Peter Jones gives a take on his local patch in the Serranía de Ronda and other areas visited during spring 2012. It has been a mixed bag of surprises and disappointments with unseasonable weather affecting the fauna and flora during the tours. Although it has to be said it was an enjoyable experience for all concerned, it remained a strange mixture of good and bad news for wildlife this year. A very dry winter meant late flowering plants leading to a lack of insects, which led to food shortages for early arriving birds reliant on a good food sources after their long passage from Africa, an unusual year so far….

Bonelli’s Eagle provide one of the major attractions for visiting birdwatchers to Andalucia, of course they also forever thrill us locals too! Throughout the Málaga and Cadiz provinces of our territory they are perhaps at their most common in southern Europe, certainly the breeding density here is the most important for this species in all of Europe. Essentially a breeding bird in higher altitudes preferring rocky crags and faces to nest, they are common in the high sierras. Currently there is concern that nest sites are increasingly under threat from competing Golden Eagle and increasing numbers of Griffon Vulture…

Returning from a recent foray to Israel, where Peter Jones attended the Hula Valley Bird Festival, we sense a new tour destination coming on! The wetlands of Agamon Hula Park and the Hula Nature Reserve are one of the finest birding areas in the Western Paleartic, Peter came back waxing lyrical about this fantastic migration flyway and wintering ground for birds. The area forms part of one of the most important migration flyways in the world, with literally millions of birds following the geological feature that is the Great Rift Valley through Israel to the savannahs of Africa. Read Peter Jones’s article and see his photographs to get an idea of what awaits the visitor…

Why not treat yourself to either a short or long winter’s break in the mountain wilderness of Andalusia? We have designed 3 very specific and special days, each with its own particular appeal and each a very different experience. You can decide which day you would prefer, or perhaps choose to indulge yourself with arranging all 3 days! The key here is flexibility; it is your choice to take 1, 2 or 3 day tours in the area. Whatever you decide, a winter break in our area will provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. To find out more follow the link below…

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