SHORT-BREAK BIRDWATCHING PROGRAMMES IN PORTUGAL (LISBON ESTUARIES AND ALENTEJO)
Overview
Portugal possesses a fantastic diversity of habitats and consequently of birds in a relatively small area, so the birding programmes designed by Birds & Nature Tours enable you to visit several species rich areas without needing to travel long distances.
In practical terms, only 20 and 40 minutes drive from Faro city centre and its International Airport, one can visit respectively the Ria Formosa Nature Park and the Castro Marim Nature Reserve, two remarkable protected wetlands with extensive bird lists that include species like Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Little Bustard, Spotless Starling and an excellent selection of ducks, waders, gulls and terns. Some of the places visited are unique in Portugal as sites for rare and highly localized species, like Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls and Lesser Short-toed Lark. Other places visited here are excellent spots for obtaining close views of scarce species like Purple Swamp-hen and Little Bittern; species like Red-necked Nightjar, Azure-winged Magpie, Hoopoe, Bee-eater and Spectacled Warbler are particularly abundant.
A further one hour’s drive takes you to other complementary biotopes and consequently new bird species in the Alentejo. Here, you will visit both the rolling plains of Castro Verde (the home of Great Bustard, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, European Roller, Calandra Lark, Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, etc...) and the bluffs and hills of the Guadiana Valley Nature Park, noted for species like Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Eurasian Black and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eurasian Eagle Owl, White-rumped Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Quinta da Praia das Fontes, in Alcochete (or equivalent)
Hotel Museu de Mértola (or equivalent)
FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT US:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (00351) 913 299 990
www.birds.pt
Birds & Nature Tours is a registered tourism company (RNAAT nº 25/2008 and RNAVT nº 3908 - Turismo de Portugal I.P.), with its activities recognised as Nature Tourism. The company is fully authorised by the Portuguese Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) to operate in all the protected areas in which its activities take place.
Target Species
Alentejo Region: Great Bustard, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, European Roller, Calandra Lark, Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Eurasian Black and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eurasian Eagle Owl, White-rumped Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. Algarve: Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls and Lesser Short-toed Lark; Purple Swamphen, Little Bittern, Red-necked Nightjar, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Spectacled Warbler and Azure-winged Magpie.
Price €
1190 euros per person (2 people). Single supplement: 110 euros. Please note the price per person will be reduced as the number of participants increases.
Includes
Our prices include guide fees, transfer from/to the airport, ground transport (in vehicles with air-conditioning), accommodation (including breakfast), free use of optical equipment (quality binoculars and telescopes) and field guides, entrance fees to private or protected areas, participant’s accident insurance and VAT.
Not included
Not included are flights and items of a personal nature. Meals in selected restaurants can be included if you wish.Please note the price per person will be reduced as the number of participants increases.