Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/07/18/birdlife-of-spains-sierra-morena/ # 10 images of the diverse birdlife of Spain’s Sierra Morena Published on July 18, 2019 [![A Bonnellis Eagle Poses Amongst The Wild Flowers Photographed During One Of The Natureslens Photography Holidays To Spain](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-bonnellis-eagle-poses-amongst-the-wild-flowers-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-bonnellis-eagle-poses-amongst-the-wild-flowers-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg) My first two trips as a photography guide for NaturesLens took me to some beautiful wildlife hotspots in rural Spain during April & May of 2019, the focus of the tours, to photograph the diverse birdlife of Spain. In this, the first of two trip reports, I’ll be looking back at our week in the Sierra Morena where Spanish raptors were our main subjects. After arriving in Malaga & meeting our NaturesLens guests, we headed to the village of Adamuz, our base for the week. After settling in at our accommodation & enjoying lunch in the sun, we headed out to photograph [Golden Eagles](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/golden-eagle/) from a purpose-built hide with the most notable mountain & woodland vista as an unspoilt background. Hide photography can often be a trial of patience, but we didn’t have to wait long for the star of the show to arrive. As a pair of [Golden Eagles](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/golden-eagle/) circled effortlessly above us, we enjoyed visits from Azure Winged Magpies & Jays. But Golden Eagles were to be our target subject for our first afternoon, & they didn’t disappoint. It was an notable opportunity to photograph these fantastic raptors at such proximity, & it’s fair to say it set the bar very high for the week ahead! Throughout the week, we visited different hides aimed at photographing different species. Our group had options of returning to hides as opportunities were available to photograph species again to consider different compositions or in a different light or to capture different behaviour. One of the highlights for all of our group were the sessions with the wonderful Bonelli’s Eagle. For some of us, it was the first time we had seen the species so to be able to photograph it too was very special. Like the Golden Eagle hide, position & backdrop were very well considered. Our low viewpoint also offered us fantastic opportunities to photograph bird species such as the Blue Rock Thrush & Woodchat Shrike amongst the grass & wildflowers. A large & fast-moving shadow would give us the heads up that the Bonelli’s Eagle was close. Some hide discipline was required, & we allowed several seconds to allow the Eagle to land, become comfortable & feel safe before taking photographs. [![A Bonnellis Eagle Poses Amongst The Wild Flowers Photographed During One Of The Natureslens Photography Holidays To Spain](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-bonnellis-eagle-poses-amongst-the-wild-flowers-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-bonnellis-eagle-poses-amongst-the-wild-flowers-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg) Our group also enjoyed photographing [Little Owls](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/little-owl/) in a beautiful olive grove, an Imperial Eagle, [Common Buzzard](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/common-buzzard/) & Common Kestrels too. Although raptors were our main subjects, we also had the opportunity to use hides in an area visited by European Bee Eaters, a notably beautiful & photogenic small bird. It is easy to see why it has enduring popularity with wildlife photographers! Much to the joy of our group, the odd [Eurasian Hoopoe](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/eurasian-hoopoe/) also popped up too. At times, our weather conditions were not what we’d typically associate with springtime in Spain with periods of intermittent torrential rain & hailstorms. We can’t control the weather, but I’m a great believer in changing our approach & working with the conditions we were given. During this time, & on one of our last visits to the [Golden Eagle](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/golden-eagle/) hide, I encouraged our group to experiment with slower shutter speeds to create ‘streak’ effects with the rain. A little bit of timing & luck is required to maintain sharpness on the subject, especially when working with untypical wildlife photography shutter speeds as low as 1/70. The rain gave us something different & I have to say, it looked notable on the Eagles. After a fabulous week of wildlife photography in superb locations, we said goodbye to Adamuz & the Sierra Morena & headed north to Calera Plains for week two – which would add even more images of the birdlife of [Spain](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/spain/) to our photographic portfolios. - NaturesLens wildlife photography holidays are structured around photographic opportunity — every schedule decision is made around light, behaviour, & access. - Small groups of 4–8 photographers ensure unhurried positions & individual guidance. - Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard across the majority of our trips. ## Share this post - - - - [![An Atlantic Puffin On A Snowy Background Photographed By Alison Jenkins Who Will Be Leading The Natureslens Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/An-atlantic-puffin-on-a-snowy-background-photographed-by-Alison-Jenkins-who-will-be-leading-the-NaturesLens-Arctic-Wildlife-Of-Varanger-photography-holiday-300x200.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/07/01/puffins-in-the-snow-photography-holiday/) ### [Our Arctic Wildlife & Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/07/01/puffins-in-the-snow-photography-holiday/) July 1, 2025 Want to see what you could be photographing during our Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger wildlife photography tour? Explore Norway's… - [![One Of The Bonellis Eagles Found On The Estate Photographed On The Estate Used For The Natureslens Birds Of Extremadura Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/One-of-the-Bonellis-Eagles-found-on-the-estate-photographed-on-the-estate-used-for-the-NaturesLens-Birds-of-Extremadura-photography-holiday-300x225.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/06/10/wildlife-photography-holiday-in-extremadura/) ### [Wildlife Photography Holiday in Extremadura](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/06/10/wildlife-photography-holiday-in-extremadura/) June 10, 2025 See what awaits you during our wildlife photography holiday in Extremadura ... imagine mornings with griffon vultures circling crimson skies,… - [![A Lesser Kestrel Rests On The Tiles Of A Derelict Barn Photographed During One Of The Natureslens Photography Holidays To Spain](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-lesser-kestrel-rests-on-the-tiles-of-a-derelict-barn-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/07/18/birdlife-of-spains-plains-of-calera/) ### [15 images of the diverse birdlife of Spain’s plains of Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/07/18/birdlife-of-spains-plains-of-calera/) July 18, 2019 In this second trip report on the birdlife of Spain, I look back at our week in Calera. We arrived… Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. [Browse Holidays](https://natureslens.co.uk/wildlife-photography-holidays/) ### Related articles [![What Can You Hope To Photograph In One Week At Shompole Wilderness?](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/One-of-the-Resident-Lions-Sitting-Near-the-Waterhole-at-Night-photographed-in-one-week-at-Shompole-Wilderness-150x150.jpg) **What Can You Hope to Photograph in One Week at Shompole Wilderness?**](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/10/31/one-week-at-shompole-wilderness/) [![Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/An-Atlantic-Puffin-silhouetted-by-the-sunset-photographed-whilst-spending-four-days-with-the-Puffins-of-Skomer-Island-150x150.jpg) **Four Days with the Puffins of Skomer Island**](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/07/08/four-days-with-the-puffins-of-skomer-island/) ### Field notes by email New articles, trip reports and wildlife photography holiday announcements from NaturesLens. 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