Bill Oddie, internationally respected ornithologist known to millions of British TV viewers as the presenter of BBC's Autumnwatch and Springwatch, made a private visit to Lagoa dos Salgdos recently, currently the focal point of an environmental battle.

Joined by chief 'estrangeiro' campaigner Frank McClintock, Oddie was brought up to date on the struggle to save the whole lagoon area as a haven for birdlife with its own kind of tourism potential, instead of leaving it to be developed into another 'same as' tourist resort.