Arrival & Day 1

Arrival Day

You will be arriving at Jerez Airport at approximately 22.00hrs. The air-conditioned mini-bus will be outside the Airport ready for pick up. There will be someone inside the airport to greet you and to show you where to go. Light refreshments will be provided during the short trip to the Hotel Diufain, along with introductions and any other questions you may have. You will be taken straight to the hotel for check in and room allocation.

Tour Day 1

White Stork To allow you time to rest, the day will start with a meeting on the veranda at 10.00hrs. This will involve further introductions and a more detailed talk on the trips itinerary, what we are going to see and what the experience has to offer you. Here we will answer any questions that you may have.

As we walk along the cliff-top paths, there is the chance, on a clear day, to see Cape Espartel on the Moroccan coast. All around are aromatic plants and herbs, that exude fine fragrances that can lift any soul as we enjoy the butterflies, including such beauties as the Southern Swallowtail and Two-tailed Pasha, flitting from plant to plant, feeding on the areas diverse plant life. If care is taken as we walk along the paths, we have the opportunity to observe some of the areas reptiles, such as Iberian Rock and Occellated Lizards, basking in the warmth of the day. Living dangerously alongside them, Blue and Red-winged crickets may be seen or heard. The only European Chameleon is found here, but keen eyes will be needed to spot them.

We will then head towards the Marismas de Barbate and the surrounding pinewoods. The Umbrella/Stone pines are used commercially, with thousands of pine nuts harvested annually. These have been used in Andalucian traditional dishes for years. This is a prime example of how man and the environment interact, and how important this is for the forests long-term survival and conservation. The understory of these woods are well developed and have some prime examples of Junipers, Fan-palm and Rosemary, all examples of some of the flora that makes Andalucía as beautiful as it is today. A sharp eye is needed here to spot passage migrants darting from branch to branch, before their journey southwards.

The Marismas themselves attract Waders, Terns and gulls in spectacular numbers. It is worth checking each flock of Gulls we come across, because you can never be sure what may turn up.

In the evening there will be an optional gentle excursion through the Stone Pine forest of Chiclana Park. Here we will enjoy some of the wildlife the park has to offer. This, with a bit of luck, should enable us to watch the Red-necked nightjar, and possibly even interact with them. The sunset, at this point, is truly magnificent. This spectacular sight is heightened by the presence and number of commuting bats leaving their roost and flying out over the forest of green below us. Raptors can also be seen at close quarters as they come into roost along with storks and, occasionally, Flamingos too as they fly off to their roosts.

A Taste of Some Birds of Interest Found at These Sites.

Booted eagle, Black kite, Short-toed eagle, Red-necked nightjar, Woodchat shrike, Hoopoe, Sardinian warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper, Kentish Plover, Blue-rock Thrush and Herons. As this area is still within the flight corridor, many species can be seen soaring overhead, as well as moving through the scrub, and the Stone Pines as they head southwards. Huge kettles of White storks can be seen sharing the skies with Griffon, Egyptian vultures, Bee-eaters, Swifts and other Hirundines.

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