Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays

S PA I N
Two-tailed Pasha
Curlew, European Roller, Montagu’s Harrier, Little
Owl, Calandra Lark and more all add a touch of
class and colour to the whole experience. While in
the area we can also do a spot of raptor watching
at a site where species that are regularly seen
include Golden, Booted and Short-toed Eagles,
Red and Black Kites, Eurasian Griffon and
Egyptian Vultures and even an occasional
Northern Goshawk. The birding is excellent, but
this might be the day to finish at a reasonable time
in order to be able to participate in an earlyevening
guided visit and wine-tasting at a local
wine cellar in this land of world-famous wines.
For our fourth day we head southwards to look for
the rare and declining Bonelli’s Eagle. Our search
will take us past sunny slopes and lofty ridges
where the likes of Black-eared Wheatear, Egyptian
Vulture, Sardinian Warbler, Woodlark, and more
can be found. Then we will make our way to
another interesting limestone massif with sea
views and good chances of seeing the attractive
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Red-billed Chough,
Dartford Warbler, and Rock Bunting, among
others.
Days 5 to 7
Today we take leave of our friendly hotel and
promptly make our way to the Ebro Delta where
we can look for birds such as Slender-billed and
Audouin’s Gulls, Whiskered, Gull-billed and
Caspian Terns, Purple Gallinule, Squacco Heron,
Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Bittern, Great
and Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt,
Pied Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Zitting Cisticola,
Great Reed Warbler, Red-crested Pochard,
Collared Pratincole and Lesser Short-toed and
Greater Short-toed Larks. We will fit as many of
these birds as we can into the day in the Ebro
delta before undertaking the hour’s drive to our
hotel on the northern edge of the picturesque els
Ports massif, where we stay for three nights. Our
Common Nightingale
els Ports accommodation is a renovated
farmhouse in secluded and extensive grounds,
just right for wandering around and exploring.
The next morning we set about slowly discovering
the marvels of the Ports massif, following the
course of the River Matarranya upstream towards
its source. An impressive gorge awaits us at the
end of the itinerary, but we will take our time to get
there. That is because we don’t want to miss any
of the local wildlife, including the Spanish Ibex,
perhaps a Golden or a Bonelli’s Eagle, Red-billed
Chough, Western Orphean Warbler, and
spectacular scenery. Another excursion is one
which takes us past ancient olive groves, where
we will admire the gnarled forms of olive trees
which must be at least several hundred years old.
We can entertain ourselves looking for
amphibians and orchids and perhaps just one or
two more interesting birds.
On our last full day we plan to visit the Monegros
steppes. It will be interesting to see the contrasts
of this arid area with the Lleida plains and to
compare the birdlife: here in the low scrub, open
stony fields and patches of dry fallow land there
are very good chances of seeing both Blackbellied
and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Greater
Short-toed and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Lesser
Kestrel, Spectacled Warbler, and maybe an eagle
or two flying overhead or above a distant patch of
pines. We will also have the opportunity to
investigate a stretch of riverside woodland along
the banks of the river Ebro to look for birds like
Penduline Tit, Common Kingfisher and Cetti’s
Warbler. So there will rarely be a dull moment!
Day 8
We take leave of our hotel and after some final
exploration of the local area we transfer to
Barcelona Airport to catch our flight to London or
regional airports.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Barcelona and
transfer to Montsant
Days 2-4 Montsant
Days 5-7 Els Ports
Day 8 Depart Barcelona
Party Size
Maximum of 14 clients (two leaders with more
than seven clients).
Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double
and single rooms with private facilities.
Transport
By minibuses driven by the leaders.
Includes
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,
entry fees, services of the leaders, VAT,
airport taxes and tips.
Gradings
Very good
150
Warm
Low
Normal
Relaxed
Good
Easy
Scheduled
Blue-spot Hairstreak
To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445
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