Catalonia Birding Tours
Ebro Delta Birding specialises in small, private group Catalonia birding tours ranging from single day birding trips up to extended multi-day bird watching holidays – including custom tours on request.
Al Henderson is the lead guide and he has been living on the Ebro Delta for more than 20 years. In 2017, Al made the decision to turn his passion for birding on the delta into a profession, offering birding tours of the local area and extending into wider regions of Catalonia & Aragon. Having spent many years observing and photographing the birds in every season, Al has an intimate knowledge of the area and the birding opportunities it holds – and now offers his services in guiding private bird watching tours of the region at realistic price points.
At Ebro Delta Birding we want you to come and experience bird watching the way you want to. We cater for small groups from 1 – 6 people and this allows us to tailor our tours to meet your specific goals; be that compiling a species list, bird photography, or maybe searching for an elusive rarity for your birding life list! We are more than happy to cater for bird watchers of all levels of experience from novice through to aficionados!
Click through to the Ebro Delta Birding blog site to check out regularly updated sightings from our birding excursions of the Delta and other great locations such as Laguna de Gallocanta, Sierra de Guara and the Lleida plains: https://ebrodeltabirding.com/blog
Ebro Delta: Premier Wetland Birding Location
The Ebro Delta in North East Spain is one of Europe’s premier wetland bird watching destinations. A wide variety of watery habitats can be found within the 320 square kilometres of Natural Park, with diverse environments ranging from salt marshes and sand dunes to river bank and woodland. These attract a bewildering selection of bird life and a species list exceeding 360!
If you want to see flocks of flamingos, rare herons and bitterns, magnificent raptors, wonderful waders, exotic migrants, wildfowl or warblers – the Ebro Delta has them all in abundance! The sheer number and variety of birds that you will find throughout 12 months of the year make this a location that every avid birder should visit at least once – and it may leave you wanting to return again and again!
Not only is the Delta one of Spain’s premier locations for bird watching, but you can also enjoy the magnificent Mediterranean climate and sample some fantastic local cuisine. Typical dishes based on the regionally produced rice, combined with mouth-watering fresh seafood from the coast, are a culinary delight that further enhances the Ebro Delta experience.
Bird Watching Guide:
All of our guided bird watching tours are run by Al Henderson. Al is originally from Yorkshire in the UK. Having studied economics at the University of Nottingham he then moved to the Ebro Delta region in 2000. Since that date, Al has worked in the tourism sector running guided trips, and in late 2017 founded Ebro Delta Birding.
Al is a passionate and knowledgeable bird watcher and an avid bird photographer himself – making him the ideal guide to show you around the unique ecosystem of the Ebro Delta with its huge abundance and diversity of birds. When not running guided tours, Al loves to travel the world in search of the best birding and has recently visited locations such as The Gambia, Yucatan Peninsula and Costa Rica.
Group Discount Available
Group Discount Available
Group Discount Available
Group Discount Available
Group Discount Available
Starting From EUR 450 / per person
Group Discount Available
Starting From EUR 650 / per person
Group Discount Available
Group Discount Available
Greater Flamingo
The iconic bird of the Ebro Delta and a year-round treat for all bird lovers is the brilliant sight of Greater Flamingos feeding in the salt pans and brackish lagoons. There are in excess of 2,000 breeding pairs resident here. You are guaranteed to see them all year around, often at close quarters.
Raptors
Birds of prey are regularly sighted around the Ebro Delta, and we see a great diversity of raptors throughout the year. Some of the highlights include Short-toed Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine!
Exotic summer migrants
Some of the most popular species on our bird watching tours of the Ebro Delta are the spectacularly coloured summer arrivals from Africa - notably the European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole and Roller. All these species are present from around early April until late September.
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
As you might expect due to the vast amount of marshland and river bank habitat around the Ebro Delta, these birds absolutely thrive here. We have a mixture of year round residents and summer visitors, with the most spectacular varieties being Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Squacco Heron and Great Egret.
Wading birds
Throughout the year we can see a great diversity of waders on our birding tours. During summer we see the arrival of spectacular varieties such as Black-winged Stilt and Avocet, whilst in the winter and during migration periods we have dozens of different varieties with favourites including Bar-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank.
