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Ebro Delta Birding
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    • Home
    • Latest Sightings
    • Bird-life
    • Multi-day Birding Tours
    • Bird Watching Day Trips
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
    • Accommodation
    • The Ebro Delta
    • Other Activities
    • Travel Logistics
Ebro Delta Birding

EN

  • Home
  • Latest Sightings
  • Bird-life
  • Multi-day Birding Tours
  • Bird Watching Day Trips
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Accommodation
  • The Ebro Delta
  • Other Activities
  • Travel Logistics

Ebro Delta Birding. Expertly guided birding tours in Spain

In this section of our website you can refer to testimonials from bird watching clients who have kindly contributed their thoughts on our birding tours of the Ebro delta.

Ebro Delta birding offers guided bird watching holidays in Spain
Ebro Delta Birding, as featured in:

The Times - 25 secret Mediterranean escapes

In July 2020 our bird watching tours were selected by The Times travel supplement as one of their top 25 secret Mediterranean escapes. Click through below to see the full article:

Read the article!

Featured Client Review: Mike & Bettina, May 22nd - 27th 2022

Ebro Delta Experience - Multi-day Bird Watching Tour

"Our trip to the Ebro Delta was our first foray into overseas birding and  I hope that this review will convince you to take the plunge as it was  simply incredible.


 My girlfriend and I went on the tour in May 2022 and  we were accompanied by 2 fellow tourists who we did not know prior to  the trip.


The Birds - We saw over 100 species which was phenomenal. It's hard to select my  personal highlights but they include: Purple Swamphen, gull-billed tern,  great reed warbler, great spotted cuckoo, Wryneck, a booted eagle being  mobbed by a family of 10+ black kites, numerous heron and egret  species, stone-curlew,  and of course the Spanish avian royalty -  Hoopoe, roller and bee-eater. Perhaps more importantly were the  circumstances on seeing the beautiful birds. For example we had a good 3  minute view from around 20 meters of the elusive Wryneck, and close-up  intimate views of great reed warblers and common cuckoos whilst on day 2  (the boat cruise) of the tour.  The variety of the day trips were  excellent from both a location and experiential perspective. The 4  days of birding are wonderfully varied in start time, target species and  location (from cruising on Al's boat on the Ebro river in the early  morning, seeking Eurasian eagle owl at dusk in the hills, to admiring  myriad vultures, storks, and birds of prey at an opportune stop at a  landfill).


The Tour Guide - As stated in numerous reviews, Al is a great, down to earth bloke, and  he was a significant factor in our enjoyment of the trip. He is clearly  passionate about the birds and his knowledge is excellent - not just the  location but other interesting facts about the birds eating strategies  etc. For example, the first birds we saw on the first day were a group  of nesting Penduline tits and he knew precisely where to find them. His  recommendations of things to do in the area in the evening after the  birding, and info regarding taxis etc. were good and you feel like he  genuinely cares about you and your experience. He is the sort of bloke  that you would love to go for a pint with after a day of birding.


The Villa - The Villa is good. If you are expecting 5 star accommodation with a  complementary masseuse then you should look elsewhere. If you are  looking for a cosy villa with everything you need in close proximity to  the Ebro Delta, lovely walking routes, and transport to nearby towns  then it will be perfect for you. The fridges are stocked with basics  with a small and reasonable fee for alcohol etc, and the rooms  themselves are a good temperature. We were accompanied by 2 solo  travelers and we certainly felt that we had our own space and were not  crammed in like sardines. Wendy, Al's wife puts on a good spread in the  mornings and is a pleasure to be around. Within a 5 minute walk of the  villa, we spotted a few little owls and numerous Nightjars (in previous  reviews a red-necked night jar was spotted here but I don't at all have  the ID skills to posit that we saw one). In the evenings after birding  we went to a few local towns/cities, including Tarragona (interesting  cultural monuments), L'Ampolla (food, bars and beaches), L'Amettla de  mar (food, wine!, bars).  


Conclusion - I honestly can't recommend this tour highly enough and I  am confident that you will have a very similar experience to ours. We  will certainly be booking a winter tour with Al soon. This tour is an  absolute steal and you won't regret it."

Bird watching holidays at the Ebro Delta in Spain

Mike, Bettina & Richard enjoying the UNESCO heritage Roman ruins in Tarragona.

Ebro Delta Birding - Latest Client Reviews

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Bird watching boat tour of the Ebro River

Spent a lovely few days in the Ebro Delta. Al was extremely knowledgeable, both about the birds to be seen and just as importantly  where to find them. The delta was teeming with bird-life and is a must if  you like large water birds like herons, egrets, flamingos, etc. of  which we saw hundreds. In all, we saw an amazing 83 species. The  afternoon spent on Al’s boat on the Ebro river was the icing on the  cake; ospreys, bee eaters, herons and egrets - and how on earth Al  spotted that beautiful Little Bittern hiding in the reeds beside the  boat…..just awesome! Looking to return next spring.

Darryl & Olivia Parker (USA), Ebro River birding boat tour, 17th August 2022

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Birding experiences at the Ebro Delta in Spain

Al impressed yet again (we did the delta tour the day before) with a  private boat tour up the Ebro River. He kept our eyes on birds as we  skimmed among the black crowned night herons, kingfishers and herons. A  Caspian tern showed up as well as an Osprey, a Black kite and a booted  eagle. We had over 30 species along the river bank in August - a tough month for birding. Al  was on time, well prepared, well spoken and very professional. Highly  recommended.

Inger Vinstorp & Leif Hoven (Denmark), Ebro Delta Experience, April 2022

Madeleine & Martin Cullis (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Weekend birding tour, September 2022

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Recently my husband and I spent 3 days in the Ebro Delta with Al Henderson as our guide – 5 days in his villa. We were on the north side  of the delta, in a boat on the river and on the plains. Al is very  competent, enthusiastic, patient and relaxed as a guide. The first two days we saw over 100 different birds. Al knows their voices and knows  where to find them. We can strongly recommend using Al as your guide and  also stay in his villa for rent in this period. It was a fantastic  experience.  Leif Hoven and Inger Vinstorp, Denmark

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Vulture photography at Mas de Bunyol bird watching observatory

Great day out with Al from Ebro Delta Birding, visiting the Griffon Vulture feeding - a great spectacle with the ghostly silhouettes  emerging from morning mists then close ups of these surprisingly  handsome giant birds getting stuck in to their breakfast. Many photos.  Then we set off in Al's vehicle to quiet location in the hills where we  hoped to find  Western black-eared Wheatear & Black Wheatear. Thanks  to expert guiding we found both plus some other interesting species.  All in all an excellent experience & many thanks to Al.

Yealand Kalfayan (United Kingdom), Bespoke bird watching tour, November 2021

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Ann & Aaron Elphick (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Experience birding tour, September 2022

Flocks of Flamingos seen on a birding tour of the Ebro Delta in Spain

We spent a week in the Ebro Delta in late November 2021 and booked two days of birding with Al Henderson. We stayed in his accommodation. This  was our first visit to this area. We are keen walkers and reasonably  keen cyclists and wanted to explore the delta and the surrounding area  both on foot and by bike. I am a novice birder but keen photographer and  wanted some practice at obtaining images of birds, particularly in  flight. Al was an excellent communicator in the long run-up to our trip. Because  of COVID-related travel problems we ended up having a number of  conversations by email over many months.  Al was a most attentive guide and host. He suggested some good walks and  lent us the relevant Cicerone guidebook. He assisted us with our cycle  hire. There are several possibilities in the area. We used a cycle shop  just a few km away in Camarles (DTS Cycle Hire, on Carrer Trenta-tres).  The owner was very helpful. On our first birding trip Al showed us the delta. His 20 year +  experience of this area was very evident. He has an in-depth knowledge  of where particular species would be found and even where particular  individual birds might be seen. He is adept at approaching the birds in a  way that optimizes the photographic opportunities. Even a quick look at  his website confirms that he is himself a highly skilled bird  photographer (both still and video). On our second day he took us first to a couple of hides inland on the  Ebro river where we watched a number of species including Water Rails  and Kingfishers. Later the same day he drove further inland to a large  landfill sight which was attracting significant numbers of White Storks,  Red Kites and Griffon Vultures. This gave me an extended chance to  practice photographing these large and impressive species in flight.  It was a good trip and I will certainly come back.

Ann & Aaron Elphick (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Experience birding tour, September 2022

Tony Rogerson (United Kingdom), Vulture feeding & local mountain birding day trip, April 2022

Ann & Aaron Elphick (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Experience birding tour, September 2022

Kingfisher bird photography on a visit to the Ebro Delta in Spain

My son and I booked the 4 day tour with Ebro Delta Birding. Al was an easy going and expert guide, always going the extra mile to show us as  many species as possible.   We very much appreciated Al’s deep knowledge of the birds and the area,  and it was so useful to gain tips on identification and habits of  various species.   We saw 107 different species, much more than we expected at the end of the summer season.

Bird watching tours - Reviews

Ebro Delta Birding - Client Reviews

Dennis Head & Trixie Taucher (Ohio, USA), Winter wonders of Northern Spain, December 2021

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

Seamless adventure with great birds. We had such a great experience birding in Spain with Al as our guide! Highly recommend this tour!

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

What an awesome day! We went the last week in august 2021. We drove 1,5h from the  surroundings of Vilafranca and boy was it worth it! We did a full day  with Al, south and north side. We just saw so many species that were new  to us, it was incredible. 26 new species we counted for us medium  experienced bird watchers from the Netherlands. Al was really kind and  arranged everything smoothly. Would 100% recommend, and hopefully come  back one day, as in every period of year there are interesting different  birds to see in the Ebro delta!

Joanna & Mark Twomey (United Kingdom), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, October 2021

Folkert Van Weir (The Netherlands), Ebro Delta classic day trip by car & foot, 27th August 2021

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

A superb experience! We spent 4 days with Al exploring the Delta and surrounding area. Al is  great company and has an unbelievable depth of knowledge. Would 100%  recommend!

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

We started our Spain birding in the afternoon half of our first day exploring the Ebro River with Al Henderson from Ebro Delta Birding. The seasonal winds were working against us but our wonderful & sharp-eyed guide managed to bag a decent amount of sightings despite very windy conditions and bumpy ride.

It was not a great day photographically as the winds and bumpy ride made it real challenging but it was a wonderful way to spend the 1st day with an excellent introduction to the Ebro river, the source of life in the Ebro Delta. 

I would wholeheartedly recommend anybody with interest to take up this trip with Ebro Delta Birding, personally I would love the come back in a different season to do this again where other species can be observed. 

Spain is a criminally under-rated country when it comes to birding and the Ebro Delta is a decent place to start exploring, being a manageable driving distance from Barcelona.

Our guide Al promised a much better 2nd day and he was right, the 2nd day was nothing short of amazing.

Robin de Alicante (USA), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, September 2021

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

Robin de Alicante (USA), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, September 2021

Excellent Birding on the Ebro Delta. We spent two days birding with Al. One on the Ebro River and the other  in the delta. Both days were great! On the river we saw more herons than  ever before; especially night herons. We also got extremely close to a  little bittern and observed it catching a fish. The delta itself was  packed with birds and we saw everything from hoopoes and wagtails to  marsh harriers Audouin’s gulls. Not to mention a large number of shore  birds. Al has an exceptional knowledge of birds and is definitely in the  know of the best areas to see birds in different environs. He was great  to spend time with and is also a very good photographer.   Highly recommended. We will definitely do another tour when we return to  Spain.  Thanks Al!

Sandy Young (France), Ebro Delta birding boat day trip, 11th August 2021

Liu Weihao & Chung Cheong (Singapore), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, November 2021

Robin de Alicante (USA), Ebro Delta weekend birding tour, September 2021

We spent a wonderful afternoon and evening (3 of us with Al as our  guide). The trip was very well organised and started right on schedule.  It was wonderful to motor down the Ebro River in a small boat and to get  so close to the bird life along the river banks and the two islands we  passed. The distance we covered and the immensity of the river were  impressive as was the smaller channel we took which ended very close to  the sea. We had numerous occasions to meander slowly along the bank to  see the many birds up close. Al was an excellent guide and made the trip  a real learning experience for us. The high-speed return to our  starting point at the end of the evening was most exhilarating.  All-in-all a great experience that we would definitely recommend to  others

Ebro Delta Birding - Client reviews

Michael & Nuria Lamana (USA), Ebro Delta day tour, November 2020

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Michael & Nuria Lamana (USA), Ebro Delta day tour, November 2020

Bird watching tours of the Ebro Delta in Spain

We had such a great day at the Delta.  Al knew all the best places and  different habitats to go, which we covered at a comfortable pace  ultimately yielding over 60 species! (We spoke with Al beforehand and  the types of birds we were hoping to see and he took this into account  in our route).  Al is extremely knowledgeable and can immediately  recognize the species and give interesting facts which really enhances  the experience.  We also discussed camera and binocular gear which Al  gave his recommendation, and afterwards sent many great photos he took  during the tour, a nice souvenir!  He also has a scope which helped get  great views of the shy distant birds. Overall great tour; highly  recommended!

Liza Vorobyova (Russia), Ebro River boat tour, August 2020

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Michael & Nuria Lamana (USA), Ebro Delta day tour, November 2020

Bird watching boat tour of the Ebro Delta

Great place, wonderful guide and lots of birds! Al is the best wildlife guide you can imagine - knowledgeable, delicate and really tailors the  experience to your needs. We've had complicated logistics and different  needs for the four of us - i was interested mostly in photographing  birds while others wanted to see beautiful scenery - but he managed to  accommodate it all somehow. Bonus for the photographers: Al does  photography himself, so he understands very well the importance of  lighting, knows how to find the best angles etc.  Wonderful experience, highly recommended!

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Collared Pratincole on the Ebro Delta, August 2020

We did 2 tours with Ebro delta birding and had a great time. Al knows a lot about the region & the birds in the region. The first day we visited many spots by car & foot. The second day we went on the Ebro river using Al's boat. On both occasions, we saw a lot of birds we never saw before. Everything was perfectly arranged from start to end. We can highly recommend birdwatching with Ebro delta birding

Harriet & Matt Fielder (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, January 2020

Harriet & Matt Fielder (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, January 2020

Frank & Ingrid Verlinden (Belgium), 2 day guided bird watching itinerary

Western Swamp-hen can be viewed regularly on the Ebro Delta

We went out for the day with Al in January and did the Ebro Delta South  tour. The landscape and vistas of the Ebro Delta are stunning and the  birding is pretty fab too - we manged to clock up 60 species in one day!  Al is a really informative guide, not just identifying the birds, but  also giving you background on their diet, habitat, migration etc.  The highlights for us were seeing the purple swamphens, a beautiful  bluethroat and the glossy ibis. Many thanks Al for a day to remember!

Heather Pinches (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, October 2019

Harriet & Matt Fielder (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, January 2020

Heather Pinches (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, October 2019

Guided bird watching day trips on the Ebro Delta

We had a great day out with Al touring the best sites in the Ebro Delta.  His knowledge was excellent and we saw a really good variety of the  species in the delta at this time of year. His choice of restaurant for  lunch was top notch and the structure of the day was excellent  especially managing the heat of the day. He'd clearly thought about the  best times of day to visit each site. We would highly recommend a trip  with Al.

Steve Clough (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, October 2019

Harriet & Matt Fielder (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, January 2020

Heather Pinches (UK), Ebro Delta day tour, October 2019

Glossy Ibis returning to roost at the end of a bird watching day trip

Al was an excellent guide for the day. He knows the area extremely well  and has great knowledge of the species you are likely to encounter on  your trip. A fantastic way to get to know the Ebro Delta area - highly  recommended!

Reviews

Ebro Delta Birding - Client reviews

Lesley Cogger-Berry (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, October 2019

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Bird watching tours in Spain, with Al Henderson from Ebro Delta Birding

This place is special. This guide, Al Henderson, is special. We booked our birding tours, in autumn, on the tail-end of the migration south for many bird species and we were very privileged to witness spectacle after spectacle. Numerous Marsh Harriers cruising in to roost amongst the reedbeds all on a backdrop of hundreds of glossy Ibis criss-crossing the dusk sky and a murmuration of starlings thrown in. 1000 or more White stork shuffling for position before swirling up in turn on the midday thermals amongst red kites, griffon vultures and even a much rarer black stork. And the exchange of roosts between the night heron colonies, with their large bright red eyes, switching places with many hundreds of egrets, cormorant and an osprey, all viewed in reflection too, with the sunset behind, from Al's boat out on the river Ebro. The delta itself has vast numbers of birds, some resident, some migrant. All year round you can also witness the balletic displays of the flamingos, of course and we also took the opportunity to witness a private feeding of over 200 Griffon Vultures at a fantastic mountainside retreat permitting panoramic views from above and below. As a family (not all of whom are 'birders') there was something for everyone... new species, new behaviour, new songs, fantastic photo opportunities and a chance to see a wide variety of landscapes. Well over 100 different bird species were seen on this trip. However, it is the sheer number of birds that was unexpected and that easily rivalled costal reserves in the UK and trips to The Gambia, for example, with the promise of more to be seen at different times of the year too.

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Firecrest can be located with relative ease on our mountain birding tours

We had a fantastic 4 days birdwatching tours with Ebro Delta Birding. We went to the Northern and Southern Delta, on the river boat trip and to the nearby mountains. Al, our host was extremely knowledgeable about the area, the birdlife and specific places that different species could be found. We would have been completely lost without such an experienced guide. Al is also an excellent photographer and sent us a range of beautiful photographs of the birds we saw. We had four very different days including one on the river, one in the nearby mountain range, featuring over 500 Griffon vultures feeding, and two in different parts of the delta area. We experienced a range of habitats and bird types and were able to get extremely close to the birds, including the smaller ones which are sometimes difficult to see let alone get close to. Al also provided background information on the habits of the various birds. Highlights included Osprey, numerous kingfishers, a Egret Roost, Waders, Vultures, and the small birds incuding a Firecrest and Crested Tit. We very much look forward to returning to the area and booking more birding tours with Ebro Delta Birding.

Linda Johnson (UK), Ebro River boat tour, October 2019

Stephen & Lisa Featherstone (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, Oct 2019

Linda Johnson (UK), Ebro River boat tour, October 2019

Bird watching from a boat on Ebro Delta birdwatching tours

What a fantastic day on the water! Having such a knowledgeable and competent tour guide meant we saw a wide range of birds we never would have seen on our own and felt in safe hands all the time. Al worked hard to make sure it was a special experience for us. We would defenitely go on another of his bird watching tours and would happily recommend him to others.

Bev Schieman (USA), Ebro Delta day tour, June 2019

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Linda Johnson (UK), Ebro River boat tour, October 2019

Greater Flamingos are the bird most synonymous with the Ebro Delta Birding experience

Had a wonderful day with Al! He tailors the birdwatching tours to your personal goals, and in addition takes you to many different spots to try to find as many species as possible. It's an incredible value to get such personal experience for an entire day His knowledge about the area cannot be matched. He also takes photos throughout the day, and shares them with you, so you can relax and keep your eyes on the birds. I think my favorite thing about Al is his enthusiasm. He clearly loves birding as much as his clients do, and this makes for a very fun and enjoyable day.

Richard Webb (UK), Ebro River boat tour, July 2019

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Black Kite swoops down, viewed on Ebro River birdwatching tours

I have just returned from a 4 day break in the Ebro Delta region. I was lucky enough to book my bird watching tours with ebrodeltabirding.com and had the most fantastic day along the margins of the mighty River Ebro. Al, the guide and skipper of the boat was a friendly, hugely knowledgable guy and expert photographer and was able to offer advice , information and knew every inch of the river like it was his own. We saw purple herons, Squacco Herons, Little Bitterns, Bee Eaters to name but a few but the highlight came when Al left juicy titbits on the surface of the river near a Black Kite roost which tempted the 2 kites to circle then swoop for the offerings right in front of the boat barely 10 feet away. For a photographer this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and from a bird watching point of view, the kind of personal one on one experience with this magnificent bird of prey that you would struggle to find anywhere else in the wild. The boat is spacious, comfortable and easily cuts through the river to get to different locations but then a silent electric motor allows you to get within just a few feet of the numerous wading and roosting birds among the reeds. I’m still sifting through my hundreds of photographs over a week after returning home. A fabulous day out in the company of a fabulous guide. The guest house is beautifully run by Al and his wife Wendy, is very comfortable and in such a lovely remote location that you can't help but just sit and reflect in the peace and quiet over your early morning coffee. Fabulous value for money, great company and overall a wonderful experience. Already booked again for next year. Do it. You won't be disappointed. 5 STARS*****

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Abdus-Samad Rana (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, August 2019

Hundreds of Griffon Vultures viewed at Mas de Bunyou on our mountain bird watching tours

