Azores Safari
This week long trip focuses on the natural history of the Azores and we will explore for Whales and Dolphins and rare endemic birds, plants and other wildlife. The trip is suitable for both beginners and experienced naturalists. In addition to enjoying a relaxing tour of the best the Azores has to offer, experts on the tour will also be carrying out scientific recording and previous trips have discovered species never recorded on the Azores before. Funds raised from this trip will also contribute to further research and nature conservation.
TOUR ITINERARY
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Day One
Arrive in Sao Miguel international airport and if time allows an evening walk
along Ponta Delgada’s harbour to see the first local seabirds. In the evening we
will enjoy an evening meal in a local restaurant.
Day Two
Today we will be spent with an expert volcanologist for an introduction to the
geologic and volcanic setting of the Azores which forms the foundation for the
flora and fauna of the archipelago. Visiting the central and western parts of
Sao Miguel island we will (depending on weather) visit local features including
Lava Caves, steaming Caldeiras, lava flows and crater lakes.
Day Three
Today we will travel to the eastern part of Sao Miguel and visit the Priolo Centre
and look for the endemic Azores Bullfinch, one of the world’s rarest birds.
We will also begin learning about the Azores native forests, endemic plants and
the endemic wildlife that it supports.
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Day Four
Today we will transfer from Sao Miguel to Terceira, one of the islands in the
central group of the Azores. On our first day we will visit the wetlands of Terceira
to explore this habitat and particularly it’s wetland birds. With luck we will
probably see some American vagrants in the Cabo da Praia quarry and learn
about how birds and other wildlife first colonised the Azores.
Day Five
Our second day on Terceira will be the first of two days of exploring the marine
environment for whales, dolphins and other marine life. The mid-Atlantic position
of the Azores, the warm Gulf Stream, geothermal gradients and underwater
topography makeshe Azores a global hotspot for cetaceans.
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Day Six
We will continue to explore the marine environment from Terceira.
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Day Seven
Today we will travel back home. On return, group participants will receive a full
trip report, with photographs and a list of all the species recorded as a souvenir
and science report of their adventure.
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TO BOOK A TRIP EMAIL: littleoakgroup@btinternet.com
