Autumnal Portugal
10 September 2015 to 17 September 2015
Led by David Lindo (The Urban Birder) and João Jara
(Birds & Nature Tours Portugal – http://www.birds.pt)
Tour Overview
When you think of Portugal images of the Algarve usually spring to mind. But there is much more to this country than just the Algarve. Even though it covers a relatively small landmass, Portugal possesses a fantastic diversity of habitats and of course, birds.
For instance, lying within 30 minutes drive from the capital Lisbon are the Tagus Estuary and the Sado Estuary Nature Reserves – true birding meccas. These protected wetlands boast extensive bird lists that include Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Black-winged Kite, Little Bustard, Iberian Grey Shrike and Spotless Starling. Not to mention an excellent selection of ducks, waders, gulls and terns.
A further hour’s drive takes you to other interesting habitats and a different set of bird species that are to be found in the Alentejo Region. Here, you will visit the rolling plains of Castro Verde to watch Great Bustard, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, European Roller, Calandra Lark and Black-eared Wheatear. Plus, we’ll take a look at the bluffs and hills of Guadiana Valley Nature Park for eagle species like Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli’s, Black and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eurasian Eagle Owl, White-rumped Swift, Craig Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting.
Another hour on from Alentejo and you are in the famed Algarve. Apart from being Portugal’s golfing capital it is also a region rich in protected wetlands situated on a main flyway for migrants heading to and from Africa. Some of the places you will visit, namely the Ria Formosa and the Castro Marim Nature Parks, are unique within Portugal for highly localized species like Lesser Short-toed Lark, Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls. They are also excellent spots for national scarcities like Red-crested Pochard, Purple Swamphen and Little Bittern. Red-necked Nightjar, Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Spectacled Warbler and Azure-winged Magpie are particularly abundant here. In all, you can expect to see upwards of 160 species.
You will also make a visit to Sagres, the most southwesterly point on continental Europe, to enjoy a pelagic trip that should add an interesting selection of seabirds as well as passing migrants.
This will be a memorable journey across Portugal taking in the great hospitality, amazing food and wines plus incredible wildlife.
Expected Birds
Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Quail, Black-necked Grebe, Cory’s, Balearic, Great & Sooty Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Great Egret, Purple Heron, White & Black Storks, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Griffon, Black & Egyptian Vultures, Osprey, Golden, Iberian Imperial, Short-toed, Booted and Bonelli’s Eagles, Red & Black Kites, Montagu’s Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Black-winged Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Purple Swamphen, Great & Little Bustards, Black-winged Stilt, Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed & Audouin’s Gulls, Gull-billed, Caspian & Whiskered Terns, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Turtle Dove, Eagle & Scops Owls, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid, Alpine & White-rumped Swifts, Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Roller, Wryneck, Crested, Thekla, Short-toed, Lesser Short-toed & Wood Larks, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Nightingale, Rufous Bush Robin,Bluethroat, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Western Orphean, Spectacled, Subalpine, Sardinian, Dartford, Savi’s, Cetti’s Great Reed, Melodious & Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Southern Grey & Woodchat Shrikes, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling, Golden Oriole, Spanish & Rock Sparrows, Cirl & Rock Buntings
Other Wildlife
Common and Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Red and Fallow Deer, Red Fox, Egyptian Mongoose. We will also encounter a good selection of butterflies and dragonflies.
Itinerary
Day 1
Transfer from Lisbon Airport to the Hotel Quinta da Praia das Fontes, Alcochete http://www.quintapraiafontes.com.pt/en/hotel-overview.html
Later, we will visit a variety of habitats within the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve including the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas, the salt pans of Atalaya, Ribeira das Enguias, Samouco and the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures. The target species will include numerous Greater Flamingo and Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Iberian Grey Shrike and Spotless Starling.
Overnight stay at the Hotel Quinta da Praia das Fontes, Alcochete.
Day 2
We will visit other interesting areas within the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve including the open fields, rice fields, inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of the Ponta de Erva area and also take a look at the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. The species to be seen will include Little Bustard, Spoonbill, Black-winged Kite, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Little Stint and Rock Sparrow.
Overnight stay at the Hotel Quinta da Praia das Fontes, Alcochete.
Day 3
We will journey to the Hotel Museu, Mértola in the Alentejo Region. On the way, we will sample the avian delights on the great rolling plains of Castro Verde. We will watch out for Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, Calandra Lark and Black-eared Wheatear.
Overnight stay at Hotel Museu, Mértola http://www.hotelmuseu.com/uk/index.html
Day 4
A visit to the bluffs and hills of the Guadiana Valley Nature Park will be the order of the day taking in the Mértola, the very eerie Martian-like Mina de São Domingos, Alcaria Ruiva and Alvares areas. We could expect to see Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, Black and Griffon Vultures, White-rumped Swift, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting.
Overnight stay at Hotel Museu, Mértola.
Day 5
This day will be spent further exploring Castro Verde and the Guadiana Valley.
Later we will travel to the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Tavira in the Algarve Region. After checking in we will visit the Tavira saltpans in the Ria Formosa Nature Park. Some of the species that we will hope to encounter include Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls, Red-necked Nightjar, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater and Spectacled Warbler
Overnight stay at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Tavira http://www.vilagale.com/en
Day 6
We will bird the complex of canals, saline flats and saltpans of the Castro Marim Nature Reserve. We will also explore the multitude of habitats in the Ria Formosa Nature Park, Quinta do Lago and Ludo. The habitats in these sites include dunes, open water, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, saltpans reedbeds, lagoons and pinewoods. Expected species will include Lesser Short-toed Lark, Red-crested Pochard, Purple Swamphen. Little Bittern and Azure winged Magpie.
Overnight stay at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Tavira.
Day 7
On this, the final full day, we will visit the Sagres area the most southwesterly point on continental Europe. We will go on a pelagic off the tip of Sagres for 2.5 hours to enjoy the possibility of seeing an excellent selection of seabirds. We could be marveling at Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Cory’s, Balearic, Great and Sooty Shearwaters along with Great, Pomarine and Arctic Skuas.
During this time of year we can also expect to observe raptors and storks migrating overhead too. Some of the target species will be White and Black Storks, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black Kite and Honey Buzzard.
Overnight stay at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Tavira.
Day 8
We will travel back to Lisbon visiting the Salgados Lagoon and the inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes and rice fields of Comporta and Carrasqueira in the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve. As we cross the Sado River on the ferry we might have a good chance of seeing small pods of Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
Transfer to Lisbon Airport for the flight home.
Price: £1550.00 / person (excluding flight)
Single supplement: £190.00
Deposit: £310.00
Remaining balance due 40 days before travel start date
To ensure you get a spot, make your payment online now and download your booking application.
Please return your signed booking application to tubteam@theurbanbirder.com
Full Payment @ £1550.00Deposit @ £310.00Download Booking Form
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this tour further please email:tubteam@theurbanbirder.com
Price includes:
Full board accommodation
All food and drink including lunchboxes (excluding incidental refreshments at cafes and bars)
Transport in a comfortable minibus
Sagres Pelagic
Entrance fees to reserves and national parks
The services of David Lindo, The Urban Birder and João Jara
(Birds & Nature Tours Portugal).
Price does not include:
Items of a personal nature
Airline tickets and airport taxes
Personal travel insurance
Special trip notes
This tour is suitable for all ages and abilities.
The will be no long walks on this trip.
The weather should be pleasant and the temperatures could reach 30 degrees C. Rain is unlikely. Bring light clothes and comfortable shoes. You could bring a showerproof jacket – just in case…..
The pelagic trips are usually in calm waters.
Recommended literature
Collins Bird Guide
Greater Flamingo – David Lindo
Booted Eagle – David Lindo
Collared Pratincole – David Lindo