Overview

Visit the most biodiverse region in Europe and aim for all five species of European Swift, plus myriad other bird species, during a weekend to remember – all while contributing to flyway conservation!

Little Swift

Common, Pallid, Alpine, Little and White-rumped.  From our home in Andalucía, we endeavour to bring you together with all five species of that most aerially superb genus, the Swift, all over the course of a weekend of fantastic and varied birding!

Because of its strategic position at the gateway of two continents, Andalucía is a unique blend of European and African, with our beloved Apus species passing through on their way to and from breeding grounds, and the more typically African amongst them choosing the Iberian peninsula as one of their very localised breeding sites in Europe.  It’s one of the very few places in Europe you can see them all!

This unique situation means that the summer birding here is some of the best in the Western Palearctic!  Continuing the theme of birds that are typically more easy to see in Africa than Europe, we´ll go and look for Northern Bald Ibis, Common Bulbul, Rüppell´s Vulture and Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin, as well as White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck and Red-knobbed Coot.

A visit to the less-explored eastern side of the Guadalquivir River takes us to the edge of Doñana Natural Park, where the salt pans and reed-fringed lagoons hold treasures such as Black-necked Grebe, Purple Swamphen, Little Bittern, Squacco and Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt and more!

Raptors abound on the plentiful Andaluz thermals, including Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagles, Mediterranean Peregrine Falcon, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black-winged Kites and Lesser Kestrels. Perhaps surprisingly, at this time of year, the return to Africa has already begun for some species, so we may well start to see flocks of White Storks and Black Kites crossing The Straits.

This southernmost Spanish province is the most biodiverse region not only in Spain but the whole of Europe.  Other birds and wildlife awaiting you on this trip include Black-eared Wheatear, Isabelline, Melodious and Western Bonelli´s Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hawfinch, Red-rumped Swallow and Crested Tit as well as glamorous invertebrates like Monarch and Cleopatra butterflies, Two-tailed Pashas, Four-spotted Emerald and Copper Demoiselle all in flight.

Couple this with tranquil accommodation in a lovingly-restored traditional Spanish ranch at the edge of the Natural Park itself, the chance to enjoy Lesser Kestrels amongst the picturesque streets and Moorish fortifications of the Old Town of Tarifa, and of course the chance to sample some of Andalucía’s best sustainable local food and wine, and you really will have a weekend to remember!

Northern Bald Ibis

About Our Partner

Conservation Careers has teamed up with a fantastic company located at epicentre of bird migration in Andalucía, Spain. From a migrating raptor’s point of view, they must surely also be at the centre of the world!

Our partner has turned traditional so-called “eco-tourism” on its head, putting conservation action and education at the very heart of what they do, not just as a guilt-assuaging afterthought to their trips.

They are birders, conservationists, travellers, and all-around nature-lovers. They love to marvel at the hundreds of thousands of birds that pass overhead, and to follow them on their migratory journey, exploring the whole range of fascinating and varied terrains they traverse each year.

But even more than that they love making sure you see it, experience it and have a fantastic time to boot. Between them they have a great deal of experience in nature conservation, ecology, tour-leading and the hospitality industry, and they’ll use it to bring you fantastic wildlife spectacles alongside chilled-out birding, local culture and sustainably-produced food.

If you enjoy amazing wildlife spectacles where adventure meets relaxation, fun, sustainability and flyway conservation, then you have found the right place!

If you register your interest below, we’ll put you in touch with our partner to take the booking and to plan your trip!

Conservation Impact

Conservation Careers has partnered with Terra Incognita to bring you tours and adventures that meet an Ethical Code of Conduct for Ecotourism, assuring you of their commitment to wildlife and local communities.

Conservation Careers is a Founding Partner of the Ethical Ecotourism Code of Conduct, which has been generated by a global community that includes over 80 ecotourism operators, industry experts, media representatives, local and Indigenous people and tourists.

Our Conservation Travel opportunities are for people who want their travel choices to have a net positive contribution to conservation. Explore all our Conservation Travel opportunities.

White Storks crossing The Straits

Expected Wildlife

As well as aiming for all five European Swift species, we can also hope for a great selection of raptors including Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagles, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black-winged Kites and Lesser Kestrels.  Perhaps surprisingly, at this time of year, the return to Africa has already begun for some species, so we may well start to see flocks of White Storks and Black Kites crossing The Straits.  Resident Spanish specialities include Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Crested Tit and Northern Bald Ibis.  Visits to wetlands should yield a host of waders including Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover and Collared Pratincole, as well as star birds like Red-knobbed Coot, White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Spoonbill and Greater Flamingo. 

This time of year is also superb for invertebrates, with Monarch butterflies, Two-tailed Pashas, Four-spotted Emerald and Copper Demoiselle all in flight. 

