An ornithological symphony
The Algarve is a paradise for those who enjoy bird watching. The focus will be on its permanent residents from southern Europe, as well as on the migrants who pass through this region in spring and autumn, and on pelagic birds. Sagres is an important migration landmark, where the passage of raptors offers excellent opportunities for the wildlife photographer. Amateur birdwatchers will also capture beautiful images on the marshes that exist along the coast, especially east of Almancil. The sea cliffs to the west and, away from the coast, the hills, river valleys and cork oak forests are home to an impressive range of species. At a certain time of the year, you will see in their preferred habitat, the redheaded vulture, bittern, elk, short-toed eagle, red-backed eagle, Audoin's gull, ruddy swallow, bee-eater, or hoopoe, among others. In town, you only have to look up to see white storks nesting on rooftops, totally integrated into the area, as well as colonies of dwarf swifts.
The endangered lynx and others
Several reptiles and amphibians live in rivers and streams, including the European chameleon, stump lizard, water turtle, Iberian water frog and calapite toad. Larger animals such as wild boar, hare, red fox, mongoose ichneumon, otter, rabbit and weasel are sometimes seen, while at night the serotin bat feeds on insects. The Iberian lynx, a kind of majestic wildcat, is unfortunately rarely seen. The lynx was once a faithful resident of the Algarve, but is now disappearing due to the reduction of its habitat and the decline in the rabbit population it loves. Nevertheless, benefiting from a real craze for its preservation, and a special programme, the lynx has been reintroduced in the Guadiana Valley Nature Park since 2014.
Meeting with the people of the lagoons
The Ria Formosa, the Sapal de Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, the marshland area of the Guadiana are protected areas made up of mazes of canals providing walks that will remain engraved in your memory. Information on the species you may encounter on the trilhas, hiking trails, is provided to you through educational panels, so that you can fully enjoy the landscape while discovering nature. The green of the vegetation which harmonizes with the blue tones of the waters also contrasting with the whiteness of the saltworks, as well as the pink tones of the flamingo's feathers are all elements to achieve beautiful images. The long sand barrier that separates the Ria Formosa from the sea and the Natural Park, which stretches 60 kilometres from the Ancão Peninsula to Manta Rota Beach, is home to approximately 1,500 species of living beings. It is home to the world's largest community of seahorses, including the iconic Hippocampus guttulatus. They are particularly fond of these lagoon basins protected from currents, feeding on plankton and crustaceans, sucking them in through their tubular mouths. Apart from its sea horse armour, what makes this fish enigmatic is the fact that it is the male that carries out the gestation. They can be observed from Fuseta or Olhão.
Species protection
The Algarve has a high diversity of vertebrates compared to the species recorded in Portugal. Many of these animals live in or depend on wetlands (such as rivers and streams) that are susceptible to deterioration and many of these species are threatened with extinction. The freshwater and migratory fish group is the most threatened with 69% of the species classified as threatened or near threatened. These include in particular animals such as the cistude, the otter, the sultana talve or the scaredy scorpion fish. 29 fish species are listed, representing 59% of the national species. Some fish are endemic, such as the saramugo of the Guadiana or Arade rivers, which is considered an endangered species. Others are migratory, such as eel, lamprey, shad or yellowtail flounder.
Landscapes punctuated with wild flowers
Many naturalists travel to the Algarve to discover wild flowers, shrubs and other plants. Flowers grow everywhere, on the shore and cliffs, in the scrubland and scrub, in the woods and verges, and on farmland. From the almond tree to the pyrophilous strawberry tree, the range of flowering shrubs and trees is astonishing.
Wildflowers include rare species such as the Sodom apple used in cosmetics and the unspoiled orchid, as well as many beautiful and common species in the Algarve landscape. Orchids include species of yellow ophrys, jester's orphys, and long-stemmed orphys, which are widespread and abundant in woodland areas, while the broad-leaved epipactis and the very rare purple limodore have acclimatised amongst the cork oaks, pines and fragrant eucalyptus.Unusual: Metoposaurus algarvensis
Beware of the "Scaly Monster of the Algarve"! A team of scientists has discovered a new species of metoposaurus that lives in the lakes and rivers of the Algarve and was alive when the first dinosaurs began to dominate terrestrial ecosystems. This is the first time that fossils of this genus have been discovered in the Iberian Peninsula. The creature that looked like a giant salamander was part of the ancestral strain from which present-day amphibians such as newts evolved. The specimens found indicate that the metoposaurus was up to 3 m long, had hundreds of sharp teeth and lived much like today's crocodiles. But don't worry, you'll be able to swim without them knowing that this ferocious predator straight out of a monster movie has been extinct for more than 200 million years and used to feed mainly on fish.
