Hugo & Catarina, owners and guides of Madeira Wind Birds went on a self-guided birdwatching trip to mainland Portugal in the third week of January 2009. They have visited several places from Lisbon to Algarve and this is their trip report for this winter trip:

15th January 2009 between Lisbon and Alcochete
2 Grey Herons
Black-winged Stilts
Great Black-backed Gull
Flamingos
Cormorants

At Freeport - Alcochete
1 White Wagtail
17 Cattle Egrets

16th January 2009 at Lagoa dos Salgados - Algarve
1 Great Snipe
5 Bald Ibis
House Martins
Crag Martins
Barn Swallows
3 Caspian Terns
Purple Swamphen
Pochards
Shovelers
Pintails
Gadwalls
Teals
Lapwings (hundreds)
Stonechat
Zitting Cisticola
11 White Storks
Greater Flamingos
Tawny pipit
Meadow pipit
Crested Lark
Golden Plovers
Coots
Moorhens
Sanderlings
Black-winged Stilts
Grey Herons
6 Cormorants
Black-headed Gull
2 Mediterranean Gulls

17th January 2009 on highway Faro - Setubal
2 Red-legged Partridges (flying across the street)
2 Black-shouldered Kites
Azure-winged Magpies
Lapwings
2 Red Kites
Carrion Crows
Cattle Egrets
Starlings
12 White Storks
6 Cattle Egrets
Black Redstart
5 Buzzards
Golden Plovers
Wood Pigeons
Pied Wagtail

18th January 2009 at Estuário do Sado - Setúbal
7 Goosander
1 Whimbrel
1 Redshank
11 Little Grebes
Montagu’s Harrier
2 Cormorants
Dunlins
Sanderlings
Common Sandpiper
Black-winged Stilts
Ringed Plover
Common sandpiper
Little egret
3 Spoonbills
Grey Heron
Grey Plover
Mediterranean Gulls
Black-headed Gulls
Great Black-backed Gulls
Herring Gulls
Stonechats
8 Curlews
2 Bar-tailed Godwits
Greenshank
Crested Lark
Sardinian Warbler
Black Redstart
Red-legged Partridges

19th January 2009 in Ria Formosa, just in front Faro marina - Algarve
Grey Heron
White Storks
2 Oystercatchers
Grey Plover
Dunlins
Whimbrel
Cormorants
Black-headed Gulls
Herring Gulls

20th January 2009 between Castro Verde and Pulo do Lobo (Mértola) - Alentejo (with some snow during the day!)
Great Grey Shrike
Black-shouldered Kite
Red Kite
Peregrine Falcon
Lesser Kestrel
40 Great Bustards
Long-eared Owl
White Storks
Cattle Egrets
Lapwings
Buzzard
Starlings
Little Egrets
Song Thrush
Hoopoe
Chiffchaff
Golden Plovers
Kestrel
Corn Buntings
Cetti’s warbler
Whinchat
Collared Doves
Common sandpiper
Linnets
Goldfinches
Red-legged Partridges
Wood Pigeons
3 Cormorants
Sardinian Warbler
Blackcap
Robin
Blackbird

22nd January 2009 at Lagoa de Albufeira - Sesimbra
2 Great Northern Loon
1 Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebes
2 Shelduck
2 Sandwich Terns
Coots
Grey Herons
Shovelers
Teals
Gadwalls
Mallards
Cormorants
Crag Martins
House Martins
Little Egret
Greenshank
Chaffinches
Firecrest
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Robin
Shag
Common Sandpiper
White Wagtail
Greenfinch
Coal Tit
Stonechat
Winchat
Grey Wagtail
Crows

In Corroios - Almada
Avocets
Black-winged Stilts
Riged Plovers
Dunlins
Black-tailed Godwits
Greater Flamingos
Grey Plovers
Cattle Egrets
Black-headed Gulls
Great Black-backed Gulls
Despite cold and rain it was an interesting birdwatching trip! If you wish to read the full report click here.