Boasting some of the best beaches and holiday resorts in Spain, Andalucia is famous throughout Europe for its fabulous climate and vast range of amenities.

But there is a different, almost secret side to this intriguing region of southern Spain which many travellers do not get to see. The Andalucian countryside is rugged and wild, and many of the inland areas are home to a host of wildlife and bird species, rarely seen in Europe.

Attracting ornithologists from all over the world, Andalucia is a bird watcher´s paradise. The best time for twitchers to visit this region is during the spring, when many of the wintering species can be spotted, together with those arriving for summer.

The Straits of Gibraltar are a main passage for species such as storks and raptors which migrate between Africa and Europe, and the sheer limestone cliffs of the Rock provide one of the best viewing platforms in the world. The best times to see these migrating birds is between February and May for the northern raptor migration and September to October for the return journey.

Seabirds can be seen all year round and passerine migrants can also be spotted flying between continents. Peregrine and blue rock thrushes use the sheer cliff face, and the only Barbary partridges in Europe wander around on the upper rock.

Many birds return much earlier after winter due to the mild Mediterranean temperatures, and Tarifa is another bird-watching hotspot. The number of birds in transit here is said to be higher than the number passing the Bosphoros in Greece, and the famous wetlands of Coto Doana, make this an even more attractive region for fans of our feathered friends.

In addition to the 13 different species of raptor in Andalucia, which can be spotted circling from the hillier parts of the region, it is also home to rarer species such as the black vulture, which resides in the Sierra Morena region, north of Seville. There are thought to only be a few hundred pairs here, which is still the largest colony in Europe.

The magnificent Spanish imperial eagle is also a very rare bird, and can usually be spotted within the Parque Naciónal de Doñana. Other large birds of prey such as the golden eagle and Egyptian vultures can be found in Andalucia´s more mountainous regions, along with smaller species such as the kestrel and the buzzard.
Closer to the coast, eagles are regularly spotted in and around the village of Casares, and further inland in the more rural areas of Ronda and Grazalema. The wooded, forest area of Sierra de Grazalmea National Park is home to many breeding species during spring and summer
The large white stork is regularly spotted in the western regions of Andalucia, where it nests in trees and towers between spring and summer.

Far more common are the water birds, which flock to the wetlands along the Atlantic coast. Species include wild ducks and flamingos, which can be seen in many other regions such as La Fuente de la Piedra, which is just north of Antequera, and is considered to be one of the largest natural lagoons in Spain. Various woodpeckers and owls also inhabit mountainous woodlands and forests.

Coto Doñana National Park is made up of Delta waters which flood in the winter and then drain in the spring, leaving rich deposits of silt, raised sandbanks and small islands. This provides perfect conditions in winter for geese and ducks, and attracts thousands of breeding birds in spring.

The Guadiario Estuary in Sotogrande is where you will find the osprey which flys overhead into high trees. Cormorants, kingfishers, plovers and grey herons can also be spotted at Palmones Estuary, which is a sight to behold.

For the dedicated twitcher, vivsit the Los Alcornocales Park near Tarifa, where you will see quantities of Griffon Vultures.

Many visitors combine a holiday with a week at the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol and a week inland bird spotting. Tours and excursions can be booked in advance, and for more information about bird watching in Andalucia, contact:-

Centro Ornitológio de Estrecho de Gibraltar, Parque Natural Los Alcornocales, Ctra. Nacional N-340, KM96, 11390, Algiciras, Cadiz.