Ebro Delta 18th to the 25th May 2025
Ebro Delta Birding Website HERE
Introduction
This wasn’t the first time I’d been in Spain, I had been to the mainland on two previous occasions, 1986 and 2005, with a visit to Mallorca in 1989 (These are undocumented visits)
So it was that I was taking another visit, however this time I was using a tour company, the name is Ebro Delta Birding. A seven days guided birding around the Delta, with a couple of days further afield around Lleida and Tremp. The dates of the tour were to be 18th to the 25th May
The Costs :
- Ebro Delta birding Cost at 1150 Euros, Bed and Breakfast, Inc. Single supplement (£988.65)
- Flight from Manchester to Barcelona (Cost £391)
- Fast Track (Cost £10)
- Car Park at Jet Park 3 (Cost £61.19)
- Coop Travel Ins. (Cost £34.37)
- Spends (Cost £200)
- TOTAL COST £1685.21
Lifers in BOLD
Spain Day 1 (18th May)
May 18th, the day consisted mainly of travel to destination. Flight time from Manchester was 8:00am arriving Barcelona 11:30am. Picked up by Ebro Delta Birding for travel to villa. No birding today, so a small walk around the surrounding area in the afternoon.
Evening meal out in L’Ampolla, seeing House Martin’s, Swifts, Jackdaw and Sparrowhawk over meal time.
Birds seen ; Bee-eater, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Hoopoe, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Little Egret, Magpie, Red-rumped Swallow, Sardinian Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Spotless Starling, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Swift, Woodlark, Yellow-legged Gull (18)
Spain Day 2 (19th May)
Today was spent travelling around the Delta (by Car), unfortunately the boat trailer was in the garage due to a bearing problem, I was surprised on the vastness of the Delta and the amount of Rice fields. Using the farm roads and tracks to get around, we visited the ‘Parc natural del Delta del l’Ebre’ early on and finishing at the mouth of the Delta at the end of the day.
Birds Seen : Audouin’s Gull, Avocet, Bar tailed Godwit, Bee-eater, Black headed Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Collard Dove, Collared Pratincole, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Crested Lark, Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola), Glossy Ibis, Golden Oriole, Great Crested Grebe, Great Reed Warbler, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Gull-billed Tern, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kentish Plover, Kestrel, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lesser (Mediterranean) Short-toed Lark, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Tern, Magpie, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Night Heron, Oystercatcher, Penduline Tit, Purple Heron, Red-crested Pochard, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Shelduck, Spotless Starling, Squacco Heron, Swallow, Swift, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Turtle Dove, Western Swamphen, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Woodpigeon, Yellow Wagtail (Iberiae), Yellow-legged Gull (66)
Spain Day 3 (20th May)
Again today we were travelling around the Delta (by Car) taking in various Nature Reserves during the day, with a visit to a quarry later on to look for Bee-eaters
Birds Seen : Black-eared Wheatear, Black headed Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Blackbird, Blue Rock Thrush, Buzzard, Caspian Tern, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Collard Dove, Common Tern, Coot, Crested Lark, Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola), Glossy Ibis, Goldfinch, Great Reed Warbler, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Hoopoe, House Martin, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Tern, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Nightingale, Red-necked Nightjar, Red-rumped Swallow, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Savi’s Warbler, Scops Owl, Serin, Spotless Starling, Swallow, Swift, Western Swamphen, Whiskered Tern, Woodpigeon, Yellow Wagtail (54)
Spain Day 4 (21st May)
Today we travelled away from the Delta and into the plains and mountain regions, travelling by La Senia and el Boixar. We stopped at various places on route, one being a small ravine area with a stream flowing thru, here we saw Spotted Flycatcher, Crag Martins, Nuthatch, Wren, and a heard Golden Oriole.
Second stop gave us Booted Eagles (2 pale phase) Griffon Vultures, plenty of Stonechat, Northern Wheatears, were plentiful, Tawny Pipit. We also encountered a showy Orphean Warbler (Lifer) at one place, along with Woodlark, Hoopoe, and an Egyptian Vulture.
At lunch time a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush showed up, but distant, so we moved closer (by car) to get a positive ID, thankfully it stayed in place whilst we travelled and could confirm it was the Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush ♂
Our next stop, as the guide had heard a Melodious Warbler in passing, there was also an Orphean Warbler present (didn’t give good views as previous did) the Melodious Warbler did, also a Western Bonelli’s Warbler gave good views. The next stop we did was for a Subalpine Warbler, but this gave only brief views, we also heard the Iberian Green Woodpecker, this never showed. Our last stop was for the Firecrest, Crested Tit and Coal Tit, which all showed nicely
Birds Seen : Black Redstart, Blackbird, Blackcap, Booted Eagle, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chough, Cirl Bunting, Coal Tit, Crag Martin, Crested Tit, Cuckoo, Egyptian Vulture, Firecrest, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker (H), Greenfinch, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Linnet, Magpie, Melodious Warbler, Nuthatch, Orphean Warbler, Robin, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Rock Thrush (Rufous-tailed), Short-toed Snake Eagle, Spotless Starling, Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Subalpine Warbler, Swallow, Swift, Tawny Pipit, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Wheatear, White Wagtail, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren (48)
Spain Day 5 (22nd May)
Today we were finally on the boat, the trailer was finally fixed, the weather wasn’t good as we set off, heavy cloud and wind, but the forecast was for it to clear.
The crossing was a bit choppy which meant getting slightly wet, I eventually got dry due to the clothing I had on, the islands we were going around gave us the shelter we needed from the wind.
