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Birding Report 1st October to 15th November 2005.

Courtesy  of David and Jean Hammocks.

This is the FIFTH successive year we have stayed at Casa Rosa, having a 6 week stay from 1st October to 15th November. As always the warmth of the stay outdid even the warmth of the weather. The primary object of our trips is to bird watch, usually a hectic fortnight spent hurtling around the local sites, but having a 6 week stay was able to do things in a more leisurely fashion, visiting some sites several times without the feeling of being rushed. Construction of new roads means that sites which took about two and a half hours to reach can now be reached in one and a half hours (casa Rosato Cape St. Vincent), likewise the Cota Donana in Spain is only one and a half hours away, although this was not visited this year as not many birds there due to the dry weather.

Most of the best sites are within 30 minutes drive of Casa Rosa, which makes it such an ideal base. Apart from a whole day trip to the Cape the only trips undertaken which entailed all-day drives were to Castro Marim-Mertola-Castro Verde and back to Casa Rosa, a trip to Pinta Umbria in Spain and an all day trip around the Martim Longo area.

This was the 17th time we have been to the Algarve (yes we do like it), and the 17th time I have looked in vain for Little Bustards, BUT managed to see 40+ on the Mertola-Castro Verde road.

I wish to thank Roger for information on what was about locally and i am indebted to my dear friend Miguel de Sousa for continuing to find new sites each year, as well as superb restaurants; and for continuing to teach me the subtleties of Portuguese  wines.

We managed to see several Lifers on this trip, shown in Bold in the listing below. The birds are listed in no particular order; just as we came across them. All birds were not seen at the same site in one visit, but over several trips. It is hoped the listing will show just what is still around in October-November on the Algarve.