A Whimbrel in Alvor.

After seeing a Whimbrel on the shore one day in Alvor, we went back on the following day, and saw it again further down the coast, and I managed to get some closer shots. It was low tide, and this more remote  part of the coast must have been a favourite place to forage, as we saw the Whimbrel again on three different occasions. 

THE WHIMBREL   NUMENIUS  MINUTUS.
 

This large wader, is very like a Curlew, but smaller, and darker, with a stronger head pattern, but belongs to the Curlew genus.
 

In fact,  at first glance I thought it was a Curlew, but there are several differences.
 

The Wimbrel has a dark cap, with pale central stripe, dark eyestripe, with pale band above eye.
 

The bill is blackish, and downcurved...but..
 

usually more bent, less smooth curved, than the Curlew.
 

It feeds by probing soft earth for small invertebrates, but also eats insects and berries.

 

Here you can clearly see the pale head stripe.
 

All these shots were taken on the second of December.
 

One last shot, and then he got out of range.
 

Many thanks to our gracious hosts, do click on their links to see more birds and other critters, and join in the fun if you have anything to share. WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
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Cormorants in Ferragudo 1

The fishermen were hauling in their nets on the quay in Ferragudo, which attracted the many Cormorants waiting for scraps on nearby boats. Some Cormorants began to swim with the gulls, in the direction of the larger fishing boats, as I managed to get these shots.  I saw quite a number of them whilst on holiday, both by the shore, and in the wetlands, but this was the nearest I came to seeing how long in the body they really are at close range..

The race to the large boat.
 

You can see the length here.
 

 

 

Who couldn't love a face like this!:)
 

 

 

AWW!!
 

And you can see it's long body here.
 

You can see it's long rounded tail here.
 

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Victor with the Spoils.

Taking a walk along the shore, I saw a squabble taking place between a gull and a Heron but wasn't quite quick enough to get the action shot of the Heron stealing a fish from the gull, but did manage to photograph the victor with the spoils.

On the bottom right hand corner, you can see the Gull's shadow as he flies away
 

Head first, as always!
 

The Heron will swallow the fish whole....
 

tilting his head, to do so.
 

There it goes!!
 

You can actually see the fish going down.
 

It was an easy steal for the Heron.
 

He just stood there for a while, digesting his meal I guess, and ...
 

looking out to sea...
 

Satisfied with his cheeky snatch.
 

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A Seagull in Ferragudo

Hello Everyone! I do hope you all had a Happy Christmas, and enjoyed your New Year's celebrations. We stayed much longer in the Algarve than we had planned, ...but had a brilliant time, and only returned in December. Now that the festivities are over, I'm ready to share some photos taken on our holiday, and start visiting my blog friends again. I did miss you all,...and thank you most sincerely for leaving such lovely comments on my last post.  I wanted to return to blogging sooner, but it just wasn't possible. I hope that you and your families are all in the best of health, and that 2018 is a good year in every way, for you, and your loved ones.

This contented looking seagull caught my eye one day when we visited the fishing village of Ferragudo,..
 

I could not resist his relaxed composure...
 

this was his place, and it was his for as long as he wanted to take in the view, and feel the warm breeze on his feathers. 
 

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The Old Lighthouse

After this weekend I will be taking a break, as we are going to the Algarve for a couple of months holiday. I have fallen behind with my visits, but will try to visit everyone who made a comment on my last post before we leave.  Happy blogging everyone, but most of all, I hope you are safe wherever you are.

 

Gulls, Garden Flowers and visitors.

In May this year this Yellow Legged Gull was perched on our roof most mornings, but then, I did throw it a few scraps of toast to keep it happy.
Some garden flowers, a lizard, butterflies, a bug, and as many shots as I
could find of the gulls, but unfortunately I didn't take very many this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A FENCE FOR GOSIA'S  MEME "FENCES AROUND THE WORLD"

 

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