INTRODUCTION
On this tour we will explore the most important Mediterranean wetland; “Marismas de Doñana”, declared a National Park due to its rich birdlife, for its varied habitats and for being an important wintering European sanctuary for waterfowl. A large part of the National Park is a restricted area, we will visit some of the protected areas which are very productive for resident birds including Marbled and White-headed Duck, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Crested Coot or Purple Gallinule among many others on autumn migration. Near Seville there are important extensions of rice fields which attracts a good number of egrets, storks, ibis and waders, although less known that Doñana those areas are rich in a good variety of birds which use them for wintering.
The second part of the week will concentrate on searching for and studying the southern migration into Andalusia and Africa of many raptors and passerines. Due to the warmer temperatures in the last decades many birds are migrating not far from Andalusia, this will give us chances to spot birds such as Great Spotted Cuckoo or Squacco Heron which were not wintering here twenty years ago. Visiting several watch points we will enjoy the quite endless flights of soaring vultures, kites , eagles, harriers, and storks while countless small birds take their last food before they “jump” the Mediterranean sea to their wintering sanctuaries. This autumn migration is an experience that all nature and bird lovers should not miss.
Itinerary
Day 1.- Meet you at Seville and drive to El Rocio. Birding in a marshy area near Seville with chances for Black Stork , Night Heron, Red Kite among other interesting birds. Overnight in el Rocio.
Days 2.3.4- Doñana National park.- Surrounded by pine and holm-oak groves the nearby areas of the park are very productive for small birds including Dartford Warbler, Azure-winged Magpie, Spotless Starling lots of warblers and waders or gulls while resident and migrant raptors will keep our attention looking skywards.All the area will be crammed with birds but especially the marshes near El Rocio where we´ll meander along the banks on the lookout for huge numbers of herons, egrets, storks, ducks, waders, gulls and terns. One of the highlights of our visit to the national park is a one day excursion by 4WD crossing the heart of the park where we will have good chances for mammals including Roe Dear, Wild Boar and Iberian Lynx, the most threatened European feline, in 2003 we where lucky to see a family group. This is one of the last refuges of the Spanish Imperial Eagle where it can be safe from poisoning and hunting, two of the most relevant reasons for its decline. Near Seville there are important extensions of rice fields which attracts a good number of egrets, storks, ibis and waders, although less known that Doñana those areas are rich in a good variety of birds which use them for wintering. Overnight in El Rocio.
Day 5,6,7.- From Doñana on the way to the Gibraltar Straight we will visit several inland lakes. Depending on the water level these lakes, surrounded by agricultural fields and with an important ring of reeds, are a good habitat for residents including Red Crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Black-winged Stilt , Marsh Harrier, Zitting Cisticola and Sardinian Warbler. The Gibraltar Straight concentrates most of the migrants of western Europe. Several watch points will be visited which will provide excellent opportunities to follow the flights of numerous migrants; swifts, swallows, Bee-eaters etc. but mainly soaring raptors such as Egyptian Vulture, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Osprey , Honey Buzzard or Lesser Kestrel and storks. We will visit Trafalgar cape for seabirds being easy to find Gannet or several species of shearwaters. On the coast line we will observe numerous concentrations of gulls, including Audouin´s Gull and Slender Billed also terns and waders in a perfect combination of birdwatching and scenery that will offer the chance of finding a rarity or unexpected bird. Overnight in Zahara de los Atunes.
Day 8.- Drive to Seville for your return flight home.
