Living in Central Algarve, right next to the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park, I can guide you through all Southern Portugal. Tours can be tailored to your individual needs – various itineraries and target species are possible – head out in search of your “lifer” and see the highlights of the season – nearly 100 different bird species can be seen on a day-tour. Areas of main interest include:
Steppe-like Plains of the Southern Alentejo:
The rolling plains form a vast ocean of grassland, flowers and cereal fields with some scattered Holm-oak trees. White stork nesting is widespread, often accompanied by Spanish Sparrows. Great and Little Bustards can be spotted, and Black-shouldered Kite, European Roller, Western Rufous Scrub-Robin (May-August), Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Montagu´s Harriers breed. Vultures occur, especially in summer and the Golden Eagle, as well as the Spanish Imperial Eagle occur occasionally. Cranes overwinter, as well as large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover.
Coastal wetlands of the Algarve:
The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, with its channels, salt marshes and salt flats – as well as other lagoons and estuaries – is home to Flamingos, Spoonbills, Egrets as well as various waders and waterfowl. Purple Gallinule and Azure-winged Magpie are typical, summer-birds include Collared Pratincole, Little Bittern and Red-necked Nightjar as well as Audouins- and Slender-billed Gulls. Wintering of Booted Eagle, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Blue-Throat and Penduline Tit is common. Raritys with some regularity include Richard´s Pipit, Red-knobbed Coot and others.
About myself: Born 1968, birdwatcher for 25 years with detailed knowledge about the birds of Portugal and the Western Palearctic. I studied biology and geography in Germany and worked there as a teacher and started a project for the protection of a wetland area with success. I am familiar with the regional birdlife of all Southern Portugal for more than 10 years. I am a member of the Portuguese Society for bird studies (SPEA) and work as a Tour-guide for several Operators for birdwatching-travel from Germany and Swizzerland (birdingtours, Albatros-Tours, Arcatour) as well as for the Golf-Resort of Quinta do Lago and the University of Faro occasionally. Besides the work as field-guide, I am surveying the impact of windfarms on bird populations, in particular on birds of prey, in the Serra de Caldeirao. I speak fluently German and English as well as basic French and Portuguese. Please find updates about my work, recent bird observations (including rarities records) on my Blog about Birds, Birding and Guided Birdwatching in the Algarve and the South of Portugal http://algarvebirds.blogspot.com/