about us
At Andalucian Guides, we realise that some couples don't always share the same interests and a week-long birding or wildlife tour can be quite intense and unless both feel exactly the same way about their birding. it can often be just too much for one - and wonderful for the other! Read on further down this page...
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 Blue Rock Thrush male displaying
Come and see for yourself the stunning and varied wildlife of the South-western Iberian peninsula
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Over the last few years we have found that a good number of our guests come and stay in Hoopoe Cottage, where a compromise is struck by couples wishing to combine the flexibility of booking two or three individual days birding around the many different sites and taking in the other aspects of exploring the area with their hire car.
This is why we explain that Hoopoe Cottage really is one of these places that is quiet, private and yet close to the local towns of Vejer de La Frontera, Tarifa, Cape Trafalgar and Barbate.
Whether it’s relaxing by the swimming pool or reading a book in the shade, your holiday time is precious to you and we want you to completely unwind and enjoy this very special part of Andalucia.
Our was specifically designed for people that would like a mix of natural history and culture. Where better to explore and find out about the area and its past diverse civilisations and wonderful mix of cultures, than by reserving this specific tour. You won’t be disappointed!
With a hire car, map, up-to-date guide book you can certainly see a good number of bird species on your own. By booking Stephen Daly and using his Land Rover not only do you get access onto tracks through private farms and estates, you'll be able to relax and have the opportunity to see more birds and the chance to hear about the constant migration of birds and flying insects and their habits. You can interact and discuss what attracts birds to certain areas and see for yourself the vast choice of available habitats in Andalucia that makes this such a rich place for avain activity. Many subjects come up for discussion during day tours such as the Natural Parks management, Wind farms and their environmental and social impact on the land birds and people, land and agricultural water useage, as does changing attitudes on hunting, poisoning also environmental issues and awarness being taught and studied in the education syllabus.
Using Stephen's expert knowledge we can also show you the best routes to take on your own as well as providing current tips on specific bird species locations, botanical information as well as information on good butterflies and dragonfly locations.
On the birding, wildlife photography and the Culture and Vultures tours, we take a meal out during the day, usually taking late lunch called the 'Menu de Día' (Menu of the Day), at one of the many local restaurants. Part of our policy is to make use of local services and encouraging everyone to help the local economy as much as possible. Certainly, after the Menu del Día you won't need to cook a big meal in the evening! It really is excellent value for money and let’s you enjoy the taste, sights and sounds of a typical Andaluz restaurant.
During your stay at Hoopoe Cottage we are on hand 24 hours and offer tips about where to walk, where to find the best value bars and restaurants as well as a host of other useful information from Day trips to the sherry domains of Jerez de La Frontera and Sanlucar de Barameda. Visit beautiful Cadiz, the oldest city in Europe, founded by the Phoenicians or take a day trip to Seville and vist the fabulous Moorish palace and gardens of the Alcázar. You can nip across to across to Morocco for the day on the fast ferry from Tarifa or sit back and relax on the wonderful local train journey to the mountains of Ronda.
Stephen and Patricia Daly 2009
 Red-necked Nightjar, near Barbate
 
 
Birding and wildlife day tours can be booked at any time during the year and you can also rent Hoopoe cottage, a separate holiday house in the garden. Simply relax by the swimming pool and let the resident Sardinian Warblers "scold" you from the wild olive trees, or at dusk in summer, and watch the bats and Red-necked Nightjars hawk for insects.
You can book a guide or the cottage for as many days as are available.
Also on offer, are longer birding and wildlife holidays for small groups, travelling to various Iberian and other European birding and natural history hot-spots.
 
 
This special area is known as the Costa de la Luz and is famous not only for its wonderful sandy beaches, but also boasts some of the rarest breeding birds on the Iberian peninsula or even in the Western Palearctic. Our very own rarities include Northern Bald Ibis (now breeding freely near Barbate - see 1st nest & chicks here) Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite (Largest breeding populations with over 35 breeding pairs in Cadiz province, 2006) White-rumped Swift (five breeding sites), Little Swift (numerous sites) and Osprey (Breeding for the first time on the Iberian peninsula for 60 years!).
 
 
Come with Andalucian Guides and enjoy a slice of this unique ornithological paradise on one of the busiest bird migration routes on Earth. We know the best places to look and have permission to go onto numerous estates in search of quality birds and other wildlife. Many of these special private places hold key species and are not listed in any guide books or trip reports.
We'd also be happy to show you a broad selection of butterflies and other wonderful insects unique in southern Spain. If your interests lie in other areas such as wild flowers, other plants, amphibians, reptiles or the mammals of Iberia, then please ask when the best time would be to view them.
 
Stephen Daly tour leading in Bavaria Sea watching at Cape St Vincent, Portugal
 
Macro insect photography Wild flowers and Montagu's Harriers near Vejer
 
Scenes from previous tours to Extremadura
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Bird and wildlife photography is something we also enjoy and are happy to show photographers where to get some of the best photos in Spain and Portugal
 
Mediterranean Chameleon Stripeless Tree Frog
 
White-headed Duck Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
 
Spanish Festoon Butterfly Barbary Macaque
 
Great Spotted Cuckoo Great Bustard
Spring from one continent to another
The bulk of the spring migration takes place from March until May, when literally millions of migrant passerines, raptors, storks cross over The Strait of Gibraltar. The geographical location of The Strait starts on the Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish mainland, to Cape Espartel in Morocco. This is the widest point of the channel at some 25 kms from the coast of North Africa. Progressing eastwards, the Strait narrows dramatically to only 12 kms across at Tarifa which is just around the corner from the rock of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is actually on the Mediterranean Sea and the official boundary between the Mediterranean and Atlantic is at Tarifa.
This entire stretch of coastline is the easiest crossing point for many European migrant birds and the best place place to watch their migration in spring.
 
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