Birding & Accommodation

Transcription

1 2017 Malaga Costa del Sol Birding & Accommodation Spain BIRDAYTRIP T info@birdaytrip.com

2 Avocet Night Heron Recurvirostra avosetta Nycticorax nycticorax Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 2017 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur Malaga Costa del Sol Sardinian Warbler Flamingo Sylvia melanocephala Phoenicopterus roseus Isabelline Warbler Iduna opaca Birding & Great Egret Casmerodius albus Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei Accommodation Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Citting Zisticola Cisticola juncidis Spain Rock Bunting Hoopoe Black Stork Purple Swamphen Booted Eagle Emberiza cia Upupa epops Ciconia nigra Porphyrio porphyrio Aquila pennata Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra BIRDAYTRIP T info@birdaytrip.com

3 Birding in Malaga and the Costa del Sol For experts or beginners, the province of Malaga offers a great variety of environments to maximise enjoyment of both nature and birds. Most of our species will delight the whole of the family, while many of them will appear before an expert s eyes for the very first time. Our mild weather allows us to go out into the countryside at any time of the year. The hospitality of locals will make you feel especially comfortable in your accommodation at the end of the routes. Come and discover our beautiful sites and birds!

4 The tours The aim of these tours is to get to know the wide variety of birds associated with each natural environment we can find in the province of Malaga. Many of these birds are very difficult, if not impossible, to observe in the UK, Northern Europe or America. To maximise enjoyment of the trips, the maximum group size will be 9 people, including the tour guide. The package includes: 6 hotel nights in BB or HB. 4 bird-watching trips led by an English-speaking guide, including use of telescope and bird guide in English, transportation, lunch and accident insurance. Flights are not included in the price. Transportation from and to the airport is not included in the price. Travel agency services will be provided by a licensed tour operator. Please confirm tour dates and availability before booking your flights!

5 Pre-booking List If you are prepared to share the tour with other participants, you can prebook your dates, without commitment!, and wait for others to join the tour. The waiting-list dates will be advertised in the Scheduled Trips section and in our Facebook profile. Typical Tour Schedule: Sunday (*) Check-in Mon/Thu 7:30 Hotel breakfast 8:00 Trip departure 12:30 Lunch (restaurant or picnic) 19:00 Return to hotel Fri Free day Sat Check-out (*) This is an example; you can choose your starting day though we highly recommend avoiding weekends. Some of the prices offered do not apply to weekends, Christmas, Easter or other local or national holidays. Please do not hesitate to ask for further information at

6 Trip destinations El Torcal Nature Reserve Archidona Laguna de Fuente Piedra Nature Reserve Montes de Malaga Natural Park Mouth (Nature Reserve) & Valley of the Guadalhorce Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (El Chorro) Nature Reserve

7 EL TORCAL Nature Reserve LOCATION: South of the town of Antequera over an area of ha. 15 km South of Antequera (local road 337, 35 min.); 45 km North of Málaga (highway A45, 1 hour). PROTECTION STATUS: Nature Reserve, Special Bird Protection Area (ES-32.), UNESCO s World Heritage DESCRIPTION: Mountain habitat. El Torcal de Antequera was the first natural site protected in Andalusia in It is one of the most important karst sites in Europe. The average altitude of the site is 1.075m, with the highest peak reaching m over sea level. REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENT: Griffon Vulture, Bonelli s Eagle, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Thekla Lark, Crag Martin, Robin, Blackcap, Black Redstart, Black Wheatear, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blue Rock-thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Iberian Grey Shrike, Chough, Rock Sparrow, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting, Rock Bunting. BREEDING: Alpine Swift, Nightingale, Black-eared Wheatear, Orphean Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Woodchat Shrike. WINTERING: Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Redwind, Ring Ouzel,, Chiffchaff. MIGRANTS: Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, Redstart, Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat.

