I have two possible destinations for a trip at the end of March, has anyone any suggestions which one would be better.
Based in either Algarve Area - Portugal or Majorca
I will hire a car so getting around is not a problem
Thanks
Mark
Hi Mark,
I don't want to go into massive detail but I spent a very enjoyable week (a mixture of birding and normal holidaying) in the algarve last march, so i certainly wouldn't de-recommend it. If you want to know what birds are possible at that time of year, there is a trip report on birdtours by ron and nancy massie, plus trip reports on the Travelling Naturalist site, and a couple of triplists on the birding in portugal (Quinta do Barranco da Estrada) site also. Hope that helps,
James
I also spent a very pleasant (and flaming hot) week in the western Algarve some years ago. The birding was fairly low-key but there was plenty to go at as I recall. Stone Curlew, Little Bustard, Thekla Lark, Southern Grey Shrike, Pallid Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Azure-winged Magpie, Waxbill, Hoopoe, Serin, Scop's Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff, Fan-tailed Warbler and Spectacled Warbler are some of the ones that come to mind immediately. I remember being impressed by the abundance of Corn Bunting and Goldfinch and how there seemed to be calling Quail everywhere.
It was very early March but even so there was a fair bit of migration underway and I remember House Martins feeding young in the nest.