25 April – 1 May 2026
Tour Summary
Our inaugural late spring expedition spanning the avian crossroads of The Straits of Gibraltar and the rich wetlands of Andalucía proved to be a spectacular success, yielding an incredible diversity of both migratory and resident species. From our base beneath the ancient Cork Oak canopy of Huerta Grande Rural Eco-lodge, we witnessed the breath-taking spectacle of spring migration in full swing.
Highlights were abundant and varied: from the dense, high-altitude streaming of hundreds of European Honey Buzzards and Black Kites battling the winds at coastal watchpoints, to the pristine, intimate encounters with the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis colony at Barca de Vejer.
Pushing westward, the group was treated to world-class wetland birding at the Bonanza salt pans, vibrant encounters with a booming Collared Pratincole colony at Barbate, and the unforgettable, tail-flicking song performance of the rare Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin in the Trebujena vineyards.
Balanced beautifully by an exceptional private marine excursion that brought us face-to-face with playful Long-finned Pilot Whales and pelagic travellers such as Balearic and Cory’s Shearwaters, and European Storm Petrel, the journey was a profound celebration of Nature’s grandest highway.
Day 1 Saturday 25 April Welcome to Huerta Grande & Forest Melodies
Convening on our forest dwellings from flights into Gibraltar, overnight stays there, and buses into Algeciras, we took a short whizz around Algeciras Bay and were soon assembled at Huerta Grande Rural Eco-Lodge. After a welcome drink, we settled into cabins in the Cork Oak forest and turn-of-the-century houses, accompanied by the songs of Iberian Chiffchaffs, Crested Tits, and Short-toed Treecreepers.
Niki and Simon laid on a magnificent welcome lunch showcasing, as always, local specialty ingredients including cheeses made in the nearby villages, local organic wines and olives, fresh bread from the bakery, and salads brought together from local producers.
After a little time to unpack, the group took a short stroll around our wooded environment, encountering some of the resident inhabitants and passage migrants including Melodious and Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Common Firecrest, Common Nightingale, European Pied Flycatcher, Hawfinch, and European Serin. For the alert, there was a surprise Red-necked Nightjar roosting among the leaf litter!
Soon it was time for our first three-course meal courtesy of Chef Toñi and the team, ensuring a good night’s sleep ahead of what we hoped would be a superb week of birding.
Day 2 Sunday 26 April Raptors of La Peña & The Cerulean Coast
Today we headed out into a moderate east wind and a fairly overcast day to the observatory of La Peña, where we knew the more intrepid migrating raptors would be making land after a difficult journey across The Straits. While we waited, we enjoyed great views of resident Thekla’s Larks and some resting migrant passerines including Whinchat and Common Whitethroat, as well as the company of the local goat, Maribel!
Soon the raptors were arriving in force, and we saw our first European Honey Buzzards skewing sideways against the wind. They coasted up the ridge at one side of us, accompanied by 27 Black Kites, 9 Booted Eagles, and even 3 intrepid Short-toed Eagles. Griffon Vultures and a Peregrine Falcon soared around the rocky outcrop. We were thrilled to connect with the arrival of 42 Black Storks to Europe.
We spent the morning here enjoying great views of the incredibly variable European Honey Buzzards – 66 in total – soaring over our heads, and took our picnic lunch before moving on.
Heading further west, we made our way up to the crags of Sierra de la Plata. On the route out, we made a stop to get views of a stunning male Black-eared Wheatear. At the crags, we found ourselves underneath the majestic soaring birds of the Griffon Vulture colony, some 90 pairs strong, and an Egyptian Vulture was spotted amongst them. Across the valley, a Short-toed Eagle perched near its nesting site. Eurasian Crag Martins and a Blue Rock Thrush flitted around the imposing rockface.
For our last stop, we headed up the hill still further to the top rocks of Cueva del Moro. Here we could gaze out across the perfect cerulean blue of Bolonia Bay and imagine the view over the Roman city of Baelo Claudia 2,000 years ago. We were closer here to nesting Griffon Vultures, Common Ravens, and Common Kestrels, and we were thrilled when a late push of raptors including a further 22 European Honey Buzzards and a Booted Eagle pushed over our heads—a fantastic end to a great first day.
