United States
£ GBP
From the author:
''In the last 12 months I've been back to Portugal 3 times, checking and re-checking the information in my previous book, trying out new sites and, of course, filming the birds for the forthcoming DVD. As a result I have re-written the original book and re-drawn the maps making it more up-to-date and more detailed than ever. Anyone going to the Algarve can use Finding Birds in South Portugal to help them find more birds – and birders who want to explore the areas around Lisbon will find Finding Birds in South Portugal invaluable too."
Unique features, compared to other publications covering the same area, this one:
- Provides the most useful maps – so you can easily find your way to the best bits of wetland, plain or woodland
- Includes GPS co-ordinates to help you find the right turnings, parking spaces or viewing points
- Highlights the best areas only – and summarises the key attraction in the first paragraph so you can easily decide whether to read on or bother to visit the site
- Has a map on the inside cover which serves as an index so you can easily find any site in Finding Birds in South Portugal
- Is light and portable (and cheap)
- Is supplemented by the site pages in this website (which include photos of many of the locations)
- Is updated via a FREE APP, giving details of what other birders have found at these sites
- Is complemented by a DVD showing you exactly what it's like to go birding in many of these sites
"This latest offering from Dave Gosney explores three areas that have been overshadowed by neighbouring parts of Spain, but have a great deal to offer in their own right – the Algarve, the plains of Castro Verde and the wetlands around Lisbon. Dave introduces each of the sites with his own personal comments and then explains how a typical visit might develop. The video footage of birds is excellent with over 70 species being featured. The booklet (which can be bought separately) provides really good maps with GPS co-ordinates that can be used to ensure that there is no risk of confusion about where to start.
The sites start with the Tejo estuary which lies close to Lisbon and offers excellent winter birding. The city is also home to a number of exotic escapes, so if you really want to see these, a trip to Barroca d’Alva is recommended. For impressive numbers of Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and raptors Dave visits the Sado estuary, while not far from there are the Santo Andre Lagoons. Heading south to the Algarve, raptor passage is best watched from the Sagres peninsula where seabird movements can also be observed. Advice is given on how to succeed with both. Other nearby sites include the Alvor estuary and Lagoa de Salgado, two of the best wetlands in Portugal. There is also Vilamoura which offers the best chance of getting close to Purple Swamp-hen Porphyrio porphyrio and Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus. In addition both sides of the Ria Formosa are featured. Moving inland we are shown Castro Marim and the Castro Verde plains where Great Bustard Otus tarda, Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis, Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus, Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus and Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti can be found. A back-up site at Elvas is also shown where some of these species can also be seen.
The great strength in Dave Gosney’s approach is that he gives a personal feel to the DVD based on what he has seen. His commentary includes sound advice on how to get the most from each site and also how to be sure you have correctly identified some of the more challenging species such as Crested Galerida cristata and Thekla Larks G. theklae."
- Keith Betton, 10-02-2014, www.britishbirds.co.uk
