This list has been compiled from observations at and around the finca and in the larger region surrounding Finca Limoneros in Alora, Andalucia.
This area stretches from the estuaries of the Velez and Guadalhorce rivers in the South to the vast salt lagoon of Fuente de Piedra in the North, and from Ronda in the West to Valle de Abdalajis to the East, all within an hour's drive from the finca.
All of the species have been reliably recorded in this region, either by ourselves or by experienced birding guests who have passed on their trip reports. Some birds have been seen occasionally or in some cases only once, where clearly stated in the notes.
The list totals some 174 species, which of course includes both Summer and Winter visitors and migrants as well as residents.
Birding guests have frequently recorded between 85 and over 100 species in stays varying from 3 to 10 days, a week being typical.
This area stretches from the estuaries of the Velez and Guadalhorce rivers in the South to the vast salt lagoon of Fuente de Piedra in the North, and from Ronda in the West to Valle de Abdalajis to the East, all within an hour's drive from the finca.
All of the species have been reliably recorded in this region, either by ourselves or by experienced birding guests who have passed on their trip reports. Some birds have been seen occasionally or in some cases only once, where clearly stated in the notes.
The list totals some 174 species, which of course includes both Summer and Winter visitors and migrants as well as residents.
Birding guests have frequently recorded between 85 and over 100 species in stays varying from 3 to 10 days, a week being typical.
| Name | Locations and Notes |
|
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) |
Seen at the Rio Guadalhorce estuary |
|
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) |
Common on the Rio Guadalhorce |
|
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) |
Often seen on the lakes at Ardales |
|
Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus yelouan) |
Offshore at Paraje Guadalhorce estuary |
|
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) |
Often seen on the Rio Guadalhorce and flying along the valley from the finca, especially in Winter (picture by Keith) |
|
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) |
Seen occasionally - this female at Rio Turon, Ardales (July 2006) (picture by Keith) |
|
Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Often seen by the Rio Guadalhorce and flying along the valley from the finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) |
Present at Rio Velez and occasional visitors to the Guadalhorce valley (picture by Keith) |
|
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) |
Common around the finca, sometimes seen in the garden (picture by Keith) |
|
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) |
Common in the Guadalhorce valley and seen from the finca especially in Winter |
|
Great Egret (Egretta alba) |
Often seen on the Rio Guadalhorce including from the finca, especially in Winter |
|
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
Common on Rio Guadalhorce and seen from the finca especially in Winter (picture by Keith) |
|
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
Occasionally recorded on Rio Guadalhorce |
|
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) |
Ocasionally seen on passage on Rio Guadalhorce and from the finca |
|
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) |
Often seen on Rio Guadalhorce especially in Winter (picture by www.donanabirdtours.com) |
|
Spoonbill (Platalea leudorodia) |
Seen at Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga |
|
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) |
Thousands breed in Spring at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos (picture by Keith) |
|
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) |
Present on lakes at Campillos |
|
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) |
Common, seen from the finca |
|
Shoveler (Anas clypeata) |
Lakes at Campillos, Paraje Guadalhorce estuary |
|
Teal (Anas querquedula) |
Lakes at Campillos, Paraje Guadalhorce estuary |
|
Garganey (Anas querquedula) |
Paraje Guadalhorce estuary |
|
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocophala) |
Reliably seen at Paraje Guadalhorce (picture by Keith) |
|
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) |
Lakes at Campillos |
|
Pochard (Aythya ferina) |
Lakes at Campillos |
|
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) |
Breed in Spring at Teba Gorge, seen at Bobastro and towards Ronda (picture by Keith) |
|
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) |
A number of colonies, chiefly at El Chorro, Gobantes and Teba Gorge (picture by Keith) |
|
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) |
Occasionally seen in Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga and on lakes at Ardales |
|
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) |
Occasionally seen at El Chorro and Gobantes |
|
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) |
In Summer, often found towards El Chorro/Valle de Abdalajis, occasionally from finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) |
Regularly at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos, recorded from finca |
