Birding The Strait

26/05/2024

Today we thoroughly enjoyed the courtship displays of several pairs of White-rumped Swifts (Apus caffer). This phenomenal show has taken place in the same region where, exactly 60 years ago this May, the species was recorded for the first time in the Palearctic (Although its identity and breeding could not be confirmed until a few years later...). This event is part of the history of the ornithology in the Strait of Gibraltar and the swift continues to maintain its near-mythic status!
www.birdingthestrait.com

Excopesa Natura
ZEISS Birding

13/05/2024

This has been a hectic weekend! On Saturday, we were delighted to participate in a Bioblitz at Brazo del Este, in the Doñana area with WWF Spain. As part of a team of multidisciplinary experts, we led the survey of birds within a 40-ha terrain where a habitat restoration project is going to be undertaken. A wetland habitat is going to be restored, and the survey will be repeated next year for comparison. It has been a very participatory event in which we have enjoyed observing birds of great interest with the great satisfaction of contributing to nature conservation.

On Sunday, along with colleagues from ZEISS and Excopesa natura, Javi held a gathering at El Estrecho Natural Park (Tarifa) to enjoy the final stage of the spring migration of soaring birds. In doing so, the participants had the opportunity to test the ZEISS optics, with the excellent SFL binoculars as the flagship product. Meanwhile, Yeray was reaching the Pyrenees on a birding tour that began in Andalusia with birders from the United States. On the other hand, Nacho, freshly arrived from Gredos, has started a tour in his native region in Malaga.

After a period of strong easterly winds, the migration of raptors in recent days has been wonderful, with thousands of honey buzzards of all possible morphs and the always spectacular groups of griffon vultures returning from Africa to the Iberian Peninsula over the sea in Tarifa. Among them, it is not uncommon for a Rüppell´s Vulture to sneak in, like the one in the photo below, which was ringed days earlier on the Moroccan shore of the strait. Hopefully, this individual will provide information of great interest about its journey on the European continent. This week we will continue to offer tailored day trips in the Strait of Gibraltar and the province of Cadiz, and very soon we will announce other novelties that fill us with excitement for the summer! Keep Birding!

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

10/05/2024

Os recordamos que este domingo 12 de mayo 2024 tendrá lugar la 🔟 Quedada Zeiss Excopesa Natura

📍 Punta Camorro (Tarifa)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XZYvzTZzpZzoqGFR7
🕙 10:30-14:00h
🔭 Prueba óptica especializada ZEISS Birding
🐦 Acompañamiento de ornitólogos
🖋 ¡Inscríbete gratis! https://forms.gle/eosxB3iVBrFSwcBV9

Esperamos que sea un día de paso de aves tras el fuerte temporal de levante de estos días en el área del Estrecho de Gibraltar y podamos disfrutar de los halcones abejeros, como el del vídeo ¡¡¡Te esperamos!!!

03/05/2024

One of our greatest challenges, but above all a source of satisfaction, is achieving excellence in the level of satisfaction that our customers experience on our customized tours in Spain and Morocco, for over a decade! We are immersed in the height of spring, with tours underway in Spain and Morocco, and your feedback fills us with energy. Thank you!!

29/04/2024

The blossoming of the meadows in Extremadura and Andalusia this year, after the long-awaited Easter rains, is beyond words. It is hard to recall a display of color like this. Photos don't do justice to the magnitude of the spectacle, but undoubtedly, we're fully enjoying it on our tours!

ZEISS Birding
Excopesa Natura

12/04/2024

Exciting news for the major goal of restoring the Lagoon of La Janda, in the Strait of Gibraltar. The journey ahead remains long and challenging, but the steps are steadfast. We extend our admiration and gratitude to our colleagues at Asociación de Amigos de la Laguna de la Janda, of which we are proud lifelong members. If you wish to support this commendable cause with global implications for birdlife, don't hesitate to become a member of the association. 😄Wishing everyone a happy weekend!
https://www.lagunalajanda.org/en-gb

El MITERD reconoce 6.000 hectáreas de Dominio Público en la Janda
👇🏽
https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/313951

11/04/2024

IMPORTANTE!!!

