Spain - Andalucia for autumn migration and Iberian specialities

More raptors and other large soaring birds migrate across the Straits of Gibraltar annually than at any other site in Europe. Counts suggest upwards of 275,000 pass between July and November, plus over 100,000 White Stork and all of Western Europe's Black Storks. A daily stream of thousands filter southwards through Spain, with concentrations in different places according to the weather. If this is unsuitable for passage, birds still continue to funnel into the area each day until there may be 10,000 individuals waiting to cross the Straits.

During this exciting holiday we watch spectacular migration from a variety of viewpoints, which we visit according to prevailing weather conditions and raptor movement. Connecting with bird movements is not straightforward, and good local knowledge and flexibility in movement is vital to ensure we have the best experience. There may also be significant passerine migration during our visit, and as an additional focus, we also take time to find key local resident birds rare or unknown elsewhere in Europe.

Target raptors include Black Kite, Egyptian, Griffon and Rüppell's Vulture, Spanish Imperial, Short-toed, Bonelli's and Booted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier and Lesser Kestrel. Our long list of raptors may also include Golden Eagle and Black Vulture.

Local species include Northern Bald Ibis, Marbled Teal, White-headed Duck, Purple Gallinule, Greater Flamingo and Glossy Ibis in the now dry “marismas”, Balearic and Cory's Shearwater, Audouin's and Slender-billed Gull, Caspian and Lesser Crested Terns on the coast, Spotless Starling and Spanish Sparrow inland and other migrating birds such as Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe and Bee-eater.

This is a real feast of birds in a warm and inviting Mediterranean environment, plus the opportunity of observing Long-finned Pilot Whale and up to three species of dolphins in the Strait's waters. Many of the local Spanish towns are unspoilt “pueblos blancos”, and we spend time investigating areas away from the main tourist spots on the costa. 

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1: Sat 20 September 2025 - Arrival and Transfer to Zahara de los Atunes
After relaxing in our complimentary VIP Airport Lounge, we fly to Málaga where our guide will greet us. Time permitting, we will bird en-route to our hotel where we are based for the week, stopping perhaps at viewpoints along the coastal drive to provide us with our first looks at the migrant birds as they funnel into the Strait. 

Day 2: Sun 21 September - La Janda and the Barbate Marshes
La Janda, is an excellent site for raptors, wetland birds and passerines and as such offers a wide range of species. One of the best places to see Black-shouldered Kite, Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagle, while rarer species including Lanner Falcon and Pallid Harrier have also been recorded. This area is excellent for 'juvenile eagles', which patrol it as an “easy” hunting spot, due to the releases of Pheasant and Red Legged Partridge. Many other species, including Marsh and Montagu’s Harrier, Rufous Bush Chat, European Bee-eater and Red-rumped Swallow, Spanish Sparrow and Turtle Dove will now be on the move here, plus there is the outside chance of finding the incredibly cryptic Red-necked Nightjar at a daytime roost. After lunch in a local restaurant where we will enjoy typical Spanish “tapas”, tides permitting, we head to the Barbate Marshes, where the birding can be spectacular, including flocks of waders feeding at close range, roosting Stone-curlew in the saltmarsh, plus feeding Caspian and Little Tern and Greater Flamingo in the salt pans. Other possibilities on the coast include Audouin's Gull, Sanderling and Kentish Plover. We will also detour to look for the well-established Northern Bald Ibis from the reintroduced population breeding locally nearby, though they do not visit the colony at this time of year.

Day 3: Mon 22 September - Lower Guadalquivir River and Cádiz Coast
Following an early morning breakfast, we drive to the southeast boundary of Doñana National Park beside the lower Guadalquivir River. The Sanlúcar salt pans hold a fine concentration of waders, raptors, Slender-billed Gull and Greater Flamingo amongst other species and in the small lakes nearby we will search for two of the most emblematic and sought-after birds of the Western Palearctic: White-headed and Marbled Duck. Other possible birds include Red-knobbed Coot, Purple Swamphen, Black-crowned Night Heron, Wryneck and Iberian Grey Shrike, while we also keep a keen eye open for the elusive Mediterranean Chameleon. A picnic lunch may be taken at a nearby rivermouth beach where we look for the rich variety of waders and terns that the area holds, plus we head to Europe’s largest little swift colony. There perhaps may even be time to drop in to look for any rarities that may be along this part of the coast, such as the occasional Roseate or Elegant Tern that appear here almost annually.

Day 4: Tue 23 September - Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa Watchpoints & Whalewatching
Our morning will be spent visiting various raptor watchpoints, the road leading to Tarifa providing some of the best places to see thousands of birds on active migration. Flocks of Black Kite and White Stork may be seen, and depending on the winds we may see hundreds of Booted and Short-toed Eagle waiting to cross the Straits, while smaller numbers of Black Stork and Egyptian Vulture use the same route to fly south. Other birds crossing the Straits may include rarer migrants, such as Rüppell's Vulture, often flying with the numerous Griffon Vulture in the area. En-route we may stop to see Little Owl or Thekla's Lark.

