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Routes & Birdwatching Sites

Routes & Birdwatching Sites

Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 13. Archidona - Villanueva de Tapia

This stage of the walk starts off with the views towards the Sierra de Archidona quarries and as it continues it takes you through cultivated areas harbouring large specimens of holm oak. You will be walking through a patch of well-preserved dehesa and then, for the first time, you will step into a large extension of olive tree monoculture.

 

Highlighted Species

In the Archidona area you will see Rock Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Pallid, Common and Alpine Swifts, White Wagtail, Common and Red-rumped Swallows, House and Crag Martin, Black Redstart, Common and Spotless Starling and House Sparrow. Once you leave the urban area behind, your attention is drawn to the mountain views and species such as Common Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush, Western Jackdaw and Red-billed Chough, which are seen in the distance, as well as some large raptors such as Golden, Short-toed and Bonelli´s Eagle or the Peregrine Falcon. Eagle Owl can also be found in the area.

Species associated with crop fields are mainly the following: Crested Lark, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Spotless and Common Starling, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Common Linnet and Serin. The scattered holm oak trees at this section add the presence of Common Buzzard, Long-eared Owl, Great Tit, Raven and Common Chaffinch.

Once you cross the motorway you will enter an area of dehesa where you may see Common Wood Pigeon, European Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Mistle and Song Thrush, Western Orphean and Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrike, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, and the quite visible, joyful flocks of Azure-winged Magpies and Hawfinches.

Now all you have left to do is walking down towards Villanueva de Tapia. Entering an olive grove you will be able to see some of the already mentioned species plus Eurasian Stone-curlew, Red-legged Partridge, Red-necked Nightjar, Crested Lark and, mainly, finches. As you arrive in the village the typical urban dwellers appear again.

Itinerary

The path goes along undulating farming region, where the landscape is composed by the patchwork of olive trees, cereals, and oak forest with meadows, and ranches that speckle this monotonous scenery.

 

Routes On foot On a bicycle
Trail Type Lineal
Distance 17100
Estimated Time 3:50
Difficulty - Blue -Easy