Gulls & Terns
The unique environment of salt marshes and sand dunes makes the Ebro Delta a Mecca for a huge selection of gulls and terns. Notably, the Ebro Delta is home to around 80% of the world's population of the endangered Audouin's Gull and we can also find the rare Slender-billed Gull. Spectacular Terns such as Caspian, Black, Roseate and occasionally Lesser Crested can be seen in the summer.
Warblers
There are many different habitats across the Delta which appeal to the different varieties of warblers (marshland / scrubland / woodland / riverbank) and for this reason we can see and hear a wonderful selection of these songsters. Amongst the favourites are the likes of Sardinian, Dartford, Great Reed, Savi's & Moustached.
Wildfowl & water birds
Lagoons, marshes and riverbanks appeal to a great selection of waterbirds, and we have many ducks spending the winter on the Ebro Delta with popular varieties including the Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler and Shelduck. One of the 'must see' birds of the Ebro Delta is the sublime Purple Swamp-hen which is resident all year round.
Vultures
If you book one of our multi-day options (or opt for the Els Ports mountain trip) we will venture beyond the Delta to nearby Els Ports Natural Park. Up in the mountains we are guaranteed impressive and close up views of the mighty Griffon Vulture. In the summer we can also expect to find the Egyptian Vulture. Our 'Winter Wonders' tour also incorporates a trip to the Serra de Gaura where we will encounter the Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture).
Passage migrants & rare vagrants
During April / May in the spring and then September / October in autumn we can expect to see a wide variety of species moving up and down the eastern coast of Spain on migratory routes, and the Ebro Delta attracts many of them for a stop off. These range from huge birds such as White Storks down to tiny passerines such as chats and warblers. The possibility of a rare vagrant is good, such as this stunning Red-footed Falcon viewed in April 2019.
Ebro Delta Birding does not have any conservation news at present.
Seamless adventure with great birds
Birding Aragon & Catalonia Winter Tour, Spain
We had such a great experience birding in Spain with Al as our guide! Highly recommend this tour!
Birding
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
I spent a wonderful day with Alan Henderson visiting numerous locations around the Ebro Delta.
He certainly knows the area well and the most likely places to find different species.
As a result I got to see or hear close to seventy. He is very knowledgeable regarding birds and habitat and the day flew around. I would certainly like to go again perhaps at a different time to see the summer migrants.
Michael McKiernan
A great experience!
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
I did an individual day trip with Al around the Delta. We saw over 60 species of birds and heard a few more. Most of the viewing was either from the car or just a short walk, so it's really accessible to anyone. We also stopped for a paella lunch. It was a great day.
Discovering the Delta
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
We had a wonderful day trip with Al, who proved to be an excellent guide with all round expertise.
As frequent visitors to the Delta, who wanted to expand our knowledge of the bird life and habitats, we were delighted with our tour.
We are novices in birding. Al showed us habitats and species we were amazed by. We saw birds we’ve never seen, like Bee-eaters, Purple Swamphen, black tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Squacco Heron, and many many more…
It was a great day, both relaxed and fun, with Al as an expert guide who can clearly relate to birders of all levels!
What an awesome day
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
We went the last week in august 2021. We drove 1,5h from the surroundings of Vilafranca and boy was it worth it! We did a full day with Al, south and north side. We just saw so many species that were new to us, it was incredible. 26 new species we counted for us medium experienced bird watchers from the Netherlands. Al was really kind and arranged everything smoothly. Would 100% recommend, and hopefully come back one day, as in every period of year there are interesting different birds to see in the Ebro delta!
Fantastic Tour!
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
We had such a great day at the Delta. Al knew all the best places and different habitats to go, which we covered at a comfortable pace ultimately yielding over 60 species! (We spoke with Al beforehand and the types of birds we were hoping to see and he took this into account in our route). Al is extremely knowledgeable and can immediately recognize the species and give interesting facts which really enhances the experience. We also discussed camera and binocular gear which Al gave his recommendation, and afterwards sent many great photos he took during the tour, a nice souvenir! He also has a scope which helped get great views of the shy distant birds. Overall great tour; highly recommended!
Great Winter Day Out
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
We went out for the day with Al in January and did the Ebro Delta South tour. The landscape and vistas of the Ebro Delta are stunning and the birding is pretty fab too - we manged to clock up 60 species in one day! Al is a really informative guide, not just identifying the birds, but also giving you background on their diet, habitat, migration etc.
The highlights for us were seeing the purple swamphens, a beautiful bluethroat and the glossy ibis.
Many thanks Al for a day to remember!
