WHITE STORK NESTS ON ELECTICAL TRANSMISSION TOWERS, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER IN FLIGHT, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this Western Marsh Harrier (also known as Eurasian Marsh Harrier):

• Distinctive five black wing tips (this distinguishes this harrier from many other raptors) - you can see this on the right wing of the Harrier in the first photo
• On underwing, gray next to black wing tips - again see first photo  
• Long tail
• Greyish head

   The Western Marsh Harrier is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 944.

JUVENILE SANDERLINGS ON BEACH, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

FEMALE KENTISH PLOVERS ON BEACH, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this plover as a female Kentish Plover as follows:

• Sandy upperparts with small breast side patches
• White underparts
• White collar on hindneck
• Dark eye patch 
• Dark legs
• Black bill

   The Kentish Plover is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 943.

NONBREEDING SPOTTED REDSHANK, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this sandpiper as a nonbreeding Spotted Redshank as follows:

• Grey upperparts
• Whitish underparts with spotted flanks
• Red legs
• Red on bill is only at base of lower mandible (you can see this in the first photo) - this differentiates the Spotted Redshank from the similar Common Redshank, where the red is on the whole bill base
  

   The Spotted Redshank is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 942.

 
 

CORK OAK TREE, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   The bark of the Cork Oak tree is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as ccork flooring and as the core of cricket balls.  It is one of Portugal's major exports.
   The lower portion of the tree is harvested every 10 years.  The 9 on the tree indicatess it was harvested this year and will be harvested next in 2029.

CRESTED LARKS ON GROUND, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this bird as a Crested Lark as follows:

• You can see the distinctive spiky crest in the upraised position on crown of the lark on the right in the first photo
• Short broad tail
• Habitat: on ground in dry area with scarce vegetation 
• Overall grayish-brown plumage with streaked white breast
• Merlin bird photo ID app identified this bird as a Crested Lark

   The Crested Lark is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 941.