bestbirding in the Med ?

[Tony Knight]

Its that time of year again where I try to convince the family to go on holiday at a location that, surprise surprise turns out to be within 30 mins / hour of some prime birding sites !! Have done nth Majorca - where do you recommend around the Med area with sandy beaches nearby !! I may even try to book in the Easter hols - prime migration !! I've heard Cyprus is good ??

[Highway Man]

Cyprus is excellent particularly around Paphos. Loads for the family to do and very good birding around the light house, though check about access there as they were erecting a fence around the perimeter when I was last there.
Lesbos is also very good but if you're taking the family go to Molyvos or Anaxos as Skala Kalloni is the pits with absolutely nothing for the none birder.

Mark

[Surreybirder]

Tony, there are many parts of the Med that I haven't visited but I can recommend Cyprus. (If you want to, my web site has a couple of trip reports... see at end of this post.)
Paphos hasn't got really great beaches but there's a resort about 5 miles W of Paphos that has a beautiful beach. (It's called Coral Bay, if memory serves, and it's at the end of the bus route that goes along the coast. Frequent cheap buses into Paphos. Also a good starting point for trips into the Akamas Peninsular and NW Cyprus--Polis, Aphrodite's Pool etc.)
I had some good birding in S Spain close to Gibraltar some years ago (near Algeciras). Avoid Malta (lovely place but too many hunters).
The OSME web site would be worth a look, with masses of trip reports.
You can still visit Paphos lighthouse but, because of the perimeter fence, you are not supposed to go before 8.30 a.m. -- but you can still walk to the headland at any time.
Good luck
Ken

[Highway Man]

Hi Ken

It's Coral Bay.

[digi-birder]

Coral Bay is the place you're talking about, I think, Ken.

At the other end of the island, near Ayia Napa, is Cape Greco which is very good.

I am a bit wary of other areas as there is a big army presence and they have big guns.

I'm also not happy about the bird trapping and shooting that goes on in Cyprus and will not be visiting again unless more action is taken to stop it.

[Highway Man]

I also vowed never to go again at least until they sort out their hunting problem.
Mark

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, for the reminders, Coral Bay came back to me, too!
On the hunting question, it's a lot better than Malta or Egypt, for example. Italy and parts of Spain are also bad. I think it can be argued that it's better to go to Cyprus and make your views known than to boycott it, which they won't notice 'cos it's so popular anyway. But let each decide for him/herself.
BTW for anyone who doesn't know and likes twitching, there's a bird info line and an information centre in Cyprus. Check out Fatbirder.

[Ivan]

Tony, why not consider mainland Spain. I went to the Costa Brava a couple of years ago and had a fantastic birding holiday. I was staying at the northern end of the Costa and on reflection could have been a bit further north to save the travelling to the best sites.
If you went to somewhere like Roses, a resort with lots of sandy beaches and amusments, there is a nature reserve on it's doorstep. A large lagoon/scrape like habitat which stretches for miles. White stork, bee-eaters, spotless starling, harriers with cetti's and nightingales walking around your feet. Where else can you sit at a beach bar and watch goshawk, peregrine, common buzzard, pallid swift, bee-eater, serin and golden oriole nad be serenaded by nightingale.
The whole coast from the French border south to the really touristy bit is rocky and lots of little coves, ideal for birdwatching.
Ivan

[rogerscoth]

Tony, Try Menorca (with use of a hire car) in early May. This relatively small island has some quite good "hot-spot" sites, e.g.
Algender Gorge, Son Bou marsh, Tirant and S'Albufera es Grau to name some. "A birdwatching guide to Menorca, Ibiza & Formentera" by Graham Hearl (he is resident in Majorca) is a good and detailed guide. There are usually some good birds that are fairly easy to find, plus there are a lot of very good beaches for the family. I have just booked to go next May.

Roger

[ColinD]

Not exactly the med., but I would go for the Algarve, Portugal, on the Atlantic. Fabulous place. Vilamoura is my favourite resort, with an outstanding wetland reserve within walking distance of the centre, an even better salt pans / marsh reserve a short drive down the road and a superb area of plains a few miles inland. I've been 4 times in April, May, June and September, and never been disappointed.

If you visit the sites I've mentioned above, you stand an excellent chance of Purple Gallinule, several species of heron, Red-necked Nightjar, Azure-winged Magpie, Flamingoes, White Storks, Montagu's Harrier, Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, plus all the usual Bee-eaters, stilts, plovers, orioles, Hoopoes etc. and a good chance of Black-shouldered Kite. I've seen all those on family holidays when I've had just one "big day out".

I've also been to Cyprus twice, and in my opinion, it doesn't come close.



Colin

[Tony Knight]

Colin

Where is "Vilamoura" as I can't find it in multimap. Good beaches ? Sounds great but I may get the "the Atlantic will be too cold in April" response !

Tony

[ColinD]

Vilamoura is a few miles east of Albufiera, and just west of Quarteria. It has a large marina with some huge yachts and speed boats.

The beaches are excellent, though you can't walk out very far without being out of your depth. Also, the waves can be a bit larger than in the med.,


Colin

[Raydes]

Hello Tony,

I have bin 3 times in Lesvos and for me it's a must do as a birder.
Especially in April or beginning of May I used to go too late (last two weeks of May),but if you like the Rose Coloured Starlings that's the time for them.
There are so many hot spots on the island but I think if you should consider it, read Richards Brooks book about birding on Lesvos.
Skala Kalloni is a good place to start to all birdtrips.
Lot's off English and international birders during April & May.

I hope this helps a bit for your queste to find a good holiday.

[Steve G]

Hi Tony,
Two excellent sites spring to mind -Lesvos & Caceres province in central Spain.

