Coto donana a dream come true

Ever since I was a small child reading about this place and its birds I've been longing to visit, but somehow never made it. A 5am start and we raced along an empty motorway to this amazing place, Alan had White headed duck on his mind. A bird he has never seen despite his extensive travels. I just wanted to take in the place and get some photos of Purple gallinule. We came across bird filled marshes and one had 105 PG but all were distant. The spectacle however was amazing in some places you didn't know where to look first. Alan did not get his WHD nor me a decent PG shot but we both agreed it was worth the early start and enjoyed our day.

 

Allans in the Algerve days 3 and 4

Ria Formosa was our venue for day 3, more saltpans at Tavira, a mixed reserve at Quinta Do Marim and farm and park land at Vilamoura. Target bird of the day was Purple Swamphen we drew a blank but it was still good birding.
Day 4 and we went to the Monchique hills and the Sagres peninsula rapters were few but we did see Dolphins and more good birds.

Alan and Allan's Algarve action days 1&2

Just back from a trip to the Algarve with Big Waters legend AJJ, we had a week there and it did not
disappoint. The very first photo of the trip was the Azure winged magpie below, and they just kept coming. The first morning was spent around the Alvor estuary, then it was off to Lagoa de Salgado . Day 2 was around the Castro Verde area where 5 lifers were enjoyed in the first hour, also a sky that seemed full of Monties and 2 Spanish Imperial Eagles. The Great bustards were mega and one did the "foam bath" display, but the dirty Little bustards only showed in the distance. 2 Black vultures rounded off a good visit to the LPN reserves and the bridge at Mertola was home to lots of Lesser Kestrals.

common seen many times the largest group being 37

typical selection of wetland birds

Calandra lark first photo of day 2 and second lifer of the day

lifer 5 and its not even 9 am

Lesser kesser des res 

6 in a scope view