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We stayed in a lovely farmhouse, spending the days on the coast watching bird migration over the strait, at marshes, in woodland and on a whale-watching boat ride. Naturetrek organised a fascinating week, with expert guides, good food and accommodation. The information in advance was good, as was support from headquarters.
J.S., Norfolk, Jun 25
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Strait of Gibraltar - Honey Buzzard Migration
Tour Code: ESP61A 7-day holiday in southern Spain to enjoy the late spring raptor migration across the Strait of Gibraltar, with a particular focus on the Honey Buzzard passage.
7 days
from
£1,895
£1,895
Land only price
from
£1,695
£1,695
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This new holiday puts us right at the heart of a massive movement of thousands of beautiful European Honey Buzzards as they journey north from Africa to breed. Bird-of-prey aficionados will enjoy mornings at strategic watchpoints as these stunning raptors stream across the migration bottleneck at the Strait of Gibraltar, accompanied by a supporting cast of Griffon Vultures, Black Kites, Short-toed and Booted Eagles.
We will also explore some of the area's other exceptional birdwatching sites, where the breeding season will be in full flow for resident birds and summer visitors. We'll be on the lookout for Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagles as well as a glimpse of Rüppell's Vulture, an increasingly familiar vagrant visitor to the area. Meanwhile European Bee-eaters will be busy at their breeding colonies in the hills, as will Lesser Kestrels in the picturesque Old Town of Tarifa. We will also visit the colony of Northern Bald Ibis – a quirky, charismatic bird that thrives here thanks to a successful reintroduction programme. A boat trip should produce Common, Bottlenose and Striped Dolphins as well as Long-finned Pilot Whales. Even Fin and Sperm Whales are possible here as they pass through on migration!
- Experience the spectacle of thousands of migrating Honey Buzzards
- Griffon Vultures, Black Kites, Short-toed and Booted Eagles
- Swirling masses of migrating swifts, hirundines, Black Storks and more
- Fine inter-tidal and wetland habitats including the noisy colony of Collared Pratincoles
- Long-finned Pilot Whales and up to three species of dolphin on a boat trip
- Crested Tits, Firecrests, Hawfinches, Serins, Short-toed Treecreepers and more
- Led by expert locally-based naturalist guides
Timed to coincide with the peak of the European Honey Buzzard migration, this trip puts us right at the heart of a massive movement of thousands of these beautiful nomads as they journey north to breed. Bird-of-prey aficionados will enjoy mornings at raptor watchpoints as these stunning birds stream across the migration bottleneck at The Strait of Gibraltar, accompanied by a strong supporting cast of Griffon Vultures, Black Kites, Short-toed and Booted Eagles.
The Strait is just 14 km wide and provides migrant birds with their best chance of a successful crossing of the Mediterranean. Soaring birds make use of the thermals which form over the rocky coastlines of Morocco to gain height and help them on this most treacherous part of their journey. This combination of geography and geology means a helping hand for birds, and quite simply spectacular birding for us!
During the spring, 250,000 raptors migrate over this area, as well as untold thousands of other journeying passerines and seabirds. Though it is towards the end of the season, May is no less impressive thanks to the 15,000 Honey Buzzards that pass over, often concentrated into just a few perfect days. We will spend the week visiting the very best places to experience this event.
We will also explore some of the area's other exceptional bird-watching sites, where the breeding season will be in full flow for our resident birds and summer visitors. We'll be on the look-out for Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli’s and Spanish Imperial Eagles as well as a glimpse of Rüppell's Vulture, an increasingly familiar vagrant visitor to the area.
European Bee-eaters will be busy at their breeding colonies in the hills, as will Lesser Kestrels in the picturesque Old Town of Tarifa. We will also visit the colony of the Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis – a quirky charismatic bird that thrives here thanks to a successful reintroduction programme.
A boat trip into The Strait itself will let you get close and personal with the area´s rich sea-life. Common, Bottlenose and Striped Dolphins are all resident, as are Long-finned Pilot Whales. Even Fin and Sperm Whales are possible here as they pass through on migration.
Visits to wetlands should yield a host of waders including Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Little Stint and Collared Pratincoles, as well as larger stars like Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Spoonbill and Greater Flamingo. As we visit both saline and freshwater habitats, we'll look out for Gull-billed, Little, Whiskered and Caspian Terns, and White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Great Reed Warblers and Isabelline Warblers.
To cap things off, our base for the week is a lovely converted farmhouse with delicious food, the weather should be perfect in early May and each lunchtime you’ll be greeted with a veritable spread of delicious local produce and wine!
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Gibraltar, transfer Tarifa
Day 2/6
Exploring the Tarifa area
Day 7
Fly UK
Reviews
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Superb birding in the Straits of Gibraltar during the Spring migration, specifically for Honey Buzzards. Scintillating company, sensational views, superior accommodation, scrumptious Spanish cuisine, stunning flora, splendid butterflies, sublime sunny weather. The most amazing boat trip on glassy seas to see a variety of whales and dolphins. Add to that the most incredible leaders, what more could you want? Memories of a lifetime made in a week! I have taken several trips with Naturetrek, and they are friendly and professional. Moreover, whenever there is a problem, they do their very best to sort it out if it happens during the holiday, and ensure that the client is happy with the outcome on return.
H.E. Buckinghamshire, May 24 -
A fabulous trip to enjoy the spring migration of raptors across the Strait of Gibraltar. The accommodation was really comfortable, you really felt like to were being welcomed to a home rather than a hotel. The guides were exceptional. Knowledgeable and friendly.
L.R. Devon, May 23
Dates & Prices
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Sun 3rd May – Sat 9th May
SPACES
£1,895
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,695
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£195
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Niki Williamson
Tour Leader: Niki Williamson
Niki was given a YOC membership for her 6th birthday, and has loved nature ever since. She worked and volunteered for the RSPB for 12 years, managing habitats, brandishing power tools with varying levels of success, and honing her birding skills in some of the best wetland, upland and coastal habitats in the UK. She was part of the Eastern England Farmland Advisory team for eight years, working with nature-friendly farmers to make the countryside a better place for wildlife, eventually heading up the team. Niki is particularly passionate about the plight of the Turtle Dove and was part of Operation Turtle Dove, working to ensure a future for this desperately declining bird. As well as the UK, this work took her to West Africa, where she worked closely with Conservation Grade to survey migratory and resident farmland bird species and their habitat needs, to see how local growers could produce peanuts in a way that is fair to nature and of benefit to wintering migrants. Niki now lives in Southern Spain, near Tarifa, where she has worked full time as a wildlife guide for four years, with a focus on showing people the wondrous migration spectacle of the Straits of Gibraltar. She leads tours here for Naturetrek in spring, autumn and summer, and also leads in various other destinations across Spain, including Coto Doñana, Sierra de Morena, Extremadura, Serranía de Ronda, as well as across the straits in Northern Morocco.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
