Spanish Pyrenees


Long Winter Weekend

Friday 26^th February – Monday 1^st March 2010 
 

Cost: £575

This short break, set in the magnificent scenery of the Spanish Pyrenees, has
been designed for small groups of birdwatchers, with a maximum of eight
people. During our stay we’ll enjoy home-cooked meals and good Spanish wines but, more importantly we’ll have a few days’ superb birding and some great photographic opportunities.

We shall spend three nights in a beautifully restored stone house, dating from the 16^th century, in the peaceful Pyrenean village of Loporzano. Nowadays the outbuildings have been converted into charming guest rooms, each one individually decorated and with en-suite facilities and provide a delightful base for our stay.

The list of birds we aim to see is impressive, with the ‘Top 10’ target species being;

Lammergeier
Wallcreeper
Eagle Owl
Alpine Accentor
Snowfinch
Little Bustard
Bonelli's Eagle

Black Wheatear
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse

Or....you could just stay home for the weekend!

Spanish Pyrenees - Itinerary

Day 1 Following a short flight from Stanstead, we’ll be met at Zaragoza airport by our guide and within a few minutes we will be out searching for Eagle Owl, Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush.

Later in the day we’ll be faced with the awesome sight of the huge steppes as we scan the area for both species of sandgrouse and with good chances of Calandra, Thekla and Short-toed Larks and raptors or vultures.

Before arriving at our welcoming accommodation at Loporzano we will check another area for Eagle Owl.

Day 2 After breakfast we will head for Guara and Vadiello where, among other birds, Wallcreeper, Lammergeier and Alpine Accentor are almost guaranteed.

Later, near Loporzano, we will look for raptors particularly searching for the last surviving pair of Bonelli´s Eagle in the central Pyrenees. We will also visit La Sotonera reservoir looking for over-wintering Cranes.

Day 3 We drive to the French border for alpine specialities as Snow Finch, Alpine and Red-billed Chough and Chamois in a dramatic landscape of snow-covered peaks. On the way back to Loporzano we will search for birds such as Black Woodpecker and Cirl Bunting.

Day 4 We’ll have an early morning start allowing us to make a short stop at Sariñena Lake where we will try for Bittern and Penduline Tit before heading to Zaragoza airport for our flight home.