Itinery...
Below is an example of what could be a typical itinery (depending on conditions and the time of year)
Day 1 - Arrive and collection at Alicante or Murcia airport, the rest of day birdwatching around Finca Bonellis Eagles, followed by evening meal.
Day 2 - An early breakfast and departure for a mornings birdwatching at El Hondo a large wetland area with vast surrounding reed beds and is one of the few places where Marble & White-headed Duck and Purple Gallinule breed, also usually present depending on the time of the year are Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Squacco & Purple Heron, Cattle and Little Egrets and occasionally Great White Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh, Hen & Montagues Harrier, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Collared Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Roller, Bluethroat, Cettis, Fan-tailed, Moustached, and Great Reed Warblers, Bearded & Penduline Tits. Large numbers of Greater Flamingos are usually present.
Lunch at Clot de Galvany a small wetland area surrounded by scrub and smaller amounts of reeds, birds usually present are White-headed Duck and Purple Gallinule and occasionally Marbled Duck, the scrub areas are ideal for Crested Lark and both Woodchat & Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Serin, Wryneck and large flocks of Spotless Starlings,. An excellent site for passage migrants, return to finca for evening meal.
Day 3 - Morning guided walk around Crevillente Mountains, lunch/dinner at finca with an evening visit to an Eagle Owl site or other nearby site (depending on time of year.)
Day 4 - Birdwatchers choice either Pétrola or Sierra de Espuña and the Guadalentin valley.
Options:
Option 1 - Pétrola an excellent site approximately 90 mins drive for Bustards, Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra and Short-toed Lark and Rock Sparrow.
Option 2 - Sierra de Espuña high in the mountains near Totana for Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Chough, Raven, Crossbill, Cirl & Rock Bunting (also present are wild mountain Goats). Tapas lunch at a local bar where the wild Boar are fed, excellent scenery (remember to take your camera). A steppe habitat in the Guardalentin valley will be visited to look for Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra and Short-toed Lark.
Day 5 - Depart for Alicante or Murcia airport, calling at Hondo visitor centre or nearby sites if time permits.
All walks are at a leisurely pace with particular emphasis on identifying the various species seen and some of the walks will be along rough tracks, walking boots will be advisable.
We are currently accepting bookings, click here to enquire...