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Eurasian Griffon Vulture
S PA I N
Audouin's Gull
we can hone our identification skills as the birds
pass overhead. Smaller birds of prey include
Common and Lesser Kestrels, Eurasian
Sparrowhawk and Eurasian Hobby. We can also
hope to see Osprey, Montagu’s and Western
Marsh Harriers, Peregrine Falcon, Common
Buzzard and maybe some scarcer species such
as Northern Goshawk, Long-legged Buzzard,
Black-winged Kite or perhaps an Eleonora’s
Falcon or two.
It is not only storks and raptors that are on the
move at this time of year. Large numbers of
colourful European Bee-eaters stream
southwards, along with thousands of Barn and
Red-rumped Swallows, Yellow Wagtails and
Northern Wheatears. We can also search for
some of the smaller migrants which occur in the
area, as well as some of the resident species. We
would hope to see Eurasian Crag Martin, Iberian
Chiffchaff, European Serin, Sardinian Warbler,
Thekla Lark, Common Quail, Woodchat Shrike,
Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common and
Black Redstarts, Eurasian Hoopoe, Hawfinch,
Crested Tit, Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and
Short-toed Treecreeper.
From Tarifa we can take a boat trip out into the
Straits of Gibraltar to look for dolphins and
seabirds. We may find Common, Striped and
Bottle-nosed Dolphins and the local pod of
Long-finned Pilot Whales. We should also find
the larger Scopoli’s (Cory’s) Shearwater as well
as the smaller Balearic Shearwater, plus some
Northern Gannets and perhaps Arctic Skua.
Days 5 to 7
After breakfast we make the drive north-west
towards the Coto Doñana, stopping at the
Bonanza salt pans to check for waders, such as
Pied Avocet and Kentish Plover. We arrive at our
hotel in Villamanrique de la Condesa where we
stay for three nights and can begin our exploration
of the marshes, dunes and woodlands
encompassed by the Coto Doñana. The marshes
by El Rocío, and the varied habitats of El Rocina,
teem with birds - herons, egrets, coots and geese.
In the shallow water, Greater Flamingo and White
Stork feed, surrounded by passage waders, such
as Ruff, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey
Plover, Spotted Redshank and Wood and Green
Sandpipers. Large numbers of ducks will be using
these lagoons for feeding and as a daytime roost,
and it is possible that there will be the first flocks
of Greylag Geese arriving from their northern
breeding grounds.
The ‘Wild West’ town of El Rocío, with its white
buildings and church, which houses the famous
"Madonna of the Marshes", makes an amazing
backdrop to the marismas. Here we are likely to
encounter horsemen cantering through the wide
sand streets or a mule and cart tied up to the
hitching rails outside the houses.
We spend a morning in the series of hides at the
Acebuche Centre, which overlooks another area
of marsh, where Purple Swamphen can often be
seen. Marbled Duck are now rare in this area and
they skulk in these overgrown waterways and
Red-crested Pochard dive on the open water. We
shall also search the sandy scrub areas for
Dartford Warbler and keep looking up for various
raptors, such as Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red
Kite, Booted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin and
Western Marsh and Hen Harriers. We also have
a chance to find Red-knobbed Coot and Whiteheaded
Duck.
Day 8
After some further bird watching in the area, we
transfer to Seville to catch the midday flight back
to London, where we arrive in the early
afternoon.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Malaga and transfer
to Tarifa
Days 2-4 Tarifa
Days 5-7 Villamanrique de la Condesa
Day 8 Depart Seville
Party Size
Maximum of 14 clients (two leaders with more
than seven clients).
Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double
and single rooms with private facilities.
Transport
By minibuses driven by the leaders.
Includes
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,
entry fees, services of the leaders, VAT,
airport taxes and tips.
Gradings
Good
140
Warm
Low
Normal
Relaxed
Good
Easy
Scheduled
Booted Eagle
To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445
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