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08 – 23 APRIL 2022
By Oliver Reville
The giant Bearded Vulture afforded some of the group brief but incredible views.
Overview
Our 16-day tour of Spain began on the 8th of April 2022, in the ancient city of Seville, and concluded on the 23rd of April 2022 in Barcelona. During the tour we visited many wonderful birding locations including Brazo del Este, Doñana National Park, Monfragüe National Park, Sierra de Gredos, Hoces del Rio Duraton Natural Park, Valles Occidentales, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, and Delta del Llobregat.
Our trip around this beautiful country gave us many exciting species, including Marbled Duck, Laughing Dove, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Red-knobbed Coot, Audouin’s Gull, 23 species of raptors including Bearded Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle, and Bonelli’s Eagle, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, European Roller, Iberian Magpie, White-backed Woodpecker, Dupont’s Lark (heard only), Western Orphean Warbler, Wallcreeper, Black Wheatear, and Citril Finch. A total of 239 bird species were recorded during the tour (five of these were “heard only”). Species lists are at the end of this report.
I would like to thank Ian, Nancy, Sandra, and Urban for their company during the tour and of course Yeray, our Spanish guide, for his excellent knowledge, logistics and planning, from start to finish. A special mention to Fernando and Marc for their fantastic knowledge during our days birding with them in the north of Spain.
As European raptors go, it’s hard to find one more iconic than Spanish Imperial Eagle.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 8th April 2022. Arrival in Seville
The first day of our tour was treated as an arrivals day. Urban, Nancy, Sandra, and Birding Ecotours guide, Oli arrived on the 7th, that left only Ian and our Spanish guide Yeray to arrive on the 8th. In the evening we went to a local restaurant for our welcome meal and to go through our exciting itinerary.
Day 2, 9th April 2022. Birding Brazo del Este, Los Palacios, and around Sanlucar
Today we headed south from Seville into the borderlands of Seville and Cadiz provinces. Our first stop was close to Los Palacios y Villafranca. Our key target being Laughing Dove, an African species only found at this site in Spain, and we were delighted to connect with around five individuals. Other interesting species seen here included Glossy Ibis, European Bee-eater, Garden Warbler, and Common Nightingale, while many others were also seen and heard.
Following a quick pit stop we headed into Brazo del Este. This large area is a wonderful site for waterbirds and they were very much the flavor of our visit here. In total 57 species were seen in just a couple of hours, including Marbled Teal, Western Swamphen, Jack Snipe, Collared Pratincole, Little Gull, multiple tern species, Greater Short-toed Lark, Great Reed Warbler, and Savi’s Warbler.
European Bee-eater proved to be a favorite among the group.
After lunch we headed further south to a series of lagoons near Puerto de Santa Maria. A cooling sea breeze aided our birding and we enjoyed good views of Red-crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Booted Eagle, and quite bizarrely a drake Chiloe Wigeon, surely an escaped bird from a collection!
Finally, we visited the district of Costa Ballena where we enjoyed great views of Mediterranean Gull, including a few stunning adult birds in summer plumage, and a late Common Gull, an interesting record for this time of year. An excellent end to an amazing first day with 98 species recorded by the group.
Day 3, 10th April 2022. Sanlucar de Barrameda to El Rocio
Today we begun with a visit to Europe’s only breeding colony of the beautiful Little Swift. We enjoyed amazing views of these stunning birds as well as educational views of both Common Swift and Pallid Swift. Next, we visited the beach at Playa de Montijo, which proved to be a festival of shorebirds (waders) with Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Grey Plover, and many others. Also present were a good number of Little Tern plus singles of Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, and our first Slender-billed Gull of the day. In nearby scrub we located our first Western Subalpine Warbler of the tour.
After breakfast we headed north to the fantastic Salinas de Bonanza. Interesting species found here included Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, numerous stunning Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, and vast flocks of shorebirds like Sanderling, Dunlin, and Common Ringed Plover. Afterwards, we moved on to the unassuming Lagunas de Camino Colorado. This proved fruitful with great views of White-headed Duck, Squacco Heron, and Western Olivaceous Warbler, plus a flyby male Little Bittern.
The vast flocks of shorebirds (waders) kept our group entertained in the saltpans.
