Other non-passerines

Portugal trip, 14th April to 1st May 2006

Systematic List
Part V: Other non-passerines

Note: All dates refer to April 2006 except where specified.
Species in pink are likely to be of most interest to British birders

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BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus (Guincho-comum)

Not uncommon in the Algarve, Tejo Estuary and Lagne de Óbidos. The farthest inland record was 1 on the River Guadiana south of Alcoutim.
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LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus (Gaivota-d'asa-escura)

The commonest gull, although most were immature birds and there was no evidence of breeding locally. Largest count was 115 at Ponta da Areia on 26th.
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YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis (Gaivota-??)

Not nearly as common as I had anticipated, though not difficult to find. At least 6 at Ria Formosa on 27th and 10 at Castro Marim on 28th were probably breeding in the vicinity. Apart from the Algarve birds were also identified at Lagne de Óbidos and sites around the Tejo Estuary.
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GULL-BILLED TERN Gelochelidon/Sterna nilotica (Gaivina-de-bico-preto)

Up to 8 hawking over fields east of Mourão (in Spain) on 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Two between Mértola and Castro Verde on 25th.
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CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia (Gaivina-de-bico-vermelho)

One at Castro Marim on 26th and another or the same at a different part of Castro Marim on 28th.


Caspian Tern, Castro Marim, 28th April
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SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis (Garajau-comum)

Two at Lagne de Óbidos on 18th and 2 at Forte de Rato (Tavira) on 28th.
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LITTLE TERN Sternula albifrons (Andorinha-do-mar-anã)

By far the commonest tern encountered with up to 15 at several sites in the Algarve. Also one at Ponta da Erva on 19th.



Little Tern, Castro Marim, 26th April
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BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger (Gaivina-preta)

One at Castro Marim on 28th.


Black Tern, Castro Marim, 28th April
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BLACK-BELLIED SANDGROUSE Pterocles orientalis (Cortiçol-de-barriga-preta)

Five seen in flight east of Mourão (in Spain) on 23rd and 4 seen in flight at Apariça (between Mértola and Castro Verde) on 25th.
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WOODPIGEON Columba palumbus (Pombo-torcaz)

A total of only 6 seen at 4 locations, all in the east.
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COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto (Rola-turca)

Fairly common including 20 at Óbidos on 18th and at least 100 at Ponta da Areia on 26th (where 2 taken by a domestic cat on 28th).



Collared Doves, Ponta da Areia, 26th April




Collared Doves providing easy pickings for a local cat, Ponta da Areia, 28th April
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TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur (Rola-comum)

A total of 20 seen at a variety of locations, the most being 7 between Mértola and Castro Verde on 25th.


Turtle Dove, Pancas, 19th April


Turtle Dove, Ponta da Areia, 26th April
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RING-NECKED PARAKEET Psittacula krameri (Periquito-de-colar)

One or two were seen in Lisbon (near the Botanic Gardens) on 17th.
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BUDGERIGAR Melopsittacus undulates (??)

One feeding with a flock of Collared Doves at Ponta da Areia on 26th and 28th was presumably an escaped bird, unless this species has now joined the list of naturalised species in Portugal.


Budgerigar, Ponta da Areia, 26th April
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GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO Clamator glandarius (Cuco-rabilongo)

A very bedraggled bird in heavy rain east of Mourão (in Spain) on 22nd and a much finer individual between Mértola and Castro Verde (near Viseus) on 24th.
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CUCKOO Cuculus canorus (Cuco-canoro)

A total of 9 birds seen or heard at a variety of locations.
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SCOPS OWL Otus scops (Mocho-d'orelhas)

One was heard calling outside our hotel at Mértola on the evening of 24th.
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LITTLE OWL Athene noctua (Mocho-galego)

About 18 seen including six between Mértola and Castro Verde on 24th.




Little Owl, Pancas, 19th April


Little Owl, between Mértola and Castro Verde, 24th April



Little Owl, Azinhal, 28th April
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TAWNY OWL Strix aluco (Coruja-do-mato)

None seen but 2 heard in the Algarve: 1 at Quinta da Lua (near Tavira) on 26th and 1 at Cabeça on 28th.
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NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus (Noitibó da Europa)

Five heard churring: 2 just north of Quinta do Bispo (Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo) on 15th, 1 west of Mértola on 24th and 2 at Quinta da Lua (near Tavira) on 26th.
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RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus ruficollis (Noitibó-de-nuca-vermelha)

In the Algarve, 1 heard distantly near Cabeça on 28th, at least 3 but probably 5-6 heard at Ludo on 29th and 1 heard at Quinta da Lua (near Tavira) on 29th. One of the birds at Ludo was watched hawking over the tree-tops, albeit briefly.
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SWIFT Apus apus (Andorinhão-preto)

Although the majority of Swifts seen were not fully identified, Common Swifts were indeed common at a number of localities.
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PALLID SWIFT Apus pallidus (Andorinhão-pálido)

This species was identified in Lisbon (30 on 17th), Tomar, Barroca d’Alva, Elvas, Ria Formosa and Castro Marim and suspected elsewhere.


Swift (left) and Pallid Swift (right), Ria Formosa, 27th April
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ALPINE SWIFT Apus/Tachymarptis melba (Andorinhão-real)

One at Dogurno (along the N2 between Cavalos and Castro Verde) was the only sighting of this species.
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KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (Guarda-rios-comum)

One at Pancas on 19th.
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BEE-EATER Merops apiaster (Abelharuco-comum)

Common everywhere with over 250 seen. Best counts included 38 near Ludo on 15th and a flock of 60 east of Mourão (in Spain) on 23rd.


Bee-eater, Pancas, 19th April



Bee-eater, east of Mourão, 21st April


Bee-eater, Castro Marim, 27th April







Bee-eaters, Ludo Farm, 1st May
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ROLLER Coracias garrulus (Rolieiro-comum)

Only seen at 1 site, east of Mourão (in Spain): 1 on 21st, 1 on 22nd and 2 on 23rd.



Roller, east of Mourão, 21st April


Roller, east of Mourão, 22nd April
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HOOPOE Upupa epops (Poupa)

Common with small numbers seen or heard at many locations – a total of 55.



Hoopoe, Ludo Farm, 29th April
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WRYNECK Jynx torquilla (Torcicolo)

One at Ludo Farm on 29th was probably a migrant.
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IBERIAN GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis sharpei (Pica-pau-verde)

One flew over the N2 between Cavalos and Castro Verde (at Fornalha) on 16th and 1-2 were seen in flight at Tareja on 29th. The Iberian form of Green Woodpecker is very distinctive and perhaps a candidate for elevation to full species status.
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GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus major (Pica-pau-malhado-grande)

A total of 10 seen at six locations. Three birds included 1 drumming at Ludo Farm on 29th.
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LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus minor (Pica-pau-malhado-pequeno)

Two birds were drumming near the River Guadiana at Elvas on 24th.
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Click here to go on to Part VI of the systematic list: Passerines

Part I: Wildfowl and Gamebirds
Part II: Grebes to Flamingo
Part III: Raptors to Bustards
Part IV: Shorebirds
Part VI: Passerines
Part VII: Other non-avian wildlife

Or to return to the overview of the regions visited, including very brief details of the main birding sites:

Algarve I - 14th to 16th April
Lisbon - 16th to 21st April
Alentejo - 21st to 26th April
Algarve II - 26th April to 1st May