Iberian Lynx trip report

Welcome to our Iberian Lynx trip report in Andújar Natural Park. In search of the rarest cat in Europe.

Day 1. Málaga airport-Andújar (Iberian Lynx trip report)

At 11:30 Pau is welcoming Elizabeth, Peter and their son James at Málaga airport, ready to look for the Iberian Lynx. About one hour later they stop in petrol station near Lucena, nothing better than a “bocadillo”, a sandwich of Spanish ham and a coffee to charge batteries!.After that, they continue driving and see on the way a group of few hundred White Storks and 2 Red Kites!

Once they reach the Natural Park of Andújar, they agree to go straight to La Lancha to make the most of the evening. Along the track, common birds such as: Spotless Starlings, Azure-winged Magpie, Black Redstar, Meadow pipit and Chiffchaff are seen. Soon after, they arrive to the viewpoint, Pau picks 2 Black Vultures in a group of 60 Griffon Vultures circling in a thermal updraught. A bit later, a pair of Spanish Imperial Eagles delights them with an impressive displaying, mating season is here!

James finds a Darford Warbler that hides in a lentiscus. Meanwhile, Pau catches up with friends and colleagues and all of them have the same impression: there is a delay in the Lynx season. Maybe, because of the unusual warm and dry winter (22 ºC) we are having?

Around mid afternoon Pau gets a glimpse of the Lynx which rapidly disappears in the maquis. Unfortunately, just James sees it. It has been a long day since they woke up, so they drive to the Hotel to enjoy dinner and to rest for the following day.

Day 2. Andújar (In search of the Iberian Lynx)

The family wishes to focus on birding and walking today, so they drive along the track stopping in some places to walk around. There they find Little Owl, Zitting Cisticola, Red-legged Padridge, Hopooe, Iberian Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Groups of Red and Fallow Deer run around the states. Pau pulls over near the dam to set the scope and have a nice view of a Hawfinch. Besides, Peter finds a Blue-rock Thrush, one of the main targets for James. Later, Pau hears a Red-billed Chough and a Siskin that soon come into view. The weather is warm with a bright sun.

After having the picnic, Pau shows them two Daubenton’s bats.  Crag martins, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Serin, Crested Tits and other common birds are also seen.

Day 3. Andújar (In search of the Iberian Lynx)

A morning and beautiful walk in the Encinarejo revels some good birds. Pau finds a Firecrest and a Brambling, the last one looking for seeds in a rabbit enclosure.  A Hawfinch, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher are found along the river. Suddenly, they hear a close mew, the Lynx is close! They follow a path to locate it but the hill is highly covered by vegetation, and thus very complicated to find the elusive cat. No luck this time!

After that, they walk back to the car to take the picnic and they choose carefully which picnic table to seat as there are many covered by processionary caterpillars; another proof of the mild winter. As they have picnic, Crested and Coal Tit come into view.

Back to La Lancha

After lunch, they drive up to La Lancha. Pau is told that just 2 distant and quick Lynx sightings have been recorded so far today…..not very promising. Pau scans the forest and finds a Mouflon, great! one of the mammals that James wanted to see. Approximately one hour later, people get excited as a Lynx has been seen walking. The feline is in and out of view very fast, it blends perfectly with the environment and it is difficult for Pau to explain Peter and Elizabeth were it is. Finally, Pau gets it in the scope and everyone gets a reasonable good view. The Lynx is constantly changing directions and it makes difficult to know where it is going.

Pau tells them to follow him, the Lynx was approaching. As they do, they get superb views, just few meters away!!! What a gorgeous mammal! So beautiful and elegant when you see it close!

As they have got perfect views they decide to look for another target: the Spanish Ibex. Following happens something really exiting! While they were scanning the walls for Ibex Pau hears James saying “Oh my God!!”, Pau turns his head and there it is: a gorgeous Lynx going down the hill just 5 meters from them!!! So fantastic!!

Day 4. Andújar (In search of the Iberian Lynx)

The weather has worsened and there is fog and drizzling. They are forced to change plans, they cannot take a stroll as planned so they stay in the Hotel until noon when the weather improves and the sun is back again. On the way, they see a close Iberian Grey Shrike and a Common Buzzard. Pau finds in the scope two Mouflons and other common birds. It is the last day of the tour and they still have one target missing, the Spanish Ibex, so Pau focuses on this mammal and finally finds a young male in a rock. Later, Peter finds 3 more.

With a felling of success, they move back to the Hotel on their last night.

Day 5. Andújar-Málaga airport (Iberian Lynx trip report)

They drive through a thick fog until Málaga province where they see two more species Monkey parakeets and Marsh Harrier. They arrive on time, and after goodbye, Pau sets off home to prepare the following Iberian Lynx tour in few days.

Many thanks to Elizabeth, Peter and James to join Birdwatching Spain in this adventure! It has been a pleasure.

Please, do not hesitate to contact us o visit the calendar tour for schedule trips.