Southern Spain

Overview

The Sierra Morena is a relatively low (approx. 600 – 1200 m above sea level, highest point 1332 m) mountain range in Southern Spain stretching some 450 km along a roughly west – east axis, crossing the provinces (from west to east) of Huelva, Badajoz, Sevilla, Córdoba, Jaén and Cuidad Real. The range comprises a mix of hard (granite and quarzite) and soft (slate and gneiss) rocks and supports a rich vegetation of open oak parkland (dehesa), juniper and substantial areas of dry heathland (matos) characterised by cistus, lavender and gorse. Much of the region is thinly populated and agriculture is largely represented by small olive groves, vineyards and pig, goat and sheep husbandry.
Our tours focus on a small area towards the centre of the Sierra Morena noted for its large raptors and breeding birds. It is also one of the most reliable locations in Spain for the endangered Iberian Lynx and offers unrivalled potential to photograph this extremely attractive feline. Photography is almost exclusively conducted from commercially operated hides/blinds and concentrates on difficult or iconic species which include Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Little Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher and, in spring, European Bee-eater. Iberian Lynx is best attempted between August and March, while Red Deer (Elk) make exciting subjects during the rutting season (September/October). All hides are within a half-hour’s drive of our accommodation in the Sierra Morena.
Our final day provides something entirely different. Hides/blinds are left behind to enjoy the wide-open spaces of one of the Iberian Peninsula’s highly impressive nature reserves. Photography will concentrate on a new suite of bird species, with waterbirds taking centre stage. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Transfer from our pre-arranged meeting point (see Notes below) to our hotel in the Sierra Morena. There may be possibilities of opportunistic photography en route. After dinner, a night visit (of approximately three hours in duration) will be made to a commercial hide set up for Common Genet, a small, somewhat cat-like, largely nocturnal mammal. Long-bodied, short legged and boasting a long black and white ringed tail, this heavily spotted and striped denizen of deciduous and pine woodland, although not uncommon, is rarely seen in the wild. Overnight stay in a rural hotel in the Sierra Morena.

Days 2 / 5 – Morning and afternoon sessions in a number of different hides/blinds sited specifically for each of Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Little Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher and (in season), European Bee-eater and Red Deer. Also, at a specially constructed drinking pool a variety of passerines will be targeted among which are Great Spotted Woodpecker, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Iberian Magpie, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Hawfinch and Rock Bunting. ‘By-catch’ from these hides can include Little Egret, Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper, Blue Rock Thrush, Spotless Starling and, in summer, Woodchat Shrike. Exceptionally, one hide/blind is positioned strategically within the territory of a pair of Iberian Lynx and another focuses on Common Genet. Time has been scheduled for a repeat visit to one or two hides should initial visits prove less successful than desired. Overnights at a rural hotel in the Sierra Morena.

Day 6 – After a morning’s photography in the Sierra Morena, drive to our hotel in El Rocío, Sanlúcar or Faro. 

Day 7 – Depending on which airport participants arrive at and depart from, the day will be spent touring a well-known National/Natural Park for opportunistic bird photography, as follows:

• For Sevilla participants the venue will be the Doñana National Park (or its buffer zone), a UNESCO World Heritage site where, except in the height of summer, when the absence of rain can result in reduced water levels or even totally dry landscapes, the famous marismas attract a legion of waterbirds. Grey-lag Geese, Red-crested Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Western Swamphen, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Collared Pratincole, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Green Sandpiper and Whiskered Tern are all regular depending on season, while land birds include, again depending on season, Red-legged Partridge, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Iberian Grey Shrike, White Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Common Linnet and Corn Bunting.
• For Faro participants the venue will be the extensive Ria Formosa Natural Park, where waterbirds are a special attraction. Winter brings migrating Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal and Tufted Duck from breeding grounds in Northern Europe to join resident Common Pochard and Red-crested Pochard. The impressive Western Swamphen trumpets from the reedbeds, while Western Marsh Harriers patrol overhead. A few Booted Eagles have forsaken the long migration to Africa and the Black-winged Kite is worthy of time being spent attempting to locate one. The profusion of waders/shorebirds is astonishing and Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit are all likely candidates for photography. The strange but beguiling Greater Flamingo must grace everyone’s photographic portfolio, along with Little Egret, White Stork and Eurasian Spoonbill. Among the gulls, Slender-billed, Mediterranean and Audouin’s Gulls offer something special. Passerines will not be ignored and gems like Crested Lark, European Stonechat, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch and European Serin will be targeted. 

Day 8 – The tour ends with breakfast and transfer to your arrival (Faro or Sevilla) airports.

Price

3.980 Euros per person for tours commencing from Faro or 4.150 Euros per person for tours commencing from Sevilla (based on 2 people). Prices include guide and hide/blind fees, transfer from airport/hotel (see Notes below), ground transport (in an air-conditioned vehicle), accommodation (including breakfast), all meals (lunches at local cafés or pic-nic style if appropriate and dinners at local restaurants including quality wine at dinner), bottled water throughout the tour, free use of optical equipment (quality binoculars and telescopes) and field guides, a contribution of 60 Euros to our Conservation Project in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park (Portugal), participants’ accident insurance and VAT. Single supplement 360 Euros.
Not included are flights and items of a personal nature.
Please note the price per person will be reduced as the number of participants increases. 

Notes

This programme can start and end in either Faro (Portugal) or Sevilla (Spain). If you need accommodation for the nights before and/or after the tour, we are happy to help. We suggest you discuss your flight details with us before booking your flights.