Overview

For many, Catalonia rose to fame in 2017 during its last attemp to become a full independent State from Spain, in what was another chapter in the long, rather tortuous history of disagreements between both countries. This sophisticated, open-minded land keeps a strong and different personality, as it has clearly differentiated language, culture, gastronomy and history. It borders on France and Andorra to the north, and on the Spanish regions of Aragón and València to the west and south.

Despite its relatively small size (a bit more than 30.000sq kilometers), Catalonia can count itself as one of the European regions with a widest range of birdlife. And this is not surprising when considering its vast array of ecosystems that goes from everything in between alpine grasslands to semi desertic areas, and from coastal salt marshes to boreal forests. This is a land of contrasts, where in the morning you can see Lammergeier and Black Woodpecker in the dramatic Pyrenees, and in the afternoon enjoy the special Little Bustard “jumps” in the steppes.

Thanks to its privileged geographical location at the North-East corner of the Iberian Peninsula, this is also an excellent area for migratory birds as many passerines fly directly from Algeria to Mallorca, and from there to the Catalan coast. When easterlings blow from the Mediterranean, specialities such as Red-footed Falcon, Red-throated Pipit, Collared Flycatcher and Icterine Warbler can appear in good numbers!

This tour explores Catalonia in the best moment for bird migration, but it is also a great moment as all summer visitors are already back to their nesting territories, and the whole area is full with the songs of Warblers and Flycatchers!

Our tour shall start in Barcelona, the iconic city by the Mediterranean, from where we will drive southwards through opulent wineyards to arrive to Ebro Delta, one of the major wetlands in the Mediterranean Sea. Here we will be granted with spectacular flocks of Greater Flamingoes and Glossy Ibises while in search of specialities such as Caspian Tern, Collared Pratincole, Audouin’s & Slender-billed Gulls, Savi’s Warbler and an excellent variety of nesting terns, and migratory passerines and waders. From here we will drive northwards to explore the dry lands around Lleida. This landscape, mid way between traditional farming and natural grassland, holds an impressive list of birds, and supports good densities of sough-after birds including Little Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Ortolan Bunting, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Montagu’s Harriers to name a few. An incursion into neightbouring Aragón will allow us to contact with Black-bellied Sandgrouses while searching for the extremely elusive Dupont’s Lark.

The gentle ondulations in Lleida Steppes will lead us to the mighty Pyrenees, where we will explore gorges, extensive pine forests, almond orchards and alpine grasslands in search of a long array of goodies including Lammergeier and Wallcreeper (small chances) but also Citril Finch, Cinereous Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Black Woodpecker and, if lucky, Tengmalm’s Owl. From the mountains we will step down to the enchanting Empordà plain. Here we will look for migratory scarcities that may easily include Little Crake, White-winged Black Tern, Great Snipe, Red-footed Falcon or Black-winged Kite along with a superb variety of migratory waders and herons before ending our tour back in Barcelona.

At the end of the tour, our list will increase over 210 species!

Tour leader

Born in Barcelona, Carles Oliver has been birdwatching most of these locations since his childhood, and he will be happy to join lead our group throught some of his favourite birding spots. This is a tour of unique accommodations, excellent local food, short transfers and wide variety of birdlife.

A book to help you understand Catalonia: “The time of the doves” (1962) by Mercè Rodoreda (1908-1983).