Birdwatching Festival of Sagres

In the remote SW corner of Portugal (and Europe), Sagres peninsula, in Vila do Bispo county, stands out in what concerns the countries’ characteristics for birds and birdwatchers, due to its’ particular regional importance for migrating birds in late Summer and Autumn, and it’s specificity of it’s species cast all year round. Located in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, the area, due to its’ geographical location, concentrates migrants on their way south, and is an open window to a massive movement of birds across southern Europe. From August to November, migrants that follow the coastline, or the orientation of coastal valleys, end up gathering in Sagres before continuing their journey. Sagres is sometimes referred to, as “the place of the lost birds”, for a large amount of the migrants that reach the peninsula are juveniles, lost from their optimal route, via the Strait of Gibraltar.

The vast majority of the migratory bird species that occur regularly in Portugal can be spotted here along the season, and it is always advisable to keep an eye out for rarities. Therefore, if you are a birdwatcher, Sagres peninsula is probably the best place to be in this time of the year, to witness the Autumn migration of passerines, seabirds and most emblematically, of soaring birds. But not exclusively! During migration time, anything can happen here.