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Bird Watching in Spain - Highlights of the Ebro Delta!
Wading Birds
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey
The Ebro Delta has the perfect range of habitats for waders with lagoons, coastal bays, shoreline and muddy fields. We see a huge abundance and diversity of waders throughout the season with resident species, passage migrants and over wintering birds.
Target species: Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Avocet, European Spoonbill
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey
We can see a huge variety of raptors throughout the year soaring over the Ebro Delta, with everything from huge eagles to small falcons & hawks present at different stages of the season.
Target species: Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Hobby, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon
Herons
Birds of Prey
Exotic Migrants
The wetland environments which are so abundant on the Ebro Delta provide the ideal sanctuary for these types of birds. Favourite habitats for a huge selection of herons, bitterns and egrets include riverbank and extensive marshland areas.
Target species: Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Great White Egret, Bittern
Exotic Migrants
Wildfowl & waterbirds
Exotic Migrants
Some of the most popular birds as requested by our birding clients are the spectacular summer arrivals from Africa, all of which can be found easily in and around the varied environments of the Ebro Delta and surrounding areas.
Target species: European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, European Roller
Gulls & Terns
Wildfowl & waterbirds
Wildfowl & waterbirds
Shallow coastal islands and protected breeding areas make the Ebro Delta natural park an oasis for thousands of gulls and terns. We are able to see some rare varieties including 80% of the world's population of Audouin's Gull.
Target species: Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Black Tern, White-winged Tern, Caspian Tern
Wildfowl & waterbirds
Wildfowl & waterbirds
Wildfowl & waterbirds
It's no surprise that the Ebro Delta is one of Spain's premier locations for bird watching when it comes to water birds. The huge lagoons and marshes provide the ideal habitat for ducks, grebes and other wetland inhabitants.
Target species: Purple Swamp-hen, Red-crested Pochard, Black-necked Grebe, White-headed Duck
Seasons on the Ebro Delta - when to visit?
Migration - Spring & Autumn
The optimum time to visit the Ebro Delta for a bird watching tour is during the migration periods in the Spring & Autumn. Not only can we expect to see all of the spectacular resident birds of the area, but also we will observe many species of birds in transit to their breeding / wintering destinations.
Spring migration typically runs from around mid March through to mid May, when we can begin to witness the arrival of summer breeders as well as birds heading further north towards Central and Northern parts of Europe.
The autumn migration period will begin in mid August and stretch through into mid October. Many varieties are passing along the Mediterranean coastline on route to Africa for the winter, although sadly we see the departure of some of our summer favorites!
Summer
Summer also offers some great bird watching experiences in and around the Ebro Delta. Some of the most sought after species of birds on our tours are the arrivals from Africa, and all of these can be located throughout May, June, July, August and into September. Many of these birds are breeding in the delta area, or in some of the other nearby habitats that we cover with our range of guided bird tours.
During the summer months we will usually adjust the tour times to earlier morning or later evening sessions in order to avoid the heat of the afternoons, and observe the birds when they are most active.
Winter
Although we see the departure of many bird species in Winter, this is offset by the arrival of a fantastic selection of other varieties seeking a winter refuge on the Ebro Delta. The warm coastal wetlands of the delta are a perfect wintering area for many varieties of wildfowl, passerines and raptors alike.
Alongside the winter birds on the delta, we also offer a week long tour where we will specifically seek out some of the best birding spectacles in Catalonia and neighboring Aragon. Our Winter Wonders of Northern Spain tour includes visits to famous bird watching sites such as Gallocanta with it's Cranes and Bustards, and the Sierra de Gaura where we go in search of the mighty Lammergeier and elusive Wallcreeper.