Local Geography...

The Sierra de los Filabres is a stunning area of arid landscapes covered in olive, almond and citrus groves with high mountains and secluded valleys. The area owes its unique character to a combination of desert climate and the sedimentary geology which underlies the whole of the Almeria province. The variety of sedimentary rocks and rapid environmental change that took place here over the last 2 million years make it a popular place to study the relationship between geology and landscape. The area is still tectonically active as indicated by the hot springs that can be found in the area.

One of Almeria's most famous natural spots is the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. This park is of volcanic origin, and is the largest and most ecologically significant marine-terrestrial space in the European Western Mediterranean Sea. With one of the most beautiful and ecologically rich coasts of the western Mediterranean and an area of 380 square kilometres it is one of Spain’s natural jewels. One of the greatest drawcards of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is its beaches (Wikipedia, 2008). A visit to the Cabo de Gata is a must as part of a stay with spanishbirdingholidays - if only for the flamingoes which are here all year round.

The whole of the province of Almeria is characterized by a desert landscape and climate which made it an ideal place to shoot the spaghetti westerns of the 1960s. Chief among this band of filmakers was Sergio Leone who shot both A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at locations in the province. Local tourist attactions such as Mini-Hollywood, Texas Hollywood and Western Leone allow you to relive this era and celebrate the whole spaghetti western genre.

A Rough Guide to our Year...

January

Weather: Generally warm and sunny. Occasional rain and cool in the evenings.

Birds: Great grey shrike, corn bunting, Hoopoes, gold finch, green finch, black bird, black red start, red start, blue rock thrush, black cap, lesser kestrel, little owl, robin, green woodpecker, sardinian warbler, stone chat, black wheatears, red legged partridge, spotless starling, wagtail, crested lark, green paraqueet, serrin, great tit, various eagle species

Plants: Almond trees in blossom, land generally green with yellow daisies

Wildlife: Deer, wild boar, the occasional goat herd

Village Life: Generally fairly quiet though the bars are all open and serving good tapas. Some have resturant areas also open.

February

Weather: Some sun, some rain. Ona nd off cold evenings

Birds: Same as January (see above)

Plants: Lots of green shrubs and various yellow flowering species. French Lavender, rosemary, wild orchids. Still lots of blossom on the almond trees.

March

Weather: Can be cold at the start with occasional rain. Warming up toward the end of the month

Birds: Plenty of the same species as January (see above). New arrivals towards the end of the March include cuckoos, blackeared wheatears, woodchat shrike, occasional bee eaters.

Village Life: Bars still generally quiet except around Easter when it's one big fiesta over here!

April

Weather: Warming up nicely. Occasional rain but temperatures rising towards the end of the month which is when we say our summer is truely starting

Birds: Less of the smaller chaps around but plenty of activity especially with the bee eaters, hoopoes and cuckoos. Occasional golden orioles and the rollers arrive by the end of the month.

Plants: Landscape still green and lots of beautiful wild flowers

Village Life: Getting busier with one or two fiestas starting up at the end of the month

May

Weather: Nice and warmwith much warmer evening. Sundown around 9:15

Birds: Much the same as April but by the end of May the baby red legged partridges are looking like clockwork toys running down the ramblas.

Plants: Still green with poppy and flax...

Village Life: Excellent beer and tapas as you would expect!

June

Weather: Summer is lovely and warm all day and on into the evenings. We put up a dipping pool in June, for us not the birds - they have their own birdbaths.

Birds: Lots of activity with many species busy feeding their young.

Plants: Can start to get dry during this time with a few wild flowers still around. Luckily here we have olive groves and almonds in abundance so it never looks barren.

Village Life: A few local bars have outdoor areas around the plaza. Fabulous for relaxing in the evening with a cerveza or tinto barrano and a tapa or two.

July

Weather: Summer is definitely here - sun, sun, sun!

Birds: Not much daytime activity - generally having siestas like the locals.

Plants: Plantlife less green but who's to worry when there are...

Village Life: ...fiestas to visit and summer bars aplenty!

August

Weather: Very warm! If you like swimming, sunbathing, staying up late, gazing at the Milky Way and hunting for shooting stars, then this is the month to do it..

September

Weather: Still plenty of summer sun though there can be occasional heavy downpours. Evening still nice and warm.

Plants: ALMOND HARVESTING TIME - Grab a stick and whack a tree!!

Village Life: Summer bars in the local villages generally close mid-september

October

Weather: Stil warm but cooling down in the evenings. Some rain.

Birds: Bird life starting to get busy again now the weather is cooling. Bee eaters and roolers now gone. Can still see black wheatears, hoopoes, green woodpecker, stone chat, corn bunting, willow warbler, great tit, larks.

Village Life: Bars a lot quieter now that fiesta season is over.

November

Weather: Cooler but still some nice warm days. Chilly at night though nothing a big log burner won't sort out!

Birds: Blue rock thrush, robin, great grey shrike putting in an appearance...

Plants: Lots of greenery coming back

Village Life: Generally quiet but cosy with open fires.

December

Weather: Some lovely winter sun but chilly in evenings. Some rain

Birds: Same as January - plenty of variety

Village Life: Plenty of activity as Christmas here goes on until January 6th - The three kings (BIG!) fiesta!!