![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220424_095319.jpg?resize=220%2C293&ssl=1\")
Yellow Bee Orchids Ophrys lutea<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Kathie among the orchids<\/p><\/div>\n Scarce swallowtail<\/p><\/div>\n Here is Kathie’s meticulous and complete report.<\/p>\n NORTHERN SPAIN Navarra-Aragon 19 April – 2 May 2022 A two-week trip arranged and guided by Steve West (Birding in Spain steve@birdinginspain.com) for just the two of us to explore Navarra, Aragon and a little of Catalonia. In 2017 we\u2019d had a very successful trip with Steve to the Picos region, concentrating on bears and wolves, and we knew Steve would again give us exactly what we wanted (he did!) Our interests are wide and we took things at a relaxed pace in order to enjoy all wildlife rather than concentrating solely on birds. Steve knows these areas well and we built up impressive lists with 177 bird species (without much effort on our part!) at least 13 orchid species, 31 butterflies and plenty more. We opted for lunch \u2018on the go\u2019, happy to get by on cheese, ham, fruit, allowing us to spend more time out and about with just an occasional stop for coffee or tea. The weather wasn\u2019t good with rain, lots of cloud and often a cold wind. Fresh snow fell on the higher ground and snowploughs were clearing passes into France; we also had a couple of foggy mornings, but slowly it improved towards the end of the trip although it remained very cool. We stayed in three areas, south of Pamplona, Roncal Valley and Sierra de Guara. All hotels were family-run and very good with comfortable rooms, excellent food and very friendly, accommodating staff. Everything worked well and we had a thoroughly enjoyable trip – roll on the next one!<\/p>\n ITINERARY BIRDS<\/p>\n Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus PLANTS all identifications are tentative Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes group. Birthwort Aristolochia pistolochia FUNGI MAMMALS<\/p>\n Red Fox Vulpes vulpes 2 Roncal Valley INVERTEBRATES all identifications are tentative REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS<\/p>\n Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus Ocellated Lizard Timon Lepidus DAILY SUMMARY<\/p>\n Wednesday 20 April<\/strong> Thursday 21 April<\/strong> Friday 22 April<\/strong> Saturday 23 April<\/strong> Sunday 24 April Monday 25 April<\/strong> Tuesday 26 April<\/strong> Wednesday 27 April<\/strong> Thursday 28 April<\/strong> Friday 29 April<\/strong> Saturday 30 April<\/strong> Sunday 1 May<\/strong> Monday 2 May<\/strong> Kathie and Mick Claydon from Norfolk, UK, joined us for a private tour of northeast Spain in April. Here is Kathie’s meticulous and complete report. NORTHERN SPAIN Navarra-Aragon 19 April – 2 May 2022 Kath & Mick Claydon kandm.claydon@gmail.com A two-week trip arranged and guided by Steve West (Birding in Spain steve@birdinginspain.com) for just the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[117,97,22,20,119,116,120,118],"class_list":["post-1856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birds-in-spain","tag-bee-orchids","tag-bird-tour","tag-birding","tag-birding-in-spain","tag-butterflies","tag-kathie-claydon","tag-northeast-spain","tag-orchids"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7I752-tW","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1856"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1863,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856\/revisions\/1863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"kathie](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/kath-and-orchids.jpg?resize=228%2C300&ssl=1\")
![\"scarce](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.birdinginspain.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/scarce-swallowtail.jpg?resize=300%2C217&ssl=1\")
\nKath & Mick Claydon kandm.claydon@gmail.com<\/p>\n
\n19 April Steve met us at Barcelona airport late afternoon. Drove (4hrs) to Villafranca, south of Pamplona, Navarra, stopping on route for a light meal. Hospeder\u00eda Alesves, Villafranca, Navarra
\n20 April Pitillas lagoon and Bird Observatory \/ scrub and rocky areas near Uju\u00e9 \/ pseudo-steppe and cultivated drylands. \u201c
\n21 April Steppe near Villafranca \/ B\u00e1rdenas Reales \/ riverine woodland by Ebro river. \u201c
\n22 April Izki forest near Vitoria-Gasteiz, \u00c1lava \/ Sierra de Urbasa \/ drylands near Uju\u00e9 \/ Arga riverside near Villafranca. \u201c
\n23 April Steppe near Villafranca \/ another stretch of Arga river. \u201c
\n24 April Checked out of hotel. Pitillas lagoon opposite side to previous visit \/ Arbaiun Gorge on route to Roncal valley (Pyrenees) and up to the French border \/ Isaba. Hostal Lola
\nIsaba, Navarra
\n25 April High mountains of Roncal Valley to Amarits in France \/ return to Isaba with detour to Anso Valley. \u201c
\n26 April Irati forest, stops on route including Ochagavia village \/ high mountains into France at Puerto de Larrau \/ Roncal Valley. \u201c
\n27 April Anso-Hecho-Fago valleys. \u201c
\n28 April South Roncal Valley and west of Salvatierra de Esca. \u201c
\n29 April Checked out of hotel. Headed SE towards Huesca, many stops on route \/ Montearagon Castle \/ Bierge. Hoster\u00eda de Guara Bierge, Aragon
