You are not alone John. I'm just gearing up for an autumn trip and hoping to connect with much of the September migration. Your guide will accompany me of course, as always.
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Birding in Andalucia (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Alvaro Peral
- Start date
You are not alone John. I'm just gearing up for an autumn trip and hoping to connect with much of the September migration. Your guide will accompany me of course, as always.
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Summer Birding in the south of Spain
Dear all, we've had a great summer birding across Andalucia, La Mancha, Extremadura and Portugal. We have enjoyed great bird sights and will be quite soon touring at the Strait of Gibraltar.
For those who enjoy our just made pictures, here's a short trip report on our last visit to Extremadura last week. We hope you enjoy it:
http://www.wildandalucia.com/summer-birding-monfrague-extremadura/
Just if you wonder, we've included it here because we're linking bespoke birding tours in Andalucia and Extremadura.
Happy birding everybody
Dear all, we've had a great summer birding across Andalucia, La Mancha, Extremadura and Portugal. We have enjoyed great bird sights and will be quite soon touring at the Strait of Gibraltar.
For those who enjoy our just made pictures, here's a short trip report on our last visit to Extremadura last week. We hope you enjoy it:
http://www.wildandalucia.com/summer-birding-monfrague-extremadura/
Just if you wonder, we've included it here because we're linking bespoke birding tours in Andalucia and Extremadura.
Happy birding everybody
Attachments
John Cantelo
Well-known member
Good to be able to put a name to a face!
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Birding along the Grazalema mountains
Well, talking about thoughts, I think this is an incredibly useful thread for UK and overseas birders than want to know the most recent bird sights in the whole Andalucia before planning their own trips. As I said on the first post, I am always happy to help you, so thank you to all birders that encourage this section, you've made the effort worth it!
Now, getting back to birding sights, let me tell you about the Grazalema Natural Park. Not much has been written about it here and it is an incredible hot spot for raptors and rocky bird, for sure worth at least a full day trip. We've just come back from there a few minutes ago and were delighted by these great 7:
For those interested, here's the full bird list on my e-bird channel: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39049534
Average or good physical form is a must for birding or orchid hunting across these mountains though. The nearby white villages of Grazalema and Zahara de la Sierra offer a great range of accomodation and food possibilities. So, welcome to Grazalema!
Well, talking about thoughts, I think this is an incredibly useful thread for UK and overseas birders than want to know the most recent bird sights in the whole Andalucia before planning their own trips. As I said on the first post, I am always happy to help you, so thank you to all birders that encourage this section, you've made the effort worth it!
Now, getting back to birding sights, let me tell you about the Grazalema Natural Park. Not much has been written about it here and it is an incredible hot spot for raptors and rocky bird, for sure worth at least a full day trip. We've just come back from there a few minutes ago and were delighted by these great 7:
- Bonelli's Eagle
- Dartford, Spectacled and Sardinian Warblers
- Blue Rock Thrush
- Crested Tit
- Red-billed Chough
For those interested, here's the full bird list on my e-bird channel: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39049534
Average or good physical form is a must for birding or orchid hunting across these mountains though. The nearby white villages of Grazalema and Zahara de la Sierra offer a great range of accomodation and food possibilities. So, welcome to Grazalema!
Attachments
John Cantelo
Well-known member
Not forgetting the resident Black Wheatears and the soon-to-arrive Alpine Accentors & Ring Ousels!
A bit? Almost every post contains a link/mention to their guided tours or website.
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
You're right John, we also saw two Black Wheatears and both Redstarts. Most of our summer visitors were gone though.:t:
Jos, I invite you to send me an email at any time. By the way, I saw your link about Lithuanian birds and it looks interesting
Good! Nice to hear from you, Chris! And congratulations on your enviable year list!
Thanks Alvaro! I must update it, but Bulgaria is a wonderful country for birding (as I can see Spain is)!
Chris
John Cantelo
Well-known member
I think if Alvaro means what he says about helping people without any obligation, and I see no reason to disbelieve him, then I don't object at all to a little cheeky advertising by way of mentions of the website, etc.
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Costa del Sol Birding Tour
After a long summer, we are starting to enjoy longer birding sessions in Southern Spain. Time for this awesome 7 day Malaga birding tour covering the top birding sites near the Costa del Sol.
The first day gave us really nice sights like this unexpected flock of Black Storks, Purple Heron and of course White-headed duck Osprey, Booted Eagle, Kingfisher and Flamingo. Then we went back to the hotel in the beautiful white washed town of Ronda, from where all the next trips start.
The journey in Fuente de Piedra and El Torcal de Antequera gave us lots of ticks on our trip list, like this Blue Rock Thrush trying to mob a snake. Thekla Lark, Short-toed Eagle and a surprising sight of Aquatic warbler put a nice smile on our tour party.
The journeys in the steppes of Seville was a great complement to our previous days. The Great Bustards didn’t show up this time, but it was all balanced with Hoopoe, Black Kite, Eurasian Green Woodpecker and great numbers of red-legged partridge. The mountains of Grazalema and Ronda were quite generous: Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed Eagle, as well as our regular Black Wheatear. Definately a great ending for this comfortable tour.:t:
The top 10 birds that we’ve seen on this tour are:
You can also join a tour like this one at any time of the year
(Tour programme here: https://goo.gl/d6jo5D)
After a long summer, we are starting to enjoy longer birding sessions in Southern Spain. Time for this awesome 7 day Malaga birding tour covering the top birding sites near the Costa del Sol.
The first day gave us really nice sights like this unexpected flock of Black Storks, Purple Heron and of course White-headed duck Osprey, Booted Eagle, Kingfisher and Flamingo. Then we went back to the hotel in the beautiful white washed town of Ronda, from where all the next trips start.
The journey in Fuente de Piedra and El Torcal de Antequera gave us lots of ticks on our trip list, like this Blue Rock Thrush trying to mob a snake. Thekla Lark, Short-toed Eagle and a surprising sight of Aquatic warbler put a nice smile on our tour party.
The journeys in the steppes of Seville was a great complement to our previous days. The Great Bustards didn’t show up this time, but it was all balanced with Hoopoe, Black Kite, Eurasian Green Woodpecker and great numbers of red-legged partridge. The mountains of Grazalema and Ronda were quite generous: Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed Eagle, as well as our regular Black Wheatear. Definately a great ending for this comfortable tour.:t:
The top 10 birds that we’ve seen on this tour are:
- Bonelli’s Eagle
- Azure-winged magpie
- Black Wheatear
- White-headed Duck
- Purple Heron
- Black Stork
- Griffon Vulture
- Booted Eagle
- Rock Bunting
- Chough
You can also join a tour like this one at any time of the year
(Tour programme here: https://goo.gl/d6jo5D)
Attachments
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Thank you Chris! Yes, we didn't realize until later on. Not the first picture like this in the year. Sbogom!
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park
Birding in Sierra de las Nieves -in Southern Spain- is an experience not many birders have lived so far. This mountain range is of the three Natural Parks that surround the town of Ronda in Southern Spain. This site is probably going to upgrade its protection status to National Park in the upcoming year and we are pleased to guide bird watching trips to this biosphere reserve.
Autumn is a great time of the year to have a go on our binoculars since it is still not covered with snow. Besides, the days are still quite sunny and invite us to spend a whole day here. Just a few minutes driving from the white town of Ronda we entered the Natural Park and soon penetrated the Spanish Fir level. You may know these Firs (Abies Pinsapo) are unique in the world and reach here great sizes. Greater spotted woodpeckers, Crossbills and Long-tailed tits accompanied us across the forest level.
Climbing up we noticed a group of Griffon Vultures enjoying a sunbath on top of the Spanish Firs. We checked them all carefully becasuse a Rüppell’s Vulture had recently been reported on this area. As altitude increases, the forest gives room to mountain scrub and junipers. This is very easy to see once we reach the Pilones pass. The picture below shows how the south hills are quite different to the shaded spots:
magnificent Gall Oaks (sp. alpestris) facing south and impressive Firs facing north. This variety of landscape benefits birdlife lving here and we soon it started to show up. Ring ouzels and Alpine accentors made the best of our birding journey. The accentors at the highest summits (Torrecilla peak) were very tame and we could take very close pictures of them. A pair of Red-billed Choughs stayed with us for a few minutes too.
Once we reached the summit the sky was even more clear and we could easily see not just Málaga city and some white villages like Olvera but also the Rock of Gibraltar and even the northern mountain ranges of Africa. These views balanced all the walking up and it is definately worth it.
In summary, a great day out birding with a few good bird sights and impressive ochre-blue-green mountain scenery!
Join us on for birding in Sierra de las Nieves on www.wildandalucia.com
Birding in Sierra de las Nieves -in Southern Spain- is an experience not many birders have lived so far. This mountain range is of the three Natural Parks that surround the town of Ronda in Southern Spain. This site is probably going to upgrade its protection status to National Park in the upcoming year and we are pleased to guide bird watching trips to this biosphere reserve.
Autumn is a great time of the year to have a go on our binoculars since it is still not covered with snow. Besides, the days are still quite sunny and invite us to spend a whole day here. Just a few minutes driving from the white town of Ronda we entered the Natural Park and soon penetrated the Spanish Fir level. You may know these Firs (Abies Pinsapo) are unique in the world and reach here great sizes. Greater spotted woodpeckers, Crossbills and Long-tailed tits accompanied us across the forest level.
Climbing up we noticed a group of Griffon Vultures enjoying a sunbath on top of the Spanish Firs. We checked them all carefully becasuse a Rüppell’s Vulture had recently been reported on this area. As altitude increases, the forest gives room to mountain scrub and junipers. This is very easy to see once we reach the Pilones pass. The picture below shows how the south hills are quite different to the shaded spots:
magnificent Gall Oaks (sp. alpestris) facing south and impressive Firs facing north. This variety of landscape benefits birdlife lving here and we soon it started to show up. Ring ouzels and Alpine accentors made the best of our birding journey. The accentors at the highest summits (Torrecilla peak) were very tame and we could take very close pictures of them. A pair of Red-billed Choughs stayed with us for a few minutes too.
Once we reached the summit the sky was even more clear and we could easily see not just Málaga city and some white villages like Olvera but also the Rock of Gibraltar and even the northern mountain ranges of Africa. These views balanced all the walking up and it is definately worth it.
In summary, a great day out birding with a few good bird sights and impressive ochre-blue-green mountain scenery!
Join us on for birding in Sierra de las Nieves on www.wildandalucia.com
Attachments
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
South East Spain - Cabo de Gata
Just a few impressions on how the South East of Spain is one of the jewels for birding in Andalucía. I refer particularly to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Here's some facts for those wanting to experience this unique bird spot, where rocky scenery merges into a blue sea like no other:
- My two favourite spots for birding:the Escullos shore and ramblas (dry riverbeds), and the marshes in Cabo de Gata village.
- Top birds: Trumpeter Finch, Audoin's Gull, Lesser Short Toed Lark, Black Wheatear, Thekla and Dupont's Lark.
- Other Nature attractions: the posidonia prairies, the several millenary olive trees.
Just a few impressions on how the South East of Spain is one of the jewels for birding in Andalucía. I refer particularly to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Here's some facts for those wanting to experience this unique bird spot, where rocky scenery merges into a blue sea like no other:
- My two favourite spots for birding:the Escullos shore and ramblas (dry riverbeds), and the marshes in Cabo de Gata village.
- Top birds: Trumpeter Finch, Audoin's Gull, Lesser Short Toed Lark, Black Wheatear, Thekla and Dupont's Lark.
- Other Nature attractions: the posidonia prairies, the several millenary olive trees.
Attachments
Last edited:
Looks and sounds wonderful Alvaro! All those birds would be targets for me!
Chris
Last edited:
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
I knew, Chris. Fortunately that'll be history soon! Happy new year
Alvaro Peral
Well-known member
Birding in Sierra de Andujar
This is my first post telling you about the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, in the province of Jaén.
A terrific example of mediterranean forest well preserved, where ancient holm oaks form dehesas, surrounded by the Jándula river. Most of the birders visiting this site have already heard that it is a great place for Iberian Lynx, which we found mating...absolutely amazing. But getting back to birds, if we list just the three below, the magnificence of the place talks for itself:
This is my first post telling you about the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, in the province of Jaén.
A terrific example of mediterranean forest well preserved, where ancient holm oaks form dehesas, surrounded by the Jándula river. Most of the birders visiting this site have already heard that it is a great place for Iberian Lynx, which we found mating...absolutely amazing. But getting back to birds, if we list just the three below, the magnificence of the place talks for itself:
- Spanish imperial eagle (in the picture)
- Black vulture
- Iberian (azure-winged) magpie
Attachments
Similar threads
