Migration at Gibraltar
White-rumped Swift and Audouin`s Gull

Migration in South Andalusia is at its best in September for volume and range of species. The White Stork are still passing over and the migration of the Black Stork and vultures such as Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Western Honey Buzzard, Egyptian Vultures well as other small birds i.e. Subalpine, Spectacled and Dartford Warbler, European Bee-eater and Turtle Dove is reaching its climax. Many waders have also arrived such as Sanderling and Bar-tailed Gotwit. At the same time we can see various local birds such as Ruddy Duck, White-rumped Swift, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Barbary Partridge, Red-billed Chough or the rare Audouin’s Gull.

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Dates

1. Sun., 31. Aug. 2008 - Mon., 08. Sep. 2008
2. Mon., 31. Aug. 2009 - Tue., 08. Sep. 2009

Price includes

• Flights
• Airport Taxes and fuel surcharge
• Airport transfers
• All transport during trip
• Half board
• Accommodation in en-suite double/single room
• Birding guide
• Breach of warranty certificate

Number of participants

8 – 16 persons

Travel guide

Christoph Braunberger

Weather conditions

Summery temperatures

Level of difficulty

Very easy walking. Many observations from one place.

Note

- Admission fees not included in tour price
- The passage of the migrating birds reaches its climax late noon and depending on the wind conditions in a more eastern or western direction. Fewer thermals results in fewer birds so that our excursion territory will be planned daily and this programme is only a guideline. There is no movement by rain.

Alterations

The programme is subject to change.

Day 1

Arrival

Flight to Málaga. Travel to the White Village of Grazalema. (2 nights)

Day 2

Sierra de Grazalema, Ronda

In the Sierra de Grazalema Short-toed Snake, Golden and Bonelli´s Eagle. Travel to Ronda. Descent over the Guadalevin Bridge into the ravine El Tajo for Red-billed Chough, Eurasian Griffon Vulture and Blue-rock Thrush. Tour through the maurish old town with the oldest bull-fighting arena in Spain.

Day 3

Los Alcornocales National Park

The migration passage touches the outskirts of the Cork Oak forests in the hinterland from Tarifa. Observations from Puerto del Bujeo Pass with a view of Gibraltar in the distance. Towards evening travel to the hotel in the small fishing town of Bolonia on the lovely sandy beach of the Atlantic where we reside for the rest of our journey. From here individual hikes and observations are possible at all times. There is a clear view from the coastline and on the beach you can see the ruins of the Roman Tunafish harbour Baelo Claudia.

Day 4

Coast of Bolonia

Excursion along the coastal zones with fig-cactus and impressive sand dunes. Cory´s and Manx Shearwater, Eleonora´s and Peregrine Falcon, Blue Rock-Thrush and Common Raven can be found on the kilometer long sandy beaches. Ascent to the hills of Sierra de la Plata through pinetree forest and stoney landscape for a magnificent view of the Moroccan coastline. (Eurasian Griffon Vulture).

Day 5

Between Tarifa and Punta del Carnero

Morning observations from the most promising migration passage either to the west or east of Tarifa. Afternoon on the beach and at a small brook with thick bush-vegetation. Afterwards to the lagoons west of Tarifa where there are usually plenty of waders but also passing over small birds as well as gulls and terns. There are often great flocks of birds at the 20 kilometer wide Straits of Gibraltar, the most southern point of Europe.

Day 6

Gibraltar Rock, Punta Secreta

Early morning start to the Rocks of Gibraltar where the Birds of prey have their main migration passage. With a little luck observation of the Barbary Partridge on the southern side of the rocks. Trip with the cable-car or taxi through the bushy forest (Arbutus trees) to the top of the cliffs. Here we will find the tame Barbary ape which is the only species living in Europe. A close-up observation of birds of prey. Possibility to visit the magnificent Stalactite caves. Visit to the botanical gardens with succulents and tropical trees. There´s a good possibility from Punta Secreta, a headland south of Algeciras, to observe migrating Sea-fowl over the Straits of Gibraltar. Here on the rocks you can often see Audouin´s Gulls.

Day 7

Záhara, Véjer de la Frontera

Observations at the mouth of the Barate River and on the cliffs in a nature reserve where thousands of herons nest and breed in the spring. White-rumped Swift have also been seen in Barbate. Ascent to the picturesque former maurish town of Vétjer de la Frontera at the top of the cliffs.

Day 8

Migration at Bolonia

Walk to the almost 300m high Monte S. Bartolomé near the coast - migration observation. Travel to the shallow sweet-water lake Laguna de Medina where there are hundreds of Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shellduck, White-headed Duck, Marbled Teal, a few Red-knobbed Coot, a large number of Eurasian Coot and many waders.

Day 8

Departure

Transfer Málaga airport. Return flight.