While it is generally difficult to get close to birds in southern Portugal, there are exceptions. One is the Heron Rookery on an island in the Tagus near the small town of Escaroupin. A few enterprising boat owners make an income from taking birders (and tourists) out to see the birds, and to explore the banks of the Tagus up and downstream. The whole area along the river seems rich in birdlife, perhaps because the rookery is such a draw. We besides the rookery we saw Booted Eagle, Osprey, and Black Kite. It is a mixed rookery, with Eurasian Spoonbills, Grey Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egrets, and even a few Squacco Herons actively nesting. All but the Squacco Herons, which nest deep in the brush nearer ground level, are easy to see. They are busy with their nesting and young, and, because of the steady flow of boat traffic, are more used to human proximity than most European birds. We made two passes around the island, one going out, and one coming back, and had some of our best photo opportunities of the trip. This Eurasian Spoonbill was in full display. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. 1/2000th @ f5 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.