Digbert Doobrey
Well-known member
This is a quick report of my first bird trip with a birding company that I recently completed. The company was Oriole Birding and they were certainly a great choice. More about them later.
Day One
Met up with our small group of five plus our guide Ashley for the flight from Gatwick to Barcelona at 7.30. My brain was awake but my body wasn't however adrenaline and excitement was getting me through the airport and flight and we were soon in Barcelona to meet up with our Spanish guide Carles and pick up the mini bus.
Our first birding stop was almost straight away. We left the airport and took the two minute drive to the Llobregat delta. This is a wetland that is literally right next to the airport and we were soon enjoying our first birds. These included Crag Martin, male Red-Crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Great Egret and a female Marsh harrier. Moustached Warbler was a target but despite hearing one bird we couldn' get onto it.
Then it was an hour or so's drive to our next spot. On the way the people on the left hand side of the bus enjoyed a displaying pair of Bonelli's Eagle but not me I was on the right hand side. Never mind I'd get my turn later with other species. So we then made it up to the Pyrenees close to the town of Baga and drove up 1700m to find our next target Snow Finch. Carles had previously found a flock of around 70 birds and after a short but very cold walk he again located the birds and we all enjoyed great views despite grappling with near frostbite. Raven, Fieldfare and Red-billed Chough were also noted.
Then it was a two and a half our drive to the village of Arbanies near Huesca to our hotel the Casa Oliban. Here the owner Marta cooked us the first of her delicious evening meals and her cooking throughout our four night stay was to die for. On our last night here She made us a beef in mushroom sauce dish followed by a cheesecake that was like angels tap dancing in your mouth. Anyway a long day over everyone crashed out eagerly anticipating the rest of the holiday.
Day Two
A pre breakfast and very cold walk just down from the hotel gave us brief views of a Southern Grey Shrike and our first Spotless Starlings then it was onto our first destination. This was the Los Mallos de Riglos which are the breath taking sandstone peaks in the pre Pyrenees. Its hard to imaging a more picturesque place to go birding and the scenery itself is worth the trip. Fine views were had of Griffon Vultures as they cruised around the huge rock, often landing and sometimes passing low enough to afford close obsevation and photo opportunities. These birds were a constant presence throughout the trip as large numbers migrating north up through the mountains. A small group of Black Storks were seen also migrating north and they seemed to be struggling in the windy conditions. I know how they felt! A smart Blue rock Thrush was noted on a rooftop along with Sardinian Warbler and Dartford Warbler in the scrub. Then a very confiding Alpine Accentor showed very well at the foot of the mountain. However despite much trying our main target was leading us a dance and it took a couple of hours before Carles finally got onto it. Wallcreeper is a lovely striking little bird but very hard to pick out on a mountainside. Even when I could spot it with my naked eye it was very hard to track with my bins. Luckily Ashley and Carles stayed on it and eventually I nailed it.
After lunch we journeyed up the Hecho valley. Carles spotted a different raptor and we all jumped out of the mini bus to get onto it. It was my first Lammergeier a sub adult. However as soon as we got it in our bins a juvenile Golden Eagle shot out and mobbed it. As this was also a lifer for me I couldn't believe my luck. What a super days birding and it wasn't over yet. Further up the valley two more lifers appeared in the form of Black Kite and Hawfinch and a large flock of Red-billed Choughs all gave great views.
We ended the day at Embalse de Sotonera. This is a wetland site known well for hosting huge flocks of Common Cranes on their way through on migration. We eventually found the flock in the far distance huddled down against the trees. Heavy winds made birding difficult but we had also found a large flock Rock Sparrow on the powerlines and added male and female Hen Harrier to the ever expanding Raptor list.
Day Three
Today we confined birding to areas close to the large town of Huesco but this still included a variety of habitats. We headed out to the rocky gorge of Vadiello to try again for Wallcreeper and hit bullseye almost straight away. How Ashley spotted this little cracker whilst steering the minibus round the winding valley I'll never know but he did and we all enjoyed very close views of this little stunner which seemed to contrast even better than yesterday with the colours and contours of the sandstone rock. Possibly because it was located in a far more smaller and enclosed area just added to the appeal. A little further up the valley Carles then spotted another lammergeier. This for me was bird of the trip as it was a full adult and it gleamed in full plummage as we scoped it perched up on the mountainside. Its mate then flew over and both birds departed out over the ridge. However my first Firecrest then popped up so it was still smiles all round. Short toed Treecreeper and Red Squirrel were also spotted in the valley.
Next it was off to the Castillo of Montearagon. Ruins like this in the UK would be swamped by coach parties but we had the place all to ourselves. Even without the birding the panaramic views afforded here are amazing, but our guides soon had us onto Black Wheatear and Thekla Lark to add to the lifer list.
Our next stop was a wetland. Sarinena lake made a change from the windswept mountains, hills and valleys. Bluethroat was the big target here but despite everyone trying their best we couldnt get onto one. However good views of Penduline Tit and a cracking male Bearded Tit plus Pintail, Cettis Warbler, a pair of Kingfishers and several flying White stork were had and Marsh Harriers seemed to be everywhere. We then visited a small reserve at Alberca de Loreta where the highlight was watching distant but immense flocks of Common Crane flying north.
