Birdwatching in Southern Portugal (All Regions)

"Portugal is often over-looked by birders in favour of neighbouring Spain but this excellent DVD shows just what the south of the country has to offer. This is the fourth foreign DVD offering from Steve Evans and focuses on the Algarve and Alentejo regions, arguably the most productive birding areas in Portugal. Filmed over two visits in April and June 2011, more than forty species are captured on film along with some stunning views of the featured locations.

Being just a five minute drive from the region’s main airport at Faro, the first location to be featured is the impressive Rio Formosa Nature Reserve which provides a good introduction to the Algarve. Detailed road directions from the airport to the area are provided and many of the characteristic birds of the region are filmed here including Greater Flamingo, Spoonbill, Kentish Plover, Bee-eater, Crested Lark and Sardinian Warbler. Nearby Quinto de Logo is renowned for one of the specialities of the Algarve, the Purple Swamphen, and Steve obtained some excellent footage of these birds along with Little Bittern, including a ‘barking’ male, Hoopoe and the introduced Black-headed Weaver. Another speciality of the region is also encountered, the stunning Azure-winged Magpie and again Steve did well to obtain some great footage of what is often a less than confiding species. This area is also a reliable site for Red-necked Nightjar and an evening visit provided good views of a bird sat on a heathland track. Further west along the coast, a brief visit to the Alvor Estuary is made where a showy male Woodchat Shrike is featured, while further west is the most south-westerly point in Europe, Cape St Vincente and at nearby Sagres, great views of a Thekla Lark were obtained.

Steve then heads north from the Algarve to the Alentejo region and in particular to the town of Castro Verde. Vast numbers of House Martins are encountered in the town and a nearby Cattle Egret colony provides an amazing spectacle. However, the main attraction of this region are some very special birds and with the help of local bird guide Simon Wates (www.algarvebirdman.com) great views of displaying Little and Great Bustards are obtained along with stunning footage of Lesser Kestrel, White Stork, Stone Curlew, Roller, Calandra Lark, Black-eared Wheatear, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow and numerous Corn Buntings. Rufous Bush Robin is another special bird of the region and again with local knowledge, some excellent views are obtained of a singing male and a family party.

Further east, between Castro Verde and Mertola, a raptor watching session proves fruitful with great views of Booted, Golden and Short-toed Eagles along with the locally rare Bonelli’s Eagle. Many Griffon Vultures are also encountered in addition to an impressive four Black Vultures, a rare bird in Portugal while a Black Stork drifts overhead. On a nearby pool, an unexpected encounter with a national rarity in the form of a Red-knobbed Coot is captured on film. Amazingly, it is revealed that the bird has bred with a Common Coot – the first known occurrence. Further raptor action is provided by Black Kites and the highly prized Black-winged Kite.

The town of Mertola and in particular its castle, provides stunning views of a male Blue Rock Thrush along with Spotless Starling and Common and Lesser Kestrels, where the distinctive call of the latter species is heard. Moving closer to the Spanish border, brief visits are made to Barrancos and Mourao where Great Spotted Cuckoos are encountered along with some superb views of Crag Martins.

It’s then time to return south to the Algarve and in particular to the area around Alportel where an Iberian Green Woodpecker is seen together with a family of Woodchat Shrikes, a Nightingale and an uncharacteristically confiding Orphean Warbler. Further east, near the Spanish border, the final location to be visited is the impressive Castro Marim Nature Reserve where Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts, a Fan-tailed Warbler and Slender-billed Gulls are all observed.

This professionally produced and informative DVD provides an excellent introduction to the country for those yet to visit and a superb momento for those more familiar with the area and its birds."

- Birding Today