Monday, 16 October 2023, 12:26
The province of Malaga is an actual paradise for birdwatchers. Thanks to its location in a passageway for various migratory birds and the nice number of ecosystems in its numerous territory, at this time it is likely one of the finest areas for sightings of various species, from the Eurasian griffon vulture to the white-headed duck or the larger flamingo.
At current, due to Birding Málaga, which is the Diputación provincial authority’s platform which promotes birding tourism within the province, there are a lot of locations and observatories set as much as see a number of the most original species that inhabit the province or go by it. Here are a number of the most accessible spots (one per area).
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Costa del Sol
The Calaburras Lighthouse
Observatory at Punta de Calaburras (Mijas).
Ayuntamiento de Mijas
In the coastal space of Mijas, a headland is likely one of the finest identified locations for chicken watching on the Costa del Sol. It is in a strategic location, because the bays of Malaga and Marbella are divided by this land. It is a perfect place to look at seabirds, each in durations of passage and wintering, in addition to migratory birds of prey on their option to Africa. In addition, as Birding Málaga factors out, it is likely one of the few locations within the province the place the purple sandpiper might be seen. Other frequent species through the colder months are the frequent ringed plover, the ruddy turnstone, the frequent whimbrel and the frequent scoter, amongst others.
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Axarquia
Velez River Delta
Delta or mouth of the river Vélez.
Javier Almellones
Between the seashores of Torre del Mar and Almayate, the river Vélez flows into the ocean, forming a stretch which has turn into a great place to look at fascinating birdlife equivalent to geese, little grebes, shearwaters, cormorants, herons (together with the purple heron), coots and moorhens. Flamingos, various kinds of birds of prey, crakes, nightjars, swifts, hoopoes and bee-eaters, amongst others, have additionally been seen. Birding Málaga particularly highlights the waders, usually linked to wetlands and identified for his or her lengthy migrations, because the mouth of the river Velez is probably the perfect place within the province to see them. During sure durations in autumn or spring, as much as 20 completely different species might be seen within the space. It might be reached by a snug walk from Torre del Mar.
Recommended mountaineering route: Delta del río Vélez- Puerto de la Caleta
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Sierra de las Nieves
Tajo de la Caína
Tajo de la Caína.
Javier Almellones
It just isn’t a comparatively accessible web site, however being on one of many best-known routes within the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, it’s splendid for hikers who take pleasure in chicken watching. In explicit, the cock-of-the-rock, which generally lives within the vertiginous rocky crags of this space, stands out right here. However, it’s essential to strategy these cliffs with nice care and warning. Furthermore, the short-toed snake eagle, the frequent cuckoo, the sparrowhawk and the European scops owl, amongst different birds, have been noticed on this space positioned subsequent to the spectacular pinsapar de Yunquera and with views of the summit of La Torrecilla, in line with Birding Málaga.
Its location (solely accessible by the mountaineering route that begins from the Luis Ceballos viewpoint).
Recommended mountaineering route: circular route through the pinsapar de Yunquera .
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Serranía de Ronda
Llanos de Líbar
Hiker reads the details about birds within the Llanos de Líbar.
Ricardo Pastor
In the far northwest of the province of Malaga, between the territories of Montejaque, Benaoján and Cortes de la Frontera is the spectacular excessive plateau generally known as the Llanos de Líbar. As nicely as being a great place to take pleasure in essentially the most distinctive geology and even see mammals of a sure measurement, it’s also one of many websites beneficial by Birding Málaga for chicken watching. Specifically, through the breeding season you possibly can observe the three species of wheatears (black, gray and blond) in addition to two species of rock thrushes that nest in Europe (blue and customary), in addition to western Orphean warblers, japanese subalpine warblers, Dartford warblers, sardinian warblers, and spectacled warblers . In addition, griffon vultures are sometimes seen right here.
Recommended mountaineering route: Sendero de los Llanos de Líbar
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Guadalteba
Peñarrubia Observatory
Vulture observatory in entrance of the Peñarrubia mountain vary.
