Portugal at Leisure

Hills, Plains & Lagoons in Autumn

22 September to 29 September 2010

Principal Leader: Frank McClintock

Maximum of 12 clients (two leaders with more than seven clients).

Cost: £1,499 single room supplement £150

To most tourists, a holiday in Portugal means a week or two spent in the southern Algarve with its rash of modern hotels, apartments and restaurants sprawling along the south coast. This tour reveals an altogether different side to the country. Our base for the week, located in the remote and unspoilt countryside that lies in the border zone between the provinces of the Algarve and Alentejo, is the guest lodge that is owned by Frank and run by his friendly staff. In fact, by hard endeavour spread over a period of 20 years, Frank has converted a few rundown buildings, situated on a scrub-covered slope, into a comfortable and homely lodge set in a lush terraced garden. All rooms are 'en suite' and comfortably furnished. The view out over the man-made lake is stunning so too the silence. The whole ambience of the place is warm and welcoming. The food is mainly local produce, home-made and simply delicious. Frank also keeps a modestly priced cellar of Portuguese wines. Added to all this, the garden has been planted with birds in mind. Here at least three species of warbler can be seen at this time of the year: Sardinian, Dartford and Blackcap.

Because we are able to cover a range of habitats from this one centre, our bird list will be equally varied from Great Bustard to Zitting Cisticola, from Black-winged Kite to Iberian Magpie. So if it is peace and quiet, comfort, fine scenery, a feeling of being off the beaten track and some colourful birding, then this is likely to be the tour for you. Its appeal is increased by the fact that the autumn migration will be under way and that there will be opportunities to see both the late departures south as well as the early migrants from the north. Thus we may have both Montagu's Harriers as well as Hen Harriers and Northern and Black- eared Wheatears and it is an ideal time to pin down those differences in the flesh.

This will be an At Leisure tour and conducted at a relaxed pace. Some days we will take a picnic lunch. On other days we will return to the lodge for lunch and there will be a chance to relax, explore the natural history of the area immediately behind the lodge or perhaps take a refreshing dip in the lake, which is quite warm at this time of year.