Last week we had an even better birding session than on that extraordinary day in November 2016. As well as the usual abundance of waders and flamingoes, there were multiple kingfishers, hen harriers and marsh harriers. I even got to photograph a Hoopoe. The real highlight though was something we’ve been hoping for ever since that day in November 2016 when we saw it briefly. Yup last week we finally got to hear and photograph the elusive Water Rail (Frango-d’água).
Last time I didn’t get to photograph it and MrB only saw its tail. This time though we got to see it in all its glory. The Water Rail is smaller and slimmer than a Moorhen, and is much more distinctive with its chestnut-brown and black upperparts, black-and-white barred flanks, and a long red bill.
This might be a fairly common bird but is so secretive you really have to be in luck to see one, let alone photograph this bird. Now we were some way off and it kept disappearing into the vegetation so my photographs are not brilliant. However it was so exciting to see it I thought it a perfect choice for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. For more information on where we saw it, and for details of other great birding sites in the Algarve click here.
Now you’ve broken the no-see curse you’ll probably see more! Lucky you though, I’ve heard them and had a glimpse or two of a disappearing rear end, so very envious of your sighting and you got photos!
We’ve not been back yet so will let you know how successful we are. I suspect not very!!!
Like Juse, the best we get around here are long tailed tits 🙂
Happily watch them for hours 😊
I’m also glad you waited.
Some things are worth waiting for. Well done!
Certainly are 😊
Wonderful post for birds. Thanks Becky. 😀
Thank you Cee 😊 so glad I got this post in on time. Been thinking about it all week!
Water chickens, huh? They look as though they’re enjoying it. 🙂 🙂
Dad would have been 90 today. I feel like I should have marked the occasion on the blog but it didn’t really fit. I shall raise a glass to him later.
Great name isn’t it!
And sending hugs to you, and raising my lunchtime glass to him. He’s probably looking down chuckling away that you have had to spend the day indoors!
Congratulations.
Thank you Sherry 🙂
Congratulations! Always a good day when you see something unexpected. We had three long-tailed tits in the garden last week, never seen any in here before and it was lovely that they spent half an hour feeding on the suet balls. No photos though, they are very fast!
oh I love Long Tailed Tits – we see them here and back home, but like you never got a photograph. One of these days . . . . . . I am getting close to getting one as I recognise the sound they make when they arrive. Just need to remember to go and grab camera and not just watch them!!
Yes, they are noisy little critters. I have got one photo of one taken a couple of years back near the beach in St Ives, a bit hidden behind the tree branches though.
Ever so lucky. The Rails here are also too quick to get a good photo.
Made MrBs day as he has never seen a whole one before!
Excellent 🙂