March 28th - Alentejo and Algarve

Male Rock Bunting

During the last week Anne and I have been in Portugal doing a spot of birding, unfortunately our break coincided with Storm Hugo with 40 mph winds, showers and cool temperatures. There were very few migrants to be seen which probably explains their lack in the UK. Blackcaps had begun arriving in small numbers on 27th and there were a few Swallows to be seen but generally it was very quiet.
We did however see some excellent birds with the highlight being good views of 2 juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagles being mobbed by a Black Kite. Other birds seen included 8 Great Bustards, 2 Purple Swamphens and 4 Great Spotted Cuckoos.