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Description
The Alvor Estuary is an essential staging area for many wintering and migrant waterbirds. The Ria de Alvor is limited by the ocean and by an extensive dune system; surrounding the central neck of land, four different freshwater streams feed the shallow Alvor lagoon, as well as numerous salt pans, mudflats, sandbanks, and marshy areas. An extensive boardwalk crosses salt marshes, a vast dune system, and Alvor Beach, offering great opportunities to observe sea and shorebirds. All seasons offer good birding opportunities; however, there’s a lower number of birds and bird species between July and August. Waders are best seen at high tide (see the link to the tide table below) as they tend to congregate in only a few places.
Among the birds you can observe are Cattle Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Tern, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill, Iberian Magpie, Red-rumped Swallow and Audouin's Gull. The world’s largest tern Caspian Tern winters in the estuary between late summer and March-April. The Osprey is a also wintering species with some records during spring and summer. Other wintering birds are Bluethroat, Meadow Pipit and Short-eared Owl. Black-winged Kite is a resident that breeds in the area.
Details
Access
The boardwalk starts just south of the town of Alvor. There are several parking lots. Press a P on the map for directions. If the birding is good it takes at least 2 to 3 hours to complete the 5 km walk. On warmer days take plenty of water, since there are no bars or cafés at the end of the walkway.