📖 A Retreat in the Sierra de Mijas 04/03/26

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you combine long-term friendship with exceptional birding. Yesterday, I touched down in Malaga after my flight from Edinburgh to spend ten days with a lifelong friend who has called the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas home for over 15 years. I’ve been visiting for nearly as long. Yet, even after a decade and a half, the novelty remains undiminished. I love to visit in March as it usually heralds the beginning of Spring migration. 

The View from the Terrace

There's something inherently timeless about the vista from David’s terrace. When the sky plays nice, you are perched high enough to watch the white-washed architecture of Fuengirola spill down toward the Mediterranean. On those crystal-clear days, the horizon offers up the rugged, shimmering silhouette of the Moroccan coastline—a reminder of just how close these two worlds sit.

A Familiar March Rhythm

View from the terrace today, looking east. 

However, today is far from a "postcard" day. Outside, the landscape is blurred by low clouds and a steady, rhythmic rain, occasionally punctuated by a rumble or two of thunder. I’ve started to notice a recurring theme: My March visits to Andalusia seem to have a personal vendetta against my birding exploits. This isn't the first time my spring visit has been greeted by a deluge. March 2025

The Garden Residents

Still, even in the rain, you don't have to leave your morning coffee behind to start ticking off your day list. The grounds are a constant hive of activity:

• Firecrests: These tiny, restless jewels are a constant delight, often flitting through the pine needles.

• Crested Tits: With their jaunty "mohawks" and sharp calls, they are regular visitors to the grounds, adding a bit of character to the local canopy.

• Sardinian Warblers: The quintessential sound of the Mediterranean scrub; these bold little birds with their bright red eye-rings and dark caps dart in and out of the bushes, chattering incessantly.

• Black Redstarts: These charismatic birds spend the winter around the villa and often perch on terracotta roof tiles or stone walls, quivering their orange tails as they keep a watchful eye on the garden.

• Eagle Owls: As the sun dips, the atmosphere shifts. At dusk, the deep, resonant hoot of these magnificent owls can be heard echoing from the scrubland below. Last night was no exception.

Firecrest

Crested Tit

While the birds dominate the day, the local mammals make their presence known at night. Wild Boars are regular visitors to the area, though David’s electric fence ensures they remain "background characters" rather than garden guests!

Recent Wild Boar damage to the grounds, although the electric fence prevents further incursions.

Eyes on the Skies

While the garden offers intimacy, the sky offers drama. Depending on the season, the thermal currents rising from the Sierra provide a highway for some of Europe’s most impressive raptors. It’s not uncommon to look up from a book and see:

• Booted Eagle: Spain's smallest Eagle, often seen overhead in both pale and dark morphs, slicing through the mountain air.

• Short-toed Eagles: Easily identified by their bright underparts and distinct, "owl-like" hovering hunting style as they scan the brush for reptiles. However, I believe that today both eagle species will likely be perched in cork oaks or on sheltered cliffs, waiting for the weather to improve.

Short-toed Eagle over the villa in 2023

The Art of Stillness

Whether you’re a seasoned "birder" or just someone who appreciates the rhythm of nature, there is a profound peace in the Sierra de Mijas. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best birding isn’t found by trekking miles into the wilderness, but by simply sitting still and letting the migration come to you.