Spain: Birding in the Land of the Lynx

Day 1: The tour begins this evening with dinner and a discussion of our itinerary and related tour information. Night in Seville.

Day 2: We’ll visit the vast expanses of Brazo del Este, along the east bank of the Guadalquivir River and a birding paradise with a huge array of species on offer. We’ll make our first attempt to connect with species such as Marbled and White-headed Ducks, and Red-knobbed Coot. Waterfowl including Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, and Common Pochard are present here in winter months as is the ever-impressive Western Swamphen. 

This is also an excellent area for raptors with Spanish (Imperial) Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, and Black-winged Kite among the wintering and resident species. Wintering flocks of passerines such as Corn Bunting, European Goldfinch, and Spanish Sparrow should be in full flow around the agricultural fields, and in the vast expanse of wetlands, we’re likely to come across Zitting Cisticola, Western Marsh Harrier,  Eurasian Spoonbill, Black Stork,  and wintering shorebirds like Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Northern Lapwing, Pied Avocet and Black-winged Stilt. 

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will drive to Doñana National Park and enjoy our first birding in this magical location. Here we will explore wetlands for another chance at some of the species listed above and ones we have yet to see. Depending on our time of arrival we may make our first attempt to spot Iberian Lynx in the sandy pine forests close to our hotel. Night in Villamanrique. 

Day 3: We’ll commit today to exploring the world famous Doñana National Park. Of course, we won't forget Iberian Lynx, and with access to up-to-date local information we will base our itinerary on recent sightings, including on a nocturnal walk close to our hotel. 

In-between looking for the Iberian Lynx we’ll target key birds of the area including Ferruginous Duck, Greater Flamingo, Little Bittern, Little Owl, Spanish Eagle, Red-crested Pochard, Red-knobbed Coot, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Western Barn Owl, Iberian Magpie, Calandra Lark, and Spanish Sparrow. Night in Villamanrique.

Day 4: We may begin with another search for Iberian Lynx before leaving Doñana, heading north for two days in Extremadura and a very different set of birds. Key species here include raptors, such as Golden and  Bonelli’s Eagles, Red Kite, and Eurasian Griffon and Cinereous Vultures. We’ll also look for montane passerines such as Black Wheatear, Blue Rock-Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Thekla's Lark, Dunnock, and Rock Bunting. We will finish our first day in Extremadura with another search for Iberian Lynx in an area known to hold high numbers of this secretive big cat. Night in Llerena. 

 Day 5: On our second day in Extremadura we will explore the vast plains looking for Great Bustard and Black-bellied Sandgrouse. Raptors including Spanish Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, and Red Kite should also be present today. The supporting cast of Common Crane, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Hoopoe, Black Redstart, Spanish Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Meadow Pipit, European Stonechat, Calandra Lark, and Iberian Grey Shrike will make this an excellent day's birding. Night in Llerena. 

Days 6-9:  We will head east to the incredible Sierra Andujar Natural Park. Here we will enter private estates and have exclusive access to the best areas to spot Iberian Lynx and our tour is timed with their breeding season when activity is at its highest. We will also visit a superb hide network which is based in the heart of the territory of the Iberian Lynx. This will give us the perfect opportunity to enjoy these amazing cats up close. 

We will of course be birding too, and get to enjoy the wide mix of mountain and forest species found here including Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, Spanish Eagle, Eurasian Goshawk, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Iberian Magpie, Crested Tit, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Eurasian Nuthatch, Wood Lark, Eurasian Crag-Martin, Short-toed Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Hawfinch, European Robin, Rock Bunting, Common Hoopoe, Blue Rock-Thrush, Gray Wagtail, European Serin, and Eurasian Siskin. 

Also present in Sierra Andujar are good numbers of (Iberian) Red Deer, European Fallow Deer, European Mouflon, and (Southeastern) Iberian Ibex. 

We will also take a day out of our time here to journey east to the Cazorla Mountains where the star species is the magnificent Bearded Vulture. While scanning for them we’ll keep our eyes open for Eurasian Griffon, Golden Eagle, Greater Spotted and Iberian Green Woodpeckers, Eurasian Jay, Carrion Crow, Redwing, Red Crossbill, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Firecrest, Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, Brambling, Grey Wagtail, and Cirl Bunting.  Four nights in Andujar. 

Also, in Sierra Cazorla we will keep our eyes peeled for mammals such as (Iberian) Red Deer, European Fallow Deer, Wild Boar, European Mouflon, and (Iberian) Red Squirrel. 

Each night we will return to our comfortable rural hotel located in the heart of Iberian Lynx territory. This will make our forays out to search for this magnificent animal quicker with less driving than if we stayed in local towns. 

