10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

I only scored 43 in March, but that was because I was away birding in Portugal and Estonia. Pallid Swift , already back on the breeding grounds in early March Many waders winter on the salt marshes of the Algrave in southern Portugal. My overseas trips did boost the overall year list considerably. These are Dunlins.

Estonia 222

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

This week’s post will focus on a stunning birder-friendly lodge in South Portugal that was the setting for our quest for Great Bustards. This homely place is the aptly named Paradise in Portugal , owned by birder and purveyor of fine wines, Frank McClintock. Paradise in Portugal is a perfect example of this.

Portugal 171

Portugal 2011 Deer Africa 171

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2020

For much of its history, Portugal has sat secluded at what was long considered the very end of the known world — at least from a Western point of view. But like Spain, its only neighbor on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is cut off from the rest of Europe by the steep, natural border formed by the Pyrenees.

Portugal 155

Portugal 2015 France Europe 155

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2021

Vale da Perdiz means “valley of the partridge” in Portuguese, and the label features a Red-legged Partridge ( Alectoris rufa ), which I believe is the only partridge found in most of Portugal. And while it’s a bird fond of cultivated land, the winery Quinta do Vale da Perdiz offers no story behind its appearance on this label.

2016 221

2016 Portugal New York Protection 221

Critter News

JULY 27, 2012

From the Portugal News Online.sad stuff. Thousands of pets are being abandoned across Portugal, either being dumped at the gates of charitable associations or simply taken far from home and left behind, as owners struggle to make ends meet due to the continuing financial crisis.

Portugal 100

Portugal Abandoning Abandonment Abandon 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 18, 2021

The label Casa Ferreirinha dates to 1845, when Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira took over her family’s port business in the Douro Valley of Portugal.

2017 200

2017 Portugal Africa Europe 200

Critter News

MAY 9, 2010

From the Portugal News. The European Commission said on Wednesday it is pursuing legal action against Portugal for breaching nature protection legislation. Tags: habitat europe portugal environment wildlife endangered species. Oh, it's no surprise that the Portuguese are allowing rampant development for tourism.

Portugal 100

Portugal Endangered Species Legislation 2000 100

Critter News

JUNE 3, 2011

I like this story because I can only imagine the conditions of circus animals in Portugal. When I was in the Azores, there was a circus called Atlas I think and there were horrible, gaudy posters. I just had a sick feeling about the possible treatment of those animals.

Portugal 100

Portugal Circus Animals Animal Welfare Welfare 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2019

After three visits to southern Italy, followed by a lone excursion to Belgium, we’ll head back south to end our month-long “Grand Tour” of falconry-themed wine and ales in Portugal. Portugal has a long history of both falconry and winemaking. Portugal was a source of less poetic, practical information on falconry, as well.

2016 126

2016 Portugal Belgium Falcons 126

Critter News

DECEMBER 28, 2009

My 2010 resolution is to try and track animal rights issues in the homelands of Spain and Portugal. Spain is much more advanced than Portugal in this area, but both need improvement (as do we all.). Tags: europe portugal farm animal welfare.

Animal Welfare 100

Animal Welfare Portugal Farm Animal Farmed Animals 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2024

However, the last few hours were absolutely worth the trouble as I drove through springtime Extremadura and southern Portugal. May is just an excellent time to visit Spain and Portugal. The dehesas/montados were all freshly green and the wildflowers were blooming. Very nice to observe such spectacle along the motorway.

Spain 143

Spain Portugal Ducks Lions 143

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2021

As with our last Birds and Booze post , we’re in Portugal yet again, this time revisiting what is perhaps the world’s most quenching style of wine: vinho verde. Now that it’s officially summer (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least), it’s time to cool off with some lighter, more refreshing wines.

2019 255

2019 Blackbirds Portugal Bats 255

Critter News

DECEMBER 6, 2008

There are dog fights and dog attacks in Portugal and, per the December 5 post , the government came up with some legislation without consulting any animal rights groups. Tags: dog attacks portugal dog fighting. This link is to ANIMAL's blog , written in Portuguese. ANIMAL says that the legislation is not effective and is too loose.