\n30 April Sierra de Guara and north towards Ainsa with many stops. \u201c
\n1 May Drylands and riverine woodlands NW of Lleida. \u201c
\n2 May Checked out of hotel. Headed towards Barcelona \/ frequent stops at gorges, rich farmland, woods and lakes \/ scrubby areas near Barcelona airport.<\/p>\n
\nBlack-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
\nLittle Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
\nGreat Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
\nSquacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
\nCattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
\nLittle Egret Egretta garzetta
\nGreat Egret Ardea alba
\nGrey Heron Ardea cinerea
\nPurple Heron Ardea purpurea
\nWhite Stork Ciconia ciconia
\nMute Swan Cygnus olor
\nGreylag Goose Anser anser
\nCommon Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
\nGadwall Anas strepera
\nMallard Anas platyrhynchos
\nNorthern Shoveler Anas clypeata
\nEurasian Teal Anas crecca
\nGarganey Anas querquedula
\nCommon Pochard Aythya ferina
\nRed-crested Pochard Netta rufina
\nBearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
\nGriffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
\nEgyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
\nGolden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
\nShort-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
\nBooted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
\nBonelli\u2019s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
\nRed Kite Milvus milvus
\nBlack Kite Milvus migrans
\nMarsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
\nMontagu\u2019s Harrier Circus pygargus
\nCommon Buzzard Buteo buteo
\nSparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
\nGoshawk Accipiter gentilis
\nCommon Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
\nLesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
\nHobby Falco subbuteo
\nRed-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
\nCommon Quail Coturnix coturnix HEARD ONLY
\nWater Rail Rallus aquaticus
\nCommon Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
\nEurasian Coot Fulica atra
\nGreat Bustard Otis tarda
\nLittle Bustard Tetrax tetrax
\nBlack-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
\nStone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
\nLittle Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
\nCommon Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
\nNorthern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
\nDunlin Calidris alpina
\nWood Sandpiper Tringa glaroela
\nGreen Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
\nCommon Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
\nCommon Redshank Tringa totanus
\nCommon Greenshank Tringa nebularia
\nSpotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
\nBlack-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
\nBar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
\nRuff Philomachus pugnax
\nBlack-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
\nMediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
\nYellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
\nWhiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
\nBlack Tern Chlidonias niger
\nPin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
\nBlack-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
\nRock (Feral) Pigeon Columba livia var. domestica
\nStock Dove Columba oenas
\nCommon Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
\nCollared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
\nEuropean Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
\nMonk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus
\nRose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
\nCommon Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
\nAlpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
\nCommon Swift Apus apus
\nEurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
\nEuropean Bee-eater Merops apiaster
\nEuropean Roller Coracius garrulus
\nBlack Woodpecker Dryocopus martius
\nIberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpei
\nGreat Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
\nMiddle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius
\nWhite-backed Woodpecker D. leucotos HEARD only
\nEurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
\nCommon Skylark Alauda arvensis
\nCrested Lark Galerida cristata
\nThekla Lark Galerida theklae
\nWoodlark Lullula arborea
\nGreater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
\nLesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens
\nCalandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
\nDupont\u2019s Lark Chersophilus duponti
\nSand Martin Riparia riparia
\nCrag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
\nBarn Swallow Hirundo rustica
\nRed-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
\nCommon House Martin Delichon urbicum
\nTawny Pipit Anthus campestris
\nWater Pipit Anthus spinoletta
\nTree Pipit Anthus trivialis
\nWhite Wagtail Motacilla alba
\nYellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
\nGrey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
\nEurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
\nWhite-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
\nDunnock Prunella modularis
\nAlpine Accentor Prunella collaris
\nEuropean Robin Erithacus rubecula
\nCommon Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
\nBlack Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
\nCommon Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
\nNorthern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
\nWestern Black-eared Wheatear O. hispanica
\nBlack Wheatear Oenanthe leucura
\nWhinchat Saxicola rubetra
\nBlue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
\nSong Thrush Turdus philomelos
\nMistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
\nCommon Blackbird Turdus merula
\nRing Ouzel Turdus torquatus
\nEurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
\nWestern Orphean Warbler Curruca hortensis
\nSardinian Warbler Curruca melanocephala
\nCommon Whitethroat Curruca communis
\nSpectacled Warbler Curruca conspicillata
\nWestern Subalpine Warbler Curruca iberiae
\nDartford Warbler Curruca undata
\nZitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
\nCetti\u2019s Warbler Cettia cetti
\nEurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
\nGreat Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
\nMelodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta
\nWillow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
\nWestern Bonelli\u2019s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
\nIberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus
\nCommon Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
\nFirecrest Regulus ignicapillus
\nEuropean Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
\nGreat Tit Parus major
\nCoal Tit Periparus ater
\nEurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
\nEuropean Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus
\nMarsh Tit Poecile palustris
\nLong-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
\nBearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus
\nEurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
\nEurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
\nWallcreeper Tichodroma muraria
\nShort-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
\nWoodchat Shrike Lanius senator
\nIberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
\nEurasian Magpie Pica pica
\nEurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
\nWestern Jackdaw Corvus monedula
\nAlpine Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
\nRed-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus
\nCarrion Crow Corvus corone corone
\nCommon Raven Corvus corax
\nSpotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
\nEurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
\nHouse Sparrow Passer domesticus
\nRock Sparrow Petronia petronia
\nCommon Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
\nCommon Linnet Carduelis cannabina
\nEuropean Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
\nEuropean Greenfinch Chloris chloris
\nCitril Finch Serinus citrinella
\nEuropean Serin Serinus serinus
\nEurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
\nCommon Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
\nYellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
\nCirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
\nCorn Bunting Miliaria calandra<\/p>\n
\nOrchid reference mainly http:\/\/www.orchidsofbritainandeurope.co.uk\/Orchis%20mascula.html<\/p>\n
\nMirror Orchid Ophrys speculum
\nYellow Bee Orchid Ophrys lutea
\nWoodcock Orchid Ophrys scolopax group
\nDull or Sombre Bee Orchid Ophrys fusca group
\nOmega Bee Orchid Ophrys omegaifera group (? vasconica )
\nEarly Purple Orchid Orchis
\nPainted Orchid Anacamptis picta
\nChampagne Orchid Anacamptis champagneuxii
\nProvence Orchid Orchis provincialis
\nElder-flowered Orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina
\nLady Orchid Orchis purpurea
\nMonkey Orchid Orchis simia
\nHYBRID simia x purpurea
\nBurnt-tip Orchid Neotinea ustulata<\/p>\n
\nBlue Flax Linum narbonense
\nBuckler Mustard Biscutella laevigata
\nCommon Bugle Ajuga reptans
\nCommon Globularia Globularia punctata
\nCommon Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica
\nCommon Lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis
\nCowslip Primula veris
\nGoosegrass Galium aparine
\nGrape Hyacinth Muscari neglectum
\nGreater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea
\nGreen Hellebore Helleborus viridis
\nHepatica Hepatica nobilis
\nHoneysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
\nHoop Petticoat Narcissus Narcissus bulbocodium
\nLady\u2019s Smock Cardamine pratensis
\nLarge Bittercress Cardamine amara
\nLarge-flowered Butterwort Pinguicula grandiflora
\nLords & Ladies Arum maculatum
\nPrimrose Primula vulgaris
\nPurple Toothwort Lathraea clandestina
\nPyrenean Avens Geum pyrenaicum
\nPyrenean Catchfly Silene borderei
\nPyrenean Golden Drop Onosma bubanii
\nPyrenean Snake\u2019s Head Fritillary Fritillaria pyrenaica
\nPyrenean Squill Scilla liliohyacinthus
\nPyrenean Violet Viola pyrenaica
\nSpanish Iris Iris xiphioides
\nSpring Gentian Gentiana verna
\nStar of Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum
\nStinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus
\nSweet Violet Viola odorata
\nTassel Hyacinth Muscari comosum
\nThalictrum tuberosum
\nThyme Broomrape Orobanche alba
\nWhite Asphodel Asphodelus albus
\nWild Clary sp. Salvia (verbanaca?)
\nWild Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
\nWild Tulip Tulipa sylvestris australis
\nWood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella<\/p>\n
\nCommon Morel Morchella esculenta (Hecho Alley)<\/p>\n
\nEuropean Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus frequent
\nPyrenean Chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica 5 (three days: 1 + 3 + 1)
\nRoe Deer Capreolus capreolus 1 buck
\nBadger Meles meles footprints
\nWild Boar Sus scrofa prints\/signs<\/p>\n
\nMallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae
\nDingy Skipper Erynnis tages
\nSpanish Festoon Zerynthia rumina
\nScarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius
\nSwallowtail Papilio machaon
\nWood White Leptidea sinapis
\nOrange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
\nProvence Orange-tip Anthocharis euphenoides
\nWestern Dappled White Euchloe crameri
\nLarge White Pieris brassicae
\nSmall White Pieris rapae
\nGreen-veined White Pieris napi
\nWestern Bath White Pontia daplidice
\nClouded Yellow Colias croceus
\nBerger\u2019s Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis
\nBrimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
\nCleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra
\nSmall Copper Lycaena phlaeas
\nGreen Hairstreak Callophrys rubi
\nHolly Blue Celastrina argiolus
\nBaton Blue Pseudophilotes baton
\nPanoptes Blue Pseudophilotes panoptes
\nGreen-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis
\nBlack-eyed Blue Glaucopsyche melanops
\nChapman\u2019s Blue Polyommatus thersites.
\nCommon Blue Polyommatus icarus
\nAdonis Blue Lysandra bellargus
\nWeaver\u2019s Fritillary Boloria dia
\nRed Admiral Vanessa atalanta
\nSmall Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
\nWall Brown Pararge aegeria
\nNarrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth Hemaris tityus
\nHummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum
\nOak Eggar (caterpillar) Lasiocampa quercus
\nScarlet Tiger (caterpillar) Callimorpha dominula
\nFox Moth (caterpillar) Macrothylacia rubi
\nEurranthis plummistaria
\nSilver Y Autographa gamma
\nMarbled Clover Heliothis viriplaca
\nCommon Heath Moth Ematurga atomaria
\nClearwing sp.
\nBroom Burnet Zygaena lavandulae
\nStriped Chafer sp. Anoxia (australis?)
\nGreen Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris<\/p>\n
\nIberian Water Frog Pelophylax perezi Common
\n? Iberian Painted Frog tadpoles Discoglossus jeanneae<\/p>\n
\nWall Lizard Podarcis sp.<\/p>\n
\nRain continued all night and into the morning, having started not long after we arrived at Barcelona yesterday afternoon. We had to abandon our plan to visit a DuPont\u2019s Lark site at 07:00h and settled for a leisurely breakfast. The rain continued as we headed for Pitillas lagoon and we sought shelter from both rain and a cold wind at the Bird Observatory; amongst a wide range of species were Black-necked Grebe, Red-crested Pochard, Garganey and Purple Heron. When the rain eased we moved on to quiet roads around Uju\u00e9. Flowery roadsides, scrub, rocky areas and trees produced a good number of birds and at least three orchid species. We could see there had been recent snowfall on the distant Pyrenean peaks. The cold wind remained quite strong, particularly at our next stop in an area of \u2018drylands\u2019 and pseudo-steppe (a mosaic of cereal crops, recently ploughed areas and stretches of uncultivated stony ground) but all thoughts of putting on another layer of clothing were forgotten as we saw the 12 Great Bustards! It was hard to turn away from them in order to watch a single Little Bustard on the rough ground behind us. Despite the noise of the wind we could hear Larks singing non-stop. We planned to be back at the hotel by 18:00h but a rain-flooded field at the edge of Villafranca delayed us by at least half an hour: masses of waders, gulls and storks enjoying a feast and a Hobby flew overhead. Back at the hotel we enjoyed the first of many excellent evening meals – and a few drinks. An excellent start to the trip.<\/p>\n
