Latest News from Spanish Nature
Spanish Nature E-news
June, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 4
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| Dear Pieter, |
 Well, as if prolonged record winter rains weren't enough, then we also had volcanic dust, windblown from Iceland, to contend with! The disruption to air travel was horrendous and affected so many people and their well made holiday plans! Either people couldn't reach their destinations or, and perhaps not so bad, they were unable to get home as planned. Although we were largely unaffected on our various tours, friends and particularly hotelier friends were very badly hit, with some experiencing whole weeks of occupancy cancellations. Our sympathies to all those who were unable to proceed with their holidays and those businesses troubled by these catastrophic events.
 We have some great upcoming tours with Spain and Morocco high on the agenda for the travelling birder this autumn. These late summer and autumn tours have always been popular and the raptor tour for the Strait of Gibraltar is now fully booked! Fear not, you can book on our Moroccan Migration tour and see the spectacle of raptors and other migrants whilst also experiencing this wonderfully exotic country, a great and relaxing tour. The tour, 9 nights and 10 days, starts September 11th and ends September 20th. See the following link for all tour details click here.
Also featured in this issue is our tour to India and it promises to be a great holiday, so we hope you enjoy reading our latest newsletter and as always we welcome any critique and ideas for future editions. Please keep well and in touch.
Warmest best wishes,
Peter & Pieter
Spanish Nature |
Spain News - Update
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 During the later part of spring and into June, our home based guides here in Spain were kept extremely busy on day tours, Stephen Daly with his tours in the Strait of Gibraltar, Peter Jones in his mountains of the Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de Grazalema and Mick Richardson further inland within the region of Granada. Each of these areas is proving extremely popular destinations for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Andalucia. We are pleased to inform you of our latest addition to day tours within the province as Jesús Contreras joins our team of expert naturalists. Based in Almería, Jesús is able to add some valuable expertise for visits to such important birding sites as Cabo de Gata, Punta Entinas and so many other great areas. So if you are planning a tour of our home province, then you have a great choice of local guides, all experts in their own areas, at your disposal.
To view each of our day tours follow these links:
Serranía de Ronda - Peter Jones
Strait of Gibraltar - Stephen Daly
Granada - Mick Richardson
Almería - Jesús Contreras
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Wheatears of the genus Oenanthe by Peter Jones
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 Without doubt wheatears of the genus Oenanthe are among the most popular model objects studied in ornithology. I guess one of the reasons for this is they live in open landscapes where they can be easily observed, although their bold markings and often confiding nature must surely also add to their attraction. Some of the most prominent world ornithologists have dealt with these birds discussing such things as wheatear taxonomy and a range of biological problems i.e. genetic polymorphism and evolutionary origin. Some 14 species of wheatear inhabit the Paleartic region, 15¹ if you count Oenanthe seebohmi as a separate species.
 My introduction to this remarkable family began with various studies concerning Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. For me, this species will always stand apart from its relatives as something very special, for instance it has the most extensive breeding range of any of the wheatears and is regarded by many as a pioneer species and has even colonised new continents! It is a species which is astonishing for its ability to cover huge distances during their seasonal migrations; birds nesting in Alaska and wintering in Equatorial Africa complete a twice yearly journey of not less than 20 to 30 thousand kilometres, staggering for such a small bird!
 In more recent times I have been fortunate to travel to various countries throughout the world and this has allowed me to see a wide range of wheatears. With Spanish Nature, excursions to Morocco occur on a regular basis and, for me at least, seeing several wheatear species in this exotic destination is a constant source of excitement. Observing Red-rumped Wheatear O.moesta in spring and again in the autumn is a privilege with such fine colours and birds always confiding, although constantly busy! These large sized wheatears are readily distinguished from all other Oenanthe by the unusual and considerable amount of white on the median and greater wing coverts, clearly visible both when perched and in flight. During a good tour of Morocco it is not unusual to see no less than 8¹ species of wheatear and this can make any visit worthwhile.
 Being based in Andalucia, I also have 3 species of breeding wheatears here on my doorstep and along with Northern and the very handsome Black-eared Wheatear O.hispanica, the largest among all the Paleartic representatives of the genus, Black Wheatear O.leucura, is an ever present and locally common resident. Untypical of wheatears in general, the Black Wheatear is heavily built and with a weight of around 40 g² it matches the size of another bird of the mountains here Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis! It is a source of amusement to see such a heavy wheatear with untypical short wings taking reluctant flight from one part of its territory to another, rather like watching an overloaded plane taking off.
 So if, like me, you want to observe members of this stunning family of birds, why not join us on tours to Morocco or here in Andalucia the true wilderness of Spain?
Suggested tours suited for observing wheatears and of course many other species of birds:
Morocco Autumn Migration
Morocco Spring Safari
Serrania de Ronda Day Tours
¹ The figure of 8 species does not include Seebohm's Wheatear, which the author considers a separate species.
² The author has controlled and released an individual male Black Wheatear weighing 50 g!
