The exact itinerary of any bird tour will depend on the time of year and general conditions, but the typical routes below gives some idea of the range of habitats covered in our area. We believe in making every tour relaxed and enjoyable, with lots of opportunity to admire the gorgeous scenery. Even at top speed, in practice it would be impossible to cover every site in a single day.
Many of the more widely-known birding spots will form part of most itineraries, as well they should, being some of the most productive sites in the area. Books such as John Butler's Birdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast (Santana Books) cover these very well.
A locally guided tour can, however, show you far more, especially in a short space of time. Many of the tracks and spots on our tours are not in any book - and what birds are around where is also governed by time of year and the conditions - things which your locally resident guides, Keith and Heidi, know intimately.
A locally guided tour can, however, show you far more, especially in a short space of time. Many of the tracks and spots on our tours are not in any book - and what birds are around where is also governed by time of year and the conditions - things which your locally resident guides, Keith and Heidi, know intimately.
Tour Day 1 - Local Habitats
Rio Guadalhorce
Starting out from Finca Limoneros, Alora, in the heart of the Rio Guadalhorce valley, the first sites to be visited will be 2 or 3 access points to the river, some of which are hard to find without being taken there.
Especially productive during the Winter, the river and surrounding riverbed is likely to reveal a variety of water birds - Grey Herons, Little and Cattle Egrets and Cormorants usually in numbers, Black (and sometimes White) Storks, Night Heron, Great Egret, Little Grebe, various gulls, White, Grey and Yellow Wagtails, Kingfisher. Also Waders such as Common and Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt.
Surrounding scrubland offers many passerines - Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Cetti's, Willow, Sardinian and Olivaceous Warbler, Serin, Spotted Flycatcher. Overhead, eagles often hunt in the valley, especially Booted Eagle, with always a chance of passing Bonelli's.
Amongst the exotics, Summer guarantees Bee-eaters and Hoopoes are not uncommon.
Especially productive during the Winter, the river and surrounding riverbed is likely to reveal a variety of water birds - Grey Herons, Little and Cattle Egrets and Cormorants usually in numbers, Black (and sometimes White) Storks, Night Heron, Great Egret, Little Grebe, various gulls, White, Grey and Yellow Wagtails, Kingfisher. Also Waders such as Common and Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt.
Surrounding scrubland offers many passerines - Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Cetti's, Willow, Sardinian and Olivaceous Warbler, Serin, Spotted Flycatcher. Overhead, eagles often hunt in the valley, especially Booted Eagle, with always a chance of passing Bonelli's.
Amongst the exotics, Summer guarantees Bee-eaters and Hoopoes are not uncommon.
Valle de Abdalajis and Gobantes
North of Alora and the Rio Guadalhorce lies the next white village, Valle de Abdalajis.
On the way we will take one or two diversions along rough mountain tracks set in dry, prairie-like rolling hills with magnificent views all around. Here we will be likely to find Southern Grey Shrike, Crested and Thekla Lark, Black-eared and Northern Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Kestrel and Little Owl. Raven and Hen Harrier may turn up here.
Reaching the beautiful setting of the white village of Valle de Abdalajis, we might see our first (but not last) Griffon Vultures of the day soaring in the thermals which attract hang-gliders from all over Europe. The countryside around here is good for Short-toed Eagles and Bee-eaters.
Beyond Valle and tucked away from the main road is Gobantes, a strange yet fascinating place with good places for Red-legged Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin. Its deserted and eerie railway station is set in a long stand of eucalyptus between two tunnels, often yielding Golden Orioles.
On the way we will take one or two diversions along rough mountain tracks set in dry, prairie-like rolling hills with magnificent views all around. Here we will be likely to find Southern Grey Shrike, Crested and Thekla Lark, Black-eared and Northern Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Kestrel and Little Owl. Raven and Hen Harrier may turn up here.
Reaching the beautiful setting of the white village of Valle de Abdalajis, we might see our first (but not last) Griffon Vultures of the day soaring in the thermals which attract hang-gliders from all over Europe. The countryside around here is good for Short-toed Eagles and Bee-eaters.
Beyond Valle and tucked away from the main road is Gobantes, a strange yet fascinating place with good places for Red-legged Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin. Its deserted and eerie railway station is set in a long stand of eucalyptus between two tunnels, often yielding Golden Orioles.
The lakes at Ardales
We turn West and climb a high pass over the Eastern-most lake. Tricky to find and follow, this unmade track is used by hang-gliders to reach one of their launch points. With fabulous views over the lake - perhaps the best views in the whole of the lake district - this is an unmissable trip from the scenic point of view alone.
It's also a great birding spot, and one which is reliable for Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Rock Bunting. Red-billed Choughs and Griffon Vultures are normally in the air around the Southern cliff face, the Griffons sometimes perched on the ridge, and Bonelli's Eagles frequent the cliffs too.
It's also a great birding spot, and one which is reliable for Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Rock Bunting. Red-billed Choughs and Griffon Vultures are normally in the air around the Southern cliff face, the Griffons sometimes perched on the ridge, and Bonelli's Eagles frequent the cliffs too.
