The second week of September is upon us, and Kiersten and I headed out on familiar tracks up the mountain today, to catch up on seasonal arrivals and departures on the hillsides around the village. What we got was a fabulous day of birdwatching, with a couple of real surprises along the way. Our first [...]
We return today to another of the birds we encountered on our recent day-trip, the Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica. Very much a bird of southern Europe, this summer favourite occurs across much of Spain and Portugal and round most of the Mediterranean region. Like many of its relatives in the chats and thrushes group – [...]

Thursday morning…and I’m off with a friend to El Torcal Nature Reserve. Located about 30km north of Malaga near the town of Antequera, the area boasts one of the most impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. Highly eroded, surreal rock formations provide a fascinating backdrop and with fantastic views out towards the coast and a unique [...]
It’s Friday morning and it’s a big day for Birdwatchalpujarras…my new colleague and birdwatching partner Kiersten and I have got Gerry and Chris out with us for the day, two widely travelled and very keen birdwatchers over from Manchester for a week of sunshine in Lanjaron. With a full day to work with we’re hoping [...]
Sunday morning, and Birdwatch Alpujarras are taking a couple of clients out for a few hours up the hillside above the village. The high winds and grey clouds of Saturday had given way to bright sunshine so we were hoping for a productive day. After the great birdwatching of last Wednesday we’re retracing my steps, [...]
Another Wednesday morning arrives, and it’s birdwatching on the local patch as usual. First trip of a new month and I’m hitching a lift up the mountainside to take a walk back down through one of my favourite stretches just outside the village. On the drive up the slope we passed through pasture and old [...]
Wednesday morning and Birdwatchalpujarras are taking a client out for the day from our base of Lanjaron. A moment to collect our thoughts before the mission begins sees us take five minutes near the castle to discuss the route plan. A tropical sounding birdcall from the eucalyptus trees behind us grabbed my attention and then [...]
With a major excursion cancelled today through illness on the team, all we’ve got time for is a quick afternoon run out to a favourite local mountain. An impressive rocky gorge before the climb uphill rarely disappoints and before long we had really good views of a Lesser Kestrel, patrolling the skies overhead. The craggy [...]


