Portugal, Algarve, Ludo Trail, Ria Formosa Natural Park, Nov. 20, 2015

The last day of our holiday we again had very nice weather, and a nice walk along the Ludo Trail just west of the Faro Airport. The trail is situated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a barrier between the Atlantic and the mainland and is further protected by several islands, which are basically large sand dunes. In between these islands and the mainland are large areas of dunes and lagoons, small sand isles, mud flats and canals. This provides a wonderful habitat for flora and fauna, especially birds.

We parked next to the airport and walked on the trail in the direction west. Unfortunately we did not have time to walk the two other legs to the north, and we did not get a close look at the flamingoes.

On our way

The northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), skeand.

The Eurasian wigeon, (Anas penelope), Pibeand

Flamingos in the distance

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Ringed Plover (Charádrius hiaticula), Stor præstekrave

The trail over the lagoon to the barrier island and the beach.

The beach

Ruddy turnstone, (Arenaria interpres), Stenvender

Everywhere on the shallow mudflats you find people collecting mussels and worms for bait

Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Rødben

Western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Sultanhøne

Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus), Blåskade

Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Hærfugl

Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), lille lappedykker

The common greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Hvidklire

Portugal, Algarve, Quinta do Marin, Nov. 19, 2015

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa is situated just east of Olhao. The trail included a historic tide mill.

A grey heron (Ardea cinere) welcomed us to the trail

The old tidal mill had been restored

The reservoir of the tidal mill

A view of the Ria Formosa

European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Hjejle. European golden plover is disappearing as breeding population in Denmark

Inside the old tidal mill, reading the information

This is how the tidal mill worked

Pond with an impressive amount of ducks

Gadwall, (Anas strepera), Knarand , male and female

Gadwall, (Anas strepera), Knarand, male

The common pochard (Aythya ferina) is a medium-sized diving duck. Navnet taffeland refererer til, at man før i tiden anså taffelanden for at være en meget velsmagende fugl - lige til et veldækket taffel!

Portugal, Algarve, Ilha da Armona, Nov. 18, 2015

We took the ferry from the small town Olhao to one of the barrier islands in the Ria Formosa: Ilha da Armona

Fish marked of Olhao. Head of Lophius piscatorius, commonly known as the angler. It can swallow prey of its own size.

Everywhere in the shallow areas of Ria Formosa you find people digging for mussels (for human consumption) or worms to be used as bait.

The beach of Ilha da Armona

The old ferry?

The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Stor Kobbersneppe

The new ferry