Spain in Early Spring

This wonderful winter-into-early-spring holiday is based in parts of the Iberian peninsula which are full of speciality birds. This region is very rewarding yet somehow still underwatched, despite being within relatively easy reach of Barcelona, and it holds the promise of outstanding European birding. We cover an impressive number of target species, including coveted Wallcreeper and Lammergeier, in delightful places featuring authentic Catalan and Spanish hospitality, and will be surrounded throughout by breathtaking scenery.

We travel when wintering birds are preparing to leave, and when early spring migrants are just beginning to make an appearance. Timing is important, because if we leave it much later the altitudinal migrants, in particular Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor, will be on the move between their regular wintering areas and summer breeding haunts, and will be more difficult to locate.

We begin in the Ebro Delta, where at this time of the year the extensive paddyfields are dry, so throngs of wetland birds are concentrated in bays, lagoons, reed-fringed wetlands and muddy channels. We might find Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull and Mediterranean Gull, Whiskered Tern and a good range of waders, ducks and other wetland birds. Bluethroat, singing Moustached Warbler, passage Spotted Crake, Penduline Tit, Caspian Tern, Spoonbill, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Night Heron, Kentish Plover, Scops and Long-eared Owl, there is much to entertain us here! 

Next we transfer inland to the wetlands, drylands, farmlands and Mediterranean scrubland surrounding Lleida, where we stay for a single night. Key birds here might include Little Bustard, Egyptian and Griffon Vulture and Bonelli’s Eagle. Also present may be Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black Wheatear, Little Owl, Rock Sparrow, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Red-billed Chough, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Golden Eagle, Cirl Bunting, Iberian Green and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the area is rich in interesting birdlife.

Our final location is in the neighbouring community of Aragón, where we spend the next four nights at a delightful family-run hotel in the Sierra de Guara Natural Park. From here we make day trips to the high Pyrenees to see Alpine Chough, Dipper, Rock Bunting, Lammergeier, Black Woodpecker and Citril Finch, to the Sierra de Guara for Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Common Crane, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Goshawk and Hawfinch, and the Monegros plains to the south for Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler, Great Bustard, Dupont’s Lark, Lesser Kestrel, Alpine Swift, and possibly another Wallcreeper!

This is a true birding feast on one of the very best Spanish itineraries!

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1: Barcelona to Ebro Delta
After relaxing in our complimentary Airport Lounge, we fly from London to Barcelona. From there it’s a short drive to our first port of call at the Garraf cliffs and the Natural Park of the same name. Here we can expect birds such as Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Peregrine Falcon, and, with luck Bonelli’s Eagle. Later in the day we arrive in the Ebro Delta. At this time of the year the extensive paddyfields are dry, so the throngs of wetland birds are concentrated in bays, lagoons, reed-fringed wetlands and muddy channels. Our explorations should reveal Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull and Mediterranean Gull, Whiskered Tern and a good range of waders, ducks and other wetland birds. Two nights at Delta Hotel, Deltebre.

Day 2: Ebro Delta
We dedícate this day to seeking out everything that the Ebro Delta has to offer. In March there is a good possibility of Bluethroat, singing Moustached Warbler, passage Spotted Crake, Penduline Tit, Caspian Tern, Spoonbill, Garganey, Red crested Pochard, Night Heron, Kentish Plover and much more. As we retire to our hotel it’s not quite over, as Scop’s Owl and Long-eared Owl may not be far away, perhaps even in the hotel grounds!

Day 3: From Ebro to Lleida
We flank the River Ebro inland to Lleida, making several stops along the way. A reed-fringed lagoon holds a breeding population of Bearded Tit and Moustached Warbler, while gallery woodland is worth visiting for Penduline Tit, Cirl Bunting, Iberian Green Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The local drylands reaching to the southern fringe of the city of Lleida are rich in interesting birds, which include Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black Wheatear, Little Owl, Rock Sparrow, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Red-billed Chough, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Golden Eagle, and more. One night at Ibis Hotel, Lleida.

Day 4: Lleida and onwards to Sierra de Guara
To the east of Lleida it is still possible to find small groups of the dwindling population of Little Bustard, and then to the north we visit the nearest sierras to look for Egyptian and Griffon Vulture, Goshawk, and impressive Bonelli’s Eagle. If time and the occasion permit we will visit some very impressive sandstone cliffs where, in addition to Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift, Lesser Kestrel and Red-billed Chough we may be fortunate to encounter our first Wallcreeper of the tour. Four nights at Hostería de Guara.

Day 5: Around Sierra de Guara
Today we’re going to focus on quality rather than quantity, as our main targets are Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor and Lammergeier. We visit different sites along the southern faces of the sierras where, in addition to the above, we may also come across flocks of Common Crane, a Rock Bunting or two, Spectacled Warbler, Citril Finch, Hawfinch, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Woodlark and more. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

Day 6: Up to the Pyrenees and back
From our hotel we reach out to the high Pyrenees and the French border. Birds might include White-throated Dipper, another shot at Wallcreeper in a different setting, Alpine Chough, Lammergeier, Rock Bunting and perhaps Black Woodpecker.

Day 7: Down to the Monegros plains
We travel to the Monegros plains to the south, part of the arid Ebro Valley. This gives us the opportunity of encountering dryland specialties such as Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Dupont’s Lark (outside chances only), Great Spotted Cuckoo, Lesser Kestrel and Golden Eagle.

Day 8: Return to Barcelona
Sadly, all good things come to an end. We take our leave of this delightful hotel and birder’s playground to head back east to Barcelona airport fro our flight back to London. If time permits we can do a spot of birding en-route, as to the east of Lleida there are further possibilities of catching up with one or more species which may have eluded us.

What's included in your holiday price:

• return scheduled flight from London – Barcelona, airport taxes, baggage and hand luggage up to airline included limit.
• airport transfers, ground transportation, accommodation and meals as specified.
• the services of Heatherlea leader/s.
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included free of charge subject to terms and conditions. Read more...

What's not included in your holiday price:

• travel to and from departure airport before and after holiday, in-flight meal, baggage above airline included limit
• incidental tips, expenses of a personal nature including drinks and personal insurance.

More holiday information:

Accommodation is in a comfortable hotel with all rooms en suite,
Food Breakfast is typical of Spain, consisting of a roll with jam/cheese/ham. Fruit juice and tea or coffee are also available. Evening meals are generally local dishes, which are good but often quite simple. Vegetarian and other diets are welcome.
Walking is generally light/moderate. There may be some uphill track and road walking, though generally an average level of fitness is required.
Weather Typically, temperatures will range from 10c in the early morning to perhaps 18c in the heat of the day. Sunshine should be plentiful, but cloud and rain are possible. Cold weather, with temperatures as low as 5c, are rare but possible.
Insects biting insects may be encountered, though not usually as a major problem. A good repellent is advised but probably not needed.
Group size is restricted to 12 clients maximum.
Flights are by scheduled airline, from London. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another location and/or or quote without flights so you can make your own arrangements. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.

Your Guides

Steve West

Steve led his first birding tour in northern Spain in 1996, and since then has led tours throughout mainland Spain on a regular basis in Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura, Andalusia, Castilla y León, Cantabria and Asturias. He is the author of two birding-oriented books, the first of which was “Where the birds are in northeast Spain” (2004). Over the last few years he has developed a keen interest in Spanish butterflies and is always willing to divert some attention to them whenever he perceives a shared interest among tour participants!

Steve speaks fluent Catalan and Spanish. When not leading or organizing tours he spends his time writing, translating, holding workshops on environmental education to local schools and growing organic vegetables on a plot near his wife’s village in the Garrigues, to the south of the city of Lleida. Steve will be joined by another from our team with seven or more clients.

Picture credits - thanks to Heatherlea Guide Steve West for many of the images on this page, also to Colin Bradshaw (Wallcreeper), Michele Mendi (BB Sandgrouse), Jan Pedersen (Lammergeier), Jari Taavitsainen (Bonelli's Eagle), Bob Jezzard (Riglos cliffs).