Mangroves are truly magical. They are capable of storing up to five times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests. Their roots dissipate energy from storm surges, shielding local communities. They cleanse waters of their sediments and pollutants before they enter the sea. They are invaluable to local economies and support one of the world´sContinue reading “Mangrove Magic!”
Author Archives: Simon Tonkin
The wonders of Spanish Spiders..not the myths!
We really like Spiders here at the Inglorious Bustards but we know they do attract a lot of hysteria and quite a bit of misinformation! So we turned to Molly Grace, spider enthusiast and expert to dispel the myths and bring you closer to these fabulous inhabitants of Southern Spain……. Before we begin, here are 3Continue reading “The wonders of Spanish Spiders..not the myths!”
They’re coming! – a spring migration spectacular!
Our Strait Birding & Cetaceans spring migration spectacular is coming soon, and there are still spaces available! Here´s a flavour of what happened last time… “The clouds were low and moody, and the winds pretty strong, but the intrepid Black Kites had decided, “Stuff it! This will do!”. One by one, and then by theContinue reading “They’re coming! – a spring migration spectacular!”
Ringing recovery of Yellow-browed Warbler in Andalucia confirms over-wintering in consecutive winters.
This note by Simon Tonkin and Juan Miguel Gonzalez Perea recently appeared in Brit. Birds 112 686–687 – You can view the original by clicking the link. On 2nd January 2017, Simon Tonkin found a Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus in the village of El Pelayo (near Tarifa), in Andalucia, Spain. The bird was subsequently present in an areaContinue reading “Ringing recovery of Yellow-browed Warbler in Andalucia confirms over-wintering in consecutive winters.”
We’ve made it onto the Top Ethical Birding Ecotours 2019 list!
When it comes to Ethical Birding Ecotours, it turns out we´re Top of the Pops! We’re more than just a birding tour company. We care about the wildlife we showcase, the local communities we visit and the opportunities for education through exploration. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we’ve made it into the Top Ethical Birding Ecotours 2019 list! This unique list is generated by aContinue reading “We’ve made it onto the Top Ethical Birding Ecotours 2019 list!”
“The fork is the most powerful tool to change the planet” – Tarifa Ecocenter and the #FlywayPromise
We´re readying ourselves for our annual pilgrimage to UK Birdfair, and we hope to see you there! As you ready for the off and decide what to put in your butties, have a look at this profile of our good friends at Tarifa Ecocenter, participants in our #FlywayPromise, whose philosophy that “The fork is theContinue reading ““The fork is the most powerful tool to change the planet” – Tarifa Ecocenter and the #FlywayPromise”
Braving the Blades & the work of Fundación Migres
We all know that turbines and soaring birds don’t mix. So what is being done to help our avian nomads as they pass these whirring legions marching across the Estrecho Natural Park, one of the most important raptor migration bottlenecks in the world? We report on the Compensatory Measures Project, just one strand of the immenselyContinue reading “Braving the Blades & the work of Fundación Migres”
Ethical optics and #FlywayBirding with @vikingoptical´s Stuart Gillies
When you´re mentally logging the ID features of a lifer or gazing at thermalling raptors, how much thought do you give to what you´re looking through..? Of the thirty optics companies that were examined in the 2018 Ethical Consumer report entitled “Shooting Wildlife II”, 83% were found to specifically market to hunters as well asContinue reading “Ethical optics and #FlywayBirding with @vikingoptical´s Stuart Gillies”
Let me introduce The Gambia and its inhabitants
The juxtaposition of Sahelian scrub habitat and The Gambia River gives a unique biosphere in this area of Africa. Rather than being dominated by Sahel like that of its neighbouring Countries, it is a mixture of moist forest and Sahel and that is a great draw for migrants as well as stunning resident species.
Crazy about Spring!
It´s hard to pick a favourite time of year here in the Straits, at the very epicentre of migration , the midway point of a million avian journeys. At the moment we’re crazy about Spring! We are midway into Spring migration, when every day yields new – often unexpected – treasures. There´s always a feelingContinue reading “Crazy about Spring!”