Birdwatching Photography Tour in Southern Portugal

Birding Migration Tour in Southern Portugal

An extended 8-day birdwatching tour in Southern Portugal is a moderately-paced trip with for any start date you wish and you can expect to have stunning views in good light of anything up to 150 species of bird in the differing habitats you'll be visiting, as well as reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, and mammals. It's the perfect place to take your wildlife photography up to the next level!

Based in the southern half of the country the four Full Day Trips take you to a diverse array of habitats, the Plains of the Alentejo for the steppe species, Foia and the Sagres Peninsula for high mountain species mixed with the rocky cliffs and sea-watching of Europe’s most south-westerly point, the Lagoa S. André for marshland and Cork Oak forests and the Faro Salt Pans for waders and other wetland birds. The two Half Day Trips cover subsistence farmland, Cork Oak Forests, various Hides and the valleys, streams and rivers that surround your residence, which is aptly named “Paradise in Portugal”.

On the days out you’ll be spoiled for choice as to what are the best birds, but highlights will definitely include Bustards, Raptors, Shorebirds, Cliff & Farmland species!

The Quinta "Paradise in Portugal" EcoLodge

The venue itself is a 5* Tripadvisor-rated EcoLodge, so your carbon footprint is as low as it gets. It overlooks a pristine mosquito-free lake set in the middle of nowhere with no nearby road, so there’s no noise or light pollution. The large surrounding garden hosts a wealth of species, notably nesting Eurasian Golden Orioles and several pairs of Common Nightingales amongst others.

This is a one-stop accommodation break, so there’s no tedious packing and unpacking every other day, allowing for more time spent doing what you love to do – getting to grips with unspoiled Nature and really enjoying yourself.

The food is excellent, home-cooked and themed on “International Home Cooking”. It’s not from packets and there are lashings of it, backed by an extensive Portuguese Wine List with an Ornithological theme.

Birdwatching Photography Tour in Southern Portugal highlights include:

Take your Wildlife Photography to a new level
4 Full Day trips with professional local wildlife and photography Guide
Steppe, Mountain, Cliff, Marsh, Salt-pan and Cork oak forest species
Comfy beds in an Award-winning lakeside accommodation
Leisurely pace (with some early starts!)
Full Board, pick up and drop off from/to Faro airport and all transfers inside Portugal.

Pricing based on twin/double occupancy. Single supplement available from €330 on request.

Are you interested in experiencing alternative Birdwatching in Portugal?

Alternative Tour Name: Extended Southern Portugal Migration Birding Tour

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival

Arrive Faro during the morning and explore salt pans and coastal lakes near Faro with a picnic, afterwards transferring to Ecolodge “Paradise in Portugal”. Possible species include Flamingo, Avocet, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Red-crested Pochard, Purple Swamp Hen, Purple Heron.

Day 2

Day 2 - Paradise in Portugal

Local Half Day Guided Birding near “Paradise in Portugal”. This would be a varied experience including some river valley, some open hillsides, some village gardens, some Cork Oak Forests and the lodge’s “Water Rail and Kingfisher Hide”. Possible species include Nightingale, Corn Bunting, Iberian Magpie, White Stork, Common Waxbill, Serin, Golden Oriole, Water Rail and Common Kingfisher. This would also be a rest day where guests can make use of the lodge's other facilities, (canoes, SUPs, bird hides, Yoga platform, sauna etc), should they so wish.

Day 3

Day 3 - Exploring the Plains of the Alentejo

An early start to explore the Plains of the Alentejo. Possible species include Gt. & Little Bustards, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Red-rumped swallow, Rufous Bushchat, Stone Curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Thekla, Crested, Wood and Calandra Larks, Hoopoe, Short toed, Booted and Bonelli's Eagles, Montagu's Harrier, Black winged Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, Black-eared Wheatear, Spanish Sparrow.

Day 4

Day 4 - Rest Day

Rest day or local birding if required.

Day 5

Day 5 - Exploring the Coastal Plain and cliffs near Sagres

Explore the coastal Plain and cliffs near Sagres with the possibility of a pelagic if there are enough participants, (paid extra). Possible species include Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Linnet, Cuckoo, Gt. Spotted Cuckoo, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes, Roller, Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Gannet, European Storm Petrel, Cory’s and Balearic Shearwaters and, during Autumn migration, raptors such as Honey Buzzards, Egyptian Vultures and Short-toed and Booted Eagles etc.

Day 6

Day 6 - Birding near QBE

Local Half Day Birding near QBE this time starting off at the Hide again followed by a slow walk along a wooded valley. Possible species include Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Cirl Bunting, Grey Wagtail, European Robin, Eurasian Nuthatch, Iberian Green Woodpecker. This would also be a rest day where guests can make use of QBE's facilities, (canoes, SUPs, bird hides etc), should they so wish.

Day 7

Day 7 - Exploring the Lagoa Sto. André

A day spent exploring the Lagoa Sto. André and then south along the west coast back to QBE. Possible species include Bee-eater, Marsh Harrier, Zitting Cisticola, Gt. Reed Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Bar & Black-tailed Godwits, Hobby, Black Kite.

Day 8

Day 8 - Departure

Transfer to Faro for flight home.

Wildlife Reviews

5 stars

- based on 2 reviews

Great Birds, Location, Food and new Friends!
Bob & Vicki Mooe19 Sep 2019
5
Overall

Tours
Wildlife
Guides
Conservation
Location
Value

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Quinta do Barranco! The birding trips are great! Everything is well organized and Frank knows where to find the birds and makes sure that everyone gets a 'good look'. The accommodations are comfortable and the location is wonderful. I can't say enough good things about the Hospitality. Frank and Daniela are wonderful hosts and you feel like you are at dinner with family and friends every night. And, a wonderful extra is that Daniela is an amazing cook. We plan to visit again.
If it’s right for you it’s wonderful - as it was for us!
Charles & Caroline Medawar07 Oct 2019
5
Overall

Tours
Wildlife
Guides
Conservation
Location
Value

This was our third visit to the Quinta and it’s always been a great treat. If anything, it was better this time, partly because we’d come with four friends also because, for the first time, we got involved in one of Frank’s birding expeditions - an all-day explore, starting at 5.00am. We were pretty naïve in these matters and still have nearly everything to learn - but it was obvious enough that the trip was superb. The Quinta is an extraordinary place: it’s seriously beautiful, tranquil and relaxing and, above all, an infectiously happy place to be. There’s nothing soppy about this contentment either: it’s a natural reaction to lovely surroundings, comfortable rooms, Daniela’s great food, excellent company – and, not least, an obviously happy and well looked after young staff. You all eat communally – up to about 20 people at the same table – and it works a treat. Our experience has always been overwhelmingly positive; like many others, we recommend it very highly indeed.