Algarve Birding (1 Viewer)

[Jono Forgham]

I am spending 5 days in The Algarve in the 1st week of June, based in Faro. I have covered all the wetland and coastal sites along the coast here but rarely have travelled inland. Looking for good sites, accessible by public transport between Faro and Tavira. Very grateful for any suggestions, bearing in mind in it not the best time of year. Thank you.

 

[kb57]

You really want to be heading inland at that time of year, but it is difficult to do so if you are reliant on public transport. As coastal wetlands are going to be mostly of interest for the smaller number of breeding species, I suggest you cast your net a little further east and west along the coast to take in forest and agricultural land habitats.
West of Faro, Parque Ambiental near Vilamoura has grassland and scrub habitats as well as wetlands - not sure how accessible it is by public transport, but image there'll be a bus route nearby. Sǎo Lourenço golf course and Quinta do Ludo saltpans are accessible on the airport bus from Faro city bus terminal, if you get off at the Praia de Faro car park and walk west along the causeway.
East of Faro, a train to VRSA will get you into pinewood habitats to the south, and with a bit of a walk you can access the Castro Verde saltpans to the north. The VRSA to Faro bus which runs along the N125 can get you to Aldeia Nova lake and pinewoods (Iberian green woodpecker, short-toed treecreeper, crested tit). With a bit more time, from VRSA I think you can also get a bus up the Guadiana valley to Alcoutim, where golden oriole is pretty much nailed-on.
I'd recommend Gonçalo Elias's book '100 best birding sites in the Algarve' - I'm gradually ticking them off - he includes a section on sites accessible by public transport.