123. We did what was virtually a 4km x 4km square starting on the N123 4km west of Sao Marcos and driving south on the CM1138 signed for Sta. Barbara de Padroes. After 4 km we came to a 'T' junction opposite Visens where we turned left. From here the birding was magical. Just outside Visens we found a Short-toed Eagle perched on a telegraph post. Then we were treated to a flying and perched display by a Black-shouldered Kite. A little further on we noticed a small pond in a field to our left with the access gate open. We pulled in and drove to the pond to find Little Grebe, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing and perched on a pool-side rock a Kingfisher. Then we saw birds rise into the air beyond the pool and had great views of 8 Great Bustards which landed a little further away and were joined by another 5 birds.
We returned to the road to see a large bird rise to our right and watched a Golden Eagle circling for some time.
When we reached Guerreiro the road turns left again but is an unsurfaced track back to the N123 coming out opposite the junction to Sao Marcos. Although drivable in our hire car the surface is considerably worse at the N123 end. After a kilometre or so we passed through an open gate which denotes the start to a Bustard Reserve. We added to our trip list a kettle of 21 Griffon Vultures, 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Skylark and numerous Calandra Larks. About 400 metres before the gate out onto the N123 (which had to be opened) we found another 4 Great Bustards giving excellent views close to the track.
By early afternoon the skies had cleared and the temperature rose to 29 deg.C so we moved on.

Rocha da Pena
On the day we travelled south from Ourique to Boliqueime we decided to stop off at Rocha da Pena. Unfortunately the rain started as we commenced our journey and we drove through thunder, lightning and the heaviest rain I have seen for some time. When we got to Rocha da Pena it was still raining and visibility was very poor so we adjourned to a restaurante at nearby Benafim for a long early lunch. When we re-appeared the rain had stopped so we headed back towards Rocha de Pena. We took a single track road towards Penina stopping frequently in the Fig and Olive orchards. Sightings included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart and Common Whitethroat but the best bird was a Bonelli's Eagle which appeared out of the clouds surrounding the Rocha and drifted past us.

Quinta Da Cebola Vermelha
The Quinta is a small boutique hotel set in pleasant grounds a few kilometres back from the coast near Boliqueime. There were a number of bushes in flower around the grounds.
Bird sightings included Willow Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling and Kestrel, and on our last afternoon around the pool we were joined by a Hoopoe.
We saw our only Bath White in the grounds and other butterfly sightings included Lang's Short-tailed Blue and Small White.
Because we were in a less rural environment with more light pollution circuits around the outside lights during the evening were not as productive but we did find more Moorish Geckos.

Alvor Estuary
We spent a full day here, firstly visiting the headland between the Odiaxere and Alvor Rivers, then driving through Alvor to the coast and walking out along the dunes to the estuary entrance. The tide was high when we arrived but low when we left, consequently the number of waders increased during the day.
As we drove out to the headland we saw Hoopoe and on a derelict building a Little Owl.
At the headland we walked along the sea wall scanning the marsh. There were lots of Grey Heron and other sightings included Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank, Little Egret and Sandwich Tern.
We then drove north along the side of the River Odiaxere back to the main road. On the drive we saw Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Spanish Yellow Wagtail and Fan-tailed Warbler.
Next we drove around to Alvor, passing through the town to the beach car park where free parking was under cover from the sun. From here there is a good path and boardwalk out through the dunes to the estuary entrance and back along the side of the inlet. There are also boardwalks leading to the beach to view the sea. Crested Lark, Northern Wheatear and a charm of 48 Goldfinch were in the dunes, Gannets were fishing at sea close to the beach, a Spoonbill flew by and new birds on the exposed sandbars included Turnstone, Marsh Sandpiper and Oystercatcher.
Butterfly sightings were Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Long-tailed Blue, Small White and Wall Brown.
There are a number of beach bars/restaurants near the car park for refreshments.

Arade Estuary
Our route to and from the Alvor Estuary was along the N125. The road crosses the Arade Estuary which was full of birds but traffic was heavy and there was no-where to stop safely. We noted hundreds of White Storks on our first crossing and hundreds of gulls, mainly Yellow-legged, on our return crossing.

