Birds & Nature organizes, in partnership with the company WaterX, birding tours by boat along the Tagus estuary.

These trips are organized throughout the year, depending on demand, to bring you by boat, closer, much closer to the rich birdlife of one of Europe’s best estuaries. We believe these trips are a unique opportunity to observe the beauty of this special place from a different perspective.

In terms of birdlife and nature in general, these boat trips along the estuary are a wonderful experience at any time of the year. During winter and the months when birds are on active migration, the estuary holds thousands of birds, namely geese, ducks, flamingos and waders (avocets, godwits, stints, plovers, etc…), as well as hundreds of egrets, spoonbills, ibises and cormorants; scarce species like Osprey and Peregrine are regular. In summer the estuary hosts over 100 breeding species; many are summer visitors from African wintering grounds or are unique to southern Europe. During the breeding period and as part of this fascinating and unique way of watching birds, it will be possible to visit one of the most interesting heronries in the country, which hosts thousands of nests of up to seven species of herons and spoonbills. Please note that the birds come first and no disturbance is permitted while watching the heronry.

We use modern quiet speedboats of shallow draught, that are not only safe and comfortable, but ideal for approaching the normally inaccessible estuarine mudflats to observe birds at close quarters (within the Reserve's regulations).

Safety and security are our highest priority, both for observer and observed!

Main Species
Depending on the time of the year, the main species potentially observed are: Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Osprey, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Purple Swamp-hen, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Ruff, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Kingfisher, Bee-eater and Sand Martin.

Boats Technical Characteristics
Model – Valiant DR-750
Year  – 2008
Engine – Yamaha F225hp
Size – 7,50 m
Draught – 2,75 m
Capacity – 12 participants and 2 Skippers for extra security

Prices
Half Day Boat Trip: 75 euros + VAT per person
Full Day Boat Trip: 140 euros + VAT per person (including lunch)
(minimum of 10 participants)
The prices include full time trip leader specialized in bird identification, transport in purpose-built semi-rigid craft, use of quality binoculars and field guides and participant’s accident insurance. On the full day trips, lunch is provided at no extra cost.

Birds & Nature Tours is a registered tourism company (RNAAT nº 25/2008 - Turismo de Portugal I.P.)