Portugal & Madeira

The small Iberian country of Portugal possesses a surprising diversity of habitats and consequently of birds in a relatively small area. The first part of our tour includes visits to several rich areas without the necessity of travelling long distances. Only 20 to 30 minutes from Lisbon's city centre and its International Airport, lie the Tagus and the Sado estuaries, two protected wetlands with extensive bird lists that include Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Black-shouldered Kite, Little Bustard, Spotless Starling and many ducks, waders, gulls and terns. A further 90 minute drive takes us into the Alentejo to other habitats with new species; here, we visit both rolling plains, the home of Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, Calandra Lark, Black-eared Wheatear, and more, and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley, noted for species like Spanish Imperial, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and White-rumped Swift.
The second part of our tour visits Madeira. Here we concentrate on the archipelago specialties, such as sea birds (Zino’s, Fea’s and Bulwer’s Petrels), land endemics (Trocaz Pigeon and Madeira Firecrest), and localized species (Plain Swift), as well as several local races (Spectacled Warbler, Chaffinch, Berthelot's Pipit, Eurasian Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk). Among the several of Madeira’s habitats that we visit will be the native Laurisilva Forest and the Desertas. Our activities also include an optional night trip to the Zino’s Petrel colony and an evening pelagic boat trip.

Highlights
• Excellent birding and marine mammal watching in protected reserves and national parks.
• Several endemics and local races on the scenic isalnd of Madeira
• Fine scenery, interesting history and cultures; a fine time to be in Portugal and in Madeira with warm and pleasant weather and fine evenings
 

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival and Orientation$
Our tour starts in Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. We transfer from Lisbon Airport to the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tagus estuary, about 20 minutes travel time. Night at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.

Day 2 – Tagus Estuary
We visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the Atalaia farm, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, and the salt marshes and inter-tidal mudflats of the Ponta da Erva area. Time permitting, we will schedule a two hours boat trip in the Tagus river, to visit a heronry which supports seven species of herons and egrets in the Tagus river. We can expect species such as Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Black-shouldered Kite, Little Bustard, Spotless Starling and many ducks, waders, gulls and terns. Night at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.

Day 3 – Tagus Estuary and transfer to Sado Estuary
We take in sites not visited yesterday, maybe the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. After lunch, we travel to the Sado estuary area (about 30 minutes), to explore some of the most interesting sites in this protected area: Zambujal, Gâmbia, Batalha, Carrasqueira and Comporta (inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak and pine woodlands). Night at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva.

Day 4 – Sado Estuary and Alentejo Region
Today we visit the Castro Verde plains and the Pulo do Lobo area, an area of rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley in the Alentejo region. Here we will be looking for Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Roller, Calandra Lark, Black-eared Wheatear and more, and bluffs and hills of the Guadiana valley, for Spanish Imperial, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Black Stork, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and White-rumped Swift. Night at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo.

Day 5 – Alentejo Region
We spend the day in the Alentejo region, mainly in the Guadiana Valley Nature Park, including Mértola, Pomarão and Mina de São Domingos. Night at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo.

Day 6 – Return to Lisbon and flight to Madeira
We travel to Lisbon, about 90 minutes away, and take a flight from Lisbon to Madeira. On arrival to Madeira, we transfer to Funchal. Night at Hotel Quinta da Penha de França.

Day 7 – Madeira
We have three full days on Madeira, during which we visit several interesting areas in quest of species such as the endemics Trocaz Pigeon and Madeira Firecrest, as well as local races of several other species, including Spectacled Warbler, Madeiran Chaffinch, Berthelot's Pipit, Eurasian Kestrel, Common Buzzard and European Sparrowhawk. We look for Rock Petronia, Canary and Berthelot’s Pipit in arid areas, and Red-legged Partridge and Common Quail in farmland. We pass through several characteristics areas such as native Laurisilva Forest, as well as sea watching points (Porto Moniz, Ponta do Pargo, Rabaçal and Ponta de São Lourenço). At night, we have an optional visit to a Zino’s Petrel colony, from about 2000h until midnight. The Zino's night tour is a visit to the breeding sites of one the most threatened birds in Europe. This resident breeder is endemic to Madeira and, after being considered extinct by the middle of last century, it was rediscovered on 1969. The entire population is now estimated at 65 to 80 breeding pairs, mostly confined to the high central mountain massif of Madeira enclosed within Madeira Natural Park (MNP). The aim of our visit is to hear the night calls as the petrels arrive at their colonies. Led by a certificated and experienced guide, we will have the opportunity to experience the company of this rare marine bird at scenic Pico do Areeiro; there is a easy/medium trekking with some unevenness of about 20 minutes to a point where we stay in silence trying to hear calls. Weather, especially wind conditions, will play a significant factor in the outcome of our quest. Night at Hotel Quinta da Penha de França.

