SPOT THE BIRDIE

Spoonbills

…And spot the difference. Year round you can find some 250 species of birds on the Algarve and a further 100-plus that come and go. Here’s a practical guide from Carolyn Kain that will help you tell a Whimbrel from a Curlew

Fluttering wings and colourful feathers moving in the bushes, a small grey bird skittering along the sand or overhead a Raptor gliding on a thermal. It is rewarding to be able to identify these birds but even with binoculars and a field guide it can be tricky. The range of species seen in the Algarve is extremely varied due to the diverse topography of the region from sea level to the heights of Monchique at 792 metres. Many migrant birds are temporary visitors and since there are around 150 breeding species, becoming familiar with them all is daunting.

For the would-be bird spotter one method well worth trying out is to take a series of photographs with a digital camera. Even an out of focus, distant image, enlarged on a computer screen can help to clarify what’s been seen. The system can be more efficient than flicking through a field guide whilst trying to watch the bird or attempting to recall its appearance after it has flown away.

For instance, the Blackcap and Sardinian Warbler are regularly seen in local woodlands and country gardens. Similar in size with black, white and grey markings they can easily be confused. However, once frozen on a computer screen and compared to pictures in a field guide it is usually possible to tell them apart.

Waders are particularly obliging photographic models usually seen on the ground probing their beaks into mudflats or crustacean rich sand. Greenshanks and Redshanks are identifiable by the colours of their legs but when it comes to deciding between a Spotted and a Common Redshank the photo method works. This is equally the case when looking for differences between varieties of Plovers, Sandpipers and Godwits.

Seeming similar Spectacular sightings such as Flamingos and Spoonbills are unmistakable but other impressive birds can present the amateur with problems. Is it an Avocet or Black-winged Stilt, a Curlew or a Whimbrel? Aside from obvious features the shape and size of birds’ bills can also be distinctive. Curlews and Whimbrels are fairly similar with subtle differences in their streaking and colouration patterns but when seen on a computer screen the former has a longer curved bill, different from the Whimbrel’s, which is only bent towards the tip.

Remarkably, in terms of bill growth Oystercatchers are world champions. Increasing in size by twice its length in a

Glossy Ibis Stonechat Short-toed Eagle

Black-winged

year, an Oystercatcher’s bill grows at a rate that is double the speed of human fingernails! Often seen on our shores breaking into shellfish, their flashy red bills are constantly being worn away by abrasive action.

Wildlife viewing trails created for the benefit of birds and birders often provide hides with helpful information boards. The Ria Formosa Natural Park - just east of Olhão - is open to the public seven days per week from 9am until 5pm. Tickets and parking cost ¤2.80.

Bit of a rarity At Quinta do Lago there is open access with an overview of saltpans attracting maritime birds and a fresh water lake that is home to dozens of Grebes and Divers. The appearance of the lake’s most famous Swamphen, the Purple Gallinule, is unmistakeable. One of Europe’s most rare species, it can invariably be spotted treading amongst the reeds where it will often pose for pictures, sometimes good enough to frame.

The occasional Heron and Ibis can sometimes be seen from the hide. Since the pleasure of bird ‘watching’ can be more rewarding than bird ‘spotting’, a few photos looked at later make identification easier.

Blackcap

Hoopoe

Purple Gallinule

Avocet Little Grebe

SIX OF THE BEST

1 There is a really good, detailed guide at pt.meravista. com/sites/default/files/basic_page_pdf/algarve_ birdwatching_guide_2012. whIch can be downloaded as a PDF. Published by the Tourist Board, the Birdwatching Guide to the Algarve includes lots of tips and hints and details 32 excusions including Castro Marim wetlands, the Ria Formosa and Lagoa dos Salgados. 2 Day trips and tours are arranged by highly-experienced guides Simon Wates and Thijs Valkenburg. Contact them by email birdtrips@gmail.com or phone – Simon 912 824 053; Thijs 969 579 838. They will plan itineraries according to requests – and could include specific species or, for example, other wildlife and flora. Check out their website at algarvebirdman.com 3 Organised bird watching and wildlife photography tours, including birding holidays in the Algarve and Alentejo, are part of the detailed programme offered by Becool Travel in Faro. Call them on 308 810 671 or email info@becooltravel.com for information 4 algarve-birdwatching.com is worth a visit and will encourage you to start packing. 5 Sequa Tours, based in Tavira, operate Ria Formosa boat tours, including a specific bird-watching tour that offers great spotting opportunites and includes a visit to the traditional saltpans and fishing villages. sequatours.com is where to check out what’s on offer. Or you can call 960 170 789. 6 Worth a read is A Birdwatchers’ Guide to Portugal, the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos by Colm Moore, Gonçalo Elias and Helder Costa, from Where to Watch Guides, published by Prion.

