This year’s Swift Weekender was insane! A relaxed opportunity to not only observe Swift migration as well as some of the rarest Swift species in Europe and the Western Palearctic, but also get up close to some of the breeding specialities of the Iberian Peninsula and connect with the flow of early autumn migration.
Day 1 – 25 July
We started fairly early and travelled to the edge of the Embalse de Barbate and into a private permit-only area, where we scanned through the various species on the edge of the reservoir. We were also amongst an absolute raptor-fest with Western Osprey, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kites and more passing right by us. However despite these glorious distractions, our focus was on Swifts and we spent time sifting through both Pallid and arriving Common Swifts hawking over the water. After some time we were elated to find not one but two of our very sought-after White-rumped Swifts!
This species is highly localised and scarce in the Western Palearctic, and a real treat for any visiting guests. Avoiding any disturbance to nesting areas, we are able to watch them hawking for insects and at this time of day low just over our heads! They are surely one of the most erratic fast flyers of all the swifts and they are awesome!
After our initial finding we waited, and again the WRS returned for a second foray overhead before departing to higher altitudes. At this point we decided it was time to head off for a celebratory fresquita!
From here we journeyed north to the Laguna de Medina, the largest lagoon in the province of Cádiz and the second largest in Andalucía. Here we sifted through the varied species of duck present – Red-crested and Common Pochards dominating but with Great-crested, Little and Black-necked Grebes floating among the gaps. Here we also got our first views of six White-headed Ducks – a star species for visiting birders to the Iberian Peninsula. However much as this species dazzled us with the males bright blue bill, striking white head and steamboat-like antics, the star was a milky-tea coloured warbler!
A really interesting and range restricted migrant of the Iduna genus, the Isabelline Warbler (or Western Olivaceous Warbler) is found breeding only in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, with most of the European breeding population within Southern Spain. We didn’t find just one but six of these trans-Saharan migrants.
Day 2 – 26 July
Often we have days where we are excited how it all comes together and this is one of those days! We have refined and planned it for years and it actually offers one of the best day´s birding anywhere in Europe, the Western Palearctic, if not the world! Timing and location is crucial to maximise the abundance of our most sought-after encounters!
So our day started pre-dawn with a drive to private farmland where Inglorious Bustards are exclusively permitted access. Here among the organic, extensive vineyards with a mosaic of fallows, differing crops, scrub alongside mature trees all dispersed among the vineyards, we can find the most enigmatic of species – the Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin! Here we were as the sun lifted above the horizon, surrounded by the beautiful song of this stunning farmland bird.
Here the organic, extensive production coupled with mixed habitats provides a life-line for this declining species. It is without doubt a testament to the low-impact, mixed, organic farming practiced here that we are surrounded by this magic! Tails lifting all around us as they fed in the first light and battled to re-establish the day´s boundaries between territories.
Quiet and respectful observations mean that the tail-lifters are often happy to approach and go about their business before the heat of the day kicks in and their activity dwindles. Then it was time to move on from here as we had yet another enthralling surprise encounter…..
We arrived to Chipiona harbour just as it was kicking off! Little Swifts were just leaving their roosts and feeding busily within the proximity of the colony, giving us some hair-parting examples of aerial acrobatics among Common and Pallid Swifts. Here with the backdrop of Spain´s tallest lighthouse we watched in awe as they giggled around us sometimes at shin height!
A real rare species outside of Africa this colony now supports over 100 pairs of this largely resident swift, making it the biggest colony in Europe,
Here we also had time for an Inglorious Bustards special – that of second breakfast… Hobbit style! We devoured our coffee and freshly-squeezed orange juice and some of the best churros in Spain (if not the world!) as Little, Common and Pallid Swifts whizzed about us.
From here we moved the short distance to the Playa de Montijo – here perfect timing enabled us to walk out among the magic! Roosting Terns and Gulls gave us a smorgasbord of species to sift through and we were loving it! Even if I did get wet feet!
Here we sifted through over 70 Little, 40 Sandwich, 19 Black and 9 Common Terns, among them 73 Med Gulls with a handful of smart Slender-billed Gulls.
Another new location nearby was the Salinas de Bonanza. Here amongst Gull-billed Terns and Slender-billed Gulls with thousands of Greater Flamingoes we sifted through the various shorebirds and took our sustainable (award-winning!) picnic in our pop-up kitchen and dining area!
