Spain
BirdingBirding
We are currently only offering this tour as a Custom Tour. Please Contact Us for more information
It is no secret that some of the very best European birding is offered in Spain. Many know of the bird-rich southern areas of Extramadura and Andalucia, which are covered on our Southern Spain Tour. What is less well known is that the northeast of Spain also offers fantastic birding, of a very different nature. This tour runs immediately after our Southern Spain trip, for those who want a longer and more complete Spanish experience, or feel they simply cannot leave the country without some mountain birds! This short, weeklong tour explores the best of the “other side” of Spain. Starting in the capital of Madrid, we head east and north, and wind our way up into the high Pyrenees where we’ll search for the hulking Black Woodpecker and bone-crushing Lammergeier. We’ll then descend to the famous steppe of Belchite near Zaragoza to search for the rare Dupont’s Lark, as well as many other species of this markedly different habitat. Finally, we make the short hop east to the often-overlooked Ebro Delta, to see a plethora of wetland and coastal birds. The tour wraps up in the beautiful city of Barcelona.
Price
From $4250
Length
7 days
Physical Difficulty
Easy
Pace
Moderate
Focus
Birding
Group size
8 + 1 leader
Starting City
Madrid
Ending City
Barcelona
After meeting in Barcelona in the morning, we’ll immediately make our way toward the imposing Pyrenees mountain range, taking stops along the way for roadside Red-backed Shrikes, Eurasian Hoopoes, and perhaps too, some lingering Common Cranes, here at one of their favoured wintering areas. We’ll arrive at our base for the next three nights, the Hecho Valley, by late afternoon, in time to explore the area before dinner. The sound of singing Cirl Buntings, Firecrests, Crested and Long-tailed Tits, Red Crossbills, and Black Redstarts will follow us everywhere we go, and we’ll be sure to keep our eyes to the skies for Red Kite, Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, Golden and Booted Eagles, and maybe our first Lammergeier of the trip. The night will be spent in the Hecho Valley.
The Hecho Valley is one of the premier birding sites in northern Spain, and we have two full days to explore this magical area. Besides fantastic birding among stunning scenery, we will be on the lookout for several key target species. First up, will be the powder blue-and-crimson Wallcreeper, found in narrow ravines populated by White-throated Dippers, Gray Wagtails and Red-billed Choughs. We’ll search high in the mountains for Citril Finch and White-winged Snowfinch, and higher at the French border for Yellow-billed (Alpine) Chough, Alpine Accentor, and the ermine-colored Snow Bunting. We’ll search mountain forests for the striking Black Woodpecker, and the rare White-backed Woodpecker, and enjoy puffed-up Eurasian Bullfinches, Rock Buntings, and Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrushes as we go. Lammergeier could appear at any moment, and we hope to see several during our time in the area. At night, we’ll make drives up the valley in search of nocturnal wildlife. Eurasian Scops- and Tawny Owls are common in the area, while scarcer species like European Eagle-Owl and Boreal Owl are also possible. We may also see Pine and Beech Martens, Polecat, and European Wildcat at night, and Alpine Marmot and Chamois during the day, while the area’s wolves and European Brown Bear are unfortunately shy and rarely seen. These nights will also be in the same hotel within the Hecho Valley.
We have a day of travelling down to the steppes of Belchite today, but it will be broken by two great birding stops. We’ll need to leave early to reach the interesting San Juan de la Peña monastery, a short drive through the foothills, where we’ll search again for Black Woodpecker and Wallcreeper. Situated on top of a sheer cliff, the view here is magnificent, and as thermals from the plains below rise, we may be treated to arms-length passes by Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, or even Lammergeier. This can also be a good spot for songbirds sunning themselves as the day warms, which may include Subalpine, Sardinian, or Garden Warblers, Iberian Chiffchaff, Blue Rock Thrush, and perhaps Black Wheatear. After leaving the monastery, we’ll make our way to the stunning town of Riglos. This small settlement is overshadowed by its world-famous rock formations, complete with towering cliffs that often play host to Wallcreeper in the winter months. We should have had good views of Wallcreeper by now, but this gives us one final chance if needed. Blue Rock Thrush is common at this site, and a large colony of Eurasian Griffon is mesmerising as they all take to the air and ride the thermals above the town. In the early afternoon, we’ll make the short hop down to the area known as the Belchite steppes, our base for two nights.
