bird watching in spain birding year in birds fan tailed warbler photo

There is also an expanding library of species pages:


birding holidays spain sardinian warbler birds photo

Outlined is a brief summary of the seasons in Catalonia using some of the most common or widely spread species seen throughout the country.

For more details of habitats, locations, rarer species and monthly occurences click:
Sardinian Warbler
Omnipresent resident

birding holidays vacation barcelona spain spring crested tit photo

mid-February to the end of May

 birding trips tours barcelona short toed eagle photo

Bird Tours, Short breaks, holidays:
birding aiguamolls emporda button

llobregat spring migration birding button

steppes spring migration birding button

The movement of birds during this period is undoutedly what makes it so attractive to bird watchers.

The arrival of breeding birds, which begins as early as February with Great Spotted Cuckoo and Lesser Kestrel, and the phenomenal numbers of passerines, raptors and waders that pass through on migration are of course well documented.

But it's also an easier time to see winter visitors as they flock together in preparation for their journey home and a last chance to catch flocks of birds such as buntings, bustards, sparrows and sandgrouse before they disperse for the summer.
 Short-toed Eagle
 
March-September

 
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birding vacation break barcelona spanish yellow wagtail photo
ebro delta spring birding button

garraf spring migration birding button

cap de creus birding button

pyrenees spring migration birding button
Yellow Wagtail iberiae

February-early October

 

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spring spain guided bird tours email me button

 
 bird watching holiday spain barcelona summer wryneck photo
bird watching trip spain ebro delta spotted redshank photo

June to mid-August

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pyrenees summer birding lammergeier button

ebro delta summer birding button

steppes summer birding button
Spotted Redshank

Before you despair at the timing of your summer 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, complimented in successive weeks by returning post-nuptial birds, they can be seen clothed in the glory of their full summer plumage.

Add to this the hoards of juveniles innocently perched out in the open, evicted from their parents' territories and often venturing into unusual locations - with late summer particularly noteworthy for the start of the 'first year' raptor dispersal.
year round migrant
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bird watching tour spain pyrenees woodchat shrike photo
llobregat summer birding button

garraf summer birding button

summer birding aiguamolls emporda button

cap de creus summer birding button
Woodchat Shrike juv.
mid February-mid October
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for a friendly quote. Any dates, any tours. No obligation
birdwatching tour barcelona spain autumn bee-eater photo

mid-August to the end of November

 birdwatching raptor migration trip spain hobby photo

Bird Tours, Short breaks, holidays:
llobregat autumn migration birding button

steppes autumn migration birding button

cap de creus autumn birding button

Migration, migration, migration is what its all about of course, but not just rare vagrants. White-winged Tern, Common Crane and Dotterel are all on offer too.

And then there's the raptors. They do migrate in spring of course and most can be seen in their breeding areas anyway but rarely do they generate the same exitement as on their autumn passage.

And believe it or not, there is more. A final chance to catch fleeing summer visitors, thousands of ducks and passerines arriving for the winter and, of the residents, high mountain birds drop to more convenient altitudes and buntings and bustards flock into your notebook.
Hobby
April - mid October
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birdwatching break barcelona spain pied flycatcher photo
garraf autumn migration birding button

autumn birding in aiguamolls emporda button

ebro delta autumn birding button

pyrenees autumn migration birding lammergeier button
Pied Flycatcher
Spring/Autumn migrant

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autumn spain guided bird tours email me button
birding break tour spain ebro delta winter hoopoe photo
bird watching holiday spain barcelona pintail photo

December to mid-February

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garraf winter wallcreeper birding button

steppes winter great bustard birding button

ebro delta winter birding button
Pintail

Whether 'winter only' species or seasonal supplements to native populations, millions of birds from north-west Europe seek refuge in Catalonia's mild winter.

Mergansers and grebes gather off the coast, ducks and waders seek out the wetlands and passerines flock to the forests and farmland. And there's an ever-growing list of summer breeders such as Black-winged Stilt and Wood Sandpiper choosing to stay over.

And of the locals making it easier to observe them? Rock Buntings to Great Bustards form winter flocks, Eagle Owls begin their 'bu-hu' courtship and Wallcreepers and Snowfinches migrate laterally to lower ground.
Winter visitor
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birding holiday spain barcelona white wagtail photo
pyrenees winter birding lammergeier button

llobregat winter birding great bittern button

cap de creus winter birding button

winter birding aiguamolls emporda button
White Wagtail
Flocking resident
winter spain guided bird tours email me button

for a friendly quote. Any dates, any tours. No obligation
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