Winter Wonders of Northern Spain (7 night / 6 day).
Next tour start dates: 15th December 2024 - SOLD OUT, 19th January 2025 - SOLD OUT, 23rd February 2025 - 4 places available
Catalonia Showcase (7 night / 6 days birding).
Start dates: April 27th - 3 places available. May 18th - 1 place available
Ebro Delta Experience (5 night / 4 days birding).
Start date: 12th April - 4 places available
Tour Overview:
This Birding tour is a comprehensive week-long bird watching itinerary of the Catalonian region which aims to showcase the very best sites that this fantastic zone has to offer. We will be visiting well researched locations in order to maximise the variety of species encountered and concentrating on the 3 key habitats of wetlands, mountains and plains.
Wetlands - we will be birding in some amazing wetland locations, starting of course at the famous Ebro Delta which we will be exploring by car and boat, looking for rare birds like Collared Pratincole, Little Bittern and Savi's Warbler. As the week progresses we will visit some other fantastic wetland birding zones, including Sebes Nature reserve at Flix.
Mountains - The second key habitat that this birding tour incorporates will be mountainous areas in the Els Ports natural park. During our mountain bird watching excursion we will look for some of the tiny residents of the pine forest (Crested Tit, Firecrest, Bonelli's Warbler etc.) and also drive through some rugged mountainous zones which are suitable for the likes of Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear and many more. We will also make a visit to the northern canyons of Monegros - a true raptor hotspot where we can encounter Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk & more!
Steppe lands / Plains - The third terrain we will explore during the week will be the dry lands close to the city of Lleida, which offer a completely different mix of species in expansive open agricultural zones. Here we can find some of the most sought after species of Spanish birding, with highlights such as Little Bustard, European Roller, Lesser Kestrel, Iberian Grey Shrike, Great-spotted Cuckoo, Montagu's Harrier and both Pin-tailed & Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
This tour is fully inclusive of return airport transfers to Barcelona International Airport and features five nights accommodation at our private Guest House close to the Ebro Delta, with the other two nights of the tour being at Ibis Hotel in Lleida.
Birding Catalonia Tour - 5 highlights
Itinerary:
South Catalonia Showcase bird watching tours, species list: Notable birds we will be aiming to see.
Red Crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Kestrel, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Audouin’s Gull, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Penduline Tit, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Zitting Cristicola, Nightingale, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Serin, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Gadwall, Garganey, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Great-crested grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Bittern, Greater Flamingo, White Stork, Spoonbill, Short-toed Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Red-footed Falcon, Water Rail, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Temminck’s Stint, Dunlin, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Collared Pratincole, Little Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Sandwich tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Scops Owl, Nightjar, Roller, Woodchat Shrike, Crested Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Linnet, Purple Swamp-hen, Glossy Ibis, Red-legged Partridge, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Black Vulture, Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, Raven, Chough, Jay, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Bearded Reedling, Thekla’s Lark, Woodlark, Skylark, Crag Martin, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Wren, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Alpine Accentor, Rock Sparrow, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Little Bustard, Iberian Grey Shrike, Black-shouldered Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Stone Curlew
Tour Overview:
Our 7-day 'Winter Wonders of Northern Spain' is a full week birding itinerary which runs anytime from the beginning of November through to the end of February. We will be going in search of some of Spain's most sought after species, and taking in some magnificent birding spectacles along the way. This winter birding tour is a 3 centre experience which showcases a trio of magnificent but diverse birding regions:
Ebro Delta: The first location we will be birding is (of course!) the Ebro Delta, where we will spend two days enjoying the best of the wetland's resident bird-life and checking out some of the winter visitors. We can expect to see vast flocks of Greater Flamingos feeding in the saline lagoons of the Delta, and congregations of ibis, herons, egrets & waders in the now boggy rice fields. The delta is a winter refuge for many varieties of wildfowl, and raptors abound with multiple Marsh Harriers, Booted Eagles and a good chance of Peregrine & Merlin. Passerines such as Moustached Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Bluethroat & many others are will be in situ throughout the cooler months.
Laguna de Gallocanta & Monegros plains: The second leg of this winter birding trip sees us depart to Gallocanta in the dry-land plains to the south of Zaragoza, where we will spend a day birding around the famous Laguna, which is Spain's largest natural lake. Alongside a huge wintering population of Common Cranes (which can number up to 60,000 birds during peak passage times of mid November and late February!), we can also target Great & Little Bustard and enjoy sightings of raptors like Hen Harrier & Golden Eagle. Rarities like Dupont's Lark, Pallid Harrier and Black-winged Kite are possible within this zone. Our second day of steppe-land birding will see us searching a reliable location for Great Bustard in the Monegros plains before enjoying some outstanding raptor birding in the canyons to the north with regular sightings of Golden Eagle, Eagle-owl, Goshawk and multiple Red Kites & Marsh Harriers.
