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Bird watching in Spain

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Bird watching in Spain

Within easy reach of Madrid, there are mountains, plains, steppe lakes and forest which are home to a fantastic diversity of wildlife and birds. Spanish Imperial Eagles, Great Bustards, Black Storks, Bluethroats, Dupont’s Larks, Western Orphean Warblers, Bonelli’s Eagles, Black Vultures and many more of Europe’s rarest birds can be watched in this unspoilt landscape, just a two hour flight from the UK.

Zamora and the plains of Villafafila, with its huge population of Great Bustards. There are good populations of Montagu’s Harriers and Lesser Kestrels too, all taking advantage of the more traditional land uses which allow wildlife to thrive. On the lakes, a multitude of wetland birds include Gull-billed Terns, Avocets and various passage waders. At the valley of the Duero River. Here, amid dramatic gorges,see nesting Bonelli’s Eagles and Black Storks.

Search for Bluethroats, Ortolan Buntings, Rock Thrush and Citril Finch, as well as Spanish Ibex. We shall also visit Monfrague National Park, one of Spain’s premier raptor breeding areas, You may see Spanish Imperial Eagle and Black Vulture at the nest, as well as a host of other species including Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Eagle Owl and maybe even White-rumped Swift.

ZAMORA AND THE PLAINS

The open plains around Villafafila. This area has one of the largest concentrations of Great Bustards in the world. A scan from almost any fixed point produces sightings of up to fifty Great Bustards; many are displaying males. Other steppic species include Lesser Kestrel (which are benefiting from an extensive nest-box programme), Montagu’s Harrier, White Stork, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Quail, Stone Curlew, Calandra Lark, Hoopoe, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Pipit, Southern Grey Shrike, Black-eared Wheatear and Rock Sparrow. There are small numbers of Little Bustards in the area too, but they can be difficult to find.

Huge steppe lakes at Villafafila offer spectacular birding. High water levels and abundant birdlife. There are hundreds of Black-winged Stilts and Avocets, plus smaller numbers of Little Grebe, Gadwall, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Gull-billed Tern and Whiskered Tern.

Rio Duero. The Duero forms the border between Portugal and Spain and is quite remote. Spectacular river cliffs and gorges are home to breeding Black Storks as well as a suite of raptors including Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Peregrine and numerous Griffon Vultures. Thekla Lark is common, as is Rock Bunting, Subalpine Warbler, Spotless Starling, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow and Crag Martin. We have also seen Western Orphean Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Hawfinch, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Black-eared Wheatear here.

Dupont’s Lark. They are infamous for only singing during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, and their terrestrial habits make them very difficult to see. Hear them, they have a wonderful song and the habitat of hillsides covered in lavender and dwarf broom is beautiful in its own right.

Holm Oak woods for Azure-winged Magpies, and a reed-fringed lake for Great Reed Warblers, Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles and Melodious Warblers. Scops Owl and perhaps even a few Long-eared Owls.

SIERRA DE GREDOS AND MONFRAGUE
The Sierra de Gredos is a magnificent mountainous area just west of Madrid. See Bluethroats in the stunted junipers and Ortolan in the broom at lower elevations. The Bluethroats are quite interesting, in that most have no white spot on the throat.

Citril Finches can be found in nearby open woodland. Other specialities of the area such as Scops Owl, European Nightjar, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Crossbill, Dartford Warbler, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Crested Tit and the Iberian forms of Pied Flycatcher and Green Woodpecker. This is also one of the best places for seeing Spanish Ibex.

The hills and valleys of Monfrague offer what will be, for some, the highlight of the trip.See birds of prey at very close range amongst beautiful scenery. Watch a Spanish Imperial Eagle eyrie. The rare Black Vulture can be seen nesting in trees on a hillside.

Peregrine, Short-toed, Booted and Bonelli's Eagles are all regularly seen also Golden Eagle to complete the set. Black Wheatears share the rocky terrain with Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart.

