The Spanish Pyrenees - Bonelli's Eagle

[HumpBack]

Hi all,

Our family is spending ten days in Spain in August, starting around Valencia and travelling towards the Pyrenees, via Belchite. As we spent some time in the Pyrenees two years ago, we are aware of many of the key sites for Wallcreeper, Lammergier, Black Woodpecker etc. However, the one one bird that seems to elude us is Bonelli's Eagle. Does anyone know of any specific sites where we may be able to catch up with this bird so we can complete our European raptor list!!! Tried for them in monfrague in June 2005 but were unsuccessful here - anyone requiring info on this area please ask, absolutely superb!!!

kind regards

[Iben]

Hello,

The best site I can think of, without leading you too far off the planned route, is the small mountain chain of Montsià. Several pairs of Bonelli's Eagle are breeding in these mountains and can often be seen overhead. The Montsià is situated just inland from the Ebro Delta, halfway between Valencia and the Pyrenees.

Best of luck and wishes for a great birding holiday,

Iben

[HumpBack]

Hello,

The best site I can think of, without leading you too far off the planned route, is the small mountain chain of Montsià. Several pairs of Bonelli's Eagle are breeding in these mountains and can often be seen overhead. The Montsià is situated just inland from the Ebro Delta, halfway between Valencia and the Pyrenees.

Best of luck and wishes for a great birding holiday,

Iben

Hi Iben,

Many thanks for your info, will bear the suggested region in mind. Is the area you are referring to in the same belt of mountains as Morella??? we have already found some info on Bonelli's here.

many thanks

[jdbirdman]

Hi
Interesting to read you know of good sites for wall creeper and Lammergier I am interested to know these sites as I may find myself arund the Pyrenees this year. I will also be escorting my Wife to Loureds do you know of any good sites there for wallcreeper?
regards
john
Hi all,

Our family is spending ten days in Spain in August, starting around Valencia and travelling towards the Pyrenees, via Belchite. As we spent some time in the Pyrenees two years ago, we are aware of many of the key sites for Wallcreeper, Lammergier, Black Woodpecker etc. However, the one one bird that seems to elude us is Bonelli's Eagle. Does anyone know of any specific sites where we may be able to catch up with this bird so we can complete our European raptor list!!! Tried for them in monfrague in June 2005 but were unsuccessful here - anyone requiring info on this area please ask, absolutely superb!!!

kind regards

[HumpBack]

Hi
Interesting to read you know of good sites for wall creeper and Lammergier I am interested to know these sites as I may find myself arund the Pyrenees this year. I will also be escorting my Wife to Loureds do you know of any good sites there for wallcreeper?
regards
john


Hi john,


Unsure about the status of Wallcreeper around Loureds. However, my knowledge is limited to the Pyrenees around the Hecho valley. As many bird reports will tell you, the wildlife in the area is superb. As for Wallcreeper, the best sites are the Boca del inferno and Gabardito refuge, both sites located in close proximity. Gabardito is also very good for Lammergier, although my first pair were seen in the neighbouring Anso valley. For more detailed information on these sites may i suggest the Helm guide on "Where to watch birds in North and East Spain", published by Michael Rebane. All the information you should require is in this guide.

good Luck!!!

[Iben]

Hi Iben,

Many thanks for your info, will bear the suggested region in mind. Is the area you are referring to in the same belt of mountains as Morella??? we have already found some info on Bonelli's here.

many thanks

Hi again,

The Montsià mountain chain starts close to the border between the communities of Valencia and Catalonia (on the Catalan side), close to Alcanar. It stretches north along the coast until Amposta and the Ebro River.

Best regards

[Stephen C]

Hi
Interesting to read you know of good sites for wall creeper and Lammergier I am interested to know these sites as I may find myself arund the Pyrenees this year.
regards
john

John

Don't know if you intend to visit the Catalan Pyrenees but if you do let me know nearer the time and I'll give you some locations for both.

All the best

Stephen Christopher
www.catalanbirdtours.com

[Stephen C]

Hi all,

Our family is spending ten days in Spain in August, starting around Valencia and travelling towards the Pyrenees, via Belchite. the one one bird that seems to elude us is Bonelli's Eagle. Does anyone know of any specific sites where we may be able to catch up with this bird so we can complete our European raptor list!!!
kind regards

Hi humpback

Not exactly on your route but two excellent sites are the Garraf Massif, just south of Barcelona, and the Cap de Creus/Cabo de Creus, just north of Aiguamolls de L'Emporda in the province of Girona.

Let me know if you need more details

Stephen Christopher
www.catalanbirdtours.com

[rosbifs]

Hi
Interesting to read you know of good sites for wall creeper and Lammergier I am interested to know these sites as I may find myself arund the Pyrenees this year. I will also be escorting my Wife to Loureds do you know of any good sites there for wallcreeper?
regards
john


Have lived in Luz St Sauveur - 20 minutes from Lourdes for 9 months (on route to Gavarnie). Plenty of Wallcreepers to be found depending on time of year and amount of effort you want to put in. In breeding season they head up to tops of the ranges - above Gavarnie etc. and may need a couple of hours walk. In May/ Sept/ October have seen in the gorges leading up the mountain - by the road.

Lots of raptors to be seen around Lourdes. Booted Eagle 5 minutes, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle 10 minutes. Lammergier around and about - Cirque Trommeuse most reliable for me.

Also, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spot, Firecrest, Capercaille, White Stork.

Currently have a pair of Great White Egrets wintering in Argeles.

Charles

[steve west]

Hi all,

Our family is spending ten days in Spain in August, starting around Valencia and travelling towards the Pyrenees, via Belchite. As we spent some time in the Pyrenees two years ago, we are aware of many of the key sites for Wallcreeper, Lammergier, Black Woodpecker etc. However, the one one bird that seems to elude us is Bonelli's Eagle. Does anyone know of any specific sites where we may be able to catch up with this bird so we can complete our European raptor list!!! Tried for them in monfrague in June 2005 but were unsuccessful here - anyone requiring info on this area please ask, absolutely superb!!!

kind regards
Hi there

I can see that I will have to trumpet my book myself here....Have you not heard of my book "Where the birds are in northeast Spain"?. Author Steve West, available from Subbuteo Books and covering the autonomous communities of Catalunya and Aragón. In it you will find relatively detailed and up-to-date information on 12 sites where you can see Bonelli's eagles in Teruel, Zaragoza, Lleida, Tarragona, Barcelona, Girona but none in the Pyrenees as such, basically because the Bonelli's eagle is not a Pyrenean bird.


Good Luck!

Steve West
http://geocities.com/westvidal

[rosbifs]

Hi there

I can see that I will have to trumpet my book myself here....Have you not heard of my book "Where the birds are in northeast Spain"?. Author Steve West, available from Subbuteo Books and covering the autonomous communities of Catalunya and Aragón. In it you will find relatively detailed and up-to-date information on 12 sites where you can see Bonelli's eagles in Teruel, Zaragoza, Lleida, Tarragona, Barcelona, Girona but none in the Pyrenees as such, basically because the Bonelli's eagle is not a Pyrenean bird.


Good Luck!

Steve West
http://geocities.com/westvidal

Damn it wanted to find one near me!!!!

[martinberg]

Hi,
In end of October to beginning of November this year I and some friends will walk in the Pyrenees for about a week. We plan to fly to Barcelona and after that go by train or buss to the mountains in northwest. I am unfortunately the only birdwatcher in the group who of course want to see so many interesting bird species as possible.
Does any one has any tips of where we shall go if we want a nice place where we can walk and where we in the same time have the opportunity to see interesting birds.

I reed the upper contributes, but doesn’t it exist any place for my target species closer to Barcelona?

My target species will be:
Wallcreeper
Lammergier
Snow finch

Thanking you in advance

[Stephen C]

Hi,
In end of October to beginning of November...exist any place for my target species closer to Barcelona?

Wallcreeper
Lammergier
Snow finch

Martin Hi

Wallcreeper can be seen about 15km from Barcelona during the winter; I saw it yesterday! You can see a picture of it and read the trip report here:

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/spainbirding/

I see Lammergeier regularly in the Moixero Park, if you want to look for accommodation there but snowfinch is a little more difficult. I do see them but it does depend on the weather (they retreat higher when the weather is good). Its also worth checking out ski-stations if you end up near one and the season has started.

I'm sure the forum will also recommend other places and accommodation.

All the best