£900 p/p
5 days / 4 nights
SPECIAL OFFER
£75 off fees booking before 1st Mar ‘2025
5 days
Several days
Spain
Max 6 persons
Single supp £250
BOOKINGS
Dates are available on an upon-request basis and will get taken up quite quickly. Please contact me asap to request your preferred dates to avoid dissapointment. Birdwatching in Doñana and Strait of Gibraltar never disappoints!
Griffon vulture from our bird photography sessions @Andrew Fortuna
OVERVIEW
This tour is the second most popular and requested birdwatching holidays, designed to enjoy the best birds, nature, scenery (and cusine!) of southern Spain.
We will start our journey in Gibraltar or Sevilla collecting our clients at their respective airports, or any other agreed collection point. We transfer immediately to Doñana for two nights. Its varied and rich habitats is arguably one of the most important wetland in Europe, holding sensitive species such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the IIberian Lynx.
Although Doñana is primarily devoid of mountains, it has a variety of different habitats such as its natural wetlands, which can become relatively dry during the Summer months, the sand dunes along to the Atlantic costline, the Stone Pine forests, as well as the presence of different Mediterranean bushes flora.
Doñana is currently under the threat of illegal wells and the irresponsible use of the water provided by its aquifers that provide water to hundreds of cultivated hectares. Doñana still remains one of the main regions for the endangered Iberian Lynx as well as offering a safe refuelling area for thousands of passerine birds during their Spring and autumn migrations.
If the rains have plentiful during the wet months we can experience an amazing mosaic of colourful flora on the terrain. There are not many wildlife sanctuaries in Europe with such biodiversity. Birdwatching in Doñana and Strait of Gibraltar never disappoints!
Included
– Pick-up from Gibraltar / Sevilla airport
– Drop-off airports (times to be agreed)
– Ground transport, air-conditioned
– 4 nights B&B accommodation
– 2 nights in Doñana, 2 nights in La Linea
– Breakfast & tapas lunches
– Professional bilingual bird guide
– Use of KOWA telescope + binoculars
– Basic indemnity insurance
– Bird checklist
– All taxes
Not included
– Personal / health / travel insurance
– Dinner
– A la carte meals
– All other drinks (inc alcohol)
– All items of a personal nature
– Air fare
DURATION
Includes times spent having lunch
Approx 8/9 hours
8am – 4/5pm
WHEN TO GO
The variety of habitats make this trip rewarding year round
DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK, EL ROCIO
Days 1 & 2
ARRIVAL (GIBRALTAR / MALAGA)
Breakfast at our hotel in El Rocio. Today we will go right into the heart of the National Park along a sandy road that leads to the visitor centre named in honour of the naturalist Jose Antonio Valverde. In the surrounding fields and wetlands, it is possible to watch species such as Purple Swamphen, Hen Harrier, Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis and perhaps the first Squacco and Purple Herons arriving from their winter headquarters. Open fields such as Lesser Short-toed Larks, Stone Curlew or Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Overnight at El Rocio.
DAY 3
ATLANTIC COAST
Saltpans and wetlands around the Atlantic coast of Andalusia where we will look for White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck, Red-knobbed (Crested) Coot and Slender-billed Gulls amongst the main targets. In the evening transfer to La Linea de la Concepcion.
DAY 4
STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
Exploring the northern shore of the famous Strait of Gibraltar with magnicent views of two continents and the famous Rock of Gibraltar nearby. We will experience the amazing close views of bird of prey & stork migration, as well as visiting nearby Northern bald ibis breeding colonies and many other species. Overnight La Linea (same as previous night)
DAY 5
DEPARTURE (GIBRALTAR / MALAGA)
After breakfast, we birdwatch in some nearby woodlands or in Gibralrar (depends on prevailig weather / winds) for spring migrants, before later making our way to Gibraltar International airport for return flight.
Some of the images from the tours
TARGET SPECIES
Black-shouldered Kite, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Black (Cinereous) Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Stork, White Stork, Purple Heron, Squaco Heron, Little Bittern, Purple (Western) Swamp Hen, Savi’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Subalpine Warbler, Hawfinch, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Crested (Red-knobbed) Coot, White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew (Eurasian Thick-knee), European Bee-eater, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Little Owl, Scops Owl, Whiskered Tern, Collared Pratincole and many more!
