Inglorious Bustards

Name: Inglorious Bustards
Address: Facinas, ES
Telephone: +34665945992

Casa
España
Facinas
Inglorious Bustards

Join us for adventures from our home at the epicentre of migration in The Straits of Gibraltar and along the East Atlantic Flyway

Located in the coastal hills of Andalucía just outside the picturesque Spanish town of Tarifa, the Inglorious Bustards are based right at the epicentre of birding in The Straits of Gibraltar. And from a migrating raptor’s point of view, we must surely also be at the centre of the world! Inglorious Bustards are birders, conservationists, travellers, and all-around Nature-lovers. We love to marvel a

t the hundreds of thousands of birds that pass overhead, and to follow them on their migratory journey, exploring the whole range of fascinating and varied terrains they traverse each year. And we love to share our adventures with you! As well as our home in southern Spain, we take pride in bringing you the best of birding in Andalucía and other migration spectacles along the East Atlantic Flyway journey, through Europe and North Africa, right down to the steamy wintering grounds of many of our nomads, south of the Sahara. If like us, you enjoy amazing wildlife spectacles where adventure meets relaxation, fun, sustainability and flyway conservation then you have found the right place! Contact us directly for any queries:

[email protected]

27/05/2026

Dawn breaks over the organic, extensively managed vineyards, painting the landscape in a soft, golden light. It is here, amidst the gnarled vines and rich, low-growing cover, that a truly magnificent songster finds its home. Guiding this week has been an absolute joy, driven by a top request from our guests: to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous, elusive Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.

We definitely did that and more!

We were treated to an unforgettable morning, logging five singing males within a relatively small pocket of this traditional farmland. To stand in the early chill and be serenaded by these birds from their prominent perches is pure magic. In these moments, the sheer glory of the species takes center stage. When one turns its head and fans that breathtaking, warm chestnut tail—flashing its bold, contrasting black-and-white tips against the morning sky—it becomes entirely clear why this bird captivates anyone lucky enough to cross its path. They possess an undeniable, fiery charisma!

Yet, hearing five males in such close proximity is a bittersweet privilege in the modern landscape. These birds are deeply tied to a traditional, low-intensity way of farming that is rapidly vanishing. Extensively managed vineyards and olive groves, rich in insect life and leafy ground cover, offer the perfect foraging ground and nesting opportunities. Tragically, across much of their range, the intensification of agriculture—marked by the heavy use of herbicides and pesticides, the removal of mixed habitats, and the clearing of undergrowth—has stripped away the microhabitats they depend on.

This loss of nesting sites and food availability has caused their numbers to plummet, making strongholds like these organic havens more vital than ever.

Watching them thrive here is a powerful reminder of how wildlife can flourish alongside thoughtful, sustainable land stewardship.

A huge thank you to these nature friendly farmers and our wonderful guest for sharing in this spectacular dawn moment of a true classy farmland bird!

25/05/2026

Imagine heading out for the morning to witness a full-on displaying male Little Bustard, spending the day watching Golden Eagles cruise over mountain peaks, and finishing the evening with fabulous culinary delights in the historic heart of Málaga. 🍷🇪🇸

That was the reality for our fantastic Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays group last week! We moved up the coast to explore the incredible contrast of Málaga province's wetlands and mountains, perfectly pairing culture and tapas with some truly awesome avian encounters during the mornings.

We started the trip with absolutely spellbinding views of that displaying male Little Bustard—admittedly a very tough act to follow!

From there, the wetlands provided a total "Grebe party" with dazzling Black-necked Grebes keeping our guests entertained while White-headed Ducks and Marbled Ducks vied for our attention.

Moving into the mountains, the highlands delivered in style with fabulous Western Black-eared Wheatears, Western Orphean Warblers, Rock Buntings, and Alpine Swifts, all while magnificent Golden Eagles cruised overhead! 🏔️🦅

Is this the city break of ornithological dreams? We certainly think so! 🙌

08/05/2026

Our guests from Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays have been completely immersed in the pulse of migration this week. By reading the winds and positioning ourselves directly in the "river of birds," we ensured our group had front-row seats to the spectacular European Honey Buzzard passage.

Joining this migration party were immature Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, and Black Kites returning to scope out future breeding and feeding opportunities. We were also treated to the sight of squadrons of Griffon Vultures returning for the first time since their post-fledging dispersal.

There is nothing quite like the energy of The Straits where the sky is alive!

