Mother and chicks

The summer has started strongly and several birds continued their migration north. Others, that choose the Algarve wetlands to breed and the result is on this beautiful photograph. Mother and chicks in Lagoa dos Salgados.

Migratory birds are disappearing

In 2008, 11% of migratory birds were classed by BirdLife International as threatened or near-threatened on the IUCN Red List. Red List indices show that these migrants have become more threatened since 1988, with 33 species deteriorating and just six improving in status.
Analysis of the main threats shows that there are two key pressures which affect nearly 80% of migratory species. These pressures are agriculture which results in habitat degradation and loss, and biological resource use which includes threats such as deforestation and unsustainable hunting. Other important threats include collisions with wind turbines, , electrocution by powerlines, deliberate persecution, poisoning, pollution and disturbance during the breeding period, and. Many existing threats are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

source: BirdLife International

Glossy Ibis in Salgados

Plegadis falcinellus in April, in Lagoa dos Salgados, Algarve.

Extremely slender but round -winged in flight, elegant, round bodied, but long necked on the ground, the Glossy Ibis looks almost black unless seen closely in good ligth. Then, it shows reflections of bronze and deep coppery red. Migratory specie, most european birds winter in Africa. Gregarious, nests colonially in trees, feeding on fish and amphibious along marshlands.

You can find it in South Portugal for example, in Ria formosa Natural Park, Lagoa dos Salgados and Castro Marim

Iniciation to Digiscoping – pratical issues

Digiscoping is a photography method using a digital camera and a telescope.
On the next 16 and 17 May it will occur an initiation course about digiscoping, in Faro, between 9h30 and 17h. This course will be lead by Julio Caldas and Faisca.
For more information, please contact Alexandra Lopes, by e-mail alexandra.lopes@spea.pt or 213 220 430.
This event will be organized by SPEA with the support of Natura Algarve and Câmara Municipal de Faro.

Curso de iniciação ao Digiscoping – aspectos práticos

Digiscoping é um método de fotografar baseado numa técnica simples que associa a câmara fotográfica digital à ocular de um telescópio.
Nos próximos dias 16 e 17 de Maio irá decorrer em Maio um curso de iniciação ao Digiscoping. Este irá decorrer em Faro, entre as 9h30 e as 17h. Os formadores serão Júlio Caldas e Faísca.
Para mais informações e inscrições por favor contacte Alexandra Lopes: alexandra.lopes@spea.pt ou 213 220 430.
Este curso, organizado pela SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o estudo das Aves) conta com o apoio da Natura Algarve e da Câmara Municipal de Faro.

Artic terns and Audouini’s gulls in Ria Formosa

During a boat tour, they were just waiting for a photograph…

Photos were taken by Fernand Schoos. Thank you!

Trip Report 21st April

We went out for a bird wacthing activity on 21st April. Blue sky, a good temperature of 19 oC, and a special guest: a reporter of the oldest and most popular birds magazine “Bird Watching Magazine”. We spent the morning on a bout tour in the Natural Park of Ria Formosa, going out of Olhão until Faro. During the afternoon a brief visit to the Natural Reserve of Castro Marim were you can also spend hours looking for all type of birds.

Check list PNRF 7h – 13h
Cormorant Phlacrocorax carbo
Litle white egret Egretta garzetta
Grey heron Ardea cinerea
White stork Ciconia ciconia
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Ringed plover Ch. Hiaticula
Little ringed plover Ch. Dubius
Kentish plover Ch. Alexandrinus
Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola
Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria
Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferrugínea
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Black tailed godwit Limosa limosa
Black tailed godwit Limosa laponica
Wimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Redshank Tringa totanus
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Audouini gull Larus audouinii
Lesser black – backet gull Larus fuscus
Yellow legged gull Larus cachinnas
Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicencis
Litle tern Sterna albifrons
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna


Check list Castro Marim 18h-20h
Litle white egret Egretta garzetta
White stork Ciconia ciconia
Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Platalea leucorodia
Spoonbill Ostraceiro Haematopus ostralegus
Ringed plover Ch. Hiaticula
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Black tailed godwit Limosa laponica
Redshank Tringa totanus
Black winged stilt Himantopus himantopus
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Little gull Larus minutus
Audouini gull Larus audouinii
Yellow legged gull Larus cachinnas
Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicencis
Litle tern Sterna albifrons
Red legged partridge Alectoris rufa
Coot Fulica atra
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava
Hoopoe Upupa epops
Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Magpie Pica pica
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis