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BIRDING HOLIDAYS: The flexible itinerary below visits seven of the best bird watching sites in Catalonia, Spain.

Other itineraries:

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BIRDING SHORT BREAKS: Customised bird watching short breaks of any number of days are also available.

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BIRDING DAY TOURS: Click the main photos below for more details on individual locations for guided day trips.

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Before you despair at the lack of birding on your holiday with the rest of the family, read on. Summer is good.

Firstly, migration is not over. From June onwards a stream of waders, having failed to breed, make their return journeys early and, augmented in successive weeks by post-nuptial birds, they can be seen clothed in the glory of their full summer plumage. Furthermore, 'first year' raptor dispersal begins in July closely followed by migration of adult birds in August, when 'autumn' passerines and even passage Dotterel can be seen.

Summer migrants like Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Rock Thrush and Red-necked Nightjar (special tours below) are settled into their territories, making them easier to locate, and later hoards of juveniles innocently venture into the open, affording great views of parent birds such as Lammergeier, Little Bustard and both sandgrouse.

Click buttons below for selected Trip Reports, Summaries and Photo Galleries:


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Spain Birding Tour 1 - The Llobregat Delta, Barcelona

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Collared Pratincole - summer/passage
Eurasian Spoonbill
 
resident breeder

After picking you up at Barcelona airport, we'll immediately get a feel for birding in Catalonia with a relaxing visit to the adjacent wetland reserves on the Llobregat Delta, where around eighty bird species breed, including Purple Swamphen, Audouin's Gull, Common Waxbill and Penduline Tit.

Sit back and enjoy a restful spectacle of ducks, warblers, waders and herons, including Little Bittern, and may be even a Crested Coot or Collared Pratincole before we move on to the villa, on the edge of the Garraf Natural Park, where you can settle in, unpack and have a glass of Penedés vino or a refreshing cava.

If you fancy it, you can take an easy stroll through the local woodland, vineyards and scrub before eating yourselves through the evening at an ocean-side restaurant.

 
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Little Bittern

summer breeder

 
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"I had doubts of coming in August, however, I have never seen so many birds in one week. Each different habitat had its surprises, ever-increasing numbers for my wish list, birds I had always wanted to see.

I loved the many kinds of Eagles and Lammergeyer circling in the Pyrenees - it was wonderful. The sheer number of herons and bitterns was incredible, as were the seabirds, terns and waders, so many kinds in so great number.

However without your guidance I would have probably only found fifty percent of what was there, I certainly would not have got within 3 yards of a Red-necked Nightjar. I would recommend your birding tours without reservation."

Andy Strouthous, UK, 8 - 15 August 2007

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Spain Birding Tour 2 - The Spanish Steppes

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Black-eared Wheatear
Spectacled Warbler
summer visitor / passage
summer visitor

A complete change of habitat means a new set of species for this birding trip, although the fast-shrinking steppe requires several locales to find resident Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Little Bustard, Stone-curlew, Black Wheatear and may be a singing Dupont's Lark.

There is never disappointment though as this fragmented paradise striding the Catalan border delivers a remarkable number of rare and astonishing species. Local Lesser Short-toed Lark and Southern Grey Shrike are joined in summer by Lesser Kestrel, Red-necked Nightjar, Montagu's Harrier, Quail, Roller, Egyptian Vulture and even passing Dotterel!

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Great Spotted Cuckoo (juv)
Montagu's Harrier
summer (from early March)
summer visitor / passage

Scroll down to Aug 14th 15th 09 Spanish Steppes Trip Report Zac's blog


"An outstanding wonderful day. Thank you for an absolutely fabulous day's birding during my trip to Spain. I appreciated your excellent preparation, great communication before the trip and your outstanding field abilities. You planned the trip out well, to the last detail. Your knowledge of the surrounding area helped us pick up virtually all my target species and your knowledge of the birds themselves was tremendous!

I could not have been more pleased with the experience. In addition to getting a great list of birds for the day, as well as a number of “lifers,” it was just plain fun to be with you!! I hope we have a chance to go again!"

Robert Parsons, USA, 22 July 2009

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Spain Birding Tour 3 - The Ebro Delta / Delta de L'Ebre

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Caspian Tern - all year round
Wood Sandpiper
Summer / passage

A short trip south along the coast lies the best of Europe and a place that will remain in your thoughts forever, the Ebro Delta.

After the first day's practise, you won't be over-whelmed by the circus of herons, warblers and shorebirds but there is more on offer here with 'all year round' Audouin's Gull, Glossy Ibis, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Moustached Warbler and Caspian Tern hosting a summer influx of breeding Savi's Warbler, Collared Pratincole and Gull-billed Tern.

Throw in Water Rail, Short-toed Lark, Red-crested Pochard and thousands of early-passage waders and you won't want to stop for the picnic lunch.