Birding Málaga
This is likely one of the finest locations to look at the nice carrion-eaters that reside within the inlands of Malaga. On the street between Campillos and Teba, this stone hut is definitely accessible and has info panels. In addition to the vulture, you too can see Bonelli’s eagle, the sardinian warbler and the blue rock thrush, amongst different species. It ought to be famous that this is likely one of the milestones on stage 19 of the Great path (Gran Senda) of Malaga, Campillos y Embalses del Guadalhorce (Malaga, Campillos and Guadalhorce reservoirs).
Recommended mountaineering route: Campillos-Embalses del Guadalteba
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Guadalhorce Valley
Gaitanes Gorge
The Eurasian griffon vulture within the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.
Javier Almellones
The most spectacular gorge in Malaga not solely has the attraction of having the ability to walk by the Caminito del Rey, however it’s also an ideal place to look at various kinds of birds. Among them the cock-of-the-rock, the rock dove, the blue rock thrush and the black wheatear might be seen right here. In addition, there are Eurasian griffon vultures, Bonelli’s eagles, peregrine falcons, frequent kestrels, Alpine swifts and red-billed choughs. Those who walk alongside the restored footbridge of the Caminito or take the MA-5403 street, from Ardales to the village of El Chorro, can have the chance to cease and observe a number of the chicken species talked about.
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Vega de Antequera
The Torcal of Antequera
Among different birds, the Torcal is flown over by the griffon vulture.
Javier Almellones
This spectacular labyrinth of stones attracts hundreds of tourists yearly as a consequence of its distinctive karstic geology, which, as a result of results of abrasion, have created very distinctive rock shapes, resembling objects or animals. However, one of many nice belongings of this pure web site can also be its fauna. Specifically, so far as birds are involved, you possibly can see the flight of quite a few birds of prey, such because the booted eagle, the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon, the black kite, the frequent kestrel and the Eurasian sparrowhawk. You may see the commonest scavenger within the province, the majestic Eurasian griffon vulture.
Recommended mountaineering route: Ascent to Torcal Alto
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Sierra Norte de Málaga
Hoz del arroyo Marín
A hiker enters the Hoz del Arroyo Marín from Archidona.
Javier Almellones
From the city centre you possibly can take a nice walk to take pleasure in all kinds of birdlife within the close by Marín stream. In what is called la Hoz (gorge) of this stream and its environment there are as much as 4 very completely different habitats. On the one hand, there may be the forest, with thick pine forests on each side of the valley. There can also be the steppe, with the encompassing olive groves, the place birds typical of those ecosystems might be seen. A 3rd habitat is the riverside habitat, within the riverbed and on the banks of the stream. We may add the rocky habitat to the record, within the limestone crags that make up the steepest face of the gorge. In addition to the various flora, quite a few birds has been seen on this valley, together with the Bonelli’s eagle, the Eurasian eagle-owl, the goshawk and the Iberian magpie.
Recommended hihking route: Sendero de la Hoz del Arroyo Marín
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Malaga
The mouth of the Guadalhorce
Viewpoint on the mouth of the Guadalhorce.
Javier Almellones
The larger flamingo, the white-headed duck and the cormorant are a number of the species that, with some luck, however all the time with stealth, might be seen in probably the most essential pure websites in Andalusia, which is positioned within the western a part of town of Malaga. The Desembocadura del Guadalhorce is at this time one of many nice ornithological temples of Europe. There are a number of wood observatories the place you possibly can wait patiently and silently for a number of the species that inhabit it or go by it, because it is likely one of the strategic factors to see migratory birds. Today there are a number of simple mountaineering trails that assist you to walk round it. In addition, in 2020 a wood bridge was constructed there which types a part of the itineraries of the Gran Senda de Málaga and the Senda Litoral, which lets you cross the river.
Recommended hikingroute: Río Viejo and the Laguna Grande
