The Great Bustard Adventure

Born in the Spanish hills, the Guadiana River extends over 810km until it reaches the sea and marks the border between Vila Real De Santo António and Ayamonte.

Commonly known for its rich ecosystem, it is thought that the river’s name itself is a mixture of the Arabic “wadi” and the Latin “anas”, meaning “river of ducks”. The river winds its way through hills swathed with rockrose, olive, carob and almond tree and the traditional schist houses. The area provides shelter for countless species of fauna and flora.

East of Monte Gordo, in the National Forest of the Maritime Dunes of Vila Real de Santo António, the tranquillity of the green “3 Pauzinhos” Trail presents the visitors with glimpses of European Goldfinches, Short-toed Tree Creepers and Sardinian warblers, just to name a few.

At the “Cerro do Bufo” saltpans it is possible to watch several species of water birds, including the Audouin's Gull, Little Tern, Collared Pratincole and Yellow Wagtail (spring/summer); Shelduck, Shoveler, Black-necked Grebe and Caspian Tern. All year round it is possible to find Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts, Spoonbills, Greenshanks and Avocets. Kingfisher is regular at this location and, during migration times, Black Tern often turns up.

The saltmarsh and the salt-pans are located near the Interpretative Centre/Headquarters for the Castro Marim Nature Reserve and are the best place to observe Caspian Tern, Common Redshank and Black-winged Stilt. According to registered observations, there have been recent sightings of Red-necked Phalarope in this area.

The Lagoa de São Lourenço is a body of water which is largely surrounded by a golf course. The

Lagoa is rich in aquatic vegetation, edged by reeds and bulrushes and thus is rich in avifauna. In winter large numbers of ducks including: Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon and Tufted Duck gather. However there are many special birds which make their homes here all year round including Red-crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Purple Swamp-hen, Black-headed Weaver and Great Crested Grebe. They are joined in summer by Little Terns, hirundines and swifts.

At the southern end of the lake are the channels, salt marsh, lagoons and sandy barrier islands of the Ria Formosa which, depending on the tide and the season, can be teeming with waders, gulls, herons and egrets. To the east of the golf course is an area of pines which open onto Ludo, a busy salt producing farm where it is possible to see Greater flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill, Booted Eagles and many nesting White Storks.

There are many paths to explore around the Salinas and birds can be found on any of the pans depending on the state of the tide and the season.

The most numerous species are usually Avocets, Dunlin, Sanderling and Black-tailed Godwits. But look carefully as it was in this area that a rare long-billed Dowitcher was once found. Slender-billed, Mediterranean and Audouin’s Gulls can often be found amongst the countless Lesser Black-backs. This is also a good place to find one or two Caspian Terns roosting and in the breeding season Little Terns should also be here. Except for a few weeks in late summer you should see White Storks on or around their nests which are easy to spot atop the tall chimneys.

The Quinta de Marim is an area of approximately 40 hectares comprising salt marsh, saltpans, Mediterranean scrub and pine forest, freshwater lagoons, beaches and mudflats. With such a range of habitats it is possible to see a wide range of bird species. If you are visiting in the spring look out for orchids in the wooded areas and in the summer months look out for Mediterranean Chameleon.

Forte do Rato is a good place from which to watch birds on the muddy channel at low tide. The Salinas are best visited at high tide when waders and gulls move from the channels which are inundated by the tide.

The Santa Luzia salt-pans and saltmarshes attract a wide range of birds according to season. Autumn and winter bring Spoonbills, hundreds of Greater Flamingos, Audouin’s Gulls and Slender-billed Gulls and as many as 20 species of wading birds, including Stone-curlews. In spring/summer, local breeding species include European Bee-eaters, Red-necked Nightjars, Little Terns, Avocets and Kentish Plovers.

This is an ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the attractions of the Algarve. You can walk/tour independently, or visit local places of interest. From Faro there is a wide variety of sightseeing available, (we can advise and/or recommend options according to your interests). For birdwatching, you may wish to visit Sagres to the West or Vila Real de Santo António to the East.

The Marismas of Isla Cristina (Isla Cristina Marshes Nature Reserve) is a system of beaches, sandbanks, tidal channels, fish farms and pinewoods, creeks and disused salt pans. Scattered across an area of 2.1 square km, the marshland nature reserve spreads between the Carreras estuary to the east and Ayamonte and the Guadiana estuary to the west.

Around the shores of the marshes, colonized by glasswort, are sand dunes covered by pine and

juniper trees.

The marismas are full of a good variety of waders, terns and gulls all year round, although winter is the best time to see them. Storks, Spoonbills, Flamingo, Black-winged stilts and Marsh Harriers are among the birds that can be spotted. Breeding birds include Montagu's Harriers, Bee-eaters and Hoopoes.

In the middle of the Isla Cristina Marshes Nature Reserve there’s a recently rehabilitated saltwater tide mill. In the past it used the technology of hydraulic mills and harnessed the force of the tides to move its mill wheels.

Today, the “El Pintado Mill” is a visitor centre equipped with different areas, including a nature reserve room and a mill room. Outside, along with the views, the visitors can also enjoy the picnic area. According to the sightings in this area the resident bird population includes Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Little Egret, Flamingo, Yellow-legged Gull, Hoopoe, Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilt. Migration periods of the year may bring Knot, Spotted Redshank, Common Tern, Arctic Tern and Black Tern.

In Castro Verde the main target is the Great Bustard, one of the world's heaviest birds. It inhabits a huge area of uniform countryside in the Baixo Alentejo and can sometimes be difficult to see. Other species that can be found include (according to season) Black- bellied Sandgrouse, Calandra Lark, Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, Griffon Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red Kite, Black Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Common Crane and Little Bustard. It is also an important breeding area for White Storks. In spring, large areas are carpeted with multicoloured wildflowers – a truly memorable sight.

At convenient time drive back to the rent-a-car nearby to Faro Airport to drop off the car.