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Common Cuckoo
Slender-billed Gull
summer breeder
Resident breeder
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"I really enjoyed the bird tour and want to thank you again for accommodating my family and conducting the whole trip in such a professional manner. Cathy was commenting on your safe driving skills while birding, which apparently I haven't mastered!

Thanks again, and I hope we can hook up again if I ever get back to Spain."

David McConnell and family, USA, 2 July 2009

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Spain Birding Tour 4 - The Cap de Creus / Cabo de Creus

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Nightingale

Catalonia's unique range of habitats is demonstrated no more so than by this rocky peninsular and the spectacular oceanic and mountain birds it has to offer.

Where else, given the right weather conditions, can you watch sea birds such as Cory's, Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters without the aid of binoculars?

Turn around and, against a backdrop of such astounding beauty, the pallete is completed with Bonelli's Eagle, Rock Thrush, Western Orphean Warbler, Wryneck, Pallid Swift, Ortolan Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush and Black-eared Wheatear.

Summer breeder
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Short-toed Eagle
Woodchat Shrike and larder (+ juv)
Summer breeder
Summer breeder
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"I was delighted at how many great birds Stephen could locate in three and a half days even though I had missed the main migration period. We saw nearly all the special birds of the Steppes and Ebro Delta. I didn't expect to see so many warblers and other 'little brown jobs' that are such a challenge for North American birders.

Stephen not only knew all their calls and songs, he had a knack for helping me see them well. I am looking forward to a return visit."

Elwood Hain, USA, 7 - 10 June 2007

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Spain Birding Tour 5 - The Garraf Massif, Barcelona

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Melodious Warbler
Southern Grey Shrike
Summer breeder
Resident breeder

Time for a little local-patch 'birding in Spain', with the coastal Garraf mountains near Barcelona providing the setting for our search for the breeding Bonelli's Eagle.

Spectacled and Bonelli's Warbler, Cirl and Ortolan Bunting, Black and Black-eared Wheatear, Pallid Swift, Southern Grey Shrike, Rock Thrush and Golden Oriole may keep us amused along the way until a late afternoon wander around the Llobregat roosts ties up the birding day.

Except that is for a twilight wait for displaying Common and Red-necked Nightjar, churring and 'siboc-ing' respectively before wing-clapping and butterfly dancing past your ears. And even if the occasional Eagle Owl hasn't put in an appearance, exhilirated and adrenaline-charged, you may just be in the mood to track down the local Scops Owl.

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Rock Bunting
Resident breeder
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"Stephen is a fantastic guide. I had very limited time to bird around Catalonia and was particularly interested in some of the more difficult birds such as Lammergeier and Black Woodpecker.

Stephen knew exactly where to go was extremely knowledgeable about habitats, behavior and vocalizations. In just three days of birding we saw about 150 species during the last week of July, not an optimal birding time."

Ron Lockwood, USA, 21/22 and 27/28 July 2007

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Spain Birding Tour 6 - Aiguamolls de L'Emporda

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Great Spotted Cuckoo
White Stork
summer visitor (from early March)
Resident breeder

The Empordà to the north is like a mini-Catalonia and will offer a final chance to see some of Spain's most sought-after bird species such as Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Penduline Tit, Stone-Curlew, raptors and may be Moustached Warbler.

Collared Pratincole, Red-rumped Swallow, Kingfisher and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker might also be on hand whilst, for the photographers amongst you, the compact reserve at El Cortalet - where Nightingale venture out in the open for picnic-snacks - will offer the best chance yet to snap close-ups of Purple Gallinule, White Stork, Spoonbill and a host of waders, ducks, warblers and herons.

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Eurasian Spoonbill
Roller
Resident breeder
Summer breeder
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"I had a great day out with Stephen.  He was an excellent guide, knew exactly what I wanted to see on the day and made every effort to ensure that as many of these were on our route.

His knowledge of the area and the associated birds was fantastic and I would definitely call him up again if I was visiting Barcelona or the surrounding area."

Joel Lund, UK, 27 June 2008

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Spain Birding Tour 7 - The Spanish Pyrenees

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Dipper
Rock Thrush
Resident breeder
Summer breeder

Of course, for those with an appetite for excitement and the thrill of the hunt, one should always save the best birding trip until last and the Catalan Pyrenees are certainly that.

What chance then of seeing resident Lammergeier, Black Woodpecker and Wallcreeper all in one day?

Well, we'll certainly do our best and, with a spoon full of luck, we may even add Honey Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Red-backed Shrike, Citril Finch, Dipper, Nuthatch, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear and Alpine Chough to a host of singing warblers, tits and finches.

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Citril Finch
Crossbill
Resident breeder
Resdient breeder
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All photos by tour members except Balearic Shearwater by Mark Lewis


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