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An adult male Blue Rock Thrush basks in the sunshine
Looking to Morocco across The Strait
A typical full day’s Birding tour starts around 9am near Vejer de la Frontera. As an spring, summer or autumn example, we could head through Barbate and the coastal stretch of western end of The Strait of Gibraltar, to Zahara de Los Atunes and from there go across private farm tracks that lead towards the La Janda area, a rich agricultural plain that was once a huge natural lake and still an important birding area.
A Stone Curlew flies past
A melanistic form of the elegant Montagu's Harrier at La Janda
From nearby Benalup and the the surrounding countryside, we can travel cross-country (when dry) to watch or photograph species such as Montagu’s Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Herons, Little Bitterns, Eurasian Spoonbills, Purple Swamphens, Night Herons and Collared Pratincoles.
An adult Squacco Heron in summer plumage
One of the very rare Rüppell's Vultures comes in to land
We can then travel via Facinas and on into the cork-oak forest and Parque Natural of Los Alcornocales, climbing slowly up to the sierras on old drovers tracks. In summer we come here to watch Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Tawny Pipit and Woodchat Shrike. From this point we can descend down to Los Lances beach at Tarifa to a “venta” (restaurant) for a typical “rural” lunch.
Birders amongst the Spring blossoms in April
Afternoons can include a walk at the coastal limestone slabs for Ortolan and Rock Buntings or watching perched Griffon Vultures and Egyptian Vultures at a local colony at the coastal Sierras where White-rumped Swift have previously bred and Little Swift can often be found.
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Watching the Autumn raptor migration in September
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The amazing success story of the breeding Northern Bald Ibis nesr Barbate - one of the World's rarest birds!
We can also take time to do some leisurely birding around the tidal estuary and military zone’s fringes at Barbate and with luck we'll see the colony of free-flying -free-breeding programme of Northern Bald Ibis, as well as Stone Curlew, Little Bustard, Black shouldered Kite, Thekla, Calandra Crested, Greater Short-toed and Lesser Short-toed Larks feeding there.
- Day tours normally end back at our starting point at La Barca de Vejer around 5.30pm bu we can collect at some hotels or meet en route at a convenient rendezvous point.
- If the weather is hot and sunny remember to bring water, hat and sun-cream. Trainers or walking sandals are fine to wear during a day tour.
- We have some extra pairs of binoculars, field guides and the use of a telescope is included in the day price.
