Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas

Naturetrek Tour Report 22 - 28 December 2015

Sanderling by Neil McMahon

Iberian Magpie by Neil McMahon

Mosaic by Qiling Xu Great Bustards by Neil McMahon

Tour report compiled by Neil McMahon Images courtesy of Yvonne Marceau, Neil McMahon, Carol Robertson, Qiling Xu & David Wilkinson

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

Tour participants: Neil McMahon & Nuno Barros (leaders) with 16 Naturetrek clients

Introduction

Day 1 Tuesday 22nd December

Half the tour group, accompanied by Neil, caught the 6.30am Easyjet flight from Gatwick North Terminal. At bag drop, scanner plates were used. It made for an interesting experience when the scanner broke down! Our flight landed at Faro airport about 9.15am. Once we had retrieved our bags we met Nuno who was waiting for us. Once the vehicle hire was completed we set off, travelling to Sagres along the A22 and A21, and spotting a few birds en route.

We arrived at lunchtime and refreshed before checking in at our hotel, the fabulous Memmo Baleeira. The remainder of the afternoon was spent walking around vegetation and the cliff-top area, finishing in Sagres Harbour, and we birded until dusk.

The second flight with the remainder of the group left the UK in the early evening after an hour’s delay. Once at Faro, we travelled straight to the hotel, arriving about 11.45pm. A hot supper was laid on by the hotel before we retired for the night.

Lots of birds were seen during the day included a juvenile Glaucous Gull in the harbour. It had dark centres to its primary tips suggesting some Herring Gull genes in its heritage; such birds are known as Nelson’s Gulls. Other birds included Common Kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, about six Common Buzzards, a few parties of Iberian Magpies along the A22, Northern Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Grey Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, White Stork, lots of Yellow-legged Gulls, a pair of Peregrine Falcons coasting along the cliff, Thekla Lark, Sardinian Warbler, Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler), several Black Redstarts and lots of Stonechats. We also saw a few butterflies including Large White, Wall Brown and Painted Lady.

The landscape was dominated by carpets of invasive Hottentot Fig (introduced South African invasive ground cover), orange-laden trees, vineyards, olive groves and grazing sheep and cattle.

Day 2 Wednesday 23rd December

Today was mostly sunny with some cloud and a little breeze. The temperature was 15-160C. We had breakfast at 7.30am then gathered outside the hotel at 8.30am for our excursion. We were staying local to the Sagres area today, particularly as some were still a touch travel-weary from the day before.

We started at Boca do Rio, a small valley about a 30-minute drive away, off the N125 travelling east. In this super little valley we saw Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and lots of wintering birds including Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, European Robin, Song Thrush, distant Eurasian Crag Martins, Thekla Lark and Western Marsh Harrier. We also heard a well-hidden Water Rail, and Cetti’s Warbler.

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

We then drove to Martinhal on the east side of Sagres and ate our packed lunch at a wooden-clad beach restaurant which was closed for the winter. Birds here included Common Waxbill, Water Pipit, Common Kingfisher, Grey Plover and Kentish Plover together with common birds of the Portuguese seaside.

Our next birding location was the Sacred Valley (Vale Santo) and immediately we found a female Little Bustard and a pair of Peregrine Falcons. We also saw more Friar’s Cowl flowers which we had seen initially at Boca do Rio. Other birds spotted mostly from the side of the farm-track included 48 or so Red-billed Chough, Northern Raven, lots of Common Kestrels and Common Buzzards, about 80 Eurasian Skylarks, Black Redstart, Red- legged Partridge, Corn Bunting, two White Storks, Grey Wagtail and more Spotless Starlings. Humbugs and mints were distributed in the vehicles to ensure our energy levels were suitably enhanced to deal with the constant procession of birds passing us by!

We finished our birding day at the captivating Cape St Vincent peninsular. It was rather cloudy so the anticipated sunset was a touch disappointing, but the bird list kept on growing with the addition of five Great Skuas passing by, four Black-headed Gulls, a constant passage of Northern Gannets, lots of Yellow-legged Gulls and just a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. A perched Peregrine Falcon provided nice views whilst a calling Rock Pipit, quite a scarce bird here, kept itself well-hidden in the buttresses below.

Back at our hotel, we had our evening meal at 7.30pm before a log call about 9.15pm, and we retired to bed at 10.30pm.

Day 3 Thursday 24th December

Today was sunny and clear with a temperature between 12.5 and 170C. We again had our breakfast at 7.30am before gathering at reception at 8.30am.

We took a drive up to Monchique, the highest area in the Algarve. En route we stopped at an area which was particularly good for the now mostly resident population of White Storks. Here we also saw a monster flock of 50 Iberian Magpies! We then drove higher and through the small but traditional town of Monchique and up to the 900-metre summit. Here there is a small restaurant/café with toilet facilities and after a coffee we took a wander around for an hour which produced three fabulous Blue Rock Thrushes, a couple of Black Redstarts, two Rock Buntings which only showed poorly, European Stonechats, about four Dartford Warblers, and a few Common Blackbirds and Eurasian Wrens. The views can be stunning from this high point with the majority of the the Algarve to the south laid out as far as the eye can see.

We then drove to another viewpoint about one and a half kilometres down the road and ate our lunch. Eurasian Crag Martin, Eurasian Siskin and Common Buzzard were birds we noted amongst the bread crumbs, cake and fruit! From there it was a short drive via Monchique to see Algerian Oak (Quercus Canariensis), an evergreen oak with acorns and very rare. It is native, but there are very few left and it was an opportunity for some of us to embark on a little tree-hugging! A couple of Common Firecrests and Eurasian Nuthatch were bonus birds.

A comfort break at an Intermarche store nearby provided a big bonus in the shape of a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles patrolling overhead, and a noisy and industrious flock of twenty Eurasian Siskins.

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

We then drove south to the coast and Salgados Lagoon, also known as Pera Marsh. Three Iberian Hares showed nicely and the freshwater lagoons provided fine views of Western Marsh Harrier, Bluethroat, Ferruginous Duck, a variety of other ducks, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Caspian Tern, a small numbers of waders, and a variety of passerines including plenty of the ever-constant Common Chiffchaffs. Several Little Owls were spied on our departure just before dusk, and we arrived back at our hotel about 6.30pm.

In Portugal, Christmas Eve is traditionally when the festive meal of the season is provided and we had an enjoyable four-course Christmas evening meal commencing just after 7.30pm. Fitting it all in meant a rather late finish and our log call was not until about 10.30pm by which time all of us were pleasantly tired! Comfortable day temperatures, lovely winter sunshine, fresh air and good food makes for tired eyes, and nothing to do with the local wine. Well that was our excuse anyway!

Day 4 Friday 25th December

It was Christmas Day and we had our Christmas hats to wear! Our venue today was the Ria Formosa (estuary near Faro Airport), Quinta Do Lago (golf club lagoon and surrounds) and saltpans east of Faro. Although it was Christmas Day, there were no concessions with timings, and again it was 7.30am breakfast followed by an 8.30am muster.

We drove west on the N125 and A22 to Faro. A Black-winged Kite was spotted off the A22 and the usual White Storks were around their nests at the Monchique turning.

Ria Formosa at Faro beach was our first venue and two adult Audouin’s Gulls promptly flew over with other gulls. Lots of waders were visible from the roads. We walked a short way on the board-walk, scanning the mud and shallow waters. The nearby dune system provided some interesting plants and those that ventured towards the beach saw Great Skuas cruising past over the waves.

On the estuary we saw a Great Crested Grebe, two very distant fishing Ospreys, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Red Knot, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Dunlin, Common Ringed Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Eurasian Spoonbill, Sandwich Tern and Crested Lark. For a couple of focused observers, a flock of Greater Flamingo provided a wonderful pink haze to the horizon as they flew around the saltmarsh and then off towards Faro Airport. Some of the waders were quite confiding and it was a distinct pleasure to watch typical British estuarine waders in winter plumage without the need to don warm clothing, gloves and hats, and freeze in the greyness of a British winter day!

Tearing ourselves away from the estuary, we navigated through Faro to find a saltpan complex further east, near Olhao. Here a pair of Common Shelduck, hundreds of Dunlin, about ten Little Stints, Sanderling, hundreds of Common Ringed Plovers, about 30 Kentish Plovers, five European Golden Plover, about 40 Black-tailed Godwits, Common Redshank, two Common Greenshanks and a few Common Sandpipers awaited us. In addition there were Black-winged Stilts, a Western Marsh Harrier or two, distant flocks of Red Knot and Bar- tailed Godwits, five noisy Caspian Terns, about 30 close Greater Flamingo, three or four Water Pipits, Mediterranean Gulls, and a perched adult Audouin’s Gull. It was then time for lunch, but it was difficult to munch through the pack-up with so many birds on view.

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

Following a fuel and comfort stop, we then drove a circular and at times confusing route in order to gain access to the lagoon and hide at Quinto do Lago. Whilst doing so we had time to peruse manicured gardens and huge houses; apparently most of these properties belong to foreigners and are empty for much of the time. The fragmented woodland and large gardens provided excellent views of Iberian Magpie, Iberian Green Woodpecker and Common Waxbills feeding on the lawns.

The freshwater lagoon and hide were worth the journey as many of the birds are used to seeing people in close proximity. Excellent views were had of common ducks, Common Snipe, good numbers of Purple Swamphens, a first winter Little Gull, hundreds of Mediterranean Gulls, Cetti’s Warbler, lots of Common Chiffchaffs, at least five Eurasian Hoopoes, seven close Glossy Ibis, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Jay, Water Pipit, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe and several Little Grebes.

After another very full day out and sated with an excellent variety of birds, we drove back to Sagres where Nuno spotted a Barn Owl just outside the town.

It might have been Christmas Day but the hotel staff were there to greet us and provided us with our evening meal. A traditional sugary Portuguese Christmas cake awaited us in our rooms!

Day 5 Saturday 26th December

We had breakfast at 7.30am before departing at 8.30am to the inland town and countryside of Castro Verde on a windy and warm day. It was our longest road journey, about two hours, via the very good A22 and A2 toll roads.

The breezy conditions were good for raptors but many other birds on the plains were in flocks with their heads down. Highlights included flocks of the enigmatic Great Bustard totalling about eighty birds in all, a flock of thirteen Little Bustards which were in the same field of view as a flock of Great Bustards, and flocks of 28 and 20 Eurasian Stone-curlews! A gorgeous adult male Hen Harrier, plenty of Common Kestrels, Common Buzzards and Red Kites provided plenty of excitement. Four distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse were a good find as this species is now very scarce in the area, and the singing larks included several of the heavy-duty Calandra Larks.

Our traditional lunchtime meal in Castro Verde was hosted by a family who opened their home to us. For many it was the gastronomic highlight of our Portuguese adventure! It was a good job we had our vehicles as many of us would not have been able to waddle far given the amount of food on offer!

During the afternoon we scanned the plains and large fields, seeing much the same as in the morning. Our last site was wandering around a hill-top chapel which provides commanding views of the stunning Alentejo landscape. More Great Bustards were seen but the highlight for many was the sight and sounds of hundreds of Common Cranes flying and trumpeting below us. Some domestic pigs in a nearby enclosure appeared to have attracted a Wild Boar interloper! We arrived back at our hotel about 7.20pm.

Day 6 Sunday 27th December

Our last full day in Portugal was very windy, but warm and mostly sunny. We had breakfast at 7.30am and at 8.30am visited Sagres (Baleeira) Harbour for 40 minutes. A cheeky Common Kingfisher fished from the harbour

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

wall and Yellow-legged Gulls provided good views. Three Sandwich Terns proved their flying credentials as they dipped and swerved in the very blowy conditions, and slower Great Cormorants fished the protected waters.

About 9.30am we left and headed to the west coast at Aljezur, an old historical river port, now silted up. Nuno was keen to show us the beautiful Atlantic west coast of southern Portugal and we checked this area plus the nearby Amoreira Marsh and beach during the course of the morning.

A perched and patient Black-shouldered Kite was, for many, the bird of the day. This diminutive but fiercely beautiful raptor posed on some wires stretching away across roadside fields. An Osprey also showed well and other birds included Water Pipit, Cirl Bunting, Common Firecrest, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, European Serin, Thekla Lark and Eurasian Spoonbill. We had our packed lunch here and an errant wind-blown plastic bag was expertly re-captured before we could be accused of littering this lovely area! It was a rather breezy affair on the beaches, but the ever-passing Northern Gannets again made it onto the day-list.

We moved on and a comfort stop at Aljezur provided views of Spanish Terrapin, a hunting Bonelli’s Eagle which disappeared all too quickly after frightening the local feral pigeons, domestic Muscovy Ducks, and Grey Wagtails on the river.

A small patch of pines near Vila do Bispo provided three Crested Tits which eventually showed well, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay and other birds of marginal woodland. The lovely rolling trilling call of the Crested Tits kept us abreast of where to look in the tangled conifers.

For our final location we revisited the Martinhal coastal lagoon where we were hoping for perhaps a wind-blown sea-bird or similar. Instead there were common waders, a fly-through Woodlark, the only one of the trip, and at least two Rock Sparrows which were also the only ones we encountered during the week. And these bulky weaver-like birds signalled the end of our birding experience in the Algarve at Christmas for another year.

Our last night was the traditional evening ‘dine out’. We started with the local rose wine courtesy of the Memmo Baleeira hotel, and then commenced a short migration to a nearby restaurant where we sampled a range of starters. Once our plates were clear and glasses empty, the drift migration continued to another nearby family- run restaurant where we were treated to some more sumptuous Portuguese cuisine.

Day 7 Monday 28th December

We left our hotel at 6am and headed to the airport at Faro. Once at the airport we thanked Nuno for his professional expertise and hard work in sharing his beloved Portugal with us. We then boarded our flights back to the UK where another Naturetrek adventure came to an end.

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

Species Lists

Birds (= recorded but not counted; H = heard only; m = male; f = female) December Common name Scientific name 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa 3 15 2 2 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 2 3 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 20 4 Gadwall Anas strepera ✔ ✔ 5 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ✔ ✔ 6 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 10 7 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata ✔ ✔ 8 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca ✔ 6 9 Common Pochard Aythya ferina ✔ ✔ 10 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 10 11 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 1 f 12 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ✔ 10 1 13 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 14 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 100+ 15 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 30 2 100 15 50 10 16 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 4 7 1 17 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 10 13 20+ 1 18 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 20 6 20 30 ✔ 150 19 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 3 10 10 1 ✔ 20 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 6 5 20 ✔ 21 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 20 ✔ 11 6 22 European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 1 23 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 5 10+ ✔ ✔ 3 25 24 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2 1 25 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1 1 2 26 Red Kite Milvus milvus 15 27 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1 m 1 m 1 2 28 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1 1 m 29 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 1 1 30 Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata 2 1 31 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 5 10 6 10 15 20 32 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 2 33 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2 15 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 34 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 2 3 1 35 Great Bustard Otis tarda 80 36 Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax 1 f 13 37 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus ✔ 38 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 8 15 39 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus H ✔ ✔ 1 40 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra ✔ ✔ 41 Common Crane Grus grus 600 42 Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus 48 43 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 6 44 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 1 6+ 25 6 45 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 75 40 ✔ 46 European Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 5 2 30 47 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 20 4

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

December Common name Scientific name 22 23 24 25 26 27 48 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 1 1 100 4+ 49 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 8 1 30 4 50 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 2 6 51 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 40 40 52 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 1 100 53 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 12 2 54 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 6 1 55 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 2 20 2 56 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 4 2 57 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 1 8 H 58 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2 6 4 4 2 4 59 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 3 2 50 6 60 Red Knot Calidris canutus 100 61 Sanderling Calidris alba 2 1 50 1 62 Little Stint Calidris minuta 10 63 Dunlin Calidris alpina 1 100 20 64 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 4 ✔ ✔ ✔ 65 Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus 1 66 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 25 100 67 Audouin's Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii 3 68 Glaucous (Nelson's) Gull Larus hyperboreus 1 69 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis x ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 70 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus x 3 ✔ ✔ 71 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 2 5 72 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 2 1 4 10 3 73 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 5 3 1 74 Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis 4 75 Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia x ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 76 Stock Dove Columba oenas 15 77 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 3 3 10 15 78 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 5+ ✔ ✔ ✔ 100 79 Western Barn Owl Tyto alba 1 80 Little Owl Athene noctua 4 81 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1 1 1 4 2 82 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 1 8 83 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 2 84 Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpei 3 85 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula kramerii 1 H 86 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 1 2 2 1 20 1 87 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 2 1 2 88 Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki 30-40 10 70 ✔ ✔ H 89 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 2 2 1 90 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 48 25 91 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula 3 2 8 6 92 Carrion Crow Corvus corone ✔ 30 93 Northern Raven Corvus corax 3 15 94 European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 3 95 Great Tit Parus major 4 2 1 2 96 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 2 4 1 1 97 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra 3+ 98 Crested Lark Galerida cristata 4 6 12

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

December Common name Scientific name 22 23 24 25 26 27 99 Thekla Lark Galerida theklae 3-5 ✔ 2 2+ 100 Woodlark Lullula arborea 1 101 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 4 80 12 4 102 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 12 5 1 15 103 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti 2/3 H 2 4 104 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 8 ✔ ✔ ✔ 6 ✔ 105 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 6-7 ✔ ✔ ✔ 106 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 2 ✔ ✔ H 2 4 107 Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata 5 H 108 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala 10 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 109 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 2 1 110 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 1 3 2 111 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 2 1 112 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor 50 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 113 Common Blackbird Turdus merula 5 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 114 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 2 3 3 1 2 2 115 European Robin Erithacus rubecula 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ H ✔ 116 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 3 117 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 10 3 2 3 118 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 119 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 10 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 120 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 1 m 3 121 House Sparrow Passer domesticus x ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 122 Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia 2+ 123 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 30 2 12 124 Dunnock Prunella modularis 2 H 3 125 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 2/3 2 1 3 126 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 5 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 127 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 10-12 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 128 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 1 H 4 1 129 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus H 130 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 6 6 6 ✔ ✔ 131 European Serin Serinus serinus 10 10 ✔ 20 ✔ ✔ 132 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 H 4 6 ✔ ✔ 133 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 10 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 134 Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus 20 2 1 2 135 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina 15 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 136 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra 40 ✔ 6 ✔ ✔ 137 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia 2/3 138 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus 2

Mammals (RK = road kills)

1 Western Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus RK 2 Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis 3 3 Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon 1

Reptile & Amphibians

1 Common Toad Bufo bufo 1 2 Spanish Terrapin Mauremys leprosa 1 3 Terrapin sp. 8

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Portugal – The Algarve at Christmas Tour Report

December Common name Scientific name 22 23 24 25 26 27 4 Striped-necked Terrapin Mauremys caspica 6

Plants

1 Friars Cowl Arisarum vulgare ✔ ✔ 2 Castor Oil plant Ricinus communis 1 3 Algerian Oak Quercus canariensis 1+

Butterflies

1 Large White Pieris brassicae 2-3 3 2 Small White Pieris rapae 1 2 2 3 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea 1 2 4 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 1 1 3 2 5 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria 2 6 Wall Brown Lassiommata megera 1 1 1

Other Insects:

7 Pine Processionary Moth Thaumetopoeidae sp. ✔ ✔ 8 Millipeede sp. ✔ 9 dragonfly (hawker sp) 1

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Banded Millipede by Carol Robertson

Christmas by Yvonne Marceau Algerian Oak by David Wilkinson

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Plants & other species seen on Naturetrek Algarve trip December 2015 Courtesy of Tony Marshall

At this time of year most plants are not flowering, although it was often possible to find the odd late (autumn) or early (spring) blossom; otherwise identification was made with fruiting bodies, leaves etc. Many more plants would be identifiable in spring or with more time for searching in promising places (it was, after all, a bird trip). Identification was made primarily with Thorogood & Hiscock Wildflowers of the Algarve, which is the fullest guide so far available and with up-to-date on nomenclature, but it is far from complete, many species are not illustrated, and descriptions are often too short to make reliable separations. Reference has therefore also been made to Blamey & Grey-Wilson Mediterranean Wild Flowers; even more to on-line resources; and, in the case of plants growing also in Britain, to our own knowledge of them. Most records are of very common plants, as is to be expected in the circumstances, but to those who, like us, have not encountered the Algarve flora before, none the less fascinating. In the following we have grouped plants by habitat and (except in the case of the planted species) have indicated whether they are also to be found in Britain (quite common in Britain, no asterisk; existing in the wild in Britain (often as an escape) but rare there, single asterisk; not present in the wild in Britain, two asterisks; Algarve endemic, three asterisks). Number of plant species: 212 + 27 planted. ***8, **82, *45, no stars 77. Cameo photos (P...) in separate document.

