 Background
Andalucian Guides and Hoopoe Cottage are both owned, managed and run by Stephen and Patricia Daly. Stephen was brought up in East Lothian, Scotland has been birding with his brothers and friends since the age of eight. Patricia (Patty) comes from the Black Forest in Germany, very close to the border with Alsace, France.
Aberlady Bay and Gullane, looking east
"Stephen's first birding site was at Aberlady bay nature reserve on the Firth of Forth, and as a child, this beautiful area would open his eyes and heart to the beauty of the countryside and what it contained -
"It was a wonderful childhood environment that turned my life long hobby into something that I'm happy to share with others."
  
The Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1892-6)
 
Birding with my brothers in the Garleton Hills, East Lothian, Scotland 1963 - Bins and rucksack at the ready!
Many children that had an interest in birding in the 60's, started with a copy of the "Observers Book of Birds" or the "I-Spy" series. They were in absolute awe when the "Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe" was first published.
I still don't understand why some plates in the Observers book went from colour to black and white, then back to colour again. How guide books on birds have changed since the those days.
    
Stephen Daly
Bins and books you just had to have if you were birding in the 1960's. My first pair of binoculars were ordered from "The Exchange and Mart", spending your life-savings on a brand new pair of "Japanese Quality - 8x30 - coated optics - together with pigskin case and cloth"! It was the free cloth that clinched the deal for me.
In the early 1970's Stephen undertook work on various conservation projects in East Lothian and in particular Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve and became one of the first Conservation Volunteers working with Archie Mathieson the then County Ranger.
Stephen has lived, worked (and enjoyed birding) in the UK, Germany and France and now lives within the Las Breñas Natural Park near Barbate in Andalucia, Spain. His hobbies are numerous and include walking, swimming, old motorcycles, painting, music, photography, reading and, surprise, surprise - single malt whiskies!
A Change of Career and Direction Tarifa Harbour with Morocco in the background
Various jobs in various countries led Stephen away from his last job in Germany, working as an assistant to the DFS, German Air Traffic Control (Deutsche Flugsicherung), who control civil and military flights within upper air space in central Europe. Although quite secure, continually working for large organisations in the UK and abroad had become less and less appealing. After many happy holidays over the years to Andalucia, Patty and Stephen decided to move to the sun and to take life a little slower, settling into house they bought close to the coast near Barbate.
Tarifa Harbour with Morocco in the background
Stephen set up leading birding tours in 2001 and quickly established a name for himself as the birding guide on the Strait of Gibraltar. He also became involved with local wildlife and conservation groups and still takes part in various projects throughout the province.
Stephen's friendly, easy-going manner and his birding and wildlife skills steadily brought in work, leading tours to numerous Spanish birding areas. Stephen also is a principal tour leader for Limosa Holidays and leads some tours for The Travelling Naturalist in the UK, taking groups to various European destinations. Limosa have since involved Stephen leading more tour destinations, asking him to prepare the logistics for and write holiday itineraries on new birding and nature tours to Turkey and the Bavarian Alps, both countries he knows well.
Both Stephen's lead tours to Turkey, Morocco, Austria, Holland, Germany, Hungary and Portugal with Andalucian Guides and in 2009 was invited by the Saltmarsh Partnership to represent Limosa holidays on a fact-finding tour to the Lesser Antilles island group in the Caribbean. Hopefully Limosa can run this as a birding and wildlife tour in the future.
Stephen speaks fluent French and German and good Spanish. Some of his friends from "South of the Border" have often remarked that "His English is really quite good too !"
Andalucian Guides is run from Stephen and Patty's family home in the countryside, between the port of Barbate and the hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera, where they manage Hoopoe Cottage, their guest house in their garden.
 
Patty with Lucia 1n 2003 Stephen with Amelia 2006
Michelbach, Schwarzwald, Germany
 Lucia, Patty and Amelia 2009
Stephen (Daly's) wife Patty, who comes from near Baden-Baden in Germany's Black Forest managed a large bookshop combined with a Travel Agency before leaving southern Germany for Spain. Patty leads day walking groups on un spoilt coastal stretches and along inland drovers roads in Cadiz province, during the cooler months of the year.
Patty and Stephen have two girls, Lucia who was born in 2003 and Amelia in 2004.
Patty with Lucia and Amelia 2006
Hoopoe cottage is a self-catering house that Stephen and his family rent out - "The reason we built this wee house in the first place was that we seemed to be particularly attractive to family and friends! Living in Andalucia made us realise that having a separate house, where guests could relax and spend (dare I say it), time on their own!"
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Being Involved - Being Aware
Eco and Sustainable Tourism
Andalucian Guides are accredited members of Responsible Travel.com
Eco tourism is something we strive to maintain at the highest possible levels. It means quite simply, responsible travel to natural areas while conserving the environment and sustaining the well-being of local people.
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Conservation
Andalucian Guides are actively involved with local conservationist groups including the Asociacion de Amigos de la Laguna de La Janda.
Stephen Daly is a member of a study team from the University of Cadiz researching Lateral (horizontal) seabird migration to and from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. (Estudio de la Importancia cualitativa y cuantitativa del fenómeno migratorio de las aves marinas en el Estrecho de Gibraltar).
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A Voice for the Environment
Both Stephen's and their naturalist friends are active members of Los Amigos de la laguna de La Janda. The area known as La Janda is a huge agricultural area in southern Cadiz province, that was once one of the biggest lakes and wetlands in Europe and has been drained since the middle of the last century. This environmental protection hope to recover a substantial piece of this land and return it to its natural state, which would inevitably lead to even more wildlife returning to this rich area. After all, the geographical location is perfect for migratory birds stopping off to feed on the Strait of Gibraltar.
-It's worth considering not so long ago, Northern Bald Ibis and Marsh Owl nested and bred in the La Janda area. The populations of Red-knobbed Coot, Glossy Ibis, Common Crane, Great Bustard, Purple Swamphen, Water Rail, Small Button Quail, Ballion's, Little and Spotted Crake were very healthy. Other animals such as Roe Deer, Otters and Iberian Lynx made it their home. Wild Boar, Wild Goats, moved across the islands and marsh reed beds in timeless fashion. Today it is still a rich natural wildlife area with quality birding, but it could be fantastic if it was given some form of protective status by the government.
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Involvement in the Community - an example of what could be done
Discussions are also in hand with local and regional governments in Andalucia to create a wetland area in part of the natural flood-plain area of las Marismas near Barbate. The area has protective status in the form of a Parque Natural and improving part of the area would involve the creation of jobs for local people, utilise a wonderful natural resource for eco-tourism and enable future generations to study the wealth of plants, animals, birds and amphibians in this area.
The plan is to create a "scrape area" to create a large shallow freshwater pond that would through water control, remain constant throughout the year. Planting local wetland plants and creating reed cover would establish a haven for certain dwindling species.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that such a project will be adopted and managed and in time it could be possible to build hides, walkways and perhaps even a visitor centre.
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Leave no Trace
All Andalucian Guides Tours are especially aimed at responsible clients who wish to participate in environmentally friendly, low-impact nature tourism.
We use local services on day tours which is beneficial for clients travel appreciation and the local communities who learn about environmental issues and stimulate interest through contact. We strive to encourage rural communities to protect natural assets where in some cases the extensive hunting and slaughter of birds is totally unnecessary.
Andalucian Guides use local hotels not ones owned by companies abroad.
Tourism can play a vital role in conservation and it is up to all of us to be seen acting in a responsible manner.
Andalucian Guides are also committed to conservation, animal and avian welfare and environmental Protection.
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Re-cycling
 
We strive to re-cycle as much as we can from all our household and office waste. Glass, paper, cardboard and plastic are separated, and taken to our local town containers. Inkjet cartridges from printers, batteries are also saved for safe disposal.
We are also aware of saving electricity and water and when we need to purchase new electrical appliances we consider the ecological implications. Wherever possible we buy bio-diesel fuel for our vehicles.
Squacco Heron Portrait - Photo Stephen Daly
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