2010 conference: excursion
Lisbon lies on the north bank of the Tagus estuary, one of the most important wetlands in Western Europe, harbouring an excess of 50.000 waders and more than 150.000 waterbirds in winter. Located between the African winter quarters and the northern temperate and arctic breeding areas, the Tagus estuary also serves as staging site to mostly unquantified numbers of migratory individuals (yet!).
The vast area of tidal flats with approximately 130 km2, is by no means the only impressive habitat that this wetland encompasses. In fact, the estuary is surrounded by agricultural land, namely rice plantations, grazing grasslands and “montado” (or cork-oak forest). Such habitats provide an extensive number of bird species that can be observed during a single visit to the area.
Given the several options presented by the local mosaic of habitats there will be two excursion options!
Booking required
Booking you place on one of these excursions is required as we need to know which bus size to rent. Moreover, even the larger buses have a passenger limit, hence we are also limited on the number of people that can undertake excursion 1 or 2. So please book your preferred visit together with your registration for the conference. We will operate on a first come first served basis, and if a booking is requested to an already filled visit, such booking will be automatically allocated for the other visit and the delegate informed.
Ponta da Erva, “Leziria” and the salt-pans (excursion 1)
This visit will start at a birdwatching hot-spot deep within the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve: Ponta da Erva. Located at the mouth of a tributary river (Sorraia) allows a privileged view over the upper mudflats of the Tagus estuary. As the tide recedes we’ll be able to enjoy the spectacular flights of several mixed wader flocks gathering to roost on the salt-mash below the observing point. As waders settle during high-tide, we’ll explore the site where estuarine marshes and agricultural land border each other and where several passerines species are likely to be observed, namely bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) and Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) as well as some commoner species: meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) and stonechat (Saxicola torquata). In addition, this area hosts considerable densities of raptors, with kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) being the most numerous, but where black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) are also a common sight.
After this short walk (ca. 3 km), the bus will take the visitors around the estuary into a vast complex of salt-pans which is a major man-made high water refuge for waterbirds of the Tagus. Here, and throughout the high-tide, several species of waders unlikely to have been spotted so far are likely to be found, namely the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus) and kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). Other species such as flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) will also be present.
Hortas, Bate-Orelhas and the salt-pans (excursion 2)
On the vicinity of the typical village of Alcochete lays a small picturesque fisherman’s port (Hortas) located at an advantage point overlooking the extensive estuarine tidal-flats of the Tagus. This will be the starting point of our visit and large mixed waders flocks will be just below our feet, composed by the first individuals arriving at their winter grounds and post-nuptial migrants making their last stop before departing towards Africa.
Departing ourselves from this location, we will take the bus and circle round the estuary into Bate-Orelhas, a traditional cattle ranch of the “Leziria” where cork-oak forest and extensive grassing pastures lay side by side. We’ll take a 6 km walk (including return distance) towards the heart of the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve, the extensive salt-marsh of Pancas-Vasa Sacos. Starting on the edge of the “montado” (cork-oak forest) common sightings include kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), buzzard (Buteo buteo), hoopoe (Upupa epops), red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) and with a bit of luck, azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus). We will also enjoy the company of common passerines, such as blue tit (Parus caeruleus), nuthatch (Sitta europaea) and robin (Erithacus rubecula). Further along, on the pasture fields we are likely to meet some typical half a ton bulls (not to worry, they are fenced in!) enjoying the sun together with lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) golden plovers (Pluvialis apricaria), skylark (Alauda arvensis), zitting cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) and corn bunting (Miliaria calandra) and where storks (Ciconia ciconia) and marsh-harriers (Circus aeruginosus) are regulars and occasionally a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) also comes around.
At the end of the track and bordering the salt-marsh we’ll reach an area of traditional salt-pans, currently converted into fish-farms but partially managed for waterbirds. This is a good site to observe black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and snipe (Gallinago gallinago) as well as flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), but the numbers of roosting waders on the salt-pans and the salt-marsh is usually what surprises even the experienced “waderologist”!
ATTENTION: This second excursion involves a return walk of about 6 km over slightly rough terrain (dirt tracks)! We recommend wearing comfortable footwear and if these walks are not your best skill, then the other trip is recommended.