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| NEW - Nature Photography Tour - Ecuador! |
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Nature Photography Tour - a new and exciting addition to our tour schedule.
Ecuador - In the Middle of the world - 28th of August to 8th of September
Last chance to book this and the new Recce tour (see below)!
We will stay (half of the time) around Quito with the Ecuadorian Family of our guide Juan Carlos, who has set up a very pleasant separate guest accommodation. Quito is very well located, in the Middle of the World (on the equator) to visit various National Parks.
This tour will run with special attention for the Nature Photographers. What does that mean? Photographers normally need more time and patience to get the right view of a bird which allows them to get a good shot. In this tour there will be absolutely no hurry to see as many birds as possible. We will take our time. This also means that those we really want to enjoy good birds and observe their behaviour will also be happy with the pace of the tour. The tour is less suitable for those going for the maximum number of birds. We will also keep the group small with a maximum of 6-8 people.
For all details of this trip have a look at Ecuador in the Middle of the World.
NEW "Recce tour" - Amazonia de Ecuador 18th to 28th of August 2010.
 As a pre-extention of our Ecuador tour - In the Middle of the World we have organised a trip to the Amazonia de Ecuador. We will fly from Quito to Coca, a journey taking only 30 minutes, from there we will follow the Napo River down the eastern slope of the Andes and benture into the steamy tropical lowlands of the Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the Oriente. The rain forests of this region are the most complex biological communities that exist, and provide the single greatest reservoir of genetic diversity on Earth - a small area can boast 500 species of birds, 400 species of fish and over 100 species of mammals. Here we will stay for 3 nights in the Sacha Lodge.
From the Oriente we will travel again by boat to Napo Lodge. Napo Wildlife Centre is an Amazon rainforest lodge located within Yasuni National Park, Ecuador. The Napo Wildlife Centre is a community-based ecotourism project that has turned the surrounding 82 square miles into a private reserve within Yasuní National Park. Ecuador's two most accessible parrot clay licks are located on Napo Wildlife Centre land and Giant Otters inhabit the lake in front of this amazon lodge.
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Morocco - Special 'Autumn Migration' Invitation Tour
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Morocco - A very special Autumn Migration invitation! 11th to 20th of September 2010
A special 9 Night and 10 Day 'Meet the birds and people tour of Morocco'
 Peter Jones, our senior guide, has put together a very special September tour to Morocco, which will include autumn bird migration in the Draa Valley, a wonderfully diverse river system that eventually disappears beneath the sands of the Moroccan Sahara. From the central meeting point in Marrakech, the tour will wind its way over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass high in the Atlas Mountains, to the gateway town of Ouarzazate, then slowly we will travel into the Sahara Desert following the Draa river through Zagora to Mhamid, the end of made-up roads here in the southern reaches of Morocco. The whole experience should provide many migrant species of birds as they approach their trans-Saharan route to wintering quarters in more southerly areas of Africa. Time in Mhamid will give opportunities to explore the true desert of the region and seek speciality birds such as Desert Sparrow, Hoopoe Lark, Cream-coloured Courser and many others.
 For those who would like to learn more about this wonderful country and its people, then this tour offers the chance to meet local communities where Spanish Nature are involved in various projects i.e. School nature education programme and the empowering of women through a workshop community centre in Zagora. You will be welcomed by the children and communities involved in these joint projects with the option to either join-in these visits or simply relax during the times when Peter is visiting these groups and schools, normally late afternoons. So the tour represents a great opportunity to experience the wonders of bird migration, desert wildlife and if you choose, meeting real people through the programmes where we are involved with responsible and sustainable tourism (see link below). Peter warmly requests the pleasure of your company during this tour and Spanish Nature have agreed to donate 20% of all tour profits to the further material needs of their projects in Morocco.
For details of this 'Special Invitation Tour', please contact us directly: Contact Us
Link to our Moroccan Project
Link to our other Autumn Migration Tour in Morocco
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| India - 2 Tours separate or combine the 2! |
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India Tour 1 - The Ultimate Wildlife Destination 14th to 23rd November 2010
India Tour 2 - Most Exciting Destination on Earth? 23rd November to 5th December 2010
 No matter which criteria you use to judge India, it is one of the most diverse and exciting holiday destinations on earth. We have 2 tours to India and they run together, so we offer the option of doing a single tour, or if like all those who have booked so far, you can do both. The first tour focuses on the famous Corbett National Park, with excursions to the Himalayan foothills near to Pangot. The scope for a considerable number of species, both birds and mammals on this tour is superb. Corbett Park was India's first national park and is Tiger and Elephant country. It is ranked as one of the best managed parks in the subcontinent and is one of the last surviving stretches of untouched sub-Himalayan wilderness.
