Birdwatching on the Algarve

The Algarve is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination for birdwatchers.  And that is not surprising! The relatively short time it takes to fly from the U.K or Northern Europe to Faro airport coupled with the wonderful Algarve weather, makes the Algarve a popular choice for  holidays  anyway. Combine this with the diversity of birds, both resident and migratory and you have a true bird watchers paradise.

Local authorities here on the Algarve are increasingly recognising the importance of the Algarve’s bird population, and though there is still much to be done to preserve the many precious habitats under threat from development and simple lack of protection, there are encouraging signs that changes are taking place.

A good step in the right direction is the publication ´Birdwatching in Loulé, guidebook to observing birds in the county of Loulé´, published by the Camera Municipal de Loulé and by Almargen, an environmental group that works on the Algarve. This attractive publication, in Portuguese and in English, opens by reminding us that ´Portugal is one of the European countries with the highest diversity of bird species due to the great variety of habitats´. It outlines three main habitats, the coastal wetlands, the Barrocal ,in the interior, and the mountainous area of Serra do Caldeirão.

The guide is intended for birdwatchers ´who have some experience in identifying birds´ and serves as an indicator of which species are likely to be be found in any given area, as well as their  frequency throughout the year.
The areas identified in this book are all areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as Rocha da Pena and the Fontes of Benémola, both classified sites and protected areas. The Serra do Caldeirão is a fascinating  journey into a culture and way of life that has practically disappeared in other parts of Europe. Here you get a glimpse of a life that is tied into land and climate, where village communities have lived together for generations and the impact of modern living has been restrained by geography and economy.
A birdwatching holiday on the Algarve promises to be something special -an enormous variety of birds, beautiful walks, pleasant climate and wonderful Algarve accommodation where you can relax and rejuvenate.

Here at Duas Quintas, birdwatching does not have to wait till you are out on the trails. We have resident Hoopies and Egrets at the moment as well as many other species that we still don’t know the names of. Our winged visitors change according to the season, and the longer we are here the more we recognise the patterns that repeat themselves from one season to the next.