Kelp Gull in the portuguese coast

After the fabulous photographs of an adult kelp gull Larus dominicanus taken in Vila do Conde, by Inocêncio Oliveira in the last days http://birdsofportugal.blogspot.pt/search/label/Gaivota-dominicana a fellow birder (Pedro Ramalho) shared some photos of a second odd ind. seen last month in Peniche. Their ID is not always straitforward, specially if you are not expecting that a kelp gull could be roaming our coast.

GBBG, probable hybrids and putative kelp gulls, all have been seen at Khnifiss lagoon in Morocco, and the mistery around these big black gulls is far from being solved, however these sub-adult ind. seems to share more traits with Larus dominicanus ssp. vetula than with Larus marinus or Larus michahellis hybrids. The long legs seem to have the characteristic greenish tinge, the trailing edge of the secondaries is massive even when at rest, the eyes are very dark with yellowish orbital ring ( pers. com. by the observer), the bill has a very bulbous tip, and in most shots the mirror on P10 does not merge to the tip.



Note also the upperpart tone...

 The question is, what are they doing in portuguese coast? Assited journey on a fishing trawler that returned from north african coast, just riding along with the wintering LBBG and GBBG, or are mixed genes from the later giving them the northern latitude directions.

http://go-south.org/03_Birdlist/lardom_&_larmar.pdf
http://gull-research.org/gbbg/5cyjune.HTML
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=181282

1st record for continental Europe in Paris 1995 - photos
http://www.talk.gull-research.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=929

Red-footed Falcon

What a good way to finish my 4 day weekend birding trip!!!! This 2cy female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus was today at Lagoa dos Patos ricefields near Beja, and feeding along with several resident Lesser Kestrels and Kestrels from the area.

Although, their spring migration routes are more westerly, the majority of portuguese records were made in the autumn.
 http://avesdeportugal.info/falves.HTML

Red-throated Pipits

A few record shots from the wintering  Anthus cervinus at Nossa Senhora do Rosário ricefields near Estômbar.
2 inds. confirmed, but there were probably more birds involved.

Cream-coloured Courser at Alvor

13 years have passed since the last record, however in the last week, strong southern winds have blown away to Iberia this adult Cursorius cursor.... yesterday at Alvor, with plenty of anxious birders! Thanks José, for let me publish your photos.

 

The Courser Crew .... !!!!! with some locals ;-)

 

 

Sociable Plover

On the 28th at Pancas, Tagus estuary... 1st winter Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius

Red-throated Diver at Peniche harbour

Instead of a Great-northern Diver that was reported at Peniche harbour in the morning I stumble upon with this awesome Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata

This is Peniche, lots of good birds, you just need the right gear to reach them!!!!

Olive-backed Pipit

Found (2 ind.) by Magnus Robb on the 21 at Cabriz, Sintra, two days later and at least one bird has been relocated at the same place.
Just before the sun came up, at least one Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni circled us twice calling! but only to see her gaining altitude and head north, just to be found again 5 hours later in the lower branches of a small pine tree.