Observación de aves en Andalucía, Parque nacional de Doñana.

Birdwatching in Andalusia

DONANA NATIONAL PARK, TIDAL MARSHES, NATURAL RESERVES

A place where continents, seas and landscapes merge… We will visit places with natural diversity and one of the most important stopovers, breeding and wintering grounds for millions of birds. We will be focused on birding, visiting the famous natural areas of Doñana, Ria Formosa and the Odiel Marshlands, a paradise for ornithologists from all over the world. The natural landscape of the Odiel, Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes will give us the chance to visit tidal marshlands and its fauna. The Ría Formosa Natural Park on the Portuguese Algarve, make both, the natural and human environment, live in complete harmony with the rhythm of lunar tides, birdsong, etc.

Vast wetlands, marshes, a wide range of landscapes and a unique strategic location make the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula a fantastic place for birding. You will find mild climate all year round, interesting traditions and culture, natural parks and untamed wilderness. This is a wonderful chance to make an ornithological journey.

DEPARTURES 2020

30 may.

7 nov.

INCLUDED

Transfer from/to Faro (Portugal) or Seville (Spain) airports

Specialist Faro del Sur birding guides

Accommodation in double or single room in our houses on the coastline in front of a Natural Area.

Rural accommodation in the El Rocío (Donana)

Routes included in the program

Binoculars and telescope

All transfers in private vehicles for the group

Insurance

NOT INCLUDED

Any other service not specified here

PRICE

585 € (VAT incl.)

Supl. individual room : 100 €

THE TRIP

This is a trip for those who enjoy nature, walking, watching our country fauna, with a special interest for birds. The ideal trip for birdwatchers as well as for whoever desire discover the authentic Andalusia.

The Andalusia coast is a paradise for bird watching: main migrating path, birds concentrate on Huelva and Algarve, 2 areas which have an important part of their territories classified as natural protected areas.

Birds like rest along their migrations, over the winter, or even spend the year or the summer to nest within one of our huge wetland, cliffs and mountain ranges and forests. It is a very complete route that includes several activities all developed in an exceptional location: Huelva and Algarve area. Great beaches, enormous dunes and coastline pine forests, oak forests at the mountains or white villages with Arabian heritage.

Pure south west Iberic peninsula with an active style and far from crowded areas as classic tourism. Perfect for resting after a stressed week at home town. Everything is developed by us, with own guides, and carefully designed routes. All the material is from Faro del Sur: van, observation material… in that way we achieve our goal of a perfect relation quality/price.

Accommodation is in our apartments in Isla Cristina, in front of marshes, they are new and fully equipped. We also have the help of Faro del Sur’s offices located in Isla Cristina marina. We are convinced that this is a perfect option for nature and adventure travelling in Spain.

All the activities are subject to changes due to weather conditions or any other forces beyond our control.

Birding in Andalusía

Day 1

TRANSFER. From Faro (Portugal) or Seville (Spain), we go to Isla Cristina (Huelva). Meeting point for all groups is Faro or Seville airports at 6pm (Portuguese Time at Faro Airport and Spanish time At Seville Airport). Overnight accommodation.

Day 2

RIA FORMOSA NATURAL PARK (Portuguese Algarve). A walking tour will take place through pine forests and Mediterranean scrubland, marshes and freshwater lagoons. Discover hidden away in the wetland vegetation, anatidae and rallidae such as Shovelers, spoonbill, gadwall, pintail, common and red-knobbed coot and the beautiful purple swamphen. In the afternoon we will take a boat to visit to the park’s unspoilt islands: crystal clear waters, extensive beaches with fine white sandy dunes and authentic fishing villages. We will see sea birds such as lesser black-backed gulls, black-headed gulls, common terns, gannets and oyster catchers.

Day 3

ODIEL MARSHES “NATURAL AREA”. Today we visit the Odiel Marshlands: a vast expanse of marshlands and one of the peninsula’s most important wetland areas.

You will go where many species breed and pass in their migration routes, such as spoonbills (their breeding colony includes 30% of the total European population for this species), the western marsh harrier and Montagu’s harrier, cormorants, grey and purple heron, red-knobbed coot, plus many other birds that live and breed here. We will also visit other major observation areas, such as el Portil lagoon and some wheat fields.

Day 4

TARTESSOS ROUTE. This is a route that combines nature with archaeology and culture on a journey of Historic villages and Neolithic necropolis. We will start birding crossing fields of sunflowers and wheat where we find steppe birds like Thekla lark, Spanish sparrow, Stonechat, and if we are lucky, we can see also some Black-shouldered Kite, the birding will finish at one of the most important megalithic monuments of the southern Spain “Dólmen de Soto”. After lunch we will visit some of the places that Christopher Columbus visited before leaving to discover America.

Day 5

DOÑANA PROTECTED NATURAL AREA.
One of the most awaited days for bird lovers. We will be leaving early in the morning with our naturalist guide to tour the landscape of this protected natural area. Doñana is a vital stopover, breeding and wintering ground for many birds, and over 360 different species seen at various times of year. You can also see a huge variety of birds of prey on the wing, such as kite, Western marsh harrier and the spectacular western imperial eagle.

We will then visit various monitoring centres, such as the José Antonio Valverde centre, La Rocina and Acebuche. In the afternoon, we will visit the mobile dunes to see this impressive landscape with its variety of birds as bee-eaters, red stars, southern grey shrikes, etc… Overnight at El Rocio. Rural hotel.

Day 6

DOÑANA PROTECTED NATURAL AREA. Today we will start our birding in the well-known village of El Rocío, where the marshes become waterlogged with the first autumn rains, flooding the clay soil and creating a fantastic place for spotting waders such as flamingos and other animal species such as wild horses and organically farmed livestock.
Every year millions of birds migrate coming and going between Europe and Africa and this is one of the most important stopovers in their way.
After our visit to the different ecosystems we will drive back to Isla Cristina.

Day 7

GUADIANA’S NATURAL MARSHES.
Free morning to visit by yourself our beaches, dunes and pine forests where you can find some chamaeleons on the Retama bushes. Today you will be entering the world of wetland birds. Reed bed and marshes mingle with vast expanses of salt pans. A huge variety of waders and shorebirds will be seen, such as the Eurasian curlew, avocet, stilts, dunlins, and the king of the landscape: the beautiful pink flamingo. Old tidal watermills, the fishing harbour, fishing net craftsmen and carpenters, the fish market… Smells and colours we had thought lost. After lunch we will drive back to Faro or Seville airports leaving the group at 17h.

To book your place, please contact us to check availability: