Wildlife News: 10th June 2013

Just back from a week in Macedonia, of which more to follow. Meanwhile, a random New York Ovenbird and a catch up on some news...

• Amazing news from Portugal, where an Iberian Lynx has been photo-trapped in the west of the country, the first confirmed sighting for decades.

• Similar news from Morocco, only this time involving video footage of North African Wolves.

• While in Germany, European Bison are roaming wild for the first time in 400 years.

• Are Kelp Gulls killing Right Whales?

• 60% of UK species in decline. Meanwhile, the trial badger cull is underway and Natural England is licencing the destruction of Buzzard nests and eggs to "protect" a pheasant shoot and a poultry farm. You might like to contact your MP and let them know what you think of the government's priorities...

• Hula Painted Frog rediscovered in Israel, previously thought extinct. 

• Little Bittern are again breeding on the Avalon Marshes, an amazingly successful wetland creation project in Somerset. Big really is beautiful.

• And some Wildlife Travel news: our November trip to Iceland is now confirmed, as are our October holiday to Chile and September trip to the Algarve: plenty of spaces left for those wanting an autumn break.

Portugal: Salgados/Pera Marsh update

An update on the threats to Salgados/Pera Marsh, in the Algarve, from Frank McClintock:

"I saw a great quote the other day on Facebook; it went, �If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito�. It�s so appropriate right now I quote it again, as our little petition to try to save Salgados has had the most amazing effect!

We started the petition because we thought someone had to stand up and say �ENOUGH!� and if no-one else was going to, well, it might as well be us, but we never thought that it�d be as successful as it has been. It�s gone right around the world � and then some � continues to grow and grow and has had really great consequences.

First of all, it�s raised awareness of the issue and put Salgados on the map as far as a groundswell of opinion against further development of this fragile area is concerned, but it�s done much, much more.

On a purely practical and immediate level, the waters at the lagoon are rising to where they should be at last, though unfortunately too late for this year�s breeding success as a great number of birds didn�t make it. 

On a longer term note the Ramsar Convention has written a letter to the Portuguese Government. This is really quite an achievement and has been generated uniquely by the raised awareness engendered by the petition.

There have been some organisations that have really helped the petition along the road, principally of course Avaaz themselves, but notably also the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust that have pulled out all the stops to grant it more publicity, so a very big thank you to them and to SPEA too who are right there and have been since the beginning.

So, what happens now?

Well, the effort continues, so if you have friends who haven�t yet signed the petition, beat them around the head until they do, that�s the first thing! Only with the petition growing steadily but surely can we give the NGOs the tool with which to fight for greater protection of the site and a rescindment of the building permission already granted. This is seriously important.

I, Frank McClintock, will have the petition available on my stand at the British Birdwatching Fair for anyone to sign who wishes - Stand 93 in Marquee 4, "Birding in Portugal" - and I will also be giving a lecture about the issue on Friday afternoon at 5 pm in the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.

Also, we've organised a day of protest at the site itself, so if you�re in Portugal come along to Salgados on the 6th August at 14.00 and join in � the more the merrier. We'll be there from 11.00 onwards at the Dunas Caf� on the western shore. See you there!?"

Portugal: Salgados/Pera Marsh under threat

 
This from Frank McLintock in Portugal, our host in the Alentejo:

"You may not have heard but unfortunately, and to Portugal's shame, this government has just given the go-ahead for development totaling 359 hectares all around Salgados, (or "Pera Marsh" as it's known to some), down in the Algarve, an area just as valuable for Butterflies, Dragonflies and Moths as it is for birds and other animals.
 

Salgados is a unique and internationally recognized Wetland Sanctuary and once gone - as it will be if the developers start work - it will never return.
 

I urge you, PLEASE, to sign the on-line petition by clicking here http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Salgados_a_unique_internationally_recognized_birding_sanctuary_from_being_destroyed/

 

and to share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter - urging them in their turn to share and pass on etc. Please can you raise awareness of this in any way you can; perhaps you could even put the link up on your site if you have one?
 

I have watched this area deteriorate over the last 20 years from somewhere that it was a joy to visit with a wealth of birds nesting to what it is now, a cynically destroyed barren lake.
 

During any of that period protection could have been afforded but as with a lot of things here in Portugal, it has been mired in bureaucracy while big business rode roughshod over any considerations, promising this and promising that.
 

To believe the empty promises of the developers, a company called Finalgarve, (who in turn are owned by Gallilei), that have been given permission to develop this site is wishful thinking of the highest order. Even as I write this, the company involved is defending itself before a Parliamentary Committee for Corruption. It  doesn't have the funds to pay the fines imposed on it for this corruption and is squirming before the Committee saying it'll have to lay off 1,500 people if it is "forced" to pay ... and yet they are planning to destroy this unique habitat before they have any funds to build anything else! If anyone really puts any faith in their word they need their head examined.
 

This is about money, and how much they can make. They don't have it right now and need investors ... So to get the latter they'll finish destroying Salgados with their new infrastructure and then, just like other failed projects here, nothing will happen - but the final nail will have been driven through Salgados' heart.
 

What we will be left with is a sterile "gentrified" lagoon - regularly sprayed of course to keep any nasty biting bugs down. There will be some Coots, a Grebe or two, maybe a Little Tern and of course some Gulls, and just maybe a couple of Flamingos 'cos they look pretty, but the rest? Well, we certainly wont be seeing the Peregrines or Black-winged Kites, Purple Herons, Black Terns, Collared Pratincoles or any of the other myriad species that have made Salgados one of the jewels of Algarvian birding.
 

There is form on this development; years ago there used to be quite a few of these coastal lagoons along this coastline and Quinta do Lago or Dunas Douradas spring to mind. There used to be many beautiful species there for whom these lagoons were vital nesting and migration sanctuaries, but they're gone now. They're very clean and "pretty" of course, but they hold few species. Salgados is the last of them - once the area around this is concreted over there will be nothing left, none of that richness that we hoped to pass on to our descendants. It will be gone for ever - simply to line someone's pocket.
 

There have been continuous efforts made over the last ten years to destroy Salgados - in the winter when it rained the sea wall used to be broken down on a regular basis to avoid flooding the next door golf course, and when water was in short supply, as it is at present, the same golf course pumps water illegally from the lagoon to keep their greens watered. Right now that is exactly what is happening and the golf course is amazingly green - in stark contrast to the lagoon that is drying out; it is more than 1 meter too low and dropping by 4 cms every week. Everyone knows that this is happening and yet no-one stops it. The developers stated object is to build several luxury hotels and an 18 hole golf course ... hotels here at present have 55% occupancy and are all struggling to survive - but the developers and politicians say we need MORE of them! And to do that, as they're running out of space along this coastline, they're prepared to sacrifice this wonderful place.
 

If it wasn't so depressingly predictable it'd be laughable. If you need any further information regarding this, please get in contact with me through this email or the number below, and here is an article published by the "Algarve Daily News".
 

I know I've eaten into your valuable day if you've read this far, and I thank you for giving me your time.
 

Please click the link and pass it on and I do hope you can raise awareness of this disgrace on your website so that we have a chance of saving it; together we might just make a difference.
 

Thanks and regards,

Frank"

Portugal 2012

Charlie Rugeroni reports from our recent holiday to Southern Portugal...

Cistanche phelypaea

 

 Spanish Festoon

Spoonbill

"Our holiday would take us from the banks of the Rio Gilao in the middle of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, with its coastal lagoons, tidal flats, saltmarsh and saltpans with a backdrop of Lygos monosperma (Retama monosperma) covered in clusters of white flowers, via the precipitous cliffs of Cabo Sao Vicente, renowned both historically and as a classic site for botanists, to the Baixo Alentejo plains dotted with foaming male Great Bustards displaying in the early morning light � with Black Vulture, Ophrys ciliata, Paeonia broteroi, Blue Rock Thrush and the dulcet tones given in chorus from flocks of Bee-eaters thrown in for good measure.

The lack of winter rains would mean a paucity of plants, however, we not disappointed with the abundance and variety observed in our travels. Clearly, the whole issue of drought was of a more serious concern for farmers and the economy than for this itinerant group. The stout, impressive stems of Cistanche phelypaea with its bright shiny flowers heralded life amongst the Chenopods, albeit parasitic, and the papery pink flowers of Limoniastrum monopetalum were beginning to emerge from the silvery-blue-green stems. Close views of Slender-billed Gull and Spoonbill would be an almost daily occurrence as would Kentish Plover, while at night the display calls of Stone Curlew beat counting sheep.

During our stay on the coast the Hotel Vila Gale Albacora, built in the old abandoned tuna fishing village, provided the ideal base from which to visit Castro Marim, near the Spanish border in the east to the Sagres peninsula and the Cape in the west, with the Barrocal and Pera Marsh in between. 

In the less exposed positions on the cliff tops on way to Cabo de Sao Vicente, the south-westernmost point on the European mainland, the Juniper grows with the coastal dwarf Cistus palinhae, and in sandier soils we came across the rose scented Antirhinnum majusssp. cirrhigerum, holding its flowers in the Juniper and Corema album�canopy�. Peregrines stooped while an Alpine Accentor danced on the precarious cliff ledges.

Our climb through the Monchique Hills eventually took us to the wonderful Quinta do Baranco da Estrada, an oasis of peace and tranquillity set overlooking a semi-natural reservoir. Here Crested Tit, Rock Bunting and Cirl Bunting in the nearby valley kept birders happy, whilst the loud humming flypast of Violet Carpenter Bees on Wisteria, Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth on Periwinkle and Green Tiger Beetles kept the invert-enthusiasts in paradise. Ubiquitous spider crabs made their presence felt on most Cistus ladanifer flowers.

Then came the rolling steppes of the Baixo Alentejo in the very early morning (or was it the very late night?) with the sun just creeping up over the horizon and steam rising from the streams into the cold morning air. There before us, fifty or more male Great Bustards displaying, �foaming and frothing� and puffing up their feathers to the females, when all of a sudden four of them, like Sumo wrestlers, decided that a fight was necessary to commandeer territory and dominance � quite impressive and not often witnessed.

 

Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Black Vulture, juvenile Spanish (surely that should be Iberian?) Imperial Eagle, Black-winged Kite, Azure-winged Magpie, and Calandra Lark were amongst some of the birds enjoyed on a magical day on the plains. Later coffee and Portuguese cakes at the Quinta prepared us for another delicious supper from Daniella, whom together with Frank, our intrepid guide in the Alentejo, own and run the Quinta do Baranco. On another day, Spanish Festoon flitted alongside a Scilla monophyllos masquerading, with its nearby colleagues, as S. bifolia.

All too soon our trip came to an end but not before spotting Leucojum tricophyllum back on the coast ahead of our checking-in at Faro airport, and the first heavy rain of the holiday. Perfect timing!"

Portugal

Portugal, a set on Flickr.

Photos from two March visits to southern Portugal, in 2010 and 2011. Our 2012 trip is nearly fully booked.

Portugal: the Alentejo Plains, 29th & 30th March 2011

A couple of pretty spectacular days out on the plains and rolling hills of the Baixo Alentejo, between Mertola, Beja and Castro Verde.

All gripes about the pre-dawn start went out of the window with the views of the rising sun over the plains and the impressive total of 161 Great Bustards in a single 180 degrees view... The males were mostly in full display mode, their big white meringues spotting the hillsides with groups (or should that be droves) of females clustered around, sizing them up.

Much harder to come by were Little Bustards: each day we eventually found a handful of males, with at least one starting his leaping/flapping display and their delicate raspberry calls audible much more than the birds themselves were visible.

Elsewhere, the birds came thick and fast: five Black-bellied Sandgrouse, including a pair scoped on the floor; a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos, another bird much more often heard than seen; three Black Vultures (a pair of adults and a juvenile) circling low over head, sizing us up for a quick snack; the wonderful antics of Lesser Kestrels at one of the largest remaining colonies in Portugal; a swarming flock of a couple of thousand Spanish Sparrows covering the road in front of us; Black-winged Kite, Bonelli's Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle... the list goes on!

But really, the highlight was simply the experience itself, two full days spent in such a wonderful, wildlife-rich part of the world.

(Photos from last year's day on the plains are here.)

Portugal: Cabo de Sao Vicente, 27th March 2011

The south-west-most point in mainland Europe... Gannets flying north, a male Peregrine circling overhead, Chough, Thekla Lark and Blue Rock Thrush around the rocky terrain and one or two special plants.

Cistus palinhae, endemic to this coastline. A very, VERY sticky plant...

and another endemic, the very VERY spikey Astragalus tragacantha ssp vicentina

Portugal: Castro Marim, 26th March 2011

A quick catch up...

26th saw us at Castro Marim, looking across the river towards Spain, enjoying flamingos, Collared Pratincole, Spectacled Warbler, Red-crested Pochard and some interesing plants...

Cistanche phelypaea, an impressive parasite of saltmarsh plants.

Cleome violacea, a lovely delicate little annual

Moraea sisyrinchium, the Barbary Nut. When it opens, it's time for lunch.

Spergularia purpurea

Paronychia argentea

Portugal: March 2011

A couple of nice lizards from the last few days... nice, in that they're lizards I've never seen before. And it's always nice to see new things...

Three-toed Skink. Baixo Alentejo, 28th March 2011
Rock turning seems to be something of a herpetologists pastime. The difference between me and a herpetologist being that when they turn rocks, they find interesting things. When I turn rocks I find ants... and slugs... and the occasional centipede. This morning, however, I finally turned a rock and found what I was looking for, a lovely Three-toed Skink, four tiny little legs away from being a Slow Worm. Result! Now, where are those Worm Lizards...

Spanish Psammodromus. Algarve, 25th March 2011
The common lizard of the south of Portugal seems to be the Large (or Moorish) Psammodromus, of which I've seen plenty, usually skuttling off through the undergrowth. Luckily, this dinky little lizard stayed still long enough for me to grab a photo.

Portugal: Barrocal, 25th March 2011

A wonderful warm and sunny day in the rolling limestone hills of the Barrocal, just inland from the Algarve coast.

Today was supposed to be a plant day, but amongst the botanising we also managed to enjoy both Short-toed and Bonelli's Eagles, both species of Psammodromus lizard, a delightful Empusa pennata praying mantis and a surprising number of butterflies enjoying the weather, including Swallowtail, Scarce Swallowtail, Spanish Festoon and Cleopatra, all impressively showy beasts.

We go to bed tired, but certainly very happy!

Ophrys vernixia, the Lusitanian Mirror Orchid.
We found a wonderful colony of this local speciality, growing alongside its commoner cousin O. ciliata. Told by the paler fringe of hairs and the longer 'arms'.

Ophrys picta, one of the 'scolopax' group, told by its relatively small flower, with long, narrow, almost linear petals.

The ever popular Ophrys lutea. Just lovely....

A juvenile Empus pennata mantis.

Paeonia broteroi, one of the highlights of the day