Anyone who has visited Tarifa will be able to wax lyrical about its stunning views of Morocco, its quaint old town and the breathtaking virgin beaches that boast fine, golden sand. However, those not specialised in ornithology may not be aware that twice a year this little town also plays host to one of the greatest nature shows in Europe. You see, every spring and autumn millions of birds migrate between Europe and Africa in search of a more comfortable climate, and this is one of the main points from which they cross.
Now that autumn is upon us, countless airborne avians will be out in force this month as they escape the cooler temperatures of Northern Europe via the continent’s main bird migration funnel. Thanks to a gap of just 14 kilometres between the two landmasses, this is an ideal crossing point for huge numbers of migratory birds, as well as butterflies and dragonflies. According to local bird experts, this migration includes: 3,000 Black Storks, 80,000 White Storks, 125,000 Black Kites, 2,000 Egyptian Vultures, 500 Montagu’s Harriers, 18,000 Short-toed Eagles, up to 70,000 European Honey Buzzards, 30,000 Booted Eagles, 2,000 Eurasian Sparrow Hawks and many more.
Those in the know will tell you that the best time to watch this spectacle is in the morning around 9am, meaning you don’t have to wait around the whole day glued to a pair of binoculars. The migration itself is spread over several months along the Costa de la Luz, with numbers peaking from the end of August to mid September. Of course this spectacular event also attracts countless feathered friends, such as members of the Andalucía Bird Society, which has around 150 members and regularly flocks to Tarifa and the surrounding coastline to watch this impressive sight unfold.
Tarifa is less than an hour’s drive from Sotogrande, so if you would like to join the society on one of their weekend trips then visit their website at www.andaluciabirdsociety.org
By Jackie Cruz - Manifesto ·