My apologies to all my nature followers out there as it has been over a month since I last shared a birding post. You can thank MrB for this one today as he found for me this week another fabulous book on collective nouns and one of the first I came across was ‘a dissimulation of birds’.
The first gallery were all spotted in a couple of hours in the saltpans near our apartment. These saltpans are a favourite birding location for us because of the ease for visiting, and the range and numbers of birds seen. However the increase in tourists who use it for running and walking is beginning to have a negative impact. For example last winter the number of flamingos visiting dropped significantly because they were continually disturbed by tourists.
The second gallery was taken a day or two later in one of the most popular locations for birders – Lagoa de São Lourenço. Again it only took a couple of hours to see all of these. You can visit anytime, but get here early if you wish to avoid crowds in the hides and have a chance of seeing the Little Bittern or Water Rail. It was late morning by the time we visited, which is why we saw neither on this occasion. For their names simply hover your mouse over the photographs, but to enjoy them in full I recommend clicking on the gallery.
We did actually see more than I have shared here, but the variety and the odd rarity in these photographs I hope gets across why the Ria Formosa is considered a bird-watching hotspot. For more information on bird-watching in the Algarve I’d recommend picking up a copy of this 2012 publication produced by the Algarve tourist board, alternatively do explore my blog as over the past few years I have shared quite a few bird posts!
Wonderful photos, and a dissimulation of birds is now one of my favorite collective nouns!
Thank you so much 🙂
It is a great word isn’t it!
An exceptional word!
I find it difficult to get good bird photos. The subjects often won’t co-operate by keeping still long enough. These photos are lovely.
I know!!! You should see my cutting room floor!
Ha! I know what you mean. 😀
Beautiful birds, and great photos capturing them as well. I’ve not been good at spotting them myself, although there are good places to spot them here. I think you’ve inspired me to try harder!
oh wow what a compliment, thank you Susan 🙂
Am tempted to get on a plane right now and come over and see these wonderful birds!
If you delay hopping on board that a plane for a couple of weeks you will then have the opportunity to bump into restless Jo as well as seeing all the birds!
Well, unfortunately it’s only a pipe-dream, but I’ll be joining you both virtually
What a fabulous dissimulation Becky 🙂
Thank you Gilli 🙂
Such amazing feathered friends!!
Thank you Roda, they all rather splendid aren’t they 🙂
Such wonderful bird photos – makes me quite envious. I can’t tell you just how much I have enjoyed these, and I have shown them to all my friends who’ve called round.
oh thank you so so much 🙂 we are just so lucky where we go that there are so many and so many of them are happy to be photographed
Love your photos.
Thank you so much Sherry 🙂
You’ll have to find a new location, but this isn’t bad if you’re quick off the mark. 🙂 🙂
Hope yesterday went ok. Sending hugs!
Alentejo is calling us!
Thank you so much for all your support – Saturday went well. Mum was delighted.
You’ll have visitors 🙂 🙂
yay!!! have to make it happen then xxx
Must dash now out into the rain – boring morning in town but hopefully fun with Mum this afternoon
Damp here too. Prrobably going to meet the ‘lasses’ for a quick catch up at dinnertime. 🙂 Take care!
What fun 🙂