8 ARCHIDONA district LOCATION: North-east of Malaga province (Archidona and Villanueva del Rosario). 20 km East of Antequera (motorway A92, 15 min); 45 km North of Malaga (motorways A45, A92, 40 min.). PROTECTION STATUS: Site of Regional Importance (Sierra de Camarolos) DESCRIPTION: Subalpine limestone mountain range with Mediterranean Forest (Sierra de Camarolos); Riverside wood surrounded by conifer woods and olive groves (Hoz de Marín). REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENTS: Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, Eagle Owl, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Crested Tit, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Azure-winged Magpie, Chough, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Serin, Hawfinch, Common Crossbill, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting. BREEDING: Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Cuckoo, Bee-eater, Melodious Warbler, Western Bonelli s Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike. WINTERING: Song Thrush, Redwing, Ring Ouzel.

9 LAGUNA DE FUENTE PIEDRA Nature Reserve LOCATION: With an area of ha., this lake is located to the North of Malaga province near the town of Fuente de Piedra. 26 km North of Antequera (motorway A92, 25 min.); 70 km North of Málaga (motorways A45, A92, 50 min.). PROTECTION STATUS: Nature Reserve, Special Bird Protection Area (ES-33), RAMSAR Wetland and Andalusian Wetland. DESCRIPTION: Inland wetland. Salty lake of around 2 km wide and 7 km long, formerly used as a salt-making operation. Surrounded by farmlands and olive groves, it is the south limit of the Seville steppe. It hosts one of the most important Flamingo breeding colonies in the Mediterranean. REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENTS: Mallard, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Purple Swamp hen, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Stone Curlew, Kentish Plover, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Calandra Lark, Sardinian Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti s Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, Serin. BREEDING: Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Montagu s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Little Ringed Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Turtle Dove, Bee-eater, Short-toed Lark, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Western Olivaceous Warbler, Woodchat Shrike. WINTERING: Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Crane, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Ruff, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Bluethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting. MIGRANTS: Wigeon, Marbled Duck, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck, Squacco Heron, White Stork, Black Kite, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck s Stint, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Black Tern, Whiskered Tern.

10 MONTES DE MALAGA NATURAL PARK LOCATION: North of the city of Malaga, over an area of ha., between Casabermeja, Colmenar and Malaga. 15 km North of Málaga (45 min. by car). PROTECTION STATUS: Nature Reserve. DESCRIPTION: This Aleppo Pine forest, mixed with native Holm Oaks, Cork Oaks and Strawberry Trees, is the result of the reforestation works at the beginning of the XXth Century carried out in order to avoid the River Guadalmedina floods in Malaga. The altitude goes from 100 to m over sea level. REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENTS: Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Crested Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay, Chaffinch, Serin, Common Crossbill, Cirl Bunting. WINTERING: Song Thrush, Redwind, Chiffchaff, Siskin. BREEDING: Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Scops Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Nightingale, Western Bonelli s Warbler. MIGRANTS: Black Kite, Honey Buzzard, Redstart, Iberian Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher.

11 MOUTH & VALLEY OF RIVER GUADALHORCE LOCATION: The lower Valley of the Guadalhorcve extends from Alora (45 km northwest to Malaga, 50 min.) to the Mouth of the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve (west of Malaga city, 15 min.). PROTECTION STATUS: Nature Reserve and Andalusian Wetland (Mouth of the Guadalhorce) DESCRIPTION: Valley of the Guadalhorce: river woods surrounded by citric groves; Mouth of the Guadalhorce: Coastal wetland. REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENTS: Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Hoopoe, Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Stonechat, Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti s Warbler, Spotless Starling, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Serin, Monk Parakeet. BREEDING: Red-crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Red-necked Nightjar, Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Reed Warbler, Western Olivaceous warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike. WINTERING: Shoveler, Teal, Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Turnstone, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting. MIGRANTS: Pintail, Wigeon, Marbled Duck, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Scopoli s Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Grey Plover, Collared Pratincole, Knot, Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Great Skua, Slender-billed Gull, Little Tern, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Sand Martin.