In the afternoon will aim to enjoy a boat trip out of Tarifa which concentrates on seeing whales and dolphins, but also provides opportunities for observing both a few seabirds, including Cory’s and Balearic Shearwater, as well as migrant raptors and storks passing overhead out to sea!

Day 5: Wed 24 September - Algeciras/ Tarifa Viewpoints
After breakfast we drive to one or more of the local viewpoints based on the prevailing wind direction, these being key spots to watch the thousands of birds on active migration. Flocks of Black Kite and White Stork are some of the species that should be seen, and particularly with strong easterly winds, hundreds of Booted and Short-toed Eagle wait before crossing the Straits of Gibraltar, while smaller numbers of Black Stork and Egyptian Vulture use the same route to fly southwards. After lunch we may visit the Sierra de la Plata, where in addition to one of the best views towards Africa, Griffon Vulture rest on the cliffs and Blue Rock Thrushe play hide and seek along the ridgetops. Small numbers of migrant raptors, including regular Montagu’s Harrier and Osprey often pass through and butterflies such as the exquisite Two-tailed Pasha and huge Monarch butterfly can be found. The rare White–rumped Swift may be present in this area.

Day 6: Thu 25 September - Los Alcornocales Natural Park
Today we visit a corner of the huge Los Alcornocales Natural Park forest, which houses a wide variety of passerines and supports a strong community of raptors. Among the more interesting species we should mention Firecrest, Crested Tit, Iberian Chiffchaff, Hawfinch, Short-toed Treecreeper and Sardinian Warbler. Afterwards we continue to the Los Barrios area, where there are good chances of observing Osprey, Golden and Bonelli's Eagle and many vultures, storks and kites.

Day 7: Fri 26 September - Los Lances Beach and Algeciras Watchpoints
Our last full day will be dedicated to concentrating on the hottest sites for migration, or if the weather’s wrong, revisiting some of the most productive sites seen earlier in the week and chasing down local specialities! After breakfast we head to Los Lances beach, one of the best places to see waders on migration as well as different species of gulls and terns. Among a range of commoner species we look for regular rarities such as Lesser Crested Tern or perhaps Dotterel which use this reserve during their autumn migration. A single Common Bulbul in Tarifa is the only representative of the species in Europe, inviting a look, while perhaps the pair of House Bunting, the first of their species to breed successfully in Europe in September 2023 in Algeciras, will make a reappearance!

Day 8: Sat 27 September - Departure
Given appropriate flights time, we do a little more birding locally, catching up on any last minute additions to our bird list, before making our way to the airport for the journey home. 

What's included in your holiday price:

• return scheduled flight from London – Málaga, airport taxes, baggage and hand luggage up to airline included limit.
• airport transfers, ground transportation, accommodation and meals as specified.
• the services of your Heatherlea leader(s).
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included subject to terms and conditions. Read more....

What's not included in your holiday price:

• travel to and from departure airport before and after holiday, baggage above airline included limit.
• incidental tips, expenses of a personal nature including drinks and personal insurance.

More holiday information:

Accommodation: is in a comfortable rural hotel with all rooms en suite.
Food: Breakfast is typical of Spain, consisting of a roll with jam and cheese. Fruit juice and tea or coffee is also available. Picnic lunches will include a variety of local produce plus soft drinks, and we also enjoy tapas-style restaurant meals on some days. Evening meals are generally local dishes, which are very good but sometimes simple. Food is usually plentiful. Vegetarian and other diets are welcome.
Walking: The holiday is not strenuous, and walking is generally easy, on paths and tracks. Most birding is done close to our vehicle, and even on the longest walks we are never far from the minibuses, should anyone wish to go back.
Weather:  Typically, temperatures will range from 15°C in the early morning to 25°C in the heat of the day. Sunshine should be plentiful, but wind, cloud and rain are very possible. Hot weather, with temperatures as high as 30+°C, is uncommon, but possible.
Insects: Biting insects are not expected but we are near wetlands at times. You might wish to bring insect repellent as a precaution only.
Group: size is restricted to 7 clients per guide, 12 clients maximum.
Flights: are by scheduled airline, from London. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another location and/or or quote without flights so you can make your own arrangements. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.

 

YOUR GUIDES

John Muddeman - lives in the mountains near Madrid, and has led numerous birding tours throughout Spain. A very experienced Leader with over 300 group tours worldwide to his name, John began birding and guiding in Andalucia soon after moving to Spain in 1997. He has usually guided the Straits of Gibraltar and surrounding area several times annually in each of the past 20 years, especially during the exciting migration seasons. John also has a keen interest in the field identification and conservation of reptiles and amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies and moths, mammals and flora. Author of "A birdwatching guide to Extremadura" in 2000, John is an honorary member of the regional guiding association, GUIDEX.