24th – 27th July 2026
Day 1: Arrivals, Northern Bald Ibis at Campo de Manzanete & Coastal Waders at Marismas del Barbate
Our Swift Weekender adventure began with arrivals at Gibraltar Airport, where we met up before transferring across to meet Elizabeth, who had already arrived at our base for the tour, Cortijo El Indiviso. As soon as we were all united at the traditional Andalucúan ranch, we sat down together to enjoy a fine picnic lunch brimming with sustainable, locally produced food sourced from conservation-minded producers.
With our appetite satisfied, we kicked off our off-site birding at Campo de Manzanete. Here, we got up close and personal with one of the rarest resident species in The Straits: the charismatic Northern Bald Ibis. We spent time watching nine adults marching in unison, actively probing for invertebrates across the open grasslands. The surrounding countryside was equally alive, offering fantastic looks at colourful European Bee-eater, Spotted Flycatcher, and more.
Next, we took a short journey towards Marismas del Barbate. Scanning the marshes and pools yielded close-up looks at gulls, including Audouin’s Gull, Mediterranean Gull, and Slender-billed Gull, alongside Yellow-legged Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Greater Flamingos sieved in the shallow water, while waders were clearly evident, including Black-winged Stilt and Black-tailed Godwit.
To round off the day, we headed down to El Puente del Río Barbate. As the tide was dropping, tidal mudflats were exposed, drawing in incoming shorebirds. Amongst flocks of Dunlin, Sanderling, and Common Ringed Plover, we found two stunning summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpipers, a passing Whimbrel, and acrobatic Little Terns feeding over the river.
Day 2: Private Farmlands, Shady Woodland & Inland Wetland Jewels
Today we made the hour-long journey inland to explore an area of private farmland. With dedicated scanning and plenty of patience, we achieved our key target for the site: picking out two White-rumped Swifts. Southern Andalucía is one of only a handful of European breeding sites for this highly localised species—a bird more typically associated with Sub-Saharan Africa that has established tiny, prized breeding colonies here by occupying old Red-rumped Swallow nests. Although they kept their distance as they hurtled past, watching these rare European breeders in flight was a real thrill, especially with Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, and Common Swift sharing the airspace for fantastic comparison.
We took our picnic lunch in the cooler shade of a nearby woodland, which proved to be an exceptional birding spot in its own right. As we ate, European Bee-eaters hawked for insects overhead, while Eurasian Golden Orioles called from the canopy before finally dazzling us with their bright colours. The trees were alive with activity, yielding wonderful encounters with Western Bonelli’s Warblers, Short-toed Treecreepers, and more.
The magic didn’t stop in the woods. Moving on to an inland lagoon, we were treated to stellar views of some of Andalucía’s most sought-after wetland specialities. We enjoyed impressive looks at a single Red-knobbed Coot alongside stiff-tailed White-headed Duck and stomping Black-necked Grebes out on the open water.
Day 3: Scrub Robins, The Swift Sweep, Coastal Terns & Heronry Bedlam
Setting the alarms early paid off massively with first-light encounters with enigmatic Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins. We explored extensively managed organic vineyards with a traditional mosaic of mixed scrub and cropping, getting great views of adults actively feeding their fledged juveniles.
From there, we set out to complete our swift sweep by tracking down the final missing piece of the puzzle: the Little Swift. Like its White-rumped cousin, the Little Swift reaches the absolute northern edge of its breeding range right here across The Straits, making Andalucía one of the exceptionally rare places in Europe where it nests. We visited a bustling breeding colony where these nimble acrobats put on a fantastic show, officially sealing our goal of seeing all five European swift species over the weekend!
With our grand swift sweep achieved, we celebrated over a well-earned second breakfast of fresh tostada con tomate and arguably some of the best churros in Spain.
Following the Little Swifts, we made our way to Playa de Montijo. Timing our arrival perfectly with the tide, we walked out amongst roosting terns and gulls, sifting through a fantastic smorgasbord of coastal birds including Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, and smart Slender-billed Gull.
Next, we pressed on to Las Salinas de Bonanza. Here, set against the vast backdrop of salt pans, we enjoyed incredible views of thousands of Greater Flamingos feeding alongside Gull-billed Terns, more Slender-billed Gulls, and a rich supporting cast of migratory shorebirds.
Duly energised, we rounded off the day by immersing ourselves in the pure bedlam of a bustling heronry, packed to the brim with life, including close views of Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, and Black-crowned Night Heron.
Day 4: Raptor Migration over Tarifa & Departure
Today was sadly the last day of our adventure, but we kept the momentum going right until the very last second. A strengthening Levante wind had gathered across The Straits, creating classic conditions for raptor movement around Tarifa. The sky at La Milanada came alive with masses of Black Kites swarming around, with huge columns of them—thousands strong—visible over the hillsides waiting to cross.
We even managed to tick off three Barbary Partridges on the drive to the airport in Gibraltar, bringing a fantastic weekend to a close.
Making Our Birding Count
Every observation recorded during our tour was logged via eBird, ensuring that our sightings directly contribute to vital global biodiversity data and local flyway conservation efforts in Andalucía. You can explore our full species list, complete counts, and location map from the tour in our public eBird Trip Report here: Swift Weekender eBird Trip Report.