Self catering accommodation available to bird watchers. See the raptors, waders,
the migrating and emigrant bird populations of the western Axarquia
We offer self catering accommodation for birders and bird watchers, available in the white villages of Cutar and Almachar, in the Axarquia
Andalucia, Spain. Rural tourism in an unspoilt rural setting, offering sightings of Southern European resident birds and birds migrating to and from Africa.
We have two self contained traditional cottages in the hamlet of Cutar, suitable for couples or families, both with
private terraces suitable for birdwatching (Please click the tags below and left for details):
The river Velez runs past Velez Malaga, our nearest town, towards its estuary near Torre del Mar. Like most Andalucian rivers, its bed is dry until quite close to the coast where it opens into a marshy estuary. However the flood plain yields a huge variety if vegetables, and the actual river bed is wild, offering a wide variety of eco-systems to a large range of coastal and wading birds.
John R. Butler in his excellent and detailed book* calls this site 'one of the best all round birding sites on the coast'.
John says 'The ecosystems change rapidly, and can be walked or viewed from various vantage points by the roads that cross the Rio. First the beach and estuary environment have gulls and terns, the reed banks follow with Little Grebes herons and Shoveler ducks, Squaco, Night Herons and little Bitterns. Beyond this in the marshes are Little Egrets warblers and finches, and Flamingoes and Spoonbills in the winter. As this landscape gives way to the cultivated fields of artichokes, sweetcorn and sugar cane, avadavits, waxbill and both the rose ringed and monk parakeet can be seen. The streams and pools further upstream yield crested larks, hoopoes, spotted flycatchers and wheatears among others, also waxbills and finches.'
*John R ButlerBirdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast Santana Books.
Our wild land in Cutar with pomegranates in flower
The estuary from the beach
View up the Rio
Wader country
Finally, a brief note about The Rio Velez - our 'local' - home to a great variety of birds only 25minutes drive away.
We also offer a spacious five bedroom house, suitable for large parties or small conferences
The villages of Almachar and Cutar
Cutar and Almachar are Moorish white villages to the north east of Malaga city. Unlike the tourist villages to the west such as Competa and Frigiliana, they are still absolutely Spanish in character and are surrounded by unspoilt countryside. In spring the land is a riot of wild flowers and butterflies which, for those of us in our fifties, reminds us of the countryside of our childhood, now long destroyed. Here raptors can be seen regularly. Rock thrushes, shrikes, warblers and turtle doves live in the valley with a large and various community of finches. This region is one of the last natural homes of the now rare European chameleon. Cascades of sparrows and an astonishing variety of garden birds make the terraces of the cottages themselves, prime bird watching sites.
'Spot the chameleon' on one of our almond trees!
The citrus grove at Cutar, Xmas 2006
The villages lie within easy reach of the three great birdwatching sites of Malaga Province:
To the immediate south of the villages lies the Rio Velez, attracting a range of waders and waterbirds to its
extensive reedbeds and marshes (see below).
To the west the massive Parque Natural of the Mountains of Malaga offers a range of bird life from warblers to birds of prey.
Further South west, The Paraje Natural del Rio Guadalhorce is the temporary or permanent residence to flamingoes,
spoonbills and storks. Hen harriers can be seen along its marshes and mudflats.
We have about two hectares of land close to the cottages. Half of our land is laid down to fruit - mangoes, avocados, plums, grape, figs, grapefruit, sweet and sour oranges, olive, almonds, lemons and custard fruit.
The other half we have left natural for wildlife with wild pomegranate, medlars, prickly pear and aloes.
Visitors are welcome to set up hides and use the land for birding by arrangement. Beware, the countryside is steeply terraced. The local farmers do every task by hand because the land is far to steep to allow any machinery - you have to be reasonably fit to negotiate it!
The following sites are about one and a half hours drive from the villages, in the Antequera area:
In the north of Malaga province 19km from Antequera is the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. This is the largest natural lake in the Iberian Peninsula at 2.5km wide and 6.5km long, it is a haven for birds with over 170 different recorded species. Apart from its abundant aquatic birds, it is well known for its flamingo population, the second largest colony in Europe after the French Camargue region and the only inland site on the continent where they breed. In spring flamingos flock here in their thousands to reproduce, attracted by the water's high salt content and the fact that it is shallow.
The extrordinary limestone moonscape of EL Torcal is another great birding site. Shrikes, choughs and buntings are in evidence but the area is notable for its birds of prey. Griffon vultures are common, but rare native raptors have been released into the area as part of a breeding programme
The El Chorro gorge with its nearby freshwater wetlands the so-called 'lake district' of Andalucia is a further landscape attracting its own specialised bird population
Other fine birding sites:Many other sites such as the Rios Genal, Guadalmansa and Padron, the Arroya Vaquera and the Rhonda region are all practical as day trips.
El Torcal
El Chorro
The Casa de Luz, Almachar
white stork
Bonelli's eagle
kestrel
eagle owl
barn owl
little owl
skylark
yellow wagtail
stonechat
blackcap
reed warbler
goldcrest
woodchat
shrike
goldfinch
greenfinch
serin
ortolan bunting
"A wonderful place for birding
even in August! "
Di Stedman saw the following in August 2007
I spent a week in the high Pyrenees after I left Cutar. Unfortunately, the weather was poor and we spent many hours walking in snow and sleet. Looking on the weather channel, you appear to have it hot down your way again.
We look forward to a return visit.
Very best wishes
Paul and Jackie Gallagher
Paul Gallagher (above) saw the following birds in our area, May 2008:
extensive reedbeds and marshes (see below). 