12 DESFILADERO DE LOS GAITANES (EL CHORRO) Nature Reserve LOCATION: At the heart of Malaga province, it is situated between Ardales, Alora and Antequera and extends over an area of ha. 60 km. northwest of Malaga (highway A min). PROTECTION STATUS: Nature Reserve, Special Bird Protection Area (ES617003) DESCRIPTION: El Chorro is an impressive site where mountains with very high cliffs and large pine forests converge with three big water reservoirs. REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES: RESIDENT: Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Bonelli s Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Rock Dove, Crag Martin, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Chough, Serin, Common Crossbill, Rock Bunting. WINTERING: Cormorant, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Song Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Chiffchaff, Siskin. BREEDING: Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Turtle Dove, Alpine Swift, Beeeater, Red-rumped Swallow, Nightingale, Woodchat Shrike. MIGRANT: Rüpell s Vulture, Osprey.

13 Accommodation in Malaga Malaka was founded by the Phoenicians in the 9 th century B.C. who were followed by the Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims, thus shaping one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. Malaga was the most developed industrial area in Spain during the XIXth Century, and its wines and moscatel raisins were very well known all around Europe. The depletion of iron mineral in the region and the plague of the phylloxera, drove the city into a very deep crisis by the end of the century. Malaga is nowadays the capital of the Costa del Sol. Its international airport, just 5 minutes away from the city, makes travelling from anywhere in the world a very comfortable experience. The A7 and A92 motorways provide the road backbone, the former East-West from Nerja to Estepona and the latter North to the rest of Andalusia. It is connected by High Speed Train to Cordoba (50 min.), Seville (1 h 55 min.) and Madrid (2 h 35 min.). Our visitors can enjoy world class hotels, restaurants and leisure services as well as a complete cultural offer. Places of interest: Museums (Picasso, Thyssen, Pompidou) La Concepcion Botanical Gardens Cathedral (XVI th century) Roman Theatre (c. 100 BC) Muslim Fortress (XI th century) Malaga Tourism official website:

14 HOTEL MOLINA LARIO**** website: Click here location: Click here Birding trips: Sun 1: Mon 2: Tue 3: Wed 4: Thu 5: Fri 6: Sat 7: Check in El Torcal & Archidona district Laguna de Fuente de Piedra & farmlands Montes de Malaga & Mouth of the Guadalhorce El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce Free day Check out Price ( per person in double room, VAT included) (min. 2 persons, please consult prices for groups up to 8 persons): 6 nights Bed & Breakfast Half Board (*) Ene Mar from 735 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from 920 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) Jul - Ago Apr Jun Sep - Oct from 885 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from 920 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) FREE: deposit safe box in rooms, WIFI in all the hotel, kettle with coffee and tea in rooms. On request: Superior room, Deluxe room, 3 rd person. (*) 3 course menu plus 1 drink per person.

15 Accommodation in Antequera Antequera enjoys a privileged situation at the geographical centre of Andalusia, below the El Torcal and Chimenea sierras, with peaks over m., and with a great fertile plain as far as the eye can see. It is the biggest inland municipality of the province of Malaga, with a population of inhabitants who work in agriculture (cereals, olive oil, vegetables), logistics and tourism. History and prehistory converge in this town, where we can gaze at Bronze Age dolmens along with an extraordinary collection of historical religious and civil monuments from the XVI century and before. Romans, Arabs and Christians left their stamp in this crossroads town. Places of interest: Bronze Age Dolmens (UNESCO s World Heritage) Real Colegiata de Santa María La Mayor church. City of Antequera Museum. Hojiblanca Olive Oil Museum. Antequera tourism official website:

16 HOTEL ANTEQUERA**** website: Click here location: Click here Birding trips: Sun 1: Mon 2: Tue 3: Wed 4: Thu 5: Fri 6: Sat 7: Check in El Torcal & Archidona district Laguna de Fuente de Piedra & farmlands Montes de Malaga & Mouth of the Guadalhorce El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce Free day Check out Price ( per person in double room, VAT included) (min. 2 persons, please consult prices for groups up to 8 persons): 6 nights Bed & Breakfast Half Board Jan Mar Nov Dec Check in on Sunday Apr May 16 Aug Sep from 495 /p (8 p) 895 /p (min 2 p) from 615 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from 600 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) from 745 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) Jun 11 Aug from 560 /p (8 p) 960 /p (min 2 p) from 690 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) On request: Junior suite, Suite, Suite Real, 3 rd and 4 th person.