Day 10: We’ll drive to Seville airport where our tour concludes around midday. 

2026 Narrative

Our inaugural Birding in the land of the Lynx tour gave us nine days of incredible birding in southern and central Andalucia and southern Extremadura. With mostly good weather we achieved a solid total of 147 species. The tour’s avian highlights included White-headed Duck, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Bustard, Little Swift, Red-knobbed Coot, Common Crane, Lesser Flamingo, Black Stork, Black-winged Kite, Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, Spanish Eagle, Golden Eagle, Western Barn Owl, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Lesser Kestrel, Iberian Gray Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Thekla’s Lark, European Red-rumped Swallow, Dartford Warbler, and Blue Rock-Thrush. However, it was the mammal highlights which arguably outshone the birds on this tour, with five Iberian Lynx spotted in addition to Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Mouflon, Egyptian Mongoose, Wild Boar, Iberian Ibex, Red Squirrel, and Red Fox all seen well! Accompanied by amazing food, beautiful scenery, and fabulous company this really was a tour to remember. 

Detailed Narrative:

Day 1 – 10th January 2026
Our exciting tour of southern Spain began in Seville with our welcome meeting and first evening meal of the trip. 

Day 2 – 11th January 2026
Our day began with a visit to Chipiona and Europe’s only breeding colony of Little Swift, and we enjoyed fabulous views of this iconic species as they swept around us in the early morning light. They were joined by hundreds of Crag Martin moving from their old town roosts out to their feeding habitats on the coast. Also seen here were both Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Ruddy Turnstone. A brief look at the sea gave us our first Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls and distant views of Northern Gannet. 

Our next stop was a nearby beach which provided us with some new species for the tour. These included large quantities of shorebirds, with great views of Black-bellied Plover, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, and Sanderling. Our first Slender-billed Gull and Caspian Tern of the tour were welcome additions as were prolonged views of Short-toed Treecreeper in a pine tree by the beach. Next we visited Laguna de Tarelo on the Guadalquivir River. Here we saw one of the avian highlights of our tour, White-headed Duck. Also present were good numbers of Eared Grebe, Common Chiffchaff, Black-winged Stilt, and Greater Flamingo, and smaller numbers of Common Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, and Western House-Martin. 

Our final stop of the day was the vast wetland area known as Brazo del Este. In beautiful afternoon light we were given an almighty surprise as one of the group picked out a stunning Lesser Flamingo in amongst the large number of Greater Flamingo. This was a huge shock as it is still a very rare breeding species in Europe. Also present in the first section of the wetland were big numbers of Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Glossy Ibis, and smaller numbers of Green Sandpiper, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great Egret, and the ever-skulking Cetti’s Warbler. Moving to a section of the track where the river crosses the road, we were able to observe Western Swamphen, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Western Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, and a brief Common Kingfisher. 

With the day ending we stopped at another section of river which gave us Northern Shoveler, Water Rail (Heard), Little Bittern (Heard), Osprey, Eurasian Penduline-Tit, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, and Corn Bunting. In the last embers of daylight, we left Brazo del Este with the stunning spectacle of 26 Western Marsh Harrier coming into roost. 

Day 3 – 12th January 2026 
Our day began with the hour drive between our hotels. After dropping off our luggage at our stunning hotel near the Doñana National Park, enjoying Iberian Magpie in the process, we headed off to explore this amazing birding area. We made many stops throughout the day as we made our way right to the protected area. Our birding began with vast numbers of European Golden Plover, great views of Great Egret, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Kestrel, and Eurasian Magpie, and a swirling flock of Calandra Lark. As we continued, we scanned some wetland area near a water pumping station where we added Red-crested Pochard to our lists and witnessed two enormous flocks of Greater Flamingo at distance. Also here was a very confiding Sardinian Warbler and nearby we enjoyed close range views of two roosting Western Barn Owl. 

Continuing on one of the big trip targets fell with a glorious Spanish Eagle cruising across our path being mobbed by a Western Marsh Harrier. Scanning derelict buildings gave us our first Little Owl and the fencelines our first Zitting Cisticola. While enjoying a picnic lunch we had great views of Black Redstart and after lunch we continued along the border lands of the national park. A small bridge near wetlands gave us amazing views of Squacco Heron and the added treat of watching a pair of Great Crested Grebe displaying. In tamarisks by the road a Goldcrest performed well for the group, a rare winter visitor in Andalusia, while a Redwing flew over. 

