Download pdf - NGB Spain Trip Draft 2

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Page 1: NGB Spain Trip Draft 2

NGB Spain 2015 5th – 12th April

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• Information gathered over 10 trips in 4 years

• Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of hours of extra reading and research

• Itinerary isn’t comprehensive. It is open to change based on weather and group wishes

• Key species lists based on my own observations over multiple visits, there is always surprises.

• Previous April week long totals: 175 and 187.

• 200 is not out of the question this time round.

Itinerary details

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When you arrive

• Depending on which terminal you arrive in will dictate which direction you will need to go

• Regardless of this you will want to head out of baggage claim and head towards the front entrance of arrivals – It is near the Taxi symbol on the map above

• If we all meet in front of arrivals then we will have everyone together. For those arriving later we will hopefully have the cars by then and will pick you up from here and head straight off.

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What to bring

• Drivers – Driving license Everyone • Passport • Euros – Change before you get to the airport as

the exchange rate is far better • ID for proof of age • Optics • Something waterproof and warm – early

mornings can be cold • Sun lotion – Even in April it burns there

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The Sites

• The next 4 slides show the full list of sites which are worth visiting.

• We will obviously not visit them all but based on the desired species lists you have given me I will suggest the sites we should visit

• However all sites will be detailed here so you can all choose your most desired ones

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Sites – North Cadiz Province

• Chipionia **

• Sanlucar, Bonanza & Trebujena ***

• Mesa de Asta Marsh **

• Laguna de los Tollos **

• Lagunas de Espera **

• Lagunas de Lebrija **

• Laguna de Medina ***

• Lagunas de Puerto Real **

• Lagunas del Puerto de Santa Maria **

• El Puerto de Santa Maria – Bahia de Cadiz North **

• San Fernando Marshes – Bahia de Cadiz Central **

• Chiclana/Marismas de Santa Petri – Bahia de Cadiz South **

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• Benalup ***

• Cantarranas **

• Cape Trafalgar **

• Barbate Estuary **

• La Janda ***

• Bolonia, Atlanterra – Sierra de la Plata ***

• Tarifa – Playa de los Lances ***

• Strait of Gibraltar ***

• Punta Secreta & Carnero **

• Southern Alcornocales **

• Los Barrios **

• Vejer Area **

Sites – South Cadiz Province

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Sites – East Cadiz Province

• Los Alcornocales (North) ***

• Grazalema loop **

• Montejaque **

• Llanos de Libar ***

• Jimena de la Frontera **

• Castillo de Castellar **

• Gibraltar **

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Sites – Seville, Cordoba & Malaga Province

Seville

• Brazo del Este ***

• Laguna de Mejorada ***

• El Arahal-Marchena-Carmona **

• Osuna ***

• La Lantejuela ***

Malaga

• Rio Guadalhorce **

• Sierra de las Nieves ***

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Site Maps – North Cadiz

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Site Maps – South Cadiz

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Site Maps – East Cadiz

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Site Maps – Seville & Cordoba

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Plan of action

• 1 day spent in Sierra Andujar. Visit here will be done on the day with the best available weather as we will need all hours of light.

• Remaining 5 full days will be spent visiting remaining sites

• 1 free day to revisit sites if weather is a problem or a rest day for drivers if needed

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Proposed Itinerary 6th April – La Janda, Benalup, Vejer, Cape Trafalgar, Barbate and Cantarranas (Maybe Bolonia

if time allows)

Key species – Little Bustard, Spanish-Imperial Eagle, Black-Winged Kite, Pallid Harrier, Scops

Owl, Red-Necked Nightjar, Bald Ibis, Eagle Owl, Purple Gallinule, Calandra Lark

Habitats – Cliffs, woodland, open fields, rice paddies, olive groves

All cars start at Benalup and finish at Cantarranas •Sea watch at Trafalgar possible for those that want to, can assign people to cars based on what they want to do/see. •Start at Benalup for Little Bustard, Montagu’s Harrier and Black-Winged Kite •Finish at Cantarranas for Little Bustard, Scops Owl, Eagle Owl, Red-Necked Nightjar and Black-Winged Kite •La Janda a drive through site, a bit like Jurassic Park! Pallid Harrier and MANY raptors possible here, also good for Bluethroat, Ibis, Herons, Egrets, Purple Gallinule, Waders, Terns etc

