Bird Watching in The Alpujarra

Bird Watching in The Alpujarra

This years grape harvest was poor in The Alpujarra with many bunches of grapes shriveling up or bunches with only 5 or 6 grapes. As a consequence, many of the “frugal” bunches were left unpicked awaiting our annual pruning session in mid December.  This coupled with a long, hotter than normal Autumn meant that not only did we have the normal birds hanging around, but that we even had a surprise visitor that we have not seen in the 11 years we have been here. A Sardinian Warbler which spent a lot of time feeding on the unpicked grapes. Even when we did finally prune the vines, we left the grapes dangling and were rewarded visitations from Robins and Blue Tits in addition to the Sardinian Warbler.

Sardinian Warbler feeding on grapes at Finca Montaña

Our House, Finca Montaña is 1300m above sea level and it can get quite cool up here in the late autumn and winter. Snow doesn’t usually last more than 3 days as it’s always warm when the sun is out. However the night time temperature does often get down to around -8 degrees centigrade. That said our winter resident birds include: Golden Eagles, Griffon Vultures, Kestrels, Larks (crested and Sky), Black Eared Wheatears, Black Caps, Stone Chats, Robins, Blue Tits, Jays, Magpies and Ravens. A little above us (in the Juniper) we have Ring Ouzels (from around 2100m). But never before a Sardinian Warbler.

We are now planning to leave bunches of grapes every year in the hope of attracting more birds.

Black-eared Wheatear at Finca Montaña

In Summer the list of birds to be seen expands dramatically to include Egyptian Vulture's, Hoopoe's, Bee Eaters and various swifts and Swallows to name a few. 

Higher up on the mountain tops we are rewarded with Alpine Accentors which are remarkably tame on the summit of Mulhacen 3482 (mainland Spain’s highest mountain) where they have got used to being amongst people and feeding off the crumbs and remnants of sandwiches.

Alpine Accentor on Mulhacen

Spring is a good time to visit with both the migratory birds passing through and the summer visitors arriving. Finca Montaña is ideally placed for bird watching, situated very remote, in its own 5 acres of grounds but surrounded by mostly undeveloped natural mountain side and a few small holdings still mainly farmed in a traditional way.

Mike and Jane who own Finca Montaña provide a full board package from £30 per night.  As qualified International Mountain Leaders they also offer guided walks and treks in The Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada.

Mulhacen, Magnificent!

Mulhacen, Magnificent!

It’s normal for us at Mountain House Holidays to be guiding people up Mulhacen which at 3482m is the highest mountain in The Sierra Nevada and the whole of mainland Spain. However yesterday, having a day off we decided to climb Mulhacen ourselves for the sheer enjoyment of it. Legend has it that Mully Hasan the deposed and penultimate Arab King of Al Andalus is buried on the mountain.

Mulhacen Summit

Most people tackling Mulhacen take the National Park bus from Capileira up to Alto del Chorrillo at 2700m and ascend and descend Mulhacen’s South Ridge. It’s fine to use the bus and the South Ridge as part of the excursion but to only do a “there and back from the bus” is a short day and will leave you thinking it’s not been a proper day out!

Setting out early in summer is the best tactic. This allows you to get the climbing done before the heat of the day starts to sap your energy. We started from Hoya del Portillo 2160m at 7.30am. It was cold, 10 degrees C and for the first 20 minutes we were in the forest so no sun. Still the motto is: start cold and warm up walking up hill! By the time we had reached the view point of Puerto Molino 2380m (30 minutes) we were warm! Our route continued along the ridge of Prado Llano 2577m to 2622m before joining the old road along to Alto del Chorrillo arriving there for a breakfast break at 9.15am.

Dense Flowering Sandwort

The actual ascent of Mulhacen along the south ridge is pleasant, and in summer a well defined path with cairns marking the way through the screes just below the subsidiary summit of Mulhacen II at 3361m. Even though we stopped to take photo’s of plants and beetles, we reached the summit at 11.20am a total time of 3 hours and 50 minutes. A distance of 11.4Km with a total height gained of 1412m. An hour and 20 minutes ahead of Naismith (The rule for calculating the time to walk up mountains – allow 4Km per hour and add a minute for every 10m of ascent).

We were ahead of the crowd from the bus so the summit was fairly quiet. There was a small group of “Cabra” the Iberian Ibex mooching around not particularly afraid of us, the usual Alpine Accentor and a large squadron of Swifts giving a good display of aerobatics.

