[malgringo]

i want to go on a package holiday in oct and would like to know best place to go that time of year as a package holiday as going with girlfreind so wont be all birding but long as pretty and not to busy she will be happy.would love to see flamingoes?but dont know if poss this time of year,have only been to menorca so lot to go at went there in june.any advice gratefully taken

[erizzo]

You can see three different flamingos at the same place in Chile, In the North.
I don't know how easy it would be this time of year.

[IanF]

Not much good for flamingos, but Majorca has a decent number of birds about in Sept / Oct.

We're off to Cala Bona again in October, but Alcudia has a very good reserve and good beaches too! We were considering there as an alternative or possibly around next Easter.

[John Butler]

Originally Posted by malgringo

i want to go on a package holiday in oct. Would love to see flamingoes?

Hi Malgringo.

Try a package holiday anywhere on the Costa del Sol (Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, etc.). All of these locations are within an hours drive of Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, in Malaga province.
The lagoon has the largest breeding colony of Greater Flamingos in Spain, up tp 15,000 pairs in a good year. Although the breeding season is the best time there are still large numbers of flamingos to be found throughout the year. The site is in a very attractive area, surrounded by hills, forests and olive groves and the lagoon is also good for terns, ducks, gulls, waders, raptors, etc.
Nearby are the excellent birding sites of the Lagunas de Campillos, Laguna Ratosa, Teba Gorge (vultures, eagles, Black redstarts, Blue Rock Thrushes etc.) and the Malaga reservoirs.
All these sites and many others in that area can be found described in the book "Birdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast", (ISBN 84-89954-20-8) written by myself, or in the book "Where to watch birds in Southern and Western Spain" by Garcia and Paterson.

Regards from Donana.

John.

[Jane Turner]

Lesbos has flamingos more often than not...

[Xabi]

Spain, Spain !!!
Laguna de Fuente de Piedra (Málaga), Ebro Delta...

[Reader]

Have to agree with John and there is a good chance that me and the missus will be going back into the mountains near Ronda in October as well. One other Laguna where Flamingos can be see, which can be viewed from a hide, is Laguna Dulce nr Campilllos

[black52bird]

Another good option is Sardinia, which has a resident breeding population of flamingoes on the Stagno di Cagliari - just outside the capital, but also at other sites. Other birds are good - Audouin's Gull, Griffon Vulture, you may still just get a late Eleonora's Falcon, Purple Gallinule.... etc etc, and the scenery is spectacular, the island is littered with spectacular prehistoric monuments (nuraghe) and a fabulously beautiful set of Pisan-style Romanesque churches. The wine and fish are superlative.

Best
David

[malgringo]

thank you evryone got some great ideas to go at there,

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Hello
Another Spanish destination that tends to get overlooked for it's birdlife is the Costa Blanca, it's certainly not all Benidorm and chips. The Santa Pola saltpans nr Alicante Airport supports 1000's of Greater Flamingos as do other wetland areas on that coastline (in a lot smaller numbers). I had one last week flying south while relaxing with the kids at the Marina Pool in Oliva, amongst other species. If you want more info on the birds and other activities in this underwatched part of Spain then please feel free to visit my wife's website www.olivabedandbreakfast.com, good luck with the decision, it's a tough balance trying to keep all parties happy.
Cheers Jules