Birdwatching: Casa Flor de Sal is located in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. This area is great for birders and all wildlife lovers. The immediate surroundings cover habitats from dunes and mudflats to salt marshes and scrubland that support quite a range of fauna & flora.
We have named our cottages after birds that have all been seen at or within one km of the property: Azure-winged Magpie, Avocet, Flamingo, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Spoonbill and Stork.
The Hoopoe, Upupa epops, can be heard singing in late winter and spring explaining the reason for its name! We have a Stork´s nest on an old telephone pole and it is possible to study the bird behavior in detail from all roof terraces of the cottages. If you forgot your binoculars, come and ask to borrow ours.
Most birds are here in the winter half of the year, but even in September (which is summer here) a visiting birder spotted more than 60 species within walking distance. You can see his list here.
This year we are offering a birdwatching package that includes guided tours on water and on land, sponsorship of the recuperation of an injured bird and visit to the Recovery Center, a private photography session of Flamingos, and support material for self-guided tours. For more information on this offer click here.
Within 30 minutes to 3 hours drive from Casa Flor de Sal there are at least 8 areas of significance for their bird life: Sagres Peninsula, Ria de Alvor, Lagoa dos Salgados, Quinta do Lago, Castro Verde, Castro Marim and Coto Doñana. We have made a summary of the birdwatching areas and which birds you can see where.
First timers & amateur birdwatchers can borrow binoculars, books and lists of local birds. If you want guides to help you seeing more, we can recommend some. You can also find more information on www.fatbirder.com, www.birdingpal.org and birdforum.net.
