The joy of spotting nature in unexpected places

Discovering nature in surprising locations has brought me immense joy. During a recent visit to Faro, Portugal, I encountered two birds that I find amusing, right in the heart of the city.

On my first night strolling down the high street with a friend, I paused outside a pharmacy while my friend went inside to look for some paracetamol. That's when I noticed them! The first thing that caught my attention was their sound. Looking up, I saw a large number of Swifts darting around, chasing each other, and flying up and down. I immediately recorded the video below and sent it to my boyfriend, wishing he could have been there to see them!

In the UK, the arrival of Swifts is certainly a highlight at home. We even purchased Swift boxes to help boost their population. However, I had never seen as many as I did that evening in Faro. As the days passed, I noticed Swifts featured on souvenirs and realised this is a significant aspect here.

I conducted some research and discovered that these birds are indeed a characteristic of Faro's skies during the summer. They migrate from sub-Saharan Africa around April or May and remain for breeding until the end of summer. Swifts nest in crevices, and it is thought that Faro offers ideal nesting sites due to its numerous older buildings, cliffs, and ancient walls. Additionally, the wetlands of Ria Formosa surrounding Faro provide plenty of food. Swifts often return to the same location annually, and they evidently favour Faro!

As the population of Swifts is decreasing across Europe, partly because building renovations are sealing off crevices, it was refreshing to see so many Swifts during my trip.

A delightful surprise was spotting two storks perched atop a church. Since storks aren’t common where I live in the UK, seeing two immediately after parking at our rental was incredible! The picture below doesn't quite capture their beauty.

Storks in Faro, Portugal

I think that living in the countryside has helped me become more attuned to nature. When I'm in cities now, I tend to notice birds, trees, and flowers much more than when I lived in the city. It's as if my body longs for nature and therefore becomes more aware of it.

Living in the city often makes us overlook the fact that we share the world with numerous other creatures. When we're moving from one place to another, we're usually too busy to pay attention. Living in the countryside and adopting a slower lifestyle allows us to become more aware.

I have returned to the UK and today I noticed that the days are becoming a bit shorter. There's a subtle change in the light. This made me feel somewhat nostalgic about moving from the height of summer into late summer. I'm already harvesting courgettes, raspberries, and beans. The harvest season has arrived!