4 days bird watching in southern Portugal

February in the South of Portugal offers many possibilities for good observations, without the need to travel long distances we will be able to see birds in varied habitats: whether in humid areas, lagoons and salt marshes, in the Algarve; in the steppes of Castro Verde; or in the wild valley of the Guadiana River, in Mértola. Furthermore, in February it is common to have sunny days and mild temperatures, which makes the experience more rewarding and beneficial.
In 4 days we will be able to see more than a hundred species of birds between the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo, enjoy the good climate of the South, learn a little about traditional cuisine and enjoy varied landscapes. Departing from Faro we will visit the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the Castro Marim Natural Reserve and from there we will continue to the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, in Mértola, to the Castro Verde Biosphere Reserve.
Some of the species we can see: Greater Flamingo, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Purple Gallinule, Audouin’s Gull, Booted Eagle, Iberic Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Red Kite, Griffon Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Little Owl, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Iberian Grey Shrike, Lesser Kestrel, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Blue Magpie, Red-Rumped Swallow, Crag- Martin, Rock Bunting, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Calandra Lark, Common Crane, Thekla Lark, Blue Rock Thrush, Spotless Starling, Sardinian Warbler, Spanish Sparrow and several species of ducks and waders.

Proposed itinerary 
Day 1– Departure from Faro in the morning (airport or other convenient location) to visit Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura. In the afternoon visit the Fuseta and Tavira salt flats and Castro Marim salt marshes.
Arrival in Mértola at the end of the day.
Day 2– Departure from Mértola to visit the São Domingos Mine in the morning. In the afternoon we will visit observation points for birds of prey, cranes and bustards, in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park.
Arrival in Mértola at the end of the day.
Day 3– Departure from Mértola and visit the Castro Verde steppe to see bustards, cork oaks and other steppe birds. Arrival in Mértola at the end of the day.
Day 4– Departure from Mértola in the morning and return to the Algarve with a stop at observation points in the Castro Verde area. In the afternoon, go to Ria de Alvor and Lagoa dos Salgados. Arrival in Faro at the end of the day.

Conditions:
Price for 1 person: 1200€
Extra person: add 200€
Maximum number of participants: 4
The price includes: guide service, transportation, transfer, licensing and mandatory insurance.
This price does not include: accommodation and meals. (We can recommend accommodation and food in Mértola.)