Parques de Portugal

Vale Santo Pine forest – Birds and Plants

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In this pine forest on sand, that also protects against wind erosion, can been seen plants like gorses (Stauracanthus spp. e Ulex spp.), thymes (Thymus spp.), lavenders (Lavandula spp.), rockroses (Cistus spp.), Portuguese Crowberry (Corema album) and plants from genus Halimium and Helichrysum, among others. On the edges of the pine forest note the only palm native from Portugal: the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis).

During autumn migration, this is a rest place for birds like the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Northern Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), Eurasian Scops-owl (Otus scops) and the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). Other birds like Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), European Serin (Serinus serinus), Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba), Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), Willow Warbler (P. trochilus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (C. chloris) and several tits can also be seen here.

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  • In this pine forest on sand, that also protects against wind erosion, can been seen plants like gorses (Stauracanthus spp. e Ulex spp.), thymes (Thymus spp.), lavenders (Lavandula spp.), rockroses (Cistus spp.), Portuguese Crowberry (Corema album) and plants from genus Halimium and Helichrysum, among others. On the edges of the pine forest note the only palm native from Portugal: the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis).

    During autumn migration, this is a rest place for birds like the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Northern Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), Eurasian Scops-owl (Otus scops) and the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). Other birds like Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), European Serin (Serinus serinus), Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba), Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), Willow Warbler (P. trochilus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (C. chloris) and several tits can also be seen here.

  • Algarve

  • Vila do Bispo

  • Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Nature Park

  • Yes

  • Access from:

    - Sagres – by the road to St Vincent cape (Ecovia do Litoral). After 2.6 km on the left there’s the access to Belixe’s beach. Park there or, if you have a jeep, take the dirt road a little further on the right. After 1.3 km you’ll find the pine forest. 

  • PTCON0012 Costa Sudoeste and PTZPE0015 Costa Sudoeste

  • Natura 2000 Network:

    - PTCON0012 Costa Sudoeste; and 

    -PTZPE0015 Costa Sudoeste.

  • -

  • Rural.

  • Private

  • There are gas stations, hotels and supermarkets in Sagres and a bar in St. Vincent Cape.

    Walk slowly and in silence in order to hear and see the birds.

    Nearby is Cabranosa, a great place to see birds during autumnal migration.