Introduction
Small Group Tour with fixed departure dates: 2 – 8 December 2017 and 13 – 19 February 2018
Discover the hidden corners of the province of Granada. Our accommodation will be in the town of Huétor Tájar, at the comfortable Hotel Cortijo de Tájar. Huétor Tájar is the second home of our guide, so he knows where to find the birds in the rich farmland that surrounds the town. At this time of year we should find wintering flocks of Stone Curlews, sometimes 400 strong! Little Bustard, Azure-winged Magpie and Bluethroat can also be found.
Spend time in the surrounding mountains where we expect to find Ring Ouzel, Alpine Accentor, Red-billed Chough, Black Wheatear and with a bit of luck even raptors such as Eurasian Griffon, Golden Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagle among other species.
The following day we will enjoy some birding on the way to Málaga, with Common Crane, Black-winged Kite, Hen Harrier and 100’s of Greater Flamingos among our target species. We will continue our journey to the Doñana area.
A visit to Odiel Marshes and tidal mudflats, where we hope to add Audouin’s Gull and several species of wader, will be followed by time exploring the north and south parts of the world-famous Doñana National Park. This extraordinary reserve of 108,086 ha. is considered one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Europe.
Subject to availability of guides and accommodation we can look to arrange a private tour for groups of four to six persons, so please contact us for details.
Itinerary and price
2 – 8th December 2017 and 13 – 19 February 2018
Day 1: Malaga - Huetor Tajar area
Meals: Dinner
Flight to be organised by you to arrive in Malaga. The tour begins late morning/early afternoon in Malaga to tie in with flight arrival times. We will be welcomed by our guide inside the arrivals hall at Malaga Airport (look for our names on a placard). From here we’ll drive (approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes) to Huetor Tájar and the rest of the day we will explore the farmland around town where target species include Little Bustard, Stone Curlew and Little Owl to name a few.
Night at Hotel Cortijo de Tájar
Day 2: Mountains near Huetor Tájar or Cacin Valley
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Depending on the weather will determine today if we visit the mountains for Alpine Accentor, Red-billed Chough, Black Wheatear, Griffon Vulture and Bonelli’s Eagle. Alternatively we’ll bird in the Cacin Valley where Hawfinch, Crossbill, Spotless Starling, Golden Eagle, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Calandra Lark are all possible. Great Spotted Cuckoo can occasionally be seen in February and some early migrants and even Giant Orchid and Sombree-bee Orchid are possible in February.
Night at Hotel Cortijo de Tájar
Day 3: Huetor Tájar - Malaga - El Rocío, near Donana
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After a short drive we’ll reach the wonderful Fuente de Piedra lagoon in Malaga province, home to Greater Flamingo, Common Crane, Hen Harrier and Black-winged Kite.
Water levels allowing, we may also visit Laguna Dulce, the largest lagoon of several included in the Campillos Lagunas Nature Reserve, near the town of Campillos. White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Raven and many other species.
From here we will drive (approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes) to the quaint Spanish town of El Rocío, stopping as necessary on the way. We’ll check in to our hotel where we will spend three nights.
Sometimes it possible to see overwintering Lesser Kestrel too, so we will check the Kestrels we observe.
Night at Hotel Toruno
Day 4: Odiel Marshes and local area
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
We enjoy another bird-filled day with a visit to Odiel Marshes and other local birding spots where Audouin’s Gull, Stone Curlew, many waders including shanks, sandpipers, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Black-winged Stilt and Osprey are all likely. Stone Curlew, Razorbill, Caspian Tern, Penduline Tit and Bluethroats are sometimes spotted.
If time permits we will visit El Rocío Marshes for a couple of hours on our way back to the hotel.
Night at Hotel Toruño.
Day 5: Doñana National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today we’ll visit different habitats of northern parts of Doñana National Park and Valverde Visitor Center area.
Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis, Black Stork, Purple Swamp Hen, Vultures (Griffon and Black), Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, Lesser Kestrel, Spanish Sparrow are just a few of the species regularly encountered.
Night at Hotel Toruño.
Day 6: Doñana National Park - Huetor Tájar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
We’ll spend all morning and a good part of the afternoon exploring other parts of Doñana National Park which will include the area around El Acebuche (Wild Olive Tree) visitor centre. We also visit various habitats including riverbank and forests along the Acebrón path and bird watch around La Rocina visitor centre where we’ll follow nature trails through woodland and scrub habitats and visit a fresh water lake and the marshland of Charco de la Boca which feeds into the Madres de la Marismas at El Rocío
Later in the afternoon we will transfer (approx. 3 hours and 10 mins) to Huetor Tájar. In addition to a good range of wetland species, we may well enjoy views of Black Kite, Azure-winged Magpie, Iberian Grey Shrike, Bluethroat, Crested Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper.
Night at Hotel Cortijo de Tájar
Day 7: Huetor Tájar - Malaga
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
If time permits we may birdwatch in farmland and hills close to Huetor Tájar. You will be transferred to Malaga Airport in time to check in for your return flight home (excluded from the price).
Tour ends
Price per person on a twin sharing basis: € 1150
Single room supplement: € 150
Price includes:
6 nights accommodation with ensuite facilities
All meals as listed
All land transport
Any National Park or other entrance fees
Services of an English speaking guide
Checklist
Price excludes:
Flights into and out of Malaga
Travel insurance
Drinks
Extra food and drinks to normal meal times
Tips, laundry, phone calls and any thing else not listed in the inclusions
