Spanish Birdwatching Trip to the Straits of Gibraltar
This half-day Sierra de la Plata and Bolonia Birding Trip in Spain offers wildlife watching close by the Straits of Gibraltar. Situated near the town of Tarifa, on the northern edge of El Estrecho Natural Park, this region offers some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in the Strait.
The transition from the Bolonia unspoiled beaches to sand dunes, pine and oak forests, and mountain cliffs overlooking the African coast, creates a unique landscape. The cliffs host a large colony of Griffon Vultures and species to see on this birding trip in Spain include other wish-list birds such as endangered Egyptian Vultures and Blue Rock Thrushes. The forests here are perfect habitat for the Iberian Green Woodpecker, which has recently been recognised as an Iberian endemism.
The dune edges are especially rich in flora and support remarkable communities of Maritime Junipers, parasite Broomrapes and dense Brooms, where cryptic African Chameleons are likely to be found. In the late summer enormous kettles of White Storks cast their shadows on the beach and make this birding trip in Spain extra thrilling.
Periods of easterly winds in spring bring hundreds of Black Kites, Booted and Short-toed Eagles and Honey Buzzards passing over Bolonia from their wintering quarters in Africa. Not far away, in the scrubland areas, Black-eared Wheatears, Woodchat Shrikes, Melodious Warblers and the very scarce Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins occur.
Sierra de la Plata has long been a popular destination for European birders searching for Little and White-rumped Swifts, both of which formerly bred in the famous Cueva del Moro cave. Also in the area, the well-preserved 1st century BC Roman city of Baelo Claudia, is well worth visiting and is a place where Sardinian Warblers can be found.
A full day option of this birding trip in Spain is also available on request.
Sierra de la Plata and Bolonia Birding Trip highlights include:
- Hundreds of birds of prey crossing the Straits of Gibraltar and passing over Bolonia beach
- Searching for nesting Little and White-rumped Swifts
- The Roman city ruins of Baelo Claudia
Would you be interested in one of the other day trips that Birding Tarifa has to offer? If so, check out the Raptors Paradise Birding Trip, Andalucía, Spain.
Alternative Name: Sierra de la Plata and Bolonia Wildlife Tour
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