The Teba Gorge
A scenic route through the lakes takes us to the Sierra de Penarrubias and the Teba Gorge. The observatory at the sierra affords excellent views of the towering cliff face, where Griffons, Red-billed Choughs and Bonelli's Eagle may be seen.
Further on the gorge is a well-known rock bird habitat, and Crag Martins, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting and more Choughs are frequent.
Egyptian Vultures breed in the gorge every year, and Bonelli's Eagles are also resident here.
Most of a day will have gone by this time - in fact birding is often so good that we don't make it this far on a single day. We return towards our home base of Alora.
Further on the gorge is a well-known rock bird habitat, and Crag Martins, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting and more Choughs are frequent.
Egyptian Vultures breed in the gorge every year, and Bonelli's Eagles are also resident here.
Most of a day will have gone by this time - in fact birding is often so good that we don't make it this far on a single day. We return towards our home base of Alora.
Tour Day 2 - Heading North
El Chorro and Bobastro
If we didn't make it on the first day, we head for the Teba gorge and the Sierra de Panarrubia via the magnificent Natural Park of El Chorro.
World-famous as a climbing area because of the proliferation of near-vertical cliff faces in and around the gorge, El Chorro offers some of the most stunning scenery in the area.
Passing by the typical tourist view of the mouth of the gorge from the main road, we will wind through the tiny village and approach the gorge on the other side of the lake. A walking-only track leads us up through pine and eucalyptus forest - home of Golden Oriole, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Crossbill, Crested and other tits - to the mouth at close quarters. Griffons regularly patrol the cliff face through which the river tumbles, and Red-billed Choughs dive and swoop in the gorge itself.
If time and fitness permit, a 45 minute walk up to the 'saddle' - the clifftops at the head of the gorge up in the lakes - is an excellent option. Not only a nice, fairly gentle ramble through lovely scenery, it leads to one of the very best places for observing Griffon Vultures. In late afternoon, they can be seen, often from above, swooping into the gorge to roost on the opposite cliff. On a windy day (and most days are up there) close views may be had as these huge raptors struggle to alight on their precariously rocky perches. Overhead, Peregrine, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk overfly regularly, and Merlin and Golden Eagle are seen occasionally.
World-famous as a climbing area because of the proliferation of near-vertical cliff faces in and around the gorge, El Chorro offers some of the most stunning scenery in the area.
Passing by the typical tourist view of the mouth of the gorge from the main road, we will wind through the tiny village and approach the gorge on the other side of the lake. A walking-only track leads us up through pine and eucalyptus forest - home of Golden Oriole, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Crossbill, Crested and other tits - to the mouth at close quarters. Griffons regularly patrol the cliff face through which the river tumbles, and Red-billed Choughs dive and swoop in the gorge itself.
If time and fitness permit, a 45 minute walk up to the 'saddle' - the clifftops at the head of the gorge up in the lakes - is an excellent option. Not only a nice, fairly gentle ramble through lovely scenery, it leads to one of the very best places for observing Griffon Vultures. In late afternoon, they can be seen, often from above, swooping into the gorge to roost on the opposite cliff. On a windy day (and most days are up there) close views may be had as these huge raptors struggle to alight on their precariously rocky perches. Overhead, Peregrine, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk overfly regularly, and Merlin and Golden Eagle are seen occasionally.
Across the river, the mountain known as Bobastro has ancient Moorish ruins of a fortress carved out of the huge boulders, including a church and crypt, well worth a visit. At the mountain top a bar provides great views and welcome refreshment.
Many rock dwellers may be seen whilst traversing the mountain, such as Southern Grey Shrike, Merlin, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli's Eagle and a colony of Rock Sparrows.
Many rock dwellers may be seen whilst traversing the mountain, such as Southern Grey Shrike, Merlin, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli's Eagle and a colony of Rock Sparrows.
The lakes at Campillos
Beyond Teba is Campillos, a quiet town set on a flat plain west of Antequera. The main attractions here are three lakes. Laguna Dulce is the largest and best known, being visible from the Campillos-Antequera road, but is also the shallowest and the first to dry up when dry weather comes. In Winter, though, after autumn rains, this is an excellent place to see Greater Flamingoes and a wide variety of waders, waterfowl, herons, gulls and terns. It even has a hide and picnic area.
Lagunas Salada and Capacete are harder to find, the first almost impossible without a guide (and as luck would have it, the last to dry up). Both of these are good for the same water birds as Dulce, but each lake always turns up some surprises, water level permitting. Laguna Salada is home to a colony of Gull-billed Terns, for instance.
At the time of writing (autumn 2006) Laguna Dulce has been totally dry for 18 months, and Capacete since early 2006. Salada maintained some water level until almost the summer, which was very good going.
The Campillos area is also a great area for raptors, especially on passage - I have seen as many as 10 Montagu's Harriers in the air at one time - and Raven.
