Nightingales, despite their name, don’t just sing at night. In late spring and early summer we have heard them during the daytime on a couple of walks in the east Algarve. Their song is loud, and has an array of whistles, trills and even gurgles. Spotting them however is not as easy. They are an elusive bird preferring to hide in dense vegetation. It was therefore with immense joy that I spied one in the middle of a bush beside the Rio Séqua in the middle of Tavira.
I even managed to take a photograph, although as you can see it is not the best birding shot. The bush was incredibly dense!
However I have photographic proof I have seen a nightingale, and this image compare I thought a great experiment for Jude’s B&W nature challenge today. I do hope one day to see a nightingale (rouxinol-comum in Portuguese) more clearly, but in the meantime I will cherish this memory. By the way this is not the time of year to see them in Europe, as they are a migratory bird so currently in warmer climates to the south. They won’t return from Africa until late March/early April.
I’ve heard but not seen one, but I totally missed this post last week 🙂 🙂 The bird looks thoroughly indignant at having its photo taken.
I think it was shocked I found him – he was outside the bus station!
🤣🤣
I would love to see a Nightingale. Love it! 🙂
Thank you, and hopefully one of these days you will 🙂
I hope so! I pinged you this morning in my Bird Weekly post. Thanks for the inspiration. Took me a while to write it but it has been on my mind for months. 🙂
ooh I will look out for that 🙂
Looking forward to squares. I’m so busy right now with the shop that I’d have to go on auto-pilot. LOL! 🙂
So glad shop going well. Hopefully you’ll have a few days to prepare in between Christmas and the new year xx
I’ll make it work. I was hoping we could get away for a few days during that time, but I’m not sure if I feel safe enough to do that. Florida reached 1 million positive cases since March today. Ugh!
Yikes, can totally understand why you don’t want to travel. Stay safe and hope you can have adventures closer to home instead xxx
Thanks Becky! Gotta get through the holidays. 2 more weeks of busy with the shop and things should slow down after that until after the New Year! Hoping 2021 sets up better for the whole world. 🙂
You sound as busy as my stepdaughter. Hope Christmas is relaxing for you xx
I hope so too. My BFF & her hubby are coming for Christmas. I’m excited because they have never visited for the holidays. We always go to Tampa. 😊
Wonderful 🙂
The compare tool works very well with this, Becky. And I enjoyed the windy sound on your older post. I haven’t seen or heard one either.
Thanks Debbie 🙂
I’m finding it really interesting as to what works in image compare.
You’ll have to join Margaret in Berkley Square one spring to listen out for nightingales!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen one.. 😉
You’re not alone! I actually think the Robin and Blackbird have more beautiful songs
Excellent photo, Becky. Birds are hard to capture at the best of times, so well done.
Thank you 😊
So nice to see what it looks like Becky! Lucky you!
Lucky indeed!
I didn’t believe they exist either. Never seen one nor knowingly heard one, so thank you for proving me wrong. Lovely capture with the beak open so we know it is singing 🎶
Still can’t believe I saw it, we heard it first. Poor MrB didn’t see it as his side of the bush too dense! If you fancy listening to ones I heard in the countryside follow the links in the first paragraph xxxx
I will 😁
Well done in continuing and come spring,lockdowns permitting,Tavira here we come!
In Olhao,the devastation continues,with the waterfront dug up from west to east,trees lopped or cut down,and pollution worse.
Despite all of this,last group of swallows flew through 2 weeks ago,and the storks and kestrels are showing great interest in their nests.
Flamingos plentiful,and some spoonbills still,while the flocks of various waders are arriving all the time.
Covid has really arrived in the Algarve,in the last weeks,coincidently 10 days after the 27,000 crowd for the F1 near Portamao.
Keep safe and early compliments of the season.
Yes fingers crossed by Spring covid19 is behind us 🙂
That’s great news about the flamingos, swallows and kestrels, but oh no about the waterfront. That’s dreadful. Is this part of the park improvement or plans to build more on the salt pans?
They’re just replacing the gardens, Becky, but it does look a holy mess! 🙂 🙂 However, friends have made encouraging noises about Olháo and I shall be popping through, hopefully to see the Christmas lights, one day next week.
ooh maybe it is good we are not there then!
Marvellous☺️🤟
Thank you
Oh how brilliant. I have never knowingly seen a nightingale. I am however willing to believe they exist, unlike kingfishers which are obviously the stuff of myth and legend. Great entry for Jude’s challenge. She should be pleased!
They are very brown with hardly any markings so definitely a bird that most of us have never knowingly seen! Have you heard them – the two posts I linked to in first paragraph both have my recordings
I don’t think I have. And I certainly wouldn’t round here – they REALLY don’t frequent this area.
You’ll have to listen out when you’re in London in the spring. They’re still regularly heard in Berkley Square
😉
PS Myths and legends?! Try this https://beckyinportugal.com/2018/03/03/eurasian-kingfisher-portugal/
Fabulous fakes Becky. Isn’t technology wonderful? Seriously – great shots indeed
🤣
Oh dear. Margaret, it seems Becky and I are colluding with the myth-breaking tales 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hee hee, I’m going to bombard her one of these days with even more mythical tales!
😉 😉 😉
Like you, I have never knowingly seen a nightingale, Margaret, but many years ago, I recall being told “that’s a nightingale” when a bird was singing, so they do exist
I believe you … maybe.
😄😄😄
🤪