DAY 1 Arrive
Short introductory walk around Tavira
Free time until evening meeting and dinner to explore Tavira and relax.
Evening Meeting
(The tour Guide will welcome you and give a preview of next day's.)
7:30 pm Dinner
DAY 2
We will spend the morning around Tavira. Located in the heart of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a wetland area the importance of which is internationally recognized under the Ramsar Convention, the town is an ideal centre for bird watching. Salinas and saltmarsh 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 Nightjar, Little Terns, Avocets and Kentish Plovers.
In the afternoon we may visit Quinta do Marim, headquarters of the Natural Park where habitats include a fresh water lake.
DAY 3
This morning we drive out to Cape St Vincent, the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe where the coastline is formed mainly by rocky cliffs. The landscape here is fairly barren with low bushy vegetation that includes plant species that are endemic to the area. In autumn large numbers of migrant raptors can often be seen, notably Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles and Honey-buzzards; large flocks of Griffon Vultures also regularly occur at this time. From the cliff top Gannets can regularly be seen and other seabirds passing off-shore may include Cory's Shearwaters. There is often a small flock of Red-billed Choughs in the area, Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart are commonly seen and we would expect to see Thekla Larks.
DAY 4 Free day
This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, bird independently, or visit local places of interest. From Tavira there is a wide variety of sightseeing available (our guide can advise and/or recommend options according to your interests .(Optional excursions (not included)
Free time in Old Town: Those who haven't quite got their fill of Tavira's many attractions can take advantage of one more visit to the shops and other sights.
Boat tour in the lagoon (RIA Formosa)
Visit to the eastern Algarve costal area.
Visit to Faro and shopping tour.
DAY 5
Today we visit the Castro Verde area where one of our main targets will be the Great Bustard, one of the world's heaviest flying birds. These birds inhabit a huge area of uniform countryside in the Baixo Alentejo and can sometimes be difficult to see unless you know where to look. 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.
DAY 6
A day visiting the Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antonio, an enormous area of wetland, saltmarsh and saltpans at the eastern end of the Algarve which is home to a wealth of birdlife. One of the major attractions here are the Greater Flamingos at least some of which can be found all the year round. As many as 1,000 of them may be seen in the winter months. A varied selection of gulls, wildfowl and wading birds can be expected in spring, autumn and winter.
If time allows, we may also visit an area of woodland at Aldeia Nova.
DAY 7
Ludo Farm and Quinta do Lago are located west of Faro near to the airport and between them have an excellent mix of habitats including salinas, woodland, reedbeds, and saltmarsh. The lake at Quinta do Lago is well-known as one of the easiest places in the Algarve to see Purple Swamp-hens but at any time the area is home to an excellent variety of species and in winter thousands of wildfowl and waders are usually present.
DAY 8
Free time until Transfer from Tavira to Faro Airport. |
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