A Pyrenees scene: waiting for the Lammergeier to return. Photo: David Fisher
There is no other Mediterranean country that offers such a wealth of birdwatching as Spain. This tour is designed to take in the very best birdwatching this country can provide, at a relaxed pace.
We’ll travel the entire length of this fascinating land, beginning in the lofty heights of the Pyrenees, haunt of Lammergeier and Wallcreeper. We’ll seek out the elusive Dupont’s Lark in its steppe-like home, and pass through ancient villages apparently frozen in time. We’ll visit the fragile wilderness of the famous Coto Doñana to look for its equally famous residents such as Greater Flamingo and Marbled Duck. There will be vast open plains to wander across where Great Bustards still gather, and mighty Spanish Imperial Eagles drift overhead. We’ll finish on the shores of the Mediterranean, at the point where Europe almost touches Africa, and where returning spring migrants will be flooding back to their breeding grounds.
Although this is a comprehensive tour, there will be time for shady picnics, delicious local meals all washed down with good Spanish wine, and plenty of opportunities to sample the unique Spanish way of life.
Day 1: Our tour commences with a morning flight from London to Madrid. From here we’ll drive east to the Pyrenees and if time allows there could be chance for some birding close to our hotel. The main park in Jaca is home to Serin, Short-toed Treecreeper and Firecrest and after dark we are sure to hear the local Scops Owls. Night at Jaca.
Days 2-3: We’ll spend two full days exploring the mighty Pyrenees, home to such wonderful birds as Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, Rock Thrush, Water Pipit and Rock Sparrow. In nearby woodland we hope to find Black Woodpecker and we’ll visit several sites for that magical avian butterfly, Wallcreeper.. At this time of year the amount of snowfall can be critical to seeing some other specialities and there is a chance of Alpine Accentor and Snowfinch if they have been pushed down by bad weather. Nights at Jaca.
”We enjoyed the Spain trip immensely. The Spanish countryside was spectacular from our first day to the last. Our hotels were all charming (except the one at Matalascanas). The participants were an extremely compatible group. We Americans really enjoy the British temperament and turn of phrase, which made the trip especially enjoyable for us. Thank you very much as well for spending time with some of the commoner birds which were new only to us.”
Fred and Joyce Armstrong, Neptune, NJ
Day 4: There will be another chance for a pre-breakfast trip to look for Wallcreeper. We’ll then begin our journey south towards Segovia. The steppe-like plains here are home to one of Europe’s mythical birds - Dupont’s Lark. Found only in Spain and North Africa and generally regarded as one of the most difficult birds to see in the Western Palearctic, the habitat here offers one of the best chances of a sighting. Other birds we hope to see include Griffon Vulture, Black-eared Wheatear and Dartford Warblers. Night at Sepulveda.
Day 5: Knowing from experience how difficult Dupont’s Larks can be we have allowed a second day in the Segovia area. Dawn seems to be the preferred time and we’ll make sure we are in place to maximise our chances, although we are sure to be distracted by the impressive Calandra Lark and a walk into the gorge to see the hermitage is a must.. Night at Sepulveda.
Day 6: After breakfast we’ll continue our journey southwest, stopping en route north of Madrid at a famous site for Citril Finch. Waiting by the roadside for these birds to collect grit we should also encounter Tree Pipits and Crossbills. By mid-afternoon we hope to be close to Monfrague National Park and if time allows we’ll do some birding close to the hotel. Crag Martin and Spanish Sparrow both breed around the hotel and Hoopoes call from the adjacent orchards while close by we stand a good chance of seeing Black-shouldered Kite. Night near Torrejon el Rubio.
Days 7- 8: We’ll spend two days exploring the Monfragöe National Park and the Belen Steppes. In the Park there will be many species of raptor to look for including Black Vulture, and Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagles. We’ll spend some time in the numerous rocky ‘arroyos’ and small cultivated fields looking for Thekla Lark, Subalpine and Western Orphean Warblers, Hawfinch, and Rock Bunting. Short excursions will be made to the Belen Steppes where we hope to see both Great and Little Bustards, Montagu’s Harriers, Roller, Southern Grey Shrike, and possibly Black-bellied or Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Areas of scattered cork oaks are good spots for Great Spotted Cuckoo, while the fields of wild flowers echo to the calls of Quail and singing larks. On one evening we’ll try for Eagle Owl. Nights near Torrejon el Rubio.
