Birdwatching Lisbon

Year-round guided bird watching tours to the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve (about a 30-minute drive from Lisbon) afford outdoors enthusiasts fabulous opportunities to see a variety of resident and migratory bird species that call the wetlands and saltpans south of the river home. Depending on the season and the location, expect to spy black tern, spoonbill, and flamingo. Iberian magpie and bee-eater are regularly spotted. If you're lucky, the great reed warbler will put in an appearance. Tours are also arranged further afield, to the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, about a 50-minute drive south. Led by local expert ornithologists, both these options introduce visitors to the incredible array of wildlife to be found in and around the Lisbon area. As well a ticking off a prized checklist of feathered friends, you'll learn more about the environment and a fascinating ecosystem of mudflats, marshes, river islands, and agricultural land.