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The Azores
Birds, whales, flowers and geology

Saturday 6 - Saturday 13 September 2008 (8 days)

The Azores, Europe's westernmost point, form an archipelago of nine emerald-green islands nearly a thousand miles out into the Atlantic. Sometimes described as the tips of the lost continent of Atlantis, these isles have spectacular volcanic scenery, with vast blue-green crater lakes, impressive black lava seacliffs, and, towering above them all, the highest mountain in Portugal, Pico Volcano. The volcanic activity continues - there are active geysers and hot mineral pools - and you can walk on land that rose from the sea just 50 years ago! The countryside also has a gentler side, of green fields, distinctive hydrangea hedgerows and forests.

Mass tourism has bypassed these jewels' in the Atlantic, so the proud local people are still genuinely friendly and welcoming to visitors.

The archipelago is possibly the best location for cetaceans in Europe. Sperm Whales, Bottlenose, Common, Risso's and Spotted Dolphin are regularly seen. Other possible species include Beaked Whales, Striped Dolphin and, very occasionally, a baleen whale such as Fin Whale. September is probably the best time to see both a variety of species and good numbers of these giants of the deep.

Birdwatchers will delight in the islands' seabirds, particularly the larger shearwaters, commonly seen offshore. Eighty percent of the world population of Cory's Shearwaters nest on the Azores, and Bulwer's Petrel, Little Shearwater, Madeiran Storm-petrel and Roseate Tern can be seen.

Among the islands' land birds, the highlight is the Azores Bullfinch, a species endemic to the native laurel forests on São Miguel Island; only around three hundred individuals are thought to survive. This unique habitat is also home to a number of other breeding birds, including Common Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Grey Wagtail, Blackbird, Goldcrest and Chaffinch, all of which are subspecies endemic to the Azores. Stranded in the mid-Atlantic, these pin-pricks in the ocean are ideally placed to receive windblown migrants and, by visiting in September, we have the added excitement of possibly stumbling across an American vagrant or two.

We shall be staying on three of the main islands - São Miguel, Pico and Faial - exploring them fully, as well as enjoying a couple of special whale-watching trips offshore. The great bird, whale and dolphin watching to be had in the Azores, coupled with the beautiful landscapes and friendly local people makes this a real autumn treat, whatever your interests.

In addition to being an expert birder, our guide Andy Jones has a keen interest in cetaceans and is an accomplished geologist. Having now led around twenty natural history tours to the islands, he has developed a particular penchant for the Azores endemic flora, too.

Price: £ tbc
Single supp.: £ tbc
Deposit: £ 300 per person

The prices are per person and include scheduled flights London-Lisbon-Sao Miguel outbound and Faial-Lisbon-London return with meals on-board as appropriate; domestic flight Sao Miguel-Pico Island; all accommodation and meals, surface transportation (inc two whale-watching trips) as outlined in the itinerary, ferry Pico-Faial, admissions, tips, airport and local taxes, bird checklist and services of the leader.

The prices exclude travel insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.

This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays.

Leader: Andy Jones

Itinerary:
Day 1
We take a scheduled morning flight from London via Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel. From Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores, we make the ninety minute transfer to our comfortable hotel in Furnas, at the start of a three-nights' stay.

A late afternoon arrival on São Miguel gives us the chance to get our bearings, to enjoy a stroll around the impressive geothermal area of Furnas and to visit the hot springs near the hotel for a reminder of the recent volcanism that created these isolated Atlantic Islands. In nearby woodland and gardens we have a first opportunity to see the differences between the island races of Chaffinch and Grey Wagtail with those on the European mainland.
Overnight São Miguel

Days 2 - 3
The varied landscape of São Miguel, largest and most diverse of the nine principal islands that make up the Azores, is dotted with pretty villages and enlivened with hedgerows of blue Hydrangeas.

Today we travel to the north-eastern part of São Miguel, where the area around Pico da Vara - at 1,103m the highest point on the island - harbours one of the few remaining tracts of native laurel forest. Numerous plant species here are endemic to the Azores (or to the Azores and Madeira) and it's here, amidst some spectacular mountain and forest scenery, that we will start our search for the endangered Priôlo or Azores Bullfinch. With a total population estimated to be fewer than 300 birds, this species is endemic to São Miguel and, nowadays, is only found in this area. Their breeding season finishes in August, so with young families about, and several likely sites to explore, we have a good chance of encountering this rare and secretive finch on a wonderful walk through the endemic laurel forest.

