Algarve - Portugal - Part One

Date: 18th May - 24th May 2016

Location: Albufeira - Algarve (Portugal)

Weather: Blue Skies, Light Wind, 26-32 Degrees

Other Species: Red-Rumped Swallow, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Azure-Winged Magpie, Jay, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Swift, Spotless Starling, Yellow-Legged Gull - Of Note

Observation: After a successful trip to the Algarve in October, we returned to Albufeira on 18th May. We got up early on the first day and went for a short wander around the hotel grounds and weren't disappointed! Within minutes there were plenty of Hirundines including Barn Swallow, Swift, House Martin and even some Red-Rumped Swallow, this was our first tick of the holiday! They were busy flying around in front of us and resting on the wires for a few minutes.

The road leaving the hotel grounds was shrub-land and again proved successful. This stunning Azure-Winged Magpie posing nicely against the local houses.

The oily-looking Spotless Starlings was our second new tick for the holiday, there were plenty of pairs collecting nesting materials on the chimneys, there call evens includes a little wing dance, very cute to watch them!

We couldn't miss out the Jay's, there were a group of 3 who were present most days, they favoured the Conifer tree's, all other birds scarpered when the Jay's were present!

There is always a abundance of these stunning Sardinian Warblers who were in full song on this trip, we heard them everywhere we visited even on the beach.

Sardinian Warbler - Video

On the return to the beach board-walk we heard a unfamiliar bird song, we initially thought Dunnock/Wren, but looked above us and stopped this stunning Serin, unfortunately he was in the shade but our 3rd new tick!

 On the beach, the morning roost of Yellow Legged Gulls were still present, this 2nd summer Yellow-Legged Gull was stunning in the morning sun!

On 20th May, we tried our luck with the boat trip to see some Dolphins, our first attempt was unsuccessful in October.There were plenty of fly-past Gannet's who were following our boat for a few minutes, this was taken with a 40mm lens, so it shows how close they were!

After a hour of searching, the skipper found a pod of 15+ dolphins, both Common Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins were swimming under and around the boat, amazing creatures!

Part 2+3 - Lagoa dos Salgados + Vilamoura
Coming Soon!

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Holly Blue and Speckled Wood Finally!

Date: 16/05/2016

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Blue Skies, Sunny

Other Species: 
Buzzard, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Linnet, Stock Dove - Of Note
Butterflies:
Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Large White, Small Whites, Peacock, Green Veined White.
Dragonflies: Broad Bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselle, Large Red

Observation: 
Last walk before Portugal and main objective Holly Blue and Speckled Wood Butterflies.
Normal stuff along brook and up to Seven Acre although seem to to be more Whitethroat about at least 5 or 6. At Seven Acre stood looking for Holly Blue in normal place and after 10 mins, 2 appeared! Was beginning to get worried, while watching this Greater-Spotted Woodpecker was foraging in oak tree.

Saw this, bad picture sorry. 

At crossroads got jumped on by dogs so this the best I could do!!

Out through village at Church heard 2 Blackbirds alarm calling making a right racket and on further investigation saw this Buzzard obviously after something Mr Blackbird didn't want him to get!

At Herony, 5 Grey Herons all out of nest having some stretches in the sunshine.

Grey Wagtails at Lower Waterfall seem to had a successful breed with one Juvenile hopping and wagging across waterfall.

Upper Lake Mute Swan still on nest with 7 eggs seems normal amount, although looking back through photos previous years only had 5 hatch.

We'll wait to see what happens this year, any day now.

Really pleased to see Dragonflies as well. 

This a great looking Broad Bodied female just one seen.

Out through Woodland and at ponds as I hoped Damselflies were out as well mostly Large Reds but sure they will be a few others soon.

Conservation Path looking good just after I took this shot a Hare darted across in front of me, typical!

After Park Farm on to lanes and this Buzzard drifted over lanes with a pair of Rook in hot pursuit, just out of shot.

Almost home and a Speckled Wood appeared, mission complete! Speckled this year on patch seem very late in fact a month later than the last 4 years on my records!

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Greater Spotted Cuckoo @ Portland Bill + Brown Agus @ Newton St Loe !

Date: 
14th + 15th May 2016

Location: Patch (Newton St Loe) plus Portland Bill and Cerne Abbas

Weather: Blue Skies, Temp 16-22c

Other Species: 

On Patch: House Martins, Barn Swallow, Yellowhammer, Whitethroats, Skylark - Of Note.

Brown Argus, Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Peacock.

Portland Bill: Greater Spotted Cuckoo, Kestrel, Skylark,

Red Admiral - (Flying Visit)

Cerne Abbas: Duke of Burgundy, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Peacock + Red Legged Partridge.

