Overview

Experience the epicentre for one of the world’s most spectacular bird migrations and get up close and personal with many species of dolphins and whales – plus contribute to flyway conservation!

Short-toed Eagle

The Strait of Gibraltar is the point at which Africa and Europe are at their closest, and is the epicentre for one of the world’s most spectacular bird migrations.  Every year, millions of birds make the 14 km sea crossing, making use of uplifts and thermals to make the journey. An estimated 250,000 raptors pass over this rugged terrain during these periods, as well as untold thousands of other journeying passerines and seabirds moving through The Straits.

This fluke-y combination of geography and geology means a helping hand for birds and quite simply spectacular birding for us!  The incredible natural phenomenon of visible migration will be happening all around us as Black Kites, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, White Storks, Honey Buzzards and more soar across the divide – simply unforgettable scenes.

A boat trip into The Straits itself will let you get close and personal with the many cetacean species that can be found in spring and autumn, such as Common, Bottlenose and Striped Dolphins and Long-finned Pilot Whale – even Fin, Sperm Whales and Orca are possible here.  There are seabirds to look out for too, and we can hope to see Cory´s, Scopoli’s and Balearic Shearwaters, Northern Gannets, and in the right conditions, Wilson’s Storm Petrels.

There will also be time to explore more of the area’s superb habitats and connect with local specialities, which include Rüppell’s Vulture, Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagle and Blue rock Thrush in the mountains, Northern Bald Ibis and Audouin’s Gull around the coastal wetlands and pastures, Red-necked Nightjar and Black-winged Kite on farmland and Crested Tits, Hawfinches and Firecrests in the woodlands of Los Alcornocales Natural Park, Europe’s largest Cork Oak forest.  The diversity and wealth of avian and other wildlife in this beautifully unspoilt area of Spain really is astounding!

Couple this with tranquil accommodation in an eco-lodge at the edge of the Natural Park itself, the chance to enjoy the picturesque streets and Moorish fortifications of the Old Town of Tarifa, and of course the chance to sample some of Andalucía’s best local food and wine, and you really do have a trip that’s Strait-up fantastic!

Migrating White Storks

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!

Black Kite

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.

Adult male European Honey Buzzard.

About Andalucía

This southernmost province of Spain is perhaps best known for its fantastic tapas, passionate discussions, and welcoming people. However it is also the most biodiverse region not only in Spain but the whole of Europe.  This comes not only from the low-intensity land use in the area and the innate local respect for the natural world, but also from the range of habitats here, from mountains right down to coastal, with everything in between.

Because of its strategic position at the gateway of two continents, the land here has changed hands countless times in history between the ruling forces of Europe and North Africa, so the culture here is a fascinating blend of Mediterranean and Moroccan.  The flora and fauna too provides tantalising glimpses of nature from across the waters, and from a migratory bird’s perspective it is quite simply the centre of the world!

Expected Birds 

A massive migration event is in progress at these times of the year, as birds journey south to winter or north to breed. We hope to see several species of raptor including Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli’s Eagles and Spanish Imperial Eagles alongside tens of thousands of migrating raptors Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, interspersed with huge flocks of White and Black Storks and European Bee-eaters. Resident Spanish specialities include Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Crested Tit and Northern Bald Ibis. Visits to wetlands should yield a host of waders including Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Little Stint and Collared Pratincole, as well a star birds like Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Spoonbill and Greater Flamingo.

Our boat trip should give us views of Cory’s, Scopoli’s and Balearic Shearwaters as well as Long- finned Pilot Whales, Common and Striped Dolphins and possibly Sperm Whale, Fin Whale and Orca.

Fin Whale

Itinerary

Day 1

We meet you at Gibraltar airport or other agreed arrival point and transfer to our eco-resort in tranquil woodland, the centre of birding in The Straits. Our base at Huerta Grande is ideal for watching the migration as it is located between two Natural Parks in the hills above The Straits of Gibraltar, amongst lush Cork Oak forest. In the right conditions we should witness many hundreds of migratory birds making the crossing to their wintering grounds in Africa or breeding grounds in Europe, including Egyptian Vultures, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Black Kites and both Black and White Storks.

Black Stork

Day 2

We will take a boat excursion, weather permitting, into The Straits to witness the seabird passage and cetaceans. We will be on the lookout for Cory’s, Scopoli’s and Balearic Shearwaters among other species, plus the three species of resident dolphin (Common, Bottlenose and Striped) and the resident pods of Long-finned Pilot Whale. Once back on dry land, we will have a go at some urban birding around the old town of Tarifa where we can encounter Common Bulbul and breeding Lesser Kestrels. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at a nearby coastal viewpoint overlooking Tarifa and The Straits. Simply by looking up you will be able to see migrating raptors and storks crossing over this historic town.

White Storks crossing The Straits

Day 3

We’ll spend the morning at Los Lances nature reserve, a small area of intertidal habitat on Tarifa beach. On the short walk across low intensity farmland, we may see Crested Lark, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Iberian Yellow Wagtails and Corn Bunting.  A boardwalk takes us out to a hide, from where we can look across the lagoons to see birds including Common Ringed and Kentish Plover, Sanderling and Little Stint. There is a decent chance of visiting Western Osprey here too, other birds can include Sandwich and Caspian Terns, and the once extremely rare Audouin’s Gull.

Migratory movement is completely dependent on wind strength and direction. Depending on whether birds are crossing or gathering inland waiting for their moment, this afternoon will be spent at one of several local raptor watchpoints, making the absolute most of whatever the conditions bring us and ensuring we are in the right place at the right time to see this spellbinding spectacle.

European Bee-eater

Day 4

Today, alongside more raptor-watching at sites with stunning views across The Straits to North Africa, we will make a visit to a nearby nature reserve created on the site of disused salt pans. This area offers a fantastic selection of waders which change every day, but we will especially hope for encounters with Kentish Plovers, Eurasian Stone-curlews, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and Collared Pratincole, which have a breeding colony at the site.  We will also look out for eye-catchers like Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo and Western Osprey.

Also close by is the town of Vejer de la Frontera, where a successful reintroduction programme of the Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis took place in 2004.  The local population now numbers around 80, and we should be able to see these engaging and quirky birds at their nesting colony or grazing on surrounding farmland.

Collared Pratincole

Day 5

Today we will visit the farmland and wetlands of La Janda. The huge area of farmland was once a vast wetland on a par with Doñana in terms of its ecological importance. It has long since been drained for agriculture, but amongst the 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 as well as a chance of Spanish Imperial Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagle whilst the farmland areas should yield Spanish Sparrow, Calandra Lark and perhaps Red-necked Nightjar.

Red-necked Nightjar

Day 6

Our last full day in Spain taking time to explore our rich local surroundings in Los Alcornocales Natural Park. This is the biggest Cork Oak forest in Europe and is 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 adorable 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 autumn migration, as passerines collect amongst the trees to gather strength for their journey.

There are also a host of interesting rare plants to see here, such as the quasi-endemic carnivorous plant Drosophyllum lusitanicum, which occurs only here and in some areas of Portugal.

We will also have a look at the high rocky cliffs of Sierra de la Plata. Here, amongst the eerie screeching of the resident Griffon Vulture colony, mountain specialities such as Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, and Rock Bunting are all likely to be encountered.

We should again find ourselves in the midst of the Autumn raptor migration, and will take our final chance to sit back and relax with a picnic and a glass of wine at a raptor watchpoint as the spectacular birds drift overhead.

Booted Eagle

Day 7

Today sadly our trip comes to an end, and it is time to make your own migratory journey home.

Egyptian Vulture

Dates & Cost

Spring dates:

7 days – 31st March – 6th April 2022

Autumn dates:

7 days – 2nd September – 8th September 2021

7 days – 1st September – 7th September 2022

€1,200 for 7 days – price includes all accommodation, meals, guiding, transportation, taxes and entrances but excludes flights.

€240 deposit

€160 single supplement

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