07/04/2024

We have just finished a successful two week private tour in central and southern Spain for clients coming from Singapore. The Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) was one of their main targets, and the truth is that we are very satisfied with the sightings we have achieved. In fact, we have managed to connect with the eagles in very different environments and behaviors, such as the immature "dameros" (aka "checkered") ones in the photo with the snowy central system in the background. Meanwhile, Yeray is guiding today in La Janda and Nacho has enjoyed a very entertaining day of seawatching from the Isla de las Palomas in Tarifa. Thanks to the rains of the previous weeks, the countryside is beautiful, which fills us with motivation for our upcoming tours in Spain and the daily day trips in the Strait of Gibraltar. Let's go!
www.birdingthestrait.com
Excopesa Natura ZEISS Birding Universo Tarifa

22/03/2024

So far this year, we have already completed three major birding tours in Morocco, one of our favorite international destinations. As always, we have greatly enjoyed the avian specialties of the Maghreb. But also the most exotic and remote landscapes, the wonderful Moroccan cuisine, and the charming top-notch hotels. We are especially grateful to our excellent trusted drivers in Morocco, thanks to whom we can enjoy our trips in the most relaxed and secure way. On our last visit, we had the great Mohammed Hilmi as a guest, who is currently completing his doctoral thesis at the University of Rabat on the Plain Martin. Undoubtedly, the opportunity to converse with him about Moroccan ornithology has been an added value to our tour.
Certainly, the most profound gratitude is extended to our esteemed clientele hailing from Spain, South Africa, and the United States. To each and every one, we express our heartfelt appreciation, "shukran!!"

Gracias también a Excopesa Natura y ZEISS Birding por proporcionarnos la mejor óptica para disfrutar de este viaje.

Our greatest reward and litmus test is reading the reviews that our customers write on TripAdvisor and Google Review, take a look!"

We will return in April, and there are still places available for our 2025 tour!
https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-tours/birding-tour-in-morocco/

18/03/2024

PELAGIC NEWS!

🔴August 24th fully booked
🛥Check the dates available!
https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-day-trips/pelagic-trips/

11/03/2024

Puffin The Strait News!

📆March 25, 2024
🛥 Pelagic Trip
📍 Tarifa
🎟 Fully Booked

Next dates available:
March 30, 2024
June 15, 2024
June 22, 2024

+ INFO and BOOKINGS:
https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-day-trips/pelagic-trips/

Excopesa Natura ZEISS Birding

04/03/2024

¡El 16 de marzo vuelve Puffin The Strait!

[English below]
Tras unos años sin poder hacer pelágicas para aves en el Estrecho volvemos con más ganas que nunca a hacernos a la mar desde Tarifa. Con el final del invierno y la primavera cada vez más cerca muchas aves empiezan la migración de vuelta a sus zonas de cría. En el caso de los frailecillos atlánticos que han invernado en el mar Mediterráneo este viaje los lleva a través del Estrecho de Gibraltar. Desde Birding The Strait intentaremos aprovechar la oportunidad haciendo salidas en barco desde Tarifa para observar a estas aves en su espectaculares galas nupciales durante el mes de marzo, coincidiendo con el pico de su paso migratorio. Durante estas salidas iremos buscando los mejores flujos de aves y las zonas donde se concentren sin atraerlas directamente. Más información en: https://birdingthestrait.com/es/excursiones-ornitologicas/salidas-pelagicas/

Puffin' The Strait is back! After a few years without being able to do pelagic birding in the Strait of Gibraltar we’ll be back at sea from Tarifa full of enthusiasm. With the end of winter and spring approaching, many birds start their migration back to their breeding grounds. In the case of the Atlantic Puffins that have overwintered in the Mediterranean Sea this journey takes them through the Strait of Gibraltar. In Birding The Strait we will try to take advantage of this opportunity by making boat trips from Tarifa to observe these birds in their spectacular breeding plumage during the month of March, coinciding with the peak of their migration. During these trips we will be looking for the best flows of birds and the areas where they concentrate without directly attracting them. More information at: https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-day-trips/pelagic-trips/

