Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays

S PA I N
Spain – Southern Catalonia
Birds, Butterflies & Bouquets
Saturday 24 May – Saturday 31 May 2014
Principal Leader: Steve West
2014 Cost £1,599 single room supplement £100
e now have several tours to Catalonia and this one is particularly focused on the natural history
W of the southern area. This tour visits the Montsant range, where lonely hermitages sculpt the
character of the most beautiful and solitary locations in this surprising massif. Unlikely rock formations
silently stand guard and small rivers continue their patient work sculpting valleys, gulleys and gorges out
of sheer rock. According to the Catalan Butterfly Monitoring Scheme no fewer than 86 species of butterfly
have been recorded at a single site in this area! We can look for birds here too, including Eurasian Griffon
Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian and Subalpine Warblers, Golden Oriole, European Bee-eater and Eurasian Hoopoe. The Ebro
Delta in contrast is flat and rather featureless but compensates for its lack of altitude by an exciting array of wetland birds, including gulls, waders,
herons, terns and much more. We return to the mountains and the els Ports massif which is just as abrupt as Montsant and possibly even more eyeopening.
It is home to a host of indigenous plants, as well as interesting and varied communities of butterflies including Nettle-tree Butterfly, Cardinal,
Southern White Admiral, Pale Clouded Yellow as well as amphibians, birds and mammals; among the latter a large population of the Spanish Ibex. A
walk into the rocky heart of els Ports will reveal astonishing and unexpected landscapes, and will also provide us with many opportunities for an
inviting dip into the cool clear waters of the Rivers Estrets, or Matarranya, probably the cleanest and most inviting rivers in the whole of northeast
Spain. The landscapes are unique and unforgettable and the wildlife is abundant and stimulating.
Throughout the tour you will have the expertise of Steve West, who has been studying the wildlife here since he took up residence in Catalonia, more
than 20 years ago.
Madrid
SPAIN
Montsant
National Park
Els Ports
Barcelona
National Park
Ebro Delta
ITINERARY
Days 1 to 4
We leave London, or regional airports, on a flight
to Barcelona where we meet our local guide,
Steve West. Our first stop is on the doorstep of the
airport, at one of the Llobregat Delta wetland
reserves. Depending on the water levels we can
see a variety of wetland species here including
ducks, herons, gulls, waders and more, as well as
reedbed passerines and maybe a late migrant or
two. A short walk down to the nearby beach will
soon reveal if there is any interesting movement
of seabirds just off the coast.
From here it is a relatively short drive, excluding
any diversions we may make for birding reasons,
to our welcoming hotel in the little village of
Morera de Montsant. This is the heart of the
delightful Montsant range, and we will be staying
here for four nights.
The next day we take a short drive to the village of
Siurana. Here we can delight our senses on a
walk around the cliffs and the village itself and
look out for raptors and other birds including the
Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Blue
Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift and a local speciality in
the shape of the attractive Red-rumped Swallow.
Later we skirt around the edges of the Montsant
range, passing picturesque villages and rocky
mountainsides, all the time looking for an
encounter with interesting birds such as Golden
Oriole, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe,
Rock Sparrow, Woodchat Shrike, or even the
localised Black Wheatear. We amble along quiet
winding roads to discover the little known scenery
of this Mediterranean massif. Terraced hillsides,
pinewoods and little streams are dominated by
imposing rock faces and huge crags. Along the
way we will take the best opportunities that
present themselves to stop and search for
butterflies, plants and birds in these lovely hills. A
peaceful amble just off the road could reveal a
good number of the following bird species:
Crested Tit, Rock Bunting, European Serin,
Western Bonelli’s, Western Orphean, Sardinian
and Subalpine Warblers, Common Crossbill,
Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Cirl Bunting,
and Grey Wagtail.
We dedicate the third day to exploring part of the
natural treasures of the nearest steppeland
habitat in the Lleida plains. Little Bustard, Stone
The Roques de Benet, Els Ports Massif
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For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445