24 Jan 1989 - Quinta da Rocha

The Quinta da Rocha (Farm on the Rock) is the study area of the A Rocha centre (the house itself is called Cruzinha). It comprises a peninsular of high ground with a marsh on either side separ­ated from estuaries by sea walls, and beyond that the salt­marsh and mudflats of these estuaries. Compared with the huge estuaries we have seen so far, like the Tagus and Sado, this area looks insignificant. However, although it supports only 1.1% of the total Port­uguese winter wader population on wet­lands, it does have a greater number of species than any other wetland, and is 7th highest in terms of total number of birds present. But, like many other small wet­lands along this coast, it is under threat of drainage for tourist developments such as golf courses.

The area is of national importance for its wintering lapwing, stone curlew and greenshank. We are particularly interested in the stone cur­lew: about forty overwinter in the east marshes and Peter says we are almost certain to flush them out as we walk along the sea wall. As they get little distur­bance from anything else, and it is not breeding season, he doesn’t think that a few birders walking around is any problem to them. They will just fly a hundred metres or so and land again.

As we walk along the sea wall and see how extensive the marshes are, we have more doubts about finding them than disturbing them. Our first sighting is of a dozen or so strange shaped birds flying low on the far side of the marsh with the sun behind them. They land within a short distance, but all we see through the tele­scope are grey plover and lapwing. The second sighting is simi­lar. By the third sighting we have walked far enough for the light to be more in our favour and as the birds land we see their gold­en‑brown colour with white marks on the wings. Once in the vegetation they are again well hidden from us.

Out on the estuary itself are other exciting birds. As I lay flat out trying to photograph small flowers, Jim shouts 'Osprey', and I have to hurriedly rearrange myself and my equip­ment. The bird sends waders scatter­ing and is mobbed by greenshank and black-headed gulls. It quarters the water and three times dives to the surface but without catching anything. It is the first record here for two years and, being such a spectacular bird, it makes a good point for conserving the area. However, as far as local hunters are con­cerned it is just another bird to shoot at.

Although the shooting of raptors (and the destruction of eggs, nests and young) has been illegal since 1974, it is still the dream of most Portuguese hunters to have a stuffed trophy, and they don't seem to mind taking risks in shooting a for­bidden species. Since 1986 there has been an exam­ination for applicants for hunting permits, so new hunters should, hopefully, be better educated about their quarry and understand the reasons for conser­vation.

Out on the sea wall, Jim says to look out for large terns, and by scanning with the telescope he finds some ‑ caspians that dwarf the sandwich terns and have big dagger-like red bills. They take to the air as the incoming tide swallows the mudbank they have been standing on, and we watch one fishing for a while. It quarters the water, sometimes wheeling and plung­ing, hitting the water harder and with more of a splash than a sandwich tern; if it catches anything it swallows it before leaving the water. For birds that seem so bulky on land, they look buoyant and elegant in flight.

It is hard to think in terms of migration and nesting at the end of January but such things are already happening here. We see a half-dozen swal­lows and two house martins flying along the est­uary, and some black­-­tailed godwit high overhead. The Mediterranean gulls and spotted redshank are also migrants. Many resident small birds are singing or carrying nest material and little owls are crooning noisily.


Bird ringing

Peter is netting passerines in fine black nets this evening and shows us some of his 'catch'. Each bird is weighed, measured and given a ring with a unique number on it. The progress of indi­vidual birds can thus be followed ‑ resident birds may be caught several times in the garden during their lives, while migrants might be caught somewhere else and add to our knowledge of their routes and habits.

Peter shows us that, on average, blackcaps are putting on weight, especially the males which are preparing for migration north, females stay around for an extra week or so and their weights are still normal. Chiffchaffs were also showing a weight increase, but they are recover­ing from losing a gram or so after two days of heavy rain last week had made feeding conditions difficult for them ‑ their normal weight is only about seven grams!