For this October Big Day 2026, we were thrilled to have our friends Carlos Torralvo and Miguel González along for the ride. Representing Birding The Strait, the team was formed by Javi Elorriaga, Nacho Barrionuevo, and Yeray Seminario. This was a small group of friends eager to enjoy the birds of our region and contribute our eBird checklists to this global citizen science effort. Together, we spent a full day birding, sharing great moments, and discussing wildlife conservation.
October Big Day 2026 itinerary
With our route roughly planned the day before, we met pretty early in the morning in Tarifa and set off towards the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, where we arrived just in time for sunrise.
Our first stop was Montijo Beach, where the very low tide revealed extensive mudflats packed with birds. Gulls, terns, and shorebirds dominated the early morning sightings. Highlights included a Parasitic Jaeger observed at very close range, as well as an Elegant Tern (a rare bird in Spain) that gave us fantastic views. The sheer density of birds here was exactly what we had hoped for, and it certainly did not disappoint.
We then continued towards the harbor of Chipiona, where a good number of Little Swifts awaited us. According to some friends who had counted them that very same morning, there were 240 individuals. Impressive numbers for the only colony in continental Europe! We also took advantage of the stop to grab a coffee and a typical mollete with garlic oil and grated tomato, recharging before continuing along our route.
At Costa Ballena, a Long-eared Owl perfectly hidden among the pine trees forced us to sharpen our eyes. We also picked up several passage migrants, such as European Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher. Among the most interesting records in this section were the only Red-knobbed Coot of the day and a Northern Gannet, which added a nice pelagic touch to our list.
From there, we headed to Bonanza, where the salt pans and scattered scrubland delivered a wide variety of species. Standout observations included Mediterranean Short-toed Lark and the endangered Marbled Duck. We were also pleased to spot White-headed Duck, Little Bittern, and two Garganeys.
It was here that we decided to make the most important stop of the day: a lunchtime break at a local restaurant to enjoy the region’s superb seafood gastronomy. A delicious chickpea and king prawn stew gave us all the energy needed for the final stretch of the day.
In the mid-afternoon, we left the Guadalquivir region behind and headed inland towards the countryside of the Campo de Gibraltar, around Medina Sidonia and Benalup farmland. This change of habitat allowed us to add key species to our tally, including Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red Kite, and Bonelli’s Eagle.
To round off the day, we couldn’t miss our beloved La Janda lagoon area. There, among rice paddies and pastures, we added several species of high interest, such as Hen Harrier, Spanish Sparrow, Stock Dove, Black-winged Kite, and Black Stork.
The best part of the october big day
We wrapped up the October Big Day 2026 with a much more understated species that had eluded us until the very end: the Corn Bunting. One of the most ubiquitous birds of the Andalusian countryside, yet curiously one we hadn’t managed to detect all day long.
However, the best part of this big day wasn’t the total number of species recorded, but the moments shared with friends. Enjoying the birds, discussing conservation projects, exchanging ideas, and, of course, sharing plenty of laughs turned the day into an experience far richer than a simple tally of sightings.
Moreover, every observation carried added value. At Birding The Strait, we pledged to donate €5 for every species observed during the day. Thanks to our total of 133 species, this came to a grand total of €665, which we will donate this year to Friends of La Janda (Asociación de Amigos de la Laguna de La Janda), supporting the conservation of one of the most valuable natural spaces in our region.
All sightings were recorded in our eBird checklists, contributing to collective knowledge on bird distribution. Because observing, logging, and sharing data are also fundamental ways to work for their conservation. Here you can find the eBird Trip Report for our October Big Day.
We look forward to repeating this experience for many years to come, with new species, new projects, and, above all, great friends!