Observation:

Our blog starts on Saturday, while waiting to go to work the blue skies were calling couldn't watch crap TV, so headed out round patch. Starting on Sunnybank just inside Bath Mill the hill was alive with Butterflies - Brimstones, Small White, Large Whites and Orange Tips.

Walking out along brook and chatting to another local telling me stories of 3 Otters at 5.30am!! I can see a early start coming very soon! Carrying on up to fields the normal Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Skylark all present. At Village Martins and Barn Swallows all making visits to the muddy puddles collecting nesting mud.

These 2 doing a bit of mating as well !

Such colourful birds !

After checking out lakes with nothing new headed back to Sunnybank this Peacock looking wonderful !

But spotted this my first thought was a Common Blue which would have been great as first for the year but.......

On closer inspection I'm thinking Brown Argus. Spots on the leading edge of the hind-wing are close in the Brown Argus, almost forming a "figure of eight", but are more spaced apart in the Common Blue. Also it's missing spot on fore wing !

So a new patch butterfly tick Whoohoo! Unless any one tells me otherwise ?!

Day Two: After working till 3am and then waking at 10 am i could hear the call of the Greater Spotted Cuckoo ! 

Was gonna go to Cerne Abbas Anyway but Weymouth is on the way isn't it ?

After the bird has been spending time on Reap Lane I headed that way only to check Twitter and find it was now very mobile on Lower Hut fields by the Obs, so parked up and walked down over fields. Only 3 people looking from road into obs garden when I got there but almost immediately saw the bird! Sun was head on and bird was distant and nearly always hidden but it was without a doubt a Greater Spotted Cuckoo !

This my best, well it was 250ft away my little 400mm not quite up to it but nice,

job done !

Walking back up to Van saw this stunning Red Admiral.

The other part of my trip was forgot my wallet, food, coffee and was running very low on fuel! Must have been still asleep when I left! O well off to Cerne Abbas.

On arriving, bit more cloud in the skies but plenty of Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper about, I particularly like the Grizzled skipper a smart butterfly.

On walking along the Cerne Giants hillside soon spotted a Duke Of Burgundy in fact spotted 4 individuals on this trip.

A Dingy nicely perched.

But main target was the Duke incidentally my name sake (Named after John Wayne )

A cracking butterfly.

Did the circuit walking along hillside a few times but couldn't find any Marsh Fritillary but did spot this Small Heath.

Last Duke of Burgundy, but come on, a beauty !

Then while walking back along saw a Red Legged Partridge skulking its way up the hillside, saw 2 more at farm on return to van.

 So all in all a great couple of days Patch tick (Brown Argus) and a Life Tick 

(Greater Spotted Cuckoo)

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Bit of Slimbridge then Rodbrough Common

Date:
 12/05/2016

Location: 
Slimbridge/Rodbrough Common

Weather: 
Hazy to Blue Skies then bit Cloudy 10mph wind at Rodbrough.

Other Species:

Lesser Whitethroat, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff plus normal Slimbridge goodies.

Butterflies: 

Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Small White, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Green Veined white, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper.

Observation:

Bit of good weather forecast and still down on last years Butterfly count so Rodbrough Common was on the cards. But first Slimbridge, well it is on the way! 
First hide and the Common Cranes this year have decided to nest right in front the Rushy Hide! Maybe a safer option than last year attempts? 
This is Sedge the female tending to the nest and 2 eggs. 

While watching a Buzzard soared overhead causing some commotion !

Was only a quick visit but in the Knott Hide, Cygnets looking very cute, following mum.

Also heard a unfamiliar call and song and a Lesser Whitethroat popped up or it didn't, kept its distance at back showed briefly then hid again !

Fly past Mute looking stunning with some great light !

At the South Hide this pair of Avocets in full on mating mode.

Ooo er !

Starting to heat up now even the Flamingos feeling the heat,

Mind you water in there stinks !

After my whistle stop tour round, well 2 hours called back in to Rushy and Sedge sat on eggs now being a good mum. I'll come back soon to see hows she doing around 26th/27th May.

About to leave and a Holly Blue appeared!! My first of the year whoohoo !!

In fact saw 2 on Ivy.

Also at Slimbridge I saw Green-Veined White, Small White and Orange Tips.

With the Sun and Blue Skies now headed off to Rodbrough, on arriving the wind was quite strong at around 10/14 mph! Not good for Butterflies but headed off anyway hardly any butterflies on the wing. In the many dips and troughs at Rodbrough found a Green Hairstreak, also first of the year!

 In same area found this Small Purple Barred and one more very speedy Hairstreak.

There's that sound again! Another Lesser Whitethroat 2 in one day, excellent.

Walked the complete circuit around Rodbrough checking out usual spots but drew a blank nothing, headed back to where I saw Green Hairstreak and found a Dingy Skipper that was it! Maybe a mixture of heavy rain night before and the wind?

Orchids looking good with many cowslips covering the Common.

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