Birding In Spain's Wild West

02/01/2025

Newsletter from friend and colleague Linda of Start Birding in Leeds.
Thank you for spreading the word Linda!

Wildlife watching: the perfect antidote to the festive season - https://mailchi.mp/6c57ac068777/news-from-start-birding-17230621
Featured: Birding In Spain's Wild West

30/12/2024

If you've got the post-Christmas blues you may want to think about booking a birding and nature holiday with us through Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays next May.
There are only 3 places left, so make sure you get your name down! More details here: https://www.honeyguide.co.uk/wildlife-holidays/salamanca.html
https://honeyguidewildlife.blogspot.com/2024/11/south-of-salamanca.html

Honeyguide’s South of Salamanca holiday is in a part of Spain which is nearly unknown as a nature holiday destination, despite its amazing ...

30/12/2024

Cirl buntings on a hoar frosty morning..
Sierra de Bejar and Francia Biosphere Reserve
Oryx Opticron Goyarcyl. Guias ornitológicos y alojamientos rurales de Castilla y León

23/12/2024

To all our clients and collaborators, many thanks!

19/12/2024

"What are you staring at?" White wagtail.
We get wintering white wagtails over here. The other day out looking for cranes amongst the holm oaks we came across twenty five white wagtails perched on a barbed wire fence next to a small reservoir, and suddenly a "cloud" of over a hundred flew by. Impressive to say the least!

16/12/2024

We had an outing on Saturday to the Peña de Francia, one of the highest peaks of the Batuecas Sierra de Francia Natural park, where we looked at interesting plants such as Genista tridentata and Adenocarpus argyrophyllus, plenty of Spanish Ibex: we saw a male sticking his tongue out at a female (they do this in their rutting season) and local birds such as Griffon and Black vulture, Blue rockthrush, Crag martin and, just before we left, a group of Alpine accentors came to feed really close by. A great morning with much better weather than it had forecast!

Oryx Opticron Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays Spain Natural Travel

10/12/2024

When I see wintering Chiffchaffs I like to imagine that they may have come down from Yorkshire, like myself. 😁

07/12/2024

Crested larks are so cute!

02/12/2024

In the autumn when it starts to get cold Rock buntings come down from the mountains and appear in our village.

11/11/2024

Read about our Honeyguide holiday next May, and if you're interested, you can book directly on the booking page below:
https://www.honeyguide.co.uk/wildlife-holidays/salamanca.html

Honeyguide’s South of Salamanca holiday is in a part of Spain which is nearly unknown as a nature holiday destination, despite its amazing ...

27/10/2024

This weekend we've focused on funghi: we spent Saturday morning in the forest in the rain collecting all shapes and sizes, this morning (sunny of course) we inspected them indoors and identified them with the help of a key and guide book, magnifying glasses and microscope: very entertaining!
Biosphere Reserve Sierras de Béjar y Francia, Salamanca

19/10/2024

We've been doing a course about the local biology of the Sierra de Bejar in Candelario, learning about mosses, lichens and funghi, with Alvaro and David from the University of Salamanca.
Amazing stuff, love being a student again, there is just SO MUCH OUT THERE!!!
Salamanca, Biosphere Reserve Sierras de Bejar and Francia

30/09/2024

Our tour for next April with Spain Natural Travel. Bookings now open!

22/09/2024

Some days life just gives you the best kind of gift.
A young Black vulture perched on a wall by the side of the road.
Feeling truly blessed 😍
Salamanca, in Spain's wild west.

Opticron Oryx Spain Natural Travel Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays

15/09/2024

A few northern migrants on my walk this evening: Redstart, Pied flycatcher and Whinchat, and a local young Sardinian warbler.

06/09/2024

Juvenile woodchat shrike...so trusting and curious 😊

28/08/2024

We've launched a new guided tour for next April with travel operator Spain Natural Travel 'Birds and Nature in Western Iberia' 21st-28th April 2025.
It's for a small group, just 6, so if you're interested, please book directly with the travel agent. You can check it out on the following link:
https://spainnaturaltravel.com/experiences/birds-and-nature-in-western-iberia/
Opticron Oryx Spain Natural Travel

Join our guided 8-day tour through Spain's Sierras de Béjar y Francia. Discover picturesque villages, diverse wildlife, and rich biodiversity in lush landscapes.

26/08/2024

Golden orioles. Adult with mantis, young comes to check out if there's any food going spare, adult replies get your own: I'm off! 😁