Birding Two Continents

The Straits of Gibraltar

IB
Inglorious Bustards
  • Email address verified
Oct 2 - 9, 2019
Group size: 1 - 14
Birding Two Continents
The Straits of Gibraltar

Inglorious Bustards
  • Email address verified

Oct 2 - 9, 2019
Group size: 1 - 14

About this trip

Legend has it that Hercules used his incredible strength to separate the continents of Europe and Africa, creating the Straits of Gibraltar. The Inglorious Bustards are all set to use our outstanding local knowledge and expertise to bring them back together for you! This is our feature specialist tour, and our experience of the area and local contacts mean we can take you where other guides fear to tread.


The point at which Africa and Europe meet is also the epicentre for one of the world’s most spectacular bird migrations.  Every year, millions of birds make the 14 km journey across the Straits of Gibraltar, making use of uplifts and thermals rising off the Rock of Gibraltar and the stunning Moroccan peak of Jebel Musa. An estimated 250,000 raptors pass over this rugged terrain during these periods, as well as untold thousands of other journeying passerines and seabirds.


On this trip we will experience the very best of two continents from cracking locations in both Spain and Morocco.  As well as being at the heart of the thrilling migration spectacle, we will look for Marsh Owls, Northern Bald Ibis and Barbary Macaques as well as the seabirds and cetaceans of the Straits on a boat excursion and Moroccan specialities in both mountain and wetland sites.


There’ll be plenty of time to really enjoy the cultural differences too – one day you’ll be sharing tapas by the sea, the next you’ll be sipping mint tea on a rooftop!


This tour can offer be offered at anytime of the year but both Spring and Autumn offer the very best opportunities to see the migration and specialist species from both sides of the veil!

What’s included

  • Guiding
  • All meals
    All meals are provided (some drinks also included).
  • Accommodation
    All accommodation is provided with traditional and beautiful places in nature
  • All ferry travel
    ferry crossing to and from Morocco
  • Transport
    in our comfortable nine seater minibus

What’s not included

  • Flights
    We do not offer flights but will advise
  • Personal items
    extra drinks, laundry or souvenirs etc

Available Packages

Trip Price
£1,100
Deposit: £220

Itinerary

Day 1
Discovering migration

We begin with a flight to Gibraltar, from where we transfer to our delightful eco-resort in tranquil woodland near Tarifa, the centre of birding in the Straits. Our base at Huerta Grande is ideal for watching the migration as it is located between two natural parks in the hills above the Straits of Gibraltar, amongst lush Cork Oak forest. We should witness many hundreds of migratory birds making the crossing to their wintering / breeding grounds in Africa / Europe, including Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Black Kites and both Black and White Storks.



Your Organizer


IB
Inglorious Bustards
Here at the Inglorious Bustards, experiencing the powerful event of bird migration has led to a life-long fascination with avian migration and #FlywayBirding. It’s no accident that we have chosen our base to be here in the Straits of Gibraltar. Our location between Gibraltar and Tarifa puts us right at the epicentre of birding in the Straits and, from a migrating raptor’s point of view, we must surely also be at the centre of the world! We love not only to marvel at the birds passing but also to follow them on their migratory journey, and explore the whole range of fascinating and varied terrains they traverse each year. More than that though, we love to share our adventures with you! As well as our home-from-home in southern Spain, we take pride in bringing you the best of birding and migration spectacles along the whole East Atlantic flyway journey, through Europe, and North Africa, right down to the steamy wintering grounds of many of our nomads, south of the Sahara.