We know, and we apologize. We haven’t appeared on the blog for months now. Now, it’s not as an excuse, but rather as information, that we can tell you we have been very busy working on a new Birding In Spain Tour brochure, and a great competition where prizes can be won every month. Additionally, there will be a Big Year Prize at the end of those 12 months, with the option of winning a place on one of our Wonderful Winter Tours Winter wallcreeper tour info (1) to take place in 2019 or 2012.
Want to know more? Then get in touch via e-mail, or follow Birding In Spain on Facebook. There will be competition announcements on Twitter and Instagram, as well as on this blog.
The shy and elusive Dupont’s Lark sings mostly at dawn. It gets you up before the sunrise, when your world is still unsure of what the day will bring.
Javier managed to capture the perfect pose. The Dupont’s Lark that we’d all like to see when we look for it, and which is so hard to come by. My focus was mostly on the background, and a sunny glow.
Great Crested Grebes, by Colin
Here I focused in on the birds. You can see that they’re on water, but the background is unnatural. They only have eyes for each other at this moment. Witnessing birds dancing for each other is just sublime.
Little Egret, by Adam.
A white bird in the water, enshrouded in mist but with a strange golden reflection on its plumage. The mist has cleared for us for a moment, and maybe for the egret too, as it readies to stab at a little fish.
For a long time in my middle childhood and through to the end of my teenage years, from the moment I came into possession of my first colour guide to the birds of Britain and Europe, I would pass many an hour perusing through its pages, seeking out my ten “most wanted” birds. Under those all-too-often grey skies and the winter twilight of my semi-suburban southern England I was comforted in my personal quest for the exuberant forms, but mostly for the colour, that many of the exotic-looking birds therein had to offer their beholder.
Bee-eaters Merops apiaster
There, in the bedroom I shared with my younger brother, while he lay on his back sifting through the back issues of our joint collection of Marvel comics, I was busy drawing up a mental list of the species that I just had to see at some time in my life. The Wrneck- just look at that intricate plumage pattern! The Redstart and the Pied Flycatcher – what combinations of colours! The Bearded Tit – that sleek, blue-grey head with the Fu Manch moustache, wow! It would be an insult to nature not to try and see these birds. And then there was the assemblage of birds which inhabited what seemed to me at the time to be the far-flung corners of the Old Continent: the Roller, the Hoopoe and, of course, the brilliant Bee-eater.
Some photographers are gifted with both the vision and the technical craft needed to materialize that vision, along with the doses of luck and charm that often influence those key moments that they manage to capture.
They are few, however. Without going into names, of the dozens of wildlife photographers who I have met, I can think of half a dozen or so…
Others – most of the rest – have very good technical skills and knowledge; they can interpret the light and the way that it interacts with the bird and the landscape, but they don’t come with the clear image in their mind of the photograph that they want to take.
I’m not a photographer – I’ve never been able to afford the time or the expense. My forte is that I know the birds: how they move, how they behave, where they go, what they do, how they interact with sky, water, trees, grass, rocks and more. I have little technical know-how as far as photography is concerned, but I know when an image or a photograph really captures that ethereal conjuncture, elements which fleetingly resonate at just the right frequency to create a new whole.
That’s why I’ve dedicated some time to looking at many bird photos photographers have shared with me, and taken the liberty to “tinker” with them on Photoshop. Again, my technical know-how is limited; perhaps my only skill is in recognising the juxtaposition of the image that I am seeking when it suddenly appears before me after much rumaging around with filters and settings.
Anyway, these are some of the results. There is no spirit of apology for calling it art because I have uncovered a vision that would have otherwise gone unnoticed; a vision that only I have seen. There is no spirit of arrogance in it, because I make no attempt to hide the fact that my contribution is only a small part of the chain, and that my tinkerings would be impossible without the foundations first laid down by the very capable photographers.
Art or not, whatever you think, I’m sure that you must share at least a fraction of the sense of awe and admiration that I have for the beauty of birds.
Griffon Vultures by Ozlem
The wealth of social interactions that flocks of Griffon Vultures offer at feeding stations is quite unique. Get past the superficiality of “ugliness” and “vulgarity” and look them in the eye as they do the same to each other.
Bonelli’s Eagle by Jari
Bonelli’s Eagles stand alone, and often for a long time! I’ve watched these birds sitting in one place, seemingly doing nothing, for over an hour. However, when the vultures intrude on their territory they do not hesitate to launch a fierce aerial attack. I’ve seen these eagles do similar, although the stress showed by their breaking of their habitual silence, when a Golden Eagle flew into the heart of their territory. It didn’t stay long.
Sanderlings scurrying along the wave front.
What an intense way of life! Constantly scurrying between the breaking waves to pick up tiny morsels of food that only these birds can see, let alone catch. Their ceaseless to and froing follows the rhythm of the waves.
Pin-tailed sandgrouse take to flight in the Bárdenas Reales
We think you may have missed this the first time round, so…
NEW! From Birding In Spain…
An exciting new Midsummer tour in Spain, with …
… Birds
Wallcreepers are one of the star attractions
Alpine or Yellow-billed Chough. Photo by Franck Renard
Imagine those high altitude species – Wallcreeper, Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor and Snow Finch – almost at your feet!
Spanish Imperial Eagle. Photo by Dirk van de Peer.
Raptors include Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black Vulture and European Honey Buzzard.
The sierra de Gredos has dehesa, rock slopes, forests, valleys and mountain passes, and lots of birds!
Red-backed Shrike. Photo by Colin Bradshaw
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
Rock Bunting. Photo by Colin
Western bonelli’s Warbler. Photo by Colin
And down on the plains…
Great Bustard. Photo by Johan
Bustards, sandgrouse, larks, Montagu’s Harriers and more.
… and Butterflies
Western Marbled White. Photo by Susan Hengeveld.
On our trial tour in June 2022 we identified over 50 species of butterfly without trying too hard. There’ll be no rest for butterfly enthusiasts!
… and Stunning Scenery …
Picos de Europa view
Picos de Europa view
Here you will enjoy some of the best mountain scenery in Spain
And all the rest that goes to make for an unforgettable tour…
Good hotels with local flavour
Good food and wine
The right pace
Well-planned logistics
Professional guiding
Good weather? (please!)
Central Spain tour map
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday in very capable hands. Because we’re serious about your free time.
** Bear in mind that we can also tailor any tour we offer to suit private tours for couples or group tours of 4 people or more. The main benefit to you of having more people in your group is, well, being with your friends!
Dates: 14th to 21st June
Tour price – 1775 euros
It’s hard to believe, but there are still places available on this unique bird, butterfly and nature tour! Contact us to find out more.
We shared the birds last spring, with people like you …
Birding with Birding In Spain
Birding together, Birding In Spain
· Vreni from Switzerland: 4 days based near Lleida in early March
· Len and Lucy from North Carolina USA: 12-day Spring across Spain tour in March, with almost 200 species, from the Ebro Delta, to the Pyrenees, to Doñana and Tarifa, linked by the fast train.
· Michiel and two friends from the Netherlands: five days guided birding from Lleida. They were amazed at the variety of birds they saw, 174 species in all.
Kath and Mick from the UK: two-week northeast Spain tour in late April. Plains and mountains, orchids galore. Theirs was the last Wallcreeper before they ascended to their breeding haunts high up the mountains.
· North Staffs RSPB group, UK: the long-awaited tour of Catalonia, based at two centres – Lleida and Cambrils. Their hotel at Cambrils had Golden Orioles and Red-necked Nightjars from the balcony!
· Indiana University, USA: In mid-May the weather spiked at 38ºC near Seville for the first day of our Spring across Spain Tour with 6 participants from Indiana! Nevertheless, the southern leg of the tour was a huge success, and in all over 200 species of birds and around 50 species of butterflies were recorded.
Cliff and Judith, UK: In late June we did our first Central Spain Tour together. Great birds of the mountains, plains and dehesas and unbeatable scenery.
Most birders arriving in Spain from other countries arrive by plane. This is through flights to Barcelona or Madrid airport usually, although some may arrive at Málaga, Sevilla, Bilbao, or one of the smaller airports, depending on where they hail from.
Then, they either hire a car, or wait to be picked up by their guide or tour leader. Very few visiting birders ever think about getting the train.
To get to Spain can pass through from France by train, but this article is aimed more at travelling around the fast train network within mainland Spain.
AVE Fast train in Spain
The Spanish national railway network is run by the national company, Renfe. Their website is the one to consult to get train prices, schedules and to plan and book your journeys. Have a look at www.Renfe.com to see how it works. You can see the web in English if you desire.
One disadvantage of this easy to navigate site is that you can’t book trains for more than 3 months in advance, so bear that in mind.
There’s another thing too: the different types of trains may be confusing to the travelling birder. That’s easily remedied …
AVE – This stands for “Alta Velocidad Española” and coincidentally “ave” is also “bird” in Spanish! How about that, eh? A good omen, surely.
AVE trains are the fastest and most modern, and usually the most expensive too. The AVE can reach speeds of just over 300km/h, which means it can do the trajectory Barcelona – Madrid in 2hours 30 minutes (500km) or Lleida (where we live) to Sevilla in around 4hours 30 minutes (735km, or approximately 10 hours by road).
It’s a challenge to identify birds at that speed, but even so I always try to book a window seat and give it a go …
Black Kite at 300km/h
One advantage of the AVE trains is their punctuality compromise, which I have benefitted from on two occasions, once when my train was late by 40 minutes, and another by just over an hour (full money back on both occasions). Then they usually have a cafeteria carriage, and if you don’t mind the slightly higher prices for beverages in paper cups you can be sure to get the caffeine hit you may need to continue your journey once you get to the station.
Spanish intercity train network
Then there’s also Alvia and Avant. These are essentially cheaper versions of the AVE. Alvia uses both the high speed and the normal network, while Avant uses only the high speed one. Both are usually lower priced than the AVE, but that may depend on demand and the timing. Worth checking out when available. There are also Intercity and regional express trains, but that’s another story …
Our Spring across Spain tour (you can find it in our brochure here) is unique in that it connects the northeast and the southwest of Spain birding areas with the fast train between Sevilla and Zaragoza. Check it out …enjoy the birds AND the journey.
An excerpt from Flying over the Pyrenees, standing on the plains
Even before I had reached him I heard the calls ringing out in the clear blue sky, and so I realized what he had seen. I lifted him in my arms so the little guy could get a better look at what he had so astutely observed: a flock of about one hundred Common Cranes approaching from the south in their typical V-formation, emitting loud, trumpeting and bugling calls. We watched in silence as they circled around, gaining height, and then straightened their course to continue northwards over the roof of our block of flats.
An excerpt from the book “Flying over the Pyrenees, standing on the plains”
And what did the English come up with? Puffed with pride as possessors of a language with the richest vocabulary in the world, unrestrained by the anachronistic dictates of a fogy old Royal Language Academy, doted with the flexibility and hybrid vigour resulting from close contact with hundreds of different cultures, they produced … wait for it … Short-toed Eagle. How inspired! What an incredibly poetic, evocative name! Images of a stately pale bird sailing effortlessly over the mountain tops jump to my mind every time I pick up the nail-clippers.
Why should I consider northeast Spain for my next bird tour?
Northeast Spain we interpret as Catalonia, Aragon and Navarra
Birding itineraries in northeast Spain
Catalonia has the coastline – Costa Brava, Costa Daurada, and the Ebro Delta. Follow the Ebro River inland past rocky mountains and gallery woodland and you get to the edge of the Ebro Valley drylands. Further north you have the Pre-Pyrenees, and the Pyrenees.
Aragón has the central Ebro Valley, the Pre-Pyrenees and Pyrenees. Navarra has the western part of the same.
But that’s not all…
There’s Mediterranean scrubland, inland wetlands and rivers, rock faces and escarpments.
Along the coast, in particular at the Ebro Delta the birds you can find are Greater Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Purple Swamphen, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Savi’s Warbler, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull, waders, terns, gulls, herons and wildfowl.
Inland gallery woodland has Wryneck, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Penduline Tit, Eurasian Hobby and Golden Oriole.
Search the Ebro Valley drylands and plains for a host of special birds, which include Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark and Dupont’s Lark, Spectacled Warbler, Little Owl, European Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black-eared Wheatear and Iberian Grey Shrike. Rocky slopes nearby may be home to Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow and Rock Bunting.
Birding couple in the Pyrenees of Aragón. Aren’t you a little bit envious?
In the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees you can find Bearded Vulture, Black Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, Alpine Chough, Citril Finch, White-backed Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, among many others.
Then on the scrub and slopes look for Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Dartford Warbler, Egyptian Vulture, Eurasian Hoopoe.
For a closer look check out the detailed itineraries on our website: here
And if you’re looking for something in addition to the birds then … Barcelona, Pamplona, the Costa Brava, adenture sports, cycling, wine, extra virgin olive oil, and so much more.
A bird guide is about finding and identifying birds, right? And you are good at identifying birds, so you don’t need a guide, right?
Hmm…
Do you know all the birds’ calls?
Do you know the birds’ habitat and how they use it?
Do you know how they interact with other species?
Do you know how their movements are timed throughout the year?
Do you know if the habitat or the bird is still there?
Then there are other considerations …
How to design the most efficient itinerary, getting the most birds for the least time and effort while maintaining a pace that suits you
How to drive on Spanish roads full of Spanish drivers and road signs
Where it may not be safe to park or leave a vehicle
Do you know all the tracks and back roads?
Do you have alternative sites for the species you came to see?
Can you speak the language for whatever occasion (and don’t be surprised but a lot of people don’t speak English)
Do you know what is private property and what is not?
Then, a good birding guide with roots in the country and culture will also have extensive knowledge of
Food and drink
History and culture
What else is there to see or to do apart from the birds
Where to stop for a good coffee and croissant or sandwich
Birding in Spain with your group and our guide
So in our opinion the question shouldn’t be whether you can afford a guide, but rather whether you can afford to come on the holiday of a lifetime and not to have one.