Portugal 100

Portugal Legislation Dogs Laws 100

Critter News

MARCH 21, 2009

Miguel Rodrigues, spokesperson for SOS Lynx, stated: "Irrational attitudes constitute one of the main barriers to predator conservation in Spain and Portugal. Tags: Stupid eagle portugal fox hunting. If predator persecution cannot be adequately controlled, the future recovery of many important predator species will be in doubt".

Portugal 100

Portugal Eagles Spain Fox 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2023

Dave Gosney’s Finding Birds Series covers mostly the Western Palearctic and describes birding in various regions of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, France, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, etc., with some additions, namely South Texas, The Gambia, and Goa (India).

Greece 192

Greece Macedonia Bulgaria Gambia 192

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2024

Some trash birds fly a bit out of range and become a stonker like the Eurasian Dotterel below (out of range and out of season in mid July Portugal). There’s the extremely rare , the drop-dead gorgeous , and the impressive. Wait a minute… When a lot of birds are out of range than they become an Invasive Species.

Lions 201

Lions Birds Namibia Portugal 201

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2023

He now lives in the Algarve, Portugal where he is Chairman of the Portuguese Rarities Committee. He is an associate of the Royal Photographic Society and his photographs are regularly published in journals and books all over the world.

United Kingdom 174

United Kingdom Portugal Asia Birds 174

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

We also have a hoopoe gracing the label of this week’s wine, the 2017 Vinho Verde “Bicudo” from the Quintas das Arcas vineyards in northern Portugal. Once an obscure specialty of northern Portugal, vinho verde has become increasingly popular and easier to find abroad.

2017 117

2017 Portugal Rabbits Europe 117

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2024

We exchanged notes on where to find good birds in southern Portugal. A meticulous note keeper, a keen eye and ear, impressive knowledge and most importantly: member of the local BirdLife partner SPEA. Although my credibility was at an all-time low, he was nice and polite not to rub it in. I really hope he will find the Great Bustards.

Psychology 164

Psychology Portugal Japan Eagles 164

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2024

Cyprus Wheatears are the easiest to find of the three endemic birds that occur on Cyprus Black Francolins once bred in Portugal, Spain and Italy, all countries from which this handsome little game bird has long been lost.

Cyprus 213

Cyprus Breeders Falcons Italy 213

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2023

It seems that the Red-billed Leiothrix can be vocally dominant (it accounts for 37% of an entire bird community soundscape in northern Italy) and can influence the singing behavior, particularly of native Eurasian Blackcaps and European Robins (in Portugal and Italy). And who wants birds with highly visible Hitler mustaches anyway?

Italy 185

Italy China France Eggs 185

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2023

The dagger beak allows the Nuthatch to dominate at the bird feeder Of the world’s 32 species of nuthatch, the Eurasian is by far the most widespread, occurring from Portugal in the west to Japan in the east With their distinctive shape and sharply pointed, dagger-like beak, there’s nothing to confuse a Nuthatch with.

Barn Owls 208

Barn Owls Rats Japan Blackbirds 208

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2012

I am on a quick trip to the Lisbon area in Portugal and – I must admit – I was taken completely by surprise about how this conglomeration of people, water and nature are put togerther. In preparation for this trip I had spent some time with my friend the google machine and he (she?

Portugal 157

Portugal Spain Protection Birds 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2024

Hare taxonomy is confusing, but I’ve seen Iberian hares in Spain and Portugal, Corsican Hares in Corsica (where else?), Brown hares are one of the most photogenic of animals On the run: a Brown Hare After Muntjac and Grey Squirrels, the mammal I see most often when birding at home is the Brown Hare.