Fantastic Day Out
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
We had a great day out with Al touring the best sites in the Ebro Delta. His knowledge was excellent and we saw a really good variety of the species in the delta at this time of year. His choice of restaurant for lunch was top notch and the structure of the day was excellent especially managing the heat of the day. He'd clearly thought about the best times of day to visit each site. We would highly recommend a trip with Al.
Ebro Delta Birding
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
Had a wonderful day with Al! He tailors the experience to your personal goals, and in addition takes you to many different spots to try to find as many species as possible. It's an incredible value to get such personal experience for an entire day His knowledge about the area cannot be matched. He also takes photos throughout the day, and shares them with you, so you can relax and keep your eyes on the birds. I think my favorite thing about Al is his enthusiasm. He clearly loves birding as much as his clients do, and this makes for a very fun and enjoyable day.
Collared Praticoles at close quarters
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
Maria and I thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour with Al last week. The Ebro delta was a revelation to us on visiting it for the first time. Al proved to be an excellent guide, taking us to a significant number of great birding locations and hides. With Al's expertise and local knowledge we saw 35 different species in a few hours, a number of which were exciting firsts for us. Highlights included the collared pratincoles at very close quarters, glossy ibis, flamingos, purple heron and woodchat shrike. Al was very helpful and informative throughout the entire late afternoon and evening. Also, he very kindly provided us with some great photos he took during our tour, via Dropbox. We would highly recommend Al.
Exhilarating!
Ebro Delta Southern Bird Watching Trip, Spain
Two exhilarating days, criss-crossing among paddy fields, lagoons, drainage channels and sand dunes, all in sharp winter sunshine. Al knows where residents and winter guests are likely to be found, is quick to point them out and share his knowledge. We were delighted to view so many individuals and snap some great photos despite the gusting winds. To mention but a few: low-flying booted eagles being blown almost backwards; squawking night herons battened down in the reeds; dainty bluethroats picking in the ditches; vibrantly-coloured purple gallinule; an unexpected osprey, catch dangling; and to cap it all the Dartford warbler clinging to a fishing net! A great experience and good-value overnight stay in the roomy guest-house.
Vultures and Wheatears
Catalonia Mountain Birding Trip, Spain
Great day out with Al of Ebro Delta Birding, visiting the Griffon Vulture feeding - a great spectacle with the ghostly silhouettes emerging from morning mists then close ups of these surprisingly handsome giant birds getting stuck in to their breakfast. Many photos.
Then we set off in Al's vehicle to quiet location in the hills where we hoped to find Western black-eared Wheatear & Black Wheatear. Thanks to expert guiding we found both plus some other interesting species.
All in all an excellent experience & many thanks to Al.
Amazing Day with Al in the Ebro Delta
Catalonia Mountain Birding Trip, Spain
Al is the epitome of commitment, passion, and enthusiasm for birding.
I visited with my parents (this birding trip was mainly for my mom, an amateur and passionate birder), and my husband. From the start, Al was very responsive to my inquiries, assisting us with train times and travel information, providing us with advice on what possibilities may exist, until the day materialized into a glorious day in the middle of March. From 10 am until ~7pm, Al took us around in his car, driving ever so slowing so as not to disturb the birds. We saw over 50 new species of birds we had never seen before (we are from India so the Spanish fauna was unknown to us). Al explained the habits, habitats, and small stories behind each of the species we saw. He knew all of the good birding locations in the area, which we visited throughout the day, timed perfectly to enjoy the viewing of marsh harriers enjoying their breakfast, the greater flamingos enjoying some playful frolic in the delta, or the ducks enjoying their afternoon snooze.
It was a glorious day and I'd come back again if I could. Al is just the best and words are not enough to praise his commitment to his passion. Wishing you all the best!
EBRO RIVER BIRDING BOAT TRIP
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
We spent a wonderful afternoon and evening (3 of us with Al as our guide). The trip was very well organised and started right on schedule. It was wonderful to motor down the Ebro River in a small boat and to get so close to the bird life along the river banks and the two islands we passed. The distance we covered and the immensity of the river were impressive as was the smaller channel we took which ended very close to the sea. We had numerous occasions to meander slowly along the bank to see the many birds up close. Al was an excellent guide and made the trip a real learning experience for us. The high-speed return to our starting point at the end of the evening was most exhilarating. All-in-all a great experience that we would definitely recommend to others
Highlight of our stay in Delta Ebro
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
We had a private birding boat tour on the Ebro river for three.
