Finca Rustica is situated near some of the famous bird-watching sites of Andalucia, within an hour's drive of the Coto Donana, El Rocio and the marshes to the east of them. It is 30 minutes from the fresh water lagoons to the east of Huelva, less than that from Rio Odiel Marismas and only five minutes from the famous Cartaya Pinares (extensive woods of stone or umbrella pines) home to Azure-winged Magpies and Red-necked Nightjars as well as various birds-of-prey.

The Odiel Marismas and salt-pans have Flamingos, Spoonbills and many species of waders and terns and at the extreme southern tip sea-birds such as Skuas, Shearwaters and Audouin's Gulls can be seen in the right weather conditions.

The Rias Piedras Marismas are less extensive but many species of waders can be seen very well from the bridge between Cartaya and Lepe including Kentish Plovers, Black-winged Stilts and even Marsh Sandpipers with luck.

To the North are the mountains of the Sierra de Aracena for birds of prey including Black Vultures.

Birds that have been seen in the garden or from the house include White stork, Cattle Egret, Common and Honey Buzzard, Red and Black Kite, Booted and Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Goshawk, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie (up to 30 in the pine tree) and Red-rumped Swallow. A regular and impressive evening sight after the breeding season is up to 400 cattle Egrets going to roost in nearby trees to the South.

Like many birds in this exceptionally mild climate the Storks start breeding early and they can be seen on their nests at the castle and the church in Cartaya from January onwards. Also some species which migrate to Africa from the rest of Europe for the winter now choose to remain in this area. These include most species of Heron and Egret, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Glossy Ibis, Black Stork and waders such as Greenshank and Stints.

A useful website can be found at www.donanabirdtours.com where details of bird life in this area are recorded. On tour in late November the writer saw 69 different species including 2000 Spanish Sparrows, 600 Flamingos, 8 Black Shouldered Kites, Common Crows and 100 Glossy Ibis.