Day One
Met up with our small group of five plus our guide Ashley for the flight from Gatwick to Barcelona at 7.30. My brain was awake but my body wasn't however adrenaline and excitement was getting me through the airport and flight and we were soon in Barcelona to meet up with our Spanish guide Carles and pick up the mini bus.
Our first birding stop was almost straight away. We left the airport and took the two minute drive to the Llobregat delta. This is a wetland that is literally right next to the airport and we were soon enjoying our first birds. These included Crag Martin, male Red-Crested Pochard, Little Bittern, Great Egret and a female Marsh harrier. Moustached Warbler was a target but despite hearing one bird we couldn' get onto it.
Then it was an hour or so's drive to our next spot. On the way the people on the left hand side of the bus enjoyed a displaying pair of Bonelli's Eagle but not me I was on the right hand side. Never mind I'd get my turn later with other species. So we then made it up to the Pyrenees close to the town of Baga and drove up 1700m to find our next target Snow Finch. Carles had previously found a flock of around 70 birds and after a short but very cold walk he again located the birds and we all enjoyed great views despite grappling with near frostbite. Raven, Fieldfare and Red-billed Chough were also noted.
Then it was a two and a half our drive to the village of Arbanies near Huesca to our hotel the Casa Oliban. Here the owner Marta cooked us the first of her delicious evening meals and her cooking throughout our four night stay was to die for. On our last night here She made us a beef in mushroom sauce dish followed by a cheesecake that was like angels tap dancing in your mouth. Anyway a long day over everyone crashed out eagerly anticipating the rest of the holiday.
Day Two
A pre breakfast and very cold walk just down from the hotel gave us brief views of a Southern Grey Shrike and our first Spotless Starlings then it was onto our first destination. This was the Los Mallos de Riglos which are the breath taking sandstone peaks in the pre Pyrenees. Its hard to imaging a more picturesque place to go birding and the scenery itself is worth the trip. Fine views were had of Griffon Vultures as they cruised around the huge rock, often landing and sometimes passing low enough to afford close obsevation and photo opportunities. These birds were a constant presence throughout the trip as large numbers migrating north up through the mountains. A small group of Black Storks were seen also migrating north and they seemed to be struggling in the windy conditions. I know how they felt! A smart Blue rock Thrush was noted on a rooftop along with Sardinian Warbler and Dartford Warbler in the scrub. Then a very confiding Alpine Accentor showed very well at the foot of the mountain. However despite much trying our main target was leading us a dance and it took a couple of hours before Carles finally got onto it. Wallcreeper is a lovely striking little bird but very hard to pick out on a mountainside. Even when I could spot it with my naked eye it was very hard to track with my bins. Luckily Ashley and Carles stayed on it and eventually I nailed it.
After lunch we journeyed up the Hecho valley. Carles spotted a different raptor and we all jumped out of the mini bus to get onto it. It was my first Lammergeier a sub adult. However as soon as we got it in our bins a juvenile Golden Eagle shot out and mobbed it. As this was also a lifer for me I couldn't believe my luck. What a super days birding and it wasn't over yet. Further up the valley two more lifers appeared in the form of Black Kite and Hawfinch and a large flock of Red-billed Choughs all gave great views.
We ended the day at Embalse de Sotonera. This is a wetland site known well for hosting huge flocks of Common Cranes on their way through on migration. We eventually found the flock in the far distance huddled down against the trees. Heavy winds made birding difficult but we had also found a large flock Rock Sparrow on the powerlines and added male and female Hen Harrier to the ever expanding Raptor list.
Day Three
Today we confined birding to areas close to the large town of Huesco but this still included a variety of habitats. We headed out to the rocky gorge of Vadiello to try again for Wallcreeper and hit bullseye almost straight away. How Ashley spotted this little cracker whilst steering the minibus round the winding valley I'll never know but he did and we all enjoyed very close views of this little stunner which seemed to contrast even better than yesterday with the colours and contours of the sandstone rock. Possibly because it was located in a far more smaller and enclosed area just added to the appeal. A little further up the valley Carles then spotted another lammergeier. This for me was bird of the trip as it was a full adult and it gleamed in full plummage as we scoped it perched up on the mountainside. Its mate then flew over and both birds departed out over the ridge. However my first Firecrest then popped up so it was still smiles all round. Short toed Treecreeper and Red Squirrel were also spotted in the valley.
Next it was off to the Castillo of Montearagon. Ruins like this in the UK would be swamped by coach parties but we had the place all to ourselves. Even without the birding the panaramic views afforded here are amazing, but our guides soon had us onto Black Wheatear and Thekla Lark to add to the lifer list.
Our next stop was a wetland. Sarinena lake made a change from the windswept mountains, hills and valleys. Bluethroat was the big target here but despite everyone trying their best we couldnt get onto one. However good views of Penduline Tit and a cracking male Bearded Tit plus Pintail, Cettis Warbler, a pair of Kingfishers and several flying White stork were had and Marsh Harriers seemed to be everywhere. We then visited a small reserve at Alberca de Loreta where the highlight was watching distant but immense flocks of Common Crane flying north.
