Venturing west to the higher sierra you can often feel like you are the only person
left on the planet. No tourists here just the odd goat herder and a wealth of different
bird life. Rock Thrush, Black & Black-
To the south is approximately 35 km of, in places, totally undeveloped Mediterranean coastline where the usual sea faring birds can be seen plus the occasional sighting of Common Dolphins. The major river is the Rio Velez which reaches the sea just east of the coastal town of Torre del Mar. Here you can see just about anything from a wide array of resident, migrant and wintering waders, herons & ducks to the odd stray Greater Flamingo and hoards of Little & Cattle Egrets.
In the spring almost every hill and river valley, of which there are hundreds, has
Golden Orioles in the Eucalyptus, a Hoopoe on the track and a flock of Bea-
Griffon Vulture
A trip to the eastern slopes of the Montes de Málaga within Axarquia, offers a lovely change of scene with all its dense, lush pine forest and regularly maintained tracks! Here one can often see Bonelli´s, Spectacled, Sub alpine, Melodious and Dartford Warbler, along with Crested Tits, Crossbills and Nuthatch. Greater Spotted & Green Woodpecker are here and I always hope to see a Goshawk (not often disappointed) plus a rare daytime view of a disturbed Tawny Owl which is a real treat.
As you drive or walk around the area Woodchat Shrike, Fan-
Overhead you can see Black Kite, Bonelli´s, Booted and Short-
Bee Eater
Purple Egret
Short Toed Eagle
