Birding in northern Spain

[CarolineT]

Hi, In a week's time I will be going on holiday to northern Spain for 2 weeks. It is not a birding holiday, as my partner is not as keen as I am on birding, but we will be walking in the Picos de Europa for one week, and then spending a week in the Basque Country. I am hoping to fit some birding in, and to make the most of the time, I was wondering if anyone could recommend any particularly good sites? I am particularly keen to see wallcreeper, raptors and possibly some migrating birds, given the time of year.
Thanks,
Caroline

[Grousemore]

I hope you don't mind, but I've moved your Thread to where you're more likely to get a response.

Hope you'll post a report in the other sub-forum when you get back!

[Xabi]

In the Basque Country, I would recommend:

"Bahía de Txingudi"
http://www.euskadi.net/txingudi/llegar_i.htm

and "Urdaibai"
http://www.urdaibai-hegaztiak.com/html/ingl/localizacion/localizacion.htm

both places worth a visit: a google search will give you more information.

Picos de Europa is another interesting place, of course:
http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/trips/biscay-1002-nr.html

These are just some examples; if you need more detailed information, just ask...
Hope it helps.
Xabi

[tufty]

Hi Caroline,
I visited Northern Spain with my family in July this year and one site you will hear a lot about is Fuenta de in the Picos mountains. It is a fantastic place to visit via an amazing 3-4 min cable car ride (but worth it)
I advise you to get up early (9am I think is the first car) and only go up in good weather and if the forecast is good for most of the day, the clouds come in very quickly there.
The famous Wallcreeper site is up on top altough I never saw the bird (missed by 15 mins) then no sign in 3 hours following day. Also saw Snowfinch, very confiding Alpine Chough and Alpine Accentor plus the usual Griffon Vultures.

I'll get my notes out and post another couple of sites I visited.

[tufty]

Hello again,
the Hermida Gorge is a good area for raptors. Black kite and Buzzard are very common, Red-backed Shrike were seen on many telegraph wires around the villages and orchards.
The Pass of Piedrasluangas is a fantastic viewpoint and apparently Black and Middle-spotted Woodpecker are 'common' here although I saw neither.
Rock Thrush and Citril Finch have been seen here but guess what........yep I saw neither.
I did manage to find a pair of Rock Bunting nearby, just down the road from Piedrasluangas close to a village called Arenos, I don't know if they are regularly seen here.
At Liencres I found a pair of Sardinian Warbler in the scrubby areas near to the car park then walked along the cliff footpath east and saw a few Zitting Cisticola in the long grass areas.
I also saw a brief view of a Wildcat in the Saja Besaja reserve.

If you need any more info just let me know.

[CarolineT]

Hi Xabi, Paul,

Thanks for your help. I shall let you know how I got on when we get back!

Regards,

Caroline

[JOSE JAVIER]

Hi Caroline. Santoña marshes (between Santander and Bilbao) are a good place for water stuff (divers almost for granted), waders, gulls and waterfowl. I could give you some precise hints if you decide to get there. Fuente De is also a good place, and, in summer time, wallcreeper is always there. Take the cable car to the top and walk the main path towards "La Vueltona" (ask anybody there).