Birdwatching Tour of Arribes del Duero and Villafáfila in Spain
A leisurely-paced 5-day Great Bustards and Raptors Birding Tour that offers a chance to see a wide variety of birds in a relatively unspoiled region along the border of Spain and Portugal.
The first stop on this Great Bustards and raptors birding tour is the river canyon of Arribes del Duero, which has a low human population and numerous wild habitats of oak forests, scrubland and cliffs. This makes it the perfect breeding ground for a wide range of raptors, including the Bonelli's Eagle and Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Red and Black Kite, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Buzzard.
"In July, I travelled to Miranda do Douro and photographed Bonelli's and Golden Eagles, as well as visiting vulture hides. Carlos was a wonderful guide who was both knowledgeable and helpful. This was my first visit, and I would surely return after Covid is gone. The best three days in years." - John Chapman
This Great Bustards and raptors birding tour also visits the Villafáfila lagoon and its boundaries on the Iberian steppes. This area offers arable lands, fallow fields and salted meadows that form ideal habitats for the Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Short-eared Owl, White Stork, Montagu’s Harrier, Calandra Lark, Lesser Kestrel, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew and Hen Harrier. The lagoon itself also offer great opportunities for spotting waterfowl and Gull-billed Terns.
Although this is predominantly an outdoor birding trip, you can also combine some visits to hides equipped with one-way glass windows. There are morning sessions for raptors and a half-day for the Great Bustard, to give you a close-up view of them performing their natural behaviours.
Great Bustards and Raptors Birding Tour highlights include:
- Visits to both the relatively unspoiled Arribes del Duero river canyon and the Villafáfila lagoon and its surrounds
- An opportunity to photograph a wide range of Spain's raptors and Great Bustards, as well as other bird life
- The chance to spend time in hides with one-way glass windows for close-ups views of the natural behaviour of the birds
- Our expert local guides on hand with tips and advice on making the most of the photo opportunities
Want to add Iberian Lynx to your Spanish wildlife photographs? Have a look at this tour: Iberian Lynx Photography Tour
Alternative tour title: Birdwatching Photography Tour for Spain's raptors and Great Bustards
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