More details about the trip can be obtained by contacting me at ‘anne.alan.miller@btinternet.com’

BIRD LIST

Greylag Goose Anser anser: 8 seen at a small lake between Silves and Sao Marcos da Serra
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos: seen at Fontes, Silves and Lago de Salgado
Gadwall Anas strepera: seen at Lago de Salgado
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata seen at Lago de Salgado
Common Pochard Aythya ferina: seen at Lago de Salgado
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa: seen near Silves, Castro Verde Plains and at Casa Sossagado
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis: seen at Lago de Salgado
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: seen near Silves, Lago de Salgado and Castro Verde Plains
Gannet Morus bassanus: seen at sea from Lago de Salgado beach and Alvor Beach
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo: seen at Lago de Salgado
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: common and widespread
Little Egret Egretta garzetta: seen around Silves, at Lago de Salgado and at the Alvor Estuary
Great White Egret Egretta alba: single seen at Ria Formosa
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: seen regularly
White Stork Ciconia ciconia: c.500 at Fontes and Arade Estuary, a few around Silves and at Lago de Salgado
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita: 2 seen near Lago de Salgado
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia: 20 at Lago de Salgado, 1 at Alvor Estuary
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus: 10 at Ria Formosa and 100 at Lago de Salgado
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus: a kettle of 21 birds over the Bustard reserve, Castro Verde Plains
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos: 1 at Castro Verde Plains
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus: seen at Silves, Monchique and Castro Verde Plains
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata: seen at Rocha da Pena
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo: seen at Casa Sossagado and Castro Verde Plains
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus: seen at Casa Sossagado
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus: seen at Castro Verde Plains
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus: seen regularly. High count 12 on Castro Verde Plains
Peregrine Falco peregrinus: seen at Casa Sossagado.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus: Seen around Silves and at Lago de Salgado
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra: about 100 seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado
Great Bustard Otis tarda: 17 seen on the Castro Verde Plains
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus: seen at Fontes and on both visits to Lago de Salgado
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado and at the Alvor Estuary
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula: seen on one visit to Lago de Salgado and at the Alvor Estuary
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus: seen at Ria Formosa, Lago de Salgado and the Alvor Estuary
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus: 1 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola: 1 seen at Ria Formosa and at Alvor Estuary
Sanderling Calidris alba: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado and at the Alvor Estuary
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: 1 seen at the Alvor Estuary
Dunlin Calidris alpina: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado and at the Alvor Estuary
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea: 4 seen on one visit at Lago de Salgado
Little Stint Calidris minuta: seen on both visits to Lago de Salgado
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola: seen at Lago de Salgado and Castro Verde Plains
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos: seen at Silves, Fontes, Lago de Salgado and Castro Verde Plains
Common Redshank Tringa totanus: seen near Silves, Lago de Salgado and the Alvor Estuary
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus: 1 seen at Alvor Estuary
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia: seen near Silves, at Fontes, Lago de Salgado and Alvor Estuary
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis: 1 seen at Alvor Estuary
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa: seen at Lago de Salgado
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus: seen at Ria Formosa, Lago de Salgado and Alvor Estuary
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago: 1 seen at Lago de Salgado
Ruff Philomachus pugnax: seen on one visit to Lago de Salgado
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus: seen regularly
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus: 3 seen at Ria Formosa
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis: good numbers seen at coastal areas
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii: seen at Lago de Salgado - high count 6
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus: good numbers seen at coastal areas
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis: 3 seen at Ria Formosa and 2 at Alvor Estuary
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis: 3 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Feral Rock Dove Columba livia (feral): widespread and abundant
Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus: 1 seen near Ouriche and 3 at Rocha da Pena
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: common and widespread, seen daily
Little Owl Athene noctua: 1 at Duas Quintas and 1 at Alvor Estuary
Common Swift Apus apus: seen near Boliqueime
Alpine Swift Apus melba: 1 seen from Casa Sossagado
Hoopoe Upapa epops: widespread with up to 4 seen almost daily
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis: seen around Silves, at Lago de Salgado and on Castro Verde Plains
Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpei: 1 seen at Silves and at Rocha da Pena
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major: seen around Silves, at Casa Sossagado and at Rocha da Pena
Wryneck Jynx torquilla: 2 at Casa Sossagado
Skylark Alauda arvensis: 3 at Castro Verde Plains
Crested Lark Galerida cristata: seen almost daily - high count 12
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae: seen at Lago de Salgado and Castro Verde Plains
Woodlark Lullula arborea: 2 between Silves and Sao Marcos da Serra and up to 8 seen daily at Casa Sossagado
Calandra Lark Melanocorha calandra: 5 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Sand Martin Riparia riparia: up to 4 seen on several occasions
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris: 2 seen at Barragem do Arrade
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: only seen occasionally.
Red-rumpled Swallow Cecropis daurica: common and widespread - high count 20 around Duas Quintas
House Martin Delichon urbicum: common and widespread . High count 20 around Duas Quintas
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris: 6 seen on Castro Verde Plains
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba: 1 seen at Silves and at Lago de Salgados
Iberian Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava iberiae: 4 seen at Lago de Salgado and 1 at Alvor Estuary
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus: 1 seen at Silves, Monchique and Alvor Estuary
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: 2 seen at Fontes and 1 at Silves
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe: seen regularly - high count 12 on Castro Verde Plains
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: 1 at Lago de Salgado and on Castro Verde Plains
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus: seen regularly - high count 20 on Castro Verde Plains
Blackbird Turdus merula: common and widespread - seen daily
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis: 1 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla: 2 seen around Silves
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis: 1 seen at Duas Quintas and 2 at Rocha da Pena
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala: seen daily - high count 8
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata: 3 seen from Casa Sossagado
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans: 1 seen from Casa Sossagado
Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis: seen regularly - high count 10 at Lago de Salgado
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti: seen at Silves and 4 at Lago de Salgado
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus: 1 at Lago de Salgado
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta: 4 seen around Silves
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus: seen almost daily - high count 20
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli: seen twice at Casa Sossagado
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus: mainly singles seen regularly
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicaps striata: 2 seen at Fontes
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca: seen almost daily - high count 6
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus: up to 8 seen regularly at Casa Sossagado
Great Tit Parus major: 1 or 2 seen at Duas Quintas, Casa Sossagado and Quinta Da Cebola Vermelha
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea: seen twice at Casa Sossagado
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla: 1 seen at Silves and at Casa Sossagado
Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis: up to 4 seen on a number of occasions
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator: 1 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus: seen almost daily, mainly in groups, largest 58 at Casa Sossagado
Common Magpie Pica pica: 1 seen near the airport and 2 on Castro Verde Plains
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius: seen regularly - high count 6 at Casa Sossagado
Carrion Crow Corvus corone: up to 4 seen daily at Casa Sossagado
Common Raven Corvus corax: 4 seen on Castro Verde Plains
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor: seen almost daily - high count 100 near Duas Quintas
House Sparrow Passer domesticus: common and widespread
Linnet Carduelis cannabina: seen around Duas Quintas, at Alvor Estuary and near Quinta De Cebola Vermelha
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis: seen almost daily - high count 48 at Alvor Estuary
Serin Serinus serinus: 3 seen near Silves
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra: 1 or 2 seen daily at Casa Sossagado
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia: 1 seen between Silves and Sao Marcos da Serra