Catalonian Pyrenees & Sierra de Guara: For the final leg of the tour we depart for the mountains, heading initially towards the town of Tremp in the Catalonian Pyrenees where our main targets will be Eurasian Black Vulture & Wallcreeper. Our second day of mountain birding sees us move across to the Sierra de Guara - dubbed 'the land of the Lammergeier', we will be searching for this rarest of vultures, along with another popular birding target, the beautiful but elusive Wallcreeper, which comes down from the high Pyrenees to over winter at lower altitudes on the south facing cliffs, canyons & dam walls found in the Guara. There are plenty of other species to be found in this mountainous zone, including the likes of Blue Rock Thrush, Dartford Warbler & Citril Finch.
This week long birding tour includes private airport transfers from Barcelona International Airport, and accommodation throughout the duration of the tour at carefully selected Guest Houses & Hotels around the route.
Winter Birding in Aragon & Catalonia Tour, 5 highlights:
Itinerary:
Winter wonders of Northern Spain birding holidays, species List: Notable birds we will be targeting on this tour.
Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Red-legged Partridge, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Bittern, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Greater Flamingo, White Stork, Black Stork, Spoonbill, Red Kite, Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier, Black-shouldered Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Water Rail, Purple Swamp-hen, Common Crane, Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Stone-curlew, Avocet, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Ruff, Sanderling, Temminck's Stint, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Iberian Grey Shrike, Chough, Alpine Chough, Crested Tit, Calandra Lark, Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Dupont's Lark, Crag Martin, Cetti's warbler, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Wallcreeper, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Short-toed Treecreeper, Wren, Spotless Starling, Fieldfare, Redwing, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Stonechat, Black Wheatear, Alpine Accentor, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Brambling, Serin, Citril Finch, Carl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Glossy Ibis
Wallcreeper is a 'holy grail' species for many birders and one of the main 'target' birds of our Winter Wonders tour. This species descends from the high Pyrenees with the onset of cold weather, and can be found at lower altitudes where it favours south facing cliffs and sheltered gorges.
Over a number of years we have discovered a number of reliable locations to help you observe Wallcreeper, check out this short video of the 'butterfly of the rock face'!
Tour Overview:
The Ebro Delta Experience bird watching tour is our mid-length multi-day option and is currently our most popular birding holiday. During your 4 day visit we will be taking a comprehensive look at the birds of the Ebro Delta natural park and also embarking on a day trip into the Els Ports mountains.
This tour features private airport transfers to and from Barcelona International Airport and 5 nights accommodation at our Birder's Guest House, situated right on the doorstep of the Ebro Delta in a tranquil countryside location. The villa will be your 'home from home' for the duration of your bird watching holiday and will comfortably accommodate parties of up to 4 people. There are also great opportunities for birding at the villa, the big raptors patrol the area regularly and species such as Hoopoe, Bee-eater & Little Owl are frequent too around the garden.
The Ebro Delta Experience bird watching tour offers a completely different birding day trip for each of the 4 days of your visit, starting out with a visit to the southern section of the Ebro Delta. The second day we will be heading out onto the Ebro river by private boat to see the most unspoiled areas of the delta and get close up to many varieties of birds of the river bank. On day 3, we will head to the local Els Ports mountains, meandering through pine forest up to mountain pasture and viewing a completely different mix of bird-life. The tour culminates with a day trip of the varied habitats of the northern section of the delta, completing a comprehensive overview of the bird-life and environments contained within with remarkable birding paradise!
Ebro Delta Experience bird watching tour - 5 highlights:
Itinerary:
Ebro Delta Experience birding holidays, species list: Notable birds we will be aiming to see.
Red Crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Kestrel, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Audouin’s Gull, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Penduline Tit, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Nightingale, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Serin, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Gadwall, Garganey, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Great-crested grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Bittern, Greater Flamingo, White Stork, Spoonbill, Short-toed Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Water Rail, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Temminck’s Stint, Dunlin, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Collared Pratincole, Little Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Sandwich tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Scops Owl, Nightjar, Roller, Woodchat Shrike, Crested Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Short-toed Lark, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Linnet, Purple Swamp-hen, Glossy Ibis, Red-legged Partridge, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Raven, Chough, Jay, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Thekla’s Lark, Woodlark, Skylark, Crag Martin, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Wren, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Alpine Accentor, Rock Sparrow, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting
If our itineraries do not quite fit in with how you would like to plan your birding holiday, then let us know and we will work out a schedule for you based on your targets and requirements. Contact us if there are any species of birds that you are specifically interested in seeing and we can create bespoke bird watching tours to suit your needs. Species such as Dupont's Lark, Spainish Imperial Eagle and Black-winged Kite are all within easy reach and we are happy to design birding tours to help our clients find rarities such as these. Just visit the contact page and send us an email through the submission form..