SPAIN BIRD TOURS

Plus the world famous Doñana

From the breathtaking scenery of the Serranía de Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema, we journey southwards to the Doñana. This 7 night and 8 day Spanish spectacular takes in the very best that Spain has to offer the birdwatcher.

TOUR DATES:

1^stTour  4th May – 11th May 2008 FULLY BOOKED
2^ndTour  31st  August – 7th September 2008 FULLY BOOKED

Starting with 2 nights in the Serranía de Ronda the tour then moves to the Doñana for 3 nights, returning to Serranía de Ronda for a further 2 nights.The whole tour is based on our own local guides, using local knowledge to produce maximum numbers of must-see birds. Along with knowing where the birds are, Spanish Nature has ensured you also have the time to enjoy them! The timing of the daily trips allows you to relax and enjoy a hectic free and a relaxing holiday. The hotels selected are extremely good and provide for your comfort and enjoyment. No long walks are scheduled, but plenty of observation stops will be required to get the best from this tour. The tour is recommended for both expert and beginner. A maximum tour party size of 12 persons ensures individual attention from your guide.

Direct flights to Málaga. The price for flights is not included in the tour price. Prospective travellers are requested to view various low cost airlines, which can be found on the internet i.e. Easyjet etc. The advantage of setting Málaga as the airport destination is the number of airlines operating to here. Please be advised, you should aim for a morning arrival in order to be included in our free airport pick-up service. Your departure time should be p.m. Included in the price of the tours is all accommodation, food, free transport and guides. Note: Drinks and personal purchases are ‘not’ included.

Itinerary.

Day One.

Arrival and meeting of group in Málaga. Drive from Málaga to Ronda and our first nights stay in the Serranía de Ronda. Here we can discuss our schedules for the rest of the tour. Hopefully, for those not requiring a rest from their journey to Spain, we will have time to explore the area close to the hotel for local and ‘special’ birds i.e. Western Olivaceous Warbler, Golden Oriole and Alpine Swift.

Day Two.

After a late and relaxed breakfast, we will make our way into the nearby mountain range for typical species such as Griffon and Egyptian Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Black and Black-eared Wheatear, Black Redstart, Rock and Cirl Bunting, Thekla Lark and the difficult Rock Sparrow. From here we will waste little time heading for our lunch stop! On our way we are likely to see Bee Eaters, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrike, Crag Martin, Short-toed and Booted Eagle. After our lunch stop, we hope to see Lesser Kestrel, Osprey, Warbler sp. and the extremely difficult White-rumped Swift! Heading over a high mountain pass, we need to keep a watch for Sub-alpine Warblers, Chough, Peregrine and Rock Thrush. The flora on this part of the tour, during May, will produce many opportunities for those with an interest.

Day Three.

With all day to reach our hotel in the midst of the famous wetlands of the Doñana, we will start the day with a relaxed breakfast. Our journey will take in open, wooded and aquatic habitats. Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite, White Stork and other sought after species should provide plenty of interest along our way. Hopefully, we will have time enough to explore the area of the Doñana near to the hotel before dinner.

Day Four and Day Five.

Doñana National Park occupies the west bank of the river Guadalquivir at its estuary on the Atlantic Ocean. It is notable for the great diversity of its biotypes, especially lagoons, marshlands, fixed and mobile dunes, scrub woodland and maquis. It is home to five threatened bird species. It has one of the largest heronries in the Mediterranean region and is the wintering site for more than 500,000 waterfowl each year. Arguably the most well-known and important wetland in Europe and the whole area can be ours for the next two days! Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Heron sp, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier to name only a very few species which we are likely to see. What can be guaranteed is a hatful of sought after species as reward for our two-day’s birding. Of course, not only aquatic species frequent this area. Other species, which occur are Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Lesser Short-toed Lark, again naming only a few!

Day Six.

We depart the Doñana, comforted by the thought of returning to the Serranía de Ronda. Taking a longer, but different route from the one we used on our outward journey to the Doñana. Travelling via Jerez to the Serranía, we hope to find Collared Pranticole and again attempt to find White-rumped Swift. Entering the Sierra de Grazalema, the area we pass through is a good site for Golden Eagle as well as other raptors including Goshawk. We pass close to a feeding area for Griffon Vulture and also around these areas are Egyptian Vulture and Black Kite. The woodland areas are good for Hawfinch and the valley could produce the resident African sub-species of Great Spotted Woodpecker mauritanus.

Day Seven.

Today we explore areas within the Sierra de las Nieves natural park (another biosphere park) and hope to find territorial male Rock Thrush, Spectacled and Sub-alpine Warbler, Black-eared, Northern and Black Wheatears. One particular site is extremely good for giving views of Golden, Bonelli, Booted and Short-toed Eagle. At the same site we hope to also see Tawny Pipit and the handsome southern Black Redstart. Within the park, Red-necked Nightjar is common albeit more readily observed at dusk. Higher areas also have good populations of Bonelli’s Warbler, Redstart (together with Northern Wheatear, this species has it’s most southerly European breeding population here), Firecrest, Hawfinch and Crossbill. Depending on our progress, it may be possible to make an afternoon visit to a vulture feeding station and it’s surrounding area, which can be good for Montague’s Harrier and Calandra Lark.

Day Eight.

With a p.m departure, then there is time for a morning visit to the ancient town of Ronda. The town is beautiful and steeped in history and culture. Birds can also be found here, especially by the famous Tajo, where it is possible to see Alpine, Common and Pallid Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow, Lesser Kestrel, Peregrine and Crag Martin. Dependent on the earliest flights home, we can either have lunch in Ronda or on our way to Málaga airport.

 

At A Glance 8 Day Itinerary
	Accommodation		Visited Areas
Day One	Molino Del Santo		Collection from Málaga Airport and transfer to Hotel. Cuevo del Gato.
Day Two	Molino Del Santo		Sierra de Grazalema
Day Three	Andalusi Park		Sierra de Grazalema / Arcos / Jerez / Seville
Day Four	Andalusi Park		Donaña
Day Five	Andalusi Park		Donaña
Day Six	Molino Del Santo		Serranía de Ronda
Day Seven	Molino Del Santo		Sierra de las Nieves / Alta Genal
Day Eight	Transfer to Airport		Ronda & transfer to Málaga Airport
Price Details for this Tour
		Price per person		Single Room Supplement
		895 GBP		200 GBP
Deposit pp		200 GBP
Please note: Above prices exclude Flights, Insurance and personal purchases
Included in the tour costs are all accommodation, all meals, all free transport including airport transfers and guides.

For further details or to Book Now, please complete our enquiry form on Contact Us page.

The maximum tour party size is 12.

To know more about us, please refer to the Spanish Nature page.