 SPANISH PYRENEES
and EBRO STEPPES
WINTER into SPRING
Sunday 22 February - Sunday 1 March 2009
Price £1095pp ssupp £105pp
Deposit £300
As winter snows melt into the warmth of Spain's spring, join Heatherlea to get cracking views of some of Europe’s most sought after birds. We have a stunning list for you; Lammergeier (four days and bone-breakingon a previous trip), Wallcreeper (four dayson the same trip), Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Eagle Owl, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Crane, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, Black Woodpecker, Black Wheatear, White Stork and with 16 raptor species more than possible including returning Lesser Kestrel, Egyptian Vulture, both Kites and Golden Eagle, this holiday is perhaps the best in Europe at this time of year.
Another key highlight will be our search for Dupont’s Lark, and we have every chance of finding this secretive bird. Everyone enjoyed good views in 2007, and we know just how to find them!
A brilliant birding holiday with a very high quality of key species, at a relaxed pace with excellent local cuisine and wine throughout – perhaps the ideal European winter holiday!
Day 1 Sun 22 February We meet at Stansted and fly to Zaragoza. Soon after leaving the airport we will be looking for Eagle Owl, Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush. We have enjoyed many holidays with our local Heatherlea guide Josele, a tip-top local birder who fits into the 'Heatherlea Way' of doing things extremely well - expect lots of laughs as well as top birding on this holiday. Our first base is in comfortable en-suite accommodation near Huesca where you will enjoy good food and local wine.
Days 2 - 4 Mon 23, Tues 24 and Wed 25 February Local birding amongst spectacular scenery where sheer cliffs pierce the sky, and massive Griffon Vulture wheel around the high tops searching for lifting thermals. We may visit a Lammergeier feeding station where we hope to see the birds feed on carcasses provided to help them survive the winter, although last time our views were so exceptional we didn't need to go here. Smaller Egyptian Vulture are arriving from wintering areas in Africa, and whilst majestic Lammergeier is the bird everyone wants to see, Bonelli’s Eagle must come a close second. The ‘Partridge Eagle’ as it is known in Spain is a beautiful but rare bird here, and we will seek out views in carefully chosen locations. Golden Eagle are here too, and this is a chance watch top raptors in temperatures akin to early spring in the UK. Alpine birds including Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor are in the foothills of the Pyrenees in winter, much more convenient and with better views than in summer, and we visit several spots to look them out. Other local birds of great interest include Southern Grey Shrike, Citril finch, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparrow, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Dartford and Sardinian Warblers, Penduline Tit, Serin and Rock, Cirl and Corn Bunting. White Stork and Marsh Harrier are everywhere, Woodlark are local and Water Pipit are returning. Flocks of perhaps thousands of wintering Common Crane are located on the plains to the south of our base, and in 2007 we watched these birds migrate across the sandstone pinnacles in huge numbers - unforgettable. this part of the holiday is south of the main Pyrennean massif, temperatures are usually warm. Nights in Huesca province.
Day 5 Thurs 26 February Today we drive into the spectacular Pyrennean mountains, and expect views of Lammergeier and Golden Eagle, with Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, and both Red-billed and Alpine Chough also on our ‘hit-list’. We should see Chamois Goat and possibly Marmot, a large guinea-pig like rodent introduced here as food for eagles. Recently we watched marmots playing whilst nearby a Golden Eagle dealt with a recently despatched member of their family. The rugged, snowy terrain means we won’t be walking far, though our precise movements depend on the weather, as does our choice of overnight accommodation. Overnight in the high Pyrenees.
Days 6 – 7 Fri 27 Feb - Sat 28 February We transfer to our final base in the south, and here in the Ebro Steppes we are in place before the sun rises. The reason is to hear the melancholy song of Dupont’s Lark, a strange experience which will help us locate the bird! Our team is very experienced, and we expect success with patience. This area boasts Spain’s highest density of Dupont’s Lark, we expect to get decent views of these elusive birds. After breakfast we will visit spectacular red sandstone hills to see Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, and we have further opportunities for both Bonelli’s and Golden Eagle.
We will have further chances to see both sandgrouse as we concentrate our search for Great Bustard. This bird is increasingly rare in this corner of Spain, but once seen is never forgotten – in fact we always marvel at how difficult it is to see such massive birds in open habitat – the answer is that there is a lot of open plain in Spain, and not many bustards! We know where to look however. Little Bustard are returning from their wintering grounds, and we saw 25 birds in 2007. Other good birds include Lesser Kestrel, Hoopoe, Little Owl, Great-spotted Cuckoo and Stone Curlew, and our sizeable larks list should include Thekla, Crested, Calandra, Lesser Short-toed and perhaps the first returning Greater Short-toed. Nights at Quinto de Ebro, where last time we enjoyed local very lean lamb and exceptional local wine.
Day 8 Sun 1 March We return to Zaragoza in time to catch our flight back to Stansted, where this speciality bird tour will conclude.
Other wildlife of interest on our last trip included 16 butterflies including excellent views of Large Tortoiseshell on three days, Spanish Ibex, Wild Boar and Pyrennean Brook Salamander - there is so much to see on this holiday!
Leaders: local expert Josele Saiz, joined by Ian Ford with more than 7 clients. Maximum group size: 14.
Price includes: Return flight from Stansted to Zaragoza, comfortable en-suite accommodation, all meals including wine, packed lunches, transport throughout the tour and services of the leaders.
Not included: Insurance, drinks, optional tips for the local guide and items of a personal nature.
Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual
holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and
elements beyond our control (eg weather).
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