We enjoyed good views of Black-headed Weavers and Yellow-crowned Bishops feeding in reeds and rice fields around the small village of Barroca d'Alva, near Alcochete. This small town lies 40km east of Lisbon, from where it can be accessed via the southern end of the Vasco de Gama bridge. We found the three other species – Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-crowned Bishop, and Black-headed Munia at two adjacent localities near Alcochete. The mynas are also said to be present in and around Oeiras and Cascais, and also we saw several small flocks of them flying over the N6. Although Crested Mynas have been recorded elsewhere around Lisbon since at least 1997 (eg colonies at Corroios and Santo Antonio da Caparica), the site we visited is probably the easiest at which to see this species. The fortress is still a military site (in fact, a NATO headquarters), so we did not venture towards it, but stayed with our binoculars and telescopes around the carpark. Here we found several Crested Mynas easily: they were feeding near Carcavelos beach, on the grass by the carpark adjacent to the São Julião da Barra Fortress, where they are known to breed (GPS 38.676°N / 9.323°W). We first drove to the village of Carcavelos, near Oeiras, 17km west of Lisbon along the N6 highway towards Cascais. Following information kindly supplied by French birder Pierre-André Crochet, and originally received from Portuguese birder Rafael Matias in 2007, we easily located all four of these species by visiting just two localities near Lisbon on 23rd and 24th April. These species are all included on the official list of Portuguese birds (Category C1 Matias et al. Here we hoped to see four introduced but naturalised species that we had never seen before in the Western Palearctic: Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus and Black-headed Munia Lonchura Malacca, both introduced from Asia, plus Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus and Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer, two species introduced from Africa. Need a top-up on your wine? They are always somehow there – and equally comfortable recommending the best nightlife options or relaxed evening restaurants.When planning a week's birding in southern Portugal, with two other Belgian birders, in late April 2008, we scheduled some birding around Lisbon. And we just cannot overstate how incredible the staff are here. It’s basically impossible not to feel at home here. There are even some events like wine tasting and sunset boat cruise evenings to encourage guests to socialize – although equally, there’s no pressure. The positive attitude of the staff is infectious and means that the other guests and the whole environment feel relaxed. The staff are friendly, welcoming and helpful, adding to the family feel of the place…and dare we say absolutely gorgeous! A lot of love and care has gone into making this a great place for gay men to stay, and it shows. There’s an incredible level of attention to detail, right down to the use of glass bottles for water instead of endless plastic and small snack served poolside on a whim in the afternoon. Now, we know that it doesn’t have to be a requirement, but sometimes it’s great to know you’ll be surrounded by people you have stuff in common with on holiday.Īnd who knows, you might make new friends to go partying with (or more!).Īside from the gorgeous décor and great location, the real highlight of The Late Birds is the amazing atmosphere the team there has managed to create. Recently opened, this guest house is intimate, sociable and has stunning décor. What could possibly make Lisbon any better? Well, it’s incredibly LGBT-friendly! With a film festival dedicated to queer cinema, a vibrant gay bar scene and some fabulous parties, Lisbon is the place for your next mini-break.Īnd luckily, we’ve got just the spot for you to stay: The Late Birds. Quiet little streets by day transform into open-air bars by night and the booze is mercifully cheap. It’s a stunning city with spectacular views (thanks to the seven hills it’s built on), a hugely innovative and dynamic food scene (just keep us away from the pastel de nata!), and the party scene is epic! Lisbon is the hot new place to go in Europe and we can totally understand why.
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