This was our first birding tours abroad and we thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife enjoyed it too even though she is not an active birder herself. This is because the tour has been structured so well by Al with a different experience every day. I would like to mention that if your other half is a non birder or passive birder it doesn't matter. Just take them along as they will love the peace and quiet of the countryside villa, the beautiful scenery of delta and mountains, and the variety of experiences on each day of the tour. Even though there is a village 5 minutes away from the villa, we decided to stock up on supplies and cook our evening meals at the villa. There is a large Eroski supermarket that Al took us to on the first day where everything is available. We even bought a nice pair of slippers as we'd forgotten to bring ours. Al was really flexible with the tour and even agreed to an extra half day of birding for an extra charge in the drylands on the way back to Barcelona on the final day. We had booked a 5 night stay in Barcelona after the birding and Al was kind enough to drop us off at the accomodation we had booked. Ok now on to the birding. On the way to the villa we were fortunate enough to get a red necked nightjar! We managed to get a really clear view in the car headlights. A dream start. Al is an expert on the area and new exactly where to go to get different species. The first day we visited the South Delta and got 55 species, 20 of which were completely new to me such as bee eater, collared pratincole, penduline tit and audouin's gull. We also got a great paella for lunch! The second day we visited the griffon vulture observatory which was simply an amazing experience. Hundreds of vultures were fighting for food and being fed by one brave man! We also crossed the river on a car ferry which runs completely on the river current. This was a totally unique experience which we both loved. The third day was the river boat tour which started mid day till sunset. The highlights were little bittern, caspian tern and an osprey towards the end! We managed to get quite close to the osprey on the boat and Al took some great photographs including some aerial shots. My wife loved the boat tour especially the stunning sunset views at the end. The fourth day was the north delta, highlights included slender billed gull, little tern, golden oriole and temmink's stint. Now this was supposed to be the end of the birding but we had decided to do a half day birding on the last day on the way to Barcelona. This was great because it was a different kind of habitat and gave us different species including short toed eagle, roller, pin tailed sandgrouse, woodchat and southern grey shrikes and best of all LITTLE BUSTARD. This was the best bird of the tour as they aren't seen much. All in all we got 101 species, 41 of which were new. This is more than we were expecting during this time of year. Also, Al provided us with some great photos he had taken which he shared via dropbox. I can't recommend Al and this tour enough and we will be back probably in Spring to get a different variety of birds.

Ebro Delta Birding - Client reviews

Tom & Christine Boyd (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, May 2019

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Tom & Christine Boyd (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, May 2019

Clients enjoying a bird watching tour in Spain

Our first experience of birding tours on the Ebro delta and it won't be our last. Al was a super guide and host - we stayed in his very spacious villa (5 bedrooms most en suite). It was located a short drive from L'Ampolla where there are some good restaurants- 20 Euros return by taxi. We had 5 full day trips, one of which was on his boat on the river. Stupendous- very relaxing as the river has little traffic and got us close to the birds. Al seemed to have appointments with the black kite, penduline tits and a variety of herons. The trip to the mountains to see the Griffon vulture feeding station was spectacular- we must easily have seen 150 birds at close range. The trip to Flix nature reserve was also great- finally got good views of nightingale, having heard but not seen about 500 singing all week!! Also the best views of the great reed warblers singing their little hearts out. A treecreeper was also spotted and we had spectacular views of Egyptian vulture, booted eagle, buzzard, black kites and blue rock thrush. The other 2 days we spent north and south on the delta and saw an amazing group of collared pratincoles, a bird we had only ever seen singly before. Another highlight all week was the number of bee eaters in close proximity- having previously mainly eluded us on other birdwatching holidays. To top it all Al is a very good photographer and took photos of most of our sightings, a total of 103 for the week. It was the close proximity to the birds that we found especially good e.g. little bittern, wood sandpiper and a number of warblers and waders. To sum up we would thoroughly recommend the experience with Al and we will definitely be planning a return trip.

Anasuya Mandal (India), Ebro Delta South day tour, March 2019

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Tom & Christine Boyd (UK), Ebro Delta Experience Tour, May 2019

Al Henderson, tour leader with Ebro Delta Birding. on a bird watching tour in Spain

Al is the epitome of commitment, passion, and enthusiasm for birding. I visited with my parents (this birding trip was mainly for my mom, an amateur and passionate birder), and my husband. From the start, Al was very responsive to my inquiries, assisting us with train times and travel information, providing us with advice on what possibilities may exist, until the day materialized into a glorious day in the middle of March. From 10 am until ~7pm, Al took us around in his car, driving ever so slowing so as not to disturb the birds. We saw over 50 new species of birds we had never seen before (we are from India so the Spanish fauna was unknown to us). Al explained the habits, habitats, and small stories behind each of the species we saw. He knew all of the good birding locations in the area, which we visited throughout the day, timed perfectly to enjoy the viewing of marsh harriers enjoying their breakfast, the greater flamingos enjoying some playful frolic in the delta, or the ducks enjoying their afternoon snooze. It was a glorious day and I'd come back again if I could. Al is just the best and words are not enough to praise his commitment to his passion. Wishing you all the best!

