Birding the Alicante area

[Vipers]

I am looking at having a week in the Alicante area at the end of November. Can anyone tell me what the birding is like at that time of year, in this area. Alternatively can anyone suggest any good birding areas, in southern Europe, at the end of November.

[Jules Sykes]

I am looking at having a week in the Alicante area at the end of November. Can anyone tell me what the birding is like at that time of year, in this area. Alternatively can anyone suggest any good birding areas, in southern Europe, at the end of November.

Hi Gary
I can give you a certain amount of information on the birds around the Alicante area in November.
This time of year can be very good for raptors with Booted Eagles, Osprey, Marsh & Hen Harriers, and perhaps merlin all occuring around El Hondo (a reserve near Alicante). Also here you are likely to see some remaining waders, wildfowl inc. White-headed and possibly Marbled Duck, a lingering Squacco or Purple Heron, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Penduline Tit, Bluethroat, Water Pipit, etc.
Santa Pola Salinas will have lots of Flamingos, Slender-billed Gulls, possibly Caspian Tern, lots of waders, Purple Gallinule, Spoonbill, etc.
In the hills behind Crevaillant there is a very good Bonelli's Eagle site, with Black Wheatears, Ravens, Rock Bunting, etc.
The pine woods of Maigmo hold Short-toed Treecreeper, Crested Tit, Crossbill, etc with Golden Eagle in the area.
Further to the south there is the Alcanara where there is Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Little Bustard & larks, or further inland around Albacete there is both Great & Little Bustard, both sandgrouse (pin-tailed difficult), lots of other steppe stuff as well.
This is a brief overview of what is on offer within an hours drive of Alicante, it can be a good place to be. Be warned though the weekends can be dire (El Hondo Reserve's ok) with hunters everywhere, but mid-week's fine.
I hope this has whetted your appetite, if you need anymore info please feel free in PMing me.

[Vipers]

Many thanks Jules. I was hoping you would have an input. You have defanitely wetted my appetite. I will be intouch.

[John Fleet]

Gary
did you get to Alicante? I'm going next week, with wife and hope to find some time for birding. Any advice based on your trip as to what to look out for in January?

John

[Cuckoo-shrike]

We will be having a few days in the Alicante area in February. Could Jules and/or others with local knowledge kindly advise:
- where is El Hondo and how do we get in?
- any sites for Moustached Warbler?
- further details on the Bonelli's Eagle site?
- any sandgrouse in the area?

Many thanks.

[Ruby]

We will be having a few days in the Alicante area in February. Could Jules and/or others with local knowledge kindly advise:
- where is El Hondo and how do we get in?
- any sites for Moustached Warbler?
- further details on the Bonelli's Eagle site?
- any sandgrouse in the area?

Many thanks.

Hi,

I'll leave this to Jules or others to provide details of the local areas.... Just wanted to say that Jules is an excellent guide, and you could do far worse that book some time out with him - I know from personal experience that he will do his utmost to help you with your target species.

My wife and I were stayed with him in Oct and had some fantastic birding - you may have already seen this trip report...

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99730


All the best.... Ray

[Hotspur]

Im going to Torrevieja in April for a week and was wondering where to go and what to expect - is it the same sites as mentioned?

[StuartReeves]

Hi,

I'll leave this to Jules or others to provide details of the local areas.... Just wanted to say that Jules is an excellent guide, and you could do far worse that book some time out with him - I know from personal experience that he will do his utmost to help you with your target species.

My wife and I were stayed with him in Oct and had some fantastic birding - you may have already seen this trip report...

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99730


All the best.... Ray

I'll happily second Ray's recomendation of Jules as a guide to that area. I spent a couple of days birding with him in November 2005. You can get something of the flavour of that trip here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=45550

Stuart

[Jules Sykes]

Hi Guys

Thank you very much to Ray & Stuart for their kind recommendations however booking a tour with me is not absolutely necessary and I will certainly help in anyway possible.

Cuckooshrike/James I would prefer to provide any advice by either PM or regular e-mail (info@olivaramatours.com) as I could do with some info on where your going to staying etc.

James you're right the sites you want to look into are pretty much the same ones mentioned previously.

Best regards Jules

[weissnix]

Hi Guys

I will visit the area south of Alicante, too. I will be there in July, so it will be great if You could write here some of youre experience You made there!
Thx in advice!

[Jules Sykes]

Hi Remo

Thought I would reply to your request and your PM here as I can plug a friends book on-line.

Firstly on my website at the bottom of the 'Sightings Page'

http://www.olivaramatours.com/sightings.htm

I have a set of archive from 2005 to now, which show what I have been seeing throughout the year. Having said that July is perhaps the quietest month due to the heat but there are birds to be found if you are prepared to get out of bed very early and get the best out of the first few hours of daylight when the birds are most active.

Secondly in answer to your Pm there are a couple of english text books covering this area with in my opinion

'A Birdwatching guide to Eastern Spain' by Malcolm Palmer (ISBN 1 900159 66 X) being the most detailed.

Also 'Where to watch birds in North & East Spain' by Michael Rebane (ISBN 0 780713 4700 0)

Both very good value for money but I am not sure how easy they are to source.

Anyway glad to see a few birders coming to this area, as it can only help raise it's profile for green tourism and maybe reduce the unnessesary building on the coastal strip.

Best regards Jules