Nine days in Andalusia

     This was my first foreign birding trip in nearly two and half years, so my expectations were high Thankfully, the nine days spent with friends in Andalusia did indeed live up to them. Our target to see over 150 different species was well met, with a final tally of 159.  Our main reason for going at this time of the year was to catch the tail end of the Autumn migration over the narrow straits between Spain and North Africa, which act as a funnel for many species of birds leaving Europe for the winter months. On some days the number of birds of prey passing over Tarifa and nearby Gibralter on the edge of Spain reaches tens of thousands. Sadly we encountered strong, blustery winds during our visit which gave many birds second thoughts about venturing out but we still witnessed a steady flow of Swallows, martins and eagles heading out. Although resident in Spain, many Griffon Vultures head off to North Africa when conditions allowed and there were vultures in the air every day of our trip.

Griffon Vultures waiting for the right conditions to cross to Africa

A Vulture in flight testing the thermals

Marble Duck - a very rare visitor to the UK, resident in Spain

The Purple Gallinule or Swamphen, a relative of the Coot

 Swallowtails are always worth a photograph

The Monarch is a New World species that has established itself in Southern Spain

The Kestrel sized Black-winged Kite, a superb bird of prey

One of many Black-winged Stilts seen, one or two pairs now nest in the UK

A Short-toed Eagle

 It always seem strange seeing Flamingoes outside a zoo, these are Greater Flamingoes

Rock Thrushes are birds of high mountains with a fine flutey song

After leaving the Tarifa area we heard that we had just missed the passage of over 2000 Short-tailed Eagles one afternoon. Not an unusual count for this species. This was little annoying but we did have good views the day before of nearly 80 birds roosting at the top of pine trees in a sheltered valley back from the coast where they were waiting for the wind to drop. Birds of prey rely on calm conditions so that they can gain height on thermals and glide across the short but dangerous distance. Strong winds make the crossing even more hazardous.

    Our list of birds seen on the trip included many favourites of mine from previous visits to the country including Black-winged Kites, Blue Rock Thrush, Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Black-winged Stilts and Red-rumped Swallows. We saw an impressive tally of 20 species of birds of prey including Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle and several Ospreys. We listed three owl species too. Hearing an Eagle Owl hooting away to its mate at two in the morning was one of those wonderful birding moments.