Matos (dry low scrub on rocky soil, incl. cliffs - the dominant natural ecotype) 43 Arisarum vulgare** Friar's cowl (P28) Armeria macrophylla** Large-leaved thrift Asphodelus ramosus** Branched asphodel (P30) Asteriscus maritimus** Gold coin (P1) Astragalus boeticus** Swedish coffee (ALIEN) (P97) Astragalus tragacantha ssp vicentinus*** Tragacanth (RARE ENDEMIC but common around Cape St Vincent) (P2) Calendula arvensis* Field marigold (P4) Calendula suffruticosa** Woody marigold Calendula suffruticosa ssp algarbiensis*** Algarve woody marigold (ENDEMIC subsp.) (P5) Carlina corymbosa** Flat-topped carline thistle Chamaespartium tridentatum** Carqueja (P98) Cistus ladanifer** Gum rock-rose (P6) Cistus monspeliensis** Narrow-leaved rock-rose Cistus salvifolius** Sage-leaved rock-rose Daphne gnidium** Daphne (P11) Erophaca boetica** Sand milk-vetch (P35) Ferula tingitana** Giant Tangier fennel (P37) Ficus carica* Fig (ALIEN) Foeniculum vulgare Fennel Genista hirsuta ssp algarbiensis*** Algarve pincushion gorse (ENDEMIC subspecies) (P99) Genista triacanthos** Three-spined broom (P100) Helianthemum organifolium** Marjoram-leaved rock-rose (P101) Hyparrhenia hirta** Common thatching grass (P72) Juniperus phoenicea** Phoenician juniper (P42) Lathyrus ochrus** Cyprus-vetch (P17) Marrubium vulgare* White horehound Narcissus papyraceus** Paperwhite daffodil (P45) Olea europaea** Olive (ALIEN) Osyris quadripartita** Wild tea plant (P22) Phagnalon rupestre** African fleabane Picris algarbiensis*** 'Algarve oxtongue' (STATUS Vulnerable) Pistacia lentiscus** Mastic (P26) Quercus coccifera** Kermes oak (P27) Rosa pouzinii** Pouzin's briar Rosmarinus officinalis* Rosemary (P50) Rubia peregrina Wild madder (P51) Salvia verbenaca Wild clary (P53) Scilla autumnalis* Autumn squill Sedum sediforme** Turquoise tails Smilax aspera** Common smilax (P55) Spartium junceum* Spanish broom Teucrium polium** Felty germander Umbilicus rupestris Navelwort

Coatal dunes, beaches, saltmarsh 56 Achillea maritima* Cottonweed (= Otanthus maritimus) (P85) Ammophila arenaria Marram Anchusa calcarea** Italian bugloss (P61) Anthemis maritima** Sea chamomile Antirrhinum majus ssp cirrhigerum*** Snapdragon (ENDEMIC subsp., Aljezur-Cape St Vincent) ( P 9 6 ) Armeria pungens** Spiny thrift (RARE) Artemisia campestris ssp maritima* Field wormwood (P80) Aster tripolium Sea aster Atriplex halimus* Shrubby orache Beta vulgaris Sea beet Cakile maritima ssp aegyptiaca** Southern sea-rocket (P81) Calystegia soldanella Sea bindweed (P82) Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot fig (ALIEN) Chamaemelum nobile* Chamomile Crithmum maritimum Rock samphire (P34) Crucianella maritima** Crucianella Cyperus capitatus** Capitate galingale Cyperus eragrostis* Pale galingale (P9) Daucus halophilus*** Algarve sea-carrot (ENDEMIC to Cape St Vincent area) Emex spinosa** Emex Erodium lebelii Sticky storksbill Eryngium maritimum Sea holly (P36) Euphorbia paralias Sea spurge (P83) Euphorbia portlandica Portland spurge Frankenia boissieri** Boissier's sea heath (P38) Glaucium flavum Yellow horned-poppy Halimium halimifolium** Juagarzo blanco (P16) Helichrysum italicum** Curry plant (P40) Helichrysum stoechas** Shrubby everlasting Herniaria hirsuta* Hairy rupturewort Lagurus ovatus* Harestail grass Limoniastrum monopetalum** Limoniastrum (P84) Limonium ferulaceum** Fine-leaved sea- lavender Linaria algarviana*** Algarve toadflax (ENDEMIC Aljezur-Cape St Vincent) (P102) Lithodora diffusa** Scrambling gromwell (P103) Lobularia maritima Sweet Alison (P18) Lotus creticus** Southern birdsfoot-trefoil (P19) Lycium intricatum** Southern tea-tree (P43) Malcolmia ramosissima** Many-branched sea-stock (P104) Medicago marina** Sea medick (P44) Ononis natrix ssp ramosissima** Large yellow rest-harrow (P21) Orobanche foetida** Stinking broomrape (Parasitic on Ononis natrix; some dead stems had small hole bored in stem and were occupied by ants' nests) (P106) Pancratium maritimum** Sea daffodil (P86) Paronychia argentea** Silvery whitlowwort (P46) Paronycha echinulata** Eurasian whitlowwort Plantago coronopus Buckshorn plantain Polygonum maritimum* Sea knotgrass (P49) Salicornia europaea Glasswort Sarcocornia perennis* Perennial glasswort (= Arthrocnemum perenne) (P29) Scilla monophyllos** Single-leaf squill (P107) Silene nicaeensis** Nice catchfly (P90) Spergularia marina Lesser sea-spurrey Spergularia media Greater sea-spurrey (P56) Suaeda vera* Shrubby seablite Thymus camphoratus*** Camphor thyme (ENDEMIC to Algarve) Zostera marina Eel-grass

