Ebro River Birding Boat Trip, Spain

Birding Boat Trip on the Ebro Delta River

One of our most popular bird watching tours is the birding boat trip option, where we will head towards inaccessible spots on the Ebro river and explore exclusive birding sites which cannot be accessed by foot. This tour is conducted on our privately owned 18ft Carolina Skiff, a stable and comfortable flat bottomed boat with a bimini top which provides shade during the warmer parts of the day. By using a silent electric motor we are able to approach birds in a careful, non-obtrusive manner which allows us magnificent close up views and is perfect for bird photographers & observers alike.

The birding boat trip lasts for around 6 hours and we commence mid-afternoon, launching the boat at Amposta and making our way downstream. We will be able to observe hordes of river-dwelling birds including target species such as Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, Whiskered Tern, Audouin' Gull, Penduline Tit & Great Reed Warbler.

Midway through the tour, we will stop off at a riverside cafe where we can relax and enjoy a refreshment break while enjoying a splendid view out across the water.

The tour culminates in spectacular fashion with the daily roost of hundreds of egrets and herons, returning to their safe roosting perches on Isla de Sapinya, and is usually accompanied by a spectacular Ebro sunset as we head back into the slipway.

Ebro River Birding Boat Trip - 5 highlights:

The majestic Purple Heron fishing in the margins of the Ebro during the summer months
Beautiful Kingfishers are extremely abundant along the riverbank, expect multiple sightings
Ospreys can be observed fishing on the Ebro during migration periods.
The impressive evening roost of hundreds of herons and egrets who arrive around sunset at Isla de Sapinya
Where better to view an Ebro delta sunset than out on the water! Autumn usually provides the most spectacular colours.

If you'd like to have a look at what longer tours are on offer, start by checking out the Birding in South Catalonia Tour, Spain.

Wildlife Reviews

4.97 stars

- based on 11 reviews

Perfect photo tour on Ebro river
Liza Vorobyova16 Aug 2020
5
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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
Liza Vorobyova16 Aug 2020
5
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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
Frank & Ingrid01 Aug 2020
4.83
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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
Linda Johnson04 Oct 2019
5
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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
Richard Webb11 Jul 2019
5
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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
Tom and Sandra Cleary29 Apr 2019
5
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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
Mike Heljula27 Apr 2019
5
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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
Felix Brader22 Aug 2018
5
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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
Elizabeth April elliott01 Jun 2018
5
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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
Dai and Juliet06 Sep 2018
4.83
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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
George Bryce24 Sep 2018
5
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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

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Why book with Ebro Delta Birding?

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 > 320 square kilometres of the natural park, with diverse environments ranging from salt marshes and sand dunes to river bank and woodland. This range of habitats attracts a bewildering selection of birdlife with a species list exceeding 300 varieties!

How big is the boat?

The boat is an 18ft (5.5 meter) Carolina Skiff. The flat bottomed design of the hull makes the boat extremely stable on the water. The boat will comfortably cater for the guide and up to 4 bird watching clients.

Is there a toilet facility on the boat?

No, but we will break off mid-way through the tour at a riverside cafe for a refreshment break.

Is there shade on the boat?

Yes, the boat has a Bimini Top, which provides shade during the hot part of the day