What is your favorite bird species?
It depends on the day, but if I had to choose, I’d go with any large eagle or falcon—I’m a raptor fanatic after all. Let’s say Golden Eagle!
What is your name, and where do you live?
My name is Yeray Seminario, and I live in Tarifa, a small town in the Strait of Gibraltar. I’m originally from the Canary Islands, but I’ve been fortunate to live or spend significant time in various parts of the world.
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
I’m based in Tarifa, but I guide extensively throughout Spain and lead tours in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. I love exploring international destinations, but lately, I enjoy discovering new birding spots in Spain, more and more. This country keeps surprising me despite all my travels.
European Honey-buzzard
How long have you been a bird guide?
I started guiding in 2011 with Whitehawk Birding in Panama alongside my colleagues Ángel Muela and Marta Curti. In 2013, I co-founded a new company in Spain, Birding The Strait, with Javi Elorriaga. I’m grateful for such great friends and partners, and we work well together as a team.
How did you get into bird guiding?
It was a natural progression, I suppose. My background as a wildlife veterinarian and field biologist specializing in bird conservation naturally led me to guiding, as it offered the opportunity to spend more time in the field and travel. Without prior experience in the business, I just knew I wanted to dedicate most of my time to birds and birding. That said, the job also involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work like logistics and planning!
Scopoli’s Shearwater
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
I love providing people with meaningful experiences in the field—introducing them to new birds, explaining their ecology, and sharing insights about the places we visit. Guiding has also allowed me to discover incredible places, see new birds, and meet fascinating people worldwide.
What I enjoy the least is, not surprisingly! the administrative side: budgets, permits, and bureaucracy. While working from home has its perks, the volume of desk work can sometimes feel overwhelming!
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?
Raptor migration is a key attraction here. Notable species include the Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red-necked Nightjar, Balearic Shearwater, Iberian Chiffchaff, and Northern Bald Ibis. The variety of habitats—mountains, forests, farmland, shores, and oceans—makes this area exceptional for birding.
Red-necked Nightjar
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
A full day of birding could begin with seawatching at the Island of Tarifa or birding at Los Lances Beach, where you might find European shorebirds, seabirds, and migrant passerines. It’s also an excellent spot for observing raptor migration. During peak migration time we can see thousands of European Honey-buzzards and Black Kites, for instance. Next, I’d head to the nearby hills to look for forest specialties, like Iberian Chiffchaff. After lunch—either a picnic or a meal at a local restaurant serving fresh, homemade food—we’d visit La Janda, a former lagoon turned farmland that’s rich in raptors, including Bonelli’s, Spanish Imperial, and Short-toed Snake-Eagle, among many others. The day could end at Sierra de La Plata, where an impressive Eurasian Griffon colony resides, and where, with luck, we can see the Eurasian Eagle-Owl hooting at dusk.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
This is just one example. We’re fortunate to have many excellent birding spots nearby, from wetlands with White-headed and Marbled Ducks, to rocky areas with Black Wheatears and Rock Buntings, for instance.
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
Spain’s diverse geography makes it a year-round destination. Spring is the most popular season, but winter offers mild temperatures in the south and Canary Islands, while autumn is ideal for exploring the deciduous forests in the north. Summer also has its charms. Each visit can feel like a new adventure, thanks to the abundance and variety of birds. The diversity and abundance of birds make Spain one of the Top 3 European destinations in my opinion! On top of that, it’s one of the richest in wildlife, with unique jewels like the Iberian Lynx, which is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Iberian Lynx
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
You can reach out through Birding The Strait or Whitehawk Birding via their websites or email. Behind both are teams of genuinely good people who are passionate about what they do. We will listen carefully to your needs and work together to create the best possible plan for your trip.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?
I’m deeply grateful for what birding and the birding community have brought to my life. Although we face significant environmental challenges, I believe that by growing our community, we can create positive change—even through small victories. Together we can inspire others and make a difference.
Ay, Yeray, ¡de haber sabido! El año pasado intenté pasar a la isla de Tarifa, pero vi que hay que conocer a alguien para entrar. Y claro, fue en el día exacto de las inundaciones en Valencia, así que tal vez no resultaba productivo el día de todos modos.
Pero bueno, siempre vamos a Málaga, Algeciras, y Tarifa cada noviembre, así que espero conocerte este año. Qué bueno saber de ustedes, y de su trabajo valioso.