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

18/02/2024

As it's typical for this time of year, during the past week, there's been a surge in the passage of soaring birds through the Strait of Gibraltar. The Egyptian vultures have been the stars of the show. Currently, they're mostly adults, some of which seem to have already paired up. The immature will arrive later, in a second wave. Yesterday, with calm winds, the black kites streamed in by the hundreds over Tarifa. However, today, with strong easterly winds, they've made way for the first significant groups of short-toed eagles, along with more Egyptian vultures.

From now on, and throughout the coming months, the grand spectacle is guaranteed in Tarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar. This is what we're all about. If you want to experience it alongside our team, don't hesitate to ask us about our daily excursions.

https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-day-trips/

Excopesa Natura ZEISS Birding

11/02/2024

Linces, linces!

Aquí algunas fotos capturadas durante dos exitosos tours consecutivos, cada uno de una semana, que acabamos de completar en busca del mítico Lince Ibérico en Andalucía. Hemos experimentado momentos verdaderamente excepcionales siguiendo las huellas del gato clavo en la arena de Doñana, observando de cerca a una lincesa cazando y devorando un conejo, o a un gran macho dormido y marcando su territorio. También presenciamos otro ejemplar descansando casi una hora sobre un bolo de granito con la magnífica luz del atardecer.
Además, disfrutamos enormemente de otras especies increíbles, como el águila imperial ibérica, las avutardas en el inicio del celo, sisones, avetoros, aguiluchos pálidos y papialbos, águilas moteadas, críalos, mochuelos, cigüeñas negras ¡y mucho más! Agradecemos profundamente a los 30 entusiastas naturalistas que nos han acompañado.

¡Seguimos adelante y en breve os contaremos las novedades de los otros tours y excursiones que estamos haciendo estas semanas!

ZEISS Birding
Excopesa Natura
Turismo Andalucía

01/02/2024

BTS snapshot: Lynxes, Morocco, Canary Islands and start of Spring migration in the Strait of Gibraltar!

Javi Elorriaga is currently leading two lynx tours in the enchanting Doñana and Sierra Morena regions, hosting enthusiastic groups from Denmark. Following this, he will travel to the south of Morocco with our long-awaited BTS Tour, linking with a private BTS tour.

Meanwhile, Yeray Seminario has started an immersive tour with our sister company Whitehawk - Birdwatching and Conservation through Morocco, catering to our American clients, offering a unique exploration from the north to the south. The adventure culminates in the Canary Islands, observing its endemic species. Yeray is set to guide two more tours in the Canary Islands, culminating in the vibrant landscapes of Senegal.

In the Strait of Gibraltar, Nacho covers the province of Cádiz, responding to your excursion requests ahead of the Spring migration. In these moments, after weeks of intense easterly winds, we are eagerly anticipating the opening of the Strait's doors, marking the start of the long-awaited pre-breeding soaring bird migration.

Join us in this extraordinary adventure!

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

24/01/2024

QUIZ ANSWERS!

A week ago, we published some blue birds from our tours and a quiz! Can you identify them? We share with you the list of species:

- Blue Whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)
- Blue Breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)
- Blue-Bellied Roller (Caracias cyanigaster)
- Blue throat (Luscinia svecina)
- Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
- Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea)

You can enjoy them in our next Birding The Strait tours: BTS Senegal, BTS Butan, BTS Canary Islands and BTS Strait of Gibraltar.

Contact us if you want more information!

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

19/01/2024

¡Estamos nominados!

