BIRD WATCHING
The Albufeira da Barragem de Vilar extends over 9 km, is the largest dam in the region and is the best place in the region to watch water birds.
Water birds:
mallard , Loon small , great crested grebe , great cormorant , Heron real , little ringed plover , curlew-the-rocks , Green Sandpiper , umbrella rivers
Large land birds:
black kite , hawk , common buzzard , common kestrel , ógea , song cuckoo
Passerines:
Thekla Lark , Sand Martin , swallow-of-rock , petinha- of meadows , Gray Wagtail , White Wagtail , Wren , robin-breasted-r u ivo , rabirruivo-black , Stonechat , missel , nightingale-bravo , toutinegra- of head-- p straight , warbler-de-cap-black , felosa- common , starlet-real , Long-tailed Tit , European Crested Tit , coal Tit , jay , pega- rabuda , carrion crow , crow , starling, black , Eurasian Tree sparrow , pardalfrancês , linnet , escrevedeira-of throat black
As a starting point we suggest the village of Faia, where it is possible to observe the reservoir in almost its entire length. In winter, some aquatic birds are generally observed, being the crested grebe , the white-faced cormorant , the heron and the mallard duck, which are common in this place. The banks are frequented by small flocks of black crows .
In spring, the black kite can be seen patrolling the reservoir. It is possible to head north along a municipal road, which offers a good view of the reservoir. Along the road is common to see species like the nozzle commonplace , the starling-black , the pega- rabuda and, more rarely, the crow . On the left side of the road there is a quarry, where you can sometimes see a couple of kestrels .
Next to the dam wall, you get a view of the reservoir in its entire length, but here the banks are steep and there are few water birds, but it is usually possible to see loons or cormorants . The wall itself is frequented by the rock swallow . It is also worth looking at the valley downstream, where the curlew-bique-bique has been observed by the water. This valley and
flanked by a small riparian gallery, which is frequented by passerines typical of this habitat, such as the nightingale and the titmouse . In the vicinity it is not uncommon to see the French sparrow .
Returning to the N226 and proceeding south-east in the direction of Sernancelhe, it is possible to access two other places of interest: Freixinho and Vila da Ponte.
The village of Freixinho can be accessed through a small road that turns left just after Penso and that passes over an arm of the dam, with quite rocky banks. Here you can see the kingfisher and heron . Continuing to Freixinho, one finally arrives at the edge of the reservoir, which here is also frequented by small flocks of mallard ducks .
Further south, already close to Sernancelhe, the town of Vila da Ponte also deserves a stop, especially to observe passerines. Next to the bridge it is usual to observe the rock swallow , white wagtail , the gray wagtail, the sparrow and the black-throated burrow. Along the river are observed sometimes some waders, as the little ringed plover and the Green Sandpiper ; in the breeding season this place is frequented by the swallow-of-barriers and the black kite
Texts taken from the website www.avesdeportugal.info/