 Our second tour and running from where our first tour ends, leads us south of Delhi visiting great locations to witness some real natural wonders. First up we stay in Kanha National Park, which is famous for its wildlife and the natural beauty of its landscape. Kanha also shelters one of the largest populations of the tigers in the country! Our second stop is Pench Netional Park where we hope to see Wild Dog, several species of bird and enjoy staying at the famous Pench Jungle Camp. After leaving Pench, we will visit the Chambal River area and stay in the tranquil surroundings of Chambal Safari Lodge. Here we will enjoy a river trip and hope to see the famous Gangetic River Dolphin and other river dwelling wildlife. Whilst staying at Chambal, we offer a day of options, either relax at the safari lodge, go with us to the Sarus Crane conservation centre or visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
 The last stop on our 2nd tour is the world famous bird sanctuary Bharatpur. Here we can stroll through wetlands, you can also watch the animals and birds from the comfort of your Rickshaw! The volume of colonial breeding birds here is a real spectacle and thrill to witness. The two tours offer such a great opportunity to see the various landscapes of India and to get close to the country's extraordinary wildlife, we thoroughly recommend this tour to all who love nature and want to experience something completely different and in comfort. Please do visit the full tour descriptions on our main website.
For details of both tours click here and follow the links to the separate descriptions for each tour.
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| RECCE TRIPS - Why not join us for an adventure? |
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Our "Recce" trips.
 A recce tour is a tour organized by the Spanish Nature team, but can involve some uncertainties. By definition we have not visited these areas previously and so cannot give the same quality guarantees as you are used to on other trips. The advantage is that prices are based on our actual cost price, which means an interesting advantage, and of course we will do everything we can to make our fellow travelers happy, including changes of hotels or whatever necessary after consultation with all the group members. And then of course the unexpected which makes it special and a real adventure!
The trip report of our latest "recce tour" to Gambia and Senegal is now available on our website. Follow this link to read everything about the adventures we had with accommodation, customs and much more.
Fellow travellers who came with us enjoyed the adventure as much as we did and many asked already to be informed about any new recce tours in the near future.
Amazonia. Our "Recce" trip to the Amazonia de Ecuador in August is now fully booked.
We are really excited with the Lodges we have chosen and as soon as we get back at the end of August, we will post a trip report on our website to tell you everything about it and maybe next year we hope you will come with us.
 China. The dates for our first China tour have now been fixed. The plans are made and the itinerary is ready. It will certainly be a great trip. We will visit the Sichuan Province with its High Mountain Range and the grasslands of the Tibetan High Plateau. Sichuan is famous for its beautiful scenery and offers the best opportunities for seeing China's prime specialties. Read about it on our website Sichuan - Province of the four streams (click on the above link - China tour).
For those who want to book this tour, we advise not to wait too long, because we only have a limited number of free places. We ask only for small deposits (€ 100,-- p/p) to make it easy to reserve your place.
 Botswana. At this moment we are designing our tour to Botswana. It will probably be a 14 days tour of "luxury camping". Taking our own tents (and a staff to build up the whole place) and staying in private places not being disturbed by other tourists. Wildlife in Botswana will be great and the birding magnificent. We will travel by open game drive vehicles from one place to the another or for the longer distances by small planes. We will make it an unforgettable experience!
If you are interested you can let us know your interest and we will keep you informed during the development of this particular tour. Of course without any obligation from your side. For further details Contact us.
Important note: Because the group we take with us is normally limited to 6 people it is important to sign up quickly. If you are interested you can let us know your interest and we will keep you informed during the development of any particular tour. Of course without any obligation from your side. For further details Contact us
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| Payments and our Deposit Payment Policy |
Spanish Nature started its activities in 2006, and it took some time before we could negotiate the standard tour-agent conditions with hotels and ground agents. Of course we are a bit grown up now and in most cases we do not need a considerable deposit to be able to do all the necessary bookings. That is why we have reduced almost all our deposits to a very reasonable € 100 (or 150 US$), which is just a token of your confirmation that you want to come with us on a tour. We have worked hard to make sure our friends do not have to pay too much money in advance. You may have also noticed that we are now able to accept payments by Paypal, which also means that you can pay by all major credit cards.
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Thank you for your continuing support and interest
Its great fun to be involved with picking out destinations and investigating them to see if they fit with our philosophy. In the end it is all done to provide you with the opportunity to visit and explore great places in good company. Our enjoyment, put very simply, is your enjoyment. We thank you all for your encouragement and most of all your friendships. Our company phrase 'Travelling Together as Friends', we believe, says it all. Please keep well and in touch.
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Contact Info
For friendly and expert advice on any of our tours please telephone Pieter Verheij on +34 636 291 714 or email us
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For full tour itineraries and tour listings please see www.spanishnature.com |
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| Save 10% |
If you are an existing customer and recommend us to friends and they book a holiday with us, we will give you 10% off your next holiday with Spanish Nature. The offer will also apply if you bring friends along on your next tour with us, so why not take advantage and reduce the cost of your next holiday? Places are still available on the 2010 November and December tours to India, so why not ask friends to join you on one of these very special tours? Discount Voucher can be used when booking. Offer open only to those who have travelled with us on previous tours.
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| Offer Expires: 31st December 2010 NOTE: Bookings must be received on or before 31/12/2010 |
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