Nos sentimos muy agradecidos por la reciente nominación a los IX Premios de la Mancomunidad de Municipios del Campo de Gibraltar. Como sabéis, para Birding The Strait es muy importante colaborar con empresas locales, favoreciendo su tejido empresarial y ayudando a generar riqueza en nuestra comarca.
Somos Agencia de Turismo Activo desde 2014 y Agencia de Viajes establecida en Tarifa desde el año 2018. ¡10 años!

Para nosotros, esta nominación supone un reconocimiento a nuestra labor en el Campo de Gibraltar. Os animamos a que conozcáis al resto de empresas y entidades nominadas y que, si os apetece, nos apoyéis con vuestro voto:

http://votaciones.mancomunidadcg.es

Nacho, María, Jon, Javi y Yeray, el equipo de Birding The Strait, estamos muy agradecidos por esta nominación.

Excopesa Natura ZEISS Birding

17/01/2024

15/01/2024

Let’s go birding!

Did you know that birdwatching offers numerous health benefits? It engages our attention, promotes socialization, reduces stress and anxiety, and contributes to maintaining our physical well-being. If you're feeling overwhelmed after the festive excesses, birdwatching is an activity that can help restore your well-being.
We've come across an insightful article in the scientific magazine Nature that delves into the health aspects of birdwatching. You can explore it here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20207-6
And we share some Blue Monday photos from our birding destinations and a quiz! Can you identify the destinations where each bird can be observed?



ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

22/12/2023

¡Felices Fiestas!

Desde Birding The Strait, queremos enviaros nuestros mejores deseos en estas fiestas y desearos un próspero año 2024. Este es un momento ideal para reflexionar sobre las experiencias vividas y las lecciones aprendidas.

Sin lugar a duda, el 2023 ha sido un año excepcional. Agradecemos sinceramente a todas las personas y empresas que han confiado en nuestro equipo para organizar sus vacaciones y disfrutar de la belleza de las aves y la naturaleza. Hemos llevado a cabo más viajes que nunca, explorando nuevos horizontes. Colaborando estrechamente con nuestra empresa hermana Whitehawk y otras empresas colaboradoras, hemos recorrido toda España y Marruecos, así como destinos más lejanos como Senegal, India, Bután, Tailandia y Brasil.

Los resultados obtenidos superan con creces los esfuerzos invertidos. En el 2024, seguiremos creciendo y aspiramos a poder llegar a más rincones sin olvidarnos de nuestro compromiso social desarrollando un turismo responsable. ¡Contamos con tu apoyo!

¡Felices fiestas y que tengas un excelente 2024!

Happy Holidays!

From Birding The Strait, we want to send you our best wishes during this festive season and wish you a prosperous 2024. This is an ideal time to reflect on the experiences lived and the lessons learned. Without a doubt, 2023 has been an exceptional year for us. We sincerely appreciate all the individuals and companies that have trusted our team to organize their holidays and enjoy the beauty of birds and nature. We have embarked on more trips than ever before, exploring new horizons. Collaborating closely with our sister company Whitehawk and other partners, we have traveled throughout Spain and Morocco, as well as more distant destinations such as Senegal, India, Bhutan, Thailand, and Brazil.

The results have more than compensated for the efforts invested. In 2024, we will keep growing and we aspire to reach new corners without forgetting our social compromise developing a responsible tourism. We count on your support!

Happy holidays and may you have an excellent 2024!

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

22/12/2023

Mañana, a las 8 de la mañana, la comunidad pajarera tiene una cita para atender al ya tradicional eBird Janda. Una celebración para dar a conocer La Janda, seguir mejorando el uso de eBird y disfrutar de un gran día de pajareo.

¡Las condiciones meteorológicas parecen inmejorables y esperamos la mayor participación desde los comienzos de eBird Janda en 2018! Se cuenta con el apoyo de la Asociación de Amigos de la Laguna de la Janda, entre otras.

Podéis encontrar todos los detalles sobre la jornada aquí en el enlace de eBird España más abajo.

Birding The Strait y Whitehawk estarán presentes, como siempre contando con el apoyo de ZEISS Birding y Excopesa Natura.

¡Mañana nos vemos!

