 SPAiN - from
PYRENEES to EBRO delta
A tremendous birding tour from mountain top to the marshes of the Ebro delta. Expect around 170 species including many of the most sought after Iberian specialities.
Sunday 6 June – Tuesday 15 June 2010
Price: £1595 pp
Single Supplement: £145 pp
Deposit: £300 pp
This exciting new holiday includes much of Spain's best birding as we combine the high Pyrenees with the steppes of central Spain and the lowlands of the Ebro delta. This allows us to target a much wider range of specialities than most other Spanish birding holidays. Key birds in the Pyrenees are Wallcreeper, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, both Choughs, Citril Finch, Black Woodpecker, Alpine Accentor, Bonelli's Eagle and much more. In the steppes we seek Great and Little Bustard, both Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, the elusive Dupont's Lark, Lesser Kestrel, Roller, Bee-eater, Little Owl, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra Lark and Hoopoe amongst many others. The Ebro Delta will be teeming with birds, including Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, Audoin's Gull, Collared Pratincole and many waders, herons and shorebirds with great views of breeding colonies. With all the special birds from the magnificent scenery of the high mountain tops to the flatlands of the delta, this holiday is a great exploration of Spanish birdlife at a relaxed pace.
 
This is a 'round-trip' holiday, as we fly into Zaragoza in Aragon then tour the best birding areas before flying home from Barcelona. Our first night is spent at Loporzano near Huesca, then we travel north to relax for three nights high in the mountains north of Hecho. Next we move south to the vast plains of Monegros for our steppes experience. After two nights here, we head for the Ebro delta for a further three nights close to the Mediterranean. A grand tour of the south-east corner of Spain, full of birdlife, rich scenery and a wide variety of beautiful habitats, this relaxed holiday is a real treat!
 
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday 6 June
After our flight from London to Zaragoza, we drive directly to our hotel, with birding around the nearby Guara Mountains if time allows. Dinner and overnight in the village of Loporzano.
Day 2 Monday 7 June
Local birding to see Egyptian Vulture, Black Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, Tawny Pipit, Rock Sparrow, Bonelli’s Warbler, Subalpine Warbler and Orphean Warbler. Later we transfer to the Hecho valley in the Pyrenees. Afternoon birding in the Hecho Valley might include our first sightings of Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, Red Kite, Black Woodpecker, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Alpine Chough and Cirl Bunting. Dinner and overnight at a favourite place. Our friendly hosts are Imanol and Lucia, whose lovely home is at the head of the Hecho Valley, one of the best birding sites in the Pyrenees.
Day 3 Tuesday 8 June
Today we awake in the shade of the mighty Pyrenees. Around us Black Redstart and Red-backed Shrike are nesting, immense Griffon Vulture and the occasional Egyptian Vulture soar around the sheer cliffs above our hotel, Red-billed Chough cross the valley, and imperious Lammergeier often float effortlessly right above our heads. With two special Wallcreeper sites just a short trip away, we are in exactly the right place for a wonderful day birding in the Hecho valley. Our morning watch for Wallcreeper is a highlight, and we should also see Citril Finch and other mountain specialities. In the afternoon, a walk in Selva de Oza gives good chances of Lammergeier, Red-billed and Alpine Choughs, Yellowhammer. Also Marmot, Chamois and 3 to 6 species of orchids. Dinner and overnight in the Hecho Valley.
Day 4 Wednesday 9 June
Birdwatching in the spectacular Roncal Valley high in the Pyrenees, where we will again look for many of the species above, with special attention paid to Alpine Accentor, Yellow-billed Chough, Rock Bunting and Water Pipit. Orchids and butterflies will also feature in this part of the holiday as we explore right up to the French border. Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush and Crag Martin are all found locally, whilst above us Short-toed Eagle and Golden Eagle are usually seen amongst the rafts of Griffons, perhaps with the occasional Goshawk and Honey Buzzard. Overnight again in the Hecho Valley.
Day 5 Thursday 10 June
On Thursday we head south through the plains of Aragon for a complete contrast, birding during our drive with chances of Rock Thrush, Crested Tit, Rock Bunting, Dartford Warbler, and Cirl Bunting. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Monegros, with chances of Black Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Crested Lark, Spotless Starling and Tawny Pipit.
Day 6 Friday 11 June
Early morning watch for the rare and elusive Dupont's Lark. The rest of the morning we will spend birding the steppes of Monegros. Birds may include Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Montague's Harrier, Stone Curlew, Little Owl, Bee-eater, and Roller. The birding here is truly superb, and this should be a great day in a special place! Dinner and overnight in hotel in Monegros.
Day 7 Saturday 12 June
Transfer to the Ebro Delta, with birdwatching en-route. We arrive in the northern part of the delta, where migratory birds are awaiting us. We seek Little Bittern, Collared Pratincole, Gull-billed Tern, and Great Reed Warbler. Also Greater Flamingo, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, and Red-crested Pochard amongst many others. Our bird list should be comfortably over 150 species by now! Dinner and overnight in the Ebro Delta.
Day 8 Sunday 13 June
Birdwatching in the mountains of Els Ports, where we may see various raptors as well as Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, and also the rare Spanish Ibex. we pay a visit to the Vulture Feeding Station with good opportunities to take photos of Griffon and Egyptian Vultures at perhaps 10-20 metres from your camera. Dinner and overnight in the Ebro Delta.
Day 9 Monday 14 June
Bird watching in the southern part of the delta. We expect to see Avocet, Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Lesser Short-toed Lark, and Iberian Reed Bunting. Penduline Tit are also possible. In the evening we will go and see Bonelli’s Eagle and Eagle Owl. Dinner and overnight in the Ebro Delta
Day 10 Tuesday 15 June - Birding in Llobregat Delta if time allows; marsh terns, waders, herons and shorebirds can be expected, followed by transfer to Barcelona and an afternoon flight to London.
Price includes: scheduled flights from London - Zaragoza - Barcelona - London, airport
taxes, ground transportation, en suite accommodation with all meals, picnic
lunches, incidental tips, and the services of leader Cristian Jensen, who will be joined by another from our team with more than 7 clients. Max. 14 clients.
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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