Oliva Rama Holidays is offering an excellent opportunity to take a guided birdwatching holiday to some of the more favoured areas of the Iberian Peninsular and the Western Palearctic. Being based in Spain we are able to offer extremely good, value-for-money packages that other overseas tour companies may struggle to do. Although we are very competitive, we still promise to maintain a high standard of accommodation, transport, & expertise. We cater for all levels of experience, and will strive to ensure everyone gets the full benefit from their birdwatching break. The pace will be relaxed and very good humoured, with the occasional (optional) early morning/late evening excursions to try and find certain key species. We will also be focusing on other fauna & flora during the holiday to ensure you experience the ares complete natural beauty.
Julian
(Jules) Sykes is the founder of Oliva Rama Tours & Holidays building up his
business from his home town in Spain - Oliva, and the Rama comes from Hippolais
rama or Syke's Warbler. Born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire to birdwatching a
father with outings and family holidays (on the Isles of Scilly) meant he
developed an early passion for Western Palearctic birds. In the 80īs he
back-packed across Northern Europe, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey then into Israel
and finally Egypt enjoying the birds & wildlife of each unique area. In 1998 he
settled in Kinross with his family, cementing life long friendships with Ken
Shaw & many other local birdwatchers, along with active involvement in the Fife
Bird Club. In 2003 they then moved to Oliva, opened
Oliva Rama Pension and started
running birdwatching tours around Valencia, Alicante & Albacete provinces. With
the help of his good friend and local birder Malcolm Palmer this then
developed into holidays around the Iberian Peninsula and now has an intimate
knowledge. The next move was to team up with Ken Shaw and develop birdwatching
holidays around the Western Palearctic and possibly further afield in the
future. Although still fairly new to bird-guiding his friendly manner,
enthusiasm and determination to find the species ensures a memorable holiday for
his guests.
Ken D. Shaw, one of the most well-known members of the current British
birdwatching scene.
Ken (originally from Glasgow) worked for
the RSPB for 28 years, being best known for his 10 years as Senior Site Manager at one of Scotland's
main reserves Vane Farm. After
retirement he started working freelance on EU nature conservation projects in
eastern Europe, keeping close ties to Latvia.
He has served on both the BBRC and BOURC committees, and
also held the prestigious position of bird recorder of North East Scotland for 6
years. Ken has travelled widely
throughout the world and is a Western Palearctic specialist having seen nearly
700 species in the region,
and has previously lead several trips to Eastern Europe & North Africa. He is a very
experienced guide keeping the group entertained with many of his humorous
anecdotes from his favourite pastime of 'finding rarities'.
Mohamed
Zaki, is an official Moroccan birdwatching guide & naturalist to the mountains
and deserts to this wonderful North African country. Mohamed is a berber by
origin and speaks Arabic, French and English, and when not guiding he lives,
with his family in small village in the High Atlas. With his concise knowledge
of his native land and easy, good humoured manner, he will be a very welcome
addition to the Oliva Rama Holidays team.
Any enquiries or bookings please contact Jules
e-mail : info@olivaramaholidays.com or telephone : 0034 96 285 4374