When you think of raptors on the Alentejo plains during autumn it’s easy to think of the ones that leave for the winter. However, Red Kites arrive in large numbers to spend the winter here.
Yesterday I was near Entradas for a family and friends picnic at an amazing picnic site, I smuggled a camera along…….
Here are a few of the many Red Kites that appeared throughout the day.
A few days ago I used the excuse of an airport run to spend the morning at Ludo to photograph the Osprey that I’d seen the week before. I waited around 30 minutes before one turned up, followed soon after by a second Osprey that joined it to hunt for fish.
{Click image(s) to view on Flickr - opens in new tab}I was near the large lake at Quinta do Lago a few days ago when I decided to re-position myself. I collapsed the tripod, but the lens cover over the end of my 500mm and lifted over my shoulder to walk. I looked to the distance and saw a huge bird approaching. At first, I thought it was a large Gull but it swooped down quickly and I soon realised it was an Osprey coming in for a fish.
I had no time to get the camera ready as I watched it hit the water, just 10 metres away, with a loud thud before lifting away with a large fish. It flew across my path towards the late afternoon sun which had began to set.
I quickly grabbed the camera, set it down and managed to fire off a shot of it silhouetted against the sunset.
{Click image(s) to view on Flickr - opens in new tab}This morning I was again out well before first light in hope that the Short Eared Owls would co-operate.
Over the last few trips, I’ve fired off around 20 shots, this morning I’ve almost 900 shots to go through and it’ll take a while to go through them all.
It was an amazing sighting this morning with both Owls flying around looking for food. In fact, there may have been 3 different Owls, but that’s not confirmed. I also heard 2 Little Owls calling to each other too.
{Click image for a higher resolution, click Flickr Link in caption to view photo on Flickr}