Rough miles – 100

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Proposed Itinerary

7th April – La Lantejuela, Osun, Arahal triangle, (Fuente di piedra possible) Key species – Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black Bellied Sandgrouse, Roller, Spanish Sparrow, Iberian Grey Shrike, Black Winged Kite, Great-Spotted Cuckoo, White-Headed Duck, Breeding Herons and Ducks, Lesser Flamingo at Fuente Habitats – Steppes, wetlands, lakes Proper Steppe birding and a chance to explore a very under watched area. •A lot of driving but regular stops to scan at each site for Bustards and some walking sites as well. •Day of this may change depending on temperature. Cloudy/cooler day would be ideal for scanning for Lesser Flamingo at Fuente de Piedra.

Rough miles – 280 miles max (220 if leaving out Fuente de Piedra)

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Proposed Itinerary 8th April – Day on the Straits. Bolonia, Los Lances etc. This day will be entirely weather dependant. Whale trip possible Key species – Ruppell’s Vulture, rarer falcons/Pallid Harrier, Migrating birds, Back-Eared Wheatear, Sharp’s Woodpecker, Blue-Rock Thrush, Sea watching, Cetaceans, Audouin’s Gull, Lesser Crested Tern, Common Bulbul, European Chameleon, Oscillated Lizard Habitats – Beach, wetland, Woodland, Cliffs, Scrub •Far more relaxing day. •Lots of good migration hopefully and some good sites to visit if its quiet (Will make sure we go a day when it isn’t). •Can split up and do different sites depending on what and where people want to do/go. •Chance to revisit La Janda etc if time allows and there has been a good movement of raptors/storks. Rough miles – 100

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Proposed Itinerary 9th April – Grazalema, Llanos de Libar, Jimena de la Frontera Key species – Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Rock Thrush, Bonelli’s Eagle, Migrants, Wryneck, Short-Toed Treecreeper, Sylvias, Forest Warblers, Orchids, Ibex Habitats – Mountains, Forests, Farmland •Mountain birding •Always a lot of species to see •Early morning excellent as cold start leads to confiding birds •INCREDIBLE scenery •Mountain butterflies and flowers •Can split up into groups to cover the best areas

Rough miles – 130

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Proposed Itinerary 10th April – Bonanza, Brazo del Este, Chipionia, Rota, Cadiz and Seville lagunas Key species – Little Swift, White-Headed Duck, Marbled Duck, Azure-Winged Magpie, Ferruginous Duck, Photogenic waders, Spanish-Imperial Eagle, Breeding Booted Eagle, Crakes, Sandgrouses, Pratincoles, Marsh Tern breeding colony, chance of scarce waders and elusive warblers (Broad Billed Sand, Wilsons Phal, Savi’s Warb, Aquatic Warb) Habitats – Salinas, Woodland, Plains, farmland •The other Donana, but better! •Huge range of species, 130+ in a day possible with luck •Great photo opportunities for those keen •Can split to cover every area throughout the day •European Chameleon possible •Huge outside chance of Rufous Bushchat and Western Olivaceous Warbler

Rough miles – 200

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Proposed Itinerary 11th April – Free day Key species – Any we have missed. A free day to choose one last pop at a few things we may have missed. Habitats – Any •If weather ruins one day we can try those sites again to try and get the species we hope for •This free day can be used as a rest day if the driver’s minds have totally gone to pieces with all the driving •Chance to explore the area around Alcala or spend the evening watching the Lesser Kestrel colony or maybe find the towns local Barn Owl!! (Might be the only one we see)

Rough miles – N/A

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Notes

• Maps and directions to be given to each car • Proposing petrol is paid by passenger of each car.

Without the three drivers this trip would not be possible so I think its a fair exchange.

• Accommodation should have Wifi but there is places for Wifi in the town.

• Sourcing Spanish sim cards so we can all stay in contact easily and cheaply, suggest one per pair

• Itinerary is not final. Decisions on site visits down to group majority.