Day 3 Monday 27 April The Rare Scrub Robin & The Bonanza Salt Pans
With the wind in The Straits ever stronger, today was our opportunity to push out even further west and explore the eastern side of Doñana Natural Park. We made an early start to arrive at the village of Trebujena for first light.
Here, amongst the organic sherry vineyards, is the last stand of the Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin in Spain, and among these traditionally-managed vineyards we were not disappointed. A short walk from the vans and we found ourselves face-to-tail with a stunning bird, singing and flirting its tail from bush to fence to building and back again. We had absolutely outstanding views and a song spectacular from this much sought-after and beautiful bird.
Also around, we encountered numerous Melodious Warblers, Thekla’s Larks, and as we took in our last views over the Greater Flamingoes of the Guadalquivir river below us, we were chuffed to spot seven Pin-tailed Sandgrouse zooming overhead!
Time for a second breakfast, but not before we had visited the port of Chipiona, where the Little Swift colony proved a joyous early morning sight. These tiny, giggling swifts whizzed over our heads, almost crashing into us, surrounded by screaming Common Swifts. We retreated to a nearby café for tostada and coffee with the swifts still wheeling overhead.
All this, and still time for more before lunch next to the salt pans of Bonanza near Sanlúcar de Barrameda, which were more alive with birds than you can imagine. As we drove up the entrance path, we immediately picked up a Western Osprey and flocks of waders including Dunlin, Sanderling, Common Ringed Plover, and Kentish Plover, and many beautiful, brick-red Curlew Sandpipers practically scampered over our feet.
As Niki prepared the picnic, the group took a walk out to the primary lagoon, enjoying fantastic views of hundreds of Little Terns, Gull-billed Terns, and nesting Pied Avocets, alongside Common Shelduck, Black-winged Stilt, Grey Plover, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Booted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, and Montagu’s Harrier.
Before heading back, we had two more important stops to make at some local freshwater agricultural ponds turned nature reserves. Here we massively boosted our heron count with Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, and Little Bittern in abundance, and got fantastic views of the local population of White-headed Ducks and Red-crested Pochards. We watched non-native but still charming Black-headed Weavers zipping in and out of their woven globe nests, and ended the day with stunning views of an Isabelline Warbler singing so loud and close we could see what it had for breakfast!
After decompressing in the shade with a well-earned choc ice, we headed back for a rest, a gin and tonic, and another smashing three-course meal.
Day 4 Tuesday 28 April Estuary Waders & The Muppet Baby Ibises
Another day of salty treats for the group today as we headed to the Parque Natural de las Breñas y Marismas de Barbate. Beginning at the estuary of the Río Barbate, we watched Whimbrels, Caspian Terns, Audouin’s Gulls, and more on the exposed mudflats. Taking a delicious coffee by the sea as we waited for the tide to come in, we were astounded to see Western Marsh Harriers and European Honey Buzzards crossing the sea here where it is some 30 km wide, demonstrating the risks birds will take during spring migration to get to their breeding grounds.
Moving on to the old salt pans, now a thriving nature reserve, we spent an enjoyable couple of hours revising our waders, such as Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, and many Sanderlings, Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, and Dunlins in stunning summer plumage. Above all this, the superb antics of the Collared Pratincole colony kept us entertained as they called over our heads and practically flew between our scopes. Greater Short-toed Larks and citrus-coloured Iberian Yellow Wagtails represented Team Passerine today.
A lovely picnic lunch at the picnic ground in the woodland was followed by a productive walk through the trees, picking up European Serins, Short-toed Treecreepers, Pied Flycatchers, Spotted Flycatchers, and European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, and Cirl Bunting.
A slightly earlier finish to this relaxed day took us home for the late afternoon, but not before we went to spend time with some well-known local celebrities: the Northern Bald Ibis colony at Barca de Vejer. Currently in a full nesting frenzy, these critically endangered birds are doing extremely well here. The colony we visited is an expansion from the original reintroduction site, and thanks to some subtly interjected artificial ledges, the cliff nests have expanded from 13 to 23 pairs. All of them were looking dapper today with their iridescent plumage and “crazy hair”, with the added attraction of two to three “Muppet baby” chicks in each nest! It was wondrous to observe their comings and goings and tender parenting.
Day 5 Wednesday 29 April Navigating the Mist to Bird-filled Skies
An atmospheric start to the day with low clouds, mist, and smatterings of moisture haunting the coastlines of Spain and Morocco. We knew, however, that many thousands of birds were waiting to migrate north, and this cloud cover would not be enough to stop them. They would spend the day waiting for breaks in the mist to take their chance, and therefore so would we.
With barely any wind at all, we made our way west of Tarifa and began the day at the watchpoint of El Tráfico, spending a brief time getting the feel of things and enjoying the company of European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Zitting Cisticola, European Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling and Western Yellow Wagtail.
As the clouds lifted, we took the decision to move to nearby Cascabel watchpoint. Here things really kicked off as a break in the weather allowed Black Kites to begin streaming through high on the hilltops. We watched over 700 arrive, interspersed with 18 European Honey Buzzards, 2 Short-toed Eagles, 22 Booted Eagles, and more. The flow of Pallid Swifts was extraordinary, and we were serenaded all the while by Sardinian Warblers, Thekla’s Larks, and a very showy Woodchat Shrike. We took our lunch here amongst the flow, with a spectacular kettle of Griffon Vultures as our constant companions for the afternoon.
With the rising poniente wind, we moved east to the watchpoint of Punta Secreta. Here we ended the day gazing across the spectacular strait to Africa, with a late afternoon passage of 64 European Honey Buzzards and assorted other raptors, securing some great views of them just over our heads. Offshore, seven Mediterranean European Shags shared the rocks with Great Cormorants, Yellow-legged Gulls, and Sandwich Terns.
Day 6 Thursday 30 April The Deep Straits & An Eagle Among the Kites
A big highlight to come again this morning, as we made our way into Tarifa. We began with some urban birding around the town, taking in the colony of Lesser Kestrels on the Church of San Mateo in the centre of the old town. Heading down to the port, we joined Skipper Aurelio aboard our cruiser, which would take us on our private excursion into The Straits themselves.
During our two-hour visit, we encountered many dolphins, but most spectacularly, we were joined by a curious pod of Long-finned Pilot Whales, including some very young calves. They investigated and played around the boat and even exchanged whistles and clicks with us—what a beautiful experience!
Seabird encounters too were fabulous, including Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, Balearic Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater, a European Storm Petrel, Northern Gannets, and Black Terns.
After a wonderful couple of hours on the waves, we headed to our “local patch” at Tráfico watchpoint to celebrate with a final slap-up lunch. In keeping with the week, today the bar went higher still with not two, but three award-winning cheeses, including a sheep’s milk cheese with black truffle and a locally produced blue goat’s cheese—absolutely killer flavours combined with a beetroot, avocado, and walnut salad and a rainbow of fresh, sustainably produced fruits and vegetables.
We spent our final afternoon chilling, digesting, and reflecting on a fantastic trip while 20 European Honey Buzzards, 192 Black Kites 21 Booted Eagles, 3 Short-toed Eagles, 3 Egyptian Vultures and more soared over our heads into Europe. On the way back to base, we made a final stop at El Mirador del Estrecho, where the migration was still continuing. Another 247 Black Kites interspersed with other raptors passed above us, and we were thrilled to spot an adult Bonelli’s Eagle getting in among the mix and making the journey even more exciting. A wondrous end to the trip, we made our way home for a bit of relaxation, our final delicious three-course meal of paella and Toñi’s signature Banoffee pie, and toasted our journey with a final gin and tonic.
Day 7 Friday 1 May Fond Farewells
How the week had flown by, and yet how many avian adventures we had enjoyed together! This wonderful group met one last time for breakfast before saying goodbye and continuing our own northerly migrations.
Flyway Promise
This tour was proudly carried out in support of our primary conservation partners, Fundación Migres. Their tireless work keeps migratory birds safe from regional power infrastructure, and their long-running data gathering program remains utterly invaluable to global avian immigration science. Thank you for helping us support them!
Standing beneath hundreds of European Honey Buzzards soaring low over watchpoints across The Straits is a sight you never forget.
You can check out our full eBird Trip Report to see every single species recorded—because on all our tours, we make sure our birding counts for global avian science!
While our set departure dates for 2027 are fully wrapped up, we will soon be announcing our 2028 Honey Buzzard Migration Tour dates across The Straits.
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