Porto Santo latest sightings - August 2009

Aaron Ofner from Austria sent his interesting bird records of a day in Porto Santo Island:

Very interesting was a visit to Porto Santo on Aug. 23rd At Tanque Pond, where friend reported only a single Little Egret the week before, we found a Common Sandpiper, a Common Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. We made sure that it wasn't a Solitary when observing it in flight.

Also contra to Vicent van Specks trip report Eurasian Collared Dove seems to be well established on Porto Santo by now. We observed singles or pairs in town, at Tanque and on the Golf Course. Also on the Golf Course was a juv. Spoonbill.

Finally there was also a Falcon which could unfortunately only be photographed very distantly but which I would, having no experience with Barbary, tentatively identify as a Peregrine from the Pic. It was taken at the gas station.

Note: Madeira Wind Birds heard of another record of Barbary Falcon in Porto Santo around the same time so who knows if it was really a Barbary? Can you tell by the picture?