Itinerary

Day 1

We meet you at Gibraltar airport or other agreed arrival point, from where we transfer to our delightful base, a lovingly-restored traditional Spanish ranch, situated between two Natural Parks in the hills above The Straits of Gibraltar. 

After settling in, we’ll take time to explore our rich local surroundings in the Los Alcornocales natural park. This is the biggest Cork Oak forest in Europe and especially unique in the way that it gathers moisture coming in off the ocean to create a warm Mediterranean cloud forest. 

As well as some cracking local avian specialities in the form of Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Hawfinch and Short-toed Treecreeper, almost anything can turn up here during the early days of autumn migration, as passerines collect amongst the trees to gather strength for their southwards crossing of The Straits.  The nearby grazed pastures generate clouds of invertebrates, and we’ll be able to enjoy large numbers of resident Pallid Swifts mopping them up in the afternoon sun.

We’ll also explore the picturesque old town of Tarifa, where we can encounter Common Bulbuls (another unusual European ‘tick’), urban Little Owls and breeding Lesser Kestrels.   We’ll enjoy a stroll along the harbour front where, simply by looking up we’ll be able to see Pallid Swifts galore and pick out Common Swifts crossing over this historic town.

Day 2

This morning, as every morning, we’ll be looking up from our breakfast, watching for groups of Alpine Swift.  Groups of this super-sized swift will be passing overhead on their early morning passage flight, moving through from their mountain breeding grounds to their Sub-Saharan wintering areas.

We’ll start our off-site birding with a visit to the nearby town of Vejer de la Frontera, where a successful reintroduction programme of the Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis took place in 2004.  The population now numbers around 80 birds, and we should be able to see these engaging and quirky birds at their nesting colony or grazing on surrounding farmland.

Northern Bald Ibis

Then we’ll head out to the farmland and wetlands of La Janda, a huge area of low intensity farmland, once a vast wetland on a par with Doñana in terms of its ecological importance.  It’s long since been drained for agriculture, but amongst the newly-wetted rice fields and managed pools and ditches, some real wetland gems remain, hinting at its former natural glory.  Amongst many hundreds of White Stork and Glossy Ibis, here we should see many waders, wildfowl and raptors, such as Purple Swamphen, Marsh Harrier, Black-winged Kite.  There’s also a chance of Spanish Imperial Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagle, whilst the farmland areas should yield Spanish Sparrow, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Tawny Pipit, Greater Short-toed Lark, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Bunting.

We’ll round off the day with a visit to a tiny breeding colony of White-rumped Swift. Several pairs of this typically African breeding species have found and occupied a collection of old Red-rumped Swallow nests nearby, making this area one of only a handful of European sites for this fabulous little bird.  As well as visiting the nest site (always with care and consideration for the birds) we will enjoy them feeding over nearby open water, mixed in with many Common and Pallid Swifts, several species of Swallow and Martin, and hopefully also enjoy views of locally-breeding Western Osprey.

White-rumped Swift overhead

Day 3

Today we’ll make an early start to pick up the last of our five star swifts – Little Swift.  This is another typically African species, better known in the souks and medinas of Marrakech.  But again, for this tiny Apus The Straits have proved no barrier, and we will be able to visit a coastal breeding site near Cadiz to enjoy their aerial antics.

Little Swift

Cadiz Bay and the lagoons and the salt pans of Bonanza are home to some exceptional species.  We will take time to explore the creeks and lagoons of this very special area.

This area offers a fantastic selection of wetland birds which changes every day.  It is a draw for both north- and south-bound wading birds with breeding Collared Pratincoles, Black-winged Stilts, Pied Avocets and Kentish Plover also to be encountered. On nearby lagoons we hope to encounter Red-knobbed Coot and White-headed Duck at close range, whilst also observing busy nesting colonies of Black-crowned Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill and both Little and Cattle Egrets as Great Reed Warblers blast their song out from the surrounding reeds.

There are many coastal birds such as Sandwich, Little, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns, Slender-billed Gull and the once extremely rare Audouin’s Gull.  We should also encounter masses of Greater Flamingo and fishing Western Osprey.

Then it’s back to our accommodation, birding local sites en route, where we’ll celebrate our last night with traditional Andalucían fare at a local restaurant, and perhaps a glass or two of local sherry.

Day 4 

Today sadly our trip comes to an end, and it’s time for you to travel home, with memories of some great Andalucían wildlife, and with luck, our Swift page complete!

Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin

Dates & Cost

4 days – 16th July – 19th July 2021

4 days – 22nd – 25th July 2022

€750 for 4 days – price includes all accommodation, meals, guiding, transportation, taxes and entrances but excludes flights.

€150 deposit

€100 single supplement

 

Reserve your place or ask a question