Our apartment was in a small hamlet called El Couton at the very southern tip of Spain between Gibraltar and Tarifa. The view from the balcony excited me on arrival as we were looking directly at Morocco, probably at the shortest point of crossing between mainland Europe and Africa. Hopefully I would see some early migration between the two continents, I wasn't to be dissapointed.
View from our appartment. The mountain in the background is Morocco.
During the fortnight we didn't travel any more than 45 minutes from where we stayed. There were ample birding opportunities in the area and I made Los Lancos beach in Tarifa my daily walk, while the hills around Tarifa also offered superb birding. A day trip to Gibraltar was enjoyable, while Bolonia, Zahara and Atlanterra to the west were sites regularly visited.
During the trip the highlights were:-
Ruppell's Vulture - two birds seen. One above Tarifa hills on August 8th and the other over Atlanterra on August 13th. Both birds were with flocks of local Griffon Vultures.
Lanner Falcon - A single bird near Tarifa on August 8th.
Little Swift - three birds at the Sierra del Platta above Bolonia amongst a massive hirundine and Swift colont. Ten species of Swift / hirundines were present!
White rumped Swift - seen alongside the Little Swifts at the Sierra del Platta near Bolonia. At least two birds here. Also seen well at Atlanterra on the hillside and behind the beach.
Barbary Partridge - two birds on the slopes below Gibratlar Rock.
Long legged Buzzard - a bird seen at El Couton above the appartment balcony.
'Steppe'Buzzard - the eastern form of our Buzzard was seen from the migration watchpoint above Tarifa and was certainly appreciated by the local birders as it was the first of the year there.
Below is a summary of the other birds seen:-
Cory's Shearwater - several hundred passed throigh the Strait of Gibraltar during the fortnight. Visible from most headlands in the area.
Balearic Shearwater - A few individulas seen from Tarifa beach and from a Dolphin watching trip into the Straits.
Gannet- two birds seen in the Straits from a boat
Cormorant - several seen
Shag (ssp. desmaresti)- two birds at the tip of Gibratltar. These birds were of the Mediterranean race and were slightly smaller than the nominate race.
Cattle Egret - Abundant and everywhere with flocks of 300 recorded on occassions
Great White Egret - one bird early morning seen on Los Lances beach, Tarifa
Little Egret - common in groups of two or three.
Grey Heron - several individulas seen in suitable habitat
Spoonbill - three birds at the small estuary at Zahara
White Stork - abundant. Birds were on the move with several thousand seen in flocks of up to 500 birds. Seen mostly from Tarifa but also over apartment.
Mallard - Common - the only duck seen
Black Kite - the most numerous bird of prey by a mile. Daily counts of 7000+ birds flew over from Spain to Morocco, sometimes in a seemingly constant stream from dawn til dusk!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIJCNwAmzhw
Red kite - two birds seen over El Couton
Egyptian Vulture - 23 birds seen with a flock of five over our apartment one day
Griffon Vulture - very common wth at least one bird on view at any given moment. Maximum of 47 birds over our apartment one morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y5REPZISU8
Montague's Harrier - Common. Up to twenty birds passing through every day with the Black Kites.
Hen Harrier - one male passed over our apartment.
Short toed Eagle - Many seen everyday with up the twelve in the sky at once making the crossing over the straits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_zJgQJXRkw
Sparrowhawk - Common on migration
Goshawk - a local resident with a few birds seen around El Couton
Common Buzzard - one or two individuals seen each day passing over
Honey Buzzard - good views of birds passing through during the second week with a maximum of five over our apartment
Booted eagle - Common with up to fifty seen on some days.
Bonelli's Eagle - two birds seen in the Tarifa hills near the Ojen Valley
Peregrine - one or two individuals seen every day
Hobby - a few birds seen with one fine bird videod near our apartment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JguT_-Pm3j8
Kestrel - Very Common
Lesser Kestrel - up to twenty birds roosted each evening in a huge coniferous tree in the centre of Tarifa, conveniently under the resturants!
Red legged Partridge - a few seen and heard around Tarifa
Quail - heard a few times around Tarifa and had great views of one as it ran down a path in front of us.
Oystercatcher - between 1 and 3 seen every day on los Lances beach
Stone Curlew - one seen in roadside fields on the way to Zahara
Ringed Plover - Common
Kentish Plover - Abundant on los Lances beach with over 300 counted on some days.
