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We visited the Faia Reserva Brava mid-way through the tour. We were able to see some of the conservation efforts that this group is doing to bring back habitats and birds, including a wonderful Golden Eagle that we saw. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
Being a tour leader is a wonderful job, as you get to see the world, meet interesting people from all walks of life and make a living doing some of the things you enjoy the most. So, every tour is a memorable experience, however, every now and then there is a tour that stands out and ends up in a special compartment where our fondest memories are kept. This was certainly one of those tours for me, as it had all the perfect ingredients to make it an unforgettable experience.
First and foremost, we had an excellent group of people, (Many thanks to Ed and Susan for that!) which is always the main ingredient for making a great tour. I also have to thank Joao Tiago for his expertise in the field, both with the birds and more importantly, the wildflowers, which were certainly a highlight of the tour. The birding, by European standards, was of the highest order, and the food and wine blew our minds.
We started things in Porto with a cold and wet day, a result of winter that lingered longer than expected, but we had some nice Port wine to warm us up as we enjoyed great looks at the Undefeated City. A little birding stop produced some nice looks at Mediterranean Gull, as well as Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
We then moved inland through the winding roads of the Douro Valley, where the grapes that produce some of Portugal’s best wines are produced, and we sampled some fine wines at Pacheca en route to the medieval village where we would spend the following days.
From Castelo Rodrigo, we explored the surroundings and found a variety of birds that included great looks at Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Blue Rock-thrushes and many others, which were paired with some Vinho Verde and a memorable picnic overlooking the Douro River. We also visited the Faia Brava Reserve, and learned about the great conservation efforts of this group that is doing amazing work at bringing some areas back to a wilder state. This work is paying off with the nesting of several species of birds, including a Golden Eagle that we found perched on the cliffs.
Up next was a brief, but memorable, visit to Cabecas de Reguengo, where Joao Afonso, a kind of mad scientist of wine, showed us around and shared some of his liquid poetry with us. We also found some birds that brightened up even the grayest of days, such as a displaying Firecrest and an adult Cirl Bunting.
We continued our journey to the south, and visited two wineries that are very different and unique in their own way. One of them was Herdade do Esporao, where their biological wine technique produced a spectacle of flowers that could easily have been turned into a painting, and Jose Maria da Fonseca, where ancient wine making techniques are being kept alive by some passionate wine makers.
We finally reached the town of Mertola, from where we were able to explore a variety of habitats, but the most memorable day was certainly that first morning, when we saw Little and Great Bustards, Great Spotted Cuckoos, Eurasian Thick-knees, and even some Black-bellied Sandgrouse, all of them sitting in endless fields covered in wild flowers.
We finished our tour in the luxurious surroundings of Casa Palmela, where we had great birding on the grounds, and from where we could explore a variety of habitats from salt pans and mudflats to old forest.
I will never forget the days we spent together, and I hope they were as memorable for you as they were for me.
Hoping to see all of you again,
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
The attractive Common Chaffinch was seen a few times during the tour. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
Participant Randy Beaton got this beautiful image of a hillside covered with grapevines in the Douro Valley.
The European Goldfinch was heard many times, in addtion to being seen. Its buzzy call let us know to look closely at the nearby trees. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
Unlike the bird that Americans know as a "robin", the lovely European Robin is an Old World flycatcher, not a thrush. We saw these charming little birds well on this tour. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
We saw Pied Avocets intermingled with Greater Flamingoes at the EVOA Reserve. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
We saw several Purple Herons, including this one posing in a field near the Tagus Estuary. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
White Storks were common, especially in the southern area of Portugal. This nest had a sparrow nest incorporated into the larger structure; you can see the silhouette of a sparrow below the young Stork. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
Our visit to Portugal coincided with a burst of spring wildflowers, including these gorgeous Woodcock Orchids. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
Here is our group, happily celebrating a successful tour on our last night. Photo by participant Randy Beaton.
MAMMALS
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Here is a list of all the wines we sampled on our tour. They are listed in chronological order so it will be easier for you to remember them.
