Birdwatching… vulture colony at Las Buitreras
– Colony of Griffon vultures
– Canyon and cliffs
– Guadiaro river
Region
Spain / Andalusia
Meeting point
Gaucín
Specialized service
Small parties
Eurasian Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are so common in southern Spain that any excursion will bring the opportunity to observe them flying in the sky, mostly in the far distance. Approaching a colony close enough allows for a real ornithological highlight.
Perfect conditions for photography at a colony of griffon vultures
Check our contents on the Genal Valley.
These large and impressive birds can often be seen soaring in the skies above the rugged terrain of the region. The presence of vultures in the area is an important part of the local ecosystem, as they play a crucial role in the scavenging of carrion and help maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
If you’re interested in birdwatching and seeing vultures in their natural habitat, Las Buitreras in Gaucín can be a great location to observe these magnificent birds while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings.
The tour involves a very pleasant 3 km long hike following the river Guadiaro with bautiful landscape and Mediterranean vegetation. A final steep slope (250m) allows the access to a watch point from where the colony can be observed lenghty and at near distance, without disturbing the birds. Nowhere the observer can be so close to the vultures in Serranía de Ronda.
In order to increase our species list, this half day tour can be coupled with a visit to other nearby bird hotspots: Sierra del Hacho, Sierra Crestellina, Junta de los Ríos and Manilva estuary among others. What a great birding day!
Eurasian Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are so common in southern Spain that any excursion will bring the opportunity to observe them flying in the sky, mostly in the far distance. Approaching a colony close enough allows for a real ornithological highlight.
Check our contents on the Genal Valley.
Perfect conditions for photography at a colony of griffon vultures
These large and impressive birds can often be seen soaring in the skies above the rugged terrain of the region. The presence of vultures in the area is an important part of the local ecosystem, as they play a crucial role in the scavenging of carrion and help maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
If you’re interested in birdwatching and seeing vultures in their natural habitat, Las Buitreras in Gaucín can be a great location to observe these magnificent birds while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings.
The tour involves a very pleasant 3 km long hike following the river Guadiaro with bautiful landscape and Mediterranean vegetation. A final steep slope (250m) allows the access to a watch point from where the colony can be observed lenghty and at near distance, without disturbing the birds. Nowhere the observer can be so close to the vultures in Serranía de Ronda.
In order to increase our species list, this half day tour can be coupled with a visit to other nearby bird hotspots: Sierra del Hacho, Sierra Crestellina, Junta de los Ríos and Manilva estuary among others. What a great birding day!
Birds in the Guadiaro Canyon at Las Buitreras
Griffon vulture
Crag martin
Blue Rock-trush
Sardinian warbler
Iberian Green woodpecker
Kingfisher
Griffon vulture
Crag martin
Blue Rock-trush
Sardinian warbler
Iberian Green woodpecker
Kingfisher
What you get?
– Field trip from dawn to sunset.
– High-end telescopes: the mighty Kowa TSN 99.
– Smartphone adaptator to take your own pictures.
– High-end binoculars.
– Illustrated check-list for the exact period of your visit.
Birdwatching in Gaucín
If you are interested by watching birds in Andalusia, then the picturesque white village of Gaucin is the ideal place to visit. Throughout the year Griffon vultures are filling the sky and breed in three nearby important colonies.
Sunny and mild winter is a very pleasant season for rambling the countryside in southern Andalusia and a popular time of the year for birders.
Interesting sedentary birds are inhabitating shrubby garrigues in Sierra del Hacho (Sardinian warblers, Cirl buntings and Southern grey shrikes) and the crags at Gaucín’s Castle (Blue Rock-Thrushes, Crag martin and Rock bunting).
Mixed forests attract the endemic Iberian woodpecker and passerines in large numbers: tits, nuthatches, firecrests in Holm oak and Cork oak woodlands, Red crossbills or Coal tit in pine trees. Among summer visitors, a few raptors inhabit Mediterranean forests such as Sparrowhawks, Booted and Short toed eagles. You can add Peregrine falcon to the list of breeding birds of prey.
More birdlife is awaiting for avid birdwatchers : in the farmland and open countryside, Stonechats, Hooppoes, Corn buntings and Ravens ; in the remarkable Guadiaro and Genal rivers, high densities of Kingfischers and Grey wagtails.
Of course, Gaucín is located close to the Strait of Gibraltar migration bottleneck and is a good location to witness countless migrants twice a year, in spring and autumn. Large gliding birds are the most notorious in the sky with huge numbers of White storks and Black kites.
The village is a perfect base camp for birding in nearby areas in Serranía de Ronda and the Strait of Gibraltar, with up to six bird hotspots in a range of half an hour drive, adding coastal wetlands and sea fauna to our list of species.
Local expert G3 Guides can accompany you on a bird tour and show you our diverse habitats and bird populations.
Base camp to explore Serranía de Ronda and Strait of Gibraltar
Birdwatching in Gaucín
If you are interested by watching birds in Andalusia, then the picturesque white village of Gaucin is the ideal place to visit. Throughout the year Griffon vultures are filling the sky and breed in three nearby important colonies.
Sunny and mild winter is a very pleasant season for rambling the countryside in southern Andalusia and a popular time of the year for birders.
Interesting sedentary birds are inhabitating shrubby garrigues in Sierra del Hacho (Sardinian warblers, Cirl buntings and Southern grey shrikes) and the crags at Gaucín’s Castle (Blue Rock-Thrushes, Crag martin and Rock bunting).
Base camp to explore Serranía de Ronda and Strait of Gibraltar
Mixed forests attract the endemic Iberian woodpecker and passerines in large numbers: tits, nuthatches, firecrests in Holm oak and Cork oak woodlands, Red crossbills or Coal tit in pine trees. Among summer visitors, a few raptors inhabit Mediterranean forests such as Sparrowhawks, Booted and Short toed eagles. You can add Peregrine falcon to the list of breeding birds of prey.
More birdlife is awaiting for avid birdwatchers : in the farmland and open countryside, Stonechats, Hooppoes, Corn buntings and Ravens ; in the remarkable Guadiaro and Genal rivers, high densities of Kingfischers and Grey wagtails.
Of course, Gaucín is located close to the Strait of Gibraltar migration bottleneck and is a good location to witness countless migrants twice a year, in spring and autumn. Large gliding birds are the most notorious in the sky with huge numbers of White storks and Black kites.
The village is a perfect base camp for birding in nearby areas in Serranía de Ronda and the Strait of Gibraltar, with up to six bird hotspots in a range of half an hour drive, adding coastal wetlands and sea fauna to our list of species.
Local expert G3 Guides can accompany you on a bird tour and show you our diverse habitats and bird populations.
INCLUDE
- A wildlife watching day trip.
- Professional guides specialized in nature.
Bonus
The best birding habitat lies in a little visited mountain range.