Disturbed ground, cultivated land, wasteland, roadsides 90 Agave americana** Century plant (ALIEN) Agave americana var. variegata** Century plant (CULTIVAR) (P79) Anthemis tinctoria* Yellow chamomile Arctotheca calendula* Plain treasureflower Atractylis cancellata** Cage thistle Atriplex hastata Spear-leaved orache Bellis annua** Annual daisy (P3) Bellis perennis Daisy Bidens pilosa* Black-jack (ALIEN) (P62) Calamintha nepeta* Lesser calamint (P63) Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's purse Carthamus lanatus* Downy safflower Catabrosa aquatica* Whorl-grass Chamaemelum mixtum* Mediterranean chamomile (P65) Chenopodium album Fat-hen Convolvulus althaeoides** Mallow-leaved bindweed (P7) Convolvulus arvensis Field bindweed Conyza bonariensis* Argentinian fleabane (ALIEN) Conyza canadensis Canadian fleabane (ALIEN) Conyza sumatrensis Guernsey fleabane (ALIEN) Crepis capillaris Smooth hawksbeard Cynara cardunculus* Globe artichoke (P33) Cynara humilis** Wild thistle (P66) Cynodon dactylon* Bermuda grass (ALIEN) Dactylis glomerata Cocksfoot grass Daucus carota Wild carrot Diplotaxis siifolia** Cone-hair wall-rocket Dipsacus fullonum Teasel Dittrichia viscosa* Woody fleabane (P12) Echium creticum** Cretan viper's bugloss (P67) Echium tuberculatum** Portugal viper's bugloss (P109) Echium vulgare Viper's bugloss Erodium cicutarium Common storksbill (P13) Erodium malacoides** Mallow-leaved storksbill (P14) Eryngium campestre* Field eryngo Euphorbia peplus Petty spurge Ferula communis* Giant fennel Filago minima Small cudweed Filago vulgaris Common cudweed (P71) Fumaria capreolata White ramping-fumitory Fumaria officinalis Common fumitory Galactites tomentosa** Galactites (P15) Galeopsis tetrahit Common hemp-nettle Galium aparine Cleavers Gastridium phleoides* Eastern nit-grass (ALIEN) Geranium molle Dovesfoot cranesbill Gnaphalium luteo-album* Jersey cudweed Hyoscyamus niger* Henbane Hyoseris scabra** Annual hyoseris Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear Knautia integrifolia** Hybrid scabious Lamium amplexicaulum Henbit Lavatera cretica* Small tree mallow Lupinus varius** Blue lupin Malva nicaeensis** Bull mallow Malva sylvestris Mallow Mantisalca salmantica** Dagger flower Medicago minima* Bur medick (P20) Medicago polymorpha* Toothed medick Medicago sativa Lucerne Medicago turbinata** Southern medick Mercurialis annua Annual mercury Opuntia maxima** Prickly pear (ALIEN) Oxalis pes-caprea* Bermuda buttercup (ALIEN) (P23) Parietaria judaica Pellitory of the wall Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain Plantago serraria** Toothed plantain (P75) Poa annua Annual meadow-grass Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass Poterium sanguisorba Salad burnet Raphanus raphanistrum Wild radish Retama monosperma** Bridal broom (P76) Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus* Bloody dock (ALIEN) (P112) Scabiosa atropurpurea* Sweet scabious Senecio jacobaea Ragwort Senecio viscosus Sticky groundsel Senecio vulgaris Groundsel Silene gallica* Small-flowered catchfly Silene vulgaris Bladder campion Silybum marianum* Milk-thistle (P54) Sinapis arvensis Charlock Solanum nigrum Black nightshade Sonchus asper Prickly sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus Smooth sow-thistle Spergularia bocconii* Greek sea-spurrey Stellaria media Common chickweed Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Trifolium repens White clover Urtica dioica Stinging nettle Urtica dubia** Membranous nettle

Wetland 10 Angelica sylvestris Wild angelica Arum italicum* Italian arum Arundo donax** Giant reed Bolboschoenus maritimus Sea clubrush (P32) Cyperus longus Galingale (P10) Illecebrum verticillatum* Coral necklace Juncus effusus Soft rush Juncus maritimus Sea rush Paspalum digitatum** Dallisgrass (ALIEN) (P24) Phragmites australis Reed

Oak forests 6 Erica arborea* Tree heather (P68) Erica australis** Spanish heath (P69) Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood spurge Quercus canariensis** Algerian oak (P60) Quercus suber** Cork oak (P59, 113) Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron (ALIEN)