Day 9: After breakfast we’ll start our journey towards the famous Coto Doñana stopping en route to picnic in any suitable area. The cork oak woodlands here are home to several species and we could encounter our first Azure-winged Magpies, Woodchat Shrikes and Thekla and Woodlarks. Travelling on to Doñana we should reach our hotel, which sits alongside an area of flooded marismas, in the late afternoon. Night at El Rocio.
Days 10-11: The Coto Doñana has been described as one of Europe’s last great wilderness areas and we’ll spend two days exploring its mosaic of habitats. There are two information centers close to our hotel, with walks through pine forests and reedbed scrub, and hides overlooking enclosed lagoons. Here we could see some of the region’s specialities such as Red-crested Pochard, Marbled Duck and Purple Swamphen, as well as a variety of herons, waders and warblers. One day we will have a picnic lunch and share our site with arguably the world’s tamest Azure-winged Magpies.
A third visitor center is situated in the north of the Park, and we’ll spend a day following a maze of farm tracks that pass through bird-rich areas where it is possible to see over a hundred species in a day. Fields with grazing livestock may have flocks of Collared Pratincoles and European Bee-eaters hawking overhead, while others will contain Lesser Short-toed, Short-toed and Crested Larks, Spanish Sparrow and the iberiae race of Yellow Wagtail. As we approach the large areas of wet marismas, where Purple Herons are common, we will no doubt encounter flocks of Whiskered Terns, and hear the ubiquitous grating song of Great Reed Warblers, and the strange squawks of Gull-billed Terns calling overhead. We’ll stop for lunch at the information center while watching Greater Flamingos, Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis, and we may also encounter Marbled Ducks and hunting kites and harriers. Nights at El Rocio.
Day 12: Before breakfast there will be another chance to explore the lagoon at El Rocio where Savi’s Warblers ‘reel’ from the reedbeds and the fluty calls of Golden Orioles ring out as they fly over. We’ll then leave the wetlands of Doñana behind and head north towards Seville before turning south towards Jerez and its lagoons. These lagoons are very susceptible to drought but many of the larger ones are home to Black-necked Grebe, White-headed Duck and Crested Coot, while the surrounding farmland and scrub hold Turtle Dove, Hoopoe and Melodious Warbler. As the end of the tour approaches, we travel to the end of Spain and Tarifa, the most southerly point of Europe. Night near Tarifa.
Day 13: Before breakfast we’ll visit a nearby viewpoint that has Crested Larks and Sardinian Warblers present nearby. From here we’ll see why this area is so good for migrating raptors and storks, as the Moroccan coastline is just 10km away across the Straits of Gibraltar, closer at this point than at Gibraltar itself. We’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and then explore the northern end of Tarifa Beach. A small creek reaches the sea here, and the adjacent dune slacks may produce Cattle Egret, Short-toed Lark and Fan-tailed Warbler. The beach itself is good for Audouin’s and Yellow-legged Gulls, while waders on the pools should include Kentish and Grey Plovers, and Little Stint. After lunch at a beachside restaurant, we’ll drive to a raptor migration viewpoint. Raptor passage can be strongly affected by the wind’s strength and direction, but even on quiet days we should see several species rom Honey Buzzards to Sparrowhawks. It’s not just birds of prey which can be seen here either, as parties of White and Black Storks may soar over, and it is not unusual for Gannets to join a kettle of raptors, or to see a Black Kite being harassed by a skua! We’ll also have time to explore a nearby creek where Red-rumped Swallows collect mud for their nests, Woodchat Shrikes are common, and every bush seems to hold a Corn Bunting or Nightingale. Night near Tarifa.
Day 14: After a final morning around Tarifa we’ll make our way to Malaga airport where the tour concludes with a flight back to London.
Updated: 27 December 2006
Prices
- 2008 price about $4,590
- Single Occupancy Supplement $310
- 2009 price not yet available.
Notes
This tour is limited to seven participants with one leader; 14 with two leaders. Participants who prefer to meet the group in Madrid should contact the WINGS office. This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird.