Cascata de Flores lies just a few kilometers from the Ria Formosa Natural Park which is one of the most important wetlands in the world due to it's significance for wildlife, especially waterbirds. Within Europe it has been declared an IBA (important bird area).

More than 200 different species of birds visit the park on a regular basis. During the spring and autumn these wetlands become vital refuelling grounds for birds arriving from or leaving to African wintering areas.

Certain species can be found in the wetlands thoughout the year. These include Little and Cattle Egrets, White Stork, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Water Rail, Purple Swamp-hen, Little Bustard, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker (Iberian race sharpei), Crested and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's, Sardinian and Dartford Warblers, Short-toed Treecreeper, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling, Common Waxbill, Serin, Corn Bunting.

Other species are migratory and can be seen at certain times of the year. These include Greater Flamingo, European Spoonbill, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Pintail, Garganey, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck (rare), Tufted Duck, Osprey, Booted Eagle (occasional), Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Stone-curlew, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Golden and Grey Plovers, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Curlew, Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Sandwich and Caspian Terns, Water Pipit, Bluethroat, Penduline Tit, Spanish Sparrow (occasional).

Please contact us if you would like more information regarding bird watching guided tours or group rates for accommodation.