Half way through our holiday on the Algarve. Weather has been very, very hot. Even the Portuguese have been complaining! There have been extensive forest fires in the hills to the north of the region. The worst day was Sunday, when a huge cloud of smoke spread all the way down to our hotel at Praia do Vau, and bits of ash were dropping into the swimming pools. That night, the flames could clearly be seen on the hilsides 25 km away. Thankfully the fires now seem to be out.
It has really been too hot for wildlife. However the hotel complex is right next to a huge golf course which seems to act as an oasis for whatever is around. Egrets (maybe Little Egrets, maybe Squacco Herons) fly over over continually. One evening there was a flock of Azure winged Magpies in the boundary trees. House Sparrows are common, including males with extensive areas of black around the head, presumably the Spanish subspecies/species.
Other things we have seen include lots of dragonflies (a red-bodied species seems to be the commonest), Frogs in tiny, artificial pools, lots of butterflies and a possible Civet Cat running across in front of the car at dusk.
Heading for Sierra de Monchique and Cabo Sao Vincente later in the week, both of which should be good.