Inglorious Bustards

After several days of strong Levante, the wind finally dropped, and rain showers swept in—causing utter migratory mayhem here at the epicentre of migration!

Masses of Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, juvenile European Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, and swirling columns of Black Storks attempted to cross the 14km divide between continents.

Some aborted their attempts due to rain and poor visibility, while others decided to power on regardless. We were right at the very heart of this incredible migratory spectacle and flow with our group from Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays!

After several days of severe Levante wind holding up the migratory flow across The Straits, the wind finally dropped yesterday. Continuing strong gusts brought the stream of passage right down to eye level for our guests from Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays

We counted an incredible 1,096 Booted Eagles, 367 Short-toed Eagles, and 52 Egyptian Vultures, with Eurasian Sparrowhawks, European Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, and Black Storks all joining the continual flow.

Throughout the week, our local knowledge enabled us to interpret the conditions and position ourselves in the best sheltered spots out of the wind, right among the raptors as they waited for their moment to cross.

This paid off with some extraordinary finds among the swirling masses, including Rüppell’s Vulture, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and a Gibraltar Buzzard!

With favourable winds, we have been right in the thick of peak with our guests from Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays witnessing an astonishing 28,422 soaring migratory birds crossing between 7th and 13th September!

The sheer volume of birds has been the overwhelming highlight, with these magnificent voyagers passing by breathtakingly close to give everyone intimate, unforgettable encounters. Our watches were filled with Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Black Kites, European Honey Buzzards, Egyptian Vultures, both White and Black Storks, and Montagu’s Harriers—which even included a stunning and rare dark morph!

Our autumn migration tours have been delivering incredible moments! The last group finished on a high with sightings of Rüppell’s Vulture, and this week’s tour kicked straight off with Rüppell’s Vulture—alongside a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle actively hunting migrating Booted Eagles!

Over 2,000 White Storks unusually roosted in one of the coastal valleys as strong Levante winds perturbed them from crossing, causing confusion and panic with sadly dire consequences.

Meanwhile, the "Honey train" keeps rolling on. European Honey Buzzards continue streaming past—often right at eye level—while Egyptian Vultures, Booted Eagles, and Short-toed Eagles cruise the valleys waiting for their window to cross. To top it off, ever-larger groups of Black Storks are now arriving to take their turn over The Straits! Peak !

Strong Levante winds over the last few days have made crossing The Straits a real challenge for many of the soaring voyagers passing through—some, sadly, with fatal consequences.

Our group has been right in the flow of migration, experiencing jaw-dropping, eye-level views of Black Kites, European Honey Buzzards, Egyptian Vultures, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Montagu’s Harriers (including two dark morphs!), and both White and Black Storks.

Peak here in The Straits!

Strong, gusting Levante winds over the last few days have made crossing The Straits even more treacherous for migrating birds. Many soaring migrants are having to double back and wait or postpone their sea crossing entirely, despite their clear desperation to take the leap!

This wind-lock has put us right in the thick of incredible, swirling masses of Black Kites, Booted Eagles, Egyptian Vultures, and towering columns of White Storks, alongside the very first arriving Black Storks.

The proximity has been simply amazing, with masses often at eye level, witnessing breathtaking encounters as they pass by our guests.

We have been treated to some truly clear, breathtaking moments. The strong winds have brought incredible, close-up encounters with European Honey Buzzards, which for many of our group have been a standout highlight.

PEAK here in The Straits!

The Honey train continues to gather pace with over 33,000 European Honey Buzzards crossing the continental divide here between the 24th - 30th August.

Joining them ever increasing numbers of Booted (1,393) and Short-toed Eagles (455) with increasing numbers of Egyptian Vultures and the first of the Black Storks now arriving!

Autumn migration in The Straits is full

Data from our conservation partners Fundación Migres · CIMA Centro Internacional de Migración de Aves

Yesterday, unusual August rain swept in from the west of The Straits, halting soaring bird migration mid-flow.

A brief break in the weather caused birds to stage right at the edge of the continent, with some impatient travellers already making the crossing as rain rolled in once again. This caused absolute bedlam! European Honey Buzzards and Black Kites had to dry out on the ground and in the trees as they waited for a gap.

As the weather cleared, thousands upon thousands of European Honey Buzzard and Black Kites passed right over us, desperate to make their cloaca-clenching journey across the divide!

A day that will live long in the memory, and the exact reason why this is the absolute centre of .

As the days progress, the players in the great migratory dance are beginning to shift.

The seemingly relentless march of Black Kites and White Storks continues as tens of thousands cross the divide between continents most days, for instance yesterday's numbers saw 22,000 Black Kites and 7,500 White Storks making the crossing!

Now joining the spectacle are the vanguard of European Honey Buzzards, while Booted and Short-toed Eagle numbers steadily build. High above, Alpine Swifts and European Bee-eaters fill the gaps in between.

Today we also added Eleonora's Falcon whizzing through our watchpoint, and an immature Spanish Imperial Eagle cruised over.