Birding Lisbon,

Jo and Bernardo are two birding friends in Lisbon. They organize guided birding and nature tours around Lisbon. Tours are adapted to cover a wide range of ability, from novice to expert and although focused on birding, are also suitable for the general naturalist and the visitor who wants to see something of the Portuguese countryside as well. The guides are ornithologists and birders with a deep knowledge of the birdlife. The trips usually depart from Lisbon (hotel pick up and drop off) and the transport is by air conditioned vehicle (up to 8 participants). Quality binoculars and telescopes, as well as field guides, are available.

Book a Lisbon excursion, Click here to book or send an email.

There are 4 standard birding tours:

1. Tagues Estuary tour. Half day tour or day tour
The Tagus estuary. This estuary is the most important Portuguese wetland area and one of the most important ones in Europe. The area bird list includes more than 250 species. Visiting the Tagus estuary is a fantastic experience at all times of the year. In winter, it holds over 120.000 waders, waterfowl and other aquatic birds; during migratory periods, the bird diversity is at its maximum, and it is not unusual to observe more than 100 species in a single day; during the summer, the estuary is alive with breeding species more usually associated with the Mediterranean. Many wild mammals are common, especially the Egyptian Mangoose, which is regularly seen, moving in family groups. The places visited include special habitats: inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak woodlands and wide steppe-like pastures.  In the breeding season it is possible, amongst many other activities, to visit a thriving heronry where 7 species breed; great care is taken not to disturb these birds. Each field trip to this protected area is carefully planned to capitalise on tide, weather light, as well as the customer s target species.

Main Species: Little Bittern, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Osprey, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Water Rail, Purple Swamp-hen, Little Bustard, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull, Little Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (iberian race), Bluethroat, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Savi s Warbler, Cetti s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Bonelli s Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Penduline Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling, Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Serin, Reed Bunting and Cirl Bunting, Common Waxbill, Black-headed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow-crowned Bishop and Red Munia. 

Rates:

	Half day (morning or afternoon)	day tour
1 person	110	180
2 persons	150	240
3 persons	190	300
4 persons	230	360
5-8 persons	40 per additional person	60 extra per additional person

2. Sado Estuary Tour. Half day or day tour
The Sado estuary, the second largest estuary in Portugal, is an area of enormous natural wealth and biodiversity. The area lies a little more than 30 minutes from Lisbon. The Nature Reserve bird list includes more than 250 species. A visit to the Sado estuary is interesting at any time of the year. In winter the area holds thousands of wintering waders and ducks; during migration, the number of species increases and it is not unusual to observe more than 100 species in a day; in summer, due to the remarkable range of habitats, the breeding species may number close to 100. The estuary incorporate a number of different habitats, ranging from inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds and river beaches, to sand-dunes, small dams and slopes covered in cork and pine. During the breeding season, visits to breeding colonies of herons are possible. The estuary holds a small and unique population of Bottle-nosed Dolphins; individuals and small pods are frequently seen. As previously mentioned, each guided tour has an itinerary that is tailor-made to capitalise on tide, weather light and participants special requirements.

Main Species: Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bonelli s Eagle, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Purple Swamp-hen, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (iberian race), Bluethroat, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Savi s Warbler, Cetti s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Bonelli s Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Crested Tit, Penduline Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparrow, Serin, Reed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Common Waxbill, Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Red Munia and Chestnut Munia.

Rates:

	Half day (morning or afternoon)	day tour
1 person	130	210
2 persons	170	270
3 persons	210	330
4 persons	250	390
5-8 persons	40 extra per additional person	60 extra per additional person

3. Alentejo Tour. Day tour
This tour encompasses the two remarkable areas of Castro Verde and M ola, and includes habitats of stunning natural beauty, reached from Lisbon within a 90 minute drive, including the bluffs and hills of the Guadiana Nature Park. The unique rolling plains of Castro Verde are the most important zone in Portugal for steppe bird conservation. Species like Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel or Roller, can be expected here and scarce species like Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle and Spanish Imperial Eagle are also regularly seen. The tour also includes a visit to the valley of the Guadiana and, at Pulo do Lobo, where the river has cut through ancient rock to form a dramatic gorge, some really spectacular species, often associated with craggy scarps can be seen, including Black Stork, Bonelli s Eagle, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. Apart from being a delight from the historical perspective, M ola is an excellent place for Lesser Kestrel. The actual range of habitats includes open steppe land (some cultivated, some fallow), small dams and oak woods, as well as scrub and valley escarpments.

Main Species: White Stork, Black Stork, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Bonelli s Eagle, Red Kite, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Montagu s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Crane, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Eagle Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Roller, Thekla Lark, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Spectacled Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Raven, Spotless Starling, Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow and Rock Bunting. Rare or Accidental Species In recent years, some species that are considered major rarities in Portugal have been seen in these areas, including Ruppell s Vulture, Red-footed Falcon, White-rumped Swift, Little Swift and Red-throated Pipit.

Rates:

	Day tour
1 person	300
2 persons	360
3 persons	420
4 persons	480
5-8 persons	60 extra per additional person

4. Algarve Tour. Day Tour  
The Algarve guided bird tour is focused essentially on two protected areas: the Ria Formosa and Castro Marim. Both sites are within easy reach of Faro Airport and a two and a half hour drive from Lisbon. The Ria Formosa is one of Portugal's most important protected wetlands. The Park is on a major fly-way for migrants from Africa, being particularly rich in wader species and passerines. It is also a great place to see rare and localized species, like Purple Swamp-hen and Little Bittern. The Ria includes habitats such as dunes, open water, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, reed beds, lagoons and pine woods.
The Castro Marim area included in this Algarve tour programme consists of a complex of canals, saline flats and salt pans. The richness of the zone is in large part due to the number of waders, ducks, gulls and terns that winter, are on passage, or breed. The population of other aquatic species, not least Greater Flamingo and Spoonbill, is also important. It is the only place in Portugal to find Lesser Short-toed Lark and is the best site for Audouin's Gull and Slender-billed Gull. The area includes salt pans, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, cultivated fields and pasture and Carob plantations.

Main Species: Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Purple Heron, White Stork, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Osprey, Purple Swamp-hen, Little Bustard, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Stone-curlew, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Temminck s Stint, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin s Gull, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Hoopoe, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail (iberian race), Bluethroat, Sardinian Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Golden Oriole and Serin. Rare or Accidental Species In both areas included in the Algarve package, many rarities have been discovered in recent years, including Reef Egret, Lesser Flamingo, Marbled Duck, Long-tailed Duck, White-headed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson s Phalarope, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Royal Tern, Forster s Tern and White-winged Tern.

Rates:

	Day Tour
1 persons	180
2 persons	240
3 persons	300
4 persons	360
5-8 persons	60 extra per additional person

 
Your guide:
During most of the tours: Jo
Jo was born in Lisbon and studied biology, from where he developed his career in the pharmaceutical industry, as manager and director of various companies. With 25 years of field experience, he knows the field of Portuguese birding and is a member of the board of SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves Birdlife in Portugal), as well as coordinator of the PRC (Portuguese Rarities Committee). Author of several articles about birds, Jo has led many field tours, as well as bird identification courses for SPEA. Besides birds, he has an active special interest in amphibians, reptiles and fishes. Jo is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Book a Lisbon excursion, Click here to book or send an email.