Further down the same road a distance Spotted Redshank performed well and high above us a Eurasian Griffon glided over. Our second vulture species of the day quickly followed with prolonged views of two Cinereous Vulture. Close by large herds of both Red and Fallow Deer gave great views. Making our way back towards there hotel there was still time for new species with Red-knobbed Coot, Hen Harrier, and Lesser Kestrel all giving great views. As we were leaving the main park area a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flashed by and before dinner, we had a nocturnal walk near our hotel to try to see Iberian Lynx. Unfortunately, we didn’t score with Iberian Lynx but did hear Tawny Owl and saw European Hedgehog and what was likely to be Wood Mouse through the thermal imager. 

Day 4 – 13th January 2026
Our second day in Doñana brought a shift in fortunes with weather. The term “April showers” could be used but given the forecast it could have been far worse. We began with a short drive to an area known to hold a female Iberian Lynx. Despite the rain, the group stuck to the task but unfortunately our prize didn’t show. However, we did come across some scat which clearly showed a Lynx had been here recently. Fortunately, some birds did show up with Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Common Hoopoe, Iberian Magpie, and Black Redstart all seen.  A distant Iberian Green Woodpecker was also heard.  

After feeling we had put in a reasonable amount of time we decided to move on to the town of El Rocio. Our drive to the town gave us yet another Black Stork over some Stone Pine woodland. The town backs onto a very productive lake and birding here gave us Egyptian Goose, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, and Red-rumped Swallow, all of which were new for the trip with the Red-rumped Swallow being a real surprise for our guides. One of the group then expertly picked up a Red-knobbed Coot, another welcome addition here.  

With the heavens opening again we headed for lunch and afterward, a visit to a Stone Pine woodland gave us Great Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, and Common Chaffinch. The nearby flooded fields held Common Pochard, White Stork, and Gray Heron, while a Western Marsh Harrier soared over. With evening approaching we decided to head back to our Iberian Lynx stakeout. The same Stone Pine woodland which gave us Black Stork earlier in the day now offered Peregrine Falcon and Common Raven. Arriving at our stakeout point the rain held off for a brief period before descending on us yet again. Giving the female Lynx until after dark to show herself sadly didn’t yield the result we were hoping for but despite this and the weather it had been an excellent introduction to looking for this iconic mammal. 

Day 5 – 14th January 2026 
Today we would head north and cross into Extremadura with a host of new species in store for us. Our first stop was a remote mountain village and the slopes of the mountain behind. Typical mountain species were seen with Blue Rock-Thrush, Black Redstart, Long-tailed Tit, and Thekla’s Lark all giving prolonged views. Overhead Eurasian Griffon, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, and Common Raven entertained us while the bushes were full of birds like Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, and European Robin. 

After lunch in the village, we headed south a short distance to a look out over an area well-known for holding a population of Iberian Lynx. For some context it was just after 3:30pm when we arrived. As we maintained our vigil we did manage some fantastic bird sightings. Raptors were abundant with great views of Eurasian Griffon, Spanish Eagle, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Red Kite had. A supporting cast of Red-legged Partridge, Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, Iberian Grey Shrike, Dartford Warbler, and Blue Rock-Thrush helped pass the time, but we couldn’t help but wonder, as the clock ticked past 5:30pm, whether our prize target had eluded us once again.  

Fortunately, this was not to be the case as shortly after 5:30pm an adult male Iberian lynx appeared below us on the far riverbank below our watchpoint. We enjoyed watching this majestic big cat for around 30 minutes before he disappeared out of view. The relief was clear for all to see and a great reward for all our searches so far. We returned to our hotel where excellent Spanish wine was enjoyed by much of the group. 

Day 6 – 15th January 2026
Elated after our previous day’s success we crossed the spine of Spain today back into Andalusia. Before leaving Extremadura, we explored the steppe outside of Llerena. Here we were able to enjoy both Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Great Bustard, two huge targets of the tour. Also seen here during our morning birding were a large flock of Stock Dove, Common Crane, Black-winged Kite, two incredible Spanish Eagle which perched in a small tree for us to view in perfect light, Little Owl, Iberian Grey Shrike, huge flocks of Calandra Lark and Corn Bunting, and most surprisingly a Blue Rock-Thrush on a small rock mound in the middle of agricultural fields. A short stop at the nearby reservoir gave us Common Pochard, more Common Crane, and two Black-winged Kite at close range. 

After lunch we crossed back into Andalusia and enjoyed more steppe birding with great views of 30 Great Bustard and more groups of Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Common Crane. More raptors gave us brilliant displays with Black-winged Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, and Common Buzzard all seen. Iberian Grey Shrike and Eurasian Linnet also gave great views. Our last observation of the day was the great sighting of two Egyptian Mongoose chasing across a grassy field before disappearing into the undergrowth. 