Acid heath 6 Arbutus unedo* Strawberry tree (Native, but often planted) (P92) Calluna vulgaris Heather Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Rubus ulmifolius Elm-leaved bramble Ulex europaeus Gorse (P78) Ulex parviflorus** Mediterranean gorse

General 1 Pinus pinea** Stone pine (Native, but often planted) (P74)

Planted 27 Acacia dealbata Silver wattle (P107) Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island pine Bougainvillea glabra Bougainvillea Brugmansia arborea Angel's trumpet (EXTINCT in the wild) Ceratonia siliqua Carob (P64) Citrus limon Lemon (P93) Citrus sinensis Orange (P94) Cordyline australis Cabbage palm Cortaderia selloana Pampas grass Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress Eucalyptus globulus Blue gum (P70) Juglans regia Walnut Lantana camara Lantana (P73) Laurus nobilis Bay (P95) Nerium oleander Oleander Persea americana Avocado Phoenix canariensis Canary palm (P25) Pinus pinaster Maritime pine (P47) Pittosporum heterophyllum Chinese pittosporum (P88) Platanus x hybrida Plane Prunus dulcis Almond Ricinus communis Castor-oil plant Salix babylonica Weeping willow Salvia officinalis Sage (P52) Solandra maxima Hawaiian lily (P91) Vinca minor Lesser periwinkle Vitis vinifera Grape vine Zantedeschia aethiopica Arum lily Other Species recorded

FUNGI Hebeloma [mesophaeum] Veiled poisonpie (P39) Hebeloma [sordidum] Lactarius deliciosus Saffron milkcap Volvariella gloiocephala Stubble rosegill (P58)

LICHENS Cladonia sp. (Not British; could not find anything exactly like this on web) (P111) Ramalina farinacea Xanthoria parietina

REPTILES Mauremys caspica Stripe-necked terrapin

INSECTA Butterflies Clouded yellow Large white Painted lady (P89) Speckled wood ssp. aegeria (P87) Wall

Moths Cucullia calendulae Caterpillar on Calendula spp (P8) Stigmella suberivora Leaf-miner on cork and Algerian oaks (P77) Thaumetopoea pityocampa Pine processionary moth

Coleoptera Timarcha lusitanica Iberian lesser bloody-nosed beetle

Hymenoptera Plagiotrochas sp. Gall-wasp, galling kermes oak (P48)

Orthoptera Oedipoda caerulescens Blue-winged grasshopper (P105) Tettigonia viridissima Great green bush-cricket

Aphids Baizongia pistaceae Gall on Pistacia lentiscus (P31) MOLLUSCA Land-snails Cernuella virgata Vineyard snail (Mediterranean ENDEMIC) (P41) Cochlicella acuta Sandhill snail (P114) Cornu aspersum Garden snail Eobania vermiculata Mediterranean garden snail (P114) Rumina decolleta Decollate snail (adult specimens always missing top of the spire) (P114) Theba pisana Mediterranean coastal snail (P57)

Marine shells

Cerastoderma edule Edible cockle

Cerithium vulgatum European cerith

Chamelea gallina Chicken venus Chlamys varia Variable scallop Donax vittatus Banded wedge Cerithium vulgatum Dosinia exoleta Mature dosinia Ensis minor Small razor

Glycymeris glycymeris Dog cockle

Gouldia minima Laevicardium crassum Smooth cockle

Lissopecten hyalinus Hyaline scallop Lissopecten hyalinus Loripes lucinalis Lucinella divaricata

Lucinoma borealis Northern lucine

Mactra stultorum Rayed trough Mesal turritella Mesalia mesal Anomia ephippium European Jingle shell

Nucula nitidosa Nut

Mesalia mesal Patella caerulea Rayed Mediterranean limpet Patella ulyssiponensis Limpet

Ruditapes philippinarium Filipino carpet

Solecurtus strigilatus Scraper solecurtus Solen marginatus Razor

Spisula subtruncata Subtruncate mactra

Tapes rhomboides Banded carpet Angulus tenuis Tellin

Thracia distorta Distorted thracia

Thracia pubescens Pubescent thracia Venerupis corrugata Corrugate venus

Ruditapes philipppinarium MARINE FAUNA

Polychaete worm Pomatoceros lamarcki Calcareous tubes fixed to stones (P110)

Zoantharia Cup coral (P108) Balanophylla [italica] Solecurtus strigilatus