12 September 2024: Day 6, Tarifa and birding at the Strait of Gibraltar, WINGS Spain in Autumn. Click here to see (generally) where I am today.
At U.S. hawk watches we track vultures, hawks, eagles, falcons and kites but rarely record other species at the official HawkCount.org. That is not the case at Tarifa where fall migration includes a total of 150,000 white storks (Ciconia ciconia) + black storks (Ciconia nigra).
This short video is the slow motion passage of four raptors. I am not sure of the first one but the others are two booted eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) and an Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
Watch as huge numbers of soaring birds wait to cross the Strait. Notice the sound track! It is WINDY!
Birding at the Strait is more than watching hawks.
p.s. We had a great morning on 10 September at Algarrobo hawk watch with thousands of hawks and eagles plus alpine & common swifts, four black storks, and 22 European bee-eaters.
“Fall migration includes a total of 150,000 white storks + black storks” really caught my attention, I’ve always been fascinated by the scale of bird migrations. As someone who’s travelled with my family to Andalusia, I can attest that the region is a treasure trove of natural wonders, and the birdwatching is just one aspect of it. I’ve found that visiting the coastal areas during the off-season can be just as rewarding, with fewer crowds and a chance to spot some of the lesser-known species. The parallel between the hawk watch and the beach destinations I’ve visited is something I’ve been thinking about because both seem to offer a unique glimpse into the natural world, and I wonder if the author has considered exploring the intersection of these two interests. Perhaps the same winds that bring the birds to the Strait of Gibraltar also shape the coastline, creating those beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for a family day out.