It was April 2005 when we were last in the Algarve (for two weeks) and we decided at fairly short notice to go for a short autumn break in late September 2010. We booked cheap return flights with Ryanair direct Dublin-Faro-Dublin, and on the Internet found the excellent four-star Ondamar hotel/apartmentos in Albufeira at €19.50 per person per night for seven nights in a large, well-equipped self-catering apartment. We also booked shuttle bus transfers between Faro airport and the hotel, and a self-drive car from Guerin for four days at €21.00 per day (all inclusive).

Being just after the autumn equinox, days and nights were more or less equal, with sunrise and sunset at approximately 07.15-07.30 and sunset at approximately 19.15-19.30 hrs. The moon was just after full on 23^rd and close to last quarter on 30^th September, so spring tides were on the wane during the visit. Apart from high cloud cover from 15.30 hrs to sunset on 25the September, the skies were completely clear blue during daytime through the visit. The atmosphere was remarkably clear and visibility was excellent. Temperatures in the afternoons ranged from 23° to 29° C, though with morning breezes from N/NW it was cooler then (17°-19° C). Generally winds were light to moderate.

Being somewhat elderly and decrepit now we decided against dawn-to-dusk birding each day and instead opted for visits of a few hours to five main coastal sites between the border with Spain Castro Marim) and Cape St. Vincent. We managed to find 116 bird species in all, but missed out on some which were confined to the inland mountains and woodlands. Also, we did not have time to go bustard-hunting in the Alentejo area. We found that some of the more colourful summer visitors such as Bee-eaters, Rollers, Woodchat Shrikes, etc. had already left for Africa .

Left Dublin at 21.40 hrs, arriving at Faro at 24.00 hrs on 23^rd September. Left Faro at 08.00 hrs, arriving at Dublin at 10.55 hrs on Thursday 30^th September. Rented car used on four days (25^th-28^th September)

September 24^th, Friday
Albufeira area all day (no car).

September 25^th, Saturday
Pêra Lagoon/Estuary at Armaçáo de Pêra, 12.30-16.00 hrs.

September 26^th, Sunday
Castro Marim area, 11.30-16.00 hrs.


September 27^th, Monday
Cape St. Vincent, Vila do Bispo, Sagres triangle, 11.00-15.00 hrs. Alvor Estuary, 16.00-17.15 hrs.

September 28^th, Tuesday
Quinta do Lago, 10.10-13.15 hrs. Pêra Lagoon/Estuary at Armaçáo de Pêra, 14.15-16.45 hrs.

 
September 29^th, Wednesday
Albufeira area all day (no car).

Key to abbreviations used for bird sites/locations

 
Species recorded in the Algarve, 24^th – 29^th September

Trip Report Author: Oscar Merne