Leader	Julian Sykes
Flights	EasyJet and Vueling, scheduled Outbound: Morning, Gatwick-Malaga Inbound: Afternoon, Malaga-Gatwick

Day 1	Fly from Gatwick to Malaga and transfer to our base on the edge of the Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, stopping enroute at Laguna de Fuente de Piedra - 7 nights at La Caracola Hotel Rural.
Days 2-7	Birdwatching and wildlife exploration, mostly in the Sierra de Andujar, with days out in the Sierra de Cazorla for Lammergeier and Castilla La Mancha for steppe species.
Day 8	Transfer to Malaga for our flight back to the UK, with maybe time at the Rio Guadalhorce river mouth.

Weather	Probably a mixture of sun and showers (0°-15°C), warmer in lowland areas but can be very cold in the mountains whilst looking for wildlife. We could also encounter snow.
Walking	There will be some short walks up to 3km on good tracks and paths, which could be slightly more difficult in the mountains.
Meals	All included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 8.
Insects	Biting insects may occasionally be present, so bring repellent.
Accom	Twin and single rooms all ensuite.
Group	7

The continued expansion of the Iberian Lynx population has been a massive conservation success story, along with Andalucia’s growing population of Lammergeier – we aim to see both!

	*   Perfectly placed accommodation with beautiful grounds
	*   Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture
	*   The dramatic mountains of the Sierra de Cazorla
	*   Iberian Magpie, Hawfinch, Hoopoe, Firecrest
	*   Otter, Mouflon, bats, Boar and Iberian Hare
	*   Beautiful scenery with remnants of true Mediterranean Forest
	*   Bustards and sandgrouse on the steppes of Castilla La Mancha

Day 1	After our morning flight to Malaga, we drive north to the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, where we shall spend some time looking at this saline lake Reserve. Greater Flamingos feed in the shallow waters and occasionally, the rare Lesser Flamingo can be found. Other species that could be seen here include Avocet, Shelduck, Common Crane and Marsh Harrier. We shall also visit a small freshwater lagoon where we hope to see the rare Marbled and White-headed Ducks, Black-necked Grebe and Great White Egret. Nearby we shall look for Stone Curlew in the ploughed fields, along with our first Crested Larks, Spotless Starlings and possibly Bluethroat. Moving north towards Córdoba we should see our first White Storks and Red Kites, with a brief view of the famous mosque La Mesquita as we pass the city. We continue driving to our charming hotel on the edge of the Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, where our rooms overlook fantastic gardens, with a small onsite bird hide. Birds around the hotel include Azure-winged Magpie, Crested Tit and sometimes Hawfinch. This afternoon, if time allows, we might make our first visit to one of the viewing areas in the hope of getting a glimpse of our first Iberian Lynx.
Days 2-7	Most of our days will be spent in the Sierra de Andujar, a contrasting region with some of the best representations of Mediterranean Forest still surviving in Europe. It forms part of the Sierra Morena Mountains and has a landscape of hills and mountains formed from granite, quartz and slate, which is bordered by the Jandula and Yeguas rivers. This Natural Park is home to the elusive and endangered Iberian Lynx, of which over 1600 reside in the wild around Spain and now Portugal. We shall spend early mornings and late afternoons searching for this secretive animal from strategic points around the Park, with lots more to attract our attention. There are plenty of other mammals, with herds of Red and Fallow Deer, the distinctive Mouflon, Wild Boar and bats at their roost. We shall also hope to see Iberian Magpies, Firecrests, Short-toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches and Crested Tits amongst the scattered Holm and Cork Oaks, with Iberian Green Woodpeckers revealing themselves with their raucous call. We should find pairs of Little Owl on this beautiful granite landscape across the valleys and hills. This Natural Park is also home to the magnificent Spanish Imperial Eagle and many other sought after birds of prey, including Golden Eagle, Black Vulture and possibly Goshawk. The tranquil Rio Jandula is punctuated by a series of reservoirs, with their dramatic dam walls, which attract Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Black Redstart, Crag Martin and Red-billed Chough. The river is home to Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Grey Heron, with always the possibility of Otters playing and fishing in this quiet spiritual location. We also plan to have a couple of days away from Lynx-watching with a focus on a completely different target species – the magnificent Lammergeier, plus steppe species. To the east is the wonderful Sierra de Cazorla, with its extensive coniferous forest and limestone massifs. Lammergeier can found drifting along these incredible mountain ridges, along with the much commoner Griffon Vulture. This place is home to a good population of Spanish Ibex, Red Squirrel and Red Fox, all of which can be difficult in Andujar. To the north of the Reserve is the region of Castilla La Mancha and its extensive and productive agricultural lands. This area is home to steppe species such as bustards, sandgrouse, larks and raptors - we shall enjoy a day driving these tracks hoping to find these unique birds.
Day 8	After breakfast we’ll sadly load the minibus and make our way back towards the Mediterranean Sea where we shall stop along the Malaga coastline. With sufficient time, we should see both Mediterranean and Western Yellow-legged Gulls, Gannet and possibly Common Scoter offshore, with a chance of a Booted Eagle over the nearby natural area, given over to wildlife. In good time we now head to the airport and our flight home.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Iberian Lynx	White-headed Duck	Little Owl
Otter	Black-necked Grebe	Great Bustard
Wild Boar	Greater Flamingo	Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Mouflon	Lammergeier	Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Spanish Ibex	Black Vulture	Iberian Green Woodpecker
Red Squirrel	Spanish Imperial Eagle	Black Wheatear
Iberian Hare	Golden Eagle	Iberian Magpie
Greater Mouse-eared Bat	Common Crane	Hawfinch
Marbled Duck	Stone Curlew	Rock Bunting