We decided to take our picnic lunch to the Stone Pine woodland of Pinar de La Algaida. Here we enjoyed amazing views of Booted Eagle in display flight, plus our first Short-toed Treecreeper of the trip. Leaving the pines behind we headed for the banks of the Guadalquivir River. This productive area gave us our first Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Red Kite, and Spectacled Warbler of the trip. These were joined by three stunning Montagu’s Harriers plus great views of the recently reclassified Mediterranean Short-toed Lark.
After a long day we headed to our hotel in the Coto Doñana National Park, with Iberian Magpie and Tawny Owl added to the day list, giving us a total of 110 species today, an amazing total.
Day 4, 11th April 2022. El Rocio and Doñana National Park
Today we explored the Doñana National Park, one of Europe’s principal birding sites. We started at Puerto del Ajoli near the town of El Rocio where species of note included Common Cuckoo, Iberian Magpie, Eurasian Penduline Tit, and Eurasian Tree Sparrow, with a distant Eurasian Golden Oriole heard briefly.
We enjoyed great views of Western Swamphen in Doñana National Park.
We then moved on to the marisma (salt marsh) next to El Rocio. Despite the strong winds we enjoyed good views of Greylag Goose, a wild-occurring species here, plus large numbers of Whiskered Terns and Eurasian Coots, with 400 of the latter in a large raft at one end of the lake.
With the wind building, we sought cover in the woods and pools of La Rocina. Here we enjoyed Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Iberian Chiffchaff, and Western Swamphen, plus many other birds.
After lunch we took a short and windy walk where we secured Eurasian Crested Tit as a new species for the tour. With the weather closing in we headed for more woodland with the hope of connecting with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. However, before locating them we searched an open area where we had brief views of Dartford Warbler in the strong winds.
A riverine woodland nearby showed promise for holding Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and it wasn’t long before we enjoyed excellent views of this diminutive species. In the open areas close by we saw some migration in action with good views of Eurasian Wryneck, European Bee-eater, Western Black-eared Wheatear, and Woodchat Shrike, while a pair of Woodlark showed briefly in flight.
Our final stop of the day was the beautiful Dehesa Tornero. This area is well known as a stronghold for Iberian Lynx, but despite extensive searching we were unable to locate any of these extremely rare big cats. However, good birds were aplenty here with the highlight being a stunning hepatic morph Common Cuckoo. After a long and blustery day, we headed back to our hotel to celebrate yet another wonderful day of Spanish birding.
Woodchat Shrike proved confiding, and we enjoyed great views of this stunning bird.
Day 5, 12th April 2022. El Rocio to Monfrague
Today we would finish our birding in Andalusia at the scenic Dehesa de Abajo. The large wetland area held Red-knobbed Coot, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Western Swamphen, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Reed Warbler, and many other wetland species.
After retreating in a downpour, we began our journey north out of Andalusia. The varied weather meant timing our birding stops would be crucial. Our first stop was the stunning rocky surrounds of the town of Hornachos. Here we scored several new species including Thekla’s Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, and a stunning male Black Wheatear.
With the weather closing in once more we continued on and stopped at another rocky outcrop to scan for birds of prey. Despite poor light we enjoyed distant but prolonged views of a Golden Eagle on the top of the rock face, plus a significant number of Griffon Vultures. The real highlight here was a stunning Cinereous Vulture which drifted overhead and gave amazing views.
After a rain-soaked day we arrived at our hotel in the town of Trujillo, a stunning location to finish a long day.
Our views of Cinereous Vulture in Monfrague were just superb.
Day 6, 13th April 2022. Monfrague
Today we took the short journey into the beautiful Monfrague National Park. This is raptor paradise and we secured views of Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Red Kite, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon while in the park.
Other birds of interest here included Blue Rock Thrush, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Rock Bunting, Black Stork, Thekla’s Lark, Dartford Warbler, European Robin, and the superb Western Orphean Warbler.
After a long day we returned to Trujillo where we enjoyed close views of a pair of Eurasian Scops Owl roosting in trees outside our hotel!
Day 7, 14th April 2022. Santa Marta Steppes
Today we enjoyed exploring the Santa Marta steppes region. The morning’s birding was absolutely incredible with amazing views of Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, Montagu’s Harrier, Hen Harrier, and Calandra Lark.
European Roller proved to be one of many star birds in the Santa Marta steppes.
In the afternoon we headed to another area of the steppes where we enjoyed yet more Great Bustards, fine views of Spanish Imperial Eagle and Cinereous Vulture once again, plus prolonged looks at European Roller and Iberian Grey Shrike. Sadly, our search for Great Spotted Cuckoo proved unsuccessful, but this did not detract from what was an incredible day of birding. Our final delight was a pair of stunning Black-winged Kite by the roadside as we headed for our hotel in the Sierra Gredos.
Day 8, 15th April 2022. Sierra Gredos
Today was spent exploring the beautiful Sierra Gredos. Before heading out, we searched the area around our hotel and this gave us Red (Common) Crossbill, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, European Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Carrion Crow, and other forest species.
During our exploration of the stunning La Plataforma high mountain area we saw Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Skylark, White-throated Dipper, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock (the mabbotti subspecies, a recently touted potential split as “Iberian Dunnock”), Water Pipit, and a brief Ortolan Bunting.
Finally, we explored the pine forests at lower altitudes where we enjoyed good views of Citril Finch and Common Firecrest, while the haunting sound of Iberian Green Woodpecker echoed around the forest.
After a long drive we arrived at our hotel in the steppe region north of Madrid.
The beautiful Hoces del Duraton was a scenic backdrop to our birding on Day 9.
Day 9, 16th April 2022. Hoces del Duraton
Today was mostly treated as a travel day as we made the long drive across the north of Spain to the city of Pamplona. Before our journey we visited the stunning Hoces del Rio Duraton to look for Dupont’s Lark. Sadly our search yielded no results but a lovely walk to the hermitage here gave us some new birds for the trip, such as Stock Dove, Red-billed Chough, and Rock Sparrow. We also enjoyed good views of Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, and Blue Rock Thrush.
Our final stop of the day was at Laguna de Pitillas, just south of Pamplona. Sadly, battering winds made birding here very difficult, however brief views of Bearded Reedling were had in the reedbeds near the visitor center. On the lake itself we were able to add Mute Swan to the trip list.
After a long day we arrived at our hotel just outside Pamplona ready to begin our time in the Pyrenees the following day.
Day 10, 17th April 2022. Irati to Echo
Today we would begin our exploration of the Pyrenees Mountains. The main target of our first stop near Irati was the rare White-backed Woodpecker. While one bird was briefly seen by our guides, it failed to show again for the group, despite three hours of searching. Other birds seen here included European Crested Tit, Marsh Tit, Common Firecrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, and a beautiful pair of Eurasian Bullfinch.
Our next stop was a reliable area for Middle Spotted Woodpecker, and this species did not disappoint by giving brief but enjoyable views. One of our guides also found a migrant Merlin nearby. Other notable birds seen during the day included Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and White-throated Dipper.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a rare and localized species in Spain. We were fortunate to enjoy good views.
Day 11, 18th April 2022. Echo, Isaba and a brief foray into France
Today would see us explore the high Pyrenees close to the French border. Our first target would be the iconic Wallcreeper, a highly prized species. While our first stop did not give us our main target it did afford us distant views of Bearded Vulture and a brief flyover Black Woodpecker, seen by some of the group.
It was then time to really target Wallcreeper at our next site and, thanks to the keen eyes of Yeray, we had wonderful views of one high on a rock face for a prolonged period. Other birds seen here included Red-billed Chough and Griffon Vulture.
As we ascended the Pyrenees towards the French border the cloud began to build and this made birding increasingly difficult. However, a brief stop gave us great views of Ring Ouzel and European Pied Flycatcher, both new birds for our trip. Our main target of the French border was Alpine Accentor. Sadly, after a long search, we were unable to locate any in the area in dense fog.
Wallcreeper proved a challenge to locate before finally giving itself up.
On our way down from the mountains we enjoyed the wonderful sight of a male Montagu’s Harrier migrating north, an incredible sight and totally unexpected. Looking to warm up, we descended into the Valles Occidentales, a beautiful area for birding. Here we enjoyed great views of Marsh Tit, Garden Warbler, Eurasian Nuthatch, and Eurasian Treecreeper, a species that is very localized in the Pyrenees.
Our final stop was to look for Bearded Vulture, surrounded by beautiful mountains. Despite our best efforts we were unable to locate any of this species but did see Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red-billed Chough, and a flock of twelve Eurasian Siskins.
Day 12, 19th April 2022. Echo to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Unfortunately today’s birding was severely hampered by rain, with almost the entire day lost to the weather. A brief break did allow us to squeeze in some birding where we had good views of Bearded Vulture and other raptors.
After such a wet day we were glad to arrive at our hotel in the Ordesa National Park.