Navarre- Birdwatching
Navarre is located at an ecological crossroads that brings together Atlantic, Alpine and Mediterranean elements. This leads to a rich and surprisingly varied biological diversity that includes different habitats and numerous bird species.

Bird-watching enthusiasts will soon have their own section in this portal where they will be able to find a wide range of information on bird observatories, trails and ideal observation points, many of them located in the most emblematic protected areas in Navarre. An Information Network on Ornithological Tourism in Navarre, as well as a selection of accommodation and activity companies, will offer you specialised services so that you can plan your trips and itineraries all year round.

In Navarre, you will find over 330 bird species, 250 of which are regularly present in the region. In the high mountains you will see the Bearded Vulture, Tengmalm's Owl or the Citril Finch. In rocky crags you will find the Golden Eagle, the Griffon Vulture or the Peregrine Falcon. In the Atlantic forests there are species such as the Red Kite, the White-backed Woodpecker and the Wryneck. Mediterranean woods and environments are inhabited by the Short-toed Eagle, the Bee-eater, the Golden Oriole and the Spotless Starling. In wetland areas and rivers the Night Heron, the Purple Heron or Cetti's Warbler can be seen. The steppes in the south of the region are home to the Little Bustard, the Lesser Kestrel or the Spectacled Warbler.

The advantage of this great ornithological variety is that there are bird watching seasons and locations of interest all year round. In winter, you can observe the roosts of Red Kites and Marsh Harriers and the migratory movements of waterfowl. The arrival of spring heralds the migration of waterfowl and African birds and the mating of steppe birds. Summer is the perfect time to visit vulture colonies and observe the migration of birds of prey through mountain passes in the Pyrenees. Autumn is particularly interesting for the large migrations of geese, cranes and pigeons.

Send an e-mail to birding@navarra.es for more information on Navarre as a bird watching destinati

Welcome to Birdwatching in Southern Spain

Andalucia has much more under the sun than flamenco music and impressive Moorish cities and culture. Almost one-fifth of Andalucia's total area has protected status, with the variety of habitats, from wetlands to desert, making it an interesting place for bird-watching. Andalucia and bird-watching are one - whether you are on holiday or a resident.

Birdwise, something always happens in Andalucia. Many birds return much earlier after winter because of the moderate Mediterranean climate. Migration can be followed throughout the year, with peak numbers present in spring and autumn. The Tarifa area is a prime location for all migratory birds. It is said that the number of birds in transit in that area is higher than the number passing the Bosporus in Greece, and the fact that the famous Coto DoÒana is one of the most important wetlands in Europe makes it even more worth a visit. Let's make a birding journey to a few important areas here in southern Spain. Enjoy your trip and succes with birdwatching.

Note: During summer the Marismas become partly dry and in some dry years water levels might be extremely low and Waterfowl absent.

At Pentecost more than one million people visit the village of El Rocio to celebrate Nuestra SeÒora del Rocio - which means accommodation is scarce. A section of the route also crosses DoÒana itself - the only time of the year when it is open to the public. For bird-watchers, then, this is not the best time to visit.

Sign at one of the receptions, Cautious for passing Linx.
Although you would be extremely lucky spotting one!

Donana National Park's significance was recognised with its classification by UNESCO as a "Biosphere Reserve". Imperial Eagles breed here and a small population of the Spanish Linx also survives. DoÒana is closed to the public and is only used for scientific purposes. However, it is possible to make a 70-kilometre trip in resilient buses and four-wheel-drive vehicles. Arranged by a private company, the trips can be booked a day before at the Acebuche reception. This is a good place to start to explore the park and provides an excellent glimpse of the different habitats. Even though it is not really a bird-watching trip, and you are driven around for four hours with only a few stops, it is well worth it.

