I did make it to Southern spain this year, mainly Tarifa and Gibraltar for raptor migration, superb, a trip report is being made for the site with all birds seen, photos and tips on locations and such,
what a place, im really glad i stuck to it
John Doherty said
Fri Jul 22 12:36 PM, 2011
Thanks for posting, great reading and a mega day's birding! It's getting me in the mood for my five-week foreign jaunt (to Croatia) and all the lifers I expect and hope to see!
Dennis atherton said
Tue Jul 19 12:08 PM, 2011
thank you Pete, that was excellent to read, a perfect date to go too, second half of sept is also looking best to me, some other great birds you had there too, 333 short toed eagles, wow, if i just saw the same as you that would be 10 lifers in that one day, thank you for posting, briliant
Pete Hines said
Mon Jul 18 10:43 AM, 2011
I've only been here once. Here's an extract from my note book.
20th September 1994
Tarifa Beach 08.30 - c14.00
I arrived at Tarifa on a bus from Cadiz at 21.15 last night, blowing a strong NE gale. Wind still strong and gusty morning of 20th becoming stronger by about 11.00 when migrant activity had quietened. Large flocks of circling birds (10-60+) could be seen over the hills to the east. Prior to 11.00 excellent views were obtained of all species which were flying low over the beach. Raptors and Storks appeared to be moving east.
Gannet 3 Little Egret Grey Heron Black Stork : a flock of 50+ distant Storks to the east, 15+ positively identified as this species White Stork 1 flew low over the beach Black Kite 20 Red Kite 2 Montague's Harrier 1 immature flew low over the beach Sparrowhawk 28 (19 by midday) Honey Buzzard 1 Common Buzzard 2 (1 prior to midday) Booted Eagle 65 (30 prior to midday) Short-toed Eagle 333 (276 prior to midday) Kestrel 5 Oystercatcher 2 Stone Curlew 1 in reserve area between dunes and the road Ringed Plover 2 Kentish Plover 17+ Sanderling 121+ Black-headed Gull small numbers Audouin's Gull 72+ all adults. At least 6 birds were ringed. A large white ring on the right leg and a small white ring on the left leg. Yellow-legged Gull 1100+ Lesser Black-backed Gull 33+ (all gulls in one flock on the beach) Sandwhich Tern 33+ Pallid Swift 6+ Common Swift 2+ Crested Lark Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Yellow Wagtail (iberiae) few Stonechat Wheatear 1 Fan-tailed Warbler many Spotless Starling (Tarifa) House Sparrow Linnet
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 18th of July 2011 10:53:33 AM
Dennis atherton said
Sun Jul 17 5:28 PM, 2011
Yeah thanks Mike, ill have a look,
You are right, the site Henry posted has a monthly migration chart that shows sept is the busiest month overall, you wont catch everything as birds migrate different times as we all know, i just read somewhere one of our cuckoos is already back in africa, but later half of sept looks really good for the main peak migration
Mike Crawley said
Sun Jul 17 1:00 PM, 2011
Dennis, I've often found useful trip reports on Surfbirds.com (I've posted trip reports there myself) and even some handy hints from a straight forward google search (really helped with last year's visit to Portugal). IIRC Tarifa is better in September but I may be wrong on that.
Dennis atherton said
Sat Jul 16 6:56 AM, 2011
thanks Henry, ill check that site out,
in theory Tarifa is the furthest southern peninsula and the shortest crossing for raptors and other birds, coming from europe into africa, like i said its just a theory but in my head at the right time of year, if you catch the weather, the right wind direction, lots of ifs i know,
thanks Again Henry,
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 16th of July 2011 07:12:59 AM
Henry Cook said
Fri Jul 15 9:55 PM, 2011
Hi Dennis. Not done Tarifa myself but been to Gibraltar. It was quiet for raptor migration during my visit but occasionally gets amazing movements. Sightings for Gib - http://www.gonhs.org/records.htm
Henry.
Dennis atherton said
Fri Jul 15 7:47 PM, 2011
Ok you lovely people, i wanna pick your very knowledgeable brains if i may
This late autumn i am thinking of going to Tarifa along the straits of gibralta, southern Spain, hoping for some great raptor migration action,
i was wondering if anyone on here has been and can give me a few tips on the place,
IE Good dates for autumn migration, other places in the area to visit, any help or ideas are more than welcome, good websites with any info about the place for birding
this place from what i have heard is one of the best raptor migration watch spots around but i could of been told wrongly, is there any where else better?
any help, ideas, or thoughts on better places for autumn raptor migration is welcomed
I did make it to Southern spain this year, mainly Tarifa and Gibraltar for raptor migration, superb, a trip report is being made for the site with all birds seen, photos and tips on locations and such,
what a place, im really glad i stuck to it
20th September 1994
Tarifa Beach 08.30 - c14.00
I arrived at Tarifa on a bus from Cadiz at 21.15 last night, blowing a strong NE gale. Wind still strong and gusty morning of 20th becoming stronger by about 11.00 when migrant activity had quietened. Large flocks of circling birds (10-60+) could be seen over the hills to the east. Prior to 11.00 excellent views were obtained of all species which were flying low over the beach. Raptors and Storks appeared to be moving east.
Gannet 3
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Black Stork : a flock of 50+ distant Storks to the east, 15+ positively identified as this species
White Stork 1 flew low over the beach
Black Kite 20
Red Kite 2
Montague's Harrier 1 immature flew low over the beach
Sparrowhawk 28 (19 by midday)
Honey Buzzard 1
Common Buzzard 2 (1 prior to midday)
Booted Eagle 65 (30 prior to midday)
Short-toed Eagle 333 (276 prior to midday)
Kestrel 5
Oystercatcher 2
Stone Curlew 1 in reserve area between dunes and the road
Ringed Plover 2
Kentish Plover 17+
Sanderling 121+
Black-headed Gull small numbers
Audouin's Gull 72+ all adults. At least 6 birds were ringed. A large white ring on the right leg and a small white ring on the left leg.
Yellow-legged Gull 1100+
Lesser Black-backed Gull 33+ (all gulls in one flock on the beach)
Sandwhich Tern 33+
Pallid Swift 6+
Common Swift 2+
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Yellow Wagtail (iberiae) few
Stonechat
Wheatear 1
Fan-tailed Warbler many
Spotless Starling (Tarifa)
House Sparrow
Linnet
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 18th of July 2011 10:53:33 AM
You are right, the site Henry posted has a monthly migration chart that shows sept is the busiest month overall, you wont catch everything as birds migrate different times as we all know, i just read somewhere one of our cuckoos is already back in africa, but later half of sept looks really good for the main peak migration
in theory Tarifa is the furthest southern peninsula and the shortest crossing for raptors and other birds, coming from europe into africa, like i said its just a theory but in my head at the right time of year, if you catch the weather, the right wind direction, lots of ifs i know,
thanks Again Henry,
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 16th of July 2011 07:12:59 AM
Henry.
This late autumn i am thinking of going to Tarifa along the straits of gibralta, southern Spain, hoping for some great raptor migration action,
i was wondering if anyone on here has been and can give me a few tips on the place,
IE Good dates for autumn migration, other places in the area to visit, any help or ideas are more than welcome, good websites with any info about the place for birding
this place from what i have heard is one of the best raptor migration watch spots around but i could of been told wrongly, is there any where else better?
any help, ideas, or thoughts on better places for autumn raptor migration is welcomed