We have a full day on the steppes to enjoy a very different selection of birds to those we would have found in the Pyrenees. Our main target for the morning will be the rare and highly localized Dupont’s Lark. Sometimes the birds perform spectacularly well, but we have two mornings set aside to find them, just in case. There are many other distractions in the area, including Crested, Thekla, Calandra, Greater Short-toed, and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Northern Wheatears, Eurasian Thick-knee, Sardinian, Subalpine, Dartford and Isabelline Warblers, and perhaps the last of the winter flocks of Little Bustard.
We have another morning set aside in case we need better views of Dupont’s Lark, but it’s likely we’ll have succeeded already. So after a final look around the area for any missing dry-land targets, we’ll drive a couple of hours east to one of the best wetlands in Spain, the Ebro Delta. We have an afternoon and a morning to enjoy this quaint and under-watched corner of Spain with its typically Mediterranean relaxed pace. New birds for the tour will be bountiful, with an assortment of waterfowl, including the handsome Red-crested Pochard and Red-knobbed Coot, herons including Squacco and Purple, and two particularly good-looking gulls: Audouin’s and Slender-billed. The exact species present depends somewhat on which migrants have made the crossing from Africa already, but highlights could include Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, Whiskered, Gull-billed, Little, and White-winged Terns, Collared Pratincole, Eurasian Hoopoe, Bluethroat, and Savi’s, Great Reed and Moustached Warblers. This evening we’ll have a look at the sea to add the Mediterranean-endemic Yelkouan, Balearic, and Scopoli’s Shearwaters to our tally. The night will be spent nearby the Ebro Delta.
The Ebro Delta is only a couple of hours outside Barcelona, so we’ll have time for a last look around this morning, before making our way to Barcelona to connect with afternoon/evening flights out.
Day 1: Madrid to the Hecho Valley
After meeting in Madrid in the morning, we’ll make the several-hour drive to the imposing Pyrenees Mountains, taking stops along the way for any interesting birds. We’ll arrive at our base for the next three nights, the Hecho Valley, by late afternoon, perhaps in time to explore the area before dinner. The sound of singing Cirl Buntings, Firecrests, Crested and Long-tailed Tits, Red Crossbills, and Black Redstarts will follow us everywhere we go, and we’ll be sure to keep our eyes to the skies for Red Kite, Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, Golden and Booted Eagles, and maybe our first Lammergeier of the trip. The night will be spent in the Hecho Valley.
Days 2-3: The Pyrenees
The Hecho Valley is one of the premier birding sites in northern Spain, and we have two full days to explore this magical area. Besides fantastic birding among stunning scenery, we will be on the lookout for several key target species. Rushing rivers and streams are populated by White-throated Dipper and Gray Wagtail. With a great deal of luck, we might even encounter the powder blue-and-crimson Wallcreeper. We’ll search high in the montane coniferous forest for Citril Finch, and even higher in Alpine tundra along the French border for Yellow-billed (Alpine) Chough and perhaps Alpine Accentor. Mountain forests hold the striking Black Woodpecker, and the rare White-backed Woodpecker. Lammergeier could appear at any moment, and with lots of scanning, we hope to see several during our time in the area. This area is excellent for mammals, and we may see Alpine Marmot and Pyrenean Chamois during the day, while the area’s wolves and European Brown Bears are unfortunately shy and rarely seen. These nights will also be in the same hotel in the Hecho Valley.
Day 4: Hecho Valley to Belchite
We have a day of travelling down to the steppes of Belchite today, but it will be broken by some birding stops. One area we might explore is the San Juan de la Peña monastery, a short drive through the foothills, where we’ll search again for Black Woodpecker and perhaps a lingering Wallcreeper. Situated on top of a sheer cliff, the view here is magnificent, and as thermals from the plains below rise, we may be treated to close passes by Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, or even Lammergeier. Another potential birding site on this morning is the town of Riglos. This small settlement is overshadowed by its world-famous rock formations, complete with towering cliffs. Blue Rock Thrush is common at this site, and a large colony of Eurasian Griffon is mesmerizing as they take to the air and ride the thermals above the town. In the early afternoon, we’ll finish the drive down to the area known as the Belchite steppes, our base for two nights.
Day 5: Belchite Steppes
We have a full day on the steppes to enjoy a very different selection of birds from those of the Pyrenees. Our main target for the morning will be the rare and highly localized Dupont’s Lark. Sometimes the birds are elusive, while other times they perform spectacularly well, but we have two mornings set aside to find them, just in case. There are many other distractions in the area, including Crested, Thekla, Calandra, Greater Short-toed, and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Northern Wheatear, and Eurasian Thick-knee.
