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Birding report courtesy of Leigh and Tony Kelly.

This was our first visit to Southern Portugal. It was a short recce to discover the area. We stayed at the Casa Rosa, after finding out about it on the internet, and it is a lovely place with great food. Fudge, Hanny & Roger made us feel very welcome. To see all the sites, car hire is probably essential. Prior to visiting this area, we recommend you buy Dave Gosney’s guide to finding birds in Southern Portugal – it may not be bang up to date, but has good maps of the local area’s, and we certainly found it very useful. Weather wise, we had some rain, and would advise packing a coat. A telescope is recommended for best views.

Took a late afternoon 2 hour walk locally – heard Red-necked Nightjar and saw couple of Little Owls and Sardinian Warbler.

After breakfast we set off for the marshland reserve of Castro Marim, on the Portuguese/Spanish border. Reserve is mixture of salt marshes, saltworks and creeks and some higher ground, which is used for dry land agriculture. Reserve staff in visitor centre are very friendly and helpful. This is a good place to have a good look around – it covers quite a big area and is worth exploring as much as possible. The hill by the visitors centre gives a great view over a large area – ideal with a scope. Reserve had a good selection of waders (Curlew sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted & Common Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and decent view of Caspian Terns. Peregrine were obvious on bridge over Guadiana River. Other species included Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Ringed, Grey & Kentish Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Stonechat, Wheatear, Fan-tailed & Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling and Linnet.

After breakfast we headed west up the coast to Ria Formosa (behind Faro airport). We parked behind airport and walked slowly all the way up the coast to San Lorenzo golf course. This area is fantastic, worthy of more than a single visit – loads of Greater Flamingos, Spoonbills, Egrets & Herons. Also 1 Short-toed Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite and a Bluethroat. Wildlife around San Lorenzo golf course is excellent – the pond on left of 16^th & 17^th fairways provide excellent views of Purple Gallinule, Red-crested Pochard & Little Bittern – there is a hide not far from the coastal path that gives good views to most of these species. Whilst sitting having a beer outside the clubhouse, we were lucky enough to find a single Glossy Ibis near pool by the 10^th tee. Good duck selection, including Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler and Pochard.. Other birds include Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Sandwich and Little Tern, and Azure-winged Magpie.

We visited Quinta de Marim (Olhao) Environmental Education Centre of Marim in the afternoon – but this is not the best time of day (or year/) to visit, as it was pretty quiet – although it’s worth a visit to see the Portuguese Water Dogs centre in the reserve. There are plenty of salt pans which may prove fruitful, but this could be said for any area on the coast from here to the Spanish border. This site is probably best in spring.