Southern Spain and Canary Islands

Southern Spain

Spain’s southernmost region, Andalusia, offers an extraordinary blend of landscapes and birdlife: from vast wetlands and open plains to dramatic mountains, rugged coastlines, and picturesque Pueblos Blancos. This autumn journey takes you to the heart of Europe’s premier migration routes, combining world-class birding with Andalusia’s rich culture, cuisine, and spectacular scenery.

Highlights include exploring the legendary Strait of Gibraltar—one of the world’s most important corridors for raptors—where, at the perfect time of year, you can witness thousands of birds crossing between continents. We’ll search for iconic species such as Marbled Duck, Northern Bald Ibis, Great Bustard, and Audouin’s Gull, and enjoy the rare opportunity to access Tarifa’s lighthouse observatory, perched at the southernmost tip of Europe, to watch seabird migration up close, including Cory’s, Scopoli’s, and Balearic Shearwaters.

The tour also includes pelagic boat trips in the Strait, searching for Pilot Whales and seabirds, as well as excursions into the stunning Sierra de Grazalema and the romantic city of Ronda, set dramatically above a deep gorge in a striking karstic landscape. Finally, the open plains of Osuna offer iconic Iberian species, including European Roller, Little Bustard, and, as a grand finale, the majestic Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

This is a tour designed at a relaxed pace, with short daily distances, flexible schedules, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Andalusia’s gastronomy and culture. Accommodations are carefully selected hotels with charm and character, providing comfort and a welcoming atmosphere throughout the journey. In total, we can expect to encounter between 170 and 190 species of birds—a birders paradise!

Canary Islands Extension

The Canary Islands are a volcanic archipelago with a subtropical climate and unique avifauna. As an extension to a birding trip to the Iberian Peninsula or Morocco, these islands are the perfect choice. Our Birdwatching in the Canary Islands Tour is dedicated to finding all the endemic birds in Fuerteventura and Tenerife.

The individual islands have distinct microclimates and are home to different species and endemics. During this trip we will visit two of the seven islands: Tenerife and Fuerteventura. While Tenerife is well vegetated and has tracts of sub-tropical laurel forest, Fuerteventura, which is just 100 km away from the African coast, is effectively desert or semi desert.

Combining Fuerteventura and Tenerife gives us a chance to see all the endemic species and most of the subspecies in this birding tour. Some of the most interesting species we are likely to see here cannot be seen anywhere else! This is the case of the Laurel’s Pigeon, the Bolle’s Pigeon or the Blue Chaffinch, which can be seen in Tenerife, or the Fuerteventura Stonechat in Fuerteventura.