We are not terrifically confident birders and probably miss half as many birds as we actually see – but we still managed to compile a list of 104 species from the following destinations:

Castro Marim -interesting wetland centre dominated by the bridge over the Guadiana into Spain. The drive up the track to the centre was productive with a variety of waders. We found Sector C in Moore et all very productive especially the outer track leading away from the saltworks off the EM. 125-6.

Fuzeta – saltpans just over the railway line gave good views of Little stint, Curlew sandpipers, Spotted Redshank and Kentish plovers etc

Environmental Education Centre of Marim - Natural Park of Ria Formosa at Olhau - off the EN 125 like everything else not well signposted but a real gem with a variety of habitats, a tidal mill as well as a centre for Portuguese water dogs. They sell a good map at the main entrance "Discover the Birds of Ria Formosa (West)" which was useful at the next site.

Quinta Do Lago - very posh housing and hotels dedicated to the world of golf. Car park cost 7 euros! Good for purple swamp hen and the usual waders. Not sufficient time to do this site justice.

Faro Airport and Ludo – footpaths busy with locals and tourists on Easter Sunday but produced variety of waders and Caspian Tern and probably some interesting warblers if we could have been a bit quicker on identification.

Vilamoura – Parque Ambiental - 6 km nature trail + 2 hides - our first view of purple heron and was that a mute swan on one of the golf course lakes? Brief glimpse said it was, but later research in the books indicates it to be out of its normal range. Maybe nobody told the swan?

Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vicente – this is a long car journey to the "end of the world " but worthwhile for the coastal scenery, the fishing harbour at Sagres and the fort at Ponta de Sagres complete with cliff top fishermen who seem on the whole to manage balancing on narrow ledges without throwing themselves over the edge. Good for Black redstarts, Blue rock thrush, Peregrine falcon, and black-eared wheatear etc…

Castro Verde Plains – we managed two successful trips up to "bustard country". The first via the N2 – a very winding, steep climb up to Castro Verde was a bit of a driving challenge but quite manageable – returned via Mertola and Castro Marim. The second we tried to follow the old N122 road northwards from Castro Marim. This offers some beautiful views but sadly the maps are not accurate and around the Lake Odeleitte you are eventually forced to join the IC 27 to finish the journey towards Mertola. We saw 2 Short Toed Eagles, 4 Booted Eagles, 10+ Montagu’s Harriers, 4 Black kites , 2 Marsh harriers as well as 18 + Great Bustards and 3 Little bustards. We dipped on the black bellied sand grouse. We concentrated on the area to the south of the N123 between Sao Marcos de Ataboeira and Mertola and were most successful when driving just a few hundred yards down various tracks in the areas labelled 10, 6 and 7 in the Gosney book.

Weather – bright and sunny most of the time – but not really warm enough for outdoor swimming –my one and only plunge in the pool early in the week was not to be repeated. Probably a bit chilly for this time of year but on the whole warm - a pullover was needed from time to time. Windscreen wipers used when driving through a couple of showers but on the whole dry.

Like all married couples there is no agreement here either ! We loved the Blue Rock Thrush and the Choughs and the Flamingoes and the Montagu’s Harriers and everything else really. But, at the top of out list has to be the eagles – she preferred the Short Toed Eagle and I was pleased to get good views of both dark and light phase Booted Eagles. Then we both were totally taken by the Collared Pratincoles – they seemed to be almost tame , 20-30 birds perched on the ground only moving away when we got within 10 metres or so and then filling the air with their swift like flight pattern. But the bustards probably have to take first place – we first saw a single male Great Bustard in flight and thought initially that it was some sort of a big goose! (I told you we weren’t great birders) This was followed by the most spectacular and close up views of these birds we have ever had.

Finding Birds in Southern Portugal by Dave Gosney. – although very out of date this still gives a good indication of sites worth investigating.