How it started

Since cheap package-deal holidays started to introduce Northern Europeans to the beaches of Benidorm in the 1960s, there has been a steady but impressive demographic movement of mainly retired people, seeking the sunshine and ambience of the Levantine coast, now making up a sizeable proportion of the population.

Inevitably, this sector contains a substantial number of people with a combination of time on their hands, and an interest in the natural environment. Many of you have been members of organisations such as the RSPB. A few of you will have taken your interest onto 'higher plains' and gone on to become more serious ornithologists, joining your local or county groups, the BTO, becoming ringers, visiting observatories and attending classes. Whether or not you fit into either of the above categories, you are probably looking for some way of filling in your increased leisure time, having discovered that the joys of soaking up sunshine and vino tinto do have their limitations. Many of you have responded, over the years, to a regular natural history newspaper column, enquiring as to the existence of a suitable organisation to join, and the response has had to be to advise you to join the excellent SEO (Sociedad Española de Ornitología) which has a local branch, and a few foreign members. However, this and other conservation bodies operating in Spain operate entirely in Spanish. (Logical, of course - try getting the RSPB magazine in anything other than English!) Whilst, in the long term, it is still very much in everyone's interest to learn Spanish, of course, we have recognised the need to provide an English-speaking Bird Club. 

This handsome bunch had just had a very successful trip to Tabarca Island

The Committee

President - Malcolm Palmer

Malcolm has lived in Spain for 16 years based originally in Santa Pola, now resides in San Vicente del Raspeig with his wife Juani. He writes a bird-related article for the Costa Blanca News on a weekly basis. He has been interested in birds all his life, and his knowledge of the avifauna of the Costa Blanca region is second to none making him an ideal candidate for this prestigious post.

Junior V. P. - Julian Sykes

Julian (Jules) has lived in Spain for 4 years, and resides in the small town of Oliva (Northern Costa Blanca) with his wife Amanda and their two boys. He runs an expanding birdwatching tour company Oliva Rama Tours where he is a professional guide to many areas of the region and the Iberian Peninsula. Also he owns a  guesthouse (Oliva Rama Pension) in town, which is near the excellent Pego Marsh, and an excellent base for his tours. Jules is the 'Junior V. P.' due to his tender age compared to the rest of the committee!!!.

Treasurer - Fran Vickers

Fran is a new member of the committee and a very welcome addition

Pen-picture to follow soon.

Outings Manager - Brian Conduit

Brian (aka Joe Cool) is a retired company director from Portsmouth, who can list amongst his many interests golf, cricket and football, being a long-suffering Southampton supporter. He is an experienced ornithologist with an extensive knowledge of many parts of Spain. He has guided many small groups on field trips, around his home in Santa Pola, from where he also writes a regular nature column in the monthly magazine 'Jungle Drums.'

Club Secretary - Pete Alden

Pete is a new member of the committee and a very welcome addition.

Pen-picture to follow soon.