\nA pre-breakfast walk to try for the DuPont\u2019s Lark. It wasn\u2019t ideal weather, still very windy, heavy cloud cover and a little light rain but at least we heard two and a Western Black-eared Wheatear and some Bee-eaters brightened the morning. After breakfast we went to the well-known semi-desert \u2018badlands\u2019 of B\u00e1rdenas Reales. Very busy! Hordes of mostly French tourists, many in big campervans. Steve disliked this even more than we did and quickly found us a quiet route that others didn\u2019t seem to know. A flock of nine Pin-tailed Sandgrouse dropped down close to the car, then two small flocks of Black-bellied Sandgrouse came by. With Golden Eagle, Montagu\u2019s Harrier, three Wheatear species, and ever-present larks singing, we couldn\u2019t have asked for more even though it remained cool, cloudy and windy. To round off the day we had a leisurely stroll through riverine woodland with many mature Aspen trees beside the Ebro river, finding Pied Flycatchers, Grey Wagtails and Firecrests. A quick scan through the waders at the flooded field near our hotel turned up 15 Greenshank and a Booted Eagle was hunting low. It had been a very good day.<\/p>\n
\nThis morning we went to Izki woods, a Natural Park southeast of Vitoria Gasteiz, stopping on route in some open woodland where Iberian Chiffchaff was singing – good views, too. It was a peaceful walk at Izki and we saw no one apart from two workers at the start. The air was filled with the trill of Bonelli\u2019s Warblers! A Middle Spotted Woodpecker was happy to show itself, as were Cuckoos, but the many Short-toed Treecreepers were less obliging. Although it was bright sunshine the air was cold and we needed fleeces and even gloves for a while. Cloud built up later when we went to explore an area new for Steve, Sierra de Urbasa. It\u2019s a nice mix of woodland, carpeted with Hoop Petticoat Narcissus, Green Hellebore and Cowslip. Birds, however, were hard to find and the expected loop-road was blocked (perhaps a management disagreement between Navarra and Aragon as the park straddles the border) so having identified as many plants as we could, we turned back and returned to the Great Bustard area. Good decision. Immediately we saw a displaying male close to the car, then another three males and five females. Lots of display and marching back and forth with males flying after escaping females. A pair of Montagu\u2019s Harriers were chasing around, too. After all that excitement we opted for a gentle stroll beside the Arga river west of Villafranca where we had brief but good views of Wryneck – we could also hear at least 3 calling. The hoped-for Penduline Tits weren\u2019t showing but we were more than happy with our day.<\/p>\n
\nRain again, which didn\u2019t ease until 09.00h. The wind was still blowing but we decided it was time to try for a DuPont\u2019s Lark again. We heard two as we arrived but it took ages to pinpoint them, hidden in sparse, low vegetation. One sounded so close but we didn\u2019t see it until it shot up into the air, in full song, before plummeting back down towards us, still singing – a superb view! Thekla, Greater Short-toed and Calandra Larks were everywhere and further on, where the habitat changed a little, Lesser Short-toed, then Crested Larks were added to the list. A short watch by a rocky cliff turned up 7 or 8 Lesser Kestrels. Moving on we added Spectacled and Melodious Warblers then along a different stretch of the Arga river there were good numbers of Nightingales and Wrynecks. We\u2019d covered less ground today but it was an interesting, fulfilling day.<\/p>\n
\nIt was foggy last night and into this morning but had cleared by the time we checked out of the hotel. First stop was a different part of Pitillas lagoon. A single fly-by Bar-tailed Godwit was a good find for this area, which pleased Steve, but we were more interested in the Purple Heron and Stone Curlews (on this side the lagoon abuts pseudo-steppe). We had to be careful where we trod in order to avoid trampling the hundreds of Yellow Bee and Mirror Orchids and a few specimens of the weird-looking Birthwort . Heading for the Roncal Valley we stopped for a while at Arbaiun Gorge which together with Lumbier is part of the largest sanctuary for raptors in Navarre. Eye-to-eye views of Griffons here and Egyptian Vultures were close, too. A man came along, climbed over the barrier and put out salt licks for the semi-feral goats! It was then a scenic, interesting route to Roncal Valley. We stopped for coffee and tea in the valley and had a tantalizingly brief view of a Bearded Vulture. In a couple of grazing fields we noticed several Black Redstarts, then more and more, as well as many pipits and wagtails; had last night\u2019s fog grounded them? There was a lot of fresh snow higher up and, fittingly, we encountered a flock of Alpine Chough. We drove across the pass a short way into France but it was getting foggy again and we decided to turn back and check in to Hostal Lola at Isaba. We ate far too much of the huge portions served to us this evening!<\/p>\n
\nIt was a clear, crisp morning and we had to scrape ice off the car windows before driving up to the pass again. We took it slowly, stopping often for birds along the valley; not so many passerines in the fields today. Higher up were Alpine Accentor and Dunnock, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrushes – the only sounds we could hear were from the birds. We got as far as the French village of Amarits. In the f\u00f4ret d\u2019Issaux we heard White-backed Woodpeckers – Steve tried hard, but we couldn\u2019t locate one. The mountains drop away much more gently on the French side and we lingered by lush meadows and small woods. Birds, however, were not numerous so we went back over the pass and took a turning towards Anso valley where we found plenty to keep us happy: we heard Wrynecks as well as distant Black Woodpeckers and a Pied Flycatcher showed well. We had several good views of Citril Finch and a flock of 40 Crossbills. Trying to identify the many plants, including orchids, kept us busy. We returned to the hotel a bit earlier today as there was so much still to identify and we needed a bit of time to catch up!<\/p>\n
\nWe planned to spend most of the day in another forested area, Irati (the second largest beech and fir forest in Europe after Germany\u2019s Black Forest). We stopped frequently on the way, including a while at the picturesque riverside village of Ochagavia at the northern end of the Salavar valley with Griffon vultures soaring above us and Crag Martins around the buildings. We walked in the forest and found some nice plants such as the parasitic Purple Toothwort but struggled to find birds – Firecrests, Crested and Marsh Tits were heard more often than seen. Driving and stopping at suitable spots gave us more interesting sightings such as a pair of Nuthatches at a nest hole and foraging Short-toed Treecreepers and we spent ages photographing insects and plants. Steve found Palmate Newts in an old water trough then we drove to the high mountains into France at Puerto de Larrau and added Red Kite to the list along with another Golden Eagle. A Bee-eater at the pass was a bit of a surprise. To end an easy-going, very enjoyable day we slowly returned to Roncal valley, taking a detour to watch Griffon Vultures on cliffs.<\/p>\n
\nAfter a rainy night and fine drizzle first thing, we weren\u2019t sure what sort of day we were in for. We headed for the Anso-Hecho-Fago valleys hoping for the best and we got it: warm, sunny spells, good birding, orchids, fungi, butterflies and moths! In the Anso valley we enjoyed fabulous views of about 150 Crossbills, including many juveniles, with a Woodlark singing above us. Yet more orchids greeted us in Hecho valley, along with some impressive specimens of Common Morel fungi, a Weaver\u2019s Fritillary butterfly and a reasonable, though distant, view of a Bearded Vulture plus two Egyptian Vultures and two Goshawks! Along the narrow gorge we met some British birders who were dead keen to see Wallcreeper; Steve explained this was a good place for them but it was now rather late in the year. Of course, just minutes after they left we struck lucky – one flew towards the rock face giving us great views as it investigated cracks and ledges. In Fago and then Roncal valleys there were more raptors and a Western Subalpine Warbler that was more obliging than usual. It was raining by the time we went for dinner this evening.<\/p>\n
\nEarly rain turned to drizzle that eased off by mid-morning but it remained a dull, cloudy and cool day. We drove up Roncal valley and over the French border but again fog and mist meant we saw very little (Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, Crested Tit) so we returned to the lower Roncal and explored quiet roads to the west of Burgui. It turned into an \u2018orchid day\u2019 (Monkey Orchids and hybrid Monkey x Lady Orchid were perhaps the best) with occasional birds (Short-toed Eagle, Woodlarks, Western Orphean Warbler, a Melodious Warbler which gave us the run-around and only allowed glimpses).<\/p>\n
\nMoving on this morning to our final base in Bierge, Huesca. We made a few roadside stops to walk in rough uncultivated patches which turned up a surprising number of orchids (hundreds in one small area – Lady, Mirror, Early Spider, Dull Ophrys and Yellow Bee Orchid), butterflies such as Baton Blue and a range of birds including Crested Larks, Booted Eagle, Woodchat Shrike, Cirl Bunting and warblers. An area of riverine woodland, predominantly poplars, was \u2018full\u2019 of Wrynecks (we saw three together and more were calling. Another stop was below Montearagon Castle – 2 Western Black-eared Wheatears, Tawny Pipit, Blue Rock Thrush and a striking specimen of Woodcock Orchid. Continuing our journey through fabulous scenery we were delighted to see two Bearded Vultures not far from where we would be staying. On reaching Bierge, there was time for some exploration of the surrounding habitats before checking in at Hoster\u00eda de Guara.<\/p>\n
\nThe day was spent exploring areas in the stunning surroundings of Sierra de Guara and NE as far as Ainsa. Birds were good: two Turtle Doves on roadside cables (the only ones seen), Nightingales were abundant, Wrynecks common, Alpine Swifts more frequent than previously and we saw another Blue Rock Thrush and the first Red-rumped Swallows of the trip. A bit more sunshine brought out the butterflies and we added Green-underside Blue to our list. Flowers, too, captured our attention, from Wild Tulips and Pyrenean Fritillaries to the beautiful blooms of Thalictrum tuberosum (sorry, no English name for this one). It was a lovely evening, although the fresh breeze kept things cool, so to end the day we sat in the garden watching Bee-eaters, a Hoopoe and a Woodchat Shrike. An invisible Golden Oriole called constantly.<\/p>\n
\nNot a cloud in the sky as we drove about an hour to some very impressive sandstone cliffs. The most numerous bird here was Jackdaw but there were about 10 Lesser Kestrels, at least 4 Red-billed Choughs, Black and Western Black-eared Wheatears, Crag Martins, Red-rumped Swallows and Tawny Pipits – so enough to keep us occupied for more than an hour. We moved on to nearby \u2018drylands\u2019 where the views stretched for miles; it was a familiar mix of cultivated and fallow field with rough and bare stretches. Immediately we saw a pair of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and a Golden Eagle soared above us for several minutes, both Thekla and Crested Larks were here as well as Greater Short-toed Larks. As we watched a Marsh Harrier drifting by we noticed a Roller on a bush – then another in flight. It got quite hot (for a change) and we moved on to the dappled shade of a wooded riverside at Alcolea – Great Reed Warblers were in full song! Before dinner we walked near the hotel: Western Bonelli\u2019s and Melodious Warblers were the most impressive species. Amongst the many Common Blues we found several Panoptes Blues. Yet another great day!<\/p>\n
\nUp early to pack in preparation for tonight\u2019s flight and soon we were on our way towards Lleida, stopping at a rugged rock face – 2 Bonelli\u2019s Eagles! Rather a surprise as we hadn\u2019t realised Steve would be bringing us here. It was dull and cool but the eagles were very active. Nearby a family of young Crested Tits was being fed by the parents. Another stop was in an area owned by a wildlife-friendly land owner – growing crops but mainly as sheep fodder, not spraying, allowing trees, shrubs and flowers to flourish as well as planting more trees. Brilliant – a great location. 3 pairs of Rollers, White Storks, Cattle Egrets, Black Kites, Western Orphean Warbler. A nearby nature reserve was our next stop: a large lake surrounded by varied habitats, trees, shrubs and open areas which seemed to be teeming with life: Black and Whiskered Terns, Red-crested Pochard, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Golden Orioles, Penduline Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Cetti\u2019s, Eurasian Reed, Great Reed, Melodious and Willow Warblers, Nightingales, Hoopoes and more. Sadly, we had to move on and get nearer to the airport. Common Waxbills are known to frequent a car park by the airport but we failed to locate them; a Great Egret, two Ring-necked Parakeets and one Monk Parakeet were good enough compensation to round off what had been an excellent trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"