Description
Canhão do Erges is one of the most inhospitable and remote places in Portugal. The Erges is still a wild river with great erosive capacity that led to the formation of three impressive gorges within a short distance. Exploring these canyons, where the river flows at a depth of 150 m, is a perfect opportunity to discover a great diversity of birds. The cliffs are an important nesting and resting place for Όρνιο, Ασπροπάρης, Black Vulture, Μαύρος Πελαργός, Σπιζαετός, Γαλαζοκότσυφας and (Κοινός) Μπούφος. Here, the skies are also crossed by birds of prey like Φιδαετός, Γερακαετός, Χρυσαετός, Ψαλιδιάρης, Τσίφτης, (Κοινή) Γερακίνα and aerial birds such as Βουνοσταχτάρα, (Κοινή) Σταχτάρα, Οχθοχελίδονο, σταβλοχελίδονο, Λευκοχελίδονο, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Βραχοχελίδονο and Δενδροχελίδονο.
From the Roman bridge of Segura, that connects Portugal to Spain, you can observe (Ευρωπαϊκή) Αλκυόνη, (Κοκκινόλαιμο) Νανοβουτηχτάρι, Ακτίτης, Δασότρυγγας, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Κορμοράνος and Σταχτοτσικνιάς. This is also a great place to observe Ορφεοστριτσίδα, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Ψευταηδόνι, Μαυροσκούφης, Μαυροτσιροβάκος, Δενδροτσιροβάκος and Ρεικοτσιροβάκος, which usually feed and shelter in the bushes by the river. In the surroundings lands of Segura it is possible to detect and watch birds like (Κοινό) Ορτύκι, Κοκκινοπέρδικα, Φασσοπερίστερο, Κισσόκουκος, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Κούκος, (Ευρωπαϊκή) Καλημάνα, Τσαλαπετεινός, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Μελισσοφάγος, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Συκοφάγος, Κοκκινοκεφαλάς, Iberian Grey Shrike, Iberian Magpie, (Κοινή) Καρακάξα, Thekla's Lark, Χωραφοσπουργίτης, Πετροσπουργίτης, (Κοινό) Φανέτο, Τσιφτάς, Βουνοτσίχλονο and Σιρλοτσίχλονο.
Details
Access
Start by driving to the Roman bridge of Segura, from where can you see the village, the Erges river bed and the surrounding landscape, occupied by many species of birds. After that, you can drive along the riverside until the “Centro Interpretativo da Biodiversidade”, which has a good view into the interior of the granite outcrop. Finally, you can drive to a sandy area, with some watermills, where the canyon starts. See the map below.