Sagres raptor migration October 2010 Part two

And here is the second part of my time in Sagres... more counts and photos

Oct 13th – 25+ Short-toed Eagle, 8+ Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 50+ Booted Eagle, 1 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Montagu’s Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 6+ Kestrel, 15 Black Stork


Egyptian Vulture

Oct 14th – 1 Osprey, 3 Red Kite, 1 Black Kite, 9 Short-toed Eagle, 10+ Sparrowhawk, 4+ Buzzard, 28+ Booted Eagle, 3 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Griffon Vulture, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Montagu’s Harrier, 2+ Peregrine, 11+ Kestrel


Red Kite

Oct 15th – 2 Red Kite, 1 Black Kite, 19 Short-toed Eagle, 12+ Sparrowhawk, 12 Buzzard, 1 Honey Buzzard, 30+ Booted Eagle, 3 Egyptian Vulture, c194-200 Griffon Vulture, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier, 1 Montagu’s Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 2 Hobby, 5 Kestrel, 2 Black Stork


Griffon Vultures

Oct 16th – 2 Red Kite, 1 Black Kite, 36 Short-toed Eagle, 15 Sparrowhawk, 6 Buzzard, 2 Honey Buzzard, 50+ Booted Eagle, 1 Egyptian Vulture, 200+ Griffon Vulture, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Montagu’s Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 8 Kestrel, 3 Black Stork, 1 White Stork


Griffon Vulture

Oct 17th – 1 Osprey, 21+ Red Kite, 1 Black Kite, 1 Black-shouldered Kite, 10+ Short-toed Eagle, 6 Buzzard, 40+ Booted Eagle, 2 Egyptian Vulture, 500+ Griffon Vulture, 1 sub-adult Ruppell’s Vulture, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hen Harrier, 1 Montagu’ Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 2 Hobby, 5+ Kestrel, 1 Black Stork

Oct 18th – 1 Osprey, 50+ Red Kite (note c30 were seen several kilometres to the north on travelling to the site – c350 were in the area late evening Oct 17th.) 1 Black Kite, c15 Short-toed Eagle, 10+ Sparrowhawk, 10+ Buzzard, 2 Honey Buzzard, 41+ Booted Eagle, 2 juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, 2 Egyptian Vulture, 500+ Griffon Vulture left the roost, 1 juvenile type Ruppell’s Vulture left the roost – a different bird to the one that we saw go to roost on Oct 17th. 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Montagu’s Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 10+ Kestrel, 1 Black Stork


Short-toed Eagle nice and close




This the only Ruppell's Vulture seen on the 18th leaving the roost - the sub-adult had damage to primaries on the left wing

Oct 19th – 1 Osprey, 10+ Red Kite, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 3 Sparrowhawk, 7 Buzzard, 1 Honey Buzzard, 20+ Booted Eagle, 2-3 juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, 3 Egyptian Vulture, 680-720+ (one flock) Griffon Vulture, 1 Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel


Some of the many Griffon Vultures 'kettling overhead'

So 20 species of raptor made it to Sagres during the period Oct 4th-19th – and I missed Golden Eagle and Black Vulture, not a Goshawk could be found… and rumour has it an unidentified eagle spp – probably Spotted or Lesser Spotted was in the area but never put in an appearance.

Other highlights over the period in the vicinity included the regular Thekla Larks, up to 80+ Chough daily, 2 Richard’s Pipit (15th), 11 Little Bustard over (18th) and a variety of more common and expected sundries. A probable Eleonora’s Falcon was in the area late-evening on the 6th, but despite seeing it land it couldn’t be picked up again in the fading light.

Great place to sit. Thanks to my friends Nadine, Felipe and Marco and the gang, and Danny for his chirpy chit chat and making my photos look bad – click here to see some of his great photographs.

But as I walked away saying ‘ate ja’ to Sagres on the evening of the 19th, I have a feeling I left with unfinished business - I need to return to drop a clanga!!!

And coming soon... the best of the insect pictures and notes.