Going around a few of the tributaries, we saw a few Penduline Tits, lots of Purple Herons and Black crowned Night Herons, a few Grey Herons, the Little Bitterns were elusive, to say the least.
Whiskered Terns, Black headed Gulls, Golden Oriole, and Hoopoe were seen in various places, along with Reed Warbler, we had great views of Great Reed Warbler, a kingfisher was following us around, but could have been multiple birds. Swallows and House Martins were along the river and we also saw a few Sand Martins, a few Turtle Doves and Nightingales.
We finally found one of the Osprey’s, which were on the Delta and a couple off Black Kite nests with chicks and a couple of Adult Black Kites.
Birds Seen : Black Kite, Black headed Gull, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Golden Oriole, Great Reed Warbler, Grey Heron, Hoopoe, House Martin, House Sparrow, Kingfisher, Little Bittern, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Night heron, Osprey, Penduline Tit, Purple Heron, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Squacco Heron, Swallow, Swift, Tree Sparrow, Turtle Dove, Whiskered Tern, Woodpigeon (28)
Spain Day 6 (23rd May)
Onto the plains near Lleida, taking the rough tracks into the interior, we soon came across Black eared Wheatear, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Red billed Chough, then the prize I’d come for, Roller and sat underneath was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Further in we came across a Thekla’s Lark in the same area as Crested Lark, so was good to compare the two. Raptors overhead inc. Common Buzzard, Black Kite, Short-toed Snake Eagles, Marsh Harrier and Griffon Vulture.
Sardinian Warbler sat up but quickly disappeared, Woodpigeon, Turtle Doves with the song of Nightingales, we came across more Rollers, Southern (Iberian) Grey Shrikes, Rock Sparrow, Calandra Larks and a Little Bustard in the meadow, this was also Corn Bunting territory with Lesser (Mediterranean) Short toed Lark, Bee-eaters were encountered from start to finish, hoopoe finally gave good views, our final birds of the day were a pair of Montagu’s Harriers
After the morning we booked into our hotel on the outskirts of Lleida, an Ibis hotel, which was nice, and rested during the heat of the day. After rest up we were back in the plains, with more Corn Bunting,, Thekla’s Lark, Crested Lark, Swallows, Crag Martins, and Red-rumped Swallows, but we were here for raptors and weren’t disappointed, with Black and Red Kites, Marsh Harriers, Goshawk, Lesser Kestrels, Griffon Vultures, Short-toed Snake Eagles, Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle and two Spanish Imperial Eagles.
We also saw Black eared Wheatears, heard Nightingales, Turtle Doves, House Sparrows, Spotless Starling, White Storks, Dartford Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, and Sardinian Warbler.
Birds Seen at Lleida : Bee-eater, Black-eared Wheatear, Buzzard, Calandra Lark, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola), Great Spotted Cuckoo, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser (Mediterranean) Short-toed Lark, Little Bustard, Magpie, Montagu’s Harrier, Nightingale, Rock Sparrow, Roller, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Southern Grey Shrike, Spotless Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Swallow, Thekla’s Lark, Turtle Dove, Woodpigeon (32)
Birds Seen at Penalba : Bee-eater, Black Kite, Black eared Wheatear, Corn Bunting, Crag Martin, Crested Lark, Dartford Warbler, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Greenfinch, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, House Martin, Jackdaw, Lesser Kestrel, Linnet, Nightingale, Red Kite, Red-rumped Swallow, Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Spectacled Warbler, Stonechat, Swallow, Thekla’s Lark, White Stork, White Wagtail (30)
Spain Day 7 (24th May)
Today was the last day of the holiday and today we were up in the Pre-Pyrenees around and near the town of Tremp. Our first stop was at a small quarry to see an Eagle Owl giving fantastic views for about ten minutes before flying off into cover. We moved away after this wonderful experience and took to the farm tracks again, seeking more birds. Crested Larks again in good numbers along with Thekla’s Lark, Calandra Larks and Corn Buntings, and finally great views of Roller and Lesser Kestrels at a nest site.
We then came up to Tremp, visiting a site that held good numbers of Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Ravens. We moved away stopping off at a Gorge for dinner and hopefully, Dippers and Grey Wagtails but saw nether due to the water level going thru the gorge being too high, but there were plenty of Griffon Vultures but alas no hoped for Lammergeier.
Moving further up the valley for our final stop, we saw Subalpine Warbler, female this time, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Firecrest, Long tailed Tit, Black Redstart, Red billed Chough, Griffon Vultures, Ravens, House Martin, and the last lifer of the trip, Short toed Treecreeper.
Overnight was at the Buenos Aires Restaurant Hostal in Tremp, Sunday the 25th we travelled to Barcelona Airport for my drop off home
Birds Seen : Bee-eater, Black Kite, Black Redstart, Blackcap, Buzzard, Calandra Lark, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chough, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Cuckoo, Egyptian Vulture, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Firecrest, Golden Oriole, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Griffon Vulture, Hoopoe, House Martin, Jackdaw, Lesser Kestrel, Little Owl, Long tailed Tit, Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Nightingale, Quail, Raven, Red Kite, Red-legged Partridge, Robin, Roller, Serin, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Short-toed Treecreeper, Subalpine Warbler, Thekla’s Lark, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Woodchat Lark, Woodpigeon (43)
Total trip species 151 (can be seen HERE) with 13 Lifers
Other Highlights were :- Bath White Butterfly, Mallow Skipper Butterfly, Green Tiger Beetle
Huddsbirder 