Destinations
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Tarifa and Gibraltar 5 – 12 September 2012
Migration hotspot in Andalucia
The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the busiest migration points in western Europe, situated at the extreme south western tip of Europe between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. This pivotal point of Europe provides a narrow crossing point for millions of migrating birds into and out of Africa.
It was here that in Greek mythology, Hercules used his strength to separate Europe from Africa by leaning on two pillars, Gibraltar being the European pillar. The Arabs call the Straight Bahr-z-zohak, meaning narrow sea.
This holiday will enable you to experience the very best of visible bird migration, sea mammals, landscape and culture. Tarifa and Gibraltar is a magical area, migrants bursting out of bushes, the sky busy with migrating eagles or storks or the excitement of boat-side dolphins and whales.
Millions of birds gather every year in the southern part of Spain to rest and forage before continuing their journey southwards to their African wintering grounds. Among them are raptors such as short-toed and booted eagles, Egyptian and griffon vultures along with good numbers of honey buzzards making their post nuptial migration through the straits every autumn. The spectacle provides delight to many visiting birders and naturalists observing this biannual migration. Spending our time at well-placed raptor watchpoints, we can experience some of the best visible bird migration in western Europe.
Other migrants can include large numbers of black and white storks and there are many typical Mediterranean bird species all waiting to be encountered within the cork oak woodlands or wetland habitats which we will visit in the region.
Migration observations on this holiday will also include a sample of some of the passerine migrants that cross here into Africa. We will observe bird ringing at a designated site to observe this important ornithological study in the region (see here), along with close up views of some familiar birds that are returning to their wintering grounds from northern European breeding grounds.
White stork flock
Gibraltar
We will also visit the British territory of Gibraltar. It’s famous for its Barbary macaques, the last wild population in Europe, easy to see at designated feeding stations. Additionally, on this spectacular rock monolith, there's the possibility of encountering the often elusive Barbary partridge, along with blue rock thrush.
We stay at Huerta Grande, situated in a relatively cool wooded gorge inland from Tarifa, within a Natural Park – the southern tip of the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales.
From the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, September 2011
Holiday report, September 2011
Egyptian vulture (Steve Fletcher)
Two-tailed pasha (above, photographed in Gibraltar on the holiday in September 2011), swallowtail and monarch are butterflies likely to be seen at this time of year.
Gibraltar
Audouin's gull on Tarifa beach
Useful link: private trip report from Honeyguide leaders Ian Barthorpe and Tim Strudwick in southern Spain; they were in the Tarifa area 10-11th September 2002 (part of a longer trip).
Spotless starlings
Barbary macaque, Gibraltar
Useful link: private trip report from Honeyguide leaders Ian Barthorpe and Tim Strudwick in southern Spain; they were in the Tarifa area 10-11th September 2002 (part of a longer trip).
