Recent Sightings

You will find recorded (beneath the 2009 birdwatching trip prices), what would normally be considered unusual birds for the time of year or for this area of Spain and also sightings during trips either on the Ebro Delta or in the Els Ports mountain range or Montsia mountain nature reserve, with occasional clients' reports. We will also record sightings from around the casa pequena/Bona Vista country house rural accommodation.

Guided birdwatching trips can be provided to both the Ebro Delta's Northern & Southern arms, these will include the lagoons, dunes, reedbeds, estuary areas as well as use of our Leica Televid 77 scope. Trips to birdwatch in the mountains usually follow our many hiking itineraries, please see Hiking Itineraries for details. Our trips are never set in stone so therefore don't be afraid to suggest local areas that you might wish to visit. We will be pleased to discuss your requirements before you decide to book your trip.

Ebro Delta Natural Park

A day's birdwatching on the Ebro Delta for one to four people including use of a Leica Televid 77 scope, packed lunches and transportation, costs €125 euros. All additional people will then be charged at €10 euros each up to a maximum of 7 in a group. (Payment will be collected on the day, immediately after the excursion).

Els Ports Mountains Natural Park

A day's birdwatching in the mountains for one to four people including use of a Leica Televid 77 scope (where appropriate), packed lunches and transportation, costs €110 euros. All additional people will then be charged at €10 euros each up to a maximum of 7 in a group. (Payment will be collected on the day, immediately after the excursion).

Guests staying in the casa pequena and/or Bona Vista rural accommodation are entitled to a 15% discount on the above prices.

Feel totally at ease during the entire delta birdwatching excursion as we use a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to ferry you between birdwatching locations. The transport is also an ideal base from which to view the scenery. For mountain birdwatching trips there will be more walking involved, although normally using easy, flat mountain tracks. For both mountain and delta trips we will always arrange to meet you at a convenient location from which to start the excursion.

To enquire about booking a trip or for further information please email us or use our enquiry form

During early May, Steve Fletcher & his wife who now live in the lovely Trujillo area of Extremadura, Spain spent 5 nights in our Cervera valley, Tortosa accommodation, along with 2 birder pals from the UK, Andy Huyton & Sean Johnstone. After four days intensive birding, they then set off to spot Dupont's lark in the Leida Steppes area en route to the Catalan Pyrenees as part of their trip (176 species were spotted during total trip including lammergeier, wallcreeper & black woodpecker). Steve is an accomplished bird photographer and his photos from the trip along with many other bird images can be viewed on his own website. They spotted 119 species whilst visiting the Natural Parks of Els Ports, Ebro Delta & the lower River Ebro valley area, including cream coloured courser, white-winged tern & red-necked nightjar, and have kindly supplied a list of those species.

Our regular birding client, Allen Moore, Isle of Man, UK, was again back with us this migration season & spent 3 nights in the Casa Pequena accommodation. During his time with us, we conducted 3 guided birding trips, 2 to the Ebro Delta spending a full day on both the southern & northern parts, and 1 day in the Els Ports Natural Park visiting Mont Caro (1447m) & its surrounding area, also the lower Caramella valley. Allen has now been visiting the lower Ebro valley regularly since his first visit with us in 2001 & has again provided us with a report & list for his 5 night 2009 stay during which he recorded 106 species.

Spring is most definitely here! Theo & Patricia van Orsouw from Oss in the Netherlands spent a week in the Casa Pequena with us and during our visit to the Ebro Delta on Monday 9th March we saw 50 different species (many were firsts for Theo); highlights included a Montagu's harrier treating us to a spectacular flying display while hunting prey at Riet Vell lagoon, and at least a hundred glossy ibis feeding at the El Garxal river estuary. Theo is a very accomplished photographer and his excellent bird pictures taken during trips to the Ebro Delta can be viewed by clicking here

On Thursday 12th March we also took them on a hiking/birding trip to the Montsia mountain nature reserve and were delighted to see a pair of alpine accentors (even though we were only at 500m) waiting for the odd crumb from our picnic lunch. See a short report with photos

Around the Casa Pequena accommodation, 8 short-toed eagles were spotted circling, one of which glided approximately 20 metres above the house.

The start to 2009 weather-wise has not been that great, however as we enter late February our warm, sunny days are once again back with us.

We have listed below the full sightings list from our half day visit on Saturday 21st February to the northern half of the delta. These species were recorded at or near to just 2 locations, Canal Vell lagoon and La Garxal estuary. In all, 45 species were sighted. The afternoon was bright, sunny and warm - ideal conditions.

Great crested grebe, cormorant, cattle egret, little egret, great white egret, grey heron, flamingo, mallard, gadwall, wigeon, shoveler, common sandpiper, snipe, bar-tailed godwit, black-headed gull, yellow-legged gull, hoopoe, kingfisher, crested lark, grey wagtail, red-crested pochard, marsh harrier, kestrel, moorhen, coot, purple gallinule, avocet, kentish plover, golden plover, lapwing, dunlin, redshank, greenshank, fan-tailed warbler, cetti's warbler, chiffchaff, stonechat, black redstart, magpie, spotless starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, house sparrow, tree sparrow, reed bunting