5 September 2024: Day -1, En path to Seville, WINGS Birding Spain in Autumn
For the previous two years I’ve watched movies of fall migration on the Strait of Gibraltar and feature longed to witness it for myself. Lately I’m following my dream and flying to Spain to sign up for the WINGS Birding Excursion: Spain in Autumn, 7-17 September 2024.
For the migratory birds of western Europe the Iberian peninsula (Spain + Portugal) is the remaining prevent prior to Africa on fall migration. The peninsula naturally funnels birds to its southernmost level, Tarifa, best 8.1 miles (13 km) from Morocco.
In deficient climate birds wait in Spain for favorable winds to pass the distance between the continents. Final 12 months just about 150,000 sunlight hours migrants flew over the Strait of Gibraltar in the second one week of August, although virtually they all have been simply two species: black kites and white storks. Right here’s what the black kites (Milvus migrans) seem like whilst they wait to pass the Strait.
Now that it’s early September the weekly numbers are decrease however the variety is upper with the addition of many different species together with black storks, booted eagles, short-toed eagles, marsh harriers, osprey and lesser kestrels. In the meantime there are many migratory songbirds feeding and resting all over the day prior to they pass the Strait at evening.
Our shuttle will take us in a large circle from Seville to Tarifa and again. Alongside the best way we’ll talk over with marshes, mountains and coastal hotspots. We’ll make two pelagic journeys and spend 5 days and nights in Tarifa.
The shuttle tick list comprises 192 species, 73 of that are doable Existence Birds(*). The one explanation why my “doable” listing isn’t upper is that I noticed many migratory Ecu birds in Southern Africa in January.
Listed here are 12 of the various species I am hoping to peer. Sure, white storks are in this listing as a result of I overlooked them in Africa.
(pictures from Wikimedia Commons)
On account of the 6-hour time zone distinction and our all-day birding time table I’ve written 14 days of articles upfront. I’ll put up to Fb and X (Twitter) when I am getting an opportunity however I will’t ensure it. If you happen to don’t see me on social media, search for my newest posts right here at the weblog’s house web page. For now, I’m most commonly off the grid till I go back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening, 18 September.
p.s. All over those articles I will be able to most often use the English spelling of Spanish position names. As an example “Seville” is the English spelling of “Sevilla.”