Northern Spain
Wallcreepers and Cranes in Aragón
Saturday 22 - Friday 28 November 2008 (7 days)
Sunday 8 - Saturday 14 March 2009 (7 days)
Saturday 21 - Friday 27 November 2009 (7 days)
Join us for a late autumn or early spring break to the mountains, steppes and wetlands of Northern Spain, with wintering raptors and mountain birds in the Pyrenean foothills, Dupont's Lark and sandgrouse on the steppes, and thousands of Cranes going to roost at the Laguna de Gallocanta ... and an excellent chance of getting close to that stunning mountain sprite, Wallcreeper!
Starting in the High Pyrenees, and reaching down nearly as far as Valencia, the vast Spanish region of Aragón contains almost all the types of inland wildlife habitat to be found in Spain. Here there are wetlands packed with birds, especially in winter, rolling dry grassland and farmland - the 'Spanish Steppe' - rugged forested hills and canyons, and the snowcapped mountains of the Pyrenees themselves. We travel to this area in both late autumn and early spring, when thousands of Cranes are present on one of the lakes, when sandgrouse form flocks on the steppe country, and when high mountain birds, such as Alpine Accentor and Wallcreeper have moved to more accessible lower altitudes. Our two-centre tour to this area aims to give us plenty of time in all the main habitats, together with the option of several evenings watching the superb spectacle of the Cranes coming into roost.
Prices:
2008 - £ 975
2009 - £ 1,095
Single supps.:
2008 - £ 115
2009 - £ 130
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of accommodation as detailed above, all meals, scheduled return flights London Ð Barcelona*, airport taxes, minibus transport, tips, admissions and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-flight cost (starting and finishing the tour in Barcelona) please deduct £105 from the tour cost.
Leaders:
2008 – Ray Nowicki as principal leader
Mar 2009 – Mike Lockwood & Fran Trabalón
Nov 2009 – Keith Grant & Ray Nowicki
Itinerary
Days 1 - 3
We take a scheduled flight from London - Barcelona and transfer to our hotel near Huesca.
A little to the north of Huesca stand the dramatic sandstone pinnacles of Riglos. The skies here are always full of raptors in fine weather, and we may expect several wintering species. These can include Lammergeier and Griffon Vulture, with a chance of Golden Eagle. Alpine Accentor can be found around the village at this time, together with the resident Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush. Either here, or at the spectacular Castillo de Loarre, just near our superbly-situated hotel, we look for wintering Wallcreeper on the rock faces. This must be one of the best places we know to catch up with this spectacular, but often elusive species - and we've had wonderful close views here in the past. If conditions allow, we also head up into the pretty pine forests of St Juan de la Peña, where Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker and Crossbill may be found.
Three nights near Huesca
Days 4 - 6
We travel south of Zaragoza, first visiting the rolling steppe country, where both Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse can be found in small numbers. Calandra and Lesser Short-toed Larks are resident, as well as one of the most difficult lark species to get to grips with, the secretive Dupont's Lark, which we've seen on several past trips. Raptors can include Peregrine, Merlin and Golden Eagle.
After this we visit the Laguna de Gallocanta. Even without the spectacle of the Cranes, the laguna would be an excellent wetland, with its wintering wildfowl and raptors. Hen and Marsh Harriers drift over the reedbeds, and ducks, geese, and a few waders are scattered around its shallow margins. But of all these attractions, it is the sight and sound of thousands of Cranes coming in to roost that stands out, and, depending on conditions, we shall be returning more than once to see them.
We'll be based in the highly attractive mediaeval town of Daroca for our stay in this area, within easy reach of both good steppe country, and Gallocanta. Our hotel is one of the nicest we've found in Spain, in a beautifully restored building and very friendly and welcoming.
Three nights Daroca
Day 7
We return to Barcelona to catch a return afternoon flight to London.
Accommodation
We stay for three nights in the superb setting of Loarre - our hotel is a 'palacete' originally built in the 16th-century, and displays a wonderful mix of renaissance and baroque architecture, followed by three nights in a lovely country hotel in the highly attractive mediaeval town of Daroca. All rooms are en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients
Days 1 - 3
We take a scheduled flight from London - Barcelona and transfer to our hotel near Huesca.
A little to the north of Huesca stand the dramatic sandstone pinnacles of Riglos. The skies here are always full of raptors in fine weather, and we may expect several wintering species. These can include Lammergeier and Griffon Vulture, with a chance of Golden Eagle. Alpine Accentor can be found around the village at this time, together with the resident Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush. Either here, or at the spectacular Castillo de Loarre, just near our superbly-situated hotel, we look for wintering Wallcreeper on the rock faces. This must be one of the best places we know to catch up with this spectacular, but often elusive species - and we've had wonderful close views here in the past. If conditions allow, we also head up into the pretty pine forests of St Juan de la Peña, where Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker and Crossbill may be found.
Three nights near Huesca
Days 4 - 6
We travel south of Zaragoza, first visiting the rolling steppe country, where both Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse can be found in small numbers. Calandra and Lesser Short-toed Larks are resident, as well as one of the most difficult lark species to get to grips with, the secretive Dupont's Lark, which we've seen on several past trips. Raptors can include Peregrine, Merlin and Golden Eagle.
After this we visit the Laguna de Gallocanta. Even without the spectacle of the Cranes, the laguna would be an excellent wetland, with its wintering wildfowl and raptors. Hen and Marsh Harriers drift over the reedbeds, and ducks, geese, and a few waders are scattered around its shallow margins. But of all these attractions, it is the sight and sound of thousands of Cranes coming in to roost that stands out, and, depending on conditions, we shall be returning more than once to see them.
We'll be based in the highly attractive mediaeval town of Daroca for our stay in this area, within easy reach of both good steppe country, and Gallocanta. Our hotel is one of the nicest we've found in Spain, in a beautifully restored building and very friendly and welcoming.
Three nights Daroca
Day 7
We return to Barcelona to catch a return afternoon flight to London.
Accommodation
We stay for three nights in the superb setting of Loarre - our hotel is a 'palacete' originally built in the 16th-century, and displays a wonderful mix of renaissance and baroque architecture, followed by three nights in a lovely country hotel in the highly attractive mediaeval town of Daroca. All rooms are en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients