Oliva Rama Holidays
Picos de Europa
June 14th - 21st 2008 ₤990/€1350 (inc. flights) (FULL)
July 5th - 12th 2008 ₤990/€1350 (inc. flights) (FULL)
This is a wonderful time to visit the Picos de Europa not only for the birds but also the butterflies and flowers, which are in their full glory. The birds at this time are still quite vocal, with most species now feeding young and some having already left the nest. Although the lowland plains will be quite hot it can still be cool, and changable high up in the mountains. The area's to be explored will include the Fuente De, San Glorio Pass, Sepulveda, Laguna de La Nava and the excellent Monte de El Pardo, looking for:- Black & Egyptian Vultures, Little & Great Bustard, Scop's Owl, Middle Spotted & Black Woodpeckers, Dupont's Lark, Black Wheatear, Red tailed Rock Thrush, Iberian Chiffchaff, Penduline Tit, Wallcreeper, Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, and Ortolan Bunting.
Day 1 :- After everyone has arrived at Madrid Airport you will be taken to our first site just north of the city. Patones is a little known area, which is very like a Spanish Brigadoon as it's so hidden away. The sleepy village is at the head of a wonderful gorge that we will walk getting our first taste of Iberian birdlife. Within the valley breed Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrows, Melodious Warbler, Rock & Cirl Buntings amongst the commoner species such as Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling and Serin. After we have stretched our legs we will have lunch in one of the local restaurants before returning to the vehicle. We continue north for a short distance to our overnight accommodation in Sepulveda before an evening walk around the Parque Natural del Rio Duraton to the Ermita de San Frutas looking and listening for Dupont's Lark. Also here we should encounter our first Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagles, Black & Red Kites, Montagu's Harriers, plus Calandra, Thekla & Short toed Larks, Tawny Pipits, and possibly Western Orphean & Spectacled Warbler. Night in Sepulveda.
Day 2 :- Before breakfast we will again return to the Parque Natural del Rio Duraton to try and locate the mythical Dupont's Lark, which has a healthy population here, and any possible steppe species to be found in the area. After breakfast we continue searching this excellent natural park an it's many diverse habitats and wildlife. Straight after lunch we continue northwards to the mountains of Fuentes Carriones making stops for birdwatching along the winding roads. The scenery is breath-taking with it's steep tree-clad slopes and rugged mountain tops, which should bring plenty of soaring raptors. Aiming to arrive at Potes early evening giving us a chance to freshen up before one of Casa Gustavo's gorgeous meals. The next four nights will be spent at the charming Casa Gustavo.
Day 3, 4, 5 & 6 :- The next four full days will be spent in the very best areas around the Picos de Europa with one day travelling up to Fuente De. We then will take the cable car to the very top of the mountain and walk slowly back down looking for it's specialist alpine species such as Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, Snowfinch, Red billed & Alpine Choughs, Red tailed Rock Thrushes, Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. Other sites will include La Hermida Gorge, Liebana, and the Puerto de San Glorio, looking for Short toed & Booted Eagles, Red Kites, Goshawk, Tawny & Scop's Owl, the elusive Black Woodpecker, Water Pipits, Sub-alpine, Dartford & Melodious Warblers, Wryneck, Yellowhammers, Ortolan, Rock & Cirl Buntings. However we will also be looking for other wildlife such as Snow Vole and Rebeco (local form of Chamois), Marbled Newt & Mid wife Toad, plus the butterflies (Apollo, Chapman's Ringlet, Marsh Fritillary) and flowers (Trumpet Gentian, Common Spotted & Fragrant Orchids) that inhabit the alpine meadows.
Day 7 : - Straight after breakfast we head back towards Madrid stopping first at the Laguna de La Nava, this excellent wetland holds many breeding species such as Purple Heron, Marsh & Montagu's Harriers, Black winged Stilt, Whiskered Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Woodchat Shrike, Penduline Tit, Great Reed, Eurasian Reed & Savi's Warblers. In the heat of the day we will check in to our hotel in Manzanares el Real before enjoying a leisurely lunch in this small historic town. A walk along the nearby Manzanares reservoir could produce Black & Griffon Vultures, Short toed & Booted Eagles, Red & Black Kites, Azure-winged Magpies, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Sub-alpine, Sardinian & Western Orphean Warblers, Thekla & Crested Larks and lots of White Storks. Night in Manzanares el Real
Day 8 : - We pack up the mini-bus for the last time before driving east to the plains adjacent to the Rio Jarama also on the edge of Madrid. The cultivated fields here hold good populations of Great & Little Bustards, Black bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harriers, Calandra & Short toed Larks, Corn Bunting and Tawny Pipit. Around lunchtime we will make the short journey into Madrid Airport to give everyone plenty of time to catch their flights back home.
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