El próximo eBird Janda 2023 tendrá lugar el 16 de diciembre y está abierto a cualquier persona que quiera participar. Objetivos: aumentar el conocimiento de las aves dentro de la IBA, dar a conocer La Janda, dar a conocer eBird y crear comunidad.

18/12/2023

Exploring Morocco with Birding The Strait!

Our 2024 Morocco Tour is fully booked and we are making pre-reservations for 2025!
In this link you will find further information. It will take place on February 16-23, 2025 dates a bit earlier than other years, just before Ramadan takes place.
https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-tours/birding-tour-in-morocco/

We take this opportunity to share that Birding The Strait has made a donation to the NGO Médicos Sin Fronteras, which works in the area affected by the earthquake that took place on September 8, 2023 in some regions that we will visit during our next birding tour.

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura

15/12/2023

10 IDEAS DE REGALOS PARA AMANTES DE LAS AVES

En Birding The Strait hemos hecho una recopilación de 10 ideas de regalos para amantes de las aves. ¡Esperamos que estas ideas os ayuden a acertar con vuestros regalos estas navidades!

Para leer el artículo completo, sigue el enlace a nuestro blog:
https://birdingthestrait.com/es/10-ideas-de-regalos-para-amantes-de-las-aves/

The blog is also available in an English version link in comments of the post)

ZEISS Birding
Excopesa Natura
Asociación de Amigos de la Laguna de la Janda
Tumbabuey Grupo de Anillamiento
Oryx
Iñigo Zuberogoitia Arroyo
Tundra Ediciones
Lynx Nature Books
Xavi Bou
Savanna books
Natural History Museum, London
CEAR

10 ideas de regalos para amantes de las aves. Hemos realizado una selección de 10 regalos para acertar en tus regalos de navidad.

12/12/2023

¡Ayuda!
No sabemos cómo hacer llegar esto a vuestras familias. Desde Birding The Strait creemos que los regalos de experiencias son siempre un éxito. Si este regalo es para ti, etiqueta a esa persona especial a la que le faltan ideas para regalarte.
Puedes reservarlo de manera directa aquí: https://acortar.link/SFXfh0

Help!
We don't know how to get this to your families. At Birding The Strait we believe that experiential gifts are always a success. If this gift is for you, tag that special person who is missing gift ideas for you.
You can book it directly here:
https://acortar.link/SFXfh0

10/12/2023

African Houbaras Dancing!!
El cortejo de la Hubara Canaria!!
Acabamos de terminar nuestro último tour a las Islas Canarias con un estupendo grupo de pajareros de Noruega, Reino Unido y España. Hemos disfrutado a lo grande con todas las endémicas de Tenerife y Fuerteventura, de la diversidad de paisajes, las especialidades gastronómicas de la tierra y de alojamientos rurales con encanto. Pero, sin duda, las estrellas del viaje han sido las Hubaras Canarias (Chlamydotis undulara Fuerteventura) que, animadas por las lluvias recientes, nos han maravillado con sus inigualables cortejos.
La "rueda" de la hubara es uno de los cortejos más llamativos de la avifauna española y os lo mostramos en este video filmado durante el tour.
En 2024 volveremos varias veces a Canarias, ¡no dudes en contactarnos si quieres acompañarnos!
https://birdingthestrait.com/es/viajes-ornitologicos/viaje-aves-en-canarias/

05/12/2023

📯FRESH NEWS!
Today we will send Birding The Strait News. If you want to be the first one to know about what is going on, subscribe to our Newsletter!

https://birdingthestrait.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9860eb4606ba41e9da4d26c5f&id=9176958f2e

26/11/2023

We are proud lifelong members of "Amigos de La Laguna de La Janda" association!

La Asociación de Amigos de la Laguna de la Janda ha celebrado hoy su asamblea anual en Facinas. Como es habitual, en un ambiente estupendo, se han aprobado las actas, renovado cargos, revisado las acciones llevadas a cabo durante el último año, evaluado la actualidad de los varios frentes abiertos y propuesto acciones para el 2024, ¡año en el que la asociación celebrará su 30 aniversario!

En Birding The Strait, somos socios a nivel particular desde hace varios años y en 2023 también nos hemos hecho socios vitalicios como entidad.

Nos sentimos muy orgullosos de formar parte de esta asociación y colaborar en la medida de nuestras posibilidades en sus distintas acciones. Solo podemos expresar nuestra admiración y gratitud por la admirable labor que nuestros compañeros siguen llevando a cabo con enorme compromiso, acierto y altruismo.

Desde aquí queremos invitaros a todos a visitar la web renovaba y el blog de la asociación, a seguir sus redes sociales y, sobre todo, a que os hagáis socios y forméis parte activa del esfuerzo colectivo por recuperar uno de los humedales de mayor importancia de Europa.

¡Recuperemos La Janda!

https://www.lagunalajanda.org

17/11/2023

El domingo hicimos nuestra última pelágica de la temporada, esta vez en el Golfo de Cádiz y la costa de Doñana con 12 personas a bordo.
Las condiciones del mar fueron buenísimas y las observaciones buenas y variadas. Disfrutamos especialmente con los alcatraces arremolinados alrededor de nuestro barco la mayor parte del día, pero también con los paíños boreales y comunes, las tres especies de págalo, pardela sombría, balear y un fenotipo yelkouan (raro en esta zona), etc.

En este enlace a eBird podéis consultar el "trip report" en detalle:
https://ebird.org/spain/tripreport/171562

Las fotos son una selección de nuestras salidas al mar en noviembre, en el golfo de Cádiz y en el estrecho de Gibraltar, ¡esperamos que os gusten y que os hagan sentir cuanto hemos disfrutado!

En breve anunciaremos las fechas para las pelágicas de 2024, incluyendo nuestras excursiones en busca de frailecillos en Tarifa. Como sabéis tenemos pocas plazas y se ocupan rápido. Os recomendamos suscribiros a nuestro boletín electrónico, a través de nuestra web, para manteneros informados. 😁

Buen fin de semana a todos y ¡Nos vemos a bordo!

ZEISS Birding Excopesa Natura Turismo de la provincia de Cádiz

07/11/2023

AUTUMN IN THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR – BIRDWATCHING KEYS

We share a list of the ornithological essence of the Straits in autumn.
- We continue with the little-known migration of the Griffon Vulture to Africa. One of the largest concentrations of vultures in the world is gathering right now in the Strait of Gibraltar.
- The migration of small birds. Until the end of November we can enjoy the diurnal migratory passage of some small migrants. Although these animals have a wide front migration and do not depend on the Straits to migrate, they are concentrated in these areas in significant numbers. It is a delight to be able to observe linnets, goldfinches, serins and siskins flocks on the coast heading south early in the morning.
- Visit of wintering birds that have been born in areas of central and northern Europe. It is worth highlighting the arrival of the cranes, which are already being seen in La Janda.
- It is the best time of year to observe seabirds that move from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean to spend the winter along this marine corridor: Alcids, Gannets, Shearwaters, Skuas or common Scotters.
- Dispersal of juvenile large eagles: the juvenile of large birds of prey move away from the territories where they were born. This movement known as juvenile dispersal offers us very good observations of specimens of the Iberian Imperial Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle or Golden Eagle in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar.

At this time of the year we can enjoy nature without crowds, full days in the countryside with the warm light of autumn.

Excopesa Natura
ZEISS Birding
Turismo de la provincia de Cádiz

01/11/2023

The icing on the cake to a memorable All Saints long-weekend in Tarifa enjoying the migration of Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) and Seabirds: Orcas of the Critically Endangered Iberian subpopulation disputing Bluefin tunas with traditional Moroccan fishermen off the Strait of Gibraltar! Stay tuned!!

2024 tour already available!
https://birdingthestrait.com/birding-tours/tarifa-birding-tour/