Newsletter September 2023
Summer is almost gone!
Have you look around? It´s a great chance to see migrant birds!
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Natural Parks in Portugal
Natural parks are “areas which contain predominantly natural or semi-natural ecosystems, where the long-term preservation of biodiversity may depend on human activity, ensuring a sustainable flow of natural products and services”. In Portugal there are 13 Natural Parks.
Serra da Estrela Natural Park
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is located in the western point of Sistema Central (together with Serra da Lousã and Serra do Açor) a plateau with the highest point of Continental Portugal (1993 metres high); comprises the parishes of Celorico da Beira, Covilhã, Gouveia, Guarda, Seia and Manteigas. This Park extends to an area of 89 132,21 hectares.
The morphology of the area is particular and the top part has suffered the influence of the Quaternary Ice Age. Here it is possible to find large variety of habitats, including natural values related with altitude, endemic flora and habitats prior to conservation. This area is the only place in Portugal where you can find the Iberian Rock Lizard (Iberolacerta monticola), an endemic species of Iberia Peninsula. The park is part of 3 important water basins (Douro, Tagus and Mondego) and it has well preserved water courses, important for the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), the Iberian Emerald Lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) and the Gold-striped Salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica), these last 2 endemic of Iberia Peninsula. Among with this species, the area is rich in biodiversity, including plants, various bird species and other invertebrates, some of them Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (Vu).
The Natural Park was created in 1976 aiming to protect the wild life refuges and endemic flora of national importance and in 1997 the limits of the Park were extended. The symbol of the Park is an Ice crystal, referring to the climatic characteristics of the area and the glacial origin of the mountain.
IN FLIGHT…
Eastern Alchymist (Aedia leucomelas, Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Wingspan: 38 mm
Habitat: Open and semi-open habitats, warm and humid.
Flight period: Abril to July and September to October
Distribution: Europe, Asia and some African countries
Notes: The hostplants are grasses from Convolvulaceae Family. Hibernates within the pupation cocoon.
Tweet… Tweet…
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus, Linnaeus, 1766)
Photo by Guillhaume Réthoré
Family: Accipitridae
Size: 45 to 55 cm Wingspan: 97 to 118 cm
Habitat: Bogs, marshes and shallow lakes, also on moors, grasslands and low shrub lands. Prefers open country landscapes.
Status: Summer breeder and winter migrant
Distribution: Holarctic distribution (America and Eurasia). In Portugal breeds only on a small range in the north on the border with Spain.
Notes: This species builds its nest on the ground. The hunt strategy is similar to other species of harriers: slow flight close to the ground. In Portugal this species has the status of Vulnerable, the main threats are the agriculture intensification and the use of pesticides, the rural fires and the destruction of wetlands.
DID YOU KNOW? 
- September is just around the corner, and as usual, we are going to celebrate the international coast clean-up day, cleaning the interior beach of Alvor. The meeting point, is as usual, the car park in front of the municipal swimming pool at 9:00. Please, if you want to join us send us your first and last name (for insurance purposes), send email to isabel.soares@arocha.org. You don’t need to bring anything just joy and energy to clean! 16th of September, meeting point: car park near the swimming pool in Alvor at 9:00.
- On the 23rd of September A Rocha will celebrate its 40th Anniversary! And everything started here in Cruzinha. Congratulations to everyone which made possible this 40 years! Staff, directors, volunteers, visitors and donors!
- Birds are arriving! Some of the birds seen in Ria de Alvor: Melodious warbler (Hippolais pollyglota), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Eastern Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Ringed Plover (Caradrius hiaticula) and much more!
Ruff
Ornamental trees
In our parks and gardens it is possible to see amazing trees, although most of them are exotic! Plants native from other parts of the world used as ornamental. Maybe you have seen some of them….
Ginkgo Tree (Ginkgo biloba, L.)
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Type of plant: deciduous tree
Size: 35 metres
Distribution: Native from Southeast China
Flower bloom time: March to April
Curiosity: This species is one of the oldest living tree species in the world, fossils were found dating them 200 million years old and it’s known as “Living fossil”. The tree belongs to the gymnosperms (group of plants with naked-seeds) same as pine trees. This species is used as ornamental for many centuries in China and Japan. Despite being a common species in parks and gardens around the world, in the wild it is an endangered species.
POPPED UP
Family: Plantaginaceae
Plant type: herbaceous
Flower bloom time: May to November
Habitat: Roadsides, fallow lands and farmlands
Distribution: Mediterranean Region
Notes: This is a very variable species in the size of the leaves and position of flowers; can be erect or prostrate. Naturalized in many parts of the temperate world. The Latin name “lanigera” refers to the small and abundant hairs which cover stems and leaves.
