Cape Mondego
I've been wanting to explore the Cape Mondego Natural Monument for some time. Yesterday was finally the day.
This coastal protected area in the county of Figueira da Foz was created more to protect geological features than fauna or flora, but these Jurassic rock cliffs, with alternating greyish marl and limestone layers filled with fossils (like ammonoids or belemnoids, or even dinossaur footprints), still provide a substrate to an interesting assemblage of animals and plants.
Although quite a few introduced plants, like Carpobrotus edulis, Agave americana, Jacobaea maritima (syn. Senecio cineraria) or Cortaderia selloana, can be found in the area, most of the local flora is native, with Rock samphire, Crithmum maritimum, being particularly abundant. Other interesting plants can also be found, including Armeria welwitschii, a Portuguese endemic sea thrift.
The terrestrial fauna is not very exuberant. I only found two species of snails, and a few common birds, the most interesting of which was to me Arenaria interpres, a typical bird in coastal cliffs, though not unusual elsewhere. Although I wasn't exactly on the lookout for them, I found three species of insects, but I didn't get a clear view of one of them (a dragonfly).
I believe the marine life in the submerged part of these cliffs should be interesting, but the tide didn't allow me to explore it properly, so I only found a few common species. I really have to go back during the low tide.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
European Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. The pattern seems to be that of this species, but feel free to correct me.
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What
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Small Periwinkle (Melarhaphe neritoides)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. This small snail (about 5mm each) can often be found in small groups in the splash zone or in the middle of the barnacles.
Photos / Sounds
What
Montagu's Stellate Barnacle (Chthamalus montagui)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. ID based on the shape of the operculum (kite-shaped, rather than oval like in Chthamalus stellatus).
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What
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)Observer
duarteDescription
Subspecies Motacilla alba alba. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Rough Bindweed (Smilax aspera)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestre)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Dipsacus comosusObserver
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Arundo micranthaObserver
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. This species has thinner colms than another member of its genus that can also be found in Portugal, Arundo donax (which I found just a few meters away from this one: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/856192).
Photos / Sounds
What
Giant Reed (Arundo donax)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. An ancient introduction, it is still considered an invasive species in Portugal.
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What
Silver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima)Observer
duarteDescription
Syn. Senecio cineraria. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal. Considered an invasive species in Portugal.
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What
Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)Observer
duarteDescription
Windswept specimen. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Armeria welwitschiiObserver
duarteDescription
Endemic to Portugal. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Genus PatellaObserver
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Mediterranean Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Woody Fleabane (Dittrichia viscosa)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Carlina hispanicaObserver
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Golden Samphire (Limbarda crithmoides)Observer
duarteDescription
Syn. Inula crithmoides. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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Brown-lipped Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)Observer
duarteDescription
Aestivating. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Striped Snail (Cernuella virgata)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Maritime Crosswort (Crucianella maritima)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Common Golden Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)Observer
duarteDescription
Invasive species. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal. Very common in the cliffs.
Photos / Sounds
What
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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Dwarf Artichoke (Cynara humilis)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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Sweet Scabious (Sixalix atropurpurea)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)Observer
duarteDescription
Invasive species. Near the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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Flax-leaved Daphne (Daphne gnidium)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Portland Spurge (Euphorbia portlandica)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
American Century Plant (Agave americana)Observer
duarteDescription
Introduced species. Near the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Sea Marigold (Calendula suffruticosa)Observer
duarteDescription
Calendula suffruticosa subsp. algarbiensis, an Iberian endemic subspecies. In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
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What
Wild Leek Complex (Complex Allium ampeloprasum)Observer
duarteDescription
In the Cape Mondego Natural Monument, a coastal protected area in central Portugal.
Comments
Wow you got a lot of good shots!
Thanks! This is a really great place, the light is just amazing!
Do you live their ?
No, I was just visiting.
Oh, neat!
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