BIRDING TRIP: El Bosque - Benamahoma, Spain

This visit to El Bosque and Benamahoma, two small mountain villages in the province of Cadiz, was rather intended as a long hike than a birding excursion. Although I did not focus a lot on the presence of the birds, some encounters are worth mentioning.

Without any doubt, the birding highlight of this trip was the encounter with a Eurasian Nuthatch, first time ever I saw this bird.


Eurasian Nuthatch, sitting on a tall wooden pole

These birds have a behaviour that is similar to that of a Woodpecker. They can hang on trees and even climb down head downwards. The bird I saw was sitting on a tall wooden pole knocking on the wood, probably trying to catch some insects.

Another remarkable bird I saw was a Booted Eagle. I only noticed its presence when it had taken to the air, it must have been overlooking the valley perched on the branch of a tree. I was able to identify this bird thanks to this one photo I took.

Booted Eagle in flight

On the A-372 road between El Bosque and Benamahoma, you find a gate. Right behind this gate you can continue all the way up for about ten minutes until you arrive at a little house. From there there is a track that leads to a building that is now being used for some rural project. That is also the end of the track here. 

Go past this gate, turn to the very left and continue the climb

In the background we see the highest peak in the province of Cadiz (El Torreón, 1654m)

On the way to the highest point of this trail  (over 700m) there were a lot of young Common Chaffinches.

Young Common Chaffinch


Young Chaffinch, foraging on the ground


If you visit this place and don't mind a long climb, you will be rewarded with some great views.



Just before reaching the end of the first part of the route, a Griffon Vulture appeared.

Griffon Vulture

After going back downhill it was time to begin the second part of the walk. Near the botanic garden in El Bosque is where you find the beginning of the well-known Majaceite route, named after the little river that flows between El Bosque and Benamahoma. Fortunately it is quite shady, because at this time of year around noon the temperatures make it uncomfortable to walk in the sun for a long time. Not many birds to be seen here, I only spotted an occasional Blackbird in the bushes, quenching its thirst in the river. But the walk near the river is absolutely amazing. The path is in excellent condition and from start to finish less than 3K long.

Map showing the two described routes

1: Start of the walk up the mountains.
X: There used to be a path here that lead to Benamahoma, but it was inaccessible which made the original idea to go from El Bosque to Benamahoma following a circular path impossible.
2: Start of the Majaceite route from El Bosque to Benamahoma.

Finally a few photos to show you what to expect along the route to Benamahoma. As you can see there was still plenty of water in the river, even in the middle of the summer. And crystal clear it was!



Check out another post including a visit to this place in an attempt to spot the White-throated Dipper here.