It’s June, the summer starts, which means spring is ending. Bird life is thriving and this month I bring some of the common birds to spot in the Algarve.
White Storks
Of course, White Storks are almost everywhere. However, now is the time to watch the nests as the newborns are stretching their wings to prepare for their first flights. They are almost the same size as the adults, but the giveaway is both their legs and beaks are black, whereas, in time, they will change to the red colour of the adults. This is a great time to be watching these large birds take their first flight.
Goldfinch
This year, they seem to be everywhere I go. Often you don’t spot these beautiful small birds, but you’ll certainly hear them. They are very chirpy, tuneful and constantly twittering, usually from the branches of trees where they gather in small flocks. They can be seen anywhere from city parks to open countryside. Their bright red face with contrasting black heads and bright yellow wing patches makes them unmistakable.
European Bee-Eaters
This is certainly the Algarve’s summer treat for any nature lover. The magnificent European Bee-Eater. This exotic looking and sounding bird can be found anywhere. Often large flocks gather in the same location every sunrise and sunset. Once found, it is a delight to watch. They never usually travel far from water. Red, yellow, turquoise, brown and blue makes up the magic of these amazing birds.
The incredible colours of the European Bee-Eater can sometimes be unnoticed in the bright Algarve sun, but if witnessed early morning or late afternoon, the colours are remarkable. The male differs slightly from the female with more chestnut brown wing patches.
Common Kestrel
This is a strange bird to appear in this list. However, either the same Kestrels have been following me everywhere I go, or I have seen many of them. It seems every day I spot Common Kestrels hunting. These small birds of prey are often spotted hovering, looking for prey. The male differs from the female with a chestnut back and grey head, whereas the female has various shades of brown. It’s great to see them in such numbers as they have been declining in recent years.
Swifts
Martins, Swallows and Swifts are all very common in the Algarve, but the Swifts are incredible. They have loud, scream-like calls, especially around the time of sunset. They are easily differentiated between Martins and Swallows as their wings are boomerang-shaped and very long.
There are four species found in the Algarve – the Common, Pallid, Alpine and White-rumped. The Alpine being the largest with a distinctive pale underbelly and dark brown chin “strap”. The White-rumped is a rarer sight in the Algarve, but both the Common and Pallid Swifts can often be seen together, both similar, with the Pallid being a slightly lighter brown. A great fact about Swifts is they are always in flight except when they breed.
By Craig Rogers
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Craig Rogers is a wildlife and nature photographer from Wales now living in the Algarve, offering photography workshops. For more information, photographs and his blog visit www.craigrogers.photography
