Join us for some exciting Spring Birdwatching in Portugal

Saturday 22nd – Saturday 29th March 2014

Come and join us on this special birdwatching tour based in the southern foothills of the Alentejo, in amongst the Montados, or cork forests of southern Portugal, where one of the most notable local species is the Iberian Azure-winged Magpie. Also present near our comfortable country hotel are a wide variety of warblers, two species of Shrike, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, three varieties of Woodpeckers and Short-toed, Booted and Bonelli's Eagles. Other raptors in the area include Peregrine Falcons, Honey Buzzards and Black-winged Kites. The area also has one of the highest densities in Europe of Nightingales, and during the Spring we will rarely be out of earshot of their beautiful song.

Handsome Azure-winged Magpie, one of our key target species on the trip

As well as the wealth of local species surrounding the hotel, there are four main areas with different habitats within an hour and a half's car journey which are ideal for birdwatching and we will spend time exploring all of these. We hope to see around 130 species during our week long birdwatching trip.

Itinerary

Day 1

Our tour starts at Faro airport in Portugal. We explore nearby salt pans and coastal lakes, before transferring to our comfortable country hotel in the Baixo Alentejo region. Possible species include Greater Flamingo, Avocet, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Red Crested Pochard, Purple Swamphen, Purple Heron.

Day 2

Local birding around our accommodation; this includes a variety of habitats such as river valleys, open hillsides, village gardens and cork oak forests. Possible species include Nightingale, Corn Bunting, Azure-winged Magpie, White Stork, Common Waxbill, Serin, Golden Oriole.

Day 3

We spend the day exploring the Plains of the Alentejo looking for some very charismatic birds indeed. Possible species include Great and Little Bustards, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Rufous Bushchat, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-winged Stilt, Thekla and Calandra Larks, Hoopoe, Short-toed, Booted and Bonelli's Eagles, Montagu's Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Black-eared Wheatear, Spanish Sparrow.

Great Bustard, always a thrill to see!

Day 4

We spend the day birding locally to our accommodation, exploring more of the hillsides and forested regions.

Day 5

We take a two hour pelagic (weather permitting) off Sagres, the most south-westerly point of Europe, and then explore the alpine meadows and scrub in the high hills near Foia before dropping down to the west coast to see the only White Storks that nest at sea. Possible species include Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Linnet, Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes, Roller, Chough, Peregrine Falcon, shearwaters, petrels.

Day 6

We spend the day birding locally to our hotel, catching up with any species we may have missed.

Day 7

We explore Lagoa Sto. André, and then either the Sado estuary and north towards Lisbon, or we head south along the west coast back to our accommodation. Possible species include Bee-eater, Marsh Harrier, Zitting Cisticola, Great Reed Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Bar & Black-tailed Godwits, Hobby, Black Kite.

Day 8

We say goodbye to our comfortable accommodation and transfer to Faro airport where our tour concludes.

Funky-crested Hoopoe, another target species on this bird-packed tour

Our holiday includes seven nights’ accommodation on a fully-inclusive basis in a country hotel, guiding by an expert local guide plus Alan and Ruth throughout the trip, transport in a comfortable minibus during the tour, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, entrance fees and permits, two-hour pelagic trip (weather permitting), use of our field guide and telescopes, and individual checklists.

The cost of this fully-inclusive small group tour is £1500 per person sharing (single room supplement of £90 for the trip). This price does not include: international flights, personal travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, travel to and from your UK airport, any items of a personal nature.

At this time of year with birds displaying on their breeding grounds, it is important to make sure we don’t disturb them while at the same time ensuring everyone has the best possible views of these very special birds. Therefore, we are limiting the number of participants on this unique small group tour to a maximum of six people, plus Alan and Ruth to give everyone the best individual attention.

We are really looking forward to birdwatching in this sparsely populated region of unique beauty. During the day we will explore the varied habitats this wonderful area has to offer, and at the end of the day return to our comfortable and friendly country hotel located in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by its own gardens with a complete absence of any traffic noise at all, to ensure total peace and tranquility. We have established excellent local birding contacts who will be on hand not only to keep us up to date with the very latest birding information, but also to ensure that everything about this trip runs as smoothly as possible.

Don't forget to look up: Short-toed Eagle overhead!

To reserve your place on this tour or for more details, please call us on 01492 872407 or email us on info@thebiggesttwitch.com as soon as possible. Good accommodation in this unique area is very limited and we need to book quickly to ensure our places.

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing the fabulous birdlife of Portugal with you!