Day 13, 20th April 2022. Ordesa to Lleida
Once again heavy grey skies loomed over us as we left our hotel. However, once we reached higher altitudes in the national park the impending rain turned quickly to heavy snow. This made walking far more pleasant as we explored the national park with local guide Fernando.
While bird numbers were low, we did learn about the geology and flora of the park and did manage to squeeze in brief views of Common Firecrest and White-throated Dipper. Upon our return to the car park the skies began to lift, revealing brilliant scenery. Overhead we enjoyed good views of a Golden Eagle and briefer views of Black Woodpecker skirting along the forest edge. In the car park itself a pair of Marsh Tit and a Common Chaffinch showed well.
Leaving the park, a large group of Red-billed Choughs caught our attention, sadly no Alpine Chough were found among them. However, we recorded plenty more species here with Alpine Swift, Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture, and Bearded Vulture all giving great views.
The snow in Ordesa provided a stunning, if slightly unseasonable, backdrop.
A vulture feeding station at our next stop was attracting a lot of attention from nearby birds of prey. While approaching the site we had amazing views of an adult Bearded Vulture (see trip report cover image!) over the road and once in position, after yet more heavy rain, we had distant but prolonged views of Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Black Kite, Red Kite, Carrion Crow, and Northern Raven.
With more rain approaching we began our descent towards Lleida, stopping briefly to enjoy a beautiful summer plumage Water Pipit close to our vehicle.
Day 14, 21st April 2022. Lleida
Today our group was accompanied by Marc, a local expert on birding in the Lleida area. Marc’s knowledge of his local area proved valuable, and we were able to add nine new species to our trip list during the day, including Eurasian Stone-curlew, Melodious Warbler, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and the brief song of the mystical Dupont’s Lark.
Our views of Eurasian Eagle-Owl were a sight to behold.
Other notable species seen around Lleida included Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Montagu’s Harrier, Bearded Reedling, Peregrine Falcon, and Whinchat.
In total we recorded a whopping 92 species, our third most productive day of the tour so far.
Day 15, 22nd April 2022. Lleida to Barcelona
Our final day would be spent trying to catch up with some species we had previously missed, and to visit some of the best birding sites around Lleida and Barcelona. The day began with a walk around the village of Alfes, a great location for birding. Despite further effort we were unable to locate Great Spotted Cuckoo, however we did enjoy amazing views of a pair of Long-eared Owl chicks on the nest, a wonderful experience.
Moving out of the village to a nearby plains area gave us great views of many other species, including Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Montagu’s Harrier, Calandra Lark, and a gorgeous male Whinchat.
Our final stop around Lleida was a productive lake area. We enjoyed many of the species seen previously with Northern Goshawk, Black-crowned Night Heron, Eurasian Penduline Tit, and Western Subalpine Warbler being the highlights. However, the best was yet to come and we enjoyed incredible close-range views of Wood Warbler, a migrant species and not one we expected to find on this tour.
Wood Warbler was a wonderful surprise and a new species in Spain for both our guides.
Our final stop of the day, and the tour, was the Delta del Llobregat, a wetland area near Barcelona airport. Our first stop was the beach, and a productive sea watch gave us Pomarine Jaeger (Pomarine Skua), Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skua), Balearic Shearwater, Northern Gannet, and Audouin’s Gull.
Further exploration of the site gave us Eurasian Teal and beautiful views of Garganey as new species for the tour, and we once again enjoyed wonderful close-range views of Wood Warbler, with a Western Bonelli’s Warbler thrown in for good measure.
After another productive day with exactly 100 species recorded, we headed to our hotel for the final meal and discussed the ‘Bird of the Trip’. On this occasion the decision was straightforward, with Wallcreeper being voted as the group’s outright bird of the trip. A good, but tough choice!
Day 16, 23rd April 2022. Tour conclusion
After breakfast together we went our separate ways as the tour came to its conclusion.
Bird List – Following IOC (12.1)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Greylag Goose | Anser anser |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor |
| Common Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula |
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Eurasian Teal | Anas crecca |
| Marbled Duck | Marmaronetta angustirost |
| Red-crested Pochard | Netta rufina |
| Common Pochard – VU | Aythya ferina |
| Ferruginous Duck | Aythya nyroca |
| White-headed Duck | Oxyura leucocephala |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Common Quail (H) | Coturnix coturnix |
| Red-legged Partridge | Alectoris rufa |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Alpine Swift | Tachymarptis melba |
| Common Swift | Apus apus |
| Pallid Swift | Apus pallidus |
| Little Swift | Apus affinis |
| Bustards (Otididae) | |
| Great Bustard – VU | Otis tarda |
| Little Bustard – NT | Tetrax tetrax |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
| Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) | |
| Pin-tailed Sandgrouse | Pterocles alchata |
| Black-bellied Sandgrouse | Pterocles orientalis |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia |
| Stock Dove | Columba oenas |
| Common Wood Pigeon | Columba palumbus |
| European Turtle Dove | Streptopelia turtur |
| Eurasian Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto |
| Laughing Dove | Spilopelia senegalensis |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra |
| Red-knobbed Coot | Fulice cristata |
| Western Swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus |
| Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
| Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) | |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus |
| Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | |
| Eurasian Stone-curlew | Burhinus oedicnemus |
| Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus |
| Pied Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Grey Plover | Pluvialis squatarola |
| Common Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula |
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres |
| Red Knot | Calidris canutus |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta |
| Jack Snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae | |
| Collared Pratincole | Glareola pratincola |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Slender-billed Gull | Chroicocephalus genei |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
| Little Gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus |
| Audouin’s Gull – VU | Ichthyaetus audouinii |
| Mediterranean Gull | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus |
| Common Gull | Larus canus |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus |
| Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon nilotica |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger |
| Skuas (Stercorariidae) | |
| Pomarine Jaeger (Pomarine Skua) | Stercorarius pomarinus |
| Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skua) | Stercorarius parasiticus |
| Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae) | |
| Balearic Shearwater | Puffinus mauretanicus |
| Storks (Ciconiidae) | |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra |
| White Stork | Ciconia ciconia |
| Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae) | |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus |
| Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
| Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) | |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Little Bittern | Ixobrychus minutus |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Squacco Heron | Ardeola ralloides |
| Western Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Ospreys (Pandionidae) | |
| Western Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Bearded Vulture | Gypaetus barbatus |
| Egyptian Vulture | Neophron percnopterus |
| Griffon Vulture | Gyps fulvus |
| Cinereous Vulture | Aegypius monachus |
| Short-toed Snake Eagle | Circaetus gallicus |
| Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus |
| Spanish Imperial Eagle – VU | Aquila adalberti |
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Bonelli’s Eagle | Aquila fasciata |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipter gentillis |
| Western Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus |
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus |
| Montagu’s Harrier | Circus pygargus |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Little Owl | Athene noctua |
| Eurasian Scops Owl | Otus scops |
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus |
| Eurasian Eagle-Owl | Bubo bubo |
| Tawny Owl | Strix aluco |
| Hoopoes (Upupidae) | |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops |
| Rollers (Coraciidae) | |
| European Roller | Coracias garrulus |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Eurasian Wryneck | Jynx torquilla |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocoptes medius |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | Dryobates minor |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopous major |
| White-backed Woodpecker | Dendrocopos leucotos |
| Black Woodpecker | Dryocopus martius |
| Iberian Green Woodpecker | Picus sharpei |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| Lesser Kestrel | Falco naumanni |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae) | |
| Monk Parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Rose-ringed Parakeet | Psittacula krameri |
| Shrikes (Laniidae) | |
| Iberian Grey Shrike | Lanius meridionalis |
| Woodchat Shrike | Lanius senator |
| Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra (Oriolidae) | |
| Eurasian Golden Oriole | Oriolus oriolus |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius |
| Iberian Magpie | Cyanopica cooki |
| Eurasian Magpie | Pica pica |
| Red-billed Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax |
| Western Jackdaw | Coloeus monedula |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone |
| Northern Raven | Corvus corax |
| Tits, Chickadees (Paridae) | |
| Coal Tit | Periparus ater |
| European Crested Tit | Lophophanes cristatus |
