Other languages: Português

Birdwatching Weeks in Southern Portugal

Places we will visit: Ria Formosa, Sagres, Monchique hills, Alvor estuary, Salgados and a trip to the Alentejo.

The programme is designed to give you the maximum time birding and to take you to some of the richest bird spots in southwest Portugal. However, we can tailor the tour to suit the interests of the group. See details below.

Species to watch: You can expect to see about 120 species. These will include, for the majority of visits, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-winged Kite, Roller and Montagu’s Harrier.

What’s included? Your expert and friendly guide, all transportation within Portugal, accommodation in en suite twin or double bedrooms, all meals and picnics during trips, checklist.

What’s not included? Flights, insurance, drinks & other items of a personal nature.

Considering Carbon Off Setting? Please, do consider off setting you your flights carbon emissions with "Climate Stewards". We will do that ourselves with the mini-bus milage for this whole week.

Minimum number of participants? Two. Trip will be cancelled if there are not enough participants. Booking fee will be given back to participants.

Maximum number of participants? Eight.

Cost? £650 p.p., or 735 € p.p., only, for all this feast! For the Autumn 2012 season the cost is £670 p.p. or 780 €.

How much to book a place? Your place will be firmly booked upon receiving 50% of the total cost. If you cancel up to two weeks before the trip you will receive your booking fee in total. The remain 50% will have to be paid up to the week before your trip is to take place.

Day 1, Sunday: Arrival and Ria Formosa

2 Km, easy, 2h

Arrive at the airport in the afternoon and enjoy your first Algarvian bird specialities at the Tavira Saltpans situated in the Natural Park of Ria Formosa. Journey to Centre, dinner and rest.

Day 2, Monday: Sagres

3 Km, medium, 8h

One day at the “End of the world”! This is a famous place for watching raptors in autumn; it is not rare to see hundreds of vultures and ten species of raptors in one day if conditions are good! The bushes surrounding Cape St Vincent are also rich in passerines like Ring Ouzel and Subalpine Warblers. Some steppe areas host the rare Little Bustard, and the cryptic Dotterel.

Day 3, Tuesday: Monchique

8 Km, medium, 8h

The Algarve is not just coastline: it has very diverse habitats inland. From the cork oak forests to the highest points of the hills, different and localised species can be found. We'll look for the secretive Rock Bunting in Foia, enjoying the view of the coast and listening to Wood Lark, and discover Caldas de Monchique, a pretty town far from the busyness of the coast.

Day 4, Wednesday: Sítio Maria Pires and Ruínas Romanas de Abicada and Alvor Dunes

9,2 Km, easy, 6h

We'll walk from the Montes de Alvor dam to the Roman ruins of Abicada in the morning. The lake is an excellent place to see Flamingos, Spoonbills and ducks in winter, while Abicada is one of the best spots for Black-winged Kite. From the ruins, enjoy the wonderful view of the marshes of Abicada and Alvor. In the afternoon, we'll head for the beach! This walk allows you to discover the dunes’ amazing bird richness and fragility, where threatened species breed. It will also be possible to have a different view of Ria de Alvor and finish the walk with a swim or an ice cream.

Day 5, Thursday: Lagoa dos Salgados

2.2 Km, easy, 4h

During the morning you can enjoy the activities that the A Rocha field study centre (Cruzinha) offers: moth trapping, a walk round the nature trail and the opportunity to watch birds being ringed -  all this with a cake and coffee break in the middle!

The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring Lagoa dos Salgados, a hidden and threatened Algarvian wetland, the only place where the Flamingo has recently attempted to breed in Portugal. Fresh water, reed beds and mudflats attract a great variety of birds: more than 160 species have been seen in this hotspot.

Day 6, Friday: Castro Verde

5 Km, easy, 8h

Today we drive north to the Alentejo and the Castro Verde plains! We'll discover a completely different landscape and so we can expect new birds. We will spend the morning at the LPN (Liga para a Proteção da Natureza) reserve where we might see Lesser Kestrels, Great Bustards and Rollers. In the afternoon, we will explore the Castro Verde area and try to spot more steppe birds like harriers or the Great Spotted Cuckoo. The day will finish with a nice Alentejo experience before travelling back to the Centre.

Day 7, Saturday: Ponta da Piedade

2 Km, easy, 2h

A little walk nearby on the cliffs near Lagos, one of the few places in Portugal where the Rock Dove still breeds. The Peregrine can also be seen near the lighthouse and sometimes Gannet fly so close that you can see them without binoculars!

Free afternoon for shopping in Lagos, or boat trip from Lagos to see marine birds (optional, price of 45€ per person)

Day 8, Sunday: Departure and Ria Formosa

A final outing to one of the protected wetlands of the Algarve before going back home! This is one of the best places to see Little Bittern and Purple Gallinule, and some turtles as well. The lagoons host a great variety of ducks in winter. Many waders feed on the mudflats and it is not rare to see the Marsh Harrier hunting in the marshes.

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