|
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) |
Seen in hills towards Valle de Abdalajis and in Campillos area |
|
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) |
Regularly seen in Summer around Campillos/Fuente de Piedra |
|
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) |
Can be encountered anywhere, seen regularly from finca |
|
Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) |
Has been seen in El Chorro |
|
Buzzard (Buteo buteo) |
Regular overfly Guadalhorce valley, occasionally seen perched on electricity pylons around the finca |
|
Honey Buzzard (Buteo apivorus) |
Seen, sometimes in huge numbers, in passage over Guadalhorce valley (400 seen from finca on one occasion) |
|
Booted Eagle
(Hieraaetus pennatus) |
Regular hunters over the Guadalhorce valley (picture by Keith) |
|
Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) |
Breed at Teba Gorge and some years on El Hacho (visible from finca) and often seen at Gobantes near the lakes. Recorded many times overflying finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) |
Occasionally seen on passage over Guadalhorce valley, Fuente de Piedra |
|
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) |
Many on migration in Rio Guadalhorce valley especially August/September (picture by Peter Smith) |
|
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) |
Seen at Fuente de Piedra and Campillos area (picture by Keith) |
|
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) |
Common hunting over Gualdahorce valley (picture by Keith) |
|
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) |
Breed every Spring in tower at Alora Castle (picture by Keith) |
|
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) |
Can be encountered in El Chorro and Teba Gorge, sometimes over El Hacho (visible from finca) |
|
Merlin (Falco columbarius) |
Seen from finca and at Bobastro, close to ruins, and at Gobantes |
|
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) |
Commonly seen, widespread, e.g. in Gobantes area. |
|
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) |
Common on any wet area such as Rio Guadalhorce |
|
Coot (Fulica atra) |
Not common locally but seen at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos |
|
Purple Swamp-hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) |
Recorded at Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga |
|
Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) |
Recorded at Laguna Salada, Campillos |
|
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) |
Arrive in Spring at Rio Guadalhorce, common at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos (picture by Keith) |
|
Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) |
Recorded in numbers at lakes at Campillos |
|
Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) |
Present at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos |
|
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) |
Breed on the Rio Guadalhorce and other rivers (picture by Keith) |
|
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) |
Seen at Fuente de Piedra |
|
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) |
Occasional at Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos |
|
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) |
Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga; Lakes at Campillos |
|
Sanderling (Calidris alba) |
Lakes at Campillos |
|
Little Stint (Calidris minuta) |
Present at Fuente de Piedra and Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga |
|
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) |
Paraje Guadalhorce |
|
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) |
Paraje Guadalhorce |
|
Redshank (Tringa totanus) |
Fuente de Piedra; Paraje Guadalhorce; Lakes at Campillos |
|
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) |
Fuente de Piedra; Paraje Guadalhorce, Malaga; Lakes at Campillos (picture by Keith) |
|
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) |
Recorded at Fuente de Piedra |
|
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) |
Not common but seen at Fuente de Piedra (picture by Keith) |
|
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) |
Very common in Winter on Rio Guadalhorce (picture by Keith) |
|
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
Common on Rio Guadalhorce and Rio Turon (Ardales) (picture by Keith) |
|
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
Seen on passage at Rio Guadalhorce, Alora (picture by Keith) |
|
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) |
Recorded at Fuente de Piedra and in numbers at lakes at Campillos |
|
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) |
Not common, seen at lakes at Ardales and Fuente de Piedra |
|
Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) |
Seen at Rio Velez |
|
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) |
Recorded at Fuente de Piedra and once on Rio Guadalhorce |
|
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) |
Paraje Guadalhorce (picture by Paul Winter) |
|
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) |
Seen often |
|
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) |
Seen wintering in hundreds on lakes at Ardales |
|
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) |
Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos, Rio Turon (Ardales) (picture by Keith) |
|
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) |
Recorded at Paraje Guadalhorce |
|
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) |
Winter at Paraje Guadalhorce (picture by Keith) |
|
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) |
Lakes at Campillos (picture by Keith) |
|
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) |
Fuente de Piedra and lakes at Campillos |
|
Razorbill (Alca torda) |
Offshore at Paraje Guadalhorce estuary |
|
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) |
'Pure' looking individuals at both Teba Gorge and El Chorro |
|
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) |
Rare, recorded at El Chorro |
|
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) |
Widespread |
|
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) |
Rio Turon (Ardales) and Rio Guadalhorce, seen at finca |
| Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) |
Colony in Guadalhorce valley, Alora and at Paraje Guadalhorce (picture by Keith) |
|
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) |
Anywhere in Summer, especially Sierra Penarrubia and Teba Gorge and Ronda area |
|
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) |
Heard at night at Finca Limoneros |
|
Little Owl (Athene noctua) |
Widespread, seen from finca and common in Valle de Abdalajis area (picture by Keith) |
|
Scops Owl (Otus scops) |
Occasionally occurs, most often heard, in Guadalhorce valley and surrounding mountains |
|
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) |
Seen at night in riverbed down by finca and on track to finca |
|
Swift (Apus apus) |
Widespread |
|
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) |
Seen regularly from Finca Limoneros |
|
Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) |
Common at El Chorro and Teba Gorge, seen from Finca Limoneros |
|
Roller (Coracias garrulus) |
Not often seen but recorded near Teba Gorge |
|
Hoopoe (Upupa epops) |
Widespread, seen from finca regularly (picture by Keith) |
|
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
Regular on Rio Guadalhorce, seen from finca on occasion, and Rio Turon (picture by Keith) |
|
Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) |
Widespread in Summer (picture by Keith) |
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) |
Seen in El Chorro |
|
Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) |
Seen in olive groves near finca and on Rio Guadalhorce, Alora |
|
Skylark (Alauda Arvensis) |
Occurs regularly |
|
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) |
Common (picture by Keith) |
|
Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae) |
Recorded near Fuente de Piedra and locally |
|
Short-toed Lark (Callandrella brachydactyla) |
Recorded in hills towards Abdalajis |
|
Woodlark (Lululla arborea) |
Recorded at lakes at Ardales |
|
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) |
Recorded near Fuente de Piedra, Valle de Abdalajis |
|
Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) |
Many in Rio Guadalhorce valley and at Teba Gorge, El Chorro, Gobantes etc |
|
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) |
Easily seen at Paraje Natural del Guadalhorce |
|
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Widespread |
|
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) |
Not so common but easily found at El Chorro, Teba gorge, seen from Finca Limoneros |
|
House Martin (Delichon urbica) |
Common |
|
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) |
Common by Rio Guadalhorce and other rivers |
|
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava ?iberiae) |
Rio Guadalhorce close to finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) |
Common on Rio Guadalhorce and other rivers (picture by Keith) |
|
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) |
Very common e.g. on Rio Guadalhorce, seen in finca garden. Hundreds roost in palm tree in centre of Alora village. (picture by Keith) |
|
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) |
Not so common but turn up on Rio Guadalhorce and elsewhere |
|
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) |
Rarely seen in Summer but widespread in Winter, very tame (picture by Keith) |
|
Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) |
Heard day and night from Finca Limoneros. Widespread. (picture by Keith) |
|
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) |
Recorded in hills towards Abdalajis |
|
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) |
Common, often seen in finca garden in Winter (picture by Keith) |
|
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) |
Recorded in hills towards Abdalajis |
|
Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) |
Common in rocky areas e.g. Gobantes, El Chorro (picture by Keith) |
|
Northern Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe) |
Encountered in hills towards Valle de Abdalajis and elsewhere |
|
Western Black-eared Wheatear
(Oenanthe hispanica) |
Breed in hills towards Valle de Abdalajis, Fuente de Piedra and Gobantes (picture by Keith) |
| Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura) |
Reliably found at Gobantes, El Chorro, Teba Gorge etc. (picture by Keith) |
