The end of my first birdwatching year down here in Lanjaron has finally arrived, and I'm a few days away from a flight home  back to the UK for Christmas. What a year! With 91 species on the list for 2009 the birdwatching has been nothing short of spectacular, and with so many memorable moments it's hard to know where to begin to try and list them all...

Without a doubt, the encounters we've had with Europe's "exotic" species have been a major highlight. The tropical splendour of a flock of Bee Eaters is hard to beat for the sheer intensity of colour, and I'm sure I'll instantly recognize those "pruh...pruh" calls for the rest of my life. Our Golden Orioles also gave us hours of entertainment, despite being one of the most frustratingly elusive birds I've ever tried to find...how a bright yellow and jet black bird can disappear instantly into the foliage of a tree is beyond me! The chance to see Hoopoes, Southern Grey Shrikes and Woodchat Shrikes too has been a wonderful oppurtunity, a constant reminder of how rich the birdlife of our region can be, and being able to share these experiences with our birdwatching clients has been a real privelege.

If I was to pick one particular group out for a special mention it would have to be the Chats and Thrushes. Whether it's old friends from home such as the Stonechat and Northern Wheatear or striking Mediterranean specialities like the Black Wheatear or Rock Thrush, these bold, brightly coloured birds have become firm favourites...how could I ever forget hearing my first Nightingale, or finding my first ever Blue Rock Thrush just outside the village?

For many birdwatchers of course the day starts and ends with birds of prey and as regular readers of our posts will know we've had fabulous raptor sightings throughout the year. Our magnificent Golden and Bonelli's Eagles will be joined by our migrant Booted and Short-toed Eagles in the spring next year and I'm already counting down the weeks!

Whether it's just a brief flick of a tail as a Sardinian Warbler disappears into cover only yards away, or watching thousands of swifts and hirundines swirling over the valley as dusk approaches there's something for everyone down here in the Alpujarras. As we explore new birdwatching habitats and sites for the coming season we'll keep posting the reports so please keep checking the Tour Diaries for all the latest news. Who knows, perhaps you'll join us for a birdwatching trip next year!