Portuguese holidays and short breaks in Portugal

BIRD WATCHING TOURS - PORTUGAL - ALENTEJO

The bird watching guided field tours organized by our specialized partner company – Birds & Nature Tours - are designed to offer you the best of Portuguese birding, with a specific emphasis on what you want to see.

The tours are adapted to cover a wide range of ability, from novice to expert and although focused on birding, cater for the general naturalist and the visitor who wants to see something of the Portuguese countryside as well.

The guides are ornithologists and birders with a deep knowledge of the birdlife of Iberia and the kind of local knowledge necessary to find those tricky or difficult species. For those without optics, quality binoculars and telescopes, as well as field guides, are available.

Each guided tour has an itinerary that is tailor-made to optimize tides, weather light, viewing sites and participants special requirements. Recent reports of interesting species are available to optimize each trip.

Bird watching in Portugal

Portugal is a country with enormous potential for birding. The Mainland Portugal bird list includes more than 400 species. This rich biodiversity is reflective of Portugal’s geographical position and means that there is an abundance of species always present in each season; wintering species from the north, fascinating Mediterranean resident species and a range of passage migrants and breeding birds from sub-Saharan Africa.

Continental Portugal has a long coastline and an enormous Zone of Economic Exclusivity; access to these brings a feast of seabirds and passage migrants.

Despite being a relatively small country, Portugal boasts an excellent range of habitats from wetlands, estuaries and saline flats, to wooded hills, steppe-like plains and rocky outcrops. In practical terms, this means that any of these varied habitats can be reached without the need for lengthy travel; most of the day, therefore, is spent in the field and not in the car.

With its agreeable climate (warm summers and mild winters), a remarkable range of habitats and abundant natural space, Portugal provides an exciting and enriching birding experience at any time.

The Alentejo - Castro Verde and Mértola areas

The Alentejo is probably the most unique Portuguese region, in both terms of habitats and birds.

For instance, the two remarkable areas of Castro Verde and Mértola include habitats of stunning natural beauty. Parts of the areas visited are zones of special protection, including the scarps and hills of the Guadiana Nature Park. The unique rolling plains of Castro Verde are the most important zone in Portugal for steppe bird conservation. Species like Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel or Roller, can be observed here with great regularity and ease and scarce species like Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle and Spanish Imperial Eagle are also regularly seen. The tours also include a visit to the valley of the Guadiana, and at Pulo do Lobo, where the river has cut through ancient rock to form a dramatic gorge, some really spectacular species, often associated with craggy scarps can be seen, including Black Stork, Bonelli’s Eagle, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. Apart from being a delight from the historical perspective, Mértola is an excellent place for Lesser Kestrel.

The actual range of habitats includes open steppe land (some cultivated, some fallow), small dams, oak woods, as well as scrub and valley escarpments. Main areas visited: Entradas, São Marcos da Ataboeira, Pulo do Lobo, Mértola and Minas de São Domingos.

Main species: Some notable species, which are scarce elsewhere or difficult to see, or are essentially Mediterranean species (not occurring much further north), have significant populations in these areas, and include White Stork, Black Stork, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Red Kite, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Crane, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Eagle Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Roller, Thekla Lark, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Spectacled Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Raven, Spotless Starling, Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow and Rock Bunting.

For specific itineraries or trips, please contact Mary Anne Popoff map@destination-portugal.co.uk

Destination Portugal