The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I have just returned from an 11 night visit to Portugal. I was based in Vilamoura and did most birding on foot apart from the brilliant day out to the Alentejo region with Simon Wates (a 300km, 16 hour trip, a long day but some great birds/lifers) I would recommend Simon for a productive enjoyable days birding, his website if any one wants info is : http://algarvebirdman.com/

We had c108 species of birds, including a brilliant 12 raptor species on our day out with Simon.
My blog is now updated with details/photos (there are quite a few postings so when you reach the bottom of the first page you will have to click on the "older posts" so see further postings!). I have a trip list should anyone want to see it. http://wwwmandywest.blogspot.com/

I also enjoyed a couple of hours interacting with Bottle Nosed Dolphins which was just amazing!

regards
Mandy

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http://mandywest.zenfolio.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51013318@N06/

Hi Mandy
I'm pleased that you enjoyed your time in the Alentejo. We visited the area with Simon in May 2009. The promised birds were usually where he expected them to be and we had a fantastic day. We also had trips with Simon in late September 2010 to Sagres (for the migration where we saw many raptors) and to the saltpans near to Faro airport and once again the day went well.

We also visited Lesvos at the same time as yourself but stayed at the Kalloni Bay hotel in Skala Kalloni. The hotel was located opposite the Kalloni wetlands and it was possible to view Squacco Herons, Little Bitterns and Black-Winged Stilt from the balcony before going down to breakfast. A walk outside the hotel often revealed Nightingale, Cetti's and Spanish Sparrow. Many interesting birds were viewed whilst walking in the local area.

East & West rivers (Black-Headed Bunting, Black Stork & White Stork, Stone Curlew & Bee Eaters), the Kalloni Saltpans & Metochi Lakes (14 Purple Heron, 2 Night Heron, Little Crake, Great Reed Warbler + others) were all within range.

We also had two great days out with Steve Dudley (www.lesvosbirding.com)who took us to different parts of the island where we saw many of the local species.

A visit to Lesvos at the same time next year is very likely.
Dave & Linda

Hi,

Thanks! It was a great trip.

I remember the Kalloni Bay hotel and area in Lesvos, our driver dropped off there en route to our accomodation, we commented at the time that that would be a good place to stay in the future. Im sure we will return there sometime.

As for Portugal, we had hoped to do another trip with Simon to the Sagres area too but didnt in the end. Still a great trip though!

regards
Mandy

_________________
http://mandywest.zenfolio.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51013318@N06/

Hi Mandy

We too have just returned from a trip to the Algarve Portugal and like you we had a teriffic ten days birding.

We stayed in Tavira which is also the home of our guides June Taylor and Peter Dedicoat who transported us for the whole of our stay. We visited numerous birding sites including Cape St Vincent, The Alentejo and even nipped over the border into Spain for a day in Donana National Park - a remarkable day of Kites, Herons and Egrets! We also visited various habitats along the coast and short runs inland. We saw/heard 144 species during our stay and a number of butterflies too including an all too brief sighting of a Two-tailed Pasha. We had hoped to see a few Orchids too but the only ones we saw were well past their best - we must go earlier next time!

Further information on our guides can be found at http://www.algarvebirders.com and we can thoroughly recommend them to anyone considering visiting the Algarve.

Regards,

Colin and Sheila