MAIGMÓ

Maigmó is a mountain woodland reserve, no more than twenty minutes from the centre of Alicante, but not as easy of access as it used to be, before the new motorway was built.

Access instructions: Take the Alcoy/Castalla motorway from Alicante, and leave at the turning for Tibi. Ignore the right turn for that village, and continue until you see a sign for 'Polígono industrial' to the left. Go straight up here until you get to the top, where a small metalled road goes off to the left under the pines. This leads you under a bridge below the motorway. Turn right, and the entrance to Maigmó is some 100 metres along on the left. You can drive all the way to two summits, but most birds are lower down in the bigger pines, especially around the drinking ponds of 'la Melonera' a kids' campsite, where Crossbill come to drink, and there are nestboxes for Crested and Coal Tit.

Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Crossbill, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Woodlark, Rock & Cirl Bunting are usually to be found, and summer breeders include Bonelli's Warbler.

Mammals include Wild Boar and occasionally Moufflon.

Weekends are best avoided, as the reserve is a popular picnic venue.

Monnegré de Arriba

The river valley of Monnegre (alternatively Mont Negre – Black Mountain) gives its name to a hamlet in that valley, accessed by a signposted road which runs from near Muchamiel to eventually join the Tibi – Jijona road. This whole road can be a dangerous one to drive – you will need your wits about you!.

After you leave civilisation, driving up from Muchamiel, and a small urbanisation, a big curve in the road leads you through low pines where Rufous Bush Robin and Black-eared Wheatear have bred. Then you are in rocky country, and the chances of a Bonelli's Eagle hunting are good, as a pair nests nearby. Late summer evenings can be interesting, as Red necked Nightjars, Little Scops & Eagle Owls are all possible here.

Beyond the village, ruined farms are often occupied by Red-rumped Swallows, along with the odd Bee-eater colony, and there are often Rock Sparrow to be seen. A ruined house close to the road on the left is a good spot to stop, as Western Orphean Warbler have bred in recent years on hillsides above here, Spectacled Warbler also inhabit the scrub, and a walk (with care) down into the barranco on the right, from a point a hundred metres further on will give you a good chance of the super-elusive Trumpeter Finch. A Rock Sparrow colony and several pairs of 'good' Rock Doves, as well as Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear and Thekla Lark, are to be found with patience whilst there is water in the barranco or around the disused olive groves.