Newsletter - August 2011

Many of you will know we support the Andalucia Bird Society here in the most southerly area of Spain. During recent months the society has been busy with producing the very first and most complete systematic list and checklist for the birds of Andalusia. The final booklet has been produced as a small pocket-sized publication, although the hours of research and work involved with this checklist are belied by its small size! We hope you will consider purchasing this guide if planning a trip to the area, at 2 Euro including post and packaging it is a real bargain, plus you will be helping to support this progressive society.

Another exciting project recently embarked upon by the society is the plan to produce a quarterly news magazine. The magazine will be packed with articles and have regular features including some stunning images of the local birds found here. The magazine will be free to members, but also available by subscription at 12 Euro a year including postage and packaging, yet again a real bargain product from the society. Please do consider joining the society or subscribing to the future publication of their magazine, by so doing you will be helping the birds of this most important region of Europe.

For further information on the Andalucia Bird Society

Of course don't forget we also offer some great birding days here in 'our' part of Spain! If you plan a visit, then be sure to include a day tour near you, see below:

Birds and more of Almería with Jesus Contreras

Mountains/Steppe & Wetlands (Málaga/Cadiz/Sevilla) with Peter Jones

Fauna and Flora (Granada) with Mick Richardson

Walking in Flowers (Malaga/Cadiz) with Brenda Jones

Migration here had been memorable this spring and the spectacle will be repeated this autumn, so we have designed a special Raptor Migration Tour which will be from 15 to 21st September 2011, it promises to be an experience not to be missed. Why not consider joining us? To see details read more here.

Our NEW Recce Tour 29th January to 19th February 2012

We are to run a Recce Tour to Thailand during February 2012 and invite friends to join us, if you are serious about birds, then this destination really is a must visit area. Thailand is amongst the very best birding destinations in Asia and for a long time now, we have wanted to include it in our expanding list of prime nature holiday destinations. Situated in the Indo-Chinese peninsula of the Oriental Region, Thailand boasts well over 900 species of birds. Around one third of the birds are migrants, although certain species such as Swallow, that are largely migrant, are also resident. Consider the fact that this country boasts almost 10% of the world's total bird species, then it is very easy to understand why we will be touring to this great destination!

It may surprise you to learn there are well over 100 protected areas in the country and they are categorised as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries or non-hunting areas. Some of these have breeding programmes which include the breeding of species on the endangered list. The infrastructure is such that most of these places are easily accessible by road, train or plane. Some are closed to the public, which to our mind is good as it means that Thailand is taking its conservation of wildlife seriously. The main ones, though, are open to the public and very well run with the welfare of the fauna uppermost in the minds of the national park officials.

Among target birds for us will be Cireat Hornbill (Buceros bicorm's, 122 cm.), the Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus, 100 cm.), the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris, 70 em.) and the Brown Hornbill (Ptilolaemus tickelli, 74 cm.), several different species of Barbets (Megalaima) with their brightly coloured plumage, of course an endemic in the form of the Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis), also hunting for the skulking Pygmy Wren-Babbler (Pnoepyga pusilla) and the Slaty-bellied Tesia (Tesia olivea) and so our list goes on, so many great birds to see and to discover for the first time. Oh, we almost forgot one of the most unforgettable birds of all the Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae), it has finely delineated multi-coloured markings the colours of which include black, yellow, light green, dark green and blue, working from head to tail!

The Alpine Accentor, Prunella collaris, is a small passerine bird found throughout the mountains of southern temperate Europe and Asia at heights above 2000 m (breeding). It is mainly resident, wintering more widely at lower latitudes, but some birds wander during winter months as rare vagrants even as far as Great Britain. This is a small-sized bird at 15-17.5 cm in length, slightly larger than its relative, the Dunnock Prunella modulari. It has a streaked brown back, adults have a grey head and red-brown spotting on the underparts. It has an insectivore's fine pointed bill, but as with all accentors it will also feed on seeds. Sexes are similar, although the male may be contrasted in appearance. Young birds have browner heads and underparts.

Outside of the related Dunnock P.modulari, this species has the most widespread, if somewhat fragmented, distribution of the accentors, although much more limited by available habitat and altitudinal range. These birds are found in mountainous areas, from the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa, through France and Italy and Slovenia and into the Balkans, Bulgaria and Greece. They are also found in northern and eastern Turkey, through the Caucasus and Iran and east to Turkmenistan, China, Korea and Japan. They are also found in Taiwan.

During the breeding season it is a bird of bare mountain areas with some low vegetation. It builds a neat nest low in a bush or rock crevice, laying 3-5 unspotted sky-blue eggs. It is Polygyandrous in its relationships and has a very interesting strategy. Home ranges are occupied by breeding groups of 3 or 4 males with 3 or 4 females. These are unrelated birds which have a socially polygynandrous mating system. Males have a dominance hierarchy, with the alpha males being generally older than subordinates. Females seek matings with all the males, although the alpha male may defend her against matings from lower ranking males. In turn, males seek matings with all the females. DNA fingerprinting has been used to show that, within broods, there is often mixed paternity, although the female is always the true mother of the nestlings raised within her nest. Males will provide food to chicks at several nests within the group, depending on whether they have mated with the female or not, males only provide care when they are likely to be the true fathers of the chicks.

Safari Dates: March 19th to 29th 2012

Serious birding, great accommodation, time to relax by the poolside, superb cuisine and a great holiday, we cannot recommend highly enough our Spring Safari in Morocco during March 2012. It has proved an extremely popular tour and is always well subscribed, so what better time to consider this holiday and be sure of booking your place? Our journey across the beautiful High Atlas Mountains, descending into the green fingers of the Draa Valley as it stretches into the Sahara Desert is in itself a reason for joining this tour. It is not just about the wide variety of bird species we will see, but as much about the scenery, life and people that are Morocco. For a relaxed and no pressure bird tour this is a must join holiday. Read more >>

Main Tour Date: 19 to 29th March 2012

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Contact Info

For friendly and expert advice on any of our tours please telephone Pieter Verheij on +34 636 291 714 or email us using contact us

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