Day 7 – 16th January 2026 
Today several of the group took a journey east to the beautiful Sierra Cazorla mountain range. This would give us some new species for the tour as well as a chance of our main target, Bearded Vulture. Climbing the mountain roads, we entered the clouds in cold conditions, however the birds soon arrived with fantastic views of Eurasian Griffon, Eurasian Jay, and Mistle Thrush. Continuing to our next stop where the fog and rain continued, we did at least manage further views of Eurasian Jay and Mistle Thrush and had brief views of Common Firecrest. We also spotted our first Iberian Ibex here.  

Next it was time to try and spot Bearded Vulture which unfortunately did not show. However, we enjoyed watching Eurasian Griffon, Golden Eagle, Long-tailed Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and a brief Cirl Bunting. Close to our lunch spot we added another new bird to the list, Carrion Crow, and had yet more Mistle Thrush and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. While in Cazorla we enjoyed great views of many mammal species including Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Wild Boar, Mouflon, Iberian Ibex, and Red Squirrel. Despite one last search for Bearded Vulture, we once again drew a blank so decided to end the day there in freezing conditions and make the journey back to our hotel in Andujar. 

Day 8 – 17th January 2026
Today would be the first of two days of trying to spot the Iberian Lynx in the Andujar Natural Park. Taking up our position on a hillside above beautiful rolling valleys, the weather once again tried to cause problems. However as the day went on it slowly lifted making conditions far more pleasant to search for our prize target. Breaking up the long day were several exciting bird species with Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, Spanish Eagle, Iberian Magpie, Common Raven, Dartford Warbler, and European Serin all seen throughout the day. During our lunch break at another location, we enjoyed more views of Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and brief views of Eurasian Nuthatch. Other sightings throughout the day included Fallow Deer, Red Deer, Mouflon, and Iberian Ibex.  

After drawing a blank on Iberian Lynx in the morning we were waiting on tenterhooks as the minutes and hours ticked by. Finally, at just after 3pm the call went out near to us that an Iberian Lynx had been spotted in the valley below. As we made our way around the dirt roads we followed the movements of two Iberian Lynx, a 10-year-old female and her cub. Over the next two hours we enjoyed amazing views including the pair settling down to sleep in full view of our group with preening and playing observed before the pair made their way out of sight. The whole group were ecstatic with a thrilling end to a fantastic day. 

Day 9 – 18th January 2026 
Our final full day saw us visit a fantastic network of hides on a private estate deep in the prime area for Iberian Lynx. We would spend two sessions here broken up with birding in between. Arriving in the dark we settled in for our first vigil in the comfortable hides. As the light grew it was clear birds were also present at the hides with Common Hoopoe, Iberian Green Woodpecker, European Robin, Black Redstart, Blue-rock Thrush, and European Stonechat all seen. 

To our relief at just after 10:20am we spotted a fabulous male Iberian Lynx, an 8-year-old male called Pirineo, appear from the side of one of the hides before racing across some open ground and catching a European Rabbit in front of us. He then took his prize up a nearby slope and vanished. It felt like it was over in a flash, but it was amazing to watch this apex predator in his prime hunt its quarry. Finishing our morning session at 11:30 we headed for lunch at a river site nearby, the warming sun thawing us out after our chilly time in the hide. This lunch spot proved to be great for birding with Iberian Magpie, Great Egret, Cinereous Vulture, Spanish Eagle, Eurasian Wren, and Hawfinch all seen here. A Gray Wagtail flew over calling but sadly couldn’t be relocated.  

Suitably fed and warmed up we returned to the hide at 3pm for our evening session. We didn’t have long to wait as at 4:15 Pirineo returned and gave us an incredible experience, passing just feet from the hides at times. He stayed with us for around 40 minutes before making his way out of sight after yet another European Rabbit kill. At this point we thought our Iberian Lynx adventure had ended. However, at 6:15pm the elegant 3-year-old female Iberian Lynx known as Tanzanita appeared to the right of the hides. Like Pirineo, she stayed with us for around 45 minutes as the light faded and we got to enjoy watching her in the twilight of the day. Leaving the hides we were ecstatic with what we had witnessed, and it topped off what had been an amazing adventure in the land of the Lynx. 

Day 10 – 19th January 2026
We left Andujar after breakfast and made the journey back to Seville for departures. I would like to thank all 10 tour participants for being such brilliant travel companions on our adventure. A special thanks to local guide Nacho for his brilliant knowledge and support during the tour. 

 -       Oli Reville