25 Januar 2014

Birdwatching on Cabo Verde. 3.) Sal


Sal Island is a paradise for surfers and kiters all year round. Concerning landscape it is not very attractive. An excursion to a crater with a saltwater lagoon is all that tourists are offered as a change from resort life.
 



The lagoon in the crater and the rest of the old salt works in and behing Santa Maria are surprisingly good spots for migrating waders in winter. We arrived late in the evening so the first shots are a bit blueish.

Curlew Sandpiper and Kentish Plover, Sichelstrandläufer und Seeregenpfeifer
Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling, Sichelstrandläufer und Sanderling
Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling


Curlew Sandpiper (Calidirs ferruginea), Sichelstrandläufer
Thank you to Martin Gottschling who set me right on the difference between Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper in winter plumage: Curlew Sp. is slightly bigger, has a less curved bill, and longer legs than Dunlin.

Dunlin, Alpenstrandläufer, has shorter legs than Curlew Sanpdiper.

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidirs ferruginea), Sichelstrandläufer

... and a Black-winged Stilt Stelzenläufer, and Sanderlings



Little Stint (Calidirs minuta) Zwergstrandläufer
Little Stint (Calidirs minuta) Zwergstrandläufer is smaller than Sanderling!
Common Redshank, Rotschenkel

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