A 7-Day Expedition to the Gateway of Two Continents
Returning for 2028 – contact us for more info
€1,350 for 7 days – price includes all accommodation, meals, guiding, transportation, taxes and entrances but excludes flights.
€250 deposit
€160 single supplement
Witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles: the peak of the European Honey Buzzard migration. We time this trip to coincide with the massive movement of thousands of these beautiful nomads as they journey North to breed. We are based at the legendary Huerta Grande Rural Eco Lodge, a sanctuary nestled within a Mediterranean “cloud forest” and perfectly situated on the primary migration artery of The Straits.
A boat trip into The Straits itself will let you get close and personal with the many cetacean species that can be found in spring and autumn, such as Common, Bottlenose and Striped Dolphins and Long-finned Pilot Whale – even Fin and Sperm Whales are possible here. There are seabirds to look out for too, and we can hope to see Cory´s, Scopoli’s and Balearic Shearwaters, Northern Gannets, and in the right conditions Wilson’s Storm Petrels.
There will also be time to explore more of the area’s superb habitats and connect with local specialities, which include Rüppell’s Vulture, Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagle and Blue Rock Thrush in the mountains, Northern Bald Ibis and Audouin’s Gull around the coastal wetlands and pastures, Red-necked Nightjar and Black-winged Kite on farmland and Eurasian Golden Orioles, Western Bonelli’s Warblers, Crested Tits, Hawfinches and Common Firecrests in the woodlands of Los Alcornocales Natural Park, Europe’s largest Cork Oak forest.
The diversity and wealth of avian and other wildlife in this beautifully unspoilt area of Spain really is astounding!
Couple this with tranquil accommodation in an eco-lodge in the Natural Park itself, the chance to enjoy the picturesque streets and Moorish fortifications of the Old Town of Tarifa, and of course the chance to sample some of Andalucía’s best local food and wine, and you really do have a trip that’s Strait-up fantastic!
Andalucía: Where Continents Collide
Andalucía is famous for its world-class tapas, sun-soaked plazas, and a culture so welcoming it feels like home the moment you arrive. But look beyond the passionate late-night discussions and cobblestone streets, and you’ll find the true heart of the region: its wild side. This is officially the most biodiverse corner of Europe, and for a migratory bird, it is quite simply the center of the world.
Perched at the strategic gateway of two continents, Andalucía is a fascinating mosaic of history. The land has shifted between the ruling forces of Europe and North Africa for millennia, leaving behind a culture that is a beautiful, seamless blend of Mediterranean charm and Moroccan soul.
This “bridge” effect extends far beyond the architecture. The flora and fauna here offer tantalizing glimpses of life from across the water, creating a landscape where European icons and African specialties share the same sky. Whether you’re tasting local flavors or scanning the horizon, Andalucía is a place where every moment feels like a front-row seat to the best of both worlds.
The Guest List: What to Expect in the Sky and Sea
We’ve timed this trip to drop you right into the middle of a massive northward movement as birds push toward their breeding grounds. In The Straits, the air is thick with anticipation and wings.
The Raptor Spectacle
The migration of the European Honey Buzzard will be beginning in earnest, and we expect to see them in spectacular numbers. They’ll be accompanied by a heavy-hitting supporting cast: thousands of Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, and Booted Eagles, alongside towering kettles of Griffon Vultures and the endangered Egyptian Vulture. Keep your eyes peeled for the “royalty” of the Spanish sky—the formidable Bonelli’s Eagle and the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle—often seen alongside huge, shimmering flocks of White Storks, Black Storks, and the iridescent European Bee-eaters.
Local Legends & Forest Migrants
On the ground, Andalucía’s resident and breeding stars are just as captivating. We’ll be looking for the “mega-rarity” Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, the only significant European colony of Little Swift, and the quirky Northern Bald Ibis.
In the emerald cork oak forests, the canopy is alive with both residents and journeying passerines. We’ll track down the Common Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, and Crested Tit, alongside a fresh influx of migrants including Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, and the liquid song of the Common Nightingale. We will also be on the lookout for various Warbler species as they filter through the Mediterranean scrub.
Wetland Wonders
Our visits to the salt pans and private pools are a true highlight, offering the chance to see some of the rarest wildfowl in the Western Palearctic. We will be on the lookout for the globally endangered White-headed Duck, the delicately patterned Marbled Duck, and the highly localized Red-knobbed Coot. These “Big Three” are joined by a host of waders including Kentish Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, and the acrobatic Collared Pratincole. Hidden among the reeds, we’ll search for the Purple Swamphen, Little Bittern, and Purple Heron, while the open water belongs to the Eurasian Spoonbill and the iconic Greater Flamingo.
The Deep Blue
When we head out into The Straits by boat, the horizon opens up. We’ll be scanning the waves for Cory’s Shearwater, Scopoli’s Shearwater, and the rare Balearic Shearwater. Beneath the surface, the water is just as alive; we regularly encounter Long-finned Pilot Whales, Common Dolphins, and Striped Dolphins, with the exciting possibility of a migrating Sperm Whale or Fin Whale passing through the deep.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival & The Canopy Welcome
Upon meeting in Gibraltar, we transfer the short distance to Huerta Grande Eco Lodge, our delightful traditional rural accommodation nestled in the cork oak forests of the natural park.
After lunch and a little time to settle into our lodgings, we’ll head out to a local raptor watchpoint and hope to enjoy our first waves of European Honey Buzzards flowing overhead!
There will be a chance to explore the pastures and pathways of our local surroundings to look for resident species like Woodchat Shrike, nesting White Storks, Crested Lark, Thekla’s Lark, Melodious Warbler, and Common Nightingale.
Day 2 | Boat-trip on The Straits and The Sierra de la Plata
This morning, weather permitting, we head out to the coast to catch the European Honey Buzzards arriving across The Straits. Local experience is very important in choosing the area to watch from, as conditions decide where the birds will make land.
We take a boat trip, weather permitting, out into The Straits to enjoy the seabird passage and look for cetaceans. We will be on the lookout for Cory’s Shearwater, Scopoli’s Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, and possibly Wilson’s Storm Petrel.
Look for resident Common, Bottlenose, and Striped Dolphins, plus Long-finned Pilot Whales. Even Fin Whale and Sperm Whale are possible as they pass through on migration.
Once back on dry land, we visit the Old Town of Tarifa, where we can encounter Common Bulbul and breeding Lesser Kestrels among the picturesque streets.
In the afternoon, we head to the rocky cliffs of the Sierra de la Plata to enjoy the Griffon Vultures at their colony. We will look for the nest of the endangered Egyptian Vulture and hope to see Blue Rock Thrush, Western Black-eared Wheatear, and Rock Bunting.
Here the formidable Bonelli’s Eagle can be found patrolling the crags, one of Europe’s most impressive raptors. We will also be on high alert for the Rüppell’s Vulture. This Sub-Saharan mega-vagrant is an increasingly regular visitor, sometimes even seen interacting with the Griffon Vultures on the cliff faces.
Day 3 | Eastern Doñana & The Bonanza Salt Pans
An early start takes us to the eastern side of Doñana Natural Park
We begin at first light in the organic vineyards of Trebujena. This area is a vital sanctuary for the Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin, a species that has seen a dramatic decline across Europe. Here, the local organic farmers do extraordinary work, managing their land specifically to provide the nesting habitat this species requires.
We hope to see them fresh back from Africa, flashing their bright chestnut tails as they establish territories in this nature friendly farmed landscape.
At a nearby harbour, we enjoy a truly special second breakfast. While we feast on what are arguably some of the best Churros in Spain, we can enjoy the aerial antics of a colony of Little Swifts. This is the only significant breeding colony of this African species in mainland Europe, making it a high-priority highlight for any visiting birder.