17 Accommodation in the countryside The Costa del Sol is worldwide known as a vast tourist resort located along the quiet beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. There is a lot more to show to the visitor, though. The extraordinary environmental diversity of the province of Malaga is accompanied by a growing choice of high quality accommodation in inland villages very close to the most interesting birding sites. Oranges, a winter fruit at Guadalhorce Valley Away from the summer rush on the coast, the visitor finds lovely places from where to arrange early morning visits to cliffs in the mountains, cool forests, farmland and lakes. In autumn, winter and spring, our mild weather invites the birdwatcher to travel around our green fields on sunny days, and enjoy excellent and cosy accommodation. Views of the snow on the Sierra Nevada peaks (Granada) from El Torcal

18 HOTEL CONVENTO LA MAGDALENA***** website: Click here location: Click here 8 km from Antequera, 15 min. Birding trips: Sun 1: Mon 2: Tue 3: Wed 4: Thu 5: Fri 6: Sat 7: Check in El Torcal & Archidona district Laguna de Fuente de Piedra & farmlands Montes de Malaga & Mouth of the Guadalhorce El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce Free day Check out Price ( per person in double room, VAT included) (min. 2 persons, please consult prices for groups up to 8 persons): 6 nights Bed & Breakfast Half Board Jan Dec Check in on Sunday from 585 /p (8 p) 995 /p (min 2 p) from 750 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) FREE: use of Spa. On request: Junior suite, Suite, 3 rd person.

19 HOTEL HUMAINA*** website: Click here location: Click here 20 km from Malaga, 50 min Birding trips: Sun 1: Mon 2: Tue 3: Wed 4: Thu 5: Fri 6: Sat 7: Check in El Torcal & Archidona district Laguna de Fuente de Piedra & farmlands Montes de Malaga & Mouth of the Guadalhorce El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce Free day Check out Price ( per person in double room, VAT included) (min. 2 persons, please consult prices for groups up to 8 persons): 6 nights Bed & Breakfast Half Board (*) Jan Dec from 610 /p (8 p) 985 /p (min 2 p) from 735 /p (8 p) /p (min 2 p) On request: 3 rd and 4 th person. (*) 2 dishes plus dessert, drinks not included.

20 RECOMMENDATIONS The activity consists on birdwatching at natural sites and its physical risks are limited to the walk through countryside paths. We recommend the use of the appropriate shoes and clothing for a walk through the countryside, according to the season and the particular weather conditions. The use of binoculars and telescopes for birdwatching purposes is encouraged. Any other special equipment is not required. This activity does not require special knowledge, nor does it imply any difficulty beyond the characteristics of the paths passed through. Clients under-18 will always be accompanied by an adult (mother, father, or legal representative) or authorised in writing by any of the above-mentioned to participate in the activity. Participants commit to abide by the general rules for environment protection, particularly: Not disturbing fauna and flora. Not leaving waste outside of litter bins. Removing their own waste from places where this service is not available. Avoiding fire risk. Not producing disturbing noise. Clients contracting BIRDAYTRIP services are conscious that they will carry out a physical tourist activity, and accept the risks inherent to the activity and the possibility of suffering fortuitous accidents in a natural environment. Clients must follow the instructions given by the guides accompanying the group, as they are responsible for the direction of the group. Clients commit to inform BIRDAYTRIP about any sort of illness or disability which may alter the normal carrying out of the tour. Tours contracting Terms and Conditions: