Last week we headed west to the Portuguese coast and
the Ria de Aveiro for a few days’ rest and birding: we stayed at a hotel on the
banks of the Ria and had the huge privilege of being able to birdwatch from the
balcony at dawn. Birding in pyjamas. Bliss!
We did also get dressed and venture out, but the
shelter and vantage point in the mornings was most welcome: as you can tell
from the overall light our trip coincided with part of the Saharan dust storm
which blew over most of the Iberian Peninsula, tingeing all with a yellow glow and
adding to the general watery atmosphere.
So here are some photos taken from the balcony before
and after a copious scales-defying breakfast (I decided to postpone the diet
for a while), and others taken from the tracks along the shore of the Ria.
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Room with a view
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Lesser black-backed gull
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Whimbrel and Redshank
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| Spoonbill |
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| Turnstone |
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| Redshank |
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Greenshank and turnstone in flight
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Grey plover
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Young gull and Turnstones
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| Flamingoes |
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The marisquieros
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Tern, not sure which
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Black headed gulls
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Sanderling with Great egret
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| Sanderling |
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Flamingoes feeding
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| Whimbrel |
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Ancient Cork oak
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| Cormorant |
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Purple heron
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| Palm nesting White stork |
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All this on the first day. On the second day we
decided to explore the Nature Reserve of Sao Jacinto Dunes, a planted forest of
pine and juniper and some interesting plants, which straddles the landmass from
the Ria to the Atlantic Ocean. At times
above the wind in the trees could hear bird song but we didn’t linger much as we
followed the winding paths through the forest. Finally, a boardwalk led us to
the dunes and a view of the ocean… and then we headed back along the return
path in time for lunch.
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Sao
Jacinto Dunes Reserve
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After lunch the wind got worse and as we drove along
the seafront we spotted over a hundred gulls on a pontoon. We parked, and saw
that alongside the gulls were a group of Turnstones, and just about every other
surface was covered in huddled waders. This
must be what happens on board a ship in a storm: the birds look for somewhere to
rest and shelter and if there’s a birder on board it’s like Christmas. I watched until my eyes watered (dust storms,
duh, what did I expect?) and tried to still the camera enough for a few decent shots.
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Lesser black-backed gulls
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| Turnstones |
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| Sandpiper | | | | | |
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Dunlin and Ringed plover
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| Dunlin |
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Dunlin and Ringed plover
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Sandwich tern & Black-headed gull
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Next day before we left the hotel I was entertained by
a Little egret just below our balcony, and later, after crossing to the the mainland, I
spotted a Glossy ibis. It landed on plastic covered silage stacks in a boggy field
surrounded by agricultural equipment, and on the ground there was a large
group. A wonderful way to end our visit.
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Little egret
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Glossy ibis
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