Asturias Wildlife Tour – 7 days
This year we have decided to include an extra day visit to the beautiful Picos de Europa mountain range where we will have three fantastic days birdwatching. We will be searching for some of the most iconic birds of the Asturias mountains that include Wallcreeper, Snowfinch and vultures. Birding in the Asturias mountains at this time of the year is wonderful for all that appreciate the splendour of this incredible area of Spain.
SEA ELEMENT…
Travelling across the English Channel where we hope to see Common dolphins, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale. Manx Shearwater, Gannets and Kittiwake are seen and possibly Bluefin tuna as they start to move in to the area. The next day we find ourselves in the Bay of Biscay. Where in past years has offered amazing sightings of many species of cetaceans but due to climate change the bay has become more unpredictable. However, we would still hope to have dolphin sightings and catch a view of the incredible Cuviers beaked whale and maybe a surprise or two.
On Wednesday – Our Guide,Paul Burley, will meet you in the Terminal Building at Plymouth Ferryport between 1415-1445 by the new Brittany Ferries Lounge on the ground floor(i.e. Departures entrance, formerly the Exit. )
The Flagship “Pont Aven” sails at 1545. On board are bars, a posh restaurant and a self service restaurant and also a coffee shop. Frequent live entertainment takes place during the crossing. The ship operates on British Time.
Setting off from Plymouth and crossing the English Channel towards the Ushant on the north western tip of France. We will be hoping to see Great skua, Manx shearwater, Kittiwake, Gannets and more. We will also be looking for Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale as these animals are frequently seen in these waters throughout the year.
The next morning, Thursday, we will be nearing the northern shelf of the bay where we will be looking for whales and dolphins as we cross towards Spain. Good numbers of dolphins are often seen in the north of the Bay and as we venture further south we will hope to see Cuviers beaked whale, Striped dolphins, Pilot whales and maybe the occasional Fin whale before arriving in Spain.
Reaching Santander at 1300 (Spanish time – one hour ahead)and there join our coach for the ride to Panes on the edge of Asturias. We check into the 3* Hotel El Tilo for four nights’ half-board and dinner with wine. Our Spanish Guide, Javier Gil Vaquero joins us for a talk about the days ahead.
Panes is a pleasant little village surrounded by hills and fields with a river running by the hotel. There are level walks through the woods and by the side of that river and several cafes and bars in which to relax after a hard day in the field.
Friday – Javier joins us today as we leave the hotel and drive through the impressive Hermida gorge and onward to Fuente de where we take the cable car to the upper mountain in search of two of the most sought after birds in the area, the Wallcreeper and Snowfinch. We will also be looking for Cantabrian Chamois, Yellow billed chough, Alpine accentor, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture and the incredible Bearded vulture. In the late afternoon we return in the cable car and drive to our hotel for our evening meal.
Saturday – Today we visit the area of the Milenary chestnuts, near the town of Pendes and Cabanes on the south side of the Picos de Europa National Park and is one of the least known birding places in the Picos de Europa. With meadows and scrubland it is a great place to observe Middle spotted woodpecker, Sardinian warbler, Dartford warbler, Ortolan bunting, Rock bunting, Blue rock thrush, Alpine swift and large numbers of Butterflies and reptiles such as the impressive Ocellated lizard. It is also a fantastic place for raptors as the large south facing walls of the mountain makes this the home range and nesting place for Golden eagle, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Short toed eagle, Black kite and of course the Majestic Bearded vulture. This is a mountain area of great scenic beauty with easy walking in the heart of the Picos de Europa. After a good days birding we once more return to our hotel for our evening meal.
Sunday – VISIT TO THE FEEDING POINT FOR SCAVENGER BIRDS IN PICOS DE EUROPA NATIONAL PARK
Scavenger birds, also called carrion birds, play a key role in the functioning of mountain ecosystems. They help to accelerate the process of return of nutrients and energy to the system. At the same time, they help to reduce the risk of disease to other species (wild or livestock).
Although some of these species disappeared years ago from the Picos de Europa and others were left with very small populations, nowadays we can proudly say that all these birds have returned to Picos de Europa: Grifon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Lammergeier and in the last times, the sightings of Black Vulture are becoming to be not very unusual. Together with them, other opportunistic species like Golden Eagle, Red and Black kite, Corws, Ravens, Comon Busards…etc, find in the carrion the necessary extra food for their survival.
The feeding point of Picos de Europa National Park, is one of the specific actions of the Project to the Reintroduction of Lammergeier in Picos de Europa National Park, led by the Lammergeier Foundation (F.C.Q).
Once a week, the Lammergeier Foundation staff, in collaboration with the local slaughterhouse, deposits in this place the non-marketable remains of lamb and goatling with the aim that these birds have a supplementary feeding that complements their natural diet.
What is offered in this activity is a guided visit to observe all these birds. We will be privileged spectators of their food behavior, their hierarchies and we will learn to differentiate and to understand the behaviour each one of these majestic species.
After that, we will visit the Lammergeier Center where the staff of the Lammergeier Foundation will explain us all the specifications of this fantastic project.
Monday – After breakfast we drive to San Vincente de la Barquera situated in the Oyambre national park. We will have a short stop to birdwatch the local area before continuing to Santander to board the ship for the 1700 return sailing to England where we will once again be looking for Cetaceans and birds through the Bay of Biscay and in the English Channel on the following day.
Arriving at Plymouth at 1400 on Tuesday.
The cost includes ; ferry crossing with cabin; four nights with half-board at a 4* hotel, services of a British and a Spanish Guide, all excursions as detailed.
Pick up point- Plymouth Ferryport
Departure Date : June 17th 2026
Cost: £830
Single Supplement (Room & Cabin): £155
Online Booking Form
