Yes, it's another very cool theme for this week's SMAP: Birds in the sky.
The bad part? They are tricky photos to take unless you have good conditions or a very good camera. The good part? I have a few of our #featheredfriends in nice poses!
These amazing birds visit my country in the winter months, mainly in the southern interior, in the big Alentejo fields. Every year, if I can, I visit some good friends living in that area that also love birds, and off we go for some birdwatching.
We got lucky this time, because there were huge numbers everywhere!
I would say around 90% of my photos were crap, but managed to get a few decent shots. But ven without any photographic material, just being able to witness this show, where hundreds of big birds gather, is more than enough reason to pay them a visit.
Other birds roam the Alentejo skies, these ones with a residency card.
I was actually surprised to see the english name is red kite; the direct translation to the name we use here would be "royal" kite. But well, can't argue with the redness, can I?
At least here in Portugal, the forked tail is almost characteristic of a kite; then it's just a matter if it's the red or the black one.
This next one was seen on the north part of the country, in my last vacations, and it was also because of the tail that I was able to identify it; at first it looked like a common buzzard...
But given how long and straight the tail is, it seems more a harrier; juveniles can be quite dark! I couldn't get to see the back, that would have helped.
If any of the bird gurus out there has a different opinion, do let me know; always ready to learn!
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