Spain - Pyrenees - Birding Pyrenean Mountains, Ebro Steppes & Delta
Wallcreepers, Warblers & Wine...
Spain's Aragon Pyrenees and Ebro Delta & Steppes.
10 day-9 night itinerary price per person on request
Flights from London's smaller airports to Spain are now extremely cheap with several low cost airlines...
Partner & Guide
Mr. Josele J. Saiz is a member of SEO-Birdlife, among other conservationist groups and is well acquainted with the pre-Pyrenees and the Pyrenees and all the good ornithological sites in the Northeast of Spain. In 1984 he moved to England to study English, where he lived for a year and acquired his interest in birds. Since the 80's he has been a keen visitor to the network of natural areas of Spain, especially Catalonia, Aragon, Picos de Europa and Extremadura, in order to develop his ornithological interest. Nature Guide and educator, he has collaborated as a mountain and birdwatching guide for individuals and companies and is an active participant in conservation work and studies of birds in Aragon, and undertakes frequent personal bird watching trips around the Western Palaearctic. Josele is fluent in Catalan, English and French.
In the peaceful village of Loporzano Josele Saiz and Esther Diago restored an old house, once a storehouse for wines and oils in the 16th Century, converting it into a Birdwatching Centre and Guest House offering information, outdoor activities, attentive service and superb accommodation. There you will find a comfortable place to stay in a friendly and hospitable atmosphere with people who understand your liking for nature.
This tour was developed especially for Anytime Tours and is not available elsewhere...
Itinerary
10-Day Tour Pyrenees and Ebro Steppes & Delta
This tour explores the Northeast region of the Peninsula Iberica with habitats ranging from the Mediterranean coast to the high mountains in the Pyrenees through the Ebro valley steppes. We have chosen these dates to get the best out of our visit to the areas, convinced that you will be pleasantly surprised when you discover these living landscapes.
At the end of April and the beginning of May, most species occupy their breeding areas, the salt lakes and marshy areas are a temporary home to many birds on their northward migration. The steppe countryside has a striking beauty worth discovering, the green fields of cereals blend with the earliest spring flowers, bestowing the landscape with a multicolour tone with reds, violets, yellows, pinks and whites, dissipating the sad, poor and desolate image that one normally has of the arid steppes.
The Ebro Delta is home to some 28,000 pairs of water birds including important European populations of Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls and Greater Flamingo. It is an alluvial plain of about 32,000 hectares, which goes out 20km into the sea. A large part of this surface is cultivated, with a predominance of rice fields. The rice fields are of great importance as a feeding area for many species and there are still large areas of natural environments, such as beaches, bays, flood marshes, saline pools and riverside woods. We have improved the visit to the high Pyrenees by including places not on most bird watching circuits, but which offer great natural value.
Also around this time the abundance of flowers and butterflies in the pre-Pyrenees enriches our natural history experience. Most bird lovers have dreamed of watching a Lammergeyer breaking bones for food or of such a close encounter with a Wallcreeper that would seem to make binoculars unnecessary. We are sure that you would like to see Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse settled on the ground at a range close enough to appreciate their impressive plumage. We are able to convert your dreams to reality!
The Tour
Day 1: Arrival
Meet at Barcelona airport and transfer to the Ebro Delta with a short outing if time permits.
Days 2 & 3: Ebro River
We will explore the north and south bank of the Ebro River. Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls, Squacco, Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons and Caspian, Gull-billed and Little Terns can be easily spotted anywhere. We will stop at different watch points where species of different families such as Purple Gallinule, Collared Pratincole or Red-crested Pochard live together in this mixture of habitats. Savi's and Moustached Warbler will be a real target in the reed beds.
At night we will have delicious Paella, made with delta rice. After that lavish dinner, we will go out to look for the rare Red-necked Nightjar.
Overnight: Ebro Delta
Day 4: Delta to Steppes
Today we experience the transition from the Ebro delta to the Ebro Valley steppes. We visit the salt lakes of Alcaniz, two surprisingly different lake complexes, where we can observe Red-crested Pochard, Shelduck, Kentish Plover, European Roller, Bee-eater, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Rock Sparrow. Then we move on to Belchite to look for steppe birds. In the evening, we make our first attempt to observe the elusive Dupont's Lark. We will also visit the information centre of steppe birds of SEO-Birdlife.
Overnight: Belchite
Day 5: Steppes
Before dawn, we will again visit Belchite, the impressive steppe area where the spectacle of sunrise coupled with the mysterious song of Dupont's Lark creates a unique magical ambience. Although this area boasts the highest population density of Dupont's Lark in Spain, it is important to apply maximum concentration in order to observe this very difficult and elusive bird.
After breakfast, we will visit the spectacular red sandstone hills that crown these steppes to find Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, as well as Golden Eagle. Finally, we shall visit nesting areas of the majestic Bonelli's Eagle, a bird that over the years has become very scarce. Our journey will continue through Los Monegros where we can see both species of sandgrouse in good numbers. It would not be unusual to locate Great Spotted Cuckoo and we will attempt to find the small population of Great Bustard that still remains in the North East of Spain. Among the other birds that we are likely to see are Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark and Calandra Lark.
Overnight: Belchite
Day 6: Monegros
Our route takes us through the Ebro Valley steppes and the Monegros. In the latter we will try to find Great Bustard and Spectacled Warbler among other interesting species. Little Bustard, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse are also possible. We will visit the ornithological reserve of Pastriz to see a nesting colony of Black-crowned Night Heron and we have a good chance of recording Penduline Tit and Wryneck among other birds such as Purple Heron, Golden Oriole, Bonelli's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, European Bee-eater and Hoopoe.
We will stay in the famous Boletas Birdwatching Centre well-known by international birdwatchers for its excellent cooking and wine. Your guide Josele Saiz runs it with its wife Esther Diago.
Overnight: Loporzano
Day 7: Mallos de Riglos
In the surrounding areas of Loporzano, the nearby Sierra de Guara and in the spectacular Mallos de Riglos, we will find one of the most exciting and varied concentrations of bird species in Spain. Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Booted, Short-toed, Golden and Bonelli's Eagles, Lammergeier, Red Kite, Red-Legged Partridge, European Eagle Owl, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Thekla Lark, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Thrush, Tawny Pipit, Cetti's, Dartford, Spectacled, Subalpine, Orphean, Sardinian, Melodious and Bonelli's Warblers, Golden Oriole, Woodchat, Red-backed, and Southern Grey Shrikes, Spotless Starling, Red-billed Chough, Rock Sparrow, Citril Finch, Ortolan and Rock Bunting are amongst the impressive list of special species here.
We make our first attempt for Lammergeier; we'll visit one of the zones occupied by a polyandrous trio [two males and a female in the same territory].
With a possible twelve species, this is undoubtedly one of the best areas in Northeast Spain for the observation of raptors. Those not suffering from vertigo will go up to Sagarillo to see birds flying below us and we'll try to locate the only pair of Bonelli's Eagle that have nested in the province of Huesca since 1998. We also take a short visit to the 11th Century castle at Loarre and the "mallos" of Riglos, with good opportunities of seeing scavenging birds in one of the largest vulture colonies in Europe.
Overnight: Loporzano
Day 8: San Juan de la Pena
If there is carrion available, we'll visit a feeding site of Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Black and Red Kites, and the odd Golden Eagle that shows up in these parts. We will then visit the pre-Pyrenean sierra of San Juan de la Pena, including the ancient monastery after which it is named. The habitat changes from Mediterranean woodland to Alpine woodland, where we should get good views of Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Black Woodpecker, Citril Finch, Crested Tit and Firecrest. Then we move onwards towards Hecho Valley, where we will have our first attempt to find Wallcreeper.
Overnight: Hecho Valley
Day 9: Higher Valleys
In the early morning, we will try to see Wallcreeper in one of the few known places where it nests at 800m [the average nesting altitude being 2400m]. After the excitement of this bird, we will drive through a magnificent gorge to an alpine meadow. On the way we will have chances to see a good number of birds such as Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Rock and Cirl Buntings.
Weather permitting, in the higher valleys we'll look for Snow Finch and Alpine Accentor. We will have good chances to spot Marmot and Chamois in the high mountains.
Overnight: Hecho valley
Day 10: Departure
En route to Barcelona, we will stop in the area of Lerida to try for two special birds: Black-shouldered Kite and Lesser Grey Shrike - a fitting way to end our tour.
Prices
The price excludes Flights, insurance, tips, medical expenses & other items of a personal nature. All other holiday expenses are fully inclusive including wine!
Accommodation We stay in twin-bedded or single rooms at Boletas Birdwatching Centre in Loporzano. All rooms have private facilities and also tea making facilities. Hotel Acher at Hecho valley and Hotel Miami Mar at Ebro delta both have private facilities & offer an incredible selection of delightful local meals, including sea food or Wild Boar. Lunches will be "tapas" at local restaurants or picnics.
Transport Transport is by 9-seater minibus. Walks in the stunning Pyrenean landscapes are short and easy. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Birds Our average for this tour is 170-190 species. With excellent opportunities for sought-after birds such as Lammergeyer, Sandgrouse, Dupont´s Lark, Moustached Warbler & Wallcreeper.
What you should know The terrain is mostly easy, although there are one or two easy steep climbs, especially for alpine species such as Snow Finch and Alpine Accentor. Although warm during the day, early mornings and evenings can be rather chilly so bring some warm clothes too.
NB All Anytime Tour itineraries are essentially drafts - the final itinerary will be arrived at during discussions with the clients and tailored to the client's individual needs and is, of course, subject to the availability of accommodation etc. and any changes in local conditions. Our aim is to arrive at an itinerary which gives you the maximum chance to see the birds [& etc.] you want to see.