The area around Lisbon takes in two large river estuaries. We expected to see lots of waders but didn't see very many at all. Those we did see were a long way off as much of the coastline is inaccessible to the public.
Curlew
Grey Plover
Sandpiper
Sanderlings
Turnstones
Raptors were also few and far between compared to southern Portugal. A few Buzzards and Red Kites but little else.
I think this Kite had a lizard of some sort.
A brief glimpse of what I think is a Marsh Harrier
A lifetime tick for me. A Black-shouldered Kite. We were driving down a country lane when I saw what appeared to be a white Kestrel hovering. We slammed the brakes on and backed up but it already flown to some nearby power lines. We waited for ages for it to quarter the field again but it disappeared into the distance.
My gallery here
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Hi-
just to add; The 1st 'sanderlings' are Little Stints
:)
S
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Thanks for the corrections Michael and Seymour. It was the lack of a hind toe that led me to think they were Sanderlings.
Some scenery from the trip.
Cabo Espichel , second most westerly point in mainland Europe. (Cabo da Roca , a few miles further north , being the most westerly.)
The Atlantic in one of its' gentler moods.
The Memory Chapel
The Sanctuary of Our lady.
Mountain road in Arrabida national park. Surprisingly popular with cyclists considering the steep inclines.
The tiny town of Portinho
The lower coastal road has to be protected from rock falls.
One of many fine sandy beaches
wild flowers are abundant
An exceptionally wet winter had filled many rivers that are normally dry.
Some of the cork Oak trees which Portugal is famous for.
The bark is harvested every ten years to make corks for wine bottles.
Eucalyptus were imported and planted for paper making. They are now causing problems by taking too much water out of the ground.
The plains around Evora are where we hoped to find Bustards but were unlucky this time.
That's too photos many already.
Stunning pics Galatas! Looks like a beautiful place with beautiful birds.