Iberian Ibex

After a short break on the summit, it was time to head downwards before the crowds from the bus arrived. There is a zig zag path down the screes of Mulhacen’s West flank which we took heading to the Collado de la Mosca which gives great views of both Mulhacen’s and Alcazaba’s 3371m North Faces. A further 10 minutes and you are down to the Caldera Hut, an unmanned “bivouac” hut with bunks, tables and chairs. From here there is an impressive view back up to Mulhacen’s summit. A spot of lunch was called for at The Caldera!

With clients if we had caught the bus we would continue down to the Poqueira Refuge 2500m to make a circuit back to Hoya del Portillo. However as we had not walked the old road back to Alto del Chorrillo for a few years we though we’d re-acquaint ourselves with this option. It proved as boring as we remembered it though a useful way out if the weather turns nasty. From Alto del Chorrillo we then returned the way we had ascended finally arriving back to Hoya del Portillo at 3.30pm.

Mulhacen's West Flank from the Caldera Refuge

All that remained was to drive back to a bar in Capileira for the customary drink and plan for the next outing!

Mountain House Holidays and our company “Sierra Nevada Guides” are the only British Qualified Guides (International Mountain Leaders) working in Spain’s Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra.

The Sierra Nevada Guides website has a lot of useful information for people wanting to visit the area, especially for walkers and climbers.

We are always happy to respond to emails answering questions about the area.

B & B and Self Catering accommodation in Spain’s Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada

B & B and Self-Catering accommodation in Spain’s Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada

Finca Montaña the home of Mountain House Holidays and Sierra Nevada Guides a great place for a quiet holiday, even better if you enjoy walking or bird watching.

Our remote mountain “cortijo” set in 5 acres of grounds lends itself to the perfect “hide away.”  Fantastic views and good walking straight from the front door.

This is not a location for those wanting to spend their evenings in a bar.

Finca Montaña

Stay with us at Finca Montaña

Finca Montaña is our remote mountain farmhouse 1300m above sea level. It is set in 5 acres of fruit trees. It is a very quirky property though we love it!

It is 12km drive up a dirt track road and normally takes around 35 minutes to reach by car. By path from Lanjaron it is around 1.5 hours in ascent and an hour for descent. After a days walking or climbing it is unlikely that you’ll want to make the effort to go back down the mountain into town for a beer or meal. So if you are keen to partake in the nightlife of Lanjaron, don’t consider staying at Finca Montaña.

Drinks and Nibbles on the Patio

We keep the fridge well stocked with beer and wine which guests can help themselves to and settle up at the end of the stay.

We have 2 bedrooms available in the “new house” a double and a small double. The property can accommodate up to 4 adults and 1 child (top bunk above the double).

There is a shared washroom with shower, w.c. and hand basin and a shared living room / kitchen.

Outside is a patio with views down to the coast and occasionally the mountains of North Africa.

This is a 12 volt house. We generate our own power from a solar panel and wind turbine. The power is stored in batteries but if guests leave the lights on the batteries will run flat! All rooms have lighting and bedside lights, there is an ipod dock and a means of charging mobile telephones (car socket, bring car charger for your phone).

The fridge and freezer like the cooking and water heater all work off gas.

We have springs on the land to collect our own water and we have a septic tank for the drainage.

Costs:

Bed Only             (self catering can use the kitchen)            15 Euroʼs per person per night

Bed and Breakfast            " "            "            "                   20 Euro’s per person per night

Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal "            "            "          30 Euro’s per person per night

(Includes beer or wine with

the evening meal)

Packed Lunch"            "            "            "            "                5 Euro’s per person per day

Walking

Early Spring in the Taha Valley

We know the area really well and can advise on walking itineraries, providing you with printed route descriptions or take you out on a professionally guided walk.

The Alpujarra has some of the best hill walking to be had anywhere. Old mule tracks and water courses (acequias) link pretty white mountain villages.  At the height of summer when it's too hot in the valleys, our walks migrate upwards into the cool air of the Sierra Nevada mountains, home to Mulhacen the highest mountain in mainland Spain.



Bird Watching and Wildlife

Black Eared Wheatear in the front garden

The Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada are home to a wide variety of plants, birds and animals. It is possible to observe much just from the area around Finca Montaña especially birds.

Last year we had a resident Hoopoo.  In the summer months we daily see Eagles, Vultures and Bee Eaters.

Most days the local goat herd passes our land in the timeless fashion of farmer leading the flock.




If you would like to enquire about staying at Finca Montaña, we can be contacted through the Mountain House website.

The local goats walking past