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Southern Portugal
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© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Mertola, home of White Storks and Lesser Kestrels |
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The Algarve forms roughly 150 km of varied coastal habitats, from the rugged cliffs of Cape St Vincent on the Atlantic coast to the Castro Marim wetlands on the Spanish border. In spring this south-facing coast attracts countless migrant waders and other birds that pass through on their way to their breeding grounds. It is not just the passing migrant birds, though, that give this area such good birdwatching possibilities. An impressive array of resident and breeding birds include Azure-winged Magpie in the Stone Pines, Purple Gallinule in the freshwater marshes, and Stone Curlew on the dry heathland. In addition, about 100 km inland from the Algarve lies the Alentejo, with its rolling plains and Cork Oaks. This is the home of Great and Little Bustards, which may be displaying in spring, and a fine variety of raptors, including Montagu's Harrier.
In addition, the flowers in spring, whether on the heathlands, the limestone cliffs, or the plains of the Alentejo, can be spectacular and varied. Itinerary Days 1 - 7 We fly from London - Faro, arriving in the evening and then driving west to our base at Armaçao de Pera where we stay for the full seven nights. All along the coast, but especially at the Rio Formosa area near Faro can be found lakes, salt and fresh-water marshes and estuaries. Reedbed reserves may have both Purple Gallinule, and the elusive Little Bittern, along with the introduced Common Waxbill. Caspian Tern winter along the coast here, and wildfowl and waders, including the elegant Black-winged Stilt, are numerous. Collared Pratincole are often present, and wildfowl may include Red-crested Pochard or even Marbled Duck. The area also has a number of golf courses, whose well-watered greens often prove attractive to Hoopoe, while pine woodland plays host to flocks of delightful Azure-winged Magpies and colourful Bee-eaters. |
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© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Hoop Petticoat Daffodil |
On one day we'll venture west to Cape St Vincent. This spectacular part of the coast boasts flower-covered heathlands and rugged limestone cliffs. Spring flowers include Honeywort and the delightful Hoop Petticoat Daffodil together with a host of Lusitanian endemics such as the remarkably sticky Cistus palhinae. Here can be found both Pallid and Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Chough and Peregrine, while seawatching can produce Cory's and Balearic Shearwaters, and both Great and Arctic Skuas. On the short vegetation further inland we look for Tawny Pipit, Short-toed and Thekla Larks, Spectacled Warbler and Stone Curlew. Like so many coastal headlands, Cape St Vincent can also attract large numbers of migrants. If we are lucky we may encounter a 'fall' of passerines or an unexpected passage of raptors. |
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Other excursions along the coast will take us to a variety of wetlands, in particular Castro Marim right on the Spanish border. This area has one of the largest populations of White Stork in the Algarve, and in spring these can be seen nesting quite low in the olive and carob trees. But the main attraction is the old salt-pans with Greater Flamingo, Spoonbill, Avocet, and excellent numbers of passage waders and wildfowl. Gulls can include Little, Mediterranean, Slender-billed, and the increasingly regular Audouin's Gulls, while Lesser Short-toed Larks may be found in the low salt-marsh vegetation.
The hills inland are home to a good variety of raptors including Booted, Bonelli's and Short-toed Eagles, with the possibility of wintering Alpine Accentor and migrant Ring Ouzel around the rocky summits, and Iberian Chiffchaff and Hawfinch, together with Short-toed Treecreeper, Woodchat Shrike and Crested Tit in the woods below. Finally, a full day's excursion will take us into the Alentejo. Around the town of Castro Verde and its unspoilt steppe-like plains we hope to find both Great and Little Bustards, Black-shouldered Kite, Montagu's Harrier and Calandra Lark. In this area we even have a chance of seeing a wandering Black Vulture. Later we visit the delightful town of Mertola where Lesser Kestrels and White Storks breed. Seven nights Armaçao de Pera Day 8 We should have some time in the morning for birdwatching on the coast before catching our return flight to London. Accommodation We stay in a 4-star hotel overlooking the beach at Armaçao de Pera with all rooms en suite. The hotel has a heated swimming pool amongst other facilities. Birdwatching is good around the hotel - both Alpine and Pallid Swift breed on the cliffs here! |
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| Leaders: : | Mike & Liz Read |
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| Numbers : | Max. 12 clients | |||
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Price: |
£ | 1,225 | ||
| Single supp.: | £ | 95 | ||
| Deposit: | £ | 200 | per person | |
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of accommodation as detailed above, all meals, return flight London - Faro, airport taxes, minibus transport, admissions, incidental tips and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, and personal expenses. We may be able to arrange flights to Faro from UK regional airports. Please enquire for details. |
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