| Marsh Tit | Poecile palustris |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus |
| Great Tit | Parus major |
| Penduline Tits (Remizidae) | |
| Eurasian Penduline Tit | Remiz pendulinus |
| Bearded Reedling (Panuridae) | |
| Bearded Reedling | Panurus biarmicus |
| Larks (Alaudidae) | |
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea |
| Eurasian Skylark | Alauda arvensis |
| Thekla’s Lark | Galerida theklae |
| Crested Lark | Galerida cristata |
| Greater Short-toed Lark | Calandrella brachydactyla |
| Calandra Lark | Melanocorypha calandra |
| Dupont’s Lark (H) | Chersophilus duponti |
| Mediterranean Short-toed Lark | Alaudala rufescens |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia |
| Eurasian Crag Martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Common House Martin | Delichon urbicum |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica |
| Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae) | |
| Cetti’s Warbler | Cettia cetti |
| Bushtits (Aegithalidae) | |
| Long-tailed Tit | Aegithalos caudatus |
| Leaf Warblers & Allies (Phylloscopidae) | |
| Wood Warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix |
| Western Bonelli’s Warbler | Phylloscopus bonelli |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus |
| Common Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus ibericus |
| Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae) | |
| Great Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaeceus |
| Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus |
| Eurasian Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| Western Olivaceous Warbler | Iduna opaca |
| Melodious Warbler | Hippolais polyglotta |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Savi’s Warbler | Locustella luscinioides |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Zitting Cisticola | Cisticola juncidis |
| Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae) | |
| Eurasian Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla |
| Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin |
| Western Orphean Warbler | Curruca hortensis |
| Sardinian Warbler | Curruca melanocephala |
| Western Subalpine Warbler | Curruca hortensis |
| Common Whitethroat | Curruca communis |
| Spectacled Warbler | Curruca conspicillata |
| Dartford Warbler | Curruca undata |
| Goldcrests, Kinglets (Regulidae) | |
| Common Firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla |
| Goldcrest (H) | Regulus regulus |
| Wrens (Troglodytidae) | |
| Eurasian Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes |
| Nuthatches (Sittidae) | |
| Eurasian Nuthatch | Sitta europaea |
| Wallcreeper (Tichodromidae) | |
| Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria |
| Treecreepers (Certhiidae) | |
| Eurasian Treecreeper | Certhia familiaris |
| Short-toed Treecreeper | Certhia brachydactyla |
| Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) | |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Spotless Starling | Sturnus unicolor |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Song Thrush | Turdus philomelos |
| Mistle Thrush | Turdus viscivorus |
| Common Blackbird | Turdus merula |
| Ring Ouzel | Turdus torquatus |
| Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) | |
| European Robin | Erithacus rubecula |
| Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos |
| European Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca |
| Black Redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros |
| Common Redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus |
| Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius |
| Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra |
| European Stonechat | Saxicola rubicola |
| Northern Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe |
| Western Black-eared Wheatear | Oenanthe hispanica |
| Black Wheatear | Oenanthe leucura |
| Dippers (Cinclidae) | |
| White-throated Dipper | Cinclus cinclus |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Rock Sparrow | Petronia petronia |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| Spanish Sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae) | |
| Black-headed Weaver | Ploceus melanocephalus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Common Waxbill | Estrilda astrild |
| Accentors (Prunellidae) | |
| Dunnock | Prunella modularis |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Western Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba |
| Tawny Pipit | Anthus campestris |
| Meadow Pipit | Anthus pratensis |
| Tree Pipit (H) | Anthus trivialis |
| Water Pipit | Anthus spinoletta |
| Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) | |
| Common Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs |
| Eurasian Bullfinch | Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
| European Greenfinch | Chloris chloris |
| Common Linnet | Linaria cannabina |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis |
| Citril Finch | Carduelis citronella |
| European Serin | Serinus serinus |
| Eurasian Siskin | Spinus spinus |
| Buntings (Emberizidae) | |
| Corn Bunting | Emberiza calandra |
| Yellowhammer (H) | Emberiza citronella |
| Rock Bunting | Emberiza cia |
| Ortolan Bunting | Emberiza hortulana |
| Cirl Bunting | Emberiza cirlus |
| Total seen | 234 |
| Total heard only | 5 |
| Total recorded | 239 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Dogs (Canidae) | |
| Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes |
| Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae) | |
| European Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| (Spanish) Red Deer | Cervus elaphus hispanicus |
| Bovids (Bovidae) | |
| Iberian Ibex (Gredos) | Capra pyrenaica victoriae |
| Total | 4 |
Reptile List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Pond Turtles (Emydidae) | |
| Spanish Pond Turtle | Mauremys leprosa |
| Wall/True Lizards (Lacertidae) | |
| Large Psammodromus | Psammodromus algirus |
| Total | 2 |
Crustacean List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Semiterrestrial Crabs (Ocypodidae) | |
| European Fiddler Crab | Afruca tangeri |
| Total | 1 |
Please see the downloadable PDF above with the full species lists included. This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
