Andalucia in September (1 Viewer)

[Phil O'Scopus]

Hi

Four of us will be birding in Andalucia from 12th to 22nd September, dividing our time between Tarifa (and nearby locations) and sites on the east bank of the Guadalquivir (Bonanza Salinas, Algaida, Brazo del Este etc). As this will be our fourth successive autumn trip, we're quite familiar with most of the well known sites and are happy for the most part to find our own birds. However, if anyone can help with a bit of extra information on the following, I'd be grateful.

1. Current access details/directions for the Guadalhorce river mouth at Malaga. We've never tried to visit this site as Garcia & Patterson were unable to give directions when writing Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain due to ongoing work at the time.

2. Any tips on seeing White-rumped and Little Swifts, Red-necked Nightjar and Rufous Bush Chat at this time of year. We've looked without success for the swifts around the Sierra de la Plata on previous autumn trips. White-rumped, at least, should still be in the area but perhaps they're not around the breeding sites?

3. Any reliable locations for Little Bustard. We saw them last September in the fields behind Los Lances beach at Tarifa but don't know if this is a regular autumn site.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Ian

 

[John Butler]

Hi. Four of us will be birding in Andalucia from 12th to 22nd September, dividing our time between Tarifa (and nearby locations) and sites on the east bank of the Guadalquivir (Bonanza Salinas, Algaida, Brazo del Este etc). As this will be our fourth successive autumn trip, we're quite familiar with most of the well known sites and are happy for the most part to find our own birds. However, if anyone can help with a bit of extra information on the following, I'd be grateful.
1. Current access details/directions for the Guadalhorce river mouth at Malaga. We've never tried to visit this site as Garcia & Patterson were unable to give directions when writing Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain due to ongoing work at the time.
2. Any tips on seeing White-rumped and Little Swifts, Red-necked Nightjar and Rufous Bush Chat at this time of year. We've looked without success for the swifts around the Sierra de la Plata on previous autumn trips. White-rumped, at least, should still be in the area but perhaps they're not around the breeding sites?
3. Any reliable locations for Little Bustard. We saw them last September in the fields behind Los Lances beach at Tarifa but don't know if this is a regular autumn site.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Ian

Hi Ian.

1. Río Guadalhorce.
Follow directions in Paterson & Garcia's "Where to find birds in Southern and Western Spain" or in my own book "Birdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast" to reach the area of the site.
Entry, as described in my book, can still be made via the beach or from a newer entry point 1km further away from the beach.
Just go there. You will find a way to access the site.

2.White-rumped Swifts.
Bolonia is THE place for this species. Arrive just as the sun is getting up (about 08.00hrs) and wait at the Arroyo de Alpariate, a small stream that flows onto the beach at Bolonia, about 150 metres before the entry point to the ancient Roman site of Baelo Claudia. The birds often feed here in the early morning and you can get very close to them.

On the 19th September last year I was guiding a Finnish birder/photographer (Jorma Tenovuo) to that area and we had 5 swifts flying just a few metres above our heads. See the photos of this species, taken on that day, on my website. 8 of these photos by Jorma featured in an edition of Birds Illustrated magazine.

Little swifts are also becoming more frequently recorded at the same site.

Later in the day the birds fly higher to feed and a drive up the Sierra de la Plata may prove beneficial.

3. Little Bustards.
Try the open plains of La Janda and the fields alongside the road leading to Zahara de los Atunes.
Also try the rolling hills and open land near Trebujena and Lubrija, just inland from the east bank of the Río Guadalquivir.

4. Red-necked Nightjars.
Try Pinar de la Algaida at dusk, or any other area beside pine forests.
The birds often sit on the roads at this time, gaining the heat from the still warm tarmac. You can usually drive to within a few metres of them, as they are often loathe to move for vehicles.

5. Rufous Bush Chat/Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.
These should be migrating back to Africa at this time. La janda should be good for them, and any of the migration observation points (see my book) around Tarifa should produce results.

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck and good birding.

Regards from Doñana.

John.

 

[Phil O'Scopus]

Hi Ian.

1. Río Guadalhorce.
Follow directions in Paterson & Garcia's "Where to find birds in Southern and Western Spain" or in my own book "Birdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast" to reach the area of the site.
Entry, as described in my book, can still be made via the beach or from a newer entry point 1km further away from the beach.
Just go there. You will find a way to access the site.

2.White-rumped Swifts.
Bolonia is THE place for this species. Arrive just as the sun is getting up (about 08.00hrs) and wait at the Arroyo de Alpariate, a small stream that flows onto the beach at Bolonia, about 150 metres before the entry point to the ancient Roman site of Baelo Claudia. The birds often feed here in the early morning and you can get very close to them.

On the 19th September last year I was guiding a Finnish birder/photographer (Jorma Tenovuo) to that area and we had 5 swifts flying just a few metres above our heads. See the photos of this species, taken on that day, on my website. 8 of these photos by Jorma featured in an edition of Birds Illustrated magazine.

Little swifts are also becoming more frequently recorded at the same site.

Later in the day the birds fly higher to feed and a drive up the Sierra de la Plata may prove beneficial.

3. Little Bustards.
Try the open plains of La Janda and the fields alongside the road leading to Zahara de los Atunes.
Also try the rolling hills and open land near Trebujena and Lubrija, just inland from the east bank of the Río Guadalquivir.

4. Red-necked Nightjars.
Try Pinar de la Algaida at dusk, or any other area beside pine forests.
The birds often sit on the roads at this time, gaining the heat from the still warm tarmac. You can usually drive to within a few metres of them, as they are often loathe to move for vehicles.

5. Rufous Bush Chat/Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.
These should be migrating back to Africa at this time. La janda should be good for them, and any of the migration observation points (see my book) around Tarifa should produce results.

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck and good birding.

Regards from Doñana.

John.

Hi John

Many thanks for your helpful comments. We always thoroughly enjoy our trips to this region and I'm sure this will be no exception.

I've already seen the wonderful WR Swift photos on your website (and, by the way, always enjoy reading the Trip Reports section). We've tried for swifts at Bolonia before but not at dawn so will give it a go this time. We've looked in the past at the sites you mention for Little Bustard but without success - we'll just keep looking!

Thanks again and best Wishes
Ian

 

[James Lowther]

Saw no little bustards at La Janda this february, but that doesn't mean they weren't there of course....
james
p.s. Phil O'Scopus (if that is your real name,) if you and your mates are the guys with all the trip reports on Birdtours, then thanks, they were most useful (and i didn't see any azure-winged magpies at Algaida either - altho' i think i heard one).

 

[Phil O'Scopus]

Saw no little bustards at La Janda this february, but that doesn't mean they weren't there of course....
james
p.s. Phil O'Scopus (if that is your real name,) if you and your mates are the guys with all the trip reports on Birdtours, then thanks, they were most useful (and i didn't see any azure-winged magpies at Algaida either - altho' i think i heard one).

Hi James

Yes that will be us I expect (trip reports from Andalucia in October 2002, October 2003 and September 2004). Glad they were of use. As we make use of other people's trip reports from the Birdtours and other websites, we feel we should reciprocate.

By the way, I realise Phil O'Scopus is a silly user name but it's too much trouble to change it now!

All the best
Ian

 

[Bluetail]

I was in Bolonia a week ago today. The Arroyo de Alpariate was dry, apart from some stagant water just behind the beach and the swifts weren't visiting it: they were feeding over the field adjacent to the Baelo Claudia car park, mainly around the remains of a concrete building there. No luck with any White-rumped Swifts, unfortunately, but I did get very good views of a Little Swift. Tried again the following day, but it didn't show. Also up to 18 Audouin's Gull's on the beach early morning, though they moved off once people started arriving.

Also had brilliant views of two Long-legged Buzzards up Sierra de la Plata. Only spent a couple of hours up there, but quite a good selection of raptors passed through.

 

[Phil O'Scopus]

I was in Bolonia a week ago today. The Arroyo de Alpariate was dry, apart from some stagant water just behind the beach and the swifts weren't visiting it: they were feeding over the field adjacent to the Baelo Claudia car park, mainly around the remains of a concrete building there. No luck with any White-rumped Swifts, unfortunately, but I did get very good views of a Little Swift. Tried again the following day, but it didn't show. Also up to 18 Audouin's Gull's on the beach early morning, though they moved off once people started arriving.

Also had brilliant views of two Long-legged Buzzards up Sierra de la Plata. Only spent a couple of hours up there, but quite a good selection of raptors passed through.

Thanks for this. Having seen White-rumped previously, two of our group (myself included) would rather see Little Swift anyway. We'll just have to search the area I guess. We also had a Long-legged Buzzard at the Sierra de la Plata on an autumn 2002 trip and will keep a look out.

Thanks again.

Ian