Local Bird/Wildlife Guides

It is a reflection of the area's superb birdlife that it has a greater concentration of highly talented professional bird guides than anywhere else I know of in Europe (or elsewhere for that matter). Even if you're a competent birder using a local guide, even just for a day (or two), can greatly increase your chances of catching up with some of the more difficult 'target birds' particularly if short of time. If you're less expert or a beginner then their services are invaluable. I’d recommend the following local guides most of whom I've spent time with in the field, some I'd class as valued friends and all of whom have gained a good reputation. Naturally, they know the area, its customs and people better than I could ever hope to do. You can 'get by' using published material (here and elsewhere), but I'd strongly recommend the relatively small cost of hiring them for a short period at least. All have a unique blend of interest, knowledge and experience which will leave you enriched and make your stay better than it would otherwise have been. Have a look at their websites to decide which guide best fits your needs. Most also offer trips to elsewhere in Spain and often to Morocco. Unfortunately, Stephen Daly no longer lives in the area having relocated to southern Germany but he still leads professional tours to the area for Limosa so if you want an all inclusive trip I'd recommend checking their website (www.limosaholidays.co.uk/). Note: I've deleted details of some guides as they no longer seem to be in operation but if you know of any guides I've omitted any local guides I'd be happy to add them to this list.
To get some idea of who the guides are and what they can offer I recommend looking at a short video of interviews with most (but not all) of the guides listed here which was made at the 2018 UK Birdfair - see www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydA8kmiKPFY
The details below are presented in alphabetical order.
The details below are presented in alphabetical order.

Birding Tarifa (www.birdingtarifa.es [email protected]) - Manuel Morales is an English speaking native of Jerez (although now based in Facinas) whose usual beat, despite his company's name, encompasses the whole of Cadiz Province (inc. the Strait of Gibraltar, Sanlucar, Bonanza, etc.) plus regular trips to Morocco. An expert ringer with a background in environmental education, he comes highly recommended not least because 20 % of his profits go towards local nature conservation projects (La Janda Bird Monitoring, courses on birds for the local people, etc., etc …). See also his promotional video which gives a taste of birding on both sides of the straits - https://vimeo.com/65496094 .

Birding the Strait - Javi Elorriaga & Yeray Seminario are two Tarifa based Spanish guides who have teamed up to form https://www.birdingthestrait.com not only to show visitors the birds, but also help them photograph them. Both are fluent English speakers and world class birders (Javi's an authority on 'cirtensis' Long-legged Buzzard).
Javi also runs Tarifa Bird Tours (see http://tarifabirdingtours.com & https://www.facebook.com/javi.elorrigiaga) which also runs excellent trips to nearby North Africa. Yeray Seminario works for Whitehawk Birding (http://whitehawkbirding.com) which runs birding tours in Spain, South American and elsewhere. Both are excellent company and the sort of people from whom you know you'll learn a lot and see even more.
Javi also runs Tarifa Bird Tours (see http://tarifabirdingtours.com & https://www.facebook.com/javi.elorrigiaga) which also runs excellent trips to nearby North Africa. Yeray Seminario works for Whitehawk Birding (http://whitehawkbirding.com) which runs birding tours in Spain, South American and elsewhere. Both are excellent company and the sort of people from whom you know you'll learn a lot and see even more.
Granada Wildlife (see http://www.granadawildlife.com/) is run by Mick Richardson who is based further east than any other guides mentioned here as the name of his company and excellent blog, http://www.lojawildlife.com/, suggests. So far east that, were he not a regular correspondent, friend and, moreover, an expert naturalist with a wide knowledge of birds, orchids, butterflies & dragonflies, I would have omitted his details here. He runs trips across Spain (Extremadura, Pyrenees, etc.) including Cadiz.

Inglorious Bustards (www.ingloriousbustards.com) is run by the resident guides (Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson) at Huerte Grande eco-lodge (see under accomodation). Conveniently, with Huerte Grande as their base they can offer a complete package of accommodation, meals, transport and guiding. Between them they have over 40 years experience (inc. 25 years with the RSPB) in nature conservation, ecology, tour leading and the hospitality industry. Both experts in their field, as their logo and website suggest, they also have a great sense of humour and a refreshing approach to birding the area.

