Portugal Part 4

Red veined Darter

Nikon D3s,300mm,1×4, 1/1600@f8,iso400

  I wasn’t expecting to photograph many dragonfly species on my trip, although when a chance of an image did occur I made a few nice images. On most of the marshes I visited Red-viened darter’s proved numerous but quite a challenge to get a decent image of. Interestingly I managed some nice images in the surrounding garden of Casa rosa where I was staying. Very nice to be one minute relaxing by the pool then  photographing dragonflies in flip flops and bermuda shorts!. I used the 300mm and 1×4 convertor with a small amount of fill flash from a sb900 to open up the shadow areas. It was the only time I used flash but it proved very useful.

Red -veined Darter

techs as above plus flash

While being eaten alive by mossies in one of the local marshes whilst waiting for Black-winged Stilts a passing Lesser Emperor gave a brief chance of an image, not easy with the 500mm.

Lesser Emperor

Nikon D3s,500mm,1×4,1/1600@f8,iso800

Although the species count wasn’t huge, the birding was quality and with some nice images in the bag I came back from Portugal with some great memories. The birdlife encountered on the pelagics was great and not to mention the Sunfish and the pod of Common Dolphin were just the icing on the cake. A few useful links if you fancy a great holiday in Portugal.

http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/  -Birding guide/pelagics

http://www.jet2.com/-  Low cost airline with great leg room!

http://www.casarosa.eu.com/- Wonderful accommodation in a good central location and a great pool!

Donkey

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Portugal Part 3

Gannet

Nikon D3s, 300f4afs,1/1600@f8,iso800

The second pelagic trip had arrived and the weather was sublime, with wonderful calm seas and sunshine. I was hoping for some great chances on this trip to make up for the lack of images from the previous outing. A 1st winter Gannet passed over the boat and now using just a 300 lens made photography a bit easier . The only problem with the fine conditions was that a lot of the birds had decided to leave, making finding birds harder. Heading for any small fishing vessel which had any birdlife was easy enough, but most of the birds were gulls with a few terns.

Fishing Boat

A typical scene on the pelagic. So onto the next fishing boat to try and find something of interest. On arriving at the next boat one of my target birds was spotted, just a small matter of getting close. The captain, Ricardo did an amazing job of drifting close to the bird allowing stunning views of a Great Shearwater.

Great Shearwater

Nikon D3s,300,1×4,1/2500@f11,iso 800 (manual exposer)

I was able to get a nice low viewpoint due to the size of the boat and with me on my knees in the boat. If I had used the cameras meter for this I would have burnt out the whites and over exposed the image. My lessons learned from the previous trip paid off as I produced some great images of bird I had travelled to see. The bird suddenly was flushed as a passing Great Skua spooked the bird. One happy photographer breathed a sigh of relief!  We decided to head further out to another fishing boat, but what was going to happen next was just amazing.A sunfish was spotted just in front the boat but disappeared before giving any prolonged views. Then as we started onward again a large pod of Common Dolphins appeared and came towards the boat. The dolphins were all around us, jumping and riding the pressure wave on the bow of the boat. You just didn’t know where to look. It was one of lifes moving moments, one you will never forget. The only trouble I was having was trying to get an image, but in some ways it did’t matter it was just amazing to watch.

Common Dolphins

Nikon D3s, 300, 1/3200@f11,iso 800

The pelagic trip was coming to a close and the other visitors wanted to see some of the other birdlife in the estuary. Slender-billed and Audouin’s Gull were very nice additions as well as some good numbers of Med Gulls as well as the usual mix of waders. Although I was hoping for more images from the pelagic trips, especially birds, I had returned with some very great images, with the Great Shearwater down to a few feet and the incredible encounter with the Common Dolphins. I would love to do several pelagics in a row just because it is so different day to day. My final day in Portugal was spent visiting the  Tavira saltpans which was a big disappointment as I didn’t see that much and was eaten alive by mossies, the only highlight was a nice shot of some Spoonbills flying overhead. I did venture north of Tavira to see what I could find. A nice pair of Hoopoe feeding by a small dirt track next to the road nearly had me with frame filling images until the only car I encountered in two hours of birding the area flushed the birds. The area was very promising with stunning views of Black-shouldered Kite over the car, but soon vanished before I could get the camera onto it. Good numbers of Corn Bunting and Common Wheatear in the surrounding farmland. I really enjoyed birding this area and it looked very good for a spring visit. Quiet roads with few people and a lot of birdlife. In fact I think that has been the underlying theme of my experience of Portugal in that it is such a nice country to visit, with few cars, not many restrictions and the people have been so friendly and not to mention you can find your own birdlife,all add up to a great place to visit with the family or with some mates. I visited in mid October due to the pelagics, but an early spring visit would be pretty good. The only place I didn’t visit was the plains for the Bustards, a couple on the first pelagic had good views of Bustards but the heat haze was pretty bad which for me photographing would have been a waste of time.

Tavira Saltpans

Spoonbills

Spoonbill

Nikon D3s,500vr,1×4,1/1600@f8,iso800

Just a few more images from the trip.

Black-winged Stilt (juvenile)

Nikon D3s,500vr,1×4,1/2000@f11, iso800

In a small pool by one of the saltpans I had the chance to photograph Common Waxbill. In fact I encountered small flocks all along the coast in suitable habitat.

Common Waxbill (female)

Nikon D3s,500,1×4,1/1600@f11,iso800

Part 4 coming soon….

Portugal Part 2

Zitting Cisticola ( aka Fan-tailed Warbler)

Nikon D3s,500vr,1×4,1/320@6.7,iso800

After a challenging pelagic from the previous day I thought I would take a short journey to the Quinta do Lago golfing complex near to Faro. Early morning had me pretty much lost in the huge complex, eventually I found my way to the main lake. Several Greenshank were feeding along the shoreline with a Little Egret standing guard. I was soon geared up and just as I was approaching the birds a local van driver flushed the group of birds and the chances were lost. I decided to walk towards the far side of the lake which would take me along the edge of the lake and towards another lake famed for its Purple Swamp-hen. I was soon able to capture a nice image of Zitting cisticola perched in some vegetation. Bluethroats were seen in good numbers but always skulking or flying very low over  the marsh, I cound’t get within 50 metres with the camera  . This proved to be the case with all the Bluethroats I encountered although it was nice to see so many with even more spotted later in the week, when there were some higher tides. Moving along the path I came across a very obliging female Wheatear which had me moving backwards with the camera as it feed.

Wheatear

Nikon D3s,500vr,1/1/600@f11,iso800.

 Near to the Wheatear several Red-rumped Swallows were feeding above a wasps nest. Also I found several willow Warblers and Chffchaffs feeding in a small patch of wasteland. I tried for some images but just coundn’t get a clear shot so I moved on. Nice to see warblers moving through on their migration southwards and in good numbers. Onward to the lake which held lots of ducks and Purple Swamp-hen. It did’nt take long before I spotted several in amongst the reeds feeding on roots. Cettis warblers foraged in the margins and again no images. The sun was staring to get high, so photography time was nearing an end. I tried to spot Little Bittern but didn’t see any  the morning I was there, although they are present. I did find Reed warbler and Common Redstart in the woodland next to the lake and many Firecrest feeding in the canopy.

Purple Swamp-hen

Nikon D3s,500vr,1×4,1/2000@f11,iso800

After a hot morning it was back for some relaxation with a swim and power nap back at Casa Rosa.  Afternoon had me moving into the hills above Faro into the Burregin, a large area of wooded hillsides. I drove for a few hours searching the hills . A distant Vulture sp’ and Buzzard were the only birds of prey I spotted, although a pair of Ortolan buntings were a nice addition to the list. The vw polo had to work hard on some of the internal roads, no restrictions and only one other car the whole time I was in the woods and not a parking meter in site! A scarce Swallowtail feeding by the gravel road gave good views but soon disappeared down the hillside. I wouldn’t travel these sorts of roads if any rain had fallen as they proved quite challenging in the dry conditions and is not for the faint hearted. The woods were very silent but I would think in springtime they could be excellent for birding. I visited Fuzeta saltpans again and photographed some more Ziiting cisticola and Cattle Egret in the fading light.

Cattle Egret

Nikon D3s,500vr,1/500@f5.6,iso1000

The cattle Egret was a nice end to a busy day with lots of birding and  a few nice images. Next morning had me visiting yet another birding hotspot Lundo Park, which is a large set of saltpans near to Faro. Black shouldered Kite and Booted Eagle soaring behind the lake near to the farm where I had parked gave good views, with a Kingfisher zooming around the lake. Purple Swamp-hen was spotted. Several warbler species gave brief glimpses, Blackcap,Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff,Cettis warbler and a nice view of a female Sub-Alpine warbler. I tried for some Chiffchaffs along the road but everytime I got close a passing car or  jogger flushed the bird. Today was turning into a no image day. Good numbers of Flamingo and Spoonbill were present with all the usual waders on the saltpans and a fly through Osprey adding to the raptor list. Spotless Starling were feeding around the farm buildings. I had enough of the constant passing joggers and cars and called it a day. The birding was good but for photography, it proved very poor. Back to Casa Rosa for some r&r.

Lundo Park

Part 3 coming soon…