5 September 2024: Day -1, En path to Seville, WINGS Birding Spain in Autumn
For the previous two years I’ve watched movies of fall migration on the Strait of Gibraltar and have longed to witness it for myself. Immediately I’m following my dream and flying to Spain to hitch the WINGS Birding Tour: Spain in Autumn, 7-17 September 2024.
For the migratory birds of western Europe the Iberian peninsula (Spain + Portugal) is the final cease earlier than Africa on fall migration. The peninsula naturally funnels birds to its southernmost level, Tarifa, solely 8.1 miles (13 km) from Morocco.
In poor climate birds wait in Spain for favorable winds to cross the hole between the continents. Final yr practically 150,000 daytime migrants flew over the Strait of Gibraltar within the second week of August, although virtually all of them have been simply two species: black kites and white storks. Right here’s what the black kites (Milvus migrans) appear like whereas they wait to cross the Strait.
Now that it’s early September the weekly numbers are decrease however the range is increased with the addition of many different species together with black storks, booted eagles, short-toed eagles, marsh harriers, osprey and lesser kestrels. In the meantime there are many migratory songbirds feeding and resting throughout the day earlier than they cross the Strait at night time.
Our journey will take us in a giant circle from Seville to Tarifa and again. Alongside the best way we’ll go to marshes, mountains and coastal hotspots. We’ll make two pelagic journeys and spend 5 days and nights in Tarifa.
The journey guidelines contains 192 species, 73 of that are potential Life Birds(*). The one cause my “potential” record isn’t increased is that I noticed many migratory European birds in Southern Africa in January.
Listed below are 12 of the numerous species I hope to see. Sure, white storks are on this record as a result of I missed them in Africa.
(pictures from Wikimedia Commons)
Due to the 6-hour time zone distinction and our all-day birding schedule I’ve written 14 days of articles upfront. I’ll put up to Fb and X (Twitter) after I get an opportunity however I can’t assure it. Should you don’t see me on social media, search for my newest posts right here on the weblog’s residence web page. For now, I’m principally off the grid till I return to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night time, 18 September.
p.s. All through these articles I’ll normally use the English spelling of Spanish place names. For example “Seville” is the English spelling of “Sevilla.”
