Of course its no mystery that everyone's here for the Wallcreeper, Black Woodpecker and Lammergeier but no one complains as their attention is distracted by the treetop acrobatic display put on by Firecrest, Crossbill and Crested Tit.

Some birds seemingly try to make up for a lack of such ability by at least dressing for the occasion and the startling pink of the proud Water Pipit certainly succeeds. The Ring Ouzel though seems less happy as it flitters about from bush to bush in an apparent huff, perhaps because the Dipper has arrived wearing the same coat!

Honey Buzzard, Rock Thrush and Alpine Accentor are all possible additions over lunch after which we'll take a short stroll along a wooded track searching for Crossbill, Citril Finch and more Raptors.

The final walk of the day - along the flat! - will follow a drive above the treeline where we can find Water Pipit, Ring Ouzel and winter flocks of Snow Finch.

However, the event of the day has to be the adjacent flocks of hundreds of feeding Red-billed and Alpine Chough, either stone-turning their way through dinner or rising up and following us down the valley alongside the car.

Tours are also available to the Vall de Núria and Prat de Cadí.

But perhaps this is the ultimate in sleight of hand as it was whilst watching just such a bird - the stunningly beautiful and under-appreciated Citril Finch - that the master magician finally played its card on me and, suddenly appearing out of nowhere, an armada of Griffon Vultures sailed majestically into my line of sight not twenty metres in the valley below me. And at its head, my very first Lammergeier.