For anyone who hasn't yet visited either the Canary Islands or Madeira, the Atlantic Canary will be an added bonus, and other land birds we are likely to see on our travels today include Rock Dove, Robin, Blackcap and Goldfinch. The forests on São Miguel make this one of the best spots in the islands to find the Azorean subspecies of Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Goldcrest, as well as Grey Wagtail and Chaffinch. We should also encounter the islands' endemic race of Common Buzzard, which probably gave the Azores their name (Açor is an old Portuguese word for hawk).

Our second full day on São Miguel allows for further opportunities to search the remote mountains for the Azores Bullfinch. Or, if we were lucky and had good views yesterday, we can explore other parts of the island (which is around 60 kms long), visiting some of the massive calderas that are such prominent features of the island. Botanists will find that there are several Azorean endemic trees and other plants that we should encounter, including the magnificent tree heathers which are very distinctive components of the São Miguel landscape.
Two nights São Miguel.

Day 4
From São Miguel, we fly west, two hundred kilometres or so, to Pico Island, which will be our base for the next three nights. The island gets its name from the 2,381m volcano at its centre - which is rather unimaginatively called Pico Volcano'! We'll see evidence of its dramatic geological past and visit lava caves and other formations on our way to our hotel on the island's south coast. We stay amidst impressive scenery right on the cliff top, with excellent chances of seeing cetaceans offshore.

After dinner this evening, we'll take a walk to the nearby cliffs and hope to hear and see the bulky Cory's Shearwaters as they return to their breeding sites. The area is also good for an endemic species of bat, Azores Noctule, which, conveniently, often flies during the day.
Overnight Pico

Days 5 - 6
We'll embark on a whale-watching boat trip off the south coast of Pico this morning, with a high chance of seeing Sperm Whales as well as Risso's, Spotted and other species of dolphins, and perhaps Loggerhead Turtles. We use rigid-hulled inflatable boats with sit-astride' seating and the photographic opportunities are often excellent. From the boat, we can expect to enjoy good views of Cory's and Great Shearwaters, with a chance of scarcer seabirds such as Bulwer's and other petrels, too.

Later we'll take a cliff top walk to an observation point for a spot of land-based whale-watching. If we are very lucky, we also might come across the elusive Common Quail. We'll also pay a visit to a nearby coastal lagoon and rocky shoreline for some coastal birding, as this is the time of year that American vagrants occasionally turn up.

Next day, a second whale-watching trip off the south coast of Pico will offer high chances of some further good encounters with cetaceans, both large and small. Later we have some free time in the village of Lajes, where the excellent whale museum is well worth a visit. There are pleasant walks in the area (coastal for birds and inland for the botanists), and we'll make another check beside the shore for waders. Additionally, there is a delightful piece of rocky shore near the hotel, which is excellent for snorkelling for anyone that wishes to try.
Two nights Pico

Day 7
We leave Pico and take the short ferry crossing over to Faial Island. The boat trip nearly always produces some dolphins and we are likely to enjoy further close views of Cory's Shearwaters.

Once ashore on Faial, we'll travel to Caldeira, an enormous crater in the centre of the island, for a walk birdwatching and botanising around its rim. Later we shall visit Capelhinos, the site of the Azores' most recent eruption ashore, for an opportunity to learn about the way these mid-oceanic islands form, and the life that starts to colonise them. There is some good seawatching nearby, with the prospect of seeing Roseate Terns that breed here around the coast - the Azores is an important stronghold for this supremely elegant Sterna.

We spend our final night on the Azores in Horta, a very pleasant coastal town and the main centre of population on the island of Faial.
Overnight Faial

Day 8
This morning we have an opportunity to explore Horta or to enjoy a last birding walk along the coast, perhaps hoping for something special among the shorebirds to round off our trip in style. We catch an early afternoon flight to Lisbon, with an onward connection from there to London, where our tour concludes this evening.

Accommodation: Comfortable mid-range hotels, all rooms with private facilities.

Meals: All included in the price. Breakfast and dinner at the hotels. Lunches will be a mix of picnics and light meals at local island cafes.

Walking: Easy. Short walks, some over rough ground, particularly in volcanic areas. Comfy walking shoes or lightweight boots advised.

Ground Transport
We use a mix of minibuses and taxis depending on the island.

Boat Trips: We plan to take whale-watching boat trips on two days of our tour, off the island of Pico. We use rigid-hulled inflatable boats with sit-astride' seating. Boat trips are up to 3 hours in duration. Sailings only take place if the weather is good; most cetaceans are encountered within five miles of the island. Sea-crossings between Pico and Faial are by inter-island ferry.

Numbers: Max. 10 clients