Our final stop on the cruise after leaving the canaries was Lisbon. We arranged a day out with Joao Jara from Birds and Nature tours to get a flavour of the Tagus Estuary. Despite it being the hottest and quietest time of the year we still saw plenty. You can reach this in about half an hour from Lisbon and we only scratched the surface of this huge area which has a great variety of habitats.

The main species on the saltpans were stilts, greater flamingos and Little Egrets.

The rice paddies and reed fringed ditches produced White Stork, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret and Spoonbill, amongst others.

It wasn't just about wetlands, an area of cork oaks boosted the variety of species seen.  Two Black-shouldered Kite dozing in the shade were my personal highlight. My missus liked them too, but her first Hoopoes and Bee-eaters stole the show. Also not to be sniffed at were good views of Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.

Portugal is well known for naturalised populations of non-native species; male Yellow-crowned Weaver above and female Black-crowned Weaver at a nest below. We also saw waxbills.

Nice to get some decent views of Pallid Swift. High against a blue sky these could look as dark as Common Swift, but an obliging flock were coming down to feed and drink over a pond and against a darker background they took on a proper Pallid appearance.

Waders had already returned from the North, we noted 6 Green Sandpiper as well as 2 Common Sand.

Red-rumped Swallow nest