Operación Lince : the Iberian Lynx in Andalusia / Tour February 2023
Day 1: After picking up our guests at Malaga airport, we leave directly for the Sierra Morena to begin this new wildlife tour dedicated to the Iberian Lynx in Andalusia. Along the way, a Black-winged Kite is observed as well as the first White Storks.
Arrived at the Sierra de Andujar, the first Iberian Magpies, Red-legged Partridges, Blue Rock-Thrush, Dartford Warblers and Sardinian Warblers, Little Owls, Hoopoes and many other Mediterranean bird species are observed.
We are not looking for the Iberian Lynx for long when the first individual of the tour is observed in the distance.
We seem to see a second one. These are the first lynxes for the guests, everyone is happy! We see them a few times and we confirm that there are indeed two lynxes. Observations are far away but to start a tour, it's already very good!
Other mammals are added to the list such as the Red Deer, the Fallow Deer or even a Mouflon. We reach our accommodation where we share a drink to celebrate this first day and have dinner.
Day 2: After a good breakfast, we join the Lancha track early for this second day in Andalusia. After an hour of searching, I see an Iberian Lynx not far from the road! But I am the only one who sees it with a few other observers present on site. However, beautiful bird sightings caught up with the day: Dartford Warbler, Eurasian Skylark, Hoopoe, Little Owls, Spanish Eagles and a transiting Golden Eagle, Eurasian Griffons and Cinereous Vultures, several species of finches, etc.
After a hearty picnic, we observed a few bats hibernating in a tunnel.
Then we observe a herd of Spanish Ibex composed of young and female.
On the way to the river we make a close observation of a beautiful adult Spanish Eagle which is slowly gaining height. At the edge of the river, several groups of Iberian Magpies are seen as well as two kingfishers.
Suddenly, an European Otter is observed far enough in the water. She walks in and out of the water to climb a tree! She grooms and marks several times completely out of the water to our delight! This is one of the highlights of our wildlife tour in Spain.
Day 3: Departure on the track of La Lancha without any real news on the avifauna side. Three Iberian Lynx were observed by an observer on a track. We look for them for a good hour when the three are found in the distance. First an individual sleeping at the foot of a stone, then a second not far away. When they begin to move a third joins them. We have 3 different individuals in the telescope, awesome!
In the middle of the afternoon, we go to the edge of the river to try to observe the otters that only a participant will see. We add a Leprous Emys to the list. Despite beautiful naturalist observations, no lynx will show up at the edge of the river.
We end the day with the observation of 2 Sparrowhawks trying to catch bats in flight at dusk.
Day 4: Last morning of observation dedicated to the Iberian Lynx in the Sierra Morena. It starts quietly with sightings of species already encountered. We have a last meal on the track and join the Doñana National Park for the second part of our wildlife tour dedicated to the lynx in Spain.
Arrived at the hotel, we quickly observe at the bottom of the garden in a strip of dehesa. Suddenly, an Iberian Lynx is spotted just 10 meters away from us! He hunts in front of us, but not everyone is there. It was time for free time and some guests took the opportunity to rest. Eventually I manage to warn everyone and we watch the lynx for a good 30 minutes as it hunts! Totally unexpected and the 7th lynx of the trip! EXTRAORDINARY!
Day 5: Early in the morning, we join Fran, our local guide to observe in the Doñana National and Natural Park, in El Rocio and we look for the Iberian Lynx in the open areas. Then, we observe the red deer in the more forested environments. Along the way, three sightings stand out: a young Great Spotted Cuckoo on a stopover, a Barn Owl sleeping in the tamarisk trees, and a colony of Lesser Kestrels breeding in the nest boxes set up by Fran.
Then we reached a wetland where new species are added to our already long list: Western Swamphen, Marsh Harriers, Common Cranes, Godwits of both species, Black-winged Stilts, Kentish Plover, Common Snipe, Redshanks of several species, etc.
So far, we have traveled through the wetlands and forests of the National Park. We join Matalascañas to observe in the dunes and on the beach. The rare Carbonell's Lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) is observed in sandy environments. In fact, this is the only Spanish population. After unsuccessful searches for chameleons, we join El Rocio. In the lagoon, we observe a lot of ducks, Spoonbills, Flamingos and waders.
Day 6: The road between Doñana and Malaga is long. So we leave our hotel quite early and on the road that runs along the coast, a stop is dedicated to a pond in the national park region. Many species are observed including three Marbled Teals, a mixed group of Pale and Black Swifts, many shorebirds, etc.
A last stop on the coast is dedicated to the search for the chameleon. Unfortunately, a wind that was too strong and too gusty reduced our chances. We still observe an Ophrys tenthredinifera in bloom. We arrive in Malaga in the early evening. After a stay at the hotel and share an excellent meal near our hotel.
Day 7: The last morning is dedicated to exploring the Guadalhorce delta. In the wetland, the list of species is long but stands out: Slender-billed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Osprey, Booted Eagle, shorebirds in numbers, etc.
A trip to the beach will add some offshore Northern Gannets, Cory's Shearwaters and a group of Sanderlings. After a last meal to remember our observations, it is time to bring everyone back to the hotel and the airport to conclude this memorable wildlife tour in Andalusia.
Jérémy
Guide Salva Fauna
