Hello, I have one week of annual leave more than my partner this year, so would like to spend it birding in Spain/Portugal.
My main targets are roller, steppe birds (especially the sandgrouses, bustards and I would love to see a nightjar), vultures, great spotted cuckoo, Iberian magpie, woodpecker and other local specialties, then heading to the coast to try for a pelagic outing. I would love to see lynx so have booked a hide - nothing else is locked in other than that.
With work commitments the only time I can travel is end-August/start-September, I imagine it will be hot, hopefully still doable with early starts...
I’m looking for any advice or tips on my itinerary, and any recommended sites in these places. Also this will be my first time travelling solo on a trip like this, and so any safety/travel advice is appreciated as well.
Day 1 - fly into Barcelona, pick up a car and drive via Lleida, birding along the way until Belchite
Day 2-3 - birding around Belchite, then drive to Ciudad Real.
Day 4-5 - lynx hide and potential birding in region?
Day 6 - fly from Madrid to Faro, pick up a car and then birding in Algave
Day 7 - boat ride for sea birds, afternoon in Algave.
Day 8 - birding in Algave, fly out.
My main targets are roller, steppe birds (especially the sandgrouses, bustards and I would love to see a nightjar), vultures, great spotted cuckoo, Iberian magpie, woodpecker and other local specialties, then heading to the coast to try for a pelagic outing. I would love to see lynx so have booked a hide - nothing else is locked in other than that.
With work commitments the only time I can travel is end-August/start-September, I imagine it will be hot, hopefully still doable with early starts...
I’m looking for any advice or tips on my itinerary, and any recommended sites in these places. Also this will be my first time travelling solo on a trip like this, and so any safety/travel advice is appreciated as well.
Day 1 - fly into Barcelona, pick up a car and drive via Lleida, birding along the way until Belchite
Day 2-3 - birding around Belchite, then drive to Ciudad Real.
Day 4-5 - lynx hide and potential birding in region?
Day 6 - fly from Madrid to Faro, pick up a car and then birding in Algave
Day 7 - boat ride for sea birds, afternoon in Algave.
Day 8 - birding in Algave, fly out.