We spend significant time exploring the Bonanza Salt Pans, a legendary draw for both North- and South-bound shorebirds. Using access to private pools, we hope to encounter close-up views of three of Europe’s most sought-after and threatened wildfowl species.
Red-knobbed Coot: A major rarity in Europe, this species is highly localised and carries that striking “double-red” ornamental knob.
Marbled Duck: This delicate, beautifully patterned duck is one of the rarest breeding birds in the Western Palearctic.
White-headed Duck: Famed for its bright blue bill and stiff-tailed posture, this globally endangered species is a “must-see” for visiting birders in Iberia.
The pans and creeks also host Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed Gull, and the once rare Audouin’s Gull. We should also encounter masses of Greater Flamingo, fishing Western Osprey, and a variety of terns including Sandwich, Little, Gull-billed, and Caspian Terns.
Day 4 | Barbate & The Western Straits
Today, alongside more raptor-watching at sites with stunning views across The Straits to North Africa, we will make a visit to a nearby nature reserve created on the site of disused salt pans. This area offers a fantastic selection of shorebirds which change every day, but we will especially hope for encounters with Kentish Plovers, Eurasian Stone-curlews, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and Collared Pratincoles, which have a breeding colony at the site. We will also look out for eye-catchers like Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo and Western Osprey.
Also close by is the town of Vejer de la Frontera, where a successful reintroduction programme of the Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis took place in 2004. The local population now numbers around 80, and we should be able to see these engaging and quirky birds at their nesting colony or grazing on surrounding farmland.
We should encounter additional species of the campo including Tawny Pipit, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Calandra Lark, and Greater Short-toed Lark
Day 5 | La Janda: The Ghost of a Great Wetland
Today we visit the farmland and wetlands of La Janda. This huge area of farmland was once a vast wetland on a par with Doñana in terms of its ecological importance. It has long since been drained for agriculture, but amongst the rice fields and managed pools and ditches, some real wetland gems remain, hinting at its former natural glory.
Amongst many hundreds of White Stork and Glossy Ibis, we should see Purple Swamphen, Marsh Harrier, and Black-winged Kite.
This is a premier location for raptors. We will be scanning specifically for the rare and majestic Spanish Imperial Eagle as well as further chances for the powerful Bonelli’s Eagle.
The drier areas should yield Spanish Sparrow, Calandra Lark, and perhaps a day roosting Red-necked Nightjar.
Migratory movement is completely dependent on wind strength and direction. Depending on whether birds are crossing or gathering inland waiting for their moment, this afternoon will be spent at one of several local raptor watchpoints, making the absolute most of whatever the conditions bring us and ensuring we are in the right place at the right time to see this migration.
Day 6 | Los Alcornocales: Europe’s Emerald Cloud Forest
Today we immerse ourselves in the lush surroundings of Los Alcornocales Natural Park. As the largest Cork Oak forest in Europe, it creates a unique Mediterranean cloud forest, capturing ocean mists to sustain an incredibly rich ecosystem.
We explore the deep, shaded valleys and ridges to find woodland specialists. We will listen for the distinctive song of the Western Bonelli’s Warbler and search the canopy for Common Firecrest, Crested Tit, Spotted and Pied. Flycatchers, and Short-toed Treecreeper.
A major highlight today is visiting a breeding colony of European Bee-eaters. These iridescent birds are a sensory delight, with their bubbling calls and acrobatic pursuit of insects against the backdrop of the cork oaks.
We return to the watchpoints for our final afternoon under the flyway. This is our last opportunity to sit back and witness the spectacular stream of European Honey Buzzards as they drift overhead across The Straits, a final, stirring reminder of the scale of this ancient journey.
Day 7
Today our trip comes to an end, providing a final opportunity to reflect on a week of truly exceptional birding. As we make the short journey back to Gibraltar, we review the incredible diversity of habitats and species we have encountered across The Straits.