Lagunas Salada and Capacete are harder to find, the first almost impossible without a guide (and as luck would have it, the last to dry up). Both of these are good for the same water birds as Dulce, but each lake always turns up some surprises, water level permitting. Laguna Salada is home to a colony of Gull-billed Terns, for instance.
At the time of writing (autumn 2006) Laguna Dulce has been totally dry for 18 months, and Capacete since early 2006. Salada maintained some water level until almost the summer, which was very good going.
The Campillos area is also a great area for raptors, especially on passage - I have seen as many as 10 Montagu's Harriers in the air at one time - and Raven.
Fuente de Piedra
This vast, shallow salt lagoon is famous for being one of the top two Greater Flamingo breeding grounds in Europe (along with the Camargue in France). As many as 12000 birds are estimated to breed here in a good year (i.e. one in which there is sufficient water level).
There is a visitor centre, with even a guide who will talk and answer questions (in Spanish only so far).
The sheer size of the lagoon - many kilometres across - inevitably means that most birds will be distant, though there are often small numbers of flamingoes and lots of other waders such as Black-winged Stilts around the fenced-off edges.
Not far from Campillos, Fuente is a bird-rich environment and a circuit of the lagoon can produce lots of interesting sightings, Montagu's Harriers and Black-winged Kites amongst them.
There is a visitor centre, with even a guide who will talk and answer questions (in Spanish only so far).
The sheer size of the lagoon - many kilometres across - inevitably means that most birds will be distant, though there are often small numbers of flamingoes and lots of other waders such as Black-winged Stilts around the fenced-off edges.
Not far from Campillos, Fuente is a bird-rich environment and a circuit of the lagoon can produce lots of interesting sightings, Montagu's Harriers and Black-winged Kites amongst them.
Tour Day 3 - Heading South
Rio Grande
Today we head South-east towards Malaga. Our first port of call is the Rio Grande at Cartama and we follow it to and beyond its junction with the Guadalhorce.
This is quite an adventure along a rough track with several fords crossing one or other of the rivers. For some reason the birds here are exceptionally unafraid and this is a great place for photography. It is quite easy to see very close views indeed of such water birds as Little Ringed Plover, Yellow and White Wagtail, Green and Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilts and many others, and Nightingale, many warblers, Raven and Jay are regularly seen here.
This is quite an adventure along a rough track with several fords crossing one or other of the rivers. For some reason the birds here are exceptionally unafraid and this is a great place for photography. It is quite easy to see very close views indeed of such water birds as Little Ringed Plover, Yellow and White Wagtail, Green and Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilts and many others, and Nightingale, many warblers, Raven and Jay are regularly seen here.
Paraje Natural de Guadalhorce
This Natural Park is quite large, 67 hectares in area, and is effectively an island in the estuary of the Rio Guadalhorce as it flows out into the Mediterranean.
Unexpectedly close to Malaga airport and bordered by the busy N340 motorway, this site is an essential place to visit for birders. The island contains many lakes, ponds and marshes amongst the scrubland, a beach along one edge, and scattered trees, soffering a range of habitats.
Water birds, of course, predominate, from Little Ringed Plover and Little Stint to (huge numbers of) Grey Herons, egrets and waterfowl including the rare White-headed Duck.
But this is also an excellent raptor site. Booted Eagles occur frequently, Osprey and Marsh Harrier are readily seen. Seabirds too are numerous, with the scarce Audouin's Gull and a variety of terns, Sandwich, Little and Common, most notable. Rarities such as Franklin's Gull have been recorded here with some regularity.
It takes several hours to do justice to the reserve and a late luch will probably follow.
Unexpectedly close to Malaga airport and bordered by the busy N340 motorway, this site is an essential place to visit for birders. The island contains many lakes, ponds and marshes amongst the scrubland, a beach along one edge, and scattered trees, soffering a range of habitats.
Water birds, of course, predominate, from Little Ringed Plover and Little Stint to (huge numbers of) Grey Herons, egrets and waterfowl including the rare White-headed Duck.
But this is also an excellent raptor site. Booted Eagles occur frequently, Osprey and Marsh Harrier are readily seen. Seabirds too are numerous, with the scarce Audouin's Gull and a variety of terns, Sandwich, Little and Common, most notable. Rarities such as Franklin's Gull have been recorded here with some regularity.
It takes several hours to do justice to the reserve and a late luch will probably follow.
Montes de Malaga
The range of hills north of the city of Malaga offer some of the most dramatic views and scenery in the area, and is an excellent place for encounters with Short-toed Eagles in particular.
The steep, pine-forested slopes house yet another range of bird species such as Crossbill, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Rock Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
To tour the entire Natural Park again takes hours so this will likely be our final destination, but if time permits the Rio Turon estuary further along the coast is another excellent site.
The steep, pine-forested slopes house yet another range of bird species such as Crossbill, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Rock Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
To tour the entire Natural Park again takes hours so this will likely be our final destination, but if time permits the Rio Turon estuary further along the coast is another excellent site.