It was super relaxing to spend the day in the nature, away from people, away from town - just the calm of the river and the sight and the sounds of the birds. A true disconnect.
We were novice birders. Al showed us different bird species and we could get up close to some of them. We were provided binoculars so we could really see the birds in detail even when they were further. We learnt what the bird species were called as well as some information about their distribution, migration, plumage and about the Ebro Delta region in general. We didn’t take any camera with us but Al took some really good photos during the tour and emailed them to us just a couple days after.
Overall, it was a very fun and relaxing day out in the nature and a highlight of our stay.
Fabulous
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
I can’t recommend Al enough. He’s extremely knowledgeable about birds and birdwatching, not only the local ones, but in general. This was our first time birding, and I’m glad we have chosen this tour – Al made us feel both relaxed and engaged, and we’ve learnt a great deal.
The weather couldn’t be better – sunny, but not yet hot – for a Sunday afternoon boat trip. We had a great time.
Perfect photo tour on Ebro river
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
Great place, wonderful guide and lots of birds! Al is the best wildlife guide you can imagine - knowledgeable, delicate and really tailors the experience to your needs. We've had complicated logistics and different needs for the four of us - i was interested mostly in photographing birds while others wanted to see beautiful scenery - but he managed to accommodate it all somehow. Bonus for the photographers: Al does photography himself, so he understands very well the importance of lighting, knows how to find the best angles etc.
Wonderful experience, highly recommended!
Perfect photo tour on Ebro river
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
Great place, wonderful guide and lots of birds! Al is the best wildlife guide you can imagine - knowledgeable, delicate and really tailors the experience to your needs. We've had complicated logistics and different needs for the four of us - i was interested mostly in photographing birds while others wanted to see beautiful scenery - but he managed to accommodate it all somehow. Bonus for the photographers: Al does photography himself, so he understands very well the importance of lighting, knows how to find the best angles etc.
Wonderful experience, highly recommended!
Fantastic two days of birdwatching in the Ebro delta
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
We did 2 tours with Ebro delta birding and had a great time. Al knows a lot about the region & the birds in the region.
The first day we visited many spots by car & foot. The second day we went on the Ebro river using Al's boat.
On both occasions, we saw a lot of birds we never saw before. Everything was perfectly arranged from start to end.
We can highly recommend bridwachting with Ebro delta birding
Cracking day out
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
What a fantastic day on the water! Having such a knowledgeable and competent tour guide meant we saw a wide range of birds we never would have seen on our own and felt in safe hands all the time. Al worked hard to make sure it was a special experience for us. We would defenitely go on another of his trips and would happily recommend him to others.
Fantastic River Safari on the Ebro
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
I have just returned from a 4 day break in the Ebro Delta region. I was lucky enough to book a Boat Birding & Photography Tour with ebrodeltabirding.com and had the most fantastic day along the margins of the mighty River Ebro.
Al, the guide and skipper of the boat was a friendly, hugely knowledgable guy and expert photographer and was able to offer advice , information and knew every inch of the river like it was his own. We saw purple herons, Squacco Herons, Little Bitterns, Bee Eaters to name but a few but the highlight came when Al left juicy titbits on the surface of the river near a Black Kite roost which tempted the 2 kites to circle then swoop for the offerings right in front of the boat barely 10 feet away. For a photographer this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and from a bird watching point of view, the kind of personal one on one experience with this magnificent bird of prey that you would struggle to find anywhere else in the wild. The boat is spacious, comfortable and easily cuts through the river to get to different locations but then a silent electric motor allows you to get within just a few feet of the numerous wading and roosting birds among the reeds. I’m still sifting through my hundreds of photographs over a week after returning home. A fabulous day out in the company of a fabulous guide.
The guest house is beautifully run by Al and his wife Wendy, is very comfortable and in such a lovely remote location that you can't help but just sit and reflect in the peace and quiet over your early morning coffee.
Fabulous value for money, great company and overall a wonderful experience. Already booked again for next year. Do it. You won't be disappointed. 5 STARS*****
Ebro Delta by boat and on foot
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
Our birding tour with Al was absolutely fantastic. Al was very knowledgeable and informative, and despite the fact that we’d been experienced birders for over 30 years we learned so much from him on our 2-day tour. We also saw wonderful birds in his garden and around his house, such as Bee-eaters and Hoopoe. The house was very comfortable and relaxing. Wendy, Al’s partner, was also very accommodating and helpful, and we had access to all the amenities in the house and we were able to relax there when we weren’t out birding.
