Hike. São Lourenço, Quinta do Lago, Algarve, 23-04-2019

The trail is one best ways to enjoy the serene lagoons and salt marshes of Ria Formosa. Protected from the open sea waters by a wide stretch of sandy islands, the lagoons provide shelter for a variety of birds.

Fiedler crap

White stork

Carpobrotus acinaciformis (commonly known as Elands sourfig, Elandssurvy or Sally-my-handsome) is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa.Its natural habitat is the coastal dunes of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Yellow Broomrape (Cistanche phelypaea). It has no green in it and no chlorophyll. It has no need for photosynthesis as it is a parasitic plant that takes nutrients from other plants.

the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the largest of the flamingo species and can be found throughout Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and, of course, Southern Europe. This large wading bird can grow in excess of 150cm tall and weigh more than 4kg.

The Eurasian spoonbill, or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family.

Eurasian spoonbill and Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

São Lourenço salt marsh.

The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick. The bird breeds in small colonies in heavily vegetated areas of freshwater lakes across Europe, much of Asia down to New Guinea, and most of Africa

A pair of Hoopoes discuss where the best worms and larvae can be found

Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

The Eurasian curlew or common curlew (Numenius arquata). This is the largest wader. The curlew exists as a migratory species over most of its range, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and south Asia.

Yellow Broomrape (Cistanche phelypaea). It has no green in it and no chlorophyll. It has no need for photosynthesis as it is a parasitic plant that takes nutrients from other plants.

The salt march with some flamingos in the middle

Orchids & other flowers, Alportel, Algarve, Portugal, 2019-04-21

Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae. It is remarkable as an example of sexually-deceptive pollination and floral mimicry as well as of a highly-selective and highly evolved plant-pollinator relationship.

gladiolus, field gladiolus

Hullæbe, Epipactis, or Helleborine, is a genus of terrestrial orchids consisting of approximately 70 species.

Serapias Serapias is a genus of terrestrial orchids that can be found all over southern Europe to Asia Minor

Very big bumblebee on Purple Phlomis Phlomis purpurea – A sprawling shrub that grows 4-6 feet tall by as wide with upright stems bearing woolly, medium gray-green leaves and lavender flowers in whorls that rise just above the foliage throughout the year with a peak bloom in late spring.

Hjulkrone - Borago officinalis Hjulkrone er vildtvoksende i Sydeuro¬pa og har været dyrket i Danmark siden middelalderen. Borage, also known as a starflower, is an annual herb. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has naturalized in many other locales. Traditionally, Borago officinalis has been used in hyperactive gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders,such as gastrointestinal (colic, cramps, diarrhea), airways (asthma, bronchitis), cardiovascular, (cardiotonic, antihypertensive and blood purifier), urinary (diuretic and kidney/bladder disorders).

Allium roseum, Rosy garlic Allium roseum, commonly called rosy garlic, is an edible, Old World species of wild garlic. It is native to the Mediterranean region and nearby areas, with a natural range extending from Portugal and Morocco to Turkey and the Palestine region

Ophrys-speculum Ophrys speculum, the mirror orchid, is a species of Ophrys distributed throughout the Mediterranean that is pollinated exclusively by a single species of scoliid wasp.

Sao Bras de Alportel, Easter parade, Algarve, Portugal, 2019-04-21

21th of april 2019. Sao Bras de Alportel, Algarve Easter parade The Resurrection Procession in the eastern Algarve town of São Brás de Alportel is a unique manifestation of its people's sentiments. Easter Sunday, the townspeople carpet the streets with flowers. The Procession "[He] has risen, as He said. Alleluia!" This is the cry that echoes through the streets bedecked in flowers. This is the voice of Faith that is heard year after year. This is the strength of tradition! The streets are turned into a sea of flower torches. The men form ranks and get the procession under way, carrying the torches aloft in their hands. Along the way, they gather into little groups to take turns at crying out the "Alleluia". Here and there, you will hear a powerful, sonorous voice, "[He] has risen, as He said!" The group lifts their torches high and, with great cheer and enthusiasm, responds, "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” It is the popular manifestation of faith in Christ resurrected. Next Easter Sunday, São Brás de Alportel will once again be the stage for the age-old Alleluia Procession, in honour of Christ resurrected, where the litters are replaced with the flowers that adorn the magnificent torches. The streets are packed with people, the balconies are decorated with mats that sway in the wind. Stunning carpets of flowers, magnificently created by volunteers, mark out the route of the procession. On this day, it is tradition that speaks the loudest and, in the name of tradition, The emotion is tangible on this day that means so much to the people. São Brás de Alportel comes alive with festivity every Easter Sunday. On this day, many people who were born here but who have since moved away to other towns, cities or even countries, return home to join their fellow townspeople in this day of pride. The Flower Carpet A carpet of flowers stretches for one kilometre, marking the route taken by the procession, as though Spring herself had come to São Brás to celebrate this festive day. It takes three tonnes of flowers and the work of a hundred or so volunteers to create this veritable work of art. After an exhausting week's work picking and preparing the flowers, the early morning hours of Easter Sunday are the busiest of all. Starting at around 5 am, people work frantically until daybreak, so that when the sun rises it will shine down on the magnificent carpet of flowers lining the route of the procession.