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The picturesque Castelo de Mertola provided a lovely background for our birding in the far south of Portugal. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
Our inaugural Portugal tour certainly lived up to its expectations. This fascinating country features excellent food, world class birding and one of the most intriguing wine industries in the world that is combining state of the art winemaking techniques with ancient forms of producing wine.
Our tour started in northern Portugal, in the city of Porto where Portugal’s most famous wine is produced. But even the familiar Port wines had a lot of surprises in store for us, with kinds of Port that most people have never heard about, such as White Ports (excellent for making cocktails) and Late Bottled Vintage ports, which are the cream of the crop. We then made our way east, following the Douro to the lands where the grapes that make the famous port and Douro’s famous wines are grown. We finally reached the picturesque medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo, where we would spend two nights, and from where we would explore the mountains along the Spanish Border. Our birding here was very productive with great looks at Egyptian Vultures, Golden Eagle, Blue Rock-thrushes and our first Red-legged Partridges.
Our tour continued southwards moving to the Alentejo wine country, an area with a lot of experimental winemaking. Our first stop here was at Cabecas de Reguengo, a small winery where we sampled some boutique wines and birded the Sao Mamede Natural Park, where we found Long-tailed tits, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a male Coal Tit.
Further south, we got into the warmer weather of Southern Portugal and to some of the best birding in Europe. Here we were treated to unforgettable views of displaying Great and Little Bustards, Great Spotted and Common Cuckoo in the same field of view, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, and Wryneck, while Golden Oriole and Southern Gray Shrikes were also around to keep us entertained.
We wrapped things up with a few nights at the luxurious Casa Palmela hotel, from where we explored the delta of the Tagus River, enjoying great views of Collared Pratincoles, Iberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, displaying male Ruffs and many others.
This was an excellent tour, with unforgettable wild flowers, great wines, fabulous food and amazing people.
There is no doubt in my mind that our 2018 tour will become a Vintage year.
Cheers,
Marcelo Padua
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Participant Maureen Phair got this lovely shot of a mixed group of shorebirds at the EVOA visitor center, including several male Ruffs in breeding plumage.
Our guides, Marcelo Padua and Joao Tiago Tavares, toast another great day. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
Red-legged Partridge was more common in the south, but we saw one near Castelo Rodrigo as well. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
We tasted some wonderful wines, including the Ports that are produced in the Douro Valley. Photo by participant Ken Havard.
We had very good looks at this Great Spotted Cuckoo that was found near Mertola. At one point, we even had it in the scope with a Common Cuckoo! Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
Participant Ken Havard took this photo of one of the fabulous lunches we had.
Eurasian Griffon was seen very well at the Douro Internacional. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
In additional to some great lunches and wine-tastings, we had some fun picnics in the field. Here, guide Marcelo Padua prepares a nice spread, while the group birds in the background. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
This Little Owl seems to be keeping a close eye on us! It's easy to see the similarity between this European species, and the Burrowing Owl from the Americas. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
Participant Ken Havard captured this tranquil view of some of the vinyards we saw.
This nesting White Stork and chick are two of many that we saw on the tour. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
This flock is mostly Pied Avocets, but has a few other shorebirds mixed in; we saw it at the EVOA visitor center. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
Here is our group, engrossed in a bird down in the valley. Photo by participant Maureen Phair.
MAMMALS
The city of Porto is located on the Douro Estuary; participant Maureen Phair took this image of historic buildings along the waterway.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Winery, Wine, Wine region (sub-region), Vintage/Age, Kind of wine
Graham’s, Extra Dry White, No Vintage, Port
Symington, Altano, Douro, 2017. White Wine
Symington, Altano, Douro, 2016. Red Wine (organic)
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage, 2012, Porto, Port
Graham’s, Tawny Port, 10 Years. Porto, Port
Graham’s, Tawny Port, 20 Years. Porto, Port
Calem, Fine White, No Vintage. Porto, Port
Calem, Tawny, 10 Years, Porto. Port
Casa Ferreirinha, Esteva, Douro, 2016. Red Wine
Pacheca, White Port, NV, Porto. Port
Pacheca, Superior, Douro, 2016, Douro. White Wine
Pacheca, Grande Reserva Vinhas Velhas, 2014, Douro. Red Wine x
Pacheca, Vintage Port, 2013, Porto. Port
Pacheca, Rose, 2016, Douro. Port
Pacheca, Grande Reserva Touriga Nacional, 2014, Douro. Red Wine
Pacheca, Vintage Port, 2012, Porto. Port
Vinilourenco, D.G., 2016, Douro Superior, White wine
Familia Roboredo Madeira, Vinha da Urze, 2015, Douro. Red Wine
Offley, Tawny Port, 10 years, Porto, Port
Quinta de Azevedo, Gazela, No Vintage, Vinho Verde. White Wine
Anselmo Mendes, Alvarinho, 2013, Vinho Verde (Moncao e Melgaco), White Wine
CARM, Reserva, 2013, Douro. Red Wine
Casa Ferreirinha, Papa Figos, 2015, Douro. Red Wine
Quinta de Vale Pios, Vale de Pios, 2014, Douro, Red Wine
Cabecas do Reguengo, Respiro, No Vintage, Alentejo (Portalegre). Sparkling Wine
Cabecas do Reguengo, Equinocio, 2015. Alentejo (Portalegre). White Wine
Cabecas do Reguengo, Seiva, 2014, Alentejo (Portalegre). Red Wine
Cabecas do Reguengo. Solsticio, 2015, Alentejo (Portalegre). Red Wine
Borges Porto, Soalheira,20 years, Tawny, No Vintage, Porto. Port
Quinta do Mouro, Vinha do Mouro, 2014, Alentejo, Red Wine
Graham’s, Late Bottled Vintage, 2012, Porto, Port
Esporao, Defesa do Esporao, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Esporao, Quinta dos Murcas, 2012, Alentejo. Red Wine
Esporao, Esporao Reserva, 2015. Alentejo.,Red Wine
Esporao, Test #8, 2016, Alentejo, Red Wine
Ribafreixo, Discordia, 2013, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade dos Lagos, Reserva, 2013, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Monte da Peceguina, 2015, Alentejo. Rose Wine
Cartuxa, EA, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Bombeira do Guadiana, Flor do Guadiana, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Bombeira do Guadiana, Herdade da Bombeira, 2015, Alentejo. Red Wine
Monte do Trevo, Herdade dos Grous, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Antao Vaz da Peceguina, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Touriga Nacional da Peceguina, 2015, Alentejo. White Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Malhadinha, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Monte da Peceguina, 2016,Alentejo. Red Wine
Companhia das Lezirias, Tyto Alba, 2013, Tejo. Red Wine
Bacalhoa, Verdelho, 2016, Alentejo, White Wine
Bacalhoa, Merlot, 2016, Alentejo, Red Wine
Bacalhoa, Moscatel de Setubal, 2015, Alentejo, Fortified Wine
Vinha das Virtudes, Humanitas, 2014, Alentejo. White Wine
Paulo Laureano, Vinhas Velhas, 2016. Alentejo (Vidigueira). Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Periquita Reserva, 2016, Peninsula de Setubal. Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Alambre, 2012, Peninsula de Setubal. Fortified Wine
Casa Ermelinda Freitas, Reserva, Touriga Nacional, 2013, Palmela. Red Wine
Aveleda, Quinta D’aguieira, No vintage, Bairrada. Sparkling Wine
Aveleda, Colheita Selecionada, Alvarinho, 2016, Vinho Verde, White Wine
Totals for the tour: 159 bird taxa and 5 mammal taxa