The Tagus River is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula and well known for all visitors to Lisbon since the city has a great geographical connection to the river. Close to the city, in the western direction, the river enters into the Atlantic Ocean. Travelling around 30 minutes in the opposite direction and crossing the river at Vila Franca de Xira you will arrive to a marshland called Lezíria. Here in the region of Ribatejo an essentally agricultural region, you find the EVOA- Tagus Estuary Birdwatching and Conservation area, covering 70 hectares. Although it is located relatively close to the capital Lisbon it has a quiet and almost isolated geographical location and is a natural habitat for about 200 species of birds. Some birds are resident, other winter visitors, passage visitors or migratory breeder. The diversity and abundance of migratory water birds gives to the Tagus estuary the status of the most important wetland in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe. During periods of migratory passage, this area receives more than 120.000 birds.
On a two (2) hour tour we made several stops in observatory hide-outs with strategic locations around several small lakes. The skilled guide could easily spot and identify the birds and had great knowledge about their behaviours and contributed to make the experience very interesting. With the help of binoculars and a telescope we could observe around 25 different species among which Flamingos, Spoonbill, Grey and Purple heron to name a few. We learnt that sometimes otters can be spotted in the area.
Birds species observed on the tour (April)
(English name- Latin name)
Little Bittern- Ixobrychus minutus
Little Egret- Egretta garzetta
Great Egret- Ardea Alba
Grey Heron- Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron- Ardea Purpurea
Greater Flamingo- Phoenicopterus roseus
Spoonbill- Platalea leucorodia
Common Moorhen- Gallinula chloropus
Purple Gallinule- Porphyrio porphyrio
Marsh Harrier- Circus aeruginosus
Common Kestrel- Falco tinnunculus
Pied Avocet- Recurvirosta avosetta
Black-winged stilt- Himantopus himantopus
Black-tailed Godwit- Limosa limosa
Pallid swift- Apus pallidus
Yellow wagtail- Motacilla flava
Euroasian Stonechat- Saxicola torquatus
Corn Bunting- Emberiza calandra
Common Shelduck- Tadorna tadorna
Mallard- Anas plathyrhynchos
Shoveler- Anas clypeata
Red-crested Pochard- Netta rufina
Common waxbill- Estrilda astrild
“The birds have eyes and ears, try to go unnoticed”.