We spent one whole day on the river in Al’s boat, and another whole day with Al on the northern part of the Ebro Delta. Our day on the river was both incredibly peaceful and exhilarating. The star birds of this trip were the water birds, especially the Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Great White Heron and other egrets, amazing views of a Black Kite circling and diving, and many lively terns, especially the Whiskered. Other special sightings on the first day on the river were the Subalpine Warbler and the Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.
Much of the second day was spent on foot, tracking down the Great Reed Warbler, the Yellow Wagtail, the Slender-billed and Audouin Gulls, the Glossy Ibis and flocks of flamingos. The cream on the cake at the end was seeing literally dozens of Collared Pratincoles, mostly standing to attention in just two fields.
Since the trip, Al has sent us a portfolio of terrific photos of our best sightings. We definitely plan to go back.
Sandra and Tom Cleary
A day boat-birding with Al
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
I visited the Ebro Delta in early March and was taken out by Al on the river boat tour. We had a wonderful day, drifting quietly down the reed lined margins of the river. With Al’s help I was able to get great views of passerines such as Penduline Tit and Zitting Cristicola, which I had not previously seen. Other highlights included a huge colony of Night Herons, 2 Booted Eagles perched in riverside trees and to cap it off a magnificent Osprey seen at close quarters in the evening. I would thoroughly recommend this day trip, and great value too.
An afternoon with EbroDeltaBirding
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
Amazing guide; we had a great time photographing birds on a boat trip up the Ebro; lucky, he had time for me so spontaniously, because i was only there for one day. I am so looking forward to my next trip to the delta in april.
A fantastic day birding on the Ebro
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
A memorable day out with an extremely knowledgeable guide. Al made myself and my fellow guests feel safe on his boat and kept us amused with his company whilst seeking out some fascinating birdlife.
Ecellent trip
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
An excellent afternoon. Al picked us up at out hotel and dropped us back afterwards as we had no car. We saw great birds with fabulous views of an osprey with a huge fish. Al was excellent at spotting the birds as they flew by as well as identifying calls. It was a very relaxing and absorbing afternoon of bird watching. Would do it again any time.
3rd visit
Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain
Dec, May, September. All the usual specials, flamingos, swamp hens, crested pochards.. The winter migrants in December, summer ones in May including roller, Orioles, and pratincoles, loads of raptor in autumn with great osprey viewing from the boat which allows closer approach. Nice accommodation, a friendly guide with great knowledge of the birds and the Delta. Excellent value and experience
Incredible good guide
Ebro Delta Northern Birdwatching Trip, Spain
Recently my husband and I spent 3 days in the Ebro Delta with Al Henderson as our guide – 5 days in his villa. We were on the north side of the delta, in a boat on the river and on the plains. Al is very competent, enthusiastic, patient and relaxed as a guide. The first two days we saw over 100 different birds. Al knows their voices and knows where to find them. We can strongly recommend using Al as your guide and also stay in his villa for rent in this period. It was a fantastic experience. Leif Hoven and Inger Vinstorp, Denmark
Fantastic day
Ebro Delta Northern Birdwatching Trip, Spain
Al is very knowledgeable and explained everything to us, answered all our questions and had an amazing time. Thanks for everything.
Great tour of Delta
Ebro Delta Northern Birdwatching Trip, Spain
Al was an excellent guide for the day. He knows the area extremely well and has great knowledge of the species you are likely to encounter on your trip. A fantastic way to get to know the Ebro Delta area - highly recommended!
Private day birding tour in the Ebro Delta
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
I had the privilege of a private day’s outing with Al in the Ebro Delta at the end of March, on both the north side and south side of the river. Despite a very strong tramontana wind, which kept the small birds mainly out of site (though Al found a few for me), Al gave me a fantastic tour of the delta. Wonderful waders, highlights for me being several Spotted Redshanks and Wood Sandpipers, and more Greenshanks together than I’ve ever seen before; but also good numbers of Sanderling, Turnstone, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Kentish Plover, Snipe and Common Sandpiper. Booted Eagle was another highlight, as was an elusive Penduline Tit. And the range of ducks was very good and included C. Teal, Gadwall, Garganey, Wigeon, C. Shelduck and Shoveller, and lots of Red-crested Pochard. And lots of flamingoes!
