Birding in Málaga
The best choice for birders who arrive to Málaga Airport or even port terminal and want to add great numbers to their spanish birdlist. We'll go birding to the reknown Guadalhorce estuary at just 20 minutes from Málaga city centre. At this birding spot an incredible mark of over 300 bird species have been reported to date! On this bird trip we usually tick over 40 bird species every day. Vagrant species are not a rare thing here. Besides, the very rare Marbled Ducks have been introduced in 2022 as part of the European Life project. Birding fun is guaranteed!
ITINERARY: the Guadalhorce Reserve is a fantastic birding site near Málaga where we will be checking several bird hides while we enjoy easy walks along what once was an important marsh area. It makes a nice easy walk with frequent stops at the observatories as we encounter the birds. This is a magnificent tour not just for waders but also sea birds and sometimes raptors (Osprey, Booted Eagle, Kestrel).
WHY BIRDING HERE
- Top hostpot in number of species in Málaga province
- Easy paths, several bird blinds and nice environment
- Key iberian birds such as White-headed Duck
- Proximity to hotels and chiringuitos
MEETING: We will indicate a place near your hotel in Málaga city, Torremolinos or Ronda. Picks up elsewhere (Marbella, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, etc) can be arranged upon request under a small fee.
TIMING: We will enjoy around 4,5 h of birding in the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve. Tour duration is therefore estimated in 5 h from Málaga city or 7,5 h from Ronda.
PACE: This very relaxed bird trip is done entirely on foot. We will walk around 5 Km (3 miles) on easy flat paths. There will be places to sit down along the way.
SEASONALITY: This tour is available year round except in summer. Best time: from November till May
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Transportation within Málaga city (for free). Pick up can be arranged at the cruise terminal too.
- Local birding guide fluent in English
- High quality binoculars and scope
- Birdguides and checklists in English
- Accidents insurance
- All taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Meals and drinks
- Accomodation
- Pick up and drop-off outside our meeting points
FARES
- 1 person: 250 €
- 2 people: 280 € (140 € each)
- 3 people: 300 € (100 € each)
- 4 to 7 people: 340 € (in total)
TOP BIRDS OF MÁLAGA
Residents: Blackbird, Blackcap, Black-necked Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, Booted Eagle, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Collared Dove, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Crested Lark, Dartford's Warbler, Flamingo, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Hoopoe, House Sparrow , Jackdaw , Kentish Plover, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Mallard, Monk Parakeet, Moorhen, Night Heron, Pochard, Purple Swamphen, Red-legged Partridge, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Spotless Starling, Water Rail, Waxbill, White-headed Duck, Yellow-legged Gull, Zitting Cisticola
Winter birds: Black Redstart, Black-headed Gull, Bluethroat, Common Buzzard, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Crag Martin, Gannet, Great Egret, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Sanderling, Sandwich Tern, Shoveler, Snipe, Stonechat, Teal, Turnstone, White Wagtail, Yelkouan Shearwater
Summer birds: Avocet, Barn Swallow, Bee-eater, Black-eared Wheatear, House Martin, Little Bittern, Nightingale , Pallid Swift, Red-necked Nightjar, Orphean Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Reed Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Spotted Flycatcher, Swift, Turtle Dove, Woodchat Shrike
On passage: Aquatic Warbler, Audouin’s Gull, Baillon’s Crake, Balearic Shearwater, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Caspian Tern, Chiffchaff, Collared Pratincole, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Great Reed Warbler, Great Skua, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Knot, Little Crake, Little Stint, Little Tern, Pintail, Purple Heron, Razorbill, Red-crested Pochard, Redshank, Ruff, Sand Martin, Savi’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Slender-billed Gull, Spoonbill, Spotted Crake, Spotted Redshank, Squacco Heron, Whimbrel, Whiskered Tern, Wigeon, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail
