Herons, Bitterns & Egrets
Purple Heron (April - September)
Black-crowned Night Heron (year round resident)
Purple Heron (April - September)
The majestic Purple Heron is one of the clear bird watching highlights of the Ebro Delta. These handsome birds show up well on our birding boat tour as they like the river bank, but are also found regularly around the agricultural zone. A migrant species, Purple Heron are only present in the breeding season from early April through until late September.
Squacco Heron (April - October)
Black-crowned Night Heron (year round resident)
Purple Heron (April - September)
Squacco Heron is the smallest of the European herons, but an absolute beauty when viewed in it's breeding dress around May / June. The adults develop a sublime turquoise / aqua marine bill and grow an extravagant head dress. In the latter part of the season, hundreds of Squacco Herons can be viewed close up on our birding boat tour as they hunt from floating rafts of weed along the margins of the Ebro river.
Black-crowned Night Heron (year round resident)
Black-crowned Night Heron (year round resident)
Little Bittern (April - October, occasional over wintering birds)
The Ebro Delta has a large population of Black-crowned Night Herons which remain present throughout the year. This handsome bird possesses a stunning crimson red eye, which allows it to foray after dark. It is often seen in groups heading out to feed at dusk, and regularly encountered on our birding boat tour in communal day roosts in isolated locations along the river bank.
Little Bittern (April - October, occasional over wintering birds)
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
Little Bittern (April - October, occasional over wintering birds)
One of the most requested species, particularly on our bird watching boat tour, is the Little Bittern. This secretive bird likes to remain hidden in the reed beds which line the river, but once located is fairly approachable. Often located in the spring season by listening out for it's low 'boom' as it calls for a mate. Breeding males are spectacular, exhibiting a stunning coral red bill in the best specimens.
Great Bittern is also present in the Ebro Delta in winter - although only in small numbers and difficult to locate!
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
All 3 of the European Egrets are common residents on the Ebro Delta, and you can be certain that you will get great views of them when you book a birding tour with us.
Great Egret is often seen fishing in the shallow water coastal bays, patiently stalking prey of various sizes.
Cattle Egret, more of a scavenger by nature, is typical in the agricultural zone looking for goodies that may be unearthed by tractors etc.
Little Egret is the most abundant of all, and this versatile heron can be found in many of the region's habitats.
Grey Heron (year round resident)
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
Great White Egret, Cattle Egret & Little Egret (year round residents)
One of Europe's most familiar birds, the Grey Heron is particularly abundant here on the Ebro Delta during the winter months. We can see hundreds of Grey Herons whilst birding in the agricultural zone after the rice harvest, as they wait patiently for tasty meals such as frogs and crayfish.
Check out the link below to watch footage of this familiar heron as it stalks fish in the shallows and hunts for frogs in the boggy winter fields!
Gulls & Terns
Audouin's Gull
Audouin's Gull is a species closely associated with bird watching at the Ebro Delta - the region supports the world's largest breeding colony with over 10,000 pairs annually. Conservation efforts have successfully revived the population of Audouin's Gull, which was believed to be as low as 1,000 breeding pairs around the 1960s. The population around the Ebro Delta disperses over the winter months with birds typically heading south along the Mediterranean coastline and into western Africa, migrating as far down as Senegambia.
Terns
The Ebro Delta is a great place to see a wide selection of Terns, including the mighty Caspian Tern (pictured above with a prize capture!). Here are some of the species which we regularly encounter on our guided bird watching tours:
- Whiskered Tern (summer breeder)
- Little Tern (summer breeder)
- Gull-billed Tern (summer breeder)
- Sandwich Tern (wintering)
- Common Tern (summer breeder)
- Caspian Tern (migration)
- Black Tern (migration)
Slender-billed Gull & others
Another variety of Gull popular with bird watchers who visit the Ebro Delta is the Slender-billed Gull, which is locally common and breeds here, and can be found easily throughout the year. This handsome gull variety is interesting to observe as it actively hunts for small fish around the shallow bays. Other familiar gulls which are present on our birding trips include:
- Black-headed Gull
- Yellow-legged Gull
- Mediterranean Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
The Spanish Birding Royalty - Bee-eater, Hoopoe & Roller!
Bee-eater
Bee-eater
Bee-eater
Probably Europe's most spectacular species , the Bee-eater generally arrives around the Ebro Delta in early April and can be seen until mid September. On our bird watching boat tour we will visit a breeding colony on an island in the Ebro river which guarantees spectacular viewing!
Hoopoe
Bee-eater
Bee-eater
One of the most requested species on our birding tours is the unique and charismatic Eurasian Hoopoe - which can be found in varied habitats around the Ebro Delta. We are lucky enough to have a resident population and will see this beautiful species on our bird watching excursions throughout the whole year!
Roller
Bee-eater
Roller
Another 'must see' when birding in Spain is the European Roller. This colorful bird is seen only during migration within the Ebro Delta, as it prefers to breed in more arid habitat. When you book one of our multi-day birding holidays, we will pay a visit to the Lleida steppes which is a breeding stronghold for Roller, and we will be sure to get fantastic views!
Water birds & Wildfowl
Purple Swamphen
Locally common on the Ebro Delta, the sublime Purple Swamphen is a year round highlight on our bird watching excursions. This exquisitely colored bird frequents marshes and reed beds, and although shy it can be seen with a little patience in the right locations. It's raucous calls are often heard around the marshes it frequents.
Rails & Crakes
The huge marshes found around the Ebro Delta are excellent habitat for Rails & Crakes. Water Rail is a common (although somewhat secretive) year round resident best seen at dawn and dusk.
We can also expect to see Crakes on our birding trips during the spring migration with Spotted Crake being the most reliable. Baillon's Crake & Little Crake are also possible in the right season - late March / early April is generally the most productive period.
Ducks & Grebes
An abundance of wetland habitat attracts a wide variety of ducks & grebes to the region - including the stunning Red-crested Pochard (pictured here). The winter months offer the best chances to see huge flocks of ducks like Shoveler & Teal, while rarities such as White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck & Ferruginous Duck have all been spotted on our birding holidays.
Grebes include the omnipresent Little & Great Crested Grebes, with Black-necked often seen in the winter.
Storks & Spoonbill
White & Black Storks
White Storks are a regular sight around the Ebro Delta during the spring & autumn bird migration periods, and are becoming increasingly frequent throughout the winter months. The spectacle of a huge group of migrating White Storks passing over head can be simply awe inspiring!
Black Stork is a much rarer sighting, but is occasionally encountered - often individuals mixed in with a group of it's white cousins.
Eurasian Spoonbill
Spoonbill is also primarily seen during migration periods, although a small wintering colony is present annually on Illa de Buda - and can be observed from the tall observatory which over looks this site.
April is the most productive time of the year to see flocks of Spoonbill heading north passing through the Ebro Delta, and is generally one of the prime months to plan a bird watching holiday in Spain.
