If you live in the Algarve, you will know that the region was starting to get desperate for rain, also you will know just how much rain we’ve had in the last 2 days, particularly here in the northern hills where it has been heavy and persistent. I had a bet with myself yesterday that the river would get a kick-start and be running this morning. However, it was still dry and we even walked the dogs along our usual route along the river bed.
Imagine my surprise this afternoon when I stood outside the Quinta and could hear gushing water. I headed down to the river (its just over 400 metres away) and it is now in full flow, even over the top of the bridge/ford (Video below).
The weather is a little unseasonable currently, it’s a little cooler than it should, although it does reach low 30s in the afternoon, the mornings and nights are, lets say fresh. Unfortunately, it comes with my biggest frustration, total cloud cover.
I have a new Kingfisher perch that I hoped to spend a session at this morning, but no, total cloud cover this morning. It didn’t last long, there’s not a cloud in the sky now but of course, the best light of the day has gone. In the next couple of days, normal weather is due to return and hopefully, I can get out at sunrise again.
Anyway, although no session today, I decided to take a look whilst out with the dogs and, as usual, could hear the high-pitched whistle of the Kingfishers. I sat on the river bank about 10 meters away from the perch and within about a minute a juvenile came and sat on the perch in full view of myself, Wally and Lupi. Juveniles are a little more braver than the adults and this guy really didn’t care, as you can see on the video, it is even bobbing its head which is used to gauge the distance to its prey. We sat and watched for about 5 minutes before it decided not to dive and fly to a nearby tree.
Sorry for the quality, but this was shot on my Samsung Galaxy S9+ smartphone and I used the digital zoom. I am looking forward to some cloud-free mornings where I can bring you some shots. This perch has been designed that I can hopefully get some flight shots too.
I take a camera along on my Dog Walks to bring you some of the sightings that I see on my morning walks, these photos are rarely going to be great quality as its hard enough keeping an energetic Dog entertained and get close enough to anything. They also help me identify where species are so that I can plan to return.
Walking in one of my favourite areas with Wally this morning and we spotted a Ladder Snake basking in the sun. I think it had also recently eaten a meal which is maybe why it was in no rush to move away.
{Click image(s) to view on Flickr - opens in new tab}
I take a camera along on my Dog Walks to bring you some of the sightings that I see on my morning walks, these photos are rarely going to be great quality as its hard enough keeping an energetic Dog entertained and get close enough to anything. They also help me identify where species are so that I can plan to return.
You may remember a post (excuse the pun) a while back about the damage Woodpeckers have do to our Telephone pole. Yesterday’s walk (there wasn’t one this morning as I was recovering from Wales winning the Grand Slam and 6 Nations Rugby!) I spotted a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the very same pole.
Sorry for the not so steady video, but videoing hand held at 400mm isn’t easy. The jangling you can hear is Wally’s collar and the chirping is from a large family of House Sparrows.
Woodpeckers drum at this time of year to attract females and you can often hear them drumming on metal and concrete poles as they are much louder than wood. He who drums the loudest will attract the females. As you’d expect, the drumming is a lot quieter than the Great Spotted Woodpecker but still carries a long distance.
You may remember a film I created back in the summer called “Consequência – Depois dos incêndios” showing the destruction caused by the Monchique Wildfires.
Last week I was contacted by a film company who is making a new documentary titled “Tudo é Paisagem” (“Everything is Landscape”) about the History of Landscape Architecture in Portugal. This has been commissioned by the Associação Portuguesa dos Arquitectos Paisagistas (Portuguese Association of Landscape Architects).
Yesterday we agreed terms and I have supplied various shots for inclusion in their documentary. As you can imagine, I’m pretty excited about this collaboration.
I will share more information at a later date, but for now if you haven’t watched my film from back in August you can view it below;
Rain often brings Millipedes out and whilst out walking the dog yesterday morning I stumbled across a large Millipede. I’m unsure of the species as I can’t quite match the colouring to anything, however, it was around 10cm long. Certainly no giant, but still quite large.
People often think Millipede means a Million legs, but the name comes from the latin word ‘mil’ which means a thousand. However, they also don’t have a thousand legs either, most have less than a hundred, but all have less than a thousand. Evidence from fossils suggest that Millipedes were one of the first to ever leave water to land and breathe air.
As you can see, this one is carrying an injury, but doesn’t seem to be affected by it. It coiled itself up (a defensive move) when I found it, so left my phone running to capture it un-coil and continue.
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