Oxyura Birdwatching - Manuel Bárcena - I can't say that I know Manuel but I've bumped into him several times in the field around Sanlucar (where he's based). He's clearly a top-notch birder who knows his birds and the sites where they can be found intimately. He's also got a key allowing vehicular access to parts of Bonanza saltpans now closed off by gates. He certainly comes highly recommended by those who've used him as a guide.
Contact: [email protected] Web: oxyura.es/en Facebook: Oxyura Birdwatching
Contact: [email protected] Web: oxyura.es/en Facebook: Oxyura Birdwatching

Peter Jones, one half of Spanish Nature (http://spanishnature.com), knows more about the Grazalema & Ronda area than it's reasonable to expect and his knowledge of plants, insects, etc is also enviably wide. A scientist, talented musician and artist Peter is just the sort of Renaissance man one wants to hate, but, unfortunately, he ruins all my attempts to dislike him by also being a humorous, kind and friendly all-round good guy. His company runs some great tours - including day trips - to Serrania de Ronda (Peter's beat), Almeria, Jaen, Huelva, Coto, etc. Peter also writes an informative and interesting blog (http://spanishnature.blogspot.co.uk) - is there no end to his talents? It seems not!

Wild Andalucia - another bird guide I was delighted to meet at the 2018 Bird Fair was Álvaro Peral whose company leads birding tours in central and southern Spain, including classic destinations such as Extremadura, Doñana Natural Park and the Straits of Gibraltar. Based in Ronda they are well placed for people arriving from Málaga airport. In his own words his company aims to "adapt to your requirements and like to spend time enjoying all the birds we encounter, maybe an orchid that we find, or maybe taste a gazpacho while the Alpine Swifts fly over us". Álvaro is, of course, a fluent English speaker and also an expert orchid hunter. Committed conservationists for every trip booked they will plant a tree. For details see www.wildandalucia.com/

Wildside Holidays (http://wildsideholidays.com/) is run by Clive Muir and Sue Eatock expert photographers, botanists and all-round naturalists ... and good company too! As Clive reminds me, Wildside Holidays provides THE online portal for in-depth information about bespoke activities and nature-orientated holidays on the Iberian peninsula - a top destination for today’s astute travellers. Wildside Holidays has links to many of the finest independent companies and owner operators in some of Spain's best wildlife watching and activity eco-destinations. It is aimed at anyone looking to make their annual getaway more of an adventure than just a ‘week on the Costas’.

Rewilding Bushcraft (www.rewildingbushcraft.com ) - Neil A Hill is an all-round naturalist who runs day tours in Los Alcornacales, La Janda and the Costa de la Luz between Algeciras and Cadiz. Longer birding holidays based at finca on the edge of La Janda are also available throughout the year. He also leads tours to the Sahara desert and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. In addition to being an expert naturalist Neil also teaches bushcraft. I've enjoyed a long and fruitful correspondence with Neil but actually meeting him was long delayed by my personal circumstances and then covid outbreak.
Telephone: +34 677316468 Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +34 677316468 Email: [email protected]
In addition the following tour guides also operate in the area:
ANBI (Andalusian Bird Island) – this new company specialises in providing hides for bird photography in the Sanlucar area. I've briefly chatted with the owner, who has good basic English, at the UK Bird Fair and found him both pleasant and very keen. See http://www.anbibirdwatching.com/
ANBI (Andalusian Bird Island) – this new company specialises in providing hides for bird photography in the Sanlucar area. I've briefly chatted with the owner, who has good basic English, at the UK Bird Fair and found him both pleasant and very keen. See http://www.anbibirdwatching.com/
However, if you really want to 'do your own thing' I recommend checking out the CROSSBILL GUIDES (www.crossbillguides.org) - see also the link in the drop down menu under 'more'