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, Tawny Port, 20 Years. Porto, Port
Calem, Fine White, No Vintage. Porto, Port
Calem, Tawny, 10 Years, Porto. Port
Murganheira, Reserva Bruto, No Vintage. Tavora-Varosa, Sparkling Wine
Casa Ferreirinha, Esteva, Douro, 2016. Red Wine
Pacheca, Superior, Douro, 2016, Douro. White Wine
Pacheca, Reserva Vinhas Velhas, 2014, Douro. Red Wine
Pacheca, Late Blttled Vintage, Porto. Port
Pacheca, Grande Reserva Touriga Nacional, 2014, Douro. Red Wine
Pacheca, Vintage Port, 2012, Porto. Port
Quinta de Azevedo, Gazela, No Vintage, Vinho Verde. White Wine
Quinta da Pedra, Alvarinho, 2011, Vinho Verde (Moncao e Melgaco), White Wine
CARM, Reserva, 2014, Douro. Red Wine
Casa Ferreirinha, Papa Figos, 2015, Douro. Red Wine
Castelo Rodrigo, Touriga Nacional, 2016, Beira Interior. Red Wine
F. Olazabal & Filhos. Meandro do Vale do Meao. 2015, 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, 2014, Alentejo (Portalegre). Red Wine
Ferreira, Dona Antonia Reserva Tawny, No Vintage, Porto. Port
Rui Reguinga, Terrenus, 2013, Alentejo (Portalegre). Red Wine
Blandy’s, Malmsey, 5 years, Madeira. Fortified Wine
Esporao, Defesa do Esporao, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Esporao, Quinta dos Murcas, 2012, Alentejo. Red Wine
Esporao, Esporao Reserva, 2015. Alentejo.,Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Ripanco private selection, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Jose de Sousa, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Henrique Uva, Mingorra Touriga Nacional, 2011, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Monte da Peceguina, 2015, Alentejo. Rose Wine
Cartuxa, EA, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade dos Lagos, Reserva, 2013, Alentejo. Red Wine
Ribafreixo, Discordia, 2014, Alentejo. Red Wine
Ribafreixo, Gaudio Classico, 2013, Alentejo. Red Wine
Monte do Trevo, Herdade dos Grous, 2016, Alentejo. Red Wine
Bombeira do Guadiana, Flor do Guadiana, 2017, Alentejo. White Wine
Bombeira do Guadiana, Herdade da Bombeira, 2015, Alentejo. Red Wine
Bombeira do Guadiana, Escolha Trincadeira, 2015, Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Antao Vaz da Peceguina, 2016, Alentejo. White Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Monte da Peceguina, 2016,Alentejo. Red Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Monte da Peceguina, 2017, Alentejo. Rose Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Malhadinha, 2015, Alentejo. Red Wine
Quinta do Esteval, Esteval Private Collection, 2016, Peninsula de Setubal. Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, Periquita Reserva, 2015, Peninsula de Setubal. Red Wine
Aveleda, Quinta D’aguieira, No vintage, Bairrada. Sparkling Wine
Companhia das Lezirias, Tyto Alba, 2013, Tejo. Red Wine
Casa Ermelinda Freitas, Leo d’Honor, 2008, Palmela. Red Wine
Jose Maria da Fonseca, BSE, 2017, Peninsula de Setubal. White Wine
Burmester, Extra Dry White, No Vintage, Porto. Port
Vinha das Virtudes, Humanitas, 2014, Alentejo. White Wine
Paulo Laureano, Vinhas Velhas, 2016. Alentejo (Vidigueira). Red Wine
Quinta do Piloto, Superior Moscatel de Setubal, 2011, Peninsula de Setubal. Fortified
Tapada do Chaves, Branco, 2014, Alentejo (Portalegre). White Wine
Tapada do Chaves, Tinto Reserva, 2013, Alentejo (Portalegre). Red Wine
Ampulheta Magica, Palavrar, No Vintage. Bairrada. Sparkling Wine
Totals for the tour: 161 bird taxa and 4 mammal taxa