Day 6: Belchite Steppes to the Ebro Delta
We have another morning set aside in case we need better views of Dupont’s Lark, but it’s likely we’ll have succeeded already. So after a final look around the area for any missing targets, we’ll drive a couple of hours east to one of the best wetlands in Spain, the Ebro Delta. We have an afternoon and a morning to enjoy this quaint and under-watched corner of Spain with its typically Mediterranean relaxed pace. New birds for the tour will be bountiful, with an assortment of waterfowl, including the handsome Red-crested Pochard, herons including Squacco and Purple, and three particularly good-looking gulls: Mediterranean, Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls. The exact species present depends somewhat on which migrants have made the crossing from Africa already, but highlights could include Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, Whiskered, Gull-billed, Little, and White-winged Terns, Collared Pratincole, Eurasian Hoopoe, and Savi’s, Great Reed and Moustached Warblers. The night will be spent in the town of Deltebre.
Day 7 The Ebro Delta to Barcelona (Departure)
The Ebro Delta is only a couple of hours outside Barcelona, so we’ll have time for a last birding session this morning, before making our way to Barcelona to connect with late afternoon/evening flights out.
PACE: Moderate. Early starts are necessary on most days since birding is almost always best early in the morning, and breakfast will sometimes be taken in the field to maximize birding opportunities. Driving between bases involves one long drive (4.5 hours Barcelona to Hecho Valley) and several shorter drives (2.5 – 3 hours). Once at our bases the driving distances between sites are much shorter. Please note that Spaniards eat dinner late, and so dinners are difficult to get before 8pm.
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate. Nowhere on this tour is particularly challenging and so it is suitable for anybody with a good general level of fitness. Most of the birding will be on flat or slightly inclined roads or wide tracks and you can expect to walk around 2 miles (3.2 km) per day on average. Our two days in the Pyrenees will be spent birding at up to around 6,500 ft. (2000 m.) elevation, but the walking is on fairly easy and well-established tracks. Our nights are spent much lower at around 2,500 ft. (800m.), and the rest of the tour is spent birding at even lower altitudes.
CLIMATE: As this tour runs in spring, temperatures can be on the cooler side especially in the morning and at night, with the Pyrenees portion ranging between 46°-57°F (8°-14°C). The plains are slightly warmer at around 46°-64°F (8°-18°C). Even this late in spring, snow can be present in the mountains so warm clothing is needed.
ACCOMMODATION: Very good to excellent, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, full-time hot water, WiFi, and 24h electricity.
PHOTOGRAPHY: This is a birding tour, but casual photographers will have good opportunities to photograph birds and scenery in the Pyrenees section of the tour. Serious bird photographers should check out our Spain Photo Journey.
WHEN TO GO: We usually run the set-departure tour in mid to late-spring. As a custom tour, it can be run from March through until November, with March – May and late September – October being particularly productive periods, while it is a bit slower June – early September). The driest months on average are June and July, the wettest months are April, May and August, and the other months are intermediate. Even in the drier months, some rain can be expected.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required; the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay. Tourist visas are currently not required for citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and all EU European countries. Visas are currently required for nationals of many countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. Travel requirements are subject to change; if you are unsure, please check with the nearest embassy or consulate, or ask our office staff for help.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to drivers (if needed) and lodge/restaurant staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night day 6; meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 7; reasonable non-alcoholic beverages during meals; safe drinking water between meals (tap water is safe and you are encouraged to fill your bottles whenever possible); Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio playback gear from the morning of day 1 to the mid-afternoon of day 7; ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary from the morning of day 1 to the afternoon of day 7 in a suitable vehicle (with smaller groups the tour leader will drive and for larger groups there may be a driver); entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters in hotels (where available and if you require their services); flights; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.
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Yvonne H. –
This was my second trip with Tropical Birding, and my first time birding in Europe. I chose this tour for the chance of a wide selection of birds and the different landscapes. The variety of birds was amazing; so many new species every day! The environments we were in changed daily: from the rugged snow-covered Pyrenees Mountains, to the stark red rock formations at Riglos, to the stunningly beautiful Belchite Steppes, to the Mediterranean Coast. Emma was a joy to travel with! I enjoyed many great conversations with her. Her energy was endless, and she was always on the lookout to try and find one last bird for the day! She shared her knowledge of the birds and the local areas we were in. She always made sure everyone got on the bird, and made sure those of us who wanted to photograph them had the opportunity to do so. Her many efforts to find us a much-wanted Wall Creeper were very much appreciated as she succeeded in the final hour to show us this incredible bird! When a day of rain hampered our original plans, she was quick to come up with alternate sites to visit. I hope to travel with Emma again.