SIERRA DE GRAZALEMA

Watching the locals for the first time, it seems surprising that many of them are carrying umbrellas, It is not strange, however, when you learn that the average annual rainfall is 2,223 millimetres- making the village of Grazalema one of the wettest places in Spain. Grazalema itself is one of the renowned "white villages" and more of these villages can be found in this area. The small roads that connect these villages are good routes to see Raptors. Sierra de Grazalema actually belongs to the western part of Sierra de Ronda. It is famed for the presence of the rare pinsapos (Spanish fir) - thanks to the micro-climate. Unlike other sites in Spain, it is cool and wet throughout summer. The Spanish fir woods are well preserved and an entry card is required to visit some areas.

It is of interest for bird-watchers because of the high density of Eagles. Golden Eagles breed here, albeit in small number. It is thought that the high numbers of Bonellis Eagles prevent breeding of Golden Eagles. In recent years, the Spanish Ibex has extended its area from Serrania de Ronda to this mountain range.

SERRANIA DE RONDA

Ronda, which is 15 kilometres from Grazalema, is another good site to look for birds in this mountain range, although the aforementioned has higher densities. The village of Ronda itself is divided by a deep gorge spanned by a bridge. We therefore are able to see Lesser Kestrels and other cliff-nesting birds such as Rock Doves, Alpine Swifts and Alpine Coughs. Peregrines also are common. The Vultures of Ronda have disappeared but, on the other hand, a recent project encouraged the reintroduction of Storks by creating nesting possibilities.

Also of interest are the valleys west of Ronda, Sierra de Libar, which are divided by the Guadiaro river. This area holds numerous Raptors and the Passerines, especially the Scrub Warblers, should not be overlooked. Sierra de Grazalema and Serrania de Ronda extend over a huge area. It is best to concentrate on one area, such as Grazalema or Sierra de Libar. The tourist town of Ronda offers excellent places to stay during the night, and Grazalema has a fine camping area at the end of the village, coming from Ronda.

MONTES DE MALAGA

These are two different areas - one a river-mouth consisting of fresh water and brackish pools close to the sea, the other a mountain site covered mostly with pines and cork oaks, where several tracks lead through the woods. The Montes de Malaga are famed for the presence of Chameleon, which are extremely difficult to find. Some streams contain yellow Wagtails from the Iberian breeds and Passerines are abundant along these small streams, especially during winter when residents are accompanied by northern species such as Thrushes, Redwings and, sometimes, Ring Ouzels. The Firecrest is often seen as are all Tits. Nightingales and Cuckoos can be heard in summer, Golden Orioles fly by and some Raptors are present, including the Short-toed Eagle and Booted Eagle and Buzzards and Sparrow Hawks in the summer. This is a nice area to visit, but it is best done early in the morning, and avoiding weekends when hundreds of people have their barbecues in the mountains and along the streams.

How to find it?

From Malaga take the A7 in direction Cadiz just behind Malaga look for the Urbanisation Guadalmar (West of Malaga). From there you go south to the beach, up to Calle Guadalhorce where you will find a passage for passing the river into the reserve

GUADALHORCE river-mouth

This is an excellent site for people who booked a Costa del Sol holiday accompanied by non-birding family members. A good compromise is to enjoy some bird-watching while the others are sunbathing on the beach of the same park. This can be done perfectly on a day-trip as even a short visit uncovers numerous species. I visit this area regularly and there is often something special (see reports).

The area consists mainly of a few fresh-water and brackish pools close to the sea. The ponds have originated from former gravel extractions but the area is now a nature park. Occasionally, after heavy rains, the area is flooded but this does not occur often. The species are the typical ones: Kentish Plover breed; Osprey appear during migration; and wintering Booted Eagles also are present. You can expect rare species at all times of the year, such as the Western Reef Heron in 1996, and the Feruginous Duck. The Bengal Terns and all the other Terns also appear. In winter there are colonies of Cormorants and Blue Herons and some years a Short-eared Owl stays in the area for a few weeks. Fan-tailed Warblers breed commonly and, in contrast to other places, are highly visible. Breeding around the ponds are the Great Reed Warbler and Reed warbler. Little Bittern also breed and there are many migrating Squaco Herons.

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