Our final stop of the day was among nearby agricultural pools. The first ones got us close-by superb looks at dapper White-headed Ducks but the second section of pools was mind-blowing! Here the Egretry was off the chain – a mix of nesting Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night Herons, Cattle and Little Egrets and Squacco Herons were not only audibly and visually jumping but the smell was pretty memorable too!
Day 3 – 27 July
Today the strong levante had dropped giving us the perfect moment to get amongst the soaring bird migration.
Interpreting wind strength and direction is a vital element to get into the flow of migratory birds, and with a bewildering array of watchpoints at the visiting birder´s disposal, it can be a difficult choice. However due to our local knowledge and absolute passion for #FlywayBirding we were in the flow of migratory soaring birds!
3.058 Black Kites cruised out below us and above us and on to Africa as we watched them battle this tiny stretch of water that is such a huge challenge to their ongoing journey.
Groups of White Storks weren´t far behind, with one huge group of over 3,000 stretching out to link the two continents of Europe and Africa. We logged 4,114 White Storks making the crossing right over us! Soon the gateway was overflowing with over 15,000 Black Kites and more than 10,000 White Storks making the crossing and giving us our first big day of autumn migration 2025!
European Bee-eaters filled the nearby campo on their own journey across to Africa as we headed towards the local Vulture colony. Here we encountered an hulking adult Bonelli´s Eagle and the breeding pair of Egyptian Vultures.
Day 4 – 28 July
Today we took our boat trip out into The Straits where we encountered rafts of Scopoli´s Shearwaters and an Eleanora´s Falcon buzzed past the boat! We also found over 40 Wilson´s Storm Petrels adding more avian delights to this brilliant excursion! We also enjoyed sharing the waves with pods of Long-finned Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins.
From here we journeyed the short distance to Punta Camorro where we took our chilled out sustainable picnic as European Bee-eaters, a smart looking Tawny Pipit and more joined us!
From here we explored the once vast wetland of La Janda now sadly drained for intensive agriculture. It still has some fragments that make for very interesting birding – perhaps in the future this once amazing ornithological gold-mine can be returned to some version of its former glory benefiting biodiversity, the environment, water and the wider local community.
For now we still know that great species can be found here and we do just that, with groups of Collared Pratincoles giving us some great views. Other shorebirds are found with a single Little Stint and Ruff, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpiper and more. Having already been spoilt with close views and mesmerising swarms of raptors, our senses in that regard were not dimmed with Short-toed and Booted Eagles and both Marsh and Montagu´s Harriers. Two Gull-billed Terns cruised over the ruderal vegetation of the few available fallow areas.
Day 5 – 29 July
Today we returned to one of the local Vulture colonies where once again we found one of the breeding Egyptian Vultures, Black Kite, Short-toed and Booted Eagles present with a singing Blue Rock Thrush and purring Turtle Dove.
From here we went to the Puente del Rio Barbate and sifted through the vast array of shorebirds. Eurasian Curlew and Whimbrels fed together, 7 Curlew Sandpipers were a highlight alongside dapper-looking Mediterranean Gulls.
After a quick stop for a fresquita, we headed up to the Pinos de la Breña. Here among the Stone Pines, Wild Olive and Cork Oak, we took a relaxed picnic in the cool shade of the trees, where a pair of Eurasian Hoopoes had their nest and Spotted Flycatchers flashed out over the glade returning to feed their recently-fledged young.
Then as the tide was now rising we headed for the Marismas de Barbate. Here once again we were amongst the shorebirds with Collared Pratincoles, more Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, a bunch of Ruff, Kentish Plover and more with Greater Flamingoes feeding in the deeper parts of water.
The stars of the show were in gull form with 68 gorgeous Audouin´s Gulls present as 3 Greater Short-toed Larks buzzed overhead.
Our last encounters of the day were with the super-cool and rare Northern Bald Ibis on our way back to chill before dinner and MORE Birding!
After our delicious dinner, we travelled the short distance to the edge of La Janda where we waited for our next new addition to this tour´s burgeoning list. As a Black-crowned Night Heron lolloped over we were right on time for the next show! We heard the galloping horse like call …or more like the coconuts being clapped together in Monty Python´s Quest for the Holy Grail! It was the sound of the biggest Nightjar in the Western Palearctic – the Red-necked Nightjar! We heard and saw 4 of these hawking for moths and probably some of the mosquitos that had fed on us moments before – we were happy to feed them up so the Nightjars got a really nice meal!
Day 6 – 30 July
Sadly it was time for us to say farewell to our Swiftlets and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Making our #Birding count the trip list is available from eBird here
Some great birding there Simon!
Thanks Nick! hope to see you sometime in the near future