A really good day thanks to Al’s great knowledge of the Delta, and I look forward to doing another tour with him in the future.
A superb experience!
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
We spent 4 days with Al exploring the Delta and surrounding area. Al is great company and has an unbelievable depth of knowledge. Would 100% recommend!
Wonderful day of Birdin!
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
I would give 10 stars if I could to our day birding with Al. He took us to many environments and was so knowledgeable about what we were seeing. We are from the U.S., and we added many more new birds to our life list that day. I would highly recommend him as a guide!
Ebro Delta and environs
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Four day version - packed tour of the Ebro Delta and environs including a river boat excursion, the high plains and mountains, vulture feeding extravaganza and much more with my ‘birding wife’ and fellow non-birding daughter, all brilliantly weaved together by Al. His relaxed but expertly informative style made for a great overall experience and varied holiday, with many spectacular and memorable sights. Plenty of opportunity as we drove round the delta for photography and sightings. Whether you are an expert birder or not (I'm definitely the latter!) doesn’t matter as Al caters for all and his enthusiasm is infectious. All other parts of the holiday worked well with accommodation and smooth transfers. Fab time, great introduction to the area leaving us wanting more. Highly recommended.
Ebro Delta Birding, birding at its best
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
This place is special. This guide, Al Henderson, is special. We visited with Ebro Delta Birding, in autumn, on the tail-end of the migration south for many bird species and we were very privileged to witness spectacle after spectacle. Numerous Marsh Harriers cruising in to roost amongst the reedbeds all on a backdrop of hundreds of glossy Ibis criss-crossing the dusk sky and a murmuration of starlings thrown in. 1000 or more White stork shuffling for position before swirling up in turn on the midday thermals amongst red kites, griffon vultures and even a much rarer black stork. And the exchange of roosts between the night heron colonies, with their large bright red eyes, switching places with many hundreds of egrets, cormorant and an osprey, all viewed in reflection too, with the sunset behind, from Al's boat out on the river Ebro. The delta itself has vast numbers of birds, some resident, some migrant. All year round you can also witness the balletic displays of the flamingos, of course and we also took the opportunity to witness a private feeding of over 200 Griffon Vultures at a fantastic mountainside retreat permitting panoramic views from above and below. As a family (not all of whom are 'birders') there was something for everyone... new species, new behaviour, new songs, fantastic photo opportunities and a chance to see a wide variety of landscapes. Well over 100 different bird species were seen on this trip. However, it is the sheer number of birds that was unexpected and that easily rivalled costal reserves in the UK and trips to The Gambia, for example, with the promise of more to be seen at different times of the year too.
Ebro Delta Birding Review- Great October visit
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
We had a fantastic 4 days birding with Ebro Delta Birding. We went to the Northern and Southern Delta, on the river boat trip and to the nearby mountains. Al, our host was extremely knowledgeable about the area, the birdlife and specific places that different species could be found. We would have been completely lost without such an experienced guide. Al is also an excellent photographer and sent us a range of beautiful photographs of the birds we saw. We had four very different days including one on the river, one in the nearby mountain range, featuring over 500 Griffon vultures feeding, and two in different parts of the delta area. We experienced a range of habitats and bird types and were able to get extremely close to the birds, including the smaller ones which are sometimes difficult to see let alone get close to. Al also provided background information on the habits of the various birds. Highlights included Osprey, numerous kingfishers, a Egret Roost, Waders, Vultures, and the small birds incuding a Firecrest and Crested Tit. We very much look forward to returning to the area and Ebro Delta Birding.
MagicAl
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
This was my first birding tour abroad and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife enjoyed it too even though she is not an active birder herself. This is because the tour has been structured so well by Al with a different experience every day.
I would like to mention that if your other half is a non birder or passive birder it doesn't matter. Just take them along as they will love the peace and quiet of the countryside villa, the beautiful scenery of delta and mountains, and the variety of experiences on each day of the tour.
Even though there is a village 5 minutes away from the villa, we decided to stock up on supplies and cook our evening meals at the villa. There is a large Eroski supermarket that Al took us to on the first day where everything is available. We even bought a nice pair of slippers as we'd forgotten to bring ours.
Al was really flexible with the tour and even agreed to an extra half day of birding for an extra charge in the drylands on the way back to Barcelona on the final day. We had booked a 5 night stay in Barcelona after the birding and Al was kind enough to drop us off at the accomodation we had booked.
