Author: javi

As mentioned in our Coronavirus Statement last March: The health and safety of our clients and society at large is unquestionably our top priority. This way, during the first period of lockdown in Spain, we have restricted our activity to teleworking and birding at home. However, now it’s the time to start birding in lockdown lifting period.

On the 11th of May, the province of Cádiz in Andalusia, as well as many other regions of Spain, have entered the Phase 1 of lockdown deescalation. The new regulations established by the Spanish government allow the reactivation of Active Tourism activities. Therefore, we can resume our activity, although with important restrictions. So, in order to re-establish our work in a gradual and responsible manner, this morning we have carried out a first excursion in Tarifa on a trial basis. Next, we explain our preliminary experience birding in lockdown lifting period in Tarifa, Andalucia.

New regulations for birding

Remarkably, a significant part of the new regulations introduce practices in line with the philosophy of Birding The Strait. As a result, we were already implementing many them routinely. For instance, we:

• Develop our activity outdoors, always away from congregations (other than avian!).
• Always work with small groups.
• Use hand-sanitizer and gloves for food handling.
• Often have picnic lunches outdoors.
• Provide optic material for individual use.
• Clean our vehicles after every excursion.

In addition to the abovementioned ones, we have implemented the following measurements to fully adapt our activity to the new regulations:

• A minimum distance of 2m between participants.
• Permanent use of masks both while in the field and in the vehicles.
• Frequent disinfestation of the optic gear.
• Limitation in the number of passengers to two per row of seats.

Even though the new regulation limits to 10 the maximum number of participants, we have decided to, temporally, restrict it to 6 participants.

Birding in lockdown lifting period in Cadiz

Currently, our activity is restricted to the province of Cadiz. Here again, we feel lucky. There is no need to get away from Tarifa to enjoy world-class bird migration. Moreover, we have two natural parks at the doorstep, namely: El Estrecho and Los Alcornocales Natural Parks.

In addition, we can now get back birding in La Janda, our quintessential local-patch. And, as if these were not enough, a day trip from Tarifa allows us to go birding in Doñana, La Breña and Barbate Marshes Natural Park and the Bay of Cadiz. For a change, we can also visit the mountains in Grazalema. Not bad!

Our first day birding during the lockdown lifting

Today, to get started, we have spent a lovely morning birding at Los Lances beach, in Tarifa. A large number of Balearic Shearwaters has been one of the most remarkable findings. We have equally enjoyed great views of Audouin’s Gulls. Yellow Wagtails in active migration, the song of the Greater Short-toed Larks and a varied array of waders have been additional highlights.

To end the excursion, we have enjoyed an excellent brunch at a local terrace. It consisted of a toast of brown bread with first quality olive oil and fresh squeezed tomatoes, a tasty local speciality.

We are ready!

From a technical point of view, this has been an excellent opportunity to put into effect the new sanitary measures. We have also tested the personal distancing procedures under different situations.

The birding activity has been developed with agility and uneventfully. There has been no contact with people outside the group. Definitively, the implementation of the new regulations has not affected the overall birding experience.

In Birding The Strait, we are determined to enjoy this spring. Indeed, Tarifa and the whole province of Cadiz do still have a lot to offer this season. We have already scheduled birding trips to Doñana, La Janda and the raptor observatories in the Strait of Gibraltar. Moreover, we will be organizing birding excursion from Tarifa on foot. We will adapt our rates to the current situation, including free of charge activities. Drop us an email and we will keep you updated!

It is time to make birding, ecotourism and sustainability step ahead in our region. And we are ready!

We have always said it: The Griffon Vulture migration in Tarifa is one of the greatest spectacles of nature. Every spring and every autumn, we choose the best raptor migration observatories in Tarifa to enjoy the show with our clients. No matter how many hours we have spent enjoying this overlooked wonder, there is always something new to discover. We do never get enough!

We could have never imagined, however, that we would witness a memorable moment of Griffon Vulture migration from home. This can only happen in Tarifa, of course!

#birdingathome

Last 7th of April, strong easterly winds were blowing in the strait. Gales reached up 25 knots. Under these circumstances, we wouldn’t expect any raptor migration going on over Tarifa.

At noon, Javi was working on his computer when he heard the alarm call of a Yellow-legged Gull. Instinctively, he grabbed his binoculars and leaned off the window. Much to his surprise, he saw a Griffon at eye level! Next, he hurried to get his camera and ran to the terrace. Over the next 20 minutes he witnesses a steady arrival of Griffons to Europe, after crossing the strait of Gibraltar.

The “levante” wind pushed those vultures to lower altitudes. Some were flying flush water drills, exhausted. Moreover, the wind made them drift west. This way, vultures were forced to fly an increased distance across the ocean. Moreover, some ended up flying over the “Isla de Las Palomas” in Tarifa (the southernmost tip of the continent). Here, there is a large colony of Yellow-legged gulls.

Angry Gulls

If there is something gulls do not tolerate, is a large raptor around their territory. In addition, gulls seem to have a special ability to detect birds that are struggling.

Flocks totalling over 100 gulls fiercely chased the unprepared Griffons. Certainly, they were not expecting such a hostile reception!

Griffon vulture down

One of the Griffons, notably exhausted after sea-crossing with the strong wind, was attacked with special venom. As a result, the vulture lost its balance and was brought down to the ground. He was forced to an emergency landing in Tarifa. Luckily, the vulture rapidly found shelter in a rock outcrop. About half an hour later, it caught its breath and took off.

The following pictures show some scenes of the Griffon Vulture in active migration above Tarifa, and a dramatic encounter with angry gulls.

This event reminds us of another astonishing Griffon Vulture migration vs gulls we witnessed some years ago: “The Griffon that swam across the Strait of Gibraltar” previously reported on the Birding The Strait Blog.

Griffon Vulture migration in Tarifa

If you want to learn more about the spring migration of Griffon Vultures in the Strait of Gibraltar we recommend this academic paper by our good friends, and fellow vulture enthusiasts, Juan, Pako and Marina.

May and early June in the spring, and late October to mid-November in the Autumn, are the best periods to enjoy the Griffon Vulture migration in Tarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar. For this reason, we organize specially dedicated day trips, tours and photography workshops to the Griffon Vulture migration every year. If you want to keep informed on our forthcoming guided visits drop as an email or subscribe to our newsletter.