The sentinels of a Portuguese spring had been singing. Whereas strolling the canine I might hear Serin, Wren and a number of other Black Redstarts proclaiming their territories.
Mid-February is an early begin for spring – even this far south – however spring is spring, and birds had been ready. I made a decision to return to the Lezírias and particularly, go to EVOA. My plan was to do analysis for this put up, so I made a decision to enter as a typical mortal and never use the digital move. And regretting that call virtually immediately because the gate was closed.
Fortuitously, my wait was brief and nicely spent with singing Frequent Chiffchaff within the eucalypts and the adjoining rice fields filled with Shiny Ibis and different waders. After a couple of minutes a automotive appeared, the gate opened, and I used to be off in direction of EVOA. From the gate to EVOA is about 9 kilometres. There have been birds singing in every single place. Corn Buntings had been corny, Zitting Cisticolas had been zitty and Horned Larks had been happily nowhere to be seen.
An earlier put up describes the right way to get to EVOA. EVOA has a sequence of statement hides across the lakes and ponds. It prices € 14 to get in and there are a number of choices, together with guided excursions and a pictures conceal. After a espresso within the wonderful cafetaria I hitched a trip to the primary conceal with Luisa, one of many guides at EVOA. She’s enthusiastic and extremely competent and I can guarantee you that’s the norm. If it’s your first time visiting EVOA it may be value your whereas to go for the guided tour.
The ponds had been filled with birds as traditional with plentiful Frequent Snipe in addition to Ruff, some Dunlin, Stilts and some geese, together with Purple-crested Pochards. Western Swamphen are frequent and Flamingo often visits the ponds.
Apparently, a chicken of prey set off a psychological experiment. It began with a Western Marsh Harrier flying a thermal. Wait a minute, it’s very mild on the again, virtually like a Booted Eagle. Might or not it’s? Footage had been taken to substantiate.
After which one thing unusual occurred… For some motive, my focus continued on the again feathers and the sample, and the apparent harrier confirmed increasingly more traits of the eagle. All of the optimistic area marks that shouted out “harrier” I utterly ignored. Information Luisa did point out the “masks” however nonetheless I saved doubting and discussing. How might this chicken be the rest than a harrier? Tunnel imaginative and prescient? Idée fixée? This phenomenon is just not uncommon. Kenn Kaufman describes an analogous case of mass psychosis in his e book Kingbird Freeway (a Frequent Redshank with black mud on its beak, I consider). I additionally realise I could also be insisting on a psychological motive whereas I simply is perhaps an incompetent birder. It’s potential.
Or maybe I get too previous and decrepid. However hey, it has been mentioned earlier than: all is just not misplaced! At EVOA I met the long run – a younger man named Francisco. Eleven years previous and already placing me to disgrace. Not simply me, many birders can take a leaf out of this younger gentleman’s e book. A meticulous observe keeper, a eager eye and ear, spectacular data and most significantly: member of the native BirdLife associate SPEA. Though my credibility was at an all-time low, he was good and well mannered to not rub it in. We exchanged notes on the place to search out good birds in southern Portugal. I actually hope he’ll discover the Nice Bustards.
The encounter made me suppose. Birders are usually very good individuals – at all times keen to level out a particular chicken, lend a telescope, and unlikely to start out a struggle. Shouldn’t we put birders accountable for working the planet? Working example: former emperor of Japan, His Majesty Akihito, is an avid birder. I’ve seen pictures of him in lodges and hides all around the world. He’s at all times smiling. His reign was dubbed Heisei. Heisei being an expression of attaining peace worldwide. His father was not a birder and everyone knows that his reign couldn’t be farther from “peace worldwide”. Come to think about it, Putin in all probability has a cat. He lets it poo within the neighbour’s backyard, little question claiming the backyard belonged to him in 931 AD. Out of precaution I gained’t title the Russian birder greatest suited to interchange Vladimirko – he might find yourself dying of pure causes.
With these joyful ideas I continued birding. The reedbeds will likely be filled with warblers by the point you learn this put up however February is simply too early. My checklist for the day had a superb 50+ species on it however I’ll return for that Savi’s Warbler, Nice Reed Warbler and Eurasian Reed Warbler bonanza that’s about to start out quickly.
Please observe that I’m not beneath any contractual obligation to provide dangerous pictures – I’m simply not superb at it. Fortunately, I’ve pals to assist me out. All passerine pictures on this put up had been taken by my pal José Leal. The bigger birds had been photographed by Brad Nelson.
