(All bird photos in this post and and up to Day 7 courtesy and copyright Neil McMahon).
Up early and onto the shuttle to north Terminal then through baggage drop with helpful Easyjet staff. Zipped through security and was sat down in Weatherspoons soon after 4am!! Used the app to order scrambled eggs on toast plus free-refill tea/coffee. By the time I'd finished it was filling up with the first drinkers of the day - beer at 4:30am!!
Then it was just the tedious delay in waiting for a departure gate at 06:25.
The boarding was efficient using front and rear steps and we were soon on our way.
Had a brief chat with one of last Xmases Naturetrekers who was heading to Portugal on a walking tour.
Journey to Faro flew past as I chatted to MG - luckily we had an empty seat between his window and my aisle.
Landed slightly early but passport control was tedious (not just UK but all passengers).
Eventually got through and met up with other members of the group plus NM. We got to introduce ourselves whilst he and RM went to get the vans.
Once loaded we visited our first birding site not far from the airport. First birds were Caspian Terns, Osprey, Spoonbills, some zip-through Waxbills and the first Zitting Cisticola.
Lunch was a very pleasant affair at Mar y Sol restaurant; just a light prawn omelette for me plus some wine.
Then on to Quinta do Lago where the birding was easy with Littie Bittern and Western Swamphen the best but lots of ducks, Chiffchaffs, White Wagtails and Crag Martin's plus the first of many Iberian Magpies and Sardinian Warblers.
Finally, off to Quinta do Marco hotel for check in, quick wash and an evening meal before retiring after a long day.
My 'bird of the day' was Little Bittern.
