On Tuesday, our main walking day, we decided to return to our favourite section of the Ribeira de Odeleite. The weather was looking superb for a short hike, and whilst half of me is worried about the continued lack of rain here and the impact this is having on the reservoirs and environment, the selfish half was delighted by the glorious blue skies and sunshine. It was warm enough for Tshirts by the end of the walk.
It turned out to be fantastic for birding too. Usually in the hills we lose sight of the birds with milliseconds of them landing in the trees, but on Tuesday the camera and I were in our element. Everything came together, and I managed to take a couple of great shots. Others were less great but I include for our birding memories. Do click on the gallery for names and to see the pictures properly.
One of our joys of returning to the same hike again and again is that we can take the time to notice the changes, and as a lovely friend discovered on her own recent mindfulness stroll you can also spot things you have not seen before.
And don’t forget to listen too! It was like a spring day on Tuesday, and every living thing seemed to be rejoicing. You may need the sound turned up for the final ten seconds to properly hear the bees.
And yes you can hear the beeping of a machine during the second video, it was over a mile away on the other side of the river. They are creating terraces, hopefully not for avocados or oranges but who knows.
Unsurprisingly given the sounds and the sights it took us ages to reach the halfway point, but Moinho das Pernadas also happens to be the perfect picnic spot so it was probably a good job we had taken so long to get here. MrB was more than happy to stop for lunch. The mill was renovated in 2011 but we have never seen it open and it is beginning to look a bit tired these days. EU monies may have restored the mill but unfortunately it would appear there is no long term funding for ongoing maintenance. I think they missed a trick not turning it into a self catering lodge!
We sat here for ages listening to the birds around us and watching the Cattle Egrets on the far bank and a Dab Chick on the river. All adding to the 20 ish species of birds we would identify on the hike, and there were a few more which we couldn’t positively identify. No wonder we had to drag ourselves away from this spot to continue our 6 mile circular hike. Almost immediately we were joined by a buzzard, and the ravens also returned to challenge my camera.
They were not the only birds I photographed on our return, I caught some fabulous ones of cormorants posing with a grey heron and also observed a fascinating territorial battle over a metre of river bank between two common sandpipers. You’re going to have to wait though for another post for those!
Nearly all of our hikes in the Baixo Guadiana are ones we have created using the superb Instituto Geográfico do Exército 1:25000 map series, and we’d certainly recommend this as an approach for regular walkers here. However if you are visiting for the first time or prefer to use guide markers use this site. It has everything you could possibly want to know about the Baixo Guadiana including details of excellent trail walks.
Wonderful photos
thank you
What a delightful place to visit becky! Love the birds and sounds. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much. We’re just so happy we discovered it.
Absolutely!
How delightful. I disturbed what I think was a sparrowhawk in my garden the other day – hunkering down next to the conservatory – and my son actually got photos of one in his garden making short work of a pigeon! Stonechats we have seen on Marazion beach and Long-tailed tits in St Ives, but sadly not in my garden. It is mesmerising watching birds.
You are so right about them being mesmerising. I can lose so much time just watching them 😊 hopefully one of these days the long tailed tits will visit your garden. We occasionally have them in ours, never stop moving in England. Whereas these Portuguese ones settle for a few seconds
I can see why you enjoy this particular walk so much. The scenery and surroundings are lovely.
It’s the hidden side of the Algarve, so glad we’ve discovered it
You can completely lose yourself just wandering, looking and listening, can’t you? Happy days!
You certainly can 😊
Fabulous. It looks wonderful, and you can edit a great video! Impressed!
Ahhh thanks Margaret, it’s the software rather than me though!!
Another wonderful ramble Becky. I do love the Long-tailed Tit and the Stone Chat. Those Buzzards must have been so high. The Mill is a sad story. Maybe one day……Thanks for taking me along 🙂
Thanks Brian, those two are my favourites. And yes it’s so sad about mill, especially after all the time, money and effort that went into renovating it.
Fabulous, as ever. Worth missing lunch with us for 😉
Awwww thanks. We did think of you both as we sat on the wall. 🥰
I think my favourite of these is the Long-tailed Tit, it’s a great shot and the bird looks so cute 🙂
That’s my favourite too 😊
Oh Becky, you are in such a gorgeous area of Portugal. Your series of photos are so pretty and serene looking. I love your first shot of that blue sky 😀
It is a wonderful part of the country, and yes that first shot was literally as I got out of the car. Really must clamber up to look round the ruin again, years since I last explored it.
The ruin? I thought you said the mill was restored
Sorry for the delay in replying WP had hidden you in spam ;-( Yes the mill is restored but Cee mentioned my very first photo, and that has a ruin in it!