CATALONIA & ARAGÓN BIRDWATCHING TOUR

CATALONIA & ARAGÓN BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Suitable period: March – September

On this tour we will explore some of the best natural areas such as Ebro delta, Los Monegros and Pyrenees. Visiting the high mountains and the coastal wetlands we will expect to observe over 200 species of birds, including 15 raptors and all 4 species of European vultures. We will have also the possibilities to observe such rare birds as Dupon’t, Calandra and Short-toed larks, Subalpine, Dartford and Spectacled Warblers, Citril Finch, Red-necked Nightjar, Black Wheatear and many more birds.

Day by day itinerary

Day 1 and 2
Meet and welcome in the Barcelona International Airport. Transfer to Ebro Delta (1.5 hours) and arrival to our hotel for a two nights stay. We will spend two full days to enjoy the variety of birds living there. Greater Flamingo, Audouin’s & Slender-billed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Whiskered Tern and Squacco Heron are all common sights in this huge wetland. Along with them we will look for scarcer species such as Caspian, Gull-billed & Little Terns, Purple & Night Herons, Collared Pratincole, Bluethroat, Penduline Tit as well as Moustached, Savi’s and Great Reed Warblers.
A huge amount of migratory birds can be also spot all along the year. Curlew Sanpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Dotterel and Marsh Sandpiper are regularly seen in this Delta.

Day 3
After breakfast, we will take a final look to some spots in Ebro Delta before transfering to Los Monegros steppe-land (1.5 hours), where we will arrive right before lunch. In the afternoon we will enjoy of some birds living in the steppes, including Black-eared Wheatear, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Southern Grey Shrike, Short-toed Eagle, European Bee-eater, Lesser Kestrel, Calandra Lark and Montagu’s Harrier.

Day 4
Full day in the steppe-lands. We will look for both Pin-tailed & Black-bellied Sandgrouses, Lesser & Greater Short-toed Larks, Stone Curlew, Little Bustard and the poorly known Dupont’s Lark. After a mid-day stop, we will visit clay cliffs where Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Dartford Warbler, Black Wheatear, Alpine Swift, Stock Dove, Common Rock Sparrow and Golden Eagle are to be found.
After dinner we will go to enjoy the nocturnal trip. Red-necked Nightjar, Barn Owl, Scops Owl and Long-eared Owl will easily appear.

Day 5 
We will spend the morning we will enjoy some steppe lands hosting good densities of scarce species such as Subalpine & Western Orphean Warblers, Roller, Black-winged Kite, Little Bustard and Ortolan Bunting. In the early afternoon we will arrive to our accommodation in the Pyrenees and we will enjoy of our first views on some big raptors.

Day 6 
In the morning we will explore the almond and olive orchards around the Boumort NP massif cliffs. Here we will look for a long list of birds including Hoopoe, Woodlark, Crested Lark, Woodchat Shrike, Wryneck, Golden Oriole and Rock Sparrow. Along the day we will see tones of Griffon Vultures, can be easily seen. Among them, Lammergeiers are soaring along the cliffs or over the slopes, showing their beautiful silouette. Cinerous and Egyptian Vultures are also a common view here. Other raptors here include Booted and Golden Eagles, Red Kite and Honey Buzzard (migratory). We will arrive to our new hotel (overnight) in the late afternoon.

Day 7

Some short walks in the high mountain ambient in Cadí-Moixeró NP will let us see some impressive species including Common Rock Thrush, Citril Finch, Water Pipit, Black Redstart, Dunnock, Northern Wheatear, Rock Bunting, Red-billed & Alpine Choughs, Common Crossbill and also raptors like Lammergeier.

At midday we will transfer to Aiguamolls de l’Empordà NP (1.5 hours). This wetland is a wonderful site to spot interesting migratory birds and it is great area to take good images of Squacco Heron, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis or Black-winged Stilt.

Day 8
Full day visiting Aiguamolls. We will look for scarce migratory birds. Spoonbill, Little Gull, White-winged Tern or Red-throated Pipit are some of the species easily appearing. Along with them we will enjoy of some resident or summer birds such as Moustached Warbler, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hen Harrier, European Kingfisher and Pallid Swift.
Birding in this spot will be longer or shorter depending on the timing of your flight. Final transfer to Barcelona International Airport (maximum 2 hours).