Watching The Blue Skies of Monte Gordo, 5 days

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.

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.

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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.

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. Except in high summer 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.

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 multi-coloured wildflowers – a truly memorable sight.

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