Catalunya

This three centre tour will take in the best birdwatching that Catalunya has to offer. From the high Pyrenees, through the steppes around Lleida to finish at the extraordinary Ebro Delta. With species such as Audouin’s Gull, Lammergeier and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. All in the company of Ricard Gutiérrez, the leading ornithologist of Catalunya and author of 'When and where to find birds in Catalunya'.

MAP

Print Version

Trip Report

Tour DetailsItineraryKey SpeciesFeedbackAccommodationGallery

Leaders	Julian Sykes and Ricard Gutiérrez
Flights	EasyJet, scheduled, Speedy Boarding and extra legroom included Outbound: Morning, Gatwick-Barcelona Inbound: Afternoon, Barcelona-Gatwick

Days 1-3	Fly to Barcelona, then a 3 hour transfer to Llavorsí. Birdwatching in the Pyrenees, taking in both National and Natural Parks of mountain, forest, lakes and meadows - 3 nights Hotel Riberies.
Days 4-5	Transfer to Lleida. Birdwatching enroute in pre-Pyrenees mountains and gorges, plus steppe, grasslands and wetlands south of Lleida. Visit to cave with prehistoric paintings - 2 nights La Garbinada Hotel.
Days 6-7	Birdwatching grasslands and wetlands to east of Lleida. Transfer to Ebro Delta for birdwatching to the north and south of the river - 2 nights Delta Hotel.
Day 8	Birdwatching at Llobregat Delta if time allows. Transfer to Barcelona for flight to Gatwick.

Weather	It will be warm on the steppes and in the Ebro but we could encounter snow in the mountains, 0°-30°C.
Walking	Walks will be on good tracks and paths, with some steeper sections in the mountains.
Meals	All included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 8.
Insects	Mosquitoes can be encountered in the Ebro Delta, especially in the evening, so bring repellent.
Accom	Twin and single rooms all ensuite.
Group	12

Catalunya is the richest region in Spain for birds. We take in the very best that this region has to offer, from the Pyrenees to the sea, in the company of Catalunya’s leading ornithologist.

	* The Pyrenees for Citril Finch, Lammergeier, Rock Thrush and spectacular scenery
	* Steppes for six species of lark, Little Bustard and Stone Curlew
	* The Ebro Delta for a mesmerising array of terns, ducks, herons, pratincoles and more
	* Roller, Black Wheatear, Western Orphean Warbler and Eagle Owl
	* Exclusive visit to a private vulture feeding site with all four species likely
	* Fantastic Catalan hospitality and a trip to a pre-historic cave dwelling
	* The expertise of Ricard Gutiérrez, creator of www.rarebirdspain.net

Day 1	We fly to Barcelona where we meet Ricard Guitiérrez, before journeying to the Pyrenees. Our base will be in the charming village of Llavorsí, surrounded by forest-clad mountains and straddling the beautiful river La Noguera Pallaresa. If time permits we shall explore the village for Crag Martin and Dipper.
Days 2-3	This beautiful corner of the Pyrenees resembles the Swiss Alps and Llavorsí is perfectly located to explore the variety of habitats. We shall look for raptors here, with Lammergeier, Golden and Short-toed Eagles, Griffon Vulture and maybe Northern Goshawk. Honey Buzzards pass through, but also breed here. Pine forests hold Black Woodpecker, Firecrest and Crested Tit, with Short-toed and Eurasian Treecreepers and this part of Catalunya has the largest population of Tengmalm’s Owl in Spain. Alpine meadows and rocky slopes are home to both Red-billed and Alpine Chough, Water Pipit, Citril Finch and Rock Bunting. The sunnier slopes hold Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel and Red-backed Shrike. Broad-leafed woodlands hold Hawfinch and Bonneli’s Warblers. Raptors overhead may include Egyptian Vulture, as we explore some of the more Mediterranean habitats for Rock Sparrow, Subalpine Warbler and Ortolan Bunting. We shall visit a private vulture feeding station where hundreds of Griffon Vultures, along with Black and Eygyptian Vultures and Lammergeier will astonish us.
Day 4	Leaving the mountains we head south. We shall stop to look for raptors, Blue Rock Thrush and Alpine Swift at Collegats Gorge. The pre-pyrenees mountains are dramatic and here we may find Woodlark, Cirl and Ortolan Buntings and Subalpine, Western Orphean and Dartford Warblers. This a great area for raptors, with Peregrine, Golden Eagle, Red Kite, Griffon Vulture and Lammergeier regularly seen. Our destination is a rural village in the Garrigues county, set in between the oliveyards of the plains and the hilly mountains, home of Spotless Starlings, Short-toed Eagle, Cirl Buntings or Sardinian Warblers.
Days 5-6	The steppes south and east of Lleida are the best areas in Catalunya for sought-after species such as Little Bustard and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Six species of lark are possible, with Montagu’s Harrier and Stone Curlew, but the whole area is bird-rich with White Stork, Lesser Kestrel, Roller and Red-necked Nightjar. The last remaining Lesser Grey Shrikes in Spain breed here, but we shall need luck to find them. The wetlands and lagoons of Utxesa and Ivars hold species such as Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Great Reed Warbler, Bearded Tit and the odd Moustached Warbler. We shall look for the endemic sub-species of Reed Bunting - Witherby’s Reed Bunting. At Ivars Lagoon, terns, herons, waders and species such as Penduline Tit and Melodious Warbler will keep us busy. The nearby cave of El Cogul with remarkable cave paintings, is likely to be a highlight, with Black Wheatear, Bee-eater, Blue Rock Thrush, Redrumped Swallow and Tawny Pipit nearby. We journey to the Ebro Delta on Day 6 where, if time allows, we shall visit a busy heronry.
Day 7	The Ebro Delta is a birding paradise and internationally important. We shall make the most of our time here, looking for species such as Night Heron, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo and Squacco Heron. The delta holds one of the world’s largest colonies of Audouin’s Gull, as well as Yellow-legged and Slender-billed Gulls and terns including Gull-billed, Little, Common, Sandwich and the odd over-summering non-breeding Caspian. Collared Pratincole breed and Great Reed, Reed and Savi’s Warblers will serenade us from the reeds. Waders include local breeders such as Avocet, Black-winged Stilt and Kentish Plover and we may see the last northbound migrants, that could include Little Stint, plovers or shanks, but this is the time of year when anything could turn up and if it does, then we shall be perfectly placed to go for it!
Day 8	We travel to Barcelona to catch our return flight to the UK, birding at Llobregat Delta if time allows.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Little Bittern	Black-winged Stilt	Thekla Lark
Purple Heron	Collared Pratincole	Lesser Short-toed Lark
Squacco Heron	Audouin's Gull	Red-rumped Swallow
Lammergeier	Whiskered Tern	Black Wheatear
Black Vulture	Pin-tailed Sandgrouse	Black-eared Wheatear
Egyptian Vulture	Iberian Green Woodpecker	Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
Short-toed Eagle	Red-necked Nightjar	Western Orphean Warbler
Lesser Kestrel	Alpine Swift	Bearded Tit
Purple Swamphen	European Roller	Citril Finch
Little Bustard	Black Woodpecker	"Witherby's" Reed Bunting

"This was a fabulous trip again, both Ricard and Duncan fabulous company and first class guides. Beauty of this holiday is not too much travel, but three distinct different habitats from the snowy high Pyrenees to the Steppes and down to the Ebro Delta, 200 bird species in a week has to be stunning, even if the last one was over the sea as we flew out! My highlight has to be the Vulture feeding station and the privilege of sitting in the 4x4 whilst they got fed by the window! Must have been at least 500 vultures of four different species. Only ever seen the odd Lammergeier before but lots here. How close would you like your Sandgrouse also stunning. Fabulous scenery where ever we went and lots of butterflies too. El Cogul truly enthralling, as ever with Speyside far too many highlights to record all here."
Belinda & Steve Batt

"The vulture feeding station was fantastic. To see so many vultures of four species so close could not be improved especially one of my favourite birds, the lammergeier! The views of the high Pyrenees were outstanding and in a totally different way so were the views in the Delta."
Marilyn Davidson

"Broad range of environment and scenery. Vulture feeding station - incredible. Close views of Lammergeier and Griffon Vulture. Wow factor!! Close vie of Golden Oriole."
Jane Moore

"Our visit 'off piste' to the High Pyrenees. The visit to the vulture feeding station. The drive at night to see the red-necked nightjar."
Penny & Keith Chanter

"Night drive with the Red Necked Nightjar’s."
David Johnston

Featuring an onsite restaurant, fitness centre and swimming pool. This hotel has a lovely location and comfortable rooms, with tasty food. Rooms have a tv, phone and hairdryer, bathrooms have toiletries provided.

La Garbinada Hotel, Lleida A lovely hotel, set in a 19th century building featuring stone walls. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, tv and hair dryer.

The hotel is located in the Ebro Delta Natural Park. Imitating the typical buildings from the region, the Delta Hotel is built entirely on the ground floor and consists of 24 rooms. Each room offers spectacular views of the idyllic setting. Rooms have a hairdryer.

Name

Index

Name

Index