Every autumn huge numbers of soaring birds, principally storks and raptors, cross the Straits of Gibraltar on their southward migration into Africa. The spectacle of thousands of Honey Buzzards, hundreds of Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black Kites and White Storks and a large assortment of scarcer species is a phenomenon which draws many birdwatchers to the southern tip of Europe.

 

The beauty of this area is that, in addition to the migration, there are many other interesting species to  be  found  in  the  mountains,  wooded  hills, lowlands, marshes and coast.

 

Our visit is timed to coincide with the peak of the autumn migration. We will fly to Malaga, spending the first three nights at Los Palacios, and exploring the wetlands on the east bank of the River Guadalquivir. On day four we will move down to Tarifa for a four night stay, before eventually heading back to Malaga for our flight home.

 

ITINERARY

 

THE GUADALQUIVIR MARSHES

On day one we will fly to Malaga and then drive to Los Palacios, our base for the first three nights.

 

On the east bank of the famous Guadalquivir delta, adjacent to the Coto Donana, are some areas of preserved habitat where a multitude of wetland birds can be found. Purple Gallinules are common, Collared Pratincoles linger into autumn, and herons, egrets, terns, waders and ducks vie for our attention. Glossy Ibis is an increasing resident. Marbled Teal is regular here and there is a small chance of Spanish Imperial Eagle.

 

Close to our hotel there is a tamarisk-fringed lake where Western Olivaceous Warblers linger until late September.

 

On day three, a short drive south will take us to lakes which hold White-headed Ducks, as well as the commoner Red-crested Pochard and Black-necked Grebe. Azure-winged Magpies chatter in stone-pine woods and Hoopoes and Bee-eaters occur throughout. An evening excursion should produce sightings of Red-necked Nightjar.

 

We will visit the extensive Bonanza saltpans. Off-limits to birdwatchers until recently, much of it is now a reserve. It is attractive to hundreds of Greater Flamingos as well as Slender-billed Gulls, Spoonbills, egrets and herons and abundant passage waders.

 

On day four we will head south to Tarifa, for a four night stay.

 

TARIFA

En route to Tarifa we will visit the justly famous town of Ronda, built above a deep gorge. ‘More Choughs than the whole of Wales’ as someone once said. We can expect Black Wheatear and Rock Bunting, plus the chance of Peregrine. At the spectacular Sierra de las Nieves we will look for Bonelli’s Eagle, Spectacled Warbler and Rock Thrush.

 

Tarifa is ideally placed for visits to adjacent mountains, wooded hills, the coast, grassy plains and saltpans as well as being at the centre of Europe’s biggest raptor bottle-neck.

Tarifa Beach was once a magnet for bird trappers. In these enlightened days bird protection laws are enforced and this has completely stopped. Migrants are safe to take cover in the beach-side scrub before crossing the straits. On the beach itself Audouin’s Gulls join flocks of the commoner species and there is even the chance of migrant Lesser Crested Terns alongside more numerous Sandwich Terns. A creek proves attractive to Whimbrel, Dunlin, Ringed and Kentish Plovers and Sanderling. 

On one morning we will join a whale and dolphin-watching trip in the straits. Our best hope is to see a few Bottle-nosed, Striped and Common Dolphins and maybe Long-finned Pilot Whales at close quarters. Larger whales are scarce, although we have seen both Sperm Whale and Killer Whale on past trips. But we may also be treated to views of Cory’s, Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters, plus a few Gannets and skuas.

 

Wooded hills and spectacular rocky outcrops just inland of Tarifa are home to large numbers of raptors. Griffon Vulture is a common resident and are occasionally joined by Ruppell’s Griffon, a recent immigrant from sub-Saharan Africa. The rare White-rumped Swift is still present at this time. On one visit a flock of swifts and swallows contained White-rumped Swift, Little Swift, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift and Red-rumped Swallow!

 

Nearby woodland and open areas hold Cirl Bunting, Sardinian Warbler, Hawfinch, Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Spotless Starling, Iberian Chiffchaff, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper and Blue Rock Thrush.

 

La Janda was once a huge wetland, a few miles north of Tarifa. It was drained for agriculture in the early 1960s; one of the great ecological crimes of modern times. Today it is a large plain, with abundant Calandra Larks as well as Collared Pratincoles, Stone Curlews, Red-legged Partridge, Southern Grey Shrikes, Little Owls and a few Little Bustards. Hydrological studies have been made to see whether the area could be re-flooded. Watch this space ….

 

And last but not least, of course, is the chance to witness one of Europe’s most impressive raptor migrations. Weather is all important, but in the autumn anything but rain should produce birds in good numbers.

 

Large soaring migrants rely on thermals for lift. They are simply too big to power their own flight for long periods. Thermals are only created over land, so sea crossings are always a problem. The Mediterranean is a major obstacle for birds heading south and obviously they are going to cross at the narrowest point. In the western Mediterranean, the narrowest point is ten miles across, between Tarifa and the Moroccan coast. The result is a bottle-neck for thousands of birds: Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Montagu’s Harriers, Marsh Harriers, Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, Sparrowhawks, Common Buzzards, Ospreys, Lesser Kestrels, Kestrels, Hobbies, White Storks and Black Storks, plus the chance of rarities.

 

After a productive week’s birding we will then head back to Malaga for our flight home.

 

PACE

Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most mornings, perhaps later if the previous day has been tiring. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field and short and medium length walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly. There are no uphill walks of any significance.

 

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

Full-board accommodation is provided, with three nights at the Hotel Manolo Mayo in Los Palacios and four nights at the Hotel Meson de Sancho near Tarifa. All have en suite bathrooms. Packed lunches will be taken some days. On other days we will have lunch at the hotel, followed by a siesta if the weather is hot.

 

PRICE INCLUDES …..

All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, full-board accommodation (starting with dinner on 12^th, ending with breakfast on 19^th), soft drinks at meal times, local transport by mini-bus, boat trip, international flights and airport taxes.

 

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Our optional travel insurance, payable at the time of booking. Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.

 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Return flight from Manchester to Malaga using the scheduled services of Monarch. Outbound flight departs mid-morning, return flight arrives back late afternoon.

 

7 nights:                                Principal leader:   Maximum group size:   Cost with discount (if you book before 30th May 2009):   Full Cost:   Single supplement:   Deposit:   Insurance premium:

12th to 19th September 2009   Paul J. Willoughby   7 clients with one leader or 13 clients with two leaders     £1280 per person sharing   £1380 per person sharing   £140   £300   £26 due at time of booking (£39 for age 65 to 69) (£52 for age 70 and over)