Ok now on to the birding. On the way to the villa we were fortunate enough to get a red necked nightjar! We managed to get a really clear view in the car headlights. A dream start.
Al is an expert on the area and new exactly where to go to get different species. The first day we visited the South Delta and got 55 species, 20 of which were completely new to me such as bee eater, collared pratincole, penduline tit and audouin's gull. We also got a great paella for lunch!
The second day we visited the griffon vulture observatory which was simply an amazing experience. Hundreds of vultures were fighting for food and being fed by one brave man! We also crossed the river on a car ferry which runs completely on the river current. This was a totally unique experience which we both loved.
The third day was the river boat tour which started mid day till sunset. The highlights were little bittern, caspian tern and an osprey towards the end! We managed to get quite close to the osprey on the boat and Al took some great photographs including some aerial shots. My wife loved the boat tour especially the stunning sunset views at the end.
The fourth day was the north delta, highlights included slender billed gull, little tern, golden oriole and temmink's stint.
Now this was supposed to be the end of the birding but we had decided to do a half day birding on the last day on the way to Barcelona. This was great because it was a different kind of habitat and gave us different species including short toed eagle, roller, pin tailed sandgrouse, woodchat and southern grey shrikes and best of all LITTLE BUSTARD. This was the best bird of the tour as they aren't seen much.
All in all we got 101 species, 41 of which were new. This is more than we were expecting during this time of year. Also, Al provided us with some great photos he had taken which he shared via dropbox.
I can't recommend Al and this tour enough and we will be back probably in Spring to get a different variety of birds.
4 day tour
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Wow!!, 4 days birding, 116 species, in different terrains.
Day one in the southern delta with all the usual specials, a field with numerous scattered pratincoles, plus the bonus white winged tern.
Day two, exploring the southern LLieda steppes, with blue rock thrush, black-eared wheatear, greater spotted cuckoo and wryneck.
Day three, the northern Llieda steppes. Short-toed eagle, red-footed falcon, lesser kestrel, montague harrier and lots of very wary rollers.
Day four covered the high mountain fores and a final afternoon back in the Delta covering bits we'd not visited on day 1. Firecrest, crested tit, subalpine warbler and sort-toed treecreeper
I have been guided in many parts of the world and whilst obviously biased because of our relationship, I rate Al amongst the best. His sensory abilities are second to none with us finding the firecrest from hearing its call through the open window of a moving car.
From the bird locating us, he then heard faint crested tit peeps, the bird was with us within a minute along with the treecreepers.
Al's skill with the camera means one can concentrate on the bird experience, knowing he will forward his photos onto you.
Super birding and guide
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Our first experience birding on the Ebro delta and it won't be our last. Al was a super guide and host - we stayed in his very spacious villa (5 bedrooms most en suite). It was located a short drive from L'Ampolla where there are some good restaurants- 20 Euros return by taxi.
We had 5 full day trips, one of which was on his boat on the river. Stupendous- very relaxing as the river has little traffic and got us close to the birds. Al seemed to have appointments with the black kite, penduline tits and a variety of herons. The trip to the mountains to see the Griffon vulture feeding station was spectacular- we must easily have seen 150 birds at close range. The trip to Flix nature reserve was also great- finally got good views of nightingale, having heard but not seen about 500 singing all week!! Also the best views of the great reed warblers singing their little hearts out. A treecreeper was also spotted and we had spectacular views of Egyptian vulture, booted eagle, buzzard, black kites and blue rock thrush. The other 2 days we spent north and south on the delta and saw an amazing group of collared pratincoles, a bird we had only ever seen singly before. Another highlight all week was the number of bee eaters in close proximity- having previously mainly eluded us on other birdwatching holidays. To top it all Al is a very good photographer and took photos of most of our sightings, a total of 103 for the week. It was the close proximity to the birds that we found especially good e.g. little bittern, wood sandpiper and a number of warblers and waders. To sum up we would thoroughly recommend the experience with Al and we will definitely be planning a return trip.