I'm not long back from a family holiday in Lesvos-first 2 weeks in August. The family loved the venue in Skalla Kalloni ( the Kalloni II hotel), the sheltered beach good for swimming & not packed out, the food was excellent in the local Tavernas & the local people were very pleasant & hospitable. High summer is a poor time for birding but I managed a triplist of 102 species in 2 weeks -mainly from early morning birding & some limited birding on family day trips. The island has enough good sites for you to achieve a list bigger than this without too much effort. Let me know if you are interested as I have detailed info on the best summer sites in Lesvos.

Another excellent venue is Extremadura.I know it sounds very different from the typical family holiday but there is a lot to offer non-birders-all in the sun. There are no beaches but the area is an easy drive from Madrid. Stay in the Hospederia de Monfrague @ Torrejon el Rubio in Caceres province-it has large family rooms, a good pool & is a good base from which to daytrip on family outings to the adjacent towns & Cities which surprisingly have a lot to offer. My wife & kids were well-impressed with Caceres, Trujillo, Merida & Guadelupe. Caceres province is one big birding site with the plains around Caceres & Monfrague NP offering tremendous birding- bustards, vultures,eagles(5 species),bee-eaters,rollers............if interested I can provide more info.

Regards

Steve

[Surreybirder]

Welcome to Birdforum, Steve!

[Tony Knight]

Colin

based on your recommendation I went to the algarve and stayed at vale de Lobo nr Quinta do Lago. Armed with the books and reports I had a superb time and would recommend to anyone. Covered many miles in the 2 weeks , up at 6am and back to villa by 11am. superb weather. Frustrated that I didn't get to see a great bustard despite 3 trips to Castro Verde area and didn't get a photo of the single sub-alpine warbler and golden oriole seen (why are the most attractive birds always the most elusive.....both feathered and unfeathered !!).
Good photos of spectacled warbler, gallinule, rock bunting, black eared wheater and black kite etc partly made up for this.

Tony

[Surreybirder]

Glad you had a good trip. Subalpine warbler has always eluded me though I've had a couple of 'probables', one in flight and one glimpsed in a bush!
Sounds as if the Algarve is worth a shot.

[ColinD]

Colin

based on your recommendation I went to the algarve and stayed at vale de Lobo nr Quinta do Lago. Armed with the books and reports I had a superb time and would recommend to anyone.

Tony

Glad you enjoyed it Tony. I was there myself over Easter, we stayed at Olhos D Agua near Albufiera. I posted a brief trip report here a few days ago, look in the forum "Vacational Trip Reports", entitled "A week in Portugal and a few questions". I would be interested to see a list of which species you saw for comparison,


Colin


Colin

[Tony Knight]

Ivan

Roses sounds great but where is the nearest airport. Barcelona is 2.5 hrs away per RAC routeplanner ? Is there a reasonably quiet area or is it all touristy and full of discos/bars/entertainment ?? The thought of sitting at a beach bar and watchong beeaters and orioles certainly sounds attractive. I passed through Roses about 20 yrs ago when driving around Europe with some friends and have vague recollections of a massive camp site there but don't remember the reserve as I was not into birding at 20 !
Presume a drive into the Pyrenees for raptors would be possible and i think there are lesser grey shrike around there ??

appreciate the advice

Tony

[Tony Knight]

Colin

Haven't had time to pull a list together yet but there are plenty you saw which I missed, reading down your list- gannets, purple heron, pintail, marsh harrier, quail, great bustard, stone curlew, not up on the terns but saw a black headed and legged tern at Alvor, heard but saw no cuckoo, rr swallow, moustached warbler, weaver.

In addition I saw and photo'ed spectacled warbler at Castro marim, rock bunting at Foia, saw golden oriole by river at Azinhal, linnet, oystercatcher, ring ouzel at top of Foia (thought it was just a blackbird until i got my scope on it and got a surprise !), wryneck at Quinta do lago, sub alpine warbler in the odeluca valley, short toed treecreeper between Monchique and Foia, crested tit, little owls, black eared wheatears (castro verde- merola road), dartford warbler (Foia).

completely missed flamingoes (surprised but too early ??), black redstart (had hoped for at cliffs at Quinta da Rocha/alvor, blue rock thrush (hoped for at Foia), roller (too early), little bittern (supposed to be easy at Q de L but saw nothing.)

Highlight and biggest disappointment was seeing my first golden oriole, lining up the scope and camera, clicking and the battery was flat !!!! By the time I had changed the battery it had hidden again !!

We used to put food out for the azure winged magpies and had dozens fighting it out on the lawn for evening viewing !!

[Mikejenk]

To those who've stayed at this resort I would appreciate your advice. I am off to lesvos on 13th May (after first choice had to cancel my package to Bulgaria) and staying in the Hotel Pasiphae (only £510 for 2 of us after negotiating some compensation).

I plan to marry my non-birding fiancee next year and so as not to jepardise our relationship I will have to do most of my birding before she wakes up and can only pull off 3 days car hire. Therefore most of my birding will take place around Kalloni itself.

I have done my research and know that East and West river are within easy reach of my hotel which is very close to the Kalloni 2 pool.

I was wondering if sights such as the salt pans, napi and potami valleys and the inland lake were close enough for me to walk to pre-breakfast or to disappear to for half an hour while she is on the beach.

"Paul's birding site" has useful diagrams of the kalloni area but these are not to scale. I do have a back up plan if the sites mentioned are not walkable. I'll either hire a bycycle or make friends with a birder with a hire car. I should be greatful for any comments on the proximity of the sites I have mentioned to the pasiphae hotel and any recommendations as to where I should spend my 3 days on the road. I am keen to go to the ipsalou monestry and vaterra via derbyshire and the pans.

Any feedback will much appreciated

Mike Jenkin