Portugal

Just got back from a long weekend to Portugal, we were based at Vilamoura in the Algarve, but we also visited Alentejo and Spain. The weather was glorious, cloudless for much of the time and temperatures in the region of 26'C. From a wildlife point of view there were many hightlights, more fantastic views of Great Bustards from the Castro Verde to Mertola road. We saw a flock of around 50 Black-bellied Sandgrouse at close range, and a Great spotted Cuckoo sitting on a rock eating what looked like a Worm Lizard. Perhaps most pleasing for me was a Bluethroat at Ludo, near Faro.

Bluethroat at Ludo, Ria Formosa and Great Bustards between Castro Verde and Mertola.

White storks near Mertola and Spanish Terrapin

Worm Lizard and Marsh Frog.

Large Psammodromus and Kentish Plover.

Barbary Nut Iris at Felesia beach near Vilamoura and continental race Cormorant at Quinta do Lago.