Mucho más que aves - Un día con Al desfrutando del Delta del Ebro
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Pasamos un día con Al visitando el norte y sur del Delta, aprendiendo el ecosistema, paseando en coche y a pié, haciendo cientos de fotos y disfrutando de la excelente gastronomía de esta tierra (no faltó el arroz pero las navajas, caixetas, calamares, gambas y mejillones no se quedaron cortas!). Contratar a Al fué un regalo de mi mujer y mío para nuestra amiga Liz que venía desde Londres y es una apasionada de las aves. Nosotros no lo eramos, o eso creíamos, pero todo cambió despues de divisar y fotografiar más de 26 especies de aves en total libertad Que alguien te lleve a los mejores lugares y te permita un tour adaptado a cada necesidad es algo impagable, sobre todo cuando tienes poco tiempo. Las tarifas muy razonables. Al atardecer estábamos agotados y felices, con esa sensación de algo especial e inolvidable que nos hizo sentirnos orgullosos de esta tierra, de este Delta sorprendente y cambiante. Un día para perfecto. Gracias Al
Javier i Monica, Sant Pere de Ribes.
3rd visit
Ebro Delta Birding Experience Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Dec, May, September. All the usual specials, flamingos, swamp hens, crested pochards.. The winter migrants in December, summer ones in May including roller, Orioles, and pratincoles, loads of raptor in autumn with great osprey viewing from the boat which allows closer approach. Nice accommodation, a friendly guide with great knowledge of the birds and the Delta. Excellent value and experience
Very Helpful Guide
Ebro Delta Weekend Birding Tour, Catalonia, Spain
We spent a week in the Ebro Delta in late November 2021 and booked two days of birding with Al Henderson. We stayed in his accommodation. This was our first visit to this area. We are keen walkers and reasonably keen cyclists and wanted to explore the delta and the surrounding area both on foot and by bike. I am a novice birder but keen photographer and wanted some practice at obtaining images of birds, particularly in flight.
Al was an excellent communicator in the long run-up to our trip. Because of COVID-related travel problems we ended up having a number of conversations by email over many months.
Al was a most attentive guide and host. He suggested some good walks and lent us the relevant Cicerone guidebook. He assisted us with our cycle hire. There are several possibilities in the area. We used a cycle shop just a few km away in Camarles (DTS Cycle Hire, on Carrer Trenta-tres). The owner was very helpful.
On our first birding trip Al showed us the delta. His 20 year + experience of this area was very evident. He has an in-depth knowledge of where particular species would be found and even where particular individual birds might be seen. He is adept at approaching the birds in a way that optimises the photographic opportunities. Even a quick look at his website confirms that he is himself a highly skilled bird photographer (both still and video).
On our second day he took us first to a couple of hides inland on the Ebro river where we watched a number of species including Water Rails and Kingfishers. Later the same day he drove further inland to a large landfill sight which was attracting significant numbers of White Storks, Red Kites and Griffon Vultures. This gave me an extended chance to practice photographing these large and impressive species in flight.
It was a good trip and I will certainly come back.
Excellent Birding on the Elbro Delta
Ebro Delta Weekend Birding Tour, Catalonia, Spain
We spent two days birding with Al. One on the Elbro River and the other in the delta. Both days were great! On the river we saw more herons than ever before; especially night herons. We also got extremely close to a little bittern and observed it catching a fish. The delta itself was packed with birds and we saw everything from hoopoes and wagtails to marsh harriers Audouin’s gulls. Not to mention a large number of shore birds. Al has an exceptional knowledge of birds and is definitely in the know of the best areas to see birds in different environs. He was great to spend time with and is also a very good photographer.
Highly recommended. We will definitely do another tour when we return to Spain.
Thanks Al!
Splendid experience
Ebro Delta Weekend Birding Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Al took me on a customised combined tour into the Ebro Delta (northern and southern) one day and Els Ports Natural Park the next. Photography is my passion. Al's great knowledge of birds and their habitats lead me to many fantastic opportunities, and "between sightings" he's a very pleasant companion; we had many nice chats on the way, not least about photography. An included visit to "Vulture Man's" place and hundreds of wild vultures was the icing on the cake. Very warmly recommended!
Great Bird Tour!
Ebro Delta Weekend Birding Tour, Catalonia, Spain
Al knew right where to take us for great viewing of the birds of the Ebro River Delta. We visited in the winter and though species diversity was not high he still took us to where we would see many quality birds we would never have found on our own. The purple gallinule, king fisher, booted eagle and spotted red-shanks are delightful memories. Lodging in the villa, breakfast of local favorite foods, meeting the Henderson family and scheduling travel to town for a meal all contributed to a perfect visit to the Ebro River Delta.
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