douro Birds
The Douro River is home to a multitude of different bird types and species, from friendly ducks to massive vultures. During our paddles we will bump into a few of them, and have some gadgets that help us differentiate our feathery friends.
The Douro River scenery changes as we travel down the river from Spain to the Atlantic. With each different geography we find slightly different birds.
Vultures: We can spot two large species of vulture, especially in the Foz Coa area. The Eurasian Griffon Vulture is an absolutely massive scavenger which enjoys soaring along the thermal columns. The Egyptian Vulture on the other hand is migratory, and an endangered species. It will nest in rocky crags during the summer months.
Eagles: The Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, and the Booted Eagle.
Falcons: Peregrine Falcon, known for nesting in vertical cliffs and diving through narrow gorges.
Kites: Red Kite and Black Kite. Scavengers and hunters which can be spotted in the summer months.
Owls: Eurasian Eagle-Owl and many other smaller owls.
Others: The list is endless, so just a few more: bee-eaters, kingfishers, herons, kestrels…
We use a free App called “Merlin” in our phones to listen, record, and list many of the above during our trips. It adds to the excitement of sitting under a tree on the Douro River during a pause or lunch.
