12 Days in Spain Birdwatching Programme

Extremadura, Doñana & Gibraltar

Spain is one of the most famous birding countries in Europe and the two neighbouring Spanish provinces of Extremadura and Andalucia complement each other perfectly. The first is known worldwide for the huge variety of land birds, particularly steppe and rock loving birds and the second includes one of the most important wetlands of Europe, the famous Coto Doñana, as well as the most important migratory site in west Europe, Gibraltar.

This birding programme designed by Birds & Nature Tours Portugal is designed to enable you to visit several rich species protected areas in these two provinces during the peak migratory periods.

After a comfortable journey by motorway, we reach the Spanish region of Extremadura. Here, we will visit both the Monfragüe National Park and the plains of Cáceres, Magasca and Trujillo, among other interesting spots. These two protected areas boast a fantastic bird list that includes Great and Little Bustards, Common Crane, Black Stork, Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, Cinereous, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Red Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, European Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Alpine and White-rumped Swifts, European Roller, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Calandra Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Rufous Bush Robin, Black-eared and Black Wheatears, Blue Rock Thrush, Western Orphean, Spectacled and Subalpine Warblers, Crested Tit, Red-billed Chough, Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Hawfinch and Cirl and Rock Buntings.

After another easy journey by motorway, we reach the Spanish region of Andalucia in order to visit complementary biotopes and consequently new bird species in the world famous Doñana National Park. This remarkable protected wetland has extensive bird lists that include Marbled, Ferruginous and White-headed Ducks, Red-crested Pochard, Greater Flamingo, White Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, Squacco and Purple Herons, Booted Eagle, Western Swamphen, Red-knobbed Coot, Collared Pratincole, Little Owl, Pallid Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Bluethroat, Sardinian, Dartford, Savi’s and Melodious Warblers, Iberian Chiffchaff, Penduline Tit, Iberian Grey and Woodchat Shrikes, Iberian Magpie, Spotless Starling, European Serin and an excellent selection of waders, gulls and terns.

The last days of the trip will be spent exploring the famous Tarifa/Gibraltar region, with great opportunities to watch active migration, with an emphasis on soaring birds. This part of the trip should also provide excellent possibilities for participants to see a wide range of sea bird species as well.

All this birding activity is combined with visits to some of the most interesting historical and cultural sites of Spain, namely Trujillo and Mérida, two historical towns in Extremadura, which are also fascinating from the urban birding perspective. We’ll have numerous opportunities to sample Spain’s many culinary delights and great wines.

Photos by Pedro Marques