Autumn Birding in Portugal

Our ‘Autumn Birding in Southern Portugal', led by Philip Thompson and Barry Oxley in September, was very successful - large numbers of Pied Flycatchers and Willow Warblers were seen among Stone Pines as they moved along the coast, as well as good numbers of Red-rumped Swallow and 20-30 Black Kites. 

Great Bustard by Peter Tyler

Azure-winged Magpies were ubiquitous, Little Bustards were seen well at Sao Vicente, and plenty of Great Bustards on the plains. The grand finale was the pelagic off Cape Sao Vicente at the end of the tour: Great, Balearic, Manx, Cory’s and Sooty Shearwaters and Great Skua were among the avian highlights, while leaping and bow-riding Bottlenose Dolphins provided great entertainment - and for some at the front of the boat a good soaking!

Lying at the far south-western tip of mainland Europe, on the eastern Atlantic flyway’, Portugal’s beautiful Algarve and Alentejo regions represent one of the continent’s top birdwatching destinations in late September. Beginning with a flight to Faro we will head to the Algarve’s flagship reserves where numerous wetland species inhabiting the saltpans and marshes are joined at this time of year by migrant birds and rarities. We’ll explore inland around Castro Verde looking for bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, and a variety of larks and raptors, before heading to Cape St. Vincent (Cape Sao Vicente) and Sagres where the impressive migration-watching and a pelagic trip to enjoy seabirds and dolphins offers an exciting finale to our holiday.

  • Visit Algarve’s flagship reserves: Rio Formosa, Castro Marim & Quinto do Lago
  • Little Bittern, Spoonbill, Collared Pratincole & Audouin’s Gull
  • Look for Great & Little Bustards on the plains around Castro Verde, Alentejo
  • Spanish Imperial Eagle & Black-winged Kite, plus Black & Griffon Vultures
  • Impressive migration-watching from Cape St. Vincent & Sagres
  • Cory’s & Great Shearwaters, plus Great Skua
  • European & Wilson’s Storm-petrels, plus Common Dolphin on pelagic trip
  • Led by an expert naturalist guide

Read more about our 'Autumn Birding in Southern Portugal' holiday.