SURVEYS
Counting on
seabirds
P
ortugal is well known
for its brilliant birding
opportunities, especially in
the southern half of the country. For
the past few years, we have, together
with Johan Elmberg, been making
sporadic counts of seabirds north of
Lisbon. The site is a peninsula called
Cabo Carvoeiro, and it is Europe’s
westernmost mainland point.
At the base of the peninsula lies
Peniche and its port, which has a very
active fishing industry. The town is
also known as a top surfing destination
and the tourism infrastructure is well
developed, with plenty of hotels and
good restaurants.
Rarity magnet
As might be expected, the
fishing industry offers a huge
attraction for gulls and terns. Records
of Glaucous, Ring-billed and Iceland
Gulls are annual, while rarer species
such as Forster’s Tern and Kumlien’s
and Laughing Gulls have also been
reported; there is even a recent record
of Kelp Gull. A small flock of Purple
Sandpipers winters in the port.
The inland surroundings further
to the east are typical mid-Portugal
habitats, with a mix of agricultural fields,
eucalyptus and other forests, a few small
marshes, a sewage plant and dams.
Richard’s Pipits are regular from October
PEDRO NICOLAU
ROBIN CHITTENDEN (WWW.ROBINCHITTENDEN.CO.UK)
Better known as a surfing location, most birders in
Britain have probably never even heard of Peniche
in Portugal. But as Erik Hirschfeld and Helder
Cardoso explain, it’s a premier destination for
seabirds. What’s more, this autumn there is the opportunity
to get involved with an important count of the birds.
O
Above right (inset):
around 1,000
pairs of Cory’s
Shearwaters are
estimated to breed
in the Berlengas
Islands, which lie off
Cabo Carvoeiro. The
species can also be
seen on passage from
the mainland.
56Birdwatch•July 2015 ERIK HIRSCHFELD
ERIK HIRSCHFELD
Left: autumn
migration is also good
for Mediterranean
Gull, with small
flocks counted during
October 2014.
www.birdwatch.co.uk
and easily seen. American Golden Plover
has been recorded a number of times,
with single records of Buff-breasted and
Semipalmated Sandpipers, White-winged
Black Tern, Spanish Imperial Eagle and
other wandering migrants. Black-winged
Kites occasionally turn up, too.
Along the coast there are several
lagoons which attract waders and
wetland birds, including Nearctic
vagrants. They also hold breeding
populations of typical Mediterranean
species such as Zitting Cisticola and
European Stonechat, as well as the
introduced Common Waxbill.
A small freshwater outlet at Molhe
Leste in the port provides excellent
photo opportunities when gulls and
terns come in to drink. During storms
the sheltered harbour attracts tired
pelagic species as well, and later in the
season auks. Landbird migration is not
TONY MILLS (WWW.NOTJUSTBIRDS.COM)
In the right conditions, seabird passage at
Peniche can be spectacular, with 29,000
Northern Gannets (this page) and 655
Great Skuas (opposite page) logged in a
single day in October 2014.
so visible, but it is well worth checking
the gardens near Cabo Carvoeiro
for vagrant Yellow-browed and other
warblers in season, while the occasional
Grey Wagtail will be recorded flying
past the point. A locally breeding pair
of Peregrine Falcons often entertains
birders on quieter days.
Cabo Carvoeiro breaks off the
north-north-east to south-south-west
coastline, and in strong winds forces
Cabo Carvoeiro lies at the westernmost point of the Peniche
peninsula. Strong winds force migrating seabirds to pass close
to the mainland, making this an ideal destination for seawatching.
❯
www.birdwatch.co.ukBirdwatch•July 2015
57
migrating seabirds to pass by close to
land. Off the point lie the Berlengas
Islands, which hold breeding Madeiran
Storm-petrels, as well as large numbers
of Cory’s Shearwaters. Many birds and
cetaceans choose to migrate in the sound
between the islands and Cabo Carvoeiro,
making them relatively easy to observe
from land. The ocean is fairly deep west
of the Berlengas, which is another added
attraction for pelagic species.
The Berlengas Islands’ bird fauna has
been covered in a booklet written by C
C Moore (2001) and includes records
of Blyth’s and Olive-backed Pipits
and Yellow-browed Warbler. A small
group of local birders works these sites
regularly, other obligations permitting,
but it is our feeling that the area is
generally under-watched.
Autumn counts
A couple of years ago, we published a
paper from a one-week count in early
October 2012 (Elmberg, Hirschfeld
and Cardoso 2013) and in 2014 we
counted for another week, a little later
in the month. That week we arrived
in a storm, and the first day 29,000
Northern Gannets, 30 European Stormpetrels, 547 Balearic Shearwaters,
655 Great Skuas and 810 Pomarine
Skuas passed the point. Winds calmed
during the rest of the week, but there
was still a good passage of Great Skuas
and Balearic, Manx, Cory’s and Sooty
Shearwaters, with small flocks of
Mediterranean Gulls also logged.
Great Shearwater is a regular passage
migrant; in 2012 we saw them in
easterly winds. Madeiran Storm-petrel
has also been recorded. Great Skua
migration can be quite heavy in calm
conditions, while ducks and waders
including Grey Phalarope are also
regularly seen.
In autumn 2015 we plan to have
complete coverage from 15 August to
15 November, and we are seeking skilled
migration-counting volunteers to join us
(see panel for further details). This is an
excellent opportunity to do some really
pioneering seabird work and at the same
time enjoy and test your identification
skills, as well as possibly find some
rarities. ■
ERIK HIRSCHFELD
SURVEYS
Experienced seabird counters are
needed for daily counts in Peniche,
Portugal, this autumn.
SEABIRD COUNTING – HOW YOU CAN HELP
WE are seeking volunteers who are experienced seabird counters and are
willing to take part in standardised, daily counts this autumn. You will have to
be prepared to stay at least one week, but if you stay for four weeks or more, we
can offer free flights from northern Europe. All volunteers are provided with free
accommodation and bicycle transport to the counting point.
Each evening participants must fill in a database with their daily records. Leica
sponsors us with telescopes and tripods, and this equipment must be used for
the counts in order to have them as standardised as possible. We also provide
tallies for busy days when migration is heavy.
Normal counting hours are from dawn until 10 am and from 3 pm until dusk
every day, but on days with storms we will endeavour to count the full day. There will
usually be two volunteers in place every day. The counting takes place at the Cruz
dos Remédios monument, which is close to toilets and a cafeteria. On windy days
the roof of the restaurant Nau dos Corvos will provide some shelter and counting
may be moved there (it is also close to excellent food and facilities).
If you are interested in taking part in this project please visit www.
penicheseabirdcount.com, where we have provided all necessary information.
This site will also be used for daily blog updates once the counts have started.
Please email [email protected] if you wish to volunteer, specifying
your experience, desired time period and contact details. ■
PENICHE MUNICIPALITY
REFERENCES
• Elmberg, J, Hirschfeld, E, and Cardoso, H. 2013.
Diurnal seabird movements at Cabo Carvoeiro
(Peniche, Portugal); observations in early October
2012. Seabird 26: 24-31.
• Moore, C C, 2001. Berlenga Bird Year. Instituto
Da Conservacao Da Natureza Reserva Natural das
Berlengas, Portugal.
58Birdwatch•July 2015 www.birdwatch.co.uk