Avistamiento de aves en Monumento Natural Montaña de Guaza

When you visit Montaña de Guaza to birdwatch, you feel like you're entering a setting where nature once again recalls its silent power. This Natural Monument, with its 725.7 hectares, is an imposing volcanic cone in the south of Tenerife that descends to the sea, forming cliffs and lava mesas. Its xerophytic vegetation—tabaibal and cardonal, plants adapted to the arid climate—creates ideal refuges for steppe and seabirds.

On my tours, I've seen species such as the stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), that bird with a calm gaze and measured steps at dawn, searching for insects on dry ground. Also, the great grey shrike, always alert from some rock, hunting from the air, and the trumpeter bullfinch, which calls at dawn from the open areas of the plateau.

Higher up on the coastal cliffs, Cory's shearwaters nest on rocky ledges, the yellow-legged gull dominates the sky and sea, while Bulwer's petrel sometimes appears in erratic flights.

If you're lucky and the sea is calm, from the clifftop lookouts you can see sea turtles and cetaceans passing by. This doesn't always happen, but Guaza's elevated position makes it an excellent spot to wait for the unexpected.

Furthermore, Guaza is an Important Bird Area (IBA), also proposed as a SPA, which means its conservation is considered a priority, and you can feel it: it's an area almost free of humans, with a pleasant silence, clear skies, and good conditions for observing without interference.

It's best to go early, at dawn or dusk, when the light paints the cliffs golden, the wind is gentle, and the birds are most active. Bring good binoculars, patience, silence, and, if possible, a local bird guide—this elevates the experience to the next level. Guaza Mountain isn't just about birdwatching; it's about experiencing the landscape, volcanic history, and the sea amidst the silence.