|
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) |
Often found at Teba Gorge, El Chorro, Gobantes, El Hacho (Alora) (picture by Keith) |
|
Blackbird (Turdus merula) |
Widespread |
|
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) |
Local in Winter, seen only in Gobantes area |
|
Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) |
Heard everywhere and seen if lucky (picture by Keith) |
|
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) |
Common away from the towns |
|
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) |
Often heard and seen on Rio Guadalhorce |
|
Western Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais opaca) |
Rio Guadalhorce (Alora) - seen in finca garden and Rio Guadalhorce (picture by Colin Lamond) |
|
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) |
Common and widespread, seen in finca garden |
|
Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) |
Seen close to finca |
|
Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) |
Reliably found in e.g. El Chorro and Gobantes, seen in finca garden |
|
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) |
Recorded at lakes at Ardales |
|
Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) |
Recorded on Rio Guadalhorce, upstream from finca |
|
Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) |
Occasionally in Guadalhorce valley, seen close to finca |
|
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus throchilus) |
Migrant, seen in finca garden |
|
Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) |
Migrant, seen on Rio Guadalhorce near Alora (picture by Keith) |
|
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) |
Common in Winter, seen in finca garden (picture by Keith) |
|
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) |
Common and seen in finca garden (picture by Keith) |
|
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) |
Reliably seen in Summer on Rio Guadalhorce, El Chorro etc. (picture by Keith) |
|
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) |
Migrant, recorded on Rio Guadalhorce and El Chorro (picture by Keith) |
|
Coal Tit (Parus ater) |
Found in pine forested areas such as Montes de Malaga, El Chorro |
|
Great Tit (Parus major) |
Common, nest at finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) |
Not common, found on Rio Guadalhorce, at El Chorro and elsewhere |
|
Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) |
Found at El Chorro, Montes de Malaga (picture by Keith) |
|
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) |
Found in pine forests at El Chorro |
|
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) |
Seen on slopes of El Hacho, Alora, in pine forests of El Chorro, and coastal areas |
|
Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) |
Frequent, especially towards Valle de Abdalajis (picture by Keith) |
|
Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) |
Fairly common. Often seen from finca (picture by Keith) |
|
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) |
Colonies at El Chorro, Ronda, Teba Gorge, breed in tower Teba Castle. (picture by Keith) |
|
Jay (Corvus Garrulus glandarius) |
Not common, recorded at El Chorro and Rio Grande |
|
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) |
Common at Teba Gorge and widespread elsewhere. (picture by Keith) |
|
Raven (Corvus corax) |
Often seen overflying the finca and elsewhere, nest near Alora Castle (picture by Keith) |
| Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor) | Common everywhere, seen often from finca |
|
Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) |
Reliably found at El Chorro, seen in finca garden |
|
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) |
Very common |
|
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) |
Seen near Alora and at El Chorro only |
|
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) |
Nesting colony at Bobastro, recorded at Teba gorge and El Chorro, and lakes at Ardales (picture by Keith) |
|
Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) |
Has been seen in the local Rio Guadlhorce area and from the finca garden. |
|
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) |
Locally common |
|
Serin (Serinus serinus) |
Everywhere, often in finca garden (picture by Keith) |
|
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) |
Everywhere, often in finca garden (picture by Keith) |
|
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) |
Everywhere (picture by Keith) |
|
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) |
Seen in Paraje Montanas de Malaga |
|
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) |
Seen in Paraje Montanas de Malaga |
|
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) |
Can be seen near finca, on Rio Guadalhorce, Alora, Gobantes etc. (picture by Keith) |
|
Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) |
Often seen at El Chorro, Carratraca and other pine forested areas (picture by Keith) |
|
Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) |
Occasionally seen at finca and nearby |
| Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) |
Encountered in El Chorro, Bobastro, Gobantes, Teba gorge (picture by Keith) |
|
Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) |
Common (picture by Keith) |
