Observer des tisserins près de Lisbonne (Portugal)

Only 20 minutes south of Lisbon the Paul da Barroca d’Alva is a small but productive spot that may complement a visit to the Tagus River Nature Reserve. But a more extended stay at this site may be very rewarding. The location can be reached from Lisbon crossing the Vasco da Gama bridge to south. In the first exit take direction Alcochete. In the round about before Alcochete take N118 to Pegoes. After 3 kms, another round about. Follow the signs to the left to Barroca d’Alva and 300 meters after a little bridge over a small channel is the first stop to watch the weavers. To explore other habitats follow the road after the bridge, cross the little village of Barroca and to the left the rice fields. To the right the cork-oak woods and some small lagoons.
In a small area this place has a lot of different habitats. It includes rice fields, wetlands with some channels full of reeds and other vegetation. This is surrounded by cork-oak woods.
The list of birds that may be seen is long but but the jewels of the crown are the exotic species that has been introduced some years ago and that has found in the reeds the perfect habitat to breed. Here in Barroca may be found the Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), the Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) and the Avadavat (Amandava amandava).