Cranes Spectacular & Ebro Delta

23rd - 27th October 2009

A Winter visit to the steppes & lagoons of Gallacanta followed by the Ebro Delta will be a fantastic wildlife spectacle not to be missed :-

At over 670 hectares Gallocanta Lagoon formed in an endorric basin is one of the largest inland bodies of water within Spain, and represents the wintering grounds for well over 10,000+ Common Cranes that start arriving from late-October. An evening visit to witness the sight and sound of 1000's of cranes flying in to roost will be something to remember for a long, long time. Areas of steppe, agriculture and mountain surround the lagoon and add to the diversity of the whole terrain. This whole area is rarely visited by people outside of Iberia and consequently has maintained it's authentic rural charm.

The Ebro Delta is the most important wetland on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and second largest in Iberia behind Donaña. It is an extensive marsh and rice producing area at the mouth of the River Ebro and it's filtrates still continue to change the shape and appearance of this huge area. In Winter vast numbers of waterbirds & wildfowl linger along the coastline and lagoons which in turn supports a large raptor population.

Day 1 :- During the day we meet at Valencia Airport and depending on time and other arrivals we shall probably spend some time at the nearby wetland of Moro Marsh. This excellent coastal reserve is home to a small breeding population of Crested Coot and we have a good chance of finding one amongst their commoner cousins. Also here we should find plenty wildfowl and wetland birds including Little Grebe, Cattle & Little Egret, Shoveler, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Pintail, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Purple Gallinule, Water Rail, Avocets, Green & Common Sandpipers, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Common Snipe, Ringed & Kentish Plovers, with the good possibility of a Bluethroat, Water Pipit, Moustached or Cetti's Warbler along the tracks of reedbed fringes. In the afternoon we shall head inland to Monreal del Campo and our hotel for the next two nights.

Day 2 :- After breakfast we will set off out to explore the steppes of Blancas driving the various tracks looking for Black bellied Sandgrouse, Little & Great Bustards, Stone Curlew, Griffon Vulture, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Merlin, Red billed Chough, Raven, Rock & Tree Sparrows, Calandra, Thekla & Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Black Redstarts. We will also visit the Gallocanta Visitor Centre before driving around the lake viewing from the several watchpoints hopefully finding Great Crested Grebes, Grey Lag Geese, Eurasian Teal, Shoveler, Marsh Harriers, Golden Eagle, or a patrolling Peregrine Falcon. The last hour of daylight will be spent watching the huge flocks of Common Cranes coming in to roost from the surrounding fields and a magical experience to end the day with.

Day 3 :- First thing we shall load the vehicle and make the very scenic journey through to  the Els Ports mountain range where we shall spend a little while looking for the many woodland & montane species to be found here like - Black Redstarts, Mistle & Blue Rock Thrushes, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Crested, Coal & Long tailed Tits, Firecrest, Short toed treecreeper, Jay, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Cirl & Rock Bunting. We then drive through to the Ebro Delta if time allows visiting a couple of sites on the north side of the river (see below for potential species) before going to our accommodation near San Carles de la Rapita.

Day 4 :- After breakfast we will make the short journey to the south side of the Ebro Delta where we will visit several of the sites in this huge area including Laguna de Tancada, Riet Vell, L'Alfacada & Platja de Miguel looking for birds from their hides and observation towers. After our lunch we shall cross over the river on one of the small car ferries (embordardors) that operate between San Jaume & Deltebre and visit a couple more sites such as El Garxal & Canal Vell. During the course of the day we should hope to find many species including Black necked Grebes, Great White Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingos, Grey Lag Geese, Wigeon, Pintail, Red Crested Pochards, Common Scoters, Osprey, Hen & Marsh Harriers, Booted Eagles, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Merlin, Purple Gallinules,  waders, Audouin's, Slender billed & Mediterranean Gulls, Caspian & Sandwich Terns, Lesser Short toed Larks, Water Pipit, Bluethroat, Cetti's, Moustached & Sardinian Warblers, Southern Grey Shrike, & Penduline Tit.

Day 5 :- Once we are ready we will leave our hotel and spend a while visiting a couple more sites on the Ebro Delta before heading south towards Valencia and depending on time and any remaining target species we may visit one of the sites en-route or re-visit Moro Marsh due to it's close proximity to the airport.

"What's been said"

Jules, just a quick thank you for the last 5 days. It was most enjoyable, the company was good, the hotels and food were very acceptable, but most importantly your know how enabled us to reach the total of birds that we ended up with. Most of all, thank you for being my eyes. B Conduit

Hi Jules, A slightly belated but very warm thank you for the trip, it was most enjoyable and everybody said how well you did, a big well done and thanks again. Really look forward to seeing you again in May, all the best. R & J Palmer

Hello Jules, Thanks for organising and conducting the trip, there were many memorable sights and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may try for the May Short Break but can't make the one in Sept, however some of the other European ones might also be of interest. D MacBean

Hi there. We are still glowing from our visit to your lovely country earlier this week, unfortunately we have lost the list you gave us of your trips next year. Can you send me us please?. M & W Ball

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