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Collared Pratincole is one of our most requested birds on tours of the Ebro Delta in Spain

Collared Pratincoles at close quarters! Maria and I thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour with Al last week. The Ebro delta was a revelation to us on visiting it for the first time. Al proved to be an excellent guide, taking us to a significant number of great birding locations and hides. With Al's expertise and local knowledge we saw 35 different species in a few hours, a number of which were exciting firsts for us. Highlights included the collared pratincoles at very close quarters, glossy ibis, flamingos, purple heron and woodchat shrike. Al was very helpful and informative throughout the entire late afternoon and evening. Also, he very kindly provided us with some great photos he took during our tour, via Dropbox. We would highly recommend Al's bird watching tours!

Lars Thorelius (Sweden), Ebro Delta Express tour, May 2019

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Jim & Maria Harrison (UK), Ebro Delta South half day tour, May 2019

Bird photography tours on the Ebro Delta in Spain

Al took me on customized combined birding tours into the Ebro Delta (northern and southern) one day and Els Ports Natural Park the next. Photography is my passion. Al's great knowledge of birds and their habitats lead me to many fantastic opportunities, and "between sightings" he's a very pleasant companion; we had many nice chats on the way, not least about photography. An included visit to "Vulture Man's" place and hundreds of wild vultures was the icing on the cake. Very warmly recommended!

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Booted Eagle is a spectacular raptor which can be seen on birding tours of the Ebro Delta in Spain

Mucho más que aves - Un día con Al desfrutando del Delta del Ebro! Pasamos un día con Al visitando el norte y sur del Delta, aprendiendo el ecosistema, paseando en coche y a pié, haciendo cientos de fotos y disfrutando de la excelente gastronomía de esta tierra (no faltó el arroz pero las navajas, caixetas, calamares, gambas y mejillones no se quedaron cortas!). Contratar a Al fué un regalo de mi mujer y mío para nuestra amiga Liz que venía desde Londres y es una apasionada de las aves. Nosotros no lo eramos, o eso creíamos, pero todo cambió despues de divisar y fotografiar más de 26 especies de aves en total libertad Que alguien te lleve a los mejores lugares y te permita un tour adaptado a cada necesidad es algo impagable, sobre todo cuando tienes poco tiempo. Las tarifas muy razonables. Al atardecer estábamos agotados y felices, con esa sensación de algo especial e inolvidable que nos hizo sentirnos orgullosos de esta tierra, de este Delta sorprendente y cambiante. Un día para perfecto. Gracias Al Javier i Monica, Sant Pere de Ribes.

Tom & Sandra Cleary (UK), Bespoke bird watching tour, May 2019

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Javier Martinez (Spain), Ebro Delta North & South day tour, April 2019

Birding the Ebro Delta from a boat on our river birdwatching trips

Our birdwatching tours with Al were absolutely fantastic. Al was very knowledgeable and informative, and despite the fact that we’d been experienced birders for over 30 years we learned so much from him on our 2-day tour. We also saw wonderful birds in his garden and around his house, such as Bee-eaters and Hoopoe. The house was very comfortable and relaxing. Wendy, Al’s partner, was also very accommodating and helpful, and we had access to all the amenities in the house and we were able to relax there when we weren’t out birding. We spent one whole day on the river in Al’s boat, and another whole day with Al on the northern part of the Ebro Delta. Our day on the river was both incredibly peaceful and exhilarating. The star birds of this trip were the water birds, especially the Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Great White Heron and other egrets, amazing views of a Black Kite circling and diving, and many lively terns, especially the Whiskered. Other special sightings on the first day on the river were the Subalpine Warbler and the Spotted and Pied Flycatchers. Much of the second day was spent on foot, tracking down the Great Reed Warbler, the Yellow Wagtail, the Slender-billed and Audouin Gulls, the Glossy Ibis and flocks of flamingos. The cream on the cake at the end was seeing literally dozens of Collared Pratincoles, mostly standing to attention in just two fields. Since the trip, Al has sent us a portfolio of terrific photos of our best sightings. We definitely plan to go back. Sandra and Tom Cleary

