Black Wheatear
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Birdwatching in Almería
Birdwatching in Almería.
Birding in Almería province is a sensitive topic, because so many people are completely unaware of the area, always folk seem to think that we only have lizards and mosquitoes here. And it is not altogether untrue, as insects are at large in Almería, so too we have 10 species of reptiles, including geckoes, snakes, tortoises, turtles and lizards.
But the for a more complete story Almería is also a small paradise for Birdwatching and Birdwatchers, with lots of different habitats that birds choose to live in all year (residents), for breeding (breeding species) or for spending only their winter in sunny and temperate weather (wintering birds).
Here we can easily see up to 70-80 bird species in only one day, during every season. Obviously with the assistance of a local specialized birdwatching guide that knows all the secrets and better sites of the area.
Habitats are so diverse we have dunes, cliffs, rocky areas, saltpans, salt-marshes, steppe, shores, urban locations, villages, badlands, dry river beds, crops, greenhouses, roads and bridges and mountains with altitudes up to 2.200 meters above sea level.
These habitats, added to the low water quantity (rainfall and standing water) in the landscape, which are a general characteristic of Almería, give birds the possibility to occupy them “for free”, because humans concentrate mainly on the coast… and so a big portion of land is considered as “badlands”, that are commonly and for the most part protected areas.
In Almería, in no more than 60 minutes you can be at sea level or at 2.200 meters above the sea, visiting high, snow covered peaks, or in the middle of a desert. That is the interest of this dry land plus its fine weather for most of the year.
For watching birds we have mainly four areas:
- The coast, that stretches from Cabo de Gata (Natural Park) to other wetlands, marshes and saltpans along the coast to both sides east and west.
- The deserts, badlands and steppe that run along a big portion of Almería, but especially towards the interior, far away of the coastline.
- The mountains, with ranges and sierras scarcely known, so solitary and fantastic such as Filabres, Gador, Alhamilla, Gata or Nevada. Yes, I said NEVADA; many people think that this last sierra, the Sierra Nevada… runs geologically only across the Granada territory, but indeed a huge portion of this range stretches over Almerian territory.
- The fourth important area is Los Velez, where big raptors are common and easy to watch included griffon vulture, short-toed eagle, booted and bonelli´s eagles.
About some interesting birdlife we have here, a few species so rare and much sought after, such as dupont´s lark or the not frequently seen such as black-bellied sandgrouse; also the trumpeter finch has its main residence in Almería, with local movements in the breeding season to the interior.
Almería is also good for birding because there are no barriers in the fields, and with due respect to locals, that are a humorous and friendly people, you can move nearly everywhere with no required permit, although if you have some special authorizations you can also visit the most unique places… but this is work for your local birdwatching guide.
Watching the flamingos at less than 20 metres from your nose, waiting for the drinking hour of sandgrouses, looking for the trumpeter finches or sighting a golden eagle up in the mountain, are some of the unique experiences awaiting you in Almería, where you also will enjoy lunch and accommodation within a full range of prices to suit all budgets, all of them providing high quality and excellent service.
For a complete review of our birds you can take a look at our Almeria Birds Checklist.
Please do come and see our wonderful province.
Useful Link: Almeria Field Meeting
Birdwatching in Almería.
Birding in Almería province is a sensitive topic, because so many people are completely unaware of the area, always folk seem to think that we only have lizards and mosquitoes here. And it is not altogether untrue, as insects are at large in Almería, so too we have 10 species of reptiles, including geckoes, snakes, tortoises, turtles and lizards.
But the for a more complete story Almería is also a small paradise for Birdwatching and Birdwatchers, with lots of different habitats that birds choose to live in all year (residents), for breeding (breeding species) or for spending only their winter in sunny and temperate weather (wintering birds).
Here we can easily see up to 70-80 bird species in only one day, during every season. Obviously with the assistance of a local specialized birdwatching guide that knows all the secrets and better sites of the area.
Habitats are so diverse we have dunes, cliffs, rocky areas, saltpans, salt-marshes, steppe, shores, urban locations, villages, badlands, dry river beds, crops, greenhouses, roads and bridges and mountains with altitudes up to 2.200 meters above sea level.
These habitats, added to the low water quantity (rainfall and standing water) in the landscape, which are a general characteristic of Almería, give birds the possibility to occupy them “for free”, because humans concentrate mainly on the coast… and so a big portion of land is considered as “badlands”, that are commonly and for the most part protected areas.
In Almería, in no more than 60 minutes you can be at sea level or at 2.200 meters above the sea, visiting high, snow covered peaks, or in the middle of a desert. That is the interest of this dry land plus its fine weather for most of the year.
For watching birds we have mainly four areas:
- The coast, that stretches from Cabo de Gata (Natural Park) to other wetlands, marshes and saltpans along the coast to both sides east and west.
- The deserts, badlands and steppe that run along a big portion of Almería, but especially towards the interior, far away of the coastline.
- The mountains, with ranges and sierras scarcely known, so solitary and fantastic such as Filabres, Gador, Alhamilla, Gata or Nevada. Yes, I said NEVADA; many people think that this last sierra, the Sierra Nevada… runs geologically only across the Granada territory, but indeed a huge portion of this range stretches over Almerian territory.
- The fourth important area is Los Velez, where big raptors are common and easy to watch included griffon vulture, short-toed eagle, booted and bonelli´s eagles.
About some interesting birdlife we have here, a few species so rare and much sought after, such as dupont´s lark or the not frequently seen such as black-bellied sandgrouse; also the trumpeter finch has its main residence in Almería, with local movements in the breeding season to the interior.
Almería is also good for birding because there are no barriers in the fields, and with due respect to locals, that are a humorous and friendly people, you can move nearly everywhere with no required permit, although if you have some special authorizations you can also visit the most unique places… but this is work for your local birdwatching guide.
Watching the flamingos at less than 20 metres from your nose, waiting for the drinking hour of sandgrouses, looking for the trumpeter finches or sighting a golden eagle up in the mountain, are some of the unique experiences awaiting you in Almería, where you also will enjoy lunch and accommodation within a full range of prices to suit all budgets, all of them providing high quality and excellent service.
For a complete review of our birds you can take a look at our Almeria Birds Checklist.
Please do come and see our wonderful province.
Useful Link: Almeria Field Meeting
