Lagoa dos Salgados

This tour only happens in the afternoon as Thursday morning is visitor’s day at Cruzinha (A ROCHA Portugal field study centre) which you are welcome to join. Also light is better in the afternoon at Lagoa dos Salgados. This wetland is one of the best places in the Algarve to see a good variety of birds but is still threatened as it has no legal protection status. There are still developments projects (i.e. hotels) planned around this lagoon. Some works have recently been made in the lagoon to improve the habitat for the birds and they seem to work. We do most of the observation from a single point but it is possible to walk a bit along the lagoon on a boardwalk to have a different view and see more birds. Flamingos attempted to breed there a few years ago (2 nests found) and Glossy Ibis are now regular. Many ducks can be seen in winter: Mallards, Pochards, Gadwalls, Teal and Shovelers and quite a few waders are usually present. Kentish Plovers, Black-winged Stilts, Avocets and Collared Pratincoles breed in this place. Purple Swamphen is common in this place and in spring the reedbeds host Purple Heron and Little Bittern. Audouin’s Gull and Caspian Tern are also regular at this place. It is rare to go to Lagoa dos Salgados without seeing a Marsh Harrier flying over the lagoon and flushing all the birds, generally allowing us to see species hidden in the vegetation. What is included The guide, a checklist, the use of field guides, a drink at the end or middle of the day and all the driving are included in the price.