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Birds In Cadiz Province

On our trips to the Coto Doñana in early Spring we will hope to watch Crested Coot, Marbled Teal, White-headed Duck, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Purple swamp Hen, Little Bustard, Dartford Warbler, Azure-winged Magpie and Black-shouldered Kite.

The Coto Doñana’s wetlands will give us the chance to see lots of other beautiful species, including Black Stork, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo, Red-crested Pochard. We will also look for Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Stone Curlew, Southern Grey Shrike, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparow, Serin and Azure-winged Magpie to name but a few!

During the autumn migration we can watch and enjoy the sight of large flocks of raptors soaring & gliding over the Straits of Gibraltar. This spectacle is a wonderful example of the “raw nature” of the natural selection process at work as large numbers leave for the south to find food and avoid the poor weather of the north. It is by far the most spectacular of the two annual migrations with springtime arrivals generally spread more gently over the early months and without the large flocks of raptors seen in August & September.

Migration is a dangerous time for a lot of species with high mortality rates in juvenile birds especially with smaller Passerines. A far greater number of juveniles cross during the autumn. Various problems arise during their first winter and they never make the return leg in spring. Local weather changes play a great part in bird migration and our guides will endeavour to seek out the very best observation points accordingly. We can expect to see Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Honey Buzzard and Sparrowhawk with clouds of White Stork and the scarcer Black Stork catching huge thermals then soaring or gliding across to Africa.

Some sea watching and various guided trips through the famous Alconocales (cork oak) natural park and other protected areas are included, as well as an optional boat trip to the island of Sancti Petri and nearby mudflats. All permits and special permissions are included in the price. All guides live and work the whole year in Andalusia and have intimate knowledge of all the birding areas and up to date knowledge of scarcer or unusual species location throughout the area. We keep our client informed about forthcoming weather and other relevant local information, culture and history. Guiding with our clients can only help to promote conservation by increasing awareness of the richness of this wonderful but fragile wildlife area.