BUTTERFLY LIST

Swallowtail Papilio machaon
Spanish Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius feisthamelii
Large White Pieris brassicae
Small White Artogeia rapae
Bath White Pontia daplidice
Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis
Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus
Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli
Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous
African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna
Brown Argus Aricia agestis
Adonis Blue Lysandra bellargus
Monarch Danaus plexippus
Two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius
Red Admiral Vanessa atlanta
Tree Grayling Neohipparchia statilinus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina hispulla
Southern Gatekeeper Pyronia cecilia
Small Heath Coenonympha pampphilus lyllus
Wall Brown Lasiommata megera
Southern Marbled Skipper Carcharodus boeticus

MOTHS AT DUAS QUINTAS

1398 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella
1692 Lesser Cream Wave Scopula immatata
1716 Vestal Rhodometra sacraria
1984 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum
2403 Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera
2415 Pale Shoulder Acontia lucida

MOTHS AT CASA SOSSAGADO

1362 Pyrausta purpuralis
1428 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella
----   Mediterranean Lace Border Scopula submutata
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
1825 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
1968 Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia
2045 Hoary Footman Eilema caniola
1956 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata
2094 Great Dart Agrotis crassa
2206 Devonshire Wainscot Mythimna putrescens
2452 Red Underwing Catocala nupta

DRAGONFLIES

Blue Emperor Anax imperator
Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope
Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum chrysostigma
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea
Violet Dropwing Trithemis annulata

OTHER SIGHTINGS

Large Psammodromus Psammodromus algirus
Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica
Spanish Terrapin Mauremys leprosa
European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa
Cicada Tibicina haematodes
Blue (Flash Colour) Grasshopper Sphingonotus caerulans
Blue (Flash Colour) Grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens
Red (Flash Colour) Grasshopper Oedipoda germanica
Bat sp.