Algarve and the Hoopoe

Looking for Hoopoe's in the Algarve is one of our favourite pass times. We can sit for hours in the car just talking, and waiting to see if one appears in their favourite hunting grounds. They are very shy, and one false move on our part can startle them into flight, so we partially cover the car with green camouflaged netting, and play the waiting game, with our sandwiches and drinks and usually plenty of optimism. We had seen several on the wing, but not close enough to get any decent shots. Towards the end of out stay, I was feeling a little despondent, but then one evening as we were making our way home, Americo spotted one by the side of the road in the  far distance, so he slowed down, whilst we pondered what course of action to take. We decided to chance getting as near to them as we dared, .....whilst I positioned myself, camera at the ready with my head and shoulders through the window, believe me it was awkward, but as it turned out, worth all the waiting and discomfort.

THE HOOPOE   UPUPA EPOPS
 

Unexceptional shots I know, but considering the distance we had to keep, and the quickly fading light,  they're  not bad.
 

This is probably the best pose.
 

You might wonder what he was doing on this dusty stone filled road,...
 

Well, he was probing for earth worms and mollusks under the stones , but on the move all the time up the road.
 

We saw the Hoopoe roll some over with his long pointed beak, and although we were too far away to get a good eye view
 

of what he found, there are many snails in this area, which make a hearty meal for a Hoopoe.
 

I was glad he was out on the road, and not hidden by the dense undergrowth on the verge.
 

At one point I thought he was going to disappear into the tall grass, but the stones were more of an attraction.
 

Every so often I shouted STOP, as my over zealous husband got too near, and from past experience I know this would spook it into flight.
 

Keeping our distance, was the only reason he did not move on to his other hunting places,..
 

and we followed him for at least ten minutes,...
 

and then to our delight, he was joined by another Hoopoe!
 

As this post is already rather long, I'll share more shots of them both, on another post.
 

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Whilst on our holiday in the Algarve, I noticed this shop, and immediately thought of my friend Debbie. I thought that today would be a good time to share it, and perhaps make her feel a little better. Take care.:)

 

 

A field of purple wild flowers, for you Debbie.:)
Get well soon.
 

The Reed Bunting

Back in May, I took some photos of a little bird in a wild rose bush. I didn't know what it was at the time, but now believe it to be a female Reed Bunting. It had a pleasing chirruping song, and when I spotted it, seemed to be calling for a mate, which makes sense, as they do mate as early as May.

The female Reed Bunting   ( Emberiza  schoeniclus )
 

They are about the same size as sparrows, but have longer tails, streaked underparts, and a buff coloured line above the eye.
 

Females have a brown head, and buff throat throughout the year.
 

Reed Buntings prefer to roost in large numbers in reed beds or wet and marshy areas, where they can be safe from night predators.
 

The female makes the nest, and can start to breed as early as May. We saw this one in the wetlands of Alvor, in southern Portugal.
 

Algarve and the Little Owl.

As I was walking Mel one day, I passed the place where I had seen the Little Owl last year in the hope of seeing it again, but the old pylon must have been demolished, and been replaced by a new one. I was always on the lookout however, and then I saw it, or another Little Owl, perched on top of a pole, way out in the middle of a field, far from the road. Would you believe that I didn't have my camera with me!! As there was more traffic than usual, I had had to put Mel on her leash, so had left my camera in the car. Back at the car, I retraced my steps to the field, and as luck would have it the Little Owl was still there.

This is the road where I walk Mel.
 

At first the Little Owl appeared to be asleep, with it's eyes closed,...but as their eyes are light sensitive, I expect...
 

he was just protecting his eyes from the bright sunlight whilst moving his head from side to side, surveying the land.
 

I was delighted to have seen this Little Owl, and walked back to the car, with a spring in my step, never dreaming that I would see it again later in the evening.  

Americo taking photos of an ant colony,...
 

and this is his photo.
 

A male Stonechat
 

A Whitethroat Warbler.
 

Another encounter with a Little Owl on our way home. His eyes were wide open this time.
 

The light was not only fading, and  I was on the wrong side of the sun, to get really clear shots of the Little Owl.
 

Nevertheless I'm still glad I captured these images, and that he stayed long enough for me to get these four shots,...
 

and then he flew away, and I never saw the Little Owl again,...perhaps next year I will be just as lucky.
 

   WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
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Jays and other Garden Vistors

For a change, I am sharing some photos I took this morning in the garden.

Juvenile Jay photo taken through the window.
 

Adult Jay, photo taken from my hide.
 

Makeshift birds feeder, but it works!:)
 

Hungry Greenfinch.
 

 

 

Hungry Adult Jay.
 

Trust the squirrel to displace the yellow food container!
 

A Meadow Brown butterfly.
 

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Algarve, and a pair of Bee-eaters.

The day after we arrived in the Algarve, we headed for the Bee-eater site we had discovered last year. I was really lucky to see a Bee-eater fly onto the branch of a tree only a few meters away from where I was hiding behind the trunk of our car, which we had parked in a small opening off the road. Within just a few minutes another Bee-eater joined it's partner, enabling me to get all these shots, and as you will have noticed, I later chose one for a new header.

I would also like to wish all my American friends a very happy 4th of July. Have a good one!!:)

BEE-EATERS  ( MEROPIDAE)  ARE MONOGAMOUS.

DURING A NESTING SEASON, AND IN SEDENTARY PAIRS, THEY STAY TOGETHER FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

DURING COURTSHIP, THE MALES FEED LARGE ITEMS TO THE FEMALE, WHILE EATING THE SMALL ONES HIMSELF.

BREEDING PAIRS NEST IN LONG VERTICAL NESTING BURROWS, THAT THEY THEMSELVES, EXCAVATE.

THE TUNNELS ARE AT LEAST ONE METER DEEP, TERMINATING IN A NEST CHAMBER.

THEY MAY BE REUSED, IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, BUT MOST PAIRS WILL EXCAVATE A NEW ONE.

WE NOTICED  THAT MANY BURROWS HAD BEEN ABANDONED, BUT IT WAS EASY TO FIND THE NEW NESTS,....

AS THERE WERE HEAPS OF EARTH UNDER THE NEWLY EXCAVATED NESTS.

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