Greta-Spotted-Cuckoo-20090420_3675, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
This is one of my favourite species, (and there are some mating-action shots on my birding blog if you want to see them!). A pity that my typing isn’t as good as my camera and that I spelt its name wrong ….
Zitting-Cisticola-20090315_2754, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Most of my photos to do with birding I post onto my birding blog, but this was such a nice shot of a Zitting Cisticola collecting nesting material that I thought I’d post it here too.
Red-rumped-Swallow-20090309_2690, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Fresh back from Africa, I found this Red-rumped Swallow preening itself just outside Santa Clara while taking the children to school a few days ago …. OK, it has nothing to do with the Quinta, but they’re one of my favourite species and I hope that they breed again with us this year. I s’pose this picture is pure self indulgence - I just want to be able to see it when I next open this blog!
Gt-Bustards-20090310_2711, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Black-bellied-Sandgrouse-20090310_2698, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
The two pictures above were taken a few days ago when I grabbed a day off with Daniela and Carolina; and where did we go ….? To the Plains of course!
We saw some wonderful birds but I thought I’d just tickle your fancy with the above two piccies of two of our flagship species around here.
The flock of Sandgrouse we counted at 31, which shows improvement and the Gt Bustards, 47, ditto. Fantastic to see them both increasing in numbers even if they are being squeezed as regards habitat. Hard work by a lot of people; so sad then to hear that the male Spanish Imperial Eagle in the area, who bred successfully last year, was found shot two weeks ago ….
Black-winged-Kite-(Elanus-caeruleus)-20090228, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
I’m blown over by this picture. Lovely to get a decent photo of this rare species at last!
Black-winged-Kite-2-20090228, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Black-winged-Kite-3-20090228, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Black-winged-Kite-4-20090228, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Black-winged-Kite-5-20090228, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
One of the beauties of living here is that wherever one is or whatever one’s doing there’s bound to be something nearby that lifts one’s spirits …. this morning it was this Black winged Kite above which was hunting just beside the petrol station in Santa Clara when i was filling up ….
