Three days and two nights birding with our friend Bob, the Axarquia Birder and his bappy band of birdwatchers went well. We stayed in Hotel El Paso by Vejer de la Frontera which is within striking distance of La Janda and the coastline from Barbate down to Tarifa. We stopped on the way there at migration observation points near Tarifa and were rewarded with the sight of hundreds of Griffon Vultures, a magnificent Spanish Imperial Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Honey Buzzards, Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite and Common Buzzard. From the photographic point of view however the light was not always great and most sightings were quite distant, The Griffon Vultures provided the best opportunity.
Griffon Vulture
 Black Kite |  Common Buzzard |  Short-toed Eagle |
Audouis Gull
After the migration viewpoints we moved on to the coast at Los Lances beach and the area around Barbate. The beach showed considerable numbers of Audouins Gulls and Sandwich Terns. One particular tern stood out from the others as it had a bright yellow beak instead of black, it was soon identified as a Lesser Crested Tern, another lifer for me. They are apparently often seen in company with sandwich terns which they closely resemble except for the very conspicuous yellow bill, which also appears to be larger than the black bills of their sandwich cousins.
The evening was well spent in the company of Stephen Daly, a well known and respected bird guide who gave us some good tips for the following days.
The evening was well spent in the company of Stephen Daly, a well known and respected bird guide who gave us some good tips for the following days.
Audouins Gull, Sandwich Terns and Lesser Crested Tern