Fur 203

Fur Boars Estonia Deer 203

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2024

These binoculars were made at Leica’s factory in Portugal. With hindsight this wasn’t a great move. The Leica had good optics and was light and compact, but wasn’t robust, and bits fell off. I visited the factory a few years ago, and the quality control there is now first class. (I

Austria 196

Austria Factory Germany Portugal 196

Critter News

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Portugal is NOT known for its kindness to animals so this is a significant development for a Portuguese city. From the Portugal News Online. Tags: animal shelters portugal strays.

Stray 100

Stray Portugal Kennels Unwanted Dogs 100

Critter News

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

For the whole story, go to Portugal News On-Line. As a Portuguese-American, I find this just revolting. Prótoiro, the Portuguese Federation of Bullfighting Associations, placed an injunction again Viana do Castelo Town Hall this month after their refusal to allow the event to go ahead on municipal land.

Portugal 100

Portugal illegal Rights 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2016

Instead of wintering in Africa and breeding in Europe, growing numbers of the birds now appear to be staying put in Spain and Portugal. The paper, published in the journal Movement Ecology , describes a striking change in White Storks’ migratory behavior. Makes sense—why drive for take-out when you’ve got a permanent dine-in option?).

Portugal 103

Portugal Spain Africa Europe 103

Critter News

JANUARY 11, 2009

I like reading the blog for ANIMAL, the animal rights group in Portugal. I have no idea how big or effective they are, but it's nice to know that there are people in Portugal who feel the same about animals as I do. Tags: portuguese-americans portugal animal rights. VIVA ANIMAL!

Portugal 100

Portugal Animal Rights Groups Animal 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2016

As well as the population found in East Asia, another smaller population also occurred in the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain and Portugal. The Azure-winged Magpie was for the longest time something of a biogeographical mystery. Was it natural, or were the birds in Spain an introduced population.

Spain 103

Spain Portugal Asia Japan 103

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2012

Blue skies with perhaps a touch of smog over the scintillating central coast of Portugal (Find out why Dale Forbes finds Lisbon birding pretty crazy …) a. Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend !

Portugal 138

Portugal 2012 Owls Birds 138

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2022

In Southern Portugal, Little Ringed Plovers nest either along natural streams or near agricultural ponds. Being a fairly incompetent birder, I always have problems distinguishing between the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and the Long-toed Stint.

Cattle 147

Cattle Portugal Buffalo Alaska 147

Critter News

DECEMBER 23, 2008

A British student studying in Porto, Portugal, was handing out leaflets in front of "Beigel," a fur shop. Tags: fur portugal. The post in the ANIMAL blog is in Portuguese , but here's the gist of it. She was volunteering for ANIMAL. She had already been threatened by the owner on Wednesday for trespassing on her premises.

Fur 100

Fur Portugal Animal Rights Animal 100

Critter News

JUNE 23, 2009

First up, Paul Watson goes through Portuguese Customs: At one point the officer came into the room and asked if I had ever been in trouble in Portugal and then added, “Something about a Dutch ship about 10 years ago?” A few moments later he returned and said, “Excuse me, did you do anything illegal in the 70’s in Portugal?” “I

Portugal 100

Portugal Whales Whaling illegal 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2024

The rings revealed that one of the birds had been ringed as an adult in Portugal, the other as a chick in Spain’s Ebro delta, where the biggest colony of these gulls is to be found. Audouin’s Gull is an attractive species restricted as a breeding bird to the Mediterranean, but many winter in North Africa.

Lithuania 130

Lithuania Morocco Iceland Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2019

Reachable by direct flights from Portugal, the island country of Sao Tome and Principe lying in the Gulf of Guinea, in the armpit of Africa, has about 140 bird species and 28 endemics – more endemics per square mile than anywhere else on Earth.

Costa Rica 190

Costa Rica Sri Lanka Rwanda Papua New Guinea 190

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2012

Cabo da Roca in Portugal is actually slightly farther west, but at the time accurate measurements were not much on people’s minds. So, end of the world, and here ends the story as well.

Portugal 164

Portugal ALA 2007 Sparrows 164