Portugal's Southwest coast Sagres to Sines.

Yesterday's storms have abated, and the morning is bright. We take an early morning walk across the cliffs. The scrub bushes are full of Sardinian Warblers, as the breeding season is underway here. The male birds are busy attracting the attention of female species to possible nest sites.

With a good appetite, we breakfast and prepare for our journey up the coast.

A cheeky-looking male Sardinian warbler.

They perch on the tallest branches and call to females.

Further up the Atlantic coast, we stop at Praia de Monte Clerigo.

Above the Monte Clerigo village is a lovely track to drive along and admire the rock formations.

Along this section of coastline, the cliffs reflect the geological convulsions they have endured. The layers of schists, occasionally sloping steeply and then horizontally and here worn down by the sea, are forming interesting patterns at low tide.

Having a coffee, admiring the view.

The view and our route Northwards.

Pedra da Agulha ('Needle Rock") at Arrifana. A slim pinnacle of rock polished over time by the sea and pointing skywards.

At Almograve we drop down to the Praia Grande. The cliffs are much lower here. This will be our view for the evening.

There is still some time left to explore.
Linda heads out over the unspoiled sands.

The sand dunes behind the cliffs harbour many endemic plant species. You can observe the tracks of the ocellated lizard and the smaller spiny-footed lizard imprinted in the sand.

This shows the layers of the schists, which are course-grained rocks made of layers of
 different minerals and can be split into thin, irregular plates.

Another day is over.

From then on, we will reach the Rio Mira and Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Vila Nova de Milfontes is an attractive town and gives the impression of  being
"far from the madding crowd."
It is said that Hannibal and his Carthaginians sheltered in the little port here during a storm.

The natural park ends here, just to the north of Porto Covo. To the north are the deep-water ports and refineries of Sines.

Here, you feel the presence of man, massive container ships, and oil tankers. We will leave this corner of the park to the gulls and head for the cereal-growing steppe lands of the Alentejo and
Castro Verde.

Goodbye, Yellow-legged gulls and the coast.

Happy Days!