TIPS for selling your home

Regardless of whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market, selling your home can be difficult and stressful – few situations are more emotionally draining , especially when you can’t wait to move on. Stefan Humpenöder of Yellow Homes gives sound advice

If you want to sell your home in a reasonable time frame and with confidence, you’ll need to know all of your options so you can make an informed decision that best aligns with your current circumstances and goals. Key is what can you do to attract buyers.

Yellow Homes, Land & House Algarve, compiled a list of useful tips. From developing a strong online presence to making your home move-in ready, these tips can help shorten the time between listing and selling your home. We also offer alternatives in case your property just won’t sell.

Getting started List your house with a real estate agent who has a proven track record. Finding the right one is the first step and should not be taken lightly. To navigate a process involving property documentation and back-and-forth communications between agent, homeowner and prospective buyer, it is advisable to have a professional assisting you. A licensed and reputable real estate agent has the resources to list your house properly and to best effect. Beyond that, their experience can potentially save you thousands of euros as well as valuable time.

The right agent will understand your needs and then tailor the services to achieve your end goal. Creating a strong online presence is a crucial component of the marketing strategy. The job of an agent is also to guide the vendor through necessary house preparation and small repairs, to price the house correctly, propose and execute a marketing strategy to promote the listing, going over the property documentation with you to make sure it is accurate and updated and to ensure a seamless transaction when agreement has been reached with the prospective buyer.

In addition, they will qualify the buyer before a potential viewing to confirm that the property is within his/her budget and fulfils their needs and expectations. This avoids timewasting and frustrating viewings. During a viewing make yourself scarce. After all, you are paying the agent, let them do their job. They know what to say and how to say it.

Engage a law firm Selling or buying a home is a life-changing event, significant in every respect. It involves property laws which may be unique to an area and that can raise issues that are not present in other transactions. An experienced real estate lawyer is trained to deal with any related problems. Without an expert to keep track of all the intricacies, you cannot necessarily count on the sale to go quickly or smoothly.

Be realistic with your listing price Nothing kills a real estate deal faster than an over-priced property. An experienced agent will have good knowledge of the local market and will research the prices of listed and recently-sold homes in and around your neighbourhood before

putting your house on the market.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t participate in the price decision but just don’t let your ego get in the way. Having a realistic asking price is critical to sell a home quickly and that doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest price. Homebuyers are astute and better informed than ever. They know when a property is overpriced and simply ignore it. Communication with your listing agent is crucial; ask them for advice.

Prepare the house for viewings Preparation is everything! You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. This means it is vital that your property is presented in the best way possible. Make sure everything is in good working order. A prospective buyer can lose interest quickly when for instance an electric gate or lights switches are not working and may start wondering what else is wrong with the property.

Inside Getting you home ready for viewers – or ‘staging’ as it is called – is important. It will not only help your property to sell faster but can potentially add thousands of euros to its value. Declutter and ask your agent to advise you on this. You need to strike a balance between a homely and welcoming environment and a cold feeling of sterility. This can be an art and some agents are better at it then others!

You want to create an ambiance where your buyer is able to imagine your property as their home, not yours. Needless to say if you are serious about selling, that any maintenance issues need to be resolved before listing.

The exterior and landscaping When buyers first see your home, they are apprehensive and are looking for potential issues – any that don’t match with what they saw online. The roof should to be in good condition; the entrance gate should open properly; and the front door and garage doors should be freshened up. If windows have peeling paint or brickwork is cracked or damaged, buyers will start to get the impression the home needs work. The more negatives they see, the more work they imagine could be needed.

After seeing the house, the buyers will look at the garden. It needs to complement your property – buyers are looking at the whole picture and evaluating it all. The garden should be as tidy as possible. Dead leaves and weeds should be removed, the grass cut and, if needed, the driveway and sidewalk powerwashed before a viewing. If the house has a nice pool, make sure that the water level is right and the water clean.

GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS buyers off. If in doubt, ask a good friend for their honest opinion. Be aware that some buyers are allergic to animals; when they see a cat or dog they are already on their way out. Light in and light up Most buyers want to see that a home has plenty of natural light. Remove heavy draperies and open up the shutters or blinds. Maybe hide an unattractive view with window coverings that still allow in light. Need some extra light? Add lamps in any dark areas. On a dark day, switch on as many lights as possible. If it’s a cold evening or a chilly day, light your fire. Consider burning some pinecones for a delicious smell. This will make your home feel warm and inviting. If you don’t have a fire lit, then at least ensure the fireplace is clean. Obvious conversions If there are any obvious conversions or extensions such as a pool or turning the garage into extra rooms or opening up the loft, why not take advantage and capitalise? Many buyers are not interested in going through this process themselves. They just want something suitable that is ready to move into. Of course any alterations and extensions should be subject to planning permission. If you don’t have enough spare cash for alterations then consider getting planning permission. This can add value to your property. preparation is everything when it comes to selling. Currently, with an overwhelming demand for properties to purchase, we are more eager than ever to list quality homes or plots – particularly around the areas of Loulé, Almancil, Boliqueime, Vilamoura, Carvoeiro and Tavira.

If you are considering selling your property and would like to speak with a member of our team then please call us now on 289 301 294 to make an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

In any event best of luck getting your home sold! Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime T: 289 301 294 / F: 289 301 439 Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira T: 281 320 281 / F :281 321 901

Need to sell urgently? Then you must consider selling for less than the market value. Making a steep price reduction can be a solution when nothing else seems to be working – your property instantaneously becomes the best buy in the area.

If this doesn’t work, consider selling for less than the replacement value. It’s an option that should only be used under extreme circumstances if you need to reliquify quickly. Speak to your agent and/or change your agent in case they’ve lost interest.

Final thoughts Your goal as a vendor is to make your property appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. It isn’t a personal thing; it may not be easy but it’s business and it’s time to think of it that way.

At Yellow Homes – Land and Houses Algarve we have been successfully selling properties in the Algarve for more than 20 years (actually, almost 25 years!). We have a wealth of experience to assist you and can guide you every step of the way.

At the moment we are experiencing a seller’s market in most areas of Portugal. Right now it couldn’t be a better time to sell and we hope that you have found our suggestions and advice helpful. Your property may be a second home that you have enjoyed, or a full-time home filled with memories. Whichever, just keep in mind that timing and

AMI: 6232

CHARMING 4 BED SEA VIEW PROPERTY WITH ANNEX NEAR LOULE. This beautiful 4 bedroom rustic style villa is situated in an idyllic but central location close to Loule in the Central Algarve. The property sits amidst a gently sloping and landscaped garden enjoying beautiful views over the coast to the Atlantic Ocean. Rare opportunity to acquire a traditional style villa with stunning sea views.. Price: €845.000 Ref: R-FOR EC In progress.

Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com

GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS

BETWEEN LOULE AND SAO BRAS 4 BED RUSTIC PROPERTY WITH GREAT VIEWS. This charming property with 4 bedrooms is located near Loule and Sao Bras offering spectacular views over the countryside. The house boasts wood and bamboo ceilings with terracotta floor tiling giving a true rustic feel. A character filled low maintenance property with large garage in a wonderful location. Ref: VDJ Price €550.000 EC class E. AMI: 6232 Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com

ON CAMERA

The work of Ludi Stiebner captures the soul of old Portugal with both passion and respect. She likens the broken windows and doors, the peeling paint, and the crumbling buildings to a flower that is slowly fading away

“This was taken is Albufeira old town… a golden door in all its splendour with so much intricate detail.”

“The back streets of Olhao. This door was not noticeable at first, but at the right time and with the right light, it catches your eye straight away.”

TALKING POINTS...

Background Ludi was born in France but has lived in England, Holland, Israel and Germany. She rode a motorbike to India and has covered international 4x4 car competitions in the Malaysian jungle for UK and French magazines. She and her English husband moved to the Algarve eight years ago. She is a member of the Algarve Photographer’s Group in Sao Bras.

Camera These photographs were taken with a Nikon D200 equipped with Nikon lenses. She now uses a much lighter Olypus OMD E-M10ii. Inspiration “When I go out to take photographs I generally don’t search for anything in particular. It depends on different criteria – if the light is good or not, if it rains or not. I just keep my eyes opened, observes everything and open my mind, hoping something will strike the right cord.” Favourite motto “You don´t take a photo, you make it”. Attributed to American landscape photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams who died in the 1980s.