Dunlin - common on los lances beach
Sanderling - abundant on los Lances beach with up to 250 birds every day
Curlew sandpiper - one bird seen on los Lances beach
Little Stint - one bird on los lances beach
Wood Sandpiper - one flew in off the sea at Tarifa
Auduin's Gull - Regular on Tarifa bach and los Lances with a maximum of 47 birds one day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRRPhMWwKK0
Meditteranean Gull - a few individulas flying west along los Lances beach
Black headed Gull - 1-3 each day
Yellow legged Gull - abundant in all coastal areas
Lesser black backed gull - common on all beaches
Sandwich Tern - common in the Straits and especially los Lances beach
Woodpigeon - a few seen
Rock Dove- individuals looking quite pure were seen at Gibraltar however many looked a little suspect
Collared Dove - everywhere
Turtle Dove - a few seen every day
Great Spotted Cuckoo - a smart adult seen at Bolonia
Scops Owl - two birds were heard calling one evening in Tarifa Town
Common Swift - amazing numbers passing through with many thousands each day during the first week. Even seen migrating a night while scoping the moon!
Alpine Swift - up the fifty a day during the first week, many seen from the apartment and also got it on my moon list!
Pallid Swift - several hundred in with the Swift movement
Kingfisher - a few seen olong los lances beach
Hoopoe - common with flocks of up to fifteen birds seen along los Lances dunes
Bee-Eater - common on migration. Their calls often heard passing over head
Roller - one bird seen on the first day at El Couton. None seen afterwards.
Great Spottwed woodpecker - common in the cork woods
Thekla Lark - seen at Atlanterra on the hill side
Crested Lark - Very common especially along the coast and in Tarifa beach car park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHzq38plH3M
Short-toed Lark - many seen in los Lances beach dunes
Calandra Lark - a flock of 70+ birds frequented the fields behind los Lances beach during the second week
Sand Martin - common
House Martin - common
Swallow - Abundant
Red rumped Swallow - several seen in most areas
Crag Martin - several seen in the surrounding hills
Tawny pipit - the only pipit seen during the trip with several birds along los Lances beach and also seen in the Tarifa hills
Grey Wagtail - a few birds seen in the hills
Iberian Wagtail - up to twelve seen on los Lances beach each day
Nightingale - common
Robin - common
Stonechat - everywhere
Black eared Wheatear - a few birds seen along the coast and in the mountains. A fine male at the Roman ruins in bolonia was videod.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po1kH1W6jBk
Black Wheatear - one seen in Tarifa hills
Blue Rock Thrush - a pair showed well near our apprtment most days
Blackbird - common
Mistle Thrush - common
Cetti's warbler - common.
Western Olivaceous warbler - two birds seen around El couton
Melodious warbler - common
Blackcap - common
Sardinian Warbler - abundant
Subalpine warbler - seen in the hills around tarifa
Western Orphean Warbler - one seen near Bolonia
Western Bonelli's warbler - bird of the trip - very common around teh apartment and woke up most morning listening to the trilling song of this bird
Iberian Chiff-chaff - several birds seen and heard around the apartment
Firecrest - common in the cork woodlands
Spotted Flycatcher - common
Crested Tit - common in any woodland
Serin - common
Linnet - common
Chaffinch - common
Nuthatch - common
Short-toed Treecreeper - a common bird in the cork woodlands. Strangely seemed to follow Crested Tits around.
Goldfinch - abundant - everywhere
Wren - common
Woodchat - one or two birds seen every day
Raven - fairly common in the hills
Spotless Starling - abundant with huge roosts around Tarifa
Hawfinch - two birds seen in the Ojen Valley
Greenfinch - common Corn Bunting - many seen in suitable habitat aspecially around los Lances beach dunes
House Sparrow - abundant
Spanish Sparrow - a group of 10 on the road to Zahara
Rock Bunting - a few seen at the Sierra del Plata above Bolonia
Cirl Bunting - common in all areas.
Other Wildlife
On the dolphin watching trip several Pilot Whales and Dolphins were seen. Here's a pilot whale breaching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjqhzkQxvwQ
A Mediterranean Chameleon was one of he highlights of the trip. I have looked for these many times before without success. This time we finally found one in Bolonia.
Barbary Apes at Gibraltar were great fun although I couldn't help feeling that these wild monkeys have become extremely feral by now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KOZYXd3Zw8
A total of 113 species were seen during the fortnight. Far more species would have been seen if we had made the 90 minute trip up to the Cadiz wetlands as no wetland areas were in the immediate vicinity. The lack of water birds was certainly made up for in quality of landbirds and especially Birds of Prey.
Anyone wishing for more details about sites, flights, costs etc please get in touch. The area is thoroughly recommended and I can't imagine how amazing the place must be in peak migration of May and September!