Ebro delta birding - client reviews

Caroline Mortlock (Sweden), Ebro Delta 2 day tour, January 2019

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Caroline Mortlock (Sweden), Ebro Delta 2 day tour, January 2019

Winter birding tours of the Ebro Delta, where spectacular birds like Bluethroat can be found

Two exhilarating bird watching tours, criss-crossing among paddy fields, lagoons, drainage channels and sand dunes, all in sharp winter sunshine. Al knows where residents and winter guests are likely to be found, is quick to point them out and share his knowledge. We were delighted to view so many individuals and snap some great photos despite the gusting winds. To mention but a few: low-flying booted eagles being blown almost backwards; squawking night herons battened down in the reeds; dainty bluethroats picking in the ditches; vibrantly-coloured purple gallinule; an unexpected osprey, catch dangling; and to cap it all the Dartford warbler clinging to a fishing net! A great experience and good-value overnight stay in the roomy guest-house.

George Bryce (UK), South Catalonia Showcase, May 2019

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Caroline Mortlock (Sweden), Ebro Delta 2 day tour, January 2019

Bird watching holidays in Spain with Ebro Delta Birding

 Wow!!, 4 days of birding tours, 116 species, in different terrains. Day one in the southern delta with all the usual specials, a field with numerous Collared Pratincoles, plus the bonus White-winged Tern. Day two, exploring the southern LLieda steppes, with blue rock thrush, black-eared wheatear, greater-spotted cuckoo and wryneck. Day three, the northern Llieda steppes. Short-toed eagle, red-footed falcon, lesser kestrel, montague harrier and lots of very wary rollers. Day four covered the high mountain forest and a final afternoon back in the Delta covering bits we'd not visited on day 1. Firecrest, crested tit, subalpine warbler and sort-toed treecreeper I have been guided in many parts of the world and I rate Al amongst the best. His sensory abilities are second to none with us finding the firecrest from hearing its call through the open window of a moving car. From the bird locating us, he then heard faint crested tit peeps, the bird was with us within a minute along with the treecreepers. Al's skill with the camera means one can concentrate on the bird experience, knowing he will forward his photos onto you.

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Booted Eagle is a bird watching highlight of winter birding tours to the Ebro River Delta

 Al knew right where to take us fon his guided birdwatching tours of the Ebro River Delta. We visited in the winter and though species diversity was not high he still took us to where we would see many quality birds we would never have found on our own. The purple gallinule, king fisher, booted eagle and spotted redshanks are delightful memories. Lodging in the villa, breakfast of local favorite foods, meeting the Henderson family and scheduling travel to town for a meal all contributed to a perfect visit to the Ebro River Delta. 

Dai & Juliet Davies (UK), Ebro River Boat tour, August 2018

Dai & Juliet Davies (UK), Ebro River Boat tour, August 2018

Jay & Teya Penniman (Hawaii), Ebro Delta Express Tour, December 2018

Osprey photography is very popular on the Ebro River boat bird watching tours

 An excellent couple of bird watching tours. Al picked us up at out hotel and dropped us back afterwards as we had no car. We saw great birds with fabulous views of an osprey with a huge fish. Al was excellent at spotting birds as they flew by as well as identifying calls. It was a very relaxing and absorbing afternoon of bird watching. Would do it again any time. 

April Elliott (UK), Ebro River boat tour, June 2018

Dai & Juliet Davies (UK), Ebro River Boat tour, August 2018

Felix Brader (Austria), Ebro River boat tour, August 2018

Birding holidays in Spain with Ebro Delta Birding. Al Henderson leading a birding boat tour.

Some memorable bird watching tours with an extremely knowledgeable guide. Al made myself and my fellow guests feel safe on his boat and kept us amused with his company whilst seeking out some fascinating bird-life.

Felix Brader (Austria), Ebro River boat tour, August 2018

Dai & Juliet Davies (UK), Ebro River Boat tour, August 2018

Felix Brader (Austria), Ebro River boat tour, August 2018

Bird watching tours of the Els Ports mountains with Ebro Delta Birding

Amazing guide, wonderful birding tours; we had a great time photographing birds on a boat trip up the Ebro; lucky, he had time for me so spontaneously, because i was only there for one day. I am so looking forward to my next trip to the delta in April. 

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