Bird-watching Paradise in Malaga, Andalucia
Bird-watching in Andalucia
Bird-watching is a rewarding activity in our Country Rural Hotel. This part of Andalucia is on the main "Migration Path" between Europe and Africa, enriching our local bird life twice a year. This has helped make our Country Hotel a heaven for Bird-watching and a favourite place to stay with the RSPB members, with many coming to this area on regular basis. Those who have already visited us have been enthralled by the bird life around our Hotel including Beeaters, Warblers, Shrikes, Red Rumped Swallows, Finches and Buntings. We get frequent overhead passes of birds of prey such as Short toed Eagle, Honey Buzzards and Griffin Vultures.
A short car drive will take you to perfect Bird-watching areas such as Fuente de Piedra, El Torcal, Ardales Lakes, Bobastro, El Chorro, and Teba providing you with opportunities to see even more fantastic birds, particularly the large birds of prey and Nesting Flamingos.
We can organise Guided Birdwatching Tours taking you to many of the hidden treasures of the Guadalhorce valley, Vale el Miel and Sierra de Nieves. If you are interested in these, please indicate it in your booking enquiry and we will be delighted to give you pricing as pre-booking is a most.
Click Here to see the Diaries of our Guests who have given their kind permission for us to publish it on our web site.
Fuente de Piedra
Protected by international treaty the Lagoon of Fuente de Piedra makes up part of the Llanure de Antequera which is considered to be one of the largest natural lagoons in Spain. The lagoon is an important stopover for the migrating birds before crossing the Mediterranean to spend the winter in warmer climes. Surrounded by a vast, mountainous terrain and provides an ideal breeding spot for the Pink Flamingo.
The best time to observe the flamingos is around the end of January which is when they arrive to prepare in time for the all important spring and summer business of breeding.
Towards the end of the summer, during July and August, Manuel Rendón, the Conservation Manager of the reserve and his two-hundred strong team of scientists advance on the lagoon before daylight in order to label the thousands of young flamingos who are still unable to fly. This incredible project has been in effect since 1984 and provides invaluable information as to the movements and habits of these valuable birds. After the disastrous 2006 season due to 5 years of draught, we had over 5000 chicks in 2009 and for 2010 it is expected we will have record numbers again.
October 2010 Offer
| October 2010 Offers | ||
| 5-Nights B&B | 7-Nights B&B | 14-Nights B&B |
1 x Accommodation for 5-nights 5 x Breakfast for Two People Welcome Drink on your Arrival All for Special Offer |
1 x Accommodation for 7-nights 7 x Breakfast for Two People Welcome Drink on your Arrival All for Special Offer |
1 x Accommodation for 14-nights OR 2 x Accommodation for 7-nights Breakfast Included Welcome Drink on your Arrival All for Special Offer |
| €545 | €695 | €1,250 |
| + (8% IVA) * | + (8% IVA) * | |
| + (8% IVA) * | ||
| Insert OCT-5 on your enquiry form | Insert OCT-7 on your enquiry form | Insert EBS-14 on your enquiry form |
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Conditions Apply* 1. Price Guarantee - We guarantee if we have a lower offer available when you check-in, we will always charge the lowest price for your stay. 2. Offers Valid for arrivals 1st Oct 2010 - 31st October 2010. 3. Only one offer can be used for a single stay 4. Price is for Standard Twin/Double Accommodation with Two Adults Sharing each Room. 5. Additional Bed can be provided for one Child for €30 + tax per night. (16-yrs or less. Sorry, No children under 6 years old). 6. No single occupancy. 7. Subject to Availability. 8. Volcano Guarantee applies to these offers. |
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Birdwatching Diary
| With kind permission of Alf and Carol Williams, April 2007 | |
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Date |
Notes |
3rd April (Bird-watching day 1) |
Obviously in April and May there are always birds on migration and summer visitors arriving. As soon as we arrived there were lots of Barn and Red-rumped Swallows and Swifts (including Alpines) flying around the Cortijo.Our first of many Short Toed Eagles (STE's) was seen and after dinner a Scops Owl was heard. |
4th April (Bird-watching day 2) |
North West winds on Day 2 brought lots of birds of prey. We walked on the track up the valley and returned via Caroline's suggested route along the dry Arroyo. Griffon Vultures(GV's), STE's, Beeaters, and Corn Buntings everywhere. A Southern Grey Shrike caught a Sparrow right in front of us - nature in the raw! Lots of Nightingales and Stonechats in the Arroyo and a Sparrow hawk flew overhead. Bushchat Shrikes common along the route. |
5th April (Bird-watching day 3) |
We drove up to El Chorro - Red Billed Coughs and GV's in the gorge. Up at Bobastro the Swifts were shooting over and around us (They were so close that you could hear the wind over their wings!). We drove via the lakes up on a minor road that takes you past a small laguna into the "back" of Campillos. This road is very quiet and you can make a few stops including the small Laguna. We saw Partridge and a magnificent male Hen Harrier flying low over our car just before the Laguna. On the lake there were quite a lot of waders including Black Winged Stilts. Driving on through Campillos we did not find any water in the Laguna on the main road which has a hide on the layby. We did see a Great Spotted Cuckoo though. |
6th April (Bird-watching day 4) |
We walked onto the main road and up the valley turning off to the right as per the instructions. It's a very pleasant walk up the hills to the abandoned Cortijo. STE's around the top and a cuckoo near the farm. |
7th April (Bird-watching day 5) |
Drove to Alora - great views of Lesser Kestrels at the Castle - it's worth keeping an eye on El Hacho as apparently there are a pair of breeding Bonelli's Eagles there. Lots of birds in the river valley too. In the afternoon we drove up the main road and turned off towards Estacion de Gobiantes. It's a minor road to the old station with Black Eared Wheatears along the way. We heard a Golden Oriele in the trees near the station - it is mentioned in a guide book that they are around this place. |
8th April (Bird-watching day 6) |
Drove to El Torcal via the minor road east of the Valle de Abdalajis. It is a great route with fantastic views and lots of birds to see. At El Torcal there were lots of GV's and Choughs and a Rock Bunting was a good one to see. Mouflon grazing around the rocks. |
9th April (Bird-watching day 7) |
Drove to Teba via the lakes but it rained hard so we gave up on Teba Gorge - should be good in the dry. Drove on to Fuente de Piedra - we approached the village anti-clockwise around the lake and saw a Black Kite over the olive groves and a Little Owl on the ruins not far from the edge of the village. The visitor centre and hides are very good - worth spending some time here. Gulled Billed Terns, Avocets, Stilts, White Winged Terns, Black Terns, Red Crested Pochard (as well as the normal ones), Gargany and of course Flamingos. |
10th April (Bird-watching day 8) |
Our departure day from Cortijo Valverde and on our way to stay at Torrox and our last day of Bird-watching in Valley de Sol. |
