has anybody any ideas where to go birding in late sept early oct in europe please?be a holiday with girlfreind so if its quite place she will be happy to.any advice will be of a great help
[QUOTE=malgringo]has anybody any ideas where to go birding in late sept early oct in europe please?be a holiday with girlfreind so if its quite place she will be happy to.any advice will be of a great help[/QUOTE]
Hi Malgringro.
For the best birding at that time of year I would suggest southern Spain.
The mass migration of raptors between Spain and Morocco will be in full swing along the Strait of Gibraltar, centred around the hills above the town of Tarifa. You can expect to get very good views of hundreds of Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Montagu's Harriers, Honey Buzzards, Lesser Kestrels, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Red and Black Kites and others. There will also be large movements of passerines at this time.
200 kilometres from Tarifa are the Donana National and Natural Parks, considered to be the most important wetland area in Europe. Migration will also be occuring over this area and will increase the very large number of resident birds.
Many of the birds that supposedly migrate to Africa in the Autumn will remain in the Donana region for the whole of the winter as there is a mild climate and an abundent food supply. This makes Donana one of the few places where you can see such species as Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Glossy Ibis, Squacco, Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons and many wader and duck species in Europe in the winter.
Without doubt, these two areas will guarantee you a very long bird list, usually in great numbers and at close distances.
Regards from Donana.
John.
Come to my neck of the woods.
You can get cheap flights from Stansted to Budapest now, then rent a car over to the Hortobagy - the best place in the country - with its fish-ponds and open puszta. At that time of year the Cranes are very much in evidence (I was there 3rd Oct last year) - thousands of them - it's one of the two major resting areas in Europe as they migrate. Plenty of other water-related
birds, migrants. Good raptors - wandering harriers, Imperial Eagle, possible first White-taileds, falcons....still 3 Red-footeds there last 3rd Oct.
Et etc. And staying is VERY cheap, the food and wine excellent.
If you want more info ask.
Best
David