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WildWings, 577 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol. BS16 3AF.UK
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We are delighted to yet again offer these superb short birding trips to Spain, led by the legendary Tom Gullick, who has been showing people around his adopted homeland for over 30 years now. The maximum group size is only four persons, each trip driven by Tom in his comfortable Land Cruiser. These are fast paced birding bonanzas with all the special birds of each region on offer, all delivered with Tom’s enthusiasm, wit and vast knowledge. The ‘real’ Spain is on offer, most of his bird sites are on private estates, and tours based at his own home boast extremely comfortable accommodation plus superb food and include drinks. Retirement really does loom in the next few years, so go while you can! Highly recommended.
SOUTH-CENTRAL SPAIN IN SPRING 2008
4 days (Friday – Monday) *
Departures 2nd - 5th, 9th – 12th & 16th – 19th May £520 per person (single supp: £40)
*With Dupont’s Lark extension 19th – 23rd May £690 per person (single supp: £50)
5 days (Monday – Friday)
Departures 5th - 9th & 12th – 16th May £640 per person. (single supp: £50)
These short breaks are planned to show you the rarest birds of Spain in the wild and varied steppe, sierra and marshlands, based at Tom’s very comfortable home India Alta, just two hours south of Madrid. You will see such special birds as Spanish Imperial and four other species of eagle, Great and Little Bustard, White-headed Duck, Eagle Owl, Black Stork, two species of sandgrouse, Black-shouldered Kite and more. All bedrooms at India Alta have bathrooms en suite. There is an extensive garden, from which more than eighty species of birds have been seen including nesting Scop’s Owl. Dinners are at India Alta and lunches in the field. Wine and soft drinks are included in the price and served with all meals.
Itinerary
Day 1 Early morning flight from London Luton at approx. 06.45 arriving Madrid at 10.15. Drive south through steppe country for Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied and Pintail Sandgrouse. On to wetlands for waders, terns, ducks and more, including White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Black-necked Grebe, Gull-billed, Black and Whiskered Terns, Great Reed Warbler, Flamingo, Marsh and Montagu Harriers, White Storks and Black Kites. Continue south to Tom’s house and bird nearby for Great Spotted Cuckoo, Scop’s and Eagle Owls. Dinner at India Alta.
Day 2 Morning visit to Cabaneras National Park to see breeding Imperial Eagle, Black Vultures, Black-shouldered Kite, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Bee-eater and Hawfinch. Later visit the reed beds and lakes near the Tablas de Damiel for Great-white Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Squacco and Night Herons, Penduline Tit, Savis and Spectacled Warblers, as well as many ducks, waders and terns; Red-necked Nightjar excursion at dusk.
Day 3 A full day in the craggy sierras and lush valleys of the Sierra Morena. We will seek Orphean, Subalpine, Dartford and Sardinian Warblers, Golden Oriole, Azure winged Magpie and both Rock and Cirl Bunting. We visit the nesting cliffs of Bonelli’s and Golden Eagles, Black Stork, Chough, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures. Roadside birds include Black and Black-eared Wheatears, Blue Rock Thrush, Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrikes, Calandra and Short-toed Larks.
Day 4 In the morning we return to the breeding lagunas of Purple Galinule and White-headed Duck, terns, Bearded Tit and grebes. We will also check through migratory waders in their fine summer plumage. Finally drive through more steppe country for bustards and sandgrouse before returning to Madrid airport for your flight back to London Luton, arriving at approx 23.05.
Extra day (5 day departures)
We will drive east into the high pinewoods and towering cliffs of the Sierra Segura, at over 5000 feet. We should see both Red-tailed and Blue Rock Thrush, Western Bonelli’s and other warblers, Tawny Pipit, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Black Redstart and Crossbill. More eagles, sandgrouse and bustards can be seen en route.
Expected species: approx 160
* Dupont’s Lark Special
This combines Tom’s four day trip with an afternoon in the steppes north of Madrid (staying at a hotel nearby) and a full day’s birding in the Sierra de Guadarama. As well as Dupont’s Lark we should see Bluethroat, Citril Finch, Wryneck, Ortolan Bunting, Western Bonelli’e Warbler and more. Expect a list of 170 plus species.
WINTER WEEKENDS IN SOUTH CENTRAL SPAIN 2007 & 2008
4 Days £505 per person (single supp: £40)
2007 Departures: 16th – 19th and 23rd – 26th November, 30th November – 3rd December.
4 Days £520 per person (single supp: £40)
2008 Departures: 14th – 17th November, 21st-24th November, 28th November-1st December, 5th – 8th December.
Itinerary
Your early Friday morning flight from London, Luton, will depart at approx 06.45 will arrive at Madrid about 10.15. Tom will meet you and drive south for birding in the steppes and wetlands. During the next three days tour by Land Cruiser through the wintering grounds of cranes, Great and Little Bustards, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse. Drive through the deep valleys and past the towering cliffs of the Sierra Morena to see Spanish Imperial, Bonelli and Golden Eagles, Eagle Owl, Black and Griffon Vultures plus Black-shouldered Kite. The nearby wetlands will have big numbers of wintering ducks (including White-headed and Red-crested Pochard), flamingos and a good chance of Bluethroat and Spotted Crake. Azure-winged Magpie, Chough, Thekla, Crested and Calandra Larks, Southern Grey Shrike, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Hawfinch, Rock and Cirl Bunting, Rock and Spanish Sparrow, Water Pipit and more. Merlins winter here chasing the larks and pipits. Each night we will return to India Alta for dinner and to your very comfortable bedrooms each with its own bathroom en suite. On the Monday morning we will drive back to Madrid, visiting more wetlands and best chance of Greylag Goose, Penduline and Bearded Tits and Purple Galinule, before your flight back to London in the evening, arriving approx 22.45.
Expected species: approx 125
Prices include: Economy class flights including prepaid taxes, all birding by Land Cruiser, accommodation in spacious rooms with private bath, shower, WC, all meals and ALL DRINKS. Bird checklist. Single rooms £40 for four days, £50 for five.
Price excludes: Travel insurance (available from £13.59), tip to Tom’s house staff and items of a personal nature. Deduct £60 per person if joining in Madrid.
Deposit: £100
A sample trip report is on our website or available from us.