04/05/2026

As we approach the peak of European Honey Buzzard migration, the skies here at The Straits have been nothing short of spectacular! We were lucky enough to witness thousands of these incredible raptors making their epic crossing into Europe at this ultimate intercontinental gateway. 🌍🦅

But the wild drama didn't stop there. Right next to our watchpoint, the skies suddenly darkened as masses of magnificent Griffon Vultures dropped in to feed on a nearby carcass, giving us an unforgettable up-close look at nature's clean-up crew. Truly a breathtaking day of migration magic! 📸✨

03/05/2026

What a spectacular day at the heart of the avian highway! Yesterday, the sky was filled with thousands of European Honey Buzzards making their way into Europe, only to be joined by a massive kettle of Griffon Vultures. Seeing these giants drop in right next to us to feed was a moment of pure wildlife magic! 🦅✨

28/04/2026

From the raptor-heavy skies of The to the vibrant wetlands of Doñana, our tour has been a masterclass in adapting to the elements. We began immersed in the steady flow of migrating European Honey Buzzards as the campo is now also full of passerine migrants, but when a powerful Levante wind kicked in, we pivoted to the eastern side of Doñana for a change of pace that did not disappoint.

The morning began with the soulful melodies of Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins singing from the heart of organic, extensive vineyards, followed by a visit to the high-energy Little Swift colony. At the Salinas, we found ourselves submerged in a spectacular shorebird migration, surrounded by masses of Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints alongside Gull-billed Terns, Little Terns, and elegant Slender-billed Gulls. Moving to the secluded pools, we observed the unique charm of White-headed Ducks while Squacco Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, and Glossy Ibis worked tirelessly to feed their chicks as Little Bitterns darted across the reeds.

We capped off an incredible day with a powerhouse performance from a Western Olivaceous Warbler which absolutely blasted us with its vibrant song!

23/04/2026

Our second study tour with Bangor University was an absolute masterclass in avian wonder, trading the classroom for the sky to dive deep into the electric world of migration strategies as soaring giants navigated The Straits.

Beyond the large raptors, we marveled at the incredible stamina of weary travelers like Whinchats, European Pied Flycatchers, and Common Redstarts on their epic journeys. A visit to the Collared Pratincole colony left us mesmerized as these elegant birds hawked for insects directly above our heads, followed by insightful focal point analysis on the iconic Northern Bald Ibis—now with chicks—and a high-energy finale at a thriving Lesser Kestrel colony.

This was science and conservation learning in action, proving that nature remains the best classroom!

10/04/2026

This week we have had the great pleasure of hosting students from Bangor University for an immersive week of field research.

While the spectacle of soaring bird migration overhead has been truly impressive, our focus has also been on the Marismas de Barbate, where we have been conducting nearest neighbour analysis, predator avoidance studies, and more.

The buzzing Collared Pratincole colony provided a central hub for our work, even as charismatic Western Black-eared Wheatears did their absolute best to distract us!

Nearby, the local colony of Northern Bald Ibis proved to be the perfect subjects for our focal point analysis, rounding off a productive week of hands-on science in the field.

04/04/2026

What an incredible end to our Inglorious Bustards spring migration tour! We finished on an absolute high as the landscape came alive with newly arrived migrants. The bushes were literally jumping with Western Subalpine Warblers, Iberian Chiffchaffs, and Common Redstarts, all fueling up after their incredible journeys.

The atmosphere shifted from excitement to pure awe as we welcomed the Collared Pratincoles back to their colony—a sound that truly signals the height of the season. We wrapped up our final hours in a more urban setting, where the local Lesser Kestrel colony put on a spectacular show. Their frantic activity was so infectious it even had local passers-by stopping to admire the view with us!

It was the perfect conclusion to a trip defined by world-class and great company. Until next time!

25/03/2026

What a week so far!

🦅 Our migration tour has been an absolute thrill ride as we’ve jumped right into the heart of the action here at The Straits the last two days!

It’s been total Eagle-fever in the skies; watching masses of Booted and Short-toed Eagles power through fierce Levante winds to conquer the epic crossing into Europe right in front of us has been nothing short of breath-taking.

In the campo, the soundtrack is changing fast as Woodchat Shrikes, Common Nightingales, Iberian Chiffchaffs, and Western Bonelli’s Warblers arrive in force to claim their territories.

The energy of the at The Straits is unmatched right now! 🌿✨

Dirección

Facinas

Teléfono

+34665945992

Página web

http://www.ingloriousbustards.com/

Notificaciones

Sé el primero en enterarse y déjanos enviarle un correo electrónico cuando Inglorious Bustards publique noticias y promociones. Su dirección de correo electrónico no se utilizará para ningún otro fin, y puede darse de baja en cualquier momento.