Bird Watching Holidays in Portugal
A guide to birdwatching resorts in Portugal
European Bee Eater - Marek Szczepanek
One of the saddest effects of industrialised life in northern Europe has been the gradual dissapearance of woodland and the gradual silencing of the forests. My father´s generation recalls a wide variety of birds and birdsong that is now rarely heard in the British isles.
Today, living across the road from Mafra tapada, we´re lucky to have a huge range of birdlife pass through our garden on a daily basis (attracting with them a multitude of cats). We´ve had the pleasure of having Hoopoes join us as we listen to the chorus of birdsong that announces the arrival of evening. We´ve also enjoyed the novelty of observing close up the life of a Wren who chose to make his nest in the Jasmin tree on our veranda.
Eagle Owl - Softeis
Portugal acts a bridge for migrating birds between Africa and northern Europe and so twice-yearly, vast numbers of raptors, storks and smaller landbirds cross the Strait of Gibraltar, many being carried across southern Portugal by the prevailing winds. We´ve occasionally found some of these birds in our garden, such as a Heron who had obviously been blown off course.
During the months of spring and autumn many bird watchers flock to the Algarve and Alentejo to capture glimpses of other rare migrants. Below are some of the main birdwatching regions of Portugal with links to appropriate websites.
The Grasslands
The Alentejo
Red Crested Pochard - Duncan Wright
The large, flat grasslands and wheatfields of the eastern Alentejo provide habitats favoured by Storks, Larks and Cranes, Great and Little Bustard, Black Bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Lesser Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier, Red rumped Swallow, Callandra, Thekla and Crested Larks, Spanish and Tree sparrows, Black eared Wheatear, Roller, Collared Pratincole and Black and Red Kites amongst others.
Alentejo
Frank McClintock runs the Birding-in-Portugal website which offers personalised guided birding tours, and accomodation at Quinta do Barranco da Estrada, a small family-run hotel in a stunning lakeside location. Trips to the Sado estuary (near Lisboa) and Rio Formosa estuary (near Faro) can also be organised.....(More info.)
The Wetlands
Aveiro, Tejo, Sado, Rio Formosa
Greater Flamingo - Adrian Pingstone
Large lagoons and estuaries can be found in areas such as Aveiro in the north, close to Lisboa (the Tejo estuary) and Setubal (the Sado estuary), and in the Algarve (Rio Formosa estuary). These provide wetlands that are used by thousands of waders and ducks as well as Greater Flamingo, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Egrets, Spoonbill and raptors such as Marsh Harrier and Black winged Kite.
Lisbon and surrounding area
Lisbon is the only European capital located near such a rich Bird & Nature hotspot – the Tagus estuary.
About 20 minutes from the city, this huge Nature Reserve, with its extensive area of protected wetland, offers excellent conditions for the observation of birds in rich natural surroundings.
The Tagus estuary is the most important wetland in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe. It is fascinating at all times of the year: in winter, it holds over 120.000 waders, waterfowl and other aquatic birds; during migratory periods, the bird diversity is at its maximum, and one can expect to observe more than 100 species in a single day; during the summer, the estuary is alive with breeding species more usually associated with the Mediterranean.
Birds & Nature Tours is the first and only Portuguese company specifically dedicated to birds and birding field tours.
The guided field tours organized by Birds & Nature are designed to offer you the best of Portuguese birding, with a specific emphasis on what you want to see.
Black-shouldered Kite - Faísca
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.
The trips usually depart from Lisbon (hotel pick up and drop off) and the transport is by air conditioned vehicle (up to 8 participants, but smaller groups and individual clients are also welcome).
For those without optics, quality binoculars and telescopes, as well as field guides, are available.....(More info.)
Domingos Leitão is a professional ornithologist and a tour guide with over 10 years of experience. He provides birdwatching tours of both the Tejo and Sado estuaries as well as longer tours taking in Montesinho Nature Park and the impressive canyons of Douro International Nature Park in northeast Portugal.....(More info.)
The Algarve
Natura Algarve is an ecotourism company based in Algarve that provides you not only with bird watching tours on land but also by boat.
Birdwatching with Natura Algarve
On a fantastic boat tour Natura Algarve gives you the possibility to observe many species of birds of the Ria Formosa. We navigate on the secondary and shallow channels with our electric engine on the front of the boat. This allows us to approach the birds in silence and without disturbance.
On land we go birding on several bird watching spots along the Algarve (Castro Marim, Mountains, Lagoa Salgados, Sagres) and rich walks full of odors, tastes and unique landscape.
Field guides, binocular, telescopes and additional information are provided. Local resources, meals and products are used during our tours as well as a local guide with good experience on the local fauna, flora and heritage. Tours are adapted for those that are getting their first steps on birds, but also for those that are more experts and looking for certain Iberian species.....(More info)
Purple Swamp Hen - Peter Dedicoat
Algarve Birders are June Taylor & Peter Dedicoat, professional tour guides based in Tavira in the Eastern Algarve offering guiding services to birdwatchers and photographers visiting Southern Portugal. Whether you're in the Algarve exclusively for the birds and with a list of target species or here just on a family holiday and would like a day away from the beach, they can provide an enjoyable visit to some of the best birdwatching sites along the coast. Or they can take you further, maybe to see Great Bustards in the Alentejo or even into Spain and Doñana National Park to look for White-headed Duck or Red-knobbed Coot. Whether you are an experienced birder or a beginner, you are sure to benefit from their local knowledge....(More info)
Casa Rosa is run by Kjersti & Jan Nyborg who provide accomodation for bird watchers at their large old quinta that has been tastefully converted into six large well equipped pool side apartments. They can provide a wealth of information and birding reports for the Algarve and arrange guided boat trips into the Rio Formosa water ways, an excellent way to see and photograph some beautiful birds that are sometimes hard to see from the land....(More info.)
The Mountains
Serra da Estrella
Golden Eagle
The Estrela mountain range is the highest in Portugal and is home to Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and Honey Buzzards amongst others.
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park offers three main hiking trails that each take between three or four days to complete and guarantee good birding.