Birding n PORTUGAL
Visit the Tagus Estuary Birdwatching and Conservation Area, near Lisbon, for a large variety of habitats and species
Tagus Estuary is considered one of the 10 most important wetlands in Europe and the most important and extensive wetland in Portugal.
Your trip could start by crossing the Vasco da Gama bridge, where you can stop to see some Great Flamingos. Then, why not stop at a wine cellar and taste the region’s wine – and around the vineyard you could see Bee-eaters among other birds.
Then you can pass through a private cork oak forest, where you can enjoy the region’s wonderful biodiversity, including Woodchat Shrike and Bonelli’s Eagle.
After sampling the local gastronomy, continue towards the Tagus estuary, passing through rice fields, home to thousands of Black-tailed Godwits among other waders. Look among the fences alongside the road to see Black-shouldered Kites and small passerines, such as Crested Lark, Yellow Wagtail and Great Spotted Cuckoo.
Search among pastures of cattle and Lusitano horses, for Cattle Egrets, White Storks, Collared Pratincole and even the Little Bustards.
Within the Nature Reserve, either walk or take an electric car to an exclusive access area that has six shelters spread along three lagoons, which are managed as refuge areas for birds.
Here, all year round you could see: Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills, Shelducks, Marsh Harrier, Purple Swamphen, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti’s Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, and Reed and Cirl Buntings.
Beetween March and September look for: Purple Herons, Red-crested Pochard, Booted Eagle, Little Tern. From September to March: Greylag Goose, Stone-curlew, Ruff and Bluethroats.
In the south part of the lagoons scan the Tagus Estuary saltpans and mudflats, used by waterbirds as a feeding area. When you finish the walk, you can take a breather at the Wetland Centre, while enjoying astounding scenery, with birds in flight and the city of Lisbon in the distance. Finally, visit the “EVOA, where the world meets the Tagus” exhibition. Return to Lisbon along the Vila Franca de Xira bridge, and immerse yourself in Portuguese culture, including fado music, history and rich gastronomy. Visit evoa.pt for further information.