Wooly Toadflax (Kickxia lanigera (Desfontaines) Handel-Mazzetti)
DATES TO REMEMBER
7th, 14th, 21st and 28th September – Cruzinha Bird ringing display & Moth Talk (10 to 12 am). requires a pre booking. Book here
15th September – Moth Monitoring at 07:30 pm, in Sítio das Fontes, Estômbar. International Ecology Day
16th September – International coastal cleaning day. Beach cleaning Alvor, 09:00 am, meeting point at the car park next to Alvor swimming pool. This activity has a duration of approximately 1 and a half hours. For more information email: isabel.soares@arocha.org
16th September – Discovering the biodiversity of Meia Praia. Meeting point behind the restaurant “A Barrigada” Lagos 5 pm. For more information email: isabel.soares@arocha.org
22nd September – Autumn equinox. Beginning of Autumn
23rd September – 40th Anniversary of A Rocha
25th September – National Sustainability Day
Sagres Bird watching Festival from 5th to 8th October. More information here
https://www.birdwatchingsagres.com/en/
Thank you for supporting the Friends of A Rocha Portugal
Physiotherapy, Massages (relaxation, sports, therapeutic)
Other therapies
Beauty (manicure, pedicure, hair removal, facials)
Open Monday to Friday
Dr Roy Rodrigues
Av. Do Brasil, Qta das Palmeiras, Lt P2, R/c A, 8500-299 Portimão
(+351) 282180683
royaldente@gmail.com
Urbanização Mar e Serra n° 47, Alvor
8500 – 783 Portimão
(+351) 911597735
What makes a good Birthday present?
Thought of the month 
“Buy less, choose well.”– Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022), English Fashion Designer
LETS BE GREEN – LETS BE GREEN – LETS BE GREEN 
How to live a sustainable life
Sustainability: means to be aware and use in a conscious way our natural resources without compromising their availability to the future generations.
To have a sustainable life means to have a daily routine that is planet friendly, reducing the impact on the environment
What to do?
- Recycle: recycle all the items you can (plastic, metal, glass)
- Ecobags: use your own bags for shopping instead of plastic ones
- Compost: sort out the organic remains and start to compost
- Save water: reduce the time you spend in the bath or shower
- Save electricity: choose economic electric devices and turn them off when you are not using them
- Consume conscious: choose environment friendly products and buy locally
- Reduce meat: there is no need to become a vegetarian or vegan, but reducing the number of meals with meat would make a big change for the planet.
LETS BE GREEN – LETS BE GREEN – LETS BE GREEN
Sea life
The sea is a big part of our planet and we still have a lot to discover! It is also threatened by human activity – pollution! Like the micro-plastics, very small particles of plastic floating in the water column ending inside the most of the sea animals… some of them are struggling to survive and some end up on our plates. Let’s find them
Purple Sea Urchin (Paracentrotus lividus)
Photo from OMARE
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Size: up to 7 cm across
Lifespan: 6 to 9 years
Distribution: Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea
Habitat: Benthic. Lower rocky shore, infralittoral and sublittoral zone up to 30 metres deep
Behaviour: Lives attached to rocks, stones or calcareous algae often self-covered by shell remains. Can bore with its spines a hole, large enough to hide. Gonochoric (organisms with separated sexes), but males and females are alike.
Food habits: Herbivorous, feeds on algae, sea weeds and sponges
Ecological importance: It is considered a key organism in benthic ecosystems, modulating the macro algae community and allowing other organisms with a slow rate development to occupy the substrate and increasing biodiversity.
Notes: The development of this species is indirect (passes through different stages before becoming adult), the larvae are free living (planktotrophic). This species it’s the most common sea urchin on the Portuguese coast. The gonads (sexual organs) of the males are a much appreciated delicacy in some Mediterranean countries.
Sustainability Champions 
Sustainability Champions from around the World– Looking at ways to curb pollution and waste management. We would like to thank Daniel Hartz, the founder of Sustainability Champions for giving us the permission to share this information.
Sparkle: Greener Sustainable Solution
Hetal and Chirag Verani, Co-founders of Sparkle, have created sanitary products that are not only better for the environment, but also healthier and accessible for women everywhere.
Unlike Conventional sanitary products, which are made from synthetic materials and plastics, Sparkle products are made from 100% biodegradable materials such as bamboo. These natural fabrics allow for improved breathability and comfort while reducing the risk of contact dermatitis, a condition that is often associated with prolonged exposure to artificial fragrances or synthetic superabsorbents found in conventional products.
They are also free from harmful chemicals and additives like BPA and dioxin. This ensures that women using these products are not exposed to dangerous toxins that can have negative impacts on their health and well-being.
In addition to protecting the health and safety of women everywhere, Sparkle’s sustainable and environmentally-friendly products are also better for the planet, as they break down naturally over time rather than contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution.
Birdwatching in Sagres: registration opens 5 September
Registration for the Birdwatching & Nature Activities Festival open 5 September, when the programme for this 14th edition of the festival will also be announced. Among this year’s novelties is the chance to explore rockpools, go on a moonlit walk, and play nature-themed tabletop games.
The event, which will run from 5 to 8 October, is organised once more by Câmara Municipal de Vila do Bispo, in partnership with the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and Almargem.
More information: www.birdwatchingsagres.com/en
Check the website for dates for organised tours
Follow us: 
Guillaume Réthoré (Gui)- My life with birds: Late Summer waders
July and August are usually quiet months for birdwatching: it is quite hot and few birds are around. However, from August, some waders start appearing in the Algarve and at this time of the year, since they just left the breeding grounds, most of them are still in breeding plumage! It makes their identification easier (they are all grey or brown in winter). This Curlew Sandpiper has a lot of orange feathers on the underparts and a few on the back. In a few weeks, it will be mostly grey!
Text and photo by Guillaume Réthoré
Editor: Filipa Bragança
English proof reading: Helen Rodda
Portuguese proof reading: Lena Soares
Production controller: Helen Rodda
Email: friends.arpt@arocha.org
Thank you for supporting us!
Hope to see you soon!