Day 8 – Desertas Island
We have a full day trip planned to the Desertas Islands. These belong to the Madeiran archipelago and are located 11 miles SE of the main island (Madeira) and 21 nautical miles from Funchal harbor. Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio comprise this sub-archipelago. In 1990 the Desertas became a Nature Reserve, comprising the islands themselves and the surrounding sea to a depth of 100 meters. The reserve is divided into two protected zones of which the southern half of Deserta Grande and Bugio are strictly forbidden to visitors. On Deserta Grande there is a permanent research station with two wardens, the only human inhabitants of the islands today. Since 1992 Desertas became part of the European Biogenetic Reserves, mainly because of all the marine birds that breed there and the population of monk seals that uses this island for resting and breeding area.
During our trip, we will have good opportunities to have close views of several pelagic birds and marine mammals. The boat journey will last 3 ½ hours, during which we enjoy great views of the islands of the Madeira Archipelago and their natural heritage. On Deserta Grand Island we anchor in a sheltered bay by the warden's research station belonging to the Madeira Natural Park. Here we have an opportunity to swim in clear water. A traditional lunch will be served on board, followed by a guided tour of the island, lasting about 45 minutes. We return to Madeira, arriving at Funchal by about 1930h. Species such as Cory's Shearwater, Bulwer's Petrel, Fea's Petrel and with luck Zino's Petrel are some of our target species. Marine mammals include Common, Atlantic Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphins, as well as Pilot and Bryde Whales. Night at Hotel Quinta da Penha de França.

Day 9 – Madeira
Our activities today will be dictated by what we have seen to date. We may visit other interesting areas of the Madeira island, before we take a late afternoon pelagic boat trip off south Madeira Island, between Ponta do Garajau, located only a few miles north-east of Funchal and Ponta da Cruz, the southernmost point of Madeira, located at the west side of Funchal. Here good numbers of sea birds travel to and from their breeding grounds on Desertas. Besides sea birds, we should also see dolphins and whales. After a briefing, the journey will start in direction of Ponta do Garajau, turning there to south, about 5/6 nautical miles off shore, and ending near Ponta da Cruz, close to sunset. We should arrive in Funchal harbor by 21h00. Night at Hotel Quinta da Penha de França.

Day 10 – Departure
We visit Funchal, perhaps finding Atlantic Canary and Plain Swift if we have not already located these species. We then transfer to the Airport, for our flights home.

Featured Birds:

• Zino’s Petrel
• Trocaz Pigeon
• Madeira Firecrest
• Great Bustard
• Berthelot’s Pipit
• Greater Flamingo
• European Roller
• Black-bellied Sandgrouse
• Bonelli’s Eagle
• Bryde’s Whale

Date: July 6 - 15, 2012

Duration: 10 days

Price: $3,275 USD/CAD, single supplement $525 USD/CAD

Limit: 12 people

Tour Starts: Lisbon

Tour Ends: Madeira

What to Expect:
• Generally warm, pleasant and dry weather; cooler with drizzle in mountains.
• Tour price includes all meals, accommodation, entrance fees, bird guides, transport, and all boat trips. Flight from Lisbon to Funchal on Madeira is not included.
• One leader for 4 and 8 participants, 2 between 9 and 12.
• Easy to moderate walking, mainly short drives, comfortable vehicles.

Portugal and Madeira offer very good birding in landscapes scattered with historic towns. It is a country with a rich historical and cultural heritage. We visit a wide variety of habitats close to Lisbon and on the Madeiran archipeligo. To maximize time in the field there will be early morning starts and pre-breakfast journeys, some of which will be optional. In general the tour is not strenuous: pace generally will be slow and relaxed allowing time for us to fully enjoy fauna and flora, and the places we visit. There will be some gentle hiking occasionally over moderately rough or steep terrain; the night-time mountain walk to seek out Zino's Petrel is quite strenuous. Most days we have a box or picnic lunch in the field or call in at a local restaurant.
Weather is is generally warm and sunny, but it can be cloudy with drizzle in the mountains. A sun hat is important together with warm clothing for the mountains and during the boat outings. Hotels are of very good quality. In the evenings we will eat at the hotel